Korg Triton
The Korg Triton is a music workstation synthesizer, featuring digital sampling and sequencing, released in 1999. It uses Korg's HI Synthesis tone generator and was eventually available in several model variants with numerous upgrade options. The Triton became renowned as a benchmark of keyboard technology, and has been widely featured in music videos and live concerts. At the NAMM 2007, Korg announced the Korg M3 as its successor. History and pedigree. The Korg Triton line is considered the direct descendant of the earlier Korg Trinity line of workstations. The two ranges are aesthetically and functionally very similar . The Triton "Classic" followed the Trinity's naming conventions of the Pro and Pro X being designated to models featuring 76 and 88 keys respectively (that naming system actually started with previous 01/w series, also available with 61 keys (base and -FD models), 76 (01/wPro) and 88 (01/wProX). The original Triton introduced many improvements over the Trinity, like 62-note polyphony, double arpeggiator and RPPR phrase recorder, onboard sampler, greater effects availability, processing power, routing, and added audio-input external processor capability, larger synthesis modulation matrix, faster operating system, significantly faster touchscreen response, sample ROM expandability, enhanced  UI including category search (ability to browse through related groups of sounds like pianos, brass, strings, etc.), more realtime controllers including knobs, and availability of multitimbral MOSS synthesis expansion (whereas Trinity's MOSS expansion was monotimbral). The biggest improvement of Triton was the sound: new multisample and better processing, combined with five insert effects per program. But what made Triton a killer were dual polyphonic arpeggiators! Many of Triton factory preloaded sounds use these arpeggiators and are simply impossible without them. The HI Synthesis engine also provides dual filters per digital oscillator configurable to either a ganged 24dB/octave low -pass setting or else a 12dB/octave high-pass plus 12dB low-pass combination (which together can be used similar to band-pass filter). All this essentially made Triton a best selling synth of 2000s (its successors M3/M50 and later Krome sound engines are essentially improved Tritons with better UI and more wave ROM). Although it lost the sequencer audio tracks, digital input and output, but these options were rarely installed in Trinity, so KORG did the right thing dumping them. Onboard sampler was another big thing, as well as "instant sequencing" in latest firmware versions of Triton Classic  and all subsequent Tritons (it lets to convert a combi into a song where all parts (programs) are instantly set up as a tracks of a song). Triton Extreme added in-track sampling support, allowing stereo samples to be recorded in context with a MIDI sequence and automatic triggering of the samples at their proper locations in the sequence during playback. Triton Classic is so popular that it was recreated as software synth (standalone and VST) and is widely used in music production, while hardware Tritons are still widely used by gigging musicians. Model variants. Section::::"Classic". The original Triton was  released in 1999 and as subsequent models were released became known as the "Classic" or "Classic 61". The options available to buyers included a MOSS board, SCSI interface, two EXB-PCM expansion boards and 64MB RAM. It had a 61-key synth-/semi-weighted keyboard. Pro and ProX "Classic". The "Pro" was a 76-key workstation, while the "ProX" was an 88-key workstation with weighted keys, otherwise identical in specification to the Classic 61. Triton-Rack. The Triton-Rack was the rackmount version of the Triton. Since musicians would use it as a sound module rather than a complete  workstation, requiring a separate keyboard to control it via MIDI, it was designed with different abilities. The oversized touchscreen was replaced with a smaller, more conventional graphic LCD, soft-keys under the LCD, data wheel, and cursor keys (similar to the Triton Le, Karma, and Korg TR keyboards). Though not equipped with a keyboard, it had advantages over Triton Classic 61, Pro, and ProX models, including storage of up to eight (instead of only two) EXB boards containing additional PCM sampled waveforms, extra sound Program and Combi memory locations, expandability to maximum 96MB sample RAM (instead of only 64 MB) and featured a built-in S/PDIF digital output (an upgrade option on the Classics). Like the Classic models, the Triton-Rack could support Korg's MOSS synthesizer expansion board (EXB-MOSS), distinguishing a so-expanded Triton-Rack as the only way to obtain MOSS synthesis (essentially identical to Korg's Z1 and extremely similar to Korg's Prophecy) in rack-mounted form, with the additional benefit of the Triton's seven total effects processors (more numerous, variable, and capable than those in Z1 or Prophecy), albeit with 6-voice polyphony compared to the Z1's 12 (or 18  with optional expansion.) The Triton-Rack also supported the EXB-DI "Digital Interface" board providing ADAT output and Word Clock, or EXB-mLAN option featuring mLAN output. KARMA. The Korg KARMA, released in 2001, featured the Triton synthesis technology with 2 PCM slots and MOSS slot but without the sampling functionality. It instead included the more specialised KARMA music system. It was only available in a 61-key version (with a lesser quality keyboard than the Triton). Le. The Triton Le, released in 2002, was a stripped-down, cost-reduced version of the original Triton. It uses a smaller non -touch screen similar to the TRITON-RACK. Rack The ribbon controller and floppy disk drive were omitted but a Smartmedia slot was instead included. A lighter and cheaper key bed than those used on the Trinity/original Triton range was installed, and the effects bus was downscaled from five insert effects to one. The MOSS, a Z1-based board, can not be fitted on the Le. The functionality of the original sequencer and arpeggiator was retained, though. It was possible to load samples via the Smartmedia slot into the onboard sample RAM without requiring the sampling board to be fitted . Marketed at a much lower price than the original Triton range, the Le was a commercial success. A special edition