Korg M50-61 61-Key Synth Workstation
Capture the sound of the M3 in an affordable, expressive synthesizer with the Korg M50-61 workstation. Weighing in at just 15 pounds, it's built to travel.
Overall User Ratings (based on 58 ratings)
Submitted October 21, 2011 by a customer from hotmail.com
"Korg M50 - 61 = WINNER!!"
Verified Customer
zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
This will be my live gig beater for years to come.
Sound
This is a professional board built economically. The keys feel great and the fact that each patch can be equalized means that you can get optimal sound through almost any system.
Being able to program chords and adjust tone parameters with knobs is great.
Features
Being that it's a workstation it has everything but sampling.
Ease of Use
Great intuitive touch screen. The manual is well written as well. Lots of depth to the synthesis engine here. Nice graphical fader approach to tone generation.
Quality
I've never broken any keyboards as they travel in flight cases. This model may not fare well in a gig bag.
Value
This board is a wonderful value. Lots of bang for the buck.
Manufacturer Support
Korg has been sketchy in the past with receiving and processing warranty cards and rebates. Make copies!!
The Wow Factor
??
Musical Background:
Active Musician / Producer / Recording Engineer
Musical Style:
Rock
28 of 28 people (100%) people found this review helpful. Did you?
Thanks for your opinion!
Submitted November 20, 2011 by a customer from yahoo.som
"Korg M50, Lessons worth Learning"
Verified Customer
zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
This is a high quality piece of gear. Can see gigging as well as using in my home studio. I did some research before purchasing, and am so glad I got the M50.
Sound
I am a newbie to the product, but I have been spending a lot of time experimenting with the programmed sounds. Like many products, if the volume is pumped a bit, the 3 dimensionality of the sound is enhanced. (Think volume = 3 dimensions, though right?) The only relative weak point are the piano sounds. I have a Roland from the 80s and I still think the Roland has the best basic piano sound. But, if you are looking beyond that, the Korg is truly awesome
Features
The chord trigger buttons are very cool. But it seems to me that if you want to play lead with the chord triggers, you should be able to do so without pounding on the actual keyboard. Again, since I am a newbie to this, perhaps there is something I am missing. Even on cheap keyboards, you can play chords and lead with no complicated programming to make the balance come out right.
Ease of Use
Great readily available sounds and "combis". For anything beyond that, there is a very steep learning curve. But SOOO worth it
Quality
Extremely well made. A high quality board, and light too
Value
Absolutely a great board, as long as you have the time to learn how it works. The guys on the YouTube demos make it look easy, but wish there were some readily available tutorials from Korg.
Manufacturer Support
Haven't used support.
The Wow Factor
Really, if youwant to take your composing and arranging to the next level, it is so worth it.
Musical Background:
I have been playing music since the 70s. I play piano, bassoon, guitar, bass, vocals. I gig and jam at home.
Musical Style:
Classical, electronic, classic rock, blues
4 of 4 people (100%) people found this review helpful. Did you?
Thanks for your opinion!
Submitted December 19, 2008 by a customer from aol.com
"If you're budget is just over a grand-BUY THIS KEYBOARD,AS THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON TO LOOK ELSEWHERE-PERIOD."
Verified Customer
zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
I will be buried with this keyboard,as it's my soul mate...I considered the Kurzweil PC3,but this board gives me what I need for half the money.
Sound
The sound is excessively amazing...clean,pristine,impeccably authentic & soooo inspiring!!:~}
The strings,synth leads & pads are shockingly good...and the guitars-particularly some of the electric guitars & acoustic guitars are better then my Triton Extreme..really!
The drums are jaw-droppingly stunning....the pianos are not quite so authentic,but very respectable for a workstation of this price.
Features
The best features are the full size touch screen & the diagonally angled top half of the keyboard..as well as the most intuitive & advanced sequencer I have ever had the pleasure of working with..much better than my Extreme's sequencer!
