6 ms·

KORG phase8 – Acoustic Synthesizer

263 points by bpierre 9mo ago

bsaul 9mo ago
Is there a demo ? i couldn't find it on the page
- rwmj 9mo ago
  Loopop did a very thorough review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHlYvj0Ge7I https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHlYvj0Ge7I
- artimaeis 9mo ago
  Demos are on the feature page: https://phase8.korg.com https://phase8.korg.com
  - whilenot-dev 9mo ago
    Or on the page of the prototyping stage: https://korg.berlin/products/phase8 https://korg.berlin/products/phase8
- rolivercoffee 9mo ago
  Red Means Recording made a nice video with it: https://youtu.be/mpMxHfxuNco https://youtu.be/mpMxHfxuNco
yetkin 9mo ago
Looks really neat. I wish I had one, I am curious but it just sounds like an FM to me. In the demos I hear very decayed percussive FM sounds or mellow bell like FM sounds.
- embedding-shape 9mo ago
  If I understand correctly, it is doing frequency modulation somewhere, but the main point is that you can physically interact with the resonators, and influence the sound that way.
- jimmyjazz14 9mo ago
  Yeah as far as I can tell the bars are just producing sine waves and everything else is done within the electronics, interesting concept but honestly not all that exciting to me.
- ssalazar 9mo ago
  It looks most similar to a Rhodes piano-type electromechanical keyboard, where tuned metal elements are somehow actuated and then sonified with a guitar pickup. Unlikely theres any FM which would require independently digitizing each of the resonators and just generally a lot of complexity that doesnt seem warranted. The similarity in timbre isn't coincidental though -- FM is noted for its ability to emulate complex timbres like bells/metallic tones (such as electric pianos) that are challenging for more traditional subtractive synthesis architectures.
- CompoundEyes 9mo ago
  I agree. I have a Nord Drum 3P that’s FM percussion modeling with drum pads. I can get close to these sounds and a lot more stuff that bends when you hit the pad harder. About half the price on Reverb. The Phase 8 is a cool idea.
fauria 9mo ago
$1149.99, in case you are wondering: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1946617-REG/korg_phase8_polyphonic_8_voice_acoustic.html https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1946617-REG/korg_phas...
- embedding-shape 9mo ago
  Not too bad, considering the space it sits in. Another "physical modeling synthesizer" which I've been looking at for the last few weeks (https://www.ericasynths.lv/steampipe-3153/ https://www.ericasynths.lv/steampipe-3153/) goes for €990, which is more or less the same as the phase8, when you consider the currency difference. Edit: Actually, seems phase8 will be slightly cheaper, my local (Spain) shops seems to sell it for around €950.
  - pschoeps 9mo ago
    I really love the Steampipe and its approach to synthesis, its a lot of fun: https://www.reddit.com/r/synthesizers/comments/1j7hgoo/making_a_bunch_of_different_sounds_on_the_eric/ https://www.reddit.com/r/synthesizers/comments/1j7hgoo/makin... Erica synths makes really solid hardware too.
  - munificent 9mo ago
    Phase8 isn't physical modeling, though. It's actually electroacoustic, like a Rhodes.
- ChipopLeMoral 9mo ago
  Coming next year: A Behringer knockoff that's just as good for $250.
  - kennywinker 9mo ago
    “just as good” with every single corner cut ;)
    - yeasku 9mo ago
byproxy 9mo ago
I keep telling myself to stop lusting over gear and just start making music, but… EDIT: Saw that it’s pretty much a fixed-key device, which makes it much less appealing. Still pretty damn cool, though.
- Tangurena2 9mo ago
  GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome = buying stuff you don't really need is a serious problem in the synth/eurorack community.
  - rjh29 9mo ago
    Or any community that involves conspicuous consumption. There's always what feels like a majority of people who collect/buy/show off more than they use things
    - wdfx 9mo ago
      and that's fine in some sense if you're honest about what you're doing. I have at least one guitar that I rarely play but I keep because I consider it a work of art and a collectible. But, I have others which are workhorses and I play daily. It gets awkward when collecting is presented as a way to be a better musician, which is clearly false.
      - Scene_Cast2 9mo ago
        It also percolates into reviews, too. When a nontrivial fraction of the community is buying dreams and is about collecting as opposed to using whatever it is, some reviewers style their content towards that crowd and overlook issues or benefits that pop up when actually using the gear. I don't have a problem with collecting, but I'd love for the distinction to be more upfront.
        embedding-shape 9mo ago
        > It also percolates into reviews, too It's kind of easy to detect though. I usually read three/four paragraphs before I realize that the person reviewing doesn't actually make music and doesn't consider the music making parts of the hardware, and instead focuses on very generic stuff that basically the manufacturer handed to them and said "make sure this is included".
