In 1976, the PE-1000 (Polyphonic Ensemble) and PE-2000 (Polyphonic Ensemble Orchestra) were released followed by the modular PS-3300 in 1977. Also in 1975, the company's first polyphonic, preset synthesizer, the 900-PS, was developed. In 1974, Korg introduced a dual oscillator version of the Mini-Korg 700, the Mini-Korg 700s, followed a year later by the Maxi-Korg 800DV (marketed in the US as the Univox K-2 and Univox K-3 respectively). Inspired by the success of the Mini-Korg in Japan (which was distributed by Unicord as the Univox K-1 in the US), in the following years the company focused their efforts on strengthening their position in the synthesizer marketplace and released dozens of additional keyboards. Unsure of Korg's viability in the organ market long dominated by only a few giants, Katoh saw an opportunity when a Japanese musician and former Berklee School of Music student informed him of the similarities between his organ and a synthesizer.įeeling he would fare better in the nascent synthesizer industry, Katoh introduced the Mini-Korg 700, a monophonic synthesizer which retained many of the basic design features of Mieda's organ, in 1973. Fifty of the organs were eventually produced and marketed and had the distinction of being the first products to bear the Korg name. A unique feature of his prototype was the programmability of its voices aligning it less with traditional organs and more with the relatively new synthesizers of which Katoh was unfamiliar with. Eighteen months later Mieda returned with an organ of his own design. Mieda sought backing for development of keyboard products but Katoh wanted to see a prototype first. Katoh's entrance into the keyboard market was induced by engineer Fumio Mieda in 1967. Later versions, including the all electronic solid state Donca-Matic DE-20, introduced in 1966, and subsequent drum machines such as the Stageman and Mini-Pops series, were equally successful. Though a relatively simple instrument, it was groundbreaking in its day and sold well in Japan. It was described as a "disc rotary electric auto rhythm machine" and was named the Donca-Matic DA-20 (legend has it because it produced the sound "donca, donca, donca"). In 1963, the fledgling company introduced its first product. It would not be until 1968 that the name Korg would appear - which was arrived at by combining elements of "Keio" and "organ" and which also happened to contain the first letters of each founder's surname. by virtue of its being located alongside the Keio railway line but was later amended to Keio Electronic Laboratories. The company was initially dubbed Keio Gijutsu Kenkyujo Ltd. In 1962, Katoh secured a factory in central Tokyo where Osanai and a team of four employees began work. Convinced he could build a superior instrument by drawing on his engineering skills learned at Tokyo University, Osanai approached Katoh to provide financial backing.
Osanai had been frustrated by the limitations of his Wurlitzer Sideman with which he had been accompanying himself while performing at Katoh's club. Korg began as a venture between unlikely business partners Tsutomu Katoh, a successful nightclub owner, and Tadashi Osanai, Japan's premier accordion player. Search the Classifieds for this manufacturer. Home Site Map About Us Contact Us Support Us
0 kommentar(er)
