Korg Trinity
Encyclopedia
Korg Trinity is a commercially successful synthesizer
music workstation
released by Korg
in 1996. It was also the first workstation to offer modular expansion for not only sounds, but also studio-grade feature such as SCSI
, ADAT
, various sound engine processors, audio recording capability, and more. It was considered one of the most comprehensive music workstations, in term of features, at the time. It is affectionately referred to as the silver beast by many of its owners.
Ex-Dream Theater
keyboard
ist Derek Sherinian
in collaboration with KORG sound designer Jack Hotop created Sherinian's signature guitaristic lead sound on the Trinity in 1996.
Many users to this day feel that its successor, Triton
, never had the same "sound" and the Trinity had a more airy/clear sound to it. This was because the Trinity used the ACCESS sound engine, whereas the Triton series keyboards used the newer HI synthesis engine. The Trinity sound was also processed by INFINITY. The Trinity included many waveforms which were not included in the waveform library of the Triton series, thus it was impossible to get some of the sounds of the Trinity on the Triton.
There are 3 models and variations of both the main hardware synthesizer itself and a rackmount:
Along with the Korg Prophecy
, the Korg Trinity synthesizer
was a descendant of the original OASYS
synthesizer, an acronym for Open Architecture Synthesis System, which was a mega-synth prototype that the company previewed in 1994 but never marketed. The foundation of the system was an open concept
DSP system where the OS could load various unrelated models of different synthesis and physical modelling sound generators. It was a multiple digital signal processor (DSP) architecture, with the entire system clocking in at over 900 million instructions per second. Korg later adapted some of the core technologies and released three initial products: Trinity, Prophecy
and Wavedrum.
Options for the machine included:
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
music workstation
Music workstation
A music workstation is an electronic musical instrument providing the facilities of:*a sound module,*a music sequencer and* a musical keyboard.It enables a musician to compose electronic music using just one piece of equipment.-History:...
released by Korg
Korg
is a Japanese multinational corporation that manufactures electronic musical instruments, audio processors and guitar pedals, recording equipment, and electronic tuners...
in 1996. It was also the first workstation to offer modular expansion for not only sounds, but also studio-grade feature such as SCSI
SCSI
Small Computer System Interface is a set of standards for physically connecting and transferring data between computers and peripheral devices. The SCSI standards define commands, protocols, and electrical and optical interfaces. SCSI is most commonly used for hard disks and tape drives, but it...
, ADAT
ADAT
Alesis Digital Audio Tape or ADAT is a magnetic tape format used for the simultaneous digital recording of eight analog audio or digital audio tracks at once, onto a Super VHS tape that is used by consumer VCRs.- History :...
, various sound engine processors, audio recording capability, and more. It was considered one of the most comprehensive music workstations, in term of features, at the time. It is affectionately referred to as the silver beast by many of its owners.
Ex-Dream Theater
Dream Theater
Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out of their studies to further concentrate on the band that would...
keyboard
Electronic keyboard
An electronic keyboard is an electronic or digital keyboard instrument.The major components of a typical modern electronic keyboard are:...
ist Derek Sherinian
Derek Sherinian
Derek Sherinian is a rock keyboardist who has toured and recorded for Alice Cooper, Billy Idol, Yngwie Malmsteen, Kiss, and Alice In Chains. He was also a member of Dream Theater and is the founder of the instrumental metal-fusion band Planet X...
in collaboration with KORG sound designer Jack Hotop created Sherinian's signature guitaristic lead sound on the Trinity in 1996.
Many users to this day feel that its successor, Triton
Korg Triton
Korg Triton is a music workstation synthesizer featuring digital sampling and sequencing created by Korg. All Tritons use Korg's HI Synthesis tone generator. They are available in several models and various upgrade configurations. The Triton is world famous among many musicians for being a...
, never had the same "sound" and the Trinity had a more airy/clear sound to it. This was because the Trinity used the ACCESS sound engine, whereas the Triton series keyboards used the newer HI synthesis engine. The Trinity sound was also processed by INFINITY. The Trinity included many waveforms which were not included in the waveform library of the Triton series, thus it was impossible to get some of the sounds of the Trinity on the Triton.