jihadjihad 9mo ago
I guess I am left wondering why the person in the photo is playing it with a pencil and a truffle.
- lewispollard 9mo ago
  Says right underneath: > Beyond adjusting parameters, phase8 invites physical interaction. Sculpt sound by touching, plucking, strumming, or tapping the resonators – or experiment by adding found objects for new textures. Like prepared piano.
ChipopLeMoral 9mo ago
Pretty sick demo here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFNQoekyGAs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFNQoekyGAs at 6:20 he's showing how placing different objects on the resonators changes their tone. I want this so bad.
- embedding-shape 9mo ago
  > he's showing how placing different objects on the resonators changes their tone "Have you ever thought re-patching your modular synth was too easy? Here, now your drum machine can be even harder to recreate the sound you liked last week!" A joke, but was immediately what jumped out as scary. Not gonna lie, looks like a fun machine, but for that money, I tend to buy stuff I can use and recall old patches with. Although except for the modular obviously :/
  - ChipopLeMoral 9mo ago
    You can change the actual resonator shape (it says it comes with 3 different shapes) to affect their sound. Like actually unscrew them and screw different ones on. Since this is just a piece of metal I see endless hacking opportunities here.
    - embedding-shape 9mo ago
      Looks really interesting, no doubt. But I also see that you can change the sound by just placing objects on top of the resonators, so I'm guessing if I was jamming with that, I'd try placing my hand, foot, head and a bunch of other stuff on top of the resonators. Probably find some neat sounds. Then next week I'm gonna have zero ideas about how to recreate it again :P Already suffering with this with the modular synth, and those are just cables in specific holes.
  - fooqux 9mo ago
    What an insightful comment. I've always considered art as something that can't be recreated, as it involves the state of mind the creator was at the time of creating it. I would worry no more about recreating a sound on this synth as I would recreating the exact pitch of an acoustic guitar I made last year. Your take is obviously a valid one though. I just find it infinitely interesting how there can be so many valid viewpoints about something like this.
afandian 9mo ago
They have visible pickups, which presumably have a permanent magnet core. But how are the resonators getting 'plucked'? Is it the same electromagnet as the pickup or a separate one? I can't imagine those two modes would work well. (i.e. dumping current across the coil would make the magnet want to escape) Perhaps there's a field coil instead of a permanent magnet?
- jimmyjazz14 9mo ago
  My guess is that it uses magnetic fields to resonate the bars (kinda like an ebow). Any plucking types sounds are probably done with filter/envelopes within the electronics.
- CamperBob2 9mo ago
  The visible coils provide the stimulus, I think. The pickups are mounted near the top (middle?) of the resonators and not directly visible.
racl101 9mo ago
If Kraftwerk were still doing their thing this would be right up their alley. But they probably got their own special gear.
- Lio 9mo ago
  Kraftwerk are still doing their thing. I know because I totally failed to get tickets to see them at the Royal Albert Hall in June[1]. https://www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/events/2026/kraftwerk https://www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/events/2026/kraftwer...
- fatherwavelet 9mo ago
  Florian Schneider has been dead for 5 years and Ralf Hutter is pushing 80. Other people have made electronic music too since 1975.
glimshe 9mo ago
Physical hardware is fun, sounds better (when analog or acoustic) but I can't go back after a long time with a streamlined VST-based workflow. For playing without a computer, I simply use romplers for the convenience. So, while I have a gut desire for this gear, I won't ever actually buy it...
- waffletower 9mo ago
  Unfortunately, I definitely disagree with the "sounds better" argument, particularly for this instrument. I do own a vibraphone, and happen to also design synthesizers, and I did not find the Phase8 sound to be compelling. One of the appeals of a synthesizer is its spectral plasticity, and the output of the Phase8 relies too heavily on the sonic characteristics of the resonator medium. My vibraphone definitely suffers from this, and has the cultural baggage of being a recognizable instrument, but it is a much more pleasing sameness than the Phase8.
jimmyjazz14 9mo ago
Seems like the bars are just there to produce the (almost) sine wave oscillation part of the synth which is neat I guess but it just seems like a gimmick if I am being totally honest. I still respect them trying new ideas though.
- kennywinker 9mo ago
  I mean… this is pretty similar to how a rhodes works… are those a gimmick?
  - jimmyjazz14 9mo ago
    Doesn't the Rhodes use hammers to hit the bars though?
- fatherwavelet 9mo ago
  I don't think it even sounds that interesting. Especially if you have ever used the various physical modeling ensembles in Reaktor. It isn't even close to some of those.
