1
Introduction to the microSTATION
Main features of the microSTATION
EDS-i (Enhanced Definition Synthesis -
integrated)
Thistonegenerationsystemintegratesthemain
functionalityofthe“EDS”(EnhancedDefinition
Synthesis)systemfeaturedontheM3andM50,
includingtheoscillators,filters,amps,LFO/EG,and
effects,deliveringrichandvividsounds.
Theoscillatorsectionuses49Mbytes(whencalculated
as16‐bitlineardata)ofhigh‐qualityPCMsources
sampledat48kHzandcov eri
ngawidevarietyof
sounds.Thefiltersectionthat’ssoimportantto
creativesound‐makingprovidestwohigh‐quality
filtersforeachoscillator,andallowsyoutofreely
combinefourdifferenttypesoffilters:low‐pass,high‐
pass,band‐pass,andband‐reject.
Modulationfunctionalityisanindispensibl
epartof
thisdetaileddesign.TheEDS‐itonegenerationsystem
inheritsnumerousfeaturesfromtheEDSsystem
including:theEG(envelopegenerator),LFO,key
trackinggenerator,AMS(alternatemodulation
source),andAMSmixer,givingyouanenormous
rangeofsynthesispotential.
Thefinaltouchestothesoundarepr
ovidedbythe
effectsection,whichgiv
esyouuptofiveinserteffects,
twomastereffects,andonetotaleffect.Inadditionto
delayandreverb,thereareatotalof134different
effectsincludingmodulation‐typeeffectssuchas
chorus,phaser,andflanger,dynamic‐typeeffectssuch
ascompr
essionandlimiting,andalsoeffectssuchas
ampmodelingpoweredbyKorg’sproprietary
“REMS”modelingtechnology.Effectdynamic
modulation(Dmod)allowsyoutocontroltheeffectsin
awidevarietyofways.
Programs and combinations
ThemicroSTATIONprovides512userprogramsas
wellas256+9(drums)GM2‐compatibleROMpreset
programs.Whenshippedfromthefactory,the
memorycontains480preloadprogramsorganized
intoeightcategoriesforconvenientsearching.
Drumprogramsusedrumkitsastheoscillator;there
are32userdrumkitsand9GM2‐compatibleROM
dr
umkits.Whenshippedfromthefactory,the
memorycontains27
preloaddrumkitsthatcovera
broadrangeofmusicalstyles.
Thereare384usercombinations.Whenshippedfrom
thefactory,thememorycontains256preload
combinationsorganizedintoeightcategoriesfor
convenientsearching.Asinglecombinationletsyou
combi
neuptosixteenprogramsaslayers,splits,or
velocity‐switches,andthenaddeffectsandtwo
arpeggiatorstocreatecomplexsoundsthatwouldnot
bepossibleforasingleprogram.Externalaudio
sourcescanbeplayedatthesametimeasa
combination.
Sequencer and Auto Song Setup function
Ahigh‐performance16‐trackMIDIsequencerisbuilt
intothemicroSTATION,allowingyoutorecordupto
128songswithatotalof210,000notes.Withahigh‐
precisiontimingresolutionof1/480,itcancapture
everynuanceofyourperformance.
Thesequencerfeaturesintuitiveoperation,and
providesnumerousfunctionsthatallowyo
uto
producemusicquickly.Tem
platesongsforeverystyle
ofmusic,alooprecordingfunction,gridsequence
function,andarpeggiatorwillpowerfullyenhance
yourcreativity.
UsingtheAutoSongSetupfunction,your
performanceusingaprogramorcombinationplusthe
arpeggiatorcaneasilyberecordedtomultipletracks,
instantlycreati
ngthebasictracksthatformthecoreof
yoursongproduction.
Dual polyphonic arpeggiator
Forarpeggiopatterns,fivepresetpatternsand640
userarpeggiopatternsarebuiltin.Inadditiontowhat
atypicalarpeggiatorcando,themicroSTATION’s
polyphonicarpeggiatorcandevelopchordsand
phrasesinavarietyofwaysdependingonthepitchor
timingatwhichyouplaythekeyboard.Youcanus
e
thistoperformawideva
rietyofpatternsincluding
drumorbassphrases,orguitarorkeyboardbacking
riffs.Thearpeggiatorisalsousefulasoneelementof
creatingsoundssuchaspads,synthsounds,and
soundeffectsthatinvolvesubtlemotion.
InCombinationorSequencermodes,the
microSTATIONprovidesdu
alarpeggiatorsthatlet
youruntwoarpeggiopatternssimultaneously.This
allowspowerfulperformancepossibilitiessuchas
applyingdifferentarpeggiopatternstodrumsand
bassprograms,orusingsplitorvelocitytoswitch
betweenarpeggiopatterns.
Realtime control
Thefourrealtimecontrolknobsgiveyouheightened
expressivenessandrealtimecontrolforcreatingyour
soundorcontrollingthearpeggiator.Theycanalsobe
usedinanexternalmodesetupforcontrollingyour
externalMIDIdevices.
Editor and Plug-In editor
Thebundled“microSTATIONEditor”and
“microSTATIONPlug‐InEditor”softwareare
applicationsthatletyouuseyourcomputertoeditthe
microSTATION’sprograms,combinations,drumkits,
andarpeggiopatterns.
Theseeditorsallowmoredetailededitingthanis
possibleonthemicroSTATIONitself.Theyalsoletyou
editandcreateuserarpeggiopatternsanddr
umkits,
whichcannotbeeditedfromthemi
croSTATION.
“microSTATIONEditor”isastandaloneeditor.
“microSTATIONPlug‐InEditor”isaneditorthat
supportsVST,AudioUnits,andRTASformats.It
allowsyoutousethemicroSTATIONfromwithin
yourDAW(DigitalAudioWorkstation)orotherhost
applicationasaplug‐inins
trument.