Models
There are 3 models and variations of both the main hardware synthesizer itself and a rackmount:
- Trinity (61 Key)
- Trinity Pro (76 Key)
- Trinity Pro X (88 Weighted Key)
- Trinity TR-Rack: 1U Rack-mount19-inch rackA 19-inch rack is a standardized frame or enclosure for mounting multiple equipment modules. Each module has a front panel that is wide, including edges or ears that protrude on each side which allow the module to be fastened to the rack frame with screws.-Overview and history:Equipment designed...
Expanded Memory Locations (Adds banks C+D to Program and Combination modes) the same as Trinity with the PBS-TRI Board, but no sample loading facility, but does add Digital In and out jacks
Variations
Any of the models could have the following variations:- Trinity: The basic 61-key Trinity synthesizer with ACCESS synth engine, and no MOSS boards (Prophecy or Z1) installed.
- Trinity Plus: Same as the Trinity, a 61-key synthesizer, however, with the SOLO-TRI Prophecy board installed (the "S" bank), using any Trinity OS below 3.00
- Trinity Pro: Same as the Trinity Plus, however, with a 76-key keyboard (including the SOLO-TRI Prophecy board installed).
- Trinity ProX: Same as the Trinity Plus, however, with a 88-key keyboard with piano action type (including the SOLO-TRI Prophecy board installed).
- Trinity V3: is not only OS 3.x, but shipped with the "MOSS-TRI" Z1 board installed (the "M" bank).
- SOLO-TRI: only works with OS 1 - 2.x and NOT 3.x, and the MOSS-TRI only works with 3.x and above. These cards cannot be installed at the same time as they occupy the same expansion bay.
- HDR-TRI: and SCSI-TRI cannot be installed at the same time as they occupy the same bay. (The HDR-TRI has all the feature of the SCSI-TRI)
- Any Trinity can have OS 3.x installed even if the MOSS-TRI is not installed but #3 applies. (The OS is user up and downgradable using floppies)
- The TR-Rack could be fitted with the DI-TRI Option, which is an ADAT format compatible digital output. This enables you to send the four audio output signals digitally to any mixer, signal processor, computer card or recorder equipped with this interface.
Features
The Trinity workstation features a massive set of effects (100 Insert effects & 14 Master effects), a large graphic touchscreen (320x240) and a complete 16-track sequencer, as well as double sound generation system:- ACCESS (Advanced Control Combined Synthesis System). A PCM-based sound synthesis with 16 bit - 48 kHz PCM playback on a 24Mbyte ROM. However, since 2:1 data compression has been used, these are equivalent to 48Mbyte of samples held in conventional RAM. The PCM data includes well over 1,000 individual samples comprising 374 multisamples.
- MOSS (Multi-Oscilator Synthesis System). The sound generation system of the Korg Prophecy and Z1 with: analogue modelling, VPM (Korg's version of FM synthesis) and physical modelling (brass, reed, plucked string, bowed string, organ, electric piano modelling)
Along with the Korg Prophecy
Korg Prophecy
The Korg Prophecy is considered one of the earliest "virtual analog" synthesizers, although its synthesis capabilities went beyond many of its VA contemporaries....
, the Korg Trinity synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
was a descendant of the original OASYS
Korg OASYS
The Korg OASYS was a workstation synthesizer released in early 2005, 1 year after the successful Korg Triton Extreme. Unlike the Triton series, the OASYS was implemented on a custom Linux operating system and was designed to be arbitrarily expandable via software updates, with its functionality...
synthesizer, an acronym for Open Architecture Synthesis System, which was a mega-synth prototype that the company previewed in 1994 but never marketed. The foundation of the system was an open concept
Openconcept
Openconcept is a term generally used to describe a type of architecture which provides a lot of flexible space. There are a few general spaces that are defined using open-concept, see restroom, stairway and changeroom....
DSP system where the OS could load various unrelated models of different synthesis and physical modelling sound generators. It was a multiple digital signal processor (DSP) architecture, with the entire system clocking in at over 900 million instructions per second. Korg later adapted some of the core technologies and released three initial products: Trinity, Prophecy
Korg Prophecy
The Korg Prophecy is considered one of the earliest "virtual analog" synthesizers, although its synthesis capabilities went beyond many of its VA contemporaries....
and Wavedrum.
Options for the machine included:
- SCSI-TRI: allowed a use to connect SCSI removable storage (ZIP, CDROM, HD) to load/save PCG, Sequencer and Sample Data (last only if PBS-TRI installed).