asdhtjkujh 9mo ago
Glad to see this has finally been released after years of R&D :) can't wait to see what Takahashi-san and team cook up next. In principle, Korg Berlin looks like a great model for satellite incubator within an established organization. Would absolutely love to work there.
- kennywinker 9mo ago
  I was wondering to myself why korg berlin exists. Like i would be shocked if they sell enough of these to pay for the preceding five years of rent much less the salaries. Is it genuinely moonshot r&d, like a bell labs or xerox parc? Is it just to prevent Takahashi from starting a competitor? Something else? Whichever reason, i’m glad it exists… it just feels improbable.
  - asdhtjkujh 9mo ago
    Agreed, its existence is implausible, but I assume they're consulting on other projects for Korg Japan in addition to developing Phase8 and other prototypes. They're undoubtedly taking a loss (despite low European salaries) but their contributions across the board could also scale non-linearly. I also imagine that it's the olive branch that brought Takahashi back to the company after he left. He brought Korg back from the dead and they were probably and rightfully desperate to find a way to retain their top performer.
  - ericwood 9mo ago
    It's honestly incredible they're bringing this to market! This style of incubator tends to work on a lofty goal and the research and ideas explored on the way trickle down into other parts of the company and find their way into more accessible products. Really similar in theory to the over the top concept cars manufacturers build that never see the light of day.
  - TheOtherHobbes 9mo ago
    Phase 8 is a high margin collectible and brand promotion device. Korg may not make their money back from direct sales - although I wouldn't be surprised if they did - but likely there would be enough of a halo effect to make it worthwhile. I expect this will turn into a small range of variations with strings, tubes, and so on. But it's also part of a cultural trend moving back from do-it-all software products to tactile collectibles with a simple, legible purpose. Vinyl started that, and I think this is a kind of musical take on the idea that something mechanical has more presence and authority than software. Sonically I don't think that's true at all, but it's a comprehensible marketing pitch.
H1Supreme 9mo ago
Wow, this is really innovative. It really takes "physical modeling" synths to another, more literal level. Would love to have been a fly on the wall when the idea was proposed. This + an Ekdahl Moisturizer would be an interesting pairing.
hackomorespacko 9mo ago
[dead]
- kennywinker 9mo ago
  It’s news because you can actually buy one now. If you’re gonna be mean it’s best not to be mean AND wrong.
- Ylpertnodi 9mo ago
  > an Wikipedia?
techblueberry 9mo ago
And here I told myself I wasn't going to buy anymore synthesizers.
zgniatacz 9mo ago
Cheap Eurorack ersatz version https://gieskes.nl/eurorack/?file=4-relay-module https://gieskes.nl/eurorack/?file=4-relay-module ?
- ben_ 9mo ago
  This website is horrific I love it
r0me1 9mo ago
Maybe i'm not fully grasping how it works, but i don't really see the acoustic part, aren't the resonators just turning the steel vibrations into an electric signal via coils in the same way an electric guitar works? basically what's the advantage of this vs plugin an electric guitar as a signal input to an analog synth?
- kagakuninja 9mo ago
  Guitar strings do not generate sound, unless plucked. However there are devices like the Sustaniac and the short-lived Moog guitar that do use electromagnets to induce vibrations in the strings. So you could compare this to the Sustaniac. EDIT - forgot about the ebow
NoSalt 9mo ago
My son and I are both fascinated by synthesizers and what they can do. I bought this: https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Nts1Mk2--korg-nutekt-nts-1-mkii-diy-digital-synthesizer-kit https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Nts1Mk2--korg-nutekt... For us to build and play with, and we have a ball with it. This phase8 would be a ton of fun as well.
ofalkaed 9mo ago
Years ago I used to make things like this, I discovered sites like 120 years of Electronic Music[0] and the Experimental Musical Instruments Journal[1] which my local library bizarrely had and went to town. Spent a lot of time digging through the local surplus shop that was a goldmine for cheap stuff for such things. The last project I started in on was a tuning fork organ, made my own tuning forks and coils and pickups to drive them, had big dreams with it but only ended up making about an octave worth, which I had great fun with. Most of these random instruments I controlled with my old Arp Odyssey which I even added CV outs for the LFO/Envelopes so I could modulate them and ran the output into the filter input, fun times. I might buy this, not really my interest these days but it really looks like great fun. [0] https://120years.net https://120years.net [1] https://barthopkin.com/experimental-musical-instruments-back-issues/ https://barthopkin.com/experimental-musical-instruments-back...