The performance controls are incredible,but the keybed action is a bit too light,but the keys are spring-loaded,so it's pretty good-just not great-especially if you're accustomed to 88-key weighted action.
Ease of Use
Superb,out-of-the-box sounds & tremendous sound tweaking options...for such a complex workstation,it's realtively easy to navigate through-especially if you have prior Korg experience,but because of it's advanced features,it could be a bit of a learning curve,if you are not familiar with the M3's functions.
As for the manual-could'nt tell you anything,as I did not need to read it.
Quality
For a keyboard that only weighs in at 15 lbs,it's a fairly sturdy board,but because it is made of all plastic,I would recommend a flight case for gigging.
The only thing I am a little concerned with,is that this particular board is made in China,as supposed to Japan,so hopefully there was good quality control in the manufacturing plant there.
Value
This is by far,the best value in a workstation on the market,as nothing comes close to this keyboard...in fact,it would be ridiculous to buy anything else for just over a grand.
The Wow Factor
It's a beautiful board with beautiful sounds & with beautiful functionality.
Musical Background:
Veteran keyboardist,recording enthusiast,programmer & audiophile
Musical Style:
Jazz,rock,pop,alternative,electronic,celtic,latin,lounge......
95 of 102 people (93%) people found this review helpful. Did you?
Thanks for your opinion!
Submitted June 9, 2012 by Dale Richards in Prescott Valley, AZ
"KORG M50 Synth WorkStation"
Verified Customer
zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
zZOUNDS was Fantastic and My KORG M50 is Amazing! I am Very Impressed with The Korg and also zZounds VERY FAST shipping I ordered on wendsday and had the Korg by Friday morning!! The Korg M50,The sound is 1st Class and very Easy to Use and the touch screen is Awesome,Also The VOX Organ in the KORG is perfect,I LOVE IT and will Use this on Many Recordings and Live shows,I could not be any Happier!!!
Musical Background:
Pro Musician,Producer for 30 Plus years
Musical Style:
ROCK,POWERPOP,GARAGE,PUNK
1 of 1 people (100%) people found this review helpful. Did you?
Thanks for your opinion!
Submitted February 28, 2012 by Bob F in Nashua, NH
"Korg M-50 rocks"
Verified Customer
zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
I have had the M-50 for a few weeks and it does everything you'd want in a board of this type. Good midi implementation, tons of terrific sounds and combinations. Versatile and useful internal sequencer that is deeper than it initially appears to be. Works well with my Sonar X1 program with the exception that I've been unable to find an instrument file for it for that program. A few that purported to do the job that I found online just didn't match up the sounds properly. I used to have a Korg N-364 which was set up similarly to the M-50 with Comb and Programs as to numbering was useful. I used the .ins file for the N-364 and made a corresponding list of the programs on a reference page so I could call up the instrument I wanted by inserting the proper number for it. The programs in the N-364 don't match the M-50, obviously so you have to ignore that and go strictly by the reference sheet for the M-50s sounds. I was disappointed that the M-50s VST internal program was basically useless and didn't work for me at all. I have many years of experience in working out these kinds of problems but just was unable to get around it. That is probably not a problem with the M-50 but with the software. I'm surprised that Korg hasn't published an Instrument File that will work with the Sonar software. First time I've ever run into that before. It should be a very simple thing for a knowledgeable programmer to get done. Whassuppp??? Let's get it done! If anyone out there has an .ins file I'm unware of I'd sure like to hear about it.
Overall, I love this keyboard and it does just about anything I ask of it with ease and style.
Musical Background:
Playing for 50 years, on keyboards, guitar, bass, brass instruments
Musical Style:
Rock, country, electronic, symphonic
1 of 1 people (100%) people found this review helpful. Did you?
Thanks for your opinion!
