i3 MB-Music Workstation

KORG i3 MB MB - Music Workstation

KORG i3 MB Music Workstation: Intuitive, Instant, Inspiring

A journey to discover the main Presets and Styles

Intuitive , instant , inspirational

With the KORG i3 MB Music Workstation, musical ideas can come to life and quickly evolve into complete productions, simplifying the creative process and providing the best solution for selecting and combining the most suitable elements. Built-in effects and EQ adapt the sound to any situation. The sequencer records, saves and plays back MIDI and audio files, with the ability to play along. Self-contained, simple to use and fun to play, the i3 is the ideal instrument for the budding composer, the novice performer or the inspired emerging producer. The KORG i3 MB Music Workstation can truly operate anywhere thanks to battery power, with an auto power-off function that optimizes battery life.

Contents and Form

The KORG i3 MB is a complete workstation with 61 velocity-sensitive keys with three dynamic response curves and a fourth fixed setting. The Transpose buttons shift the pitch of the keyboard up or down by two octaves, in octave increments. The professional joystick controls pitch bend, vibrato and brightness during performance; an additional two-band EQ (Low and High) adjusts the overall tone. All buttons and controls on the front panel are logically grouped base to their functions, while the custom backlit LCD display provides visual feedback of the current settings, and a rotary encoder quickly changes the value of the parameters. The dark finish, the rubberized surface and the contoured panels are important complements to an exclusive and refined design.

It all starts with sound

The i3 benefits from KORG's many years of experience and skill in electronic keyboard design and sound design. It features over 800 PCM sounds, carefully crafted by an international team of expert programmers and musicians, including a complete GM2 set for compatibility with General MIDI, and 59 custom drum kits. The advanced sound engine features 64-voice polyphony, and two stereo effects processors with 173 different FX variations. The i3's operating logic distinguishes between Sound Sets, which are the sounds that can be played in real time on the keyboard, and Style Performance Sets, which are the sounds and parts generated by the i3 to support a musical performance. There are up to 200 Sound Sets, and each of these can use up to 4 sounds: 3 layered on the upper keyboard, and 1 on the lower keyboard in Split mode; this operating mode that divides the keyboard into two parts has a dedicated button that allows immediate activation. In the same way, it is always possible to recall the sound of the Grand Piano from any operating condition thanks to a dedicated button.

Manage items

The KORG i3 MB is the Workstation that helps you fix and organize your musical ideas, enriching each performance with automatic musical support from bass, drums, percussion and all the instruments best suited to the selected musical style; from a Funk wind section, to guitars, to a string quartet, to an old blues organ. There are 270 Styles available, each with 8 backing tracks, 4 Rhythmic Variations, plus: Intro/Ending, Count Down & Break; and 4 Performance Set memories that recall both the Backing parts and those played in real time on the keyboard. Each part in performance can be muted thanks to the dedicated buttons, while their volume can be adjusted individually; even the parts of the Style Performance Set can be processed with two independent stereo effect processors, each with 173 different FX types. But the i3 allows an even more advanced use of these elements, in fact in each Style Performance Set it is possible to replace or exchange sounds or other parameters to create truly personal performances. Further help to creative flair can come from the 8 Chord Buttons, which can provide and suggest ready-made harmonic solutions for composing or completing a song. Each Style ultimately offers a complete environment to support musical creation thanks to the sounds, accompaniment parts, and chords ready to play.

Save and share

With the KORG i3 MB Music Workstation, you can play, compose, and record—all in one convenient way to capture, save, and share moments of personal creativity or musical inspiration. All the settings used to create a song or performance—Performance Sets, Sound Sets, tempo, effects, etc.—can be saved to a Set List location for immediate recall. There are 10 banks of Set Lists, each with five locations. As with all Workstations, the i3’s sequencer can function as a 16-track MIDI recorder, so any track can be edited or replaced; and once completed, the project can be exported as a MIDI file. But what really makes the i3 unique is the Performance Recording mode, in which an entire performance created on the keyboard can be recorded and exported as a .WAV (44.1 kHz) audio file. The internal sequencer can also play audio files in the following formats: .WAV (44.1 kHz) or MP3.

Alone, On Stage, In Studio

The KORG i3 MB Music Workstation features a full range of connections and control options on the rear panel to satisfy any musical need. The keyboard can be powered by AC power using the included AC adapter, which has a safety latch, or by batteries. The rear panel features two 1/4" audio output jacks (Outputs: Left/Mono & Right), a 1/8" stereo mini-jack headphone output, as well as an 1/8" Audio In jack. It is also possible to connect a pedal with assignable functions, such as Damper or Volume/Expression. A MIDI OUT jack is provided for controlling external equipment, and two USB ports: USB TO DEVICE for using storage devices such as a flash drive, and USB TO HOST for connecting the i3 to a computer.

Technical Specifications

Keyboard :

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• 61 Velocity-sensitive keys
  
• Touch Control: Soft (light), Medium (standard), Hard (heavier), Fixed
  

Sound Generator

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• Stereo PCM Sound Generator
  
• Polyphony: 64 voices Max.
  

Sounds : 790 sounds, 59 Drum Kits (including a GM-General MIDI compatible Sound Set)

Sound sets: 200

Style Performance : 270 Styles × 4 Sets

Effects

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• Keyboard: 2 Stereo Digital Multi Effects
  
• Accompaniment: 2 Stereo Digital Multi Effects
  
• 173 Variations
  

Styles :

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• 270 Styles
  
• Style Control: 2 Intros, 4 Variations, 2 Fills, 1 Break, 2 Endings, Synchro Start, Tap Tempo
  

Audio player

Supported formats : MP3 (44.1 kHz, 16-bit), WAV (44.1 kHz, 16-bit)

Sequencer

Registration :

• 
  
• Support Real-Time Recording
  
• 16 Tracks, up to 999 Songs max.
  
• Memory capacity: 100,000 notes (up to 999 Songs)
  
• Proprietary recording format (can convert recording to SMF0)
  

Reproduction :

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• Supports Song Play mode: play on the keyboard with a song playing
  
• Supported formats
  
• Playback: SMF (Standard MIDI File) formats 0 or 1
  

Demo songs : 3 (Songs + Introduction to sounds)

Scales : 11 Types (including a User Scale)

Connections

PEDALS - FOOT CONTROLLER Jack: 6.3 mm Phone Jack (half-damper not supported)

AUDIO IN jack: 3.5 mm Stereo Mini-Phone Jack

OUTPUT L/MONO, R Jacks: 6.3 mm TS Phone Jack (unbalanced)

Headphone: Jack: 3.5 mm Stereo Mini-Phone Jack

USB TO DEVICE port: USB connector type: A port (for connecting USB Flash Drive)

USB TO HOST port: USB type B connector (for connecting to the computer)

MIDI OUT connector: for controlling external MIDI equipment

MIDI: It is supported by MIDI OUT jack, and USB MIDI

Display: Custom backlit LCD

Diet :

- AC adapter (DC 12V)

- Batteries: x 6 AA batteries (alkaline or nickel-metal hydride) (sold separately)

- Battery life: approx. 8 h (using alkaline batteries)

Consumption : 6W

Available finishes: Black; Silver

Dimensions (W × D × H): 1,037 mm × 296 mm × 80 mm/40.83” × 11.65” × 3.15”

Weight : 4kg/8.82 lbs. (excluding batteries)

Supplied accessories : Quick Start Guide, Precautions for use, AC adapter

Optional Accessories (sold separately): PS-1 Foot Switch, PS-3 Foot Switch, DS-1H Damper Pedal, EXP-2 Foot Controller Volume/Expression