oori 9mo ago
Reminds me of the original Korg Wavedrum from the 90s, which was by far the best e-drum ever, you can lightly scratch it or hit it with a strong stick, endless tone and amplitude possibilities.
import 9mo ago
Looks cool but kinda seems like a baby of Intellijel plonk and rings with a different physical interaction.
wendgeabos 9mo ago
This needs to be mashed up with the Daxophone. Like, can I clamp pieces of wood into it and bow them?
deleted 9mo ago
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vegabook 9mo ago
cool, but doesn't sound that great when you close your eyes and just listen. Other synths beat this hands down especially at > $1000, and can easily bring in the physical world already, including live workflows. The issue is when we get into the physical analogue world, craftsmanship, materials, shape, often age, and of course the varied kinetic interactions with the sound solicitor, bring depth and richness which no little electrically-excited xylophone will ever get anywhere close to.
kazinator 9mo ago
So this is a synth in which a bank of oscillators use physically vibrating elements. From there, things proceed conventionally? It reminds me of systems in the "Sustainiac" family for generating unlimited sustain in an electric guitar, at any volume. There is a powered circuit which drives feedback into the string through a coil ("reverse pickup"). Typically the reverse pickup is in the neck position. So effectively the vibrating string becomes part of an oscillator circuit. We can imagine a harp like instrument (or koto) with multiple steel strings, oscillating under a Sustainiac-like pickup feeedback system, and used as the basis for synthesis. It looks as if the reeds in the Korg instrument might work similarly. This video is nice because it talks about the feel of the Sustainiac: how it "kicks in" and you feel the vibration swell just when you fret a note with your left hand. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsbdvkIua8o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsbdvkIua8o This one does a good job of demoing the three way harmonic switch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZwPPGsxY6g https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZwPPGsxY6g You can sustain the fundamental, or have it go to the octave harmonic, or even a higher harmonic above that. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsbdvkIua8o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsbdvkIua8o
- ofalkaed 9mo ago
  http://andrewmcpherson.org/project/mrp http://andrewmcpherson.org/project/mrp
- 4k93n2 9mo ago
  the 'light pedal' by gamechangeraudio would pair well with this. it uses a real spring inside the pedal to create an analog spring reverb. theres also some sort of laser used as well since the spring isnt long enough https://gamechangeraudio.com/light-pedal https://gamechangeraudio.com/light-pedal there is also their 'motor pedal' which uses a spinning motor similar to one that would be found in a drone, and then a laser again or something optical to pick up the movement and turn it into a digital signal. they actually have a synth that uses 8 of these motors to generate the sounds/voices
  - kazinator 9mo ago
    Motors spinning shafts that produce signals is a very old technique, dating back to the Telharmonium [1897], whose tonewheel technique was also used in Hammond organs [1935]. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonewheel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonewheel Speaking of spring reverbs: you can use a cheap piezo transducer mounted on the tremolo springs of an electric guitar as a passive reverb. Waylon MacPherson demonstrates this in his YT channel: it actually sounds good! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP5pJLgHrgw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP5pJLgHrgw
b00ty4breakfast 9mo ago
I'm not being dismissive when I say there isn't anything super innovative, within the individual components that make up this synth, but this is conceptually an electric tine piano with sound processing circuitry. That's sick,and I want it. I also want a zither-style stringed version and one with bells
scelerat 9mo ago
It’s interesting comparing the enthusiasm I see in this thread compared to the more jaded responses I’ve seen in r/synthesizers I think it looks cool and fun. Wish my workflow and time could accommodate it right now but they can’t. I’m really curious to hear what people who spend time with it are able to do.
jamesjolliffe 9mo ago
Sounds really cool to listen to someone talk _about_ this synth. Sounds pretty meh listening to the synth itself in any demos I've seen so far. Still an awesome product and piece of tech art. Myself, I can't imagine buying this synth for anything other than putting on a shelf to look at and talk about.
Joyfield 9mo ago
They must be more proud about the look of it than how it sounds because I can't find any sound demo on the page. Plenty of pictures though. I am gonna make a Photoshop alternative and on the product page I am only gonna have a lot of sounds of me farting.
beAbU 9mo ago
I'll wait for the Bad Gear review, thanks.