of Le was released featuring a black body, visually similar but functionally different from the later TR. Three versions of "Le" are available : Triton Le 61 – 61 keys Triton Le 76 – 76 keys Triton Le 88 – 88 keys (RH2 Real Weighted Hammer action) Studio. The "Triton Studio", released in 2002, included the features of the "Classic" with double polyphony (although oddly split, with half polyphony dedicated to original 32MB ROM samples and sample RAM, and half to all EXB -PCM expansion sample boards including the built-in piano expansion), plus the addition of S/PDIF input and output, as well as the EXB-PCM08 piano expansion board, and some operating system enhancements. Sample RAM could be expanded to a maximum 96MB and a SCSI interface was included as standard. The instrument also had space for seven EXB-PCM sample expansion boards and could be fitted with an optional hard drive, internal CD-RW drive, EXB-DI expansion board with an ADAT interface or EXB-mLAN expansion board with mLAN interface. Extreme. In 2004, Korg released the "Triton Extreme , with many of the features of the Studio (such as the entire PCM ROM from the Studio model) plus the entire sample sets from Korg's best-selling Trance Attack, Orchestral Collection, and Vintage Archives expansion boards, as well as the most popular sounds from the Dance Extreme, Studio Essentials, and Pianos/Classic Keyboards collections. PCM data not available on any other Triton models was also included such as improved pianos and acoustic guitars. The 34MB ROM of the Classic" was upgraded to 160MB. Valve Force circuitry, using a vacuum tube and an analog ultra gain transistor to  allow for warmer, guitar amp-like sounds for more extreme analog overdrive/distortion sounds was included, and proved especially useful for pad and organ sounds, as well as adding depth and realism to acoustic sounds, such as piano. Unlike previous Tritons, which were a white-silver color, the Extreme was finished in dark blue. Like the Triton "Classic" and Studio, the Triton Extreme included a touch screen interface, along with the knob and button controls. A USB interface providing both Type A and Type B connectors enabled external storage and connectivity with a PC, facilitating exchange of samples, sound programs , sequences, and other Triton-compatible files. CompactFlash and microdrive cards up to 8 GB were supported, negating the need to sample directly to RAM. The USB port also allowed control of software synths and host applications via MIDI. However, unlike the "Classic", Studio, and Rack versions, the Extreme could not be fitted with sample expansion boards due to the expansion ROMs having been pre-installed. It was compatible, though, with the MOSS board and up to 96 MB of sample RAM. No SCSI, mLAN or ADAT interfaces were included but optical stereo S/PDIF inputs and outputs were installed. The  USB Type A connector can be used to connect a USB thumb drive, hard drive or CD writer drive for making music CDs and loading AKAI format sample libraries. The sequencer was upgraded to facilitate in-track sampling. It is also seen as the keyboard of choice for Tsumugi Kotobuki in the anime "K-On!". TR. Released in 2006, the TR was similar to the Triton Le but included expanded ROM and additional programs and combinations. It also features a USB cable for data connection with a PC. The TR also features an SD card slot. The piano quality was  also improved compared to the "Classic" and Le keyboards. X50 and MicroX. The X50 and MicroX, released in 2007, were oriented towards the lower end of the market and were consequently less physically robust and included fewer features. They contained the same HI synthesis engine found on the TR with the basic Triton and extended ROM: the X50 maintains the same extended ROM as the TR, while the MicroX extended ROM focused more on drum and percussion samples. Neither had the sequencing or expansion capability of the TR. USB connection was available for high-speed MIDI control (and use with  the included plug-in editor), but incompatibilities with the other Tritons hampered the use of libraries for those keyboards. The main difference between the two keyboards was in scale and control layout: the X50 was a 61-key keyboard with pitch and modulation wheels, while the MicroX had only 25 keys with the Triton joystick. Neither had the aftertouch functionality of the TR keyboard. Both included patch editor and librarian software as well as a plug-in for DAW control, allowing the import and export of Triton-compatible files. Similarly to the LE and TR, only one insert effect and  two master effects could be assigned. Triton Taktile. A USB-powered controller with the 512 programs from the original factory bank of the Classic, the Triton Taktile is offered in 25- and 49-key versions, with the same semi-weighted (though without aftertouch) keyboard used on the KROME. It includes a touch pad inherited from the Kaossilator that lets you play melodies using just a single finger, velocity-sensitive trigger pads (16 on the 49-key, 8 on the 25-key) that let you generate chords in the key and scale of your choice, an arpeggiator, ribbon controller, sliders and  switches. Audio output is a stereo 1/8<nowiki>"</nowiki> mini headphone jack. The onboard sounds can't be edited, layered or split, and playback is mono‑timbral. Features. All models, except the Triton Rack, X50, Micro-X, KARMA and Taktile were available in 61, 76 and 88-key configurations. They could also be upgraded with increased sample EDO RAM and expansion boards for additional sounds. Only the Triton Le did not provide this feature. The Triton "Classic", Extreme, and Studio were controlled by a touchscreen. The KARMA, Le and Rack, however, featured a more conventional display. Availability. Except for the  Triton Taktile, all models of the Korg Triton model range have been discontinued by the manufacturer. Today, the Best Of Triton Soundbanks can be found on Korg's website as downloadable programs for the Korg Krome workstation, KORG Pa4X Professional arranger, KRONOS as well as an in app purchasable soundbank for the full version of the korg sound module for iOS. On December 26, 2019, Korg released a VST plugin replicating the Korg Triton, including all factory patches & waveforms, and the full collection of EXB-PCM expansions.