- PBS-TRI: allowed the user to expand the PCM ROM with up 8 Mbyte of additional samples with the ability to run these samples via the Internal FX processors. With the PBS board the Trinity can load AKAIAkaiAkai is a consumer electronics brand, founded by Saburo Akai as , a Japanese manufacturer in 1929. It is now headquartered in Singapore as a subsidiary of Grande Holdings, a Hong Kong-based conglomerate, which also owns the formerly Japanese brands Nakamichi and Sansui. The Akai brand is now used...
(S1000 & S3000), Wave format file(.Wav), AIFF(.AIF) and 16 bit Korg native format sample files(.KSF). In this last case the memory capacity is equivalent to 16 Mbyte due to the 2:1 data compression. Furthermore, this option doubled the Trinity's User editable program capacity by adding 2 additional banks in Combi and Program modes(Total of 512 programs and 512 combis), doubled the drum kits, and added another 64 sounds (total of 128) if the SOLO-TRI or MOSS-TRI options are installed. A very useful feature of the PBS board is that its memory is non volatile, meaning that once samples are loaded they would still be retained in memory even after switching the Trinity off.
- HDR-TRI: a very exciting option at the time, not only gave functionality of the SCSI-TRI, but gave the system 2 analogue inputs, S/PDIF digital in and out and for the first time ever, gave the ability to record/playback up to 4 digital audio tracks perfectly synchronized to the sequencer's 16 MIDI tracks. The 4 audio tracks were fully automatable with Volume, Pan, 2 Aux sends to the Trinity's existing Master Effects section and simple Lo/Hi EQ. A 540 Mbyte hard disk allowed approximately 47 minutes of stereo recording.
- DI-TRI: added a 48 kHz word clock input and ADATADATAlesis Digital Audio Tape or ADAT is a magnetic tape format used for the simultaneous digital recording of eight analog audio or digital audio tracks at once, onto a Super VHS tape that is used by consumer VCRs.- History :...
optical output. The main problem with the Trinity and digital linking at the time, was that Korg chose to design the synth using a 48 kHz, which is very common for post production and television work, but not the 44.1 kHz CD standard that most studios pro and consumer alike utilized. Therefore, it was difficult to clock unless an outboard box calculated a real-time conversion. Only the first four channels of the ADAT spec were used, and they were assigned to the classic Korg Output layout: 1/L, 2/R, out 3, out 4. These were fixed and non-assignable.
- SOLO-TRI: added a Korg ProphecyKorg ProphecyThe Korg Prophecy is considered one of the earliest "virtual analog" synthesizers, although its synthesis capabilities went beyond many of its VA contemporaries....
synthesizer into the Trinity, a 1-voice monophonic synth and integrated effects. The user could use only 1 patch at a time like the real synth counterpart, but could incorporate a patch into an existing combination or sequence. Access to the Trinity's Effect and Master Section was integrated additionally to the Prophecy effects. The only feature that was sadly not included was the arpeggiator, which was later seen on the future Triton series, Z1, and beyond.
- MOSS-TRI: Incorporated in V3 of the Trinity was the functionality of a Korg Z1 6-voice polyphonic synthesizer, including its own integrated effects. Similar to the real Korg Z1, but the user could use only one patch at a time (instead of 6 on Z1). However, this patch could be incorporated into an existing combination or sequence. Access to the Trinity's Effect and Master Section was integrated as the only way to apply effects to the sound. It did not include an arpeggiator function.