263 points by bpierre 9mo ago

bsaul 9mo ago

Is there a demo ? i couldn't find it on the page

rwmj 9mo ago
Loopop did a very thorough review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHlYvj0Ge7I https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHlYvj0Ge7I
artimaeis 9mo ago
Demos are on the feature page: https://phase8.korg.com https://phase8.korg.com
- whilenot-dev 9mo ago
  Or on the page of the prototyping stage: https://korg.berlin/products/phase8 https://korg.berlin/products/phase8
rolivercoffee 9mo ago
Red Means Recording made a nice video with it: https://youtu.be/mpMxHfxuNco https://youtu.be/mpMxHfxuNco

yetkin 9mo ago

Looks really neat. I wish I had one, I am curious but it just sounds like an FM to me. In the demos I hear very decayed percussive FM sounds or mellow bell like FM sounds.

embedding-shape 9mo ago
If I understand correctly, it is doing frequency modulation somewhere, but the main point is that you can physically interact with the resonators, and influence the sound that way.
jimmyjazz14 9mo ago
Yeah as far as I can tell the bars are just producing sine waves and everything else is done within the electronics, interesting concept but honestly not all that exciting to me.
ssalazar 9mo ago
It looks most similar to a Rhodes piano-type electromechanical keyboard, where tuned metal elements are somehow actuated and then sonified with a guitar pickup. Unlikely theres any FM which would require independently digitizing each of the resonators and just generally a lot of complexity that doesnt seem warranted. The similarity in timbre isn't coincidental though -- FM is noted for its ability to emulate complex timbres like bells/metallic tones (such as electric pianos) that are challenging for more traditional subtractive synthesis architectures.
CompoundEyes 9mo ago
I agree. I have a Nord Drum 3P that’s FM percussion modeling with drum pads. I can get close to these sounds and a lot more stuff that bends when you hit the pad harder. About half the price on Reverb. The Phase 8 is a cool idea.

fauria 9mo ago

$1149.99, in case you are wondering: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1946617-REG/korg_phase8_polyphonic_8_voice_acoustic.html https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1946617-REG/korg_phas...

embedding-shape 9mo ago
Not too bad, considering the space it sits in. Another "physical modeling synthesizer" which I've been looking at for the last few weeks (https://www.ericasynths.lv/steampipe-3153/ https://www.ericasynths.lv/steampipe-3153/) goes for €990, which is more or less the same as the phase8, when you consider the currency difference. Edit: Actually, seems phase8 will be slightly cheaper, my local (Spain) shops seems to sell it for around €950.
- pschoeps 9mo ago
  I really love the Steampipe and its approach to synthesis, its a lot of fun: https://www.reddit.com/r/synthesizers/comments/1j7hgoo/making_a_bunch_of_different_sounds_on_the_eric/ https://www.reddit.com/r/synthesizers/comments/1j7hgoo/makin... Erica synths makes really solid hardware too.
- munificent 9mo ago
  Phase8 isn't physical modeling, though. It's actually electroacoustic, like a Rhodes.
ChipopLeMoral 9mo ago
Coming next year: A Behringer knockoff that's just as good for $250.
- kennywinker 9mo ago
  “just as good” with every single corner cut ;)
  - yeasku 9mo ago

byproxy 9mo ago

I keep telling myself to stop lusting over gear and just start making music, but… EDIT: Saw that it’s pretty much a fixed-key device, which makes it much less appealing. Still pretty damn cool, though.