Submitted November 3, 2008 by a customer from hotmail.com
"mmmm50 :)"
Sound
The sound of this synth is beautiful! The quality of sound is pristine, rich and very professional. The sound for the most part is expressive. Iv checked out most of the sounds and i have no complaints ..(ok just one or 2...the finger bass sounds could be better and more punchy and boomy and less "perfect" in regards to intonation..and as i found myself adjusting the sound with the 4 knobs, that didnt even help much..but hey, you might like it. And the pianos are fine but the grand isnt as grand as they made it seem it would be..IMO ...The presets are just fine and the 4 knobs to make your own sound are real cool and can really bring a sound to life. I'll use this as my work horse for studio production...itl really do the job and inspire so much creativity and make me look good. some awesome sounds in this thing. I think i'll be really happy with it.
Features
lets be reasonable and not compare this to the m3 or the mr..its a great synth in this price range, theres something very unique about it and dont expect better for 1200..its a bang for buck without question..the touch screan, the m3 sounds, dual arps and more, if ur looking for a synth in this price range, i really cant understand why anyone would second guess this..its a GREAT machine!!!
Ease of Use
well im not a pro at this yet and havent had it long enough to be able to discern the ease of use but so far im making great sound from this and using alot of what it has to offer and i havent even read the manual..i believe its not gna be so difficult given the convenience of the touch scean and is very intuitive and just looks very friendly..im not intimidated by this synth, we have bonded and are geting along famously thus far :)
Quality
I got scared reading a few reviews on the m50 having a plasicy feel and crappy keybed...COMPARED TO WHAT??? the roland v synth gt..????(which is 3 times as much and doesnt feel a heck of alot better imo) again, lets be reasonable, the keybed is just fine, feels great to me, the m50 is light yet solid and confident, you get what you pay for people, its a korg, you cant and wont go wrong..its just fine!! they cut corners but again, in this price range its a great investment..a very cool synth.
Value
worth it!
Manufacturer Support
no poninion..based on what iv read, im in good hands.
Musical Background:
recording artist
Musical Style:
pop rock, prog rock, folk..whatever sounds good is my kinda music
122 of 132 people (92%) people found this review helpful. Did you?
Thanks for your opinion!
Submitted December 22, 2010
Korg M50-61 Keyboard Customer Review
Sound
i have had one since they first came out. its a workhorse. the sounds are good and has that typical compressed sample based feel to it that started with the M1. it has a lot of polyphony. its a bargain. the kyboard actually is fast and very playable. its robust and light at the same time. the only thing it could have had was 8 chord pads instead of 4. the m50 editor is easy to use but dont touch anything while its downloading with it at start up of the plug-in. it corrupts easily and could leave you having to refresh from default back up. so get a back up put on your memory card as soon as it arrives.
the synthesis is limited as no interaction across osc's is possible like on a VA synth. but it can switch/layer and reverse the waveforms employed.
the sequencer is usable but i suspect most people will have a DAW. it doesnt have USB audio but thats not missed as audio cards are cheap these days and more versatile.
its competitors are mainly roland based. probably the new Gi is its main rival. dont compare it to a novation ultranova, virus snow etc; as these are really VA mono-timbral synths aimed to replicate analog synths of old.
this is a good band/stage synth. it makes piano's, organs, strings, leads with ease. the electric guitar overdrive/feedback effects are first class and the best i have ever heard.
The karma software is very good and fun. and worth the extra outlay.
it is exactly the same sound as the m3. put a controller with it like a ZERO sl and you have an M1 for less money. the only omission i know of is ribbon controller signals are not supported by the m50.
it doesnt feel cheap.
Features
no accessories
Ease of Use
very easy to get quality sounds
Quality
well made, light and robust.
Value
yes worth it.
Manufacturer Support
had korg before. they make great gear except the nanopad which is an embarrassment for korg.
yes mine packed up too like everybody else's who bought one. and if yours hasnt yet.... it will do....the pads fail!
5 of 7 people (71%) people found this review helpful. Did you?
Thanks for your opinion!
Please wait.