Notable users
|
Tuomas Holopainen Tuomas Lauri Johannes Holopainen is a Finnish composer known best for symphonic metal music. He has also studied jazz and classical styles, but prefers to be influenced by harmonic film music.... of Nightwish Nightwish Nightwish is a Finnish symphonic metal band from Kitee, Finland. Formed in 1996 by songwriter and keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, and former vocalist Tarja Turunen, Nightwish's current line-up has five members, although Tarja has been replaced by Anette Olzon and the... Orbital (band) Orbital are a British electronic dance music duo from Sevenoaks, England consisting of brothers Phil and Paul Hartnoll. Their career initially ran from 1989 until 2004, but in 2009 they announced that they would be reforming and headlining The Big Chill, in addition to a number of other live shows... Faithless Faithless were a British electronica band consisting of Maxi Jazz, Sister Bliss and Rollo. The group is best known for their dance songs . Faithless recorded six albums. During their career they sold over 15 million records worldwide... Derek Sherinian Derek Sherinian is a rock keyboardist who has toured and recorded for Alice Cooper, Billy Idol, Yngwie Malmsteen, Kiss, and Alice In Chains. He was also a member of Dream Theater and is the founder of the instrumental metal-fusion band Planet X... of Dream Theater Dream Theater Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out of their studies to further concentrate on the band that would... , Alice Cooper Alice Cooper Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades... , Black Country Communion Black Country Communion Black Country Communion is an English-American rock supergroup featuring Glenn Hughes, Jason Bonham, Derek Sherinian, and Joe Bonamassa.-Formation and Black Country :... , Planet X Planet X (band) Planet X is an instrumental rock/progressive metal supergroup, founded by keyboardist Derek Sherinian and drummer Virgil Donati. Throughout a decade of activity, they have released three studio albums and one live album, each with a variety of guest musicians and oft-changing... Shagrath Shagrath is a Norwegian musician best known as the vocalist of Dimmu Borgir.-Biography:Stian Thoresen was born on November 18, 1976 in Jessheim, outside of Oslo, Norway.... of Dimmu Borgir Dimmu Borgir Dimmu Borgir is a Norwegian black metal band from Oslo, Norway, formed in 1993. Dimmu borgir means "dark cities" or "dark castles/fortresses" in Icelandic, Faroese and Old Norse. The name is derived from a volcanic formation in Iceland, Dimmuborgir... , Ov Hell Ov Hell Ov Hell is a Norwegian black metal supergroup started by Shagrath and King ov Hell in 2009. The band's debut album, The Underworld Regime, was released in February 2010 by Indie Recordings.-Background:... , Chrome Division Chrome Division Chrome Division is a heavy metal band from Norway formed in 2004 by Shagrath, the lead vocalist of symphonic black metal band Dimmu Borgir, and Lex Icon, founder of The Kovenant... & Fimbulwinter Fimbulwinter In Norse mythology, Fimbulvetr , commonly rendered in English as Fimbulwinter, is the immediate prelude to the events of Ragnarök.-Summary:... William Orbit William Orbit is an English musician, composer and record producer, perhaps best known to most for his work on Madonna's album Ray of Light. He has also co-produced several unreleased Madonna songs originally recorded for other albums... Mansun Mansun were an English alternative rock band formed in Chester in 1995. The band comprised vocalist/rhythm guitarist Paul Draper, bassist Stove King, lead guitarist/backing vocalist Dominic Chad, and drummer Andie Rathbone. The band broke up in May 2003.... Robyn Miller Robyn Charles Miller co-founded Cyan Worlds with brother Rand Miller. After releasing a number of children's adventure "worlds", the brothers finally hit on a success with the computer game Myst, which remained the number one-selling game for the remainder of the 1990s... Bryan Erickson (musician) Bryan Erickson is known primarily for his involvement with the electronic music bands Velvet Acid Christ and Toxic Coma. Erickson also goes by the stage names of "hexfix93" and "Disease Factory"... Rick Wakeman Richard Christopher Wakeman is an English keyboard player, composer and songwriter best known for being the former keyboardist in the progressive rock band Yes... Yesterdays (band) Yesterdays is a Hungarian symphonic progressive rock band based in Cluj Napoca, Romania.Its musical style has been compared by various reviewers to Yes , Quidam , Pat Metheny, Anna Maria Jopek , Eclipse and Genesis - Biography :... Alphaville (band) Alphaville is a German synthpop group which gained popularity in the 1980s. The founding members were Marian Gold , Bernhard Lloyd , and Frank Mertens Alphaville is a German synthpop group which gained popularity in the 1980s. The founding members were Marian Gold (real name Hartwig Schierbaum,... Max Martin Martin Karl Sandberg, known professionally as Max Martin, is a Swedish music producer and songwriter. Raised in Stenhamra, a suburb of Stockholm, Sweden, he broke through as a producer and songwriter in the mid to late 1990s after crafting a string of hits for pop artists like the Backstreet Boys,... Yes (band) Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets... |
External links
- Korg official site
- The Trinity Haven (Internet Archive)
- Sound on Sound Reviews: Nov' 95 - Dic' 95 - Jan' 96 - Jan' 97 - Sep' 98