Korg R3

I've started the pipeline to grab one of these instead of a Juno in leu of the discussion in the other thread.

Can't test one out in this area but I believe it will fit the bill nicely to contrast the Prophet 08 and work well in functionality along with it.

Any owners have the good, the bad, and the ugly on this synth?

Had one for a while. Really, really fun arp! Great programming UI!

Kind of awfully thin, tweezy and "shiny-sounding". Could do an okay EP though.

...I got rid of it. Don't miss it even a little.

Have a Radias - I can see how it will compliment your P-08, but you may find it a bit *more* of a compliment than you had bargained for.

Anemic, near-starved-to-death, famine-victim etc are the kind of things that come to mind.

Really must get around to selling it. What i dont get - the KP3 is supposedl based upon the same technology and the Radias, which in turn derived from the Oasys. I would *MUCH* rather have the KP3 filters in the Radias - actually the filter in its fx section seems to sound 'better' (more characterful) than its main filters as well.

Find an online retailer who will let you return it if you dont like it - I did like the Radias when I first got it - I think in retrospect just because it was different to what I had - seemed fresh etc. But everytime I use it in a lead role, then it just doesnt work for me. Kind of reminds me of a cheap soft synth compared to the virus ti, v-synth - actually even my cheap ks-rack has loads more character to it.

Think lobotomised aspie famine victim that needs a bath - yeh that about sums it up

I'm probably going to get one. Then me and my bandmate both have keys accessible, instead of the current situation, in which only one of us can play keys at a time. Plus the R3 looks to be easier for her to use than my G2.

So far, for the most part, that's two nays.

I liked the MS2000. Enough to own an original MS2000 and then an MS2000B. My only hang up with it was the polyphony but the R3 has enough there.

Hmmmmmm.

Think lobotomised aspie famine victim that needs a bath - yeh that about sums it up

Thin and dirty.

Have a look at the SH-201 as well in that price range. If my *only* synth had to be an R3 or SH-201 - no contest - the 201 wins as its sound is full enough to easily stand on its own.

Dunno what the R3 keys are like - (small keyboard) but I must admit I hate the keys on the 201.

BTW - one area where the radias does shine if your feeling lazy - make it a multi with its mod seqs, arp etc active - great for just using as auto-backing layer - its thin enough sounding to get away with that kind of hack.

I'm one of the minority that actually liked the MS2000, though I liked the keyboard version better than the rack for some weird reason.

I got the R3 hoping it would be a MS2000 with better sounds and more polyphony. Its not.

...at least not to me

...another thing to think about is that the R3 only has about half the synth engine of the Radias.

Had a SH-201. Let it go because of too much computer dependency. It's hardware but I use the term loosely in it's regard. The 201 was also a bit edgy and that's not what I'm looking for.

The Prophet 08 has that well covered. Want something that a bit more gentle.

I wouldnt say the R3 is it then.. the thing that hit me first was that the R3 sounded alot like Albino. Digital & no midrange. What is there sounds like it's been squeezed to a poop with the bandpass.

A little OT, but I like my MS2000 ... If I were to start selling synths ... it would stay and the Micron and Fusion would be the first I'd say goodbye to ...

Sweetwater's got a pretty good return policy and I've already talked to my sales engineer about the R3 and returning it if I don't like it.

I would much rather have something modern to fit the bill then worrying about 20 year old synth reliability and previous owner care.

The MS2000 is a great synth, it just doesn't have enough poly on its' own.

Stop that!

I thought about it but don't really want to spend that much. That said though, I may opt for the rack at about $750 - $800.

I already have 3 good sets of keys. It may be a good time to get a roll rack started.

BUT, I also read that the Radias build quality wasn't as good as the R3.

I'll look into it. If I can get a good deal, then possibly.

Nova Musik has a rebox special on the Radias. $975 for the keyboard version.

I was quoted just under $550 for an R3 by one store.

BTW - an SPL charisma and some gentle EQ can help the radias alot

Used Radiases are starting to show up in the $600 range, saw one on the Boston Craig's List this morning.

Ive got the Radias rack, and its definitely one of those 'not for everyone' synths. It sounds different than the MS2000 (a little more refined in some aspects) but I dont know if I would call it better. From a programmers perspective, its pretty killer, particularly with the new OS.

I sit my radias next to my virus and they make good friends. I'd imagine it would be the same with the P08

Then it must be awful. The R3 was just fragile plastic and didn't feel solid at all. I was willing to forgive that for the excellent UI and cool "formant recording" feature but, in the end, it still sounded too thin. The person that compared its sound to Rob Papen's Albino was dead-on! The overall sound of the R3 destroyed any interest I had in the Radias.

I would tend to agree with those who say try it from a vendor you can easily return it to, but do try it, our opinions might not be yours