Tangurena2 9mo ago
GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome = buying stuff you don't really need is a serious problem in the synth/eurorack community.
- rjh29 9mo ago
  Or any community that involves conspicuous consumption. There's always what feels like a majority of people who collect/buy/show off more than they use things
  - wdfx 9mo ago
    and that's fine in some sense if you're honest about what you're doing. I have at least one guitar that I rarely play but I keep because I consider it a work of art and a collectible. But, I have others which are workhorses and I play daily. It gets awkward when collecting is presented as a way to be a better musician, which is clearly false.
    - Scene_Cast2 9mo ago
      It also percolates into reviews, too. When a nontrivial fraction of the community is buying dreams and is about collecting as opposed to using whatever it is, some reviewers style their content towards that crowd and overlook issues or benefits that pop up when actually using the gear. I don't have a problem with collecting, but I'd love for the distinction to be more upfront.
      - embedding-shape 9mo ago
        > It also percolates into reviews, too It's kind of easy to detect though. I usually read three/four paragraphs before I realize that the person reviewing doesn't actually make music and doesn't consider the music making parts of the hardware, and instead focuses on very generic stuff that basically the manufacturer handed to them and said "make sure this is included".

jihadjihad 9mo ago

I guess I am left wondering why the person in the photo is playing it with a pencil and a truffle.

lewispollard 9mo ago
Says right underneath: > Beyond adjusting parameters, phase8 invites physical interaction. Sculpt sound by touching, plucking, strumming, or tapping the resonators – or experiment by adding found objects for new textures. Like prepared piano.

ChipopLeMoral 9mo ago

Pretty sick demo here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFNQoekyGAs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFNQoekyGAs at 6:20 he's showing how placing different objects on the resonators changes their tone. I want this so bad.

embedding-shape 9mo ago
> he's showing how placing different objects on the resonators changes their tone "Have you ever thought re-patching your modular synth was too easy? Here, now your drum machine can be even harder to recreate the sound you liked last week!" A joke, but was immediately what jumped out as scary. Not gonna lie, looks like a fun machine, but for that money, I tend to buy stuff I can use and recall old patches with. Although except for the modular obviously :/
- ChipopLeMoral 9mo ago
  You can change the actual resonator shape (it says it comes with 3 different shapes) to affect their sound. Like actually unscrew them and screw different ones on. Since this is just a piece of metal I see endless hacking opportunities here.
  - embedding-shape 9mo ago
    Looks really interesting, no doubt. But I also see that you can change the sound by just placing objects on top of the resonators, so I'm guessing if I was jamming with that, I'd try placing my hand, foot, head and a bunch of other stuff on top of the resonators. Probably find some neat sounds. Then next week I'm gonna have zero ideas about how to recreate it again :P Already suffering with this with the modular synth, and those are just cables in specific holes.
- fooqux 9mo ago
  What an insightful comment. I've always considered art as something that can't be recreated, as it involves the state of mind the creator was at the time of creating it. I would worry no more about recreating a sound on this synth as I would recreating the exact pitch of an acoustic guitar I made last year. Your take is obviously a valid one though. I just find it infinitely interesting how there can be so many valid viewpoints about something like this.

afandian 9mo ago

They have visible pickups, which presumably have a permanent magnet core. But how are the resonators getting 'plucked'? Is it the same electromagnet as the pickup or a separate one? I can't imagine those two modes would work well. (i.e. dumping current across the coil would make the magnet want to escape) Perhaps there's a field coil instead of a permanent magnet?

jimmyjazz14 9mo ago
My guess is that it uses magnetic fields to resonate the bars (kinda like an ebow). Any plucking types sounds are probably done with filter/envelopes within the electronics.
CamperBob2 9mo ago
The visible coils provide the stimulus, I think. The pickups are mounted near the top (middle?) of the resonators and not directly visible.

racl101 9mo ago

If Kraftwerk were still doing their thing this would be right up their alley. But they probably got their own special gear.

Lio 9mo ago
Kraftwerk are still doing their thing. I know because I totally failed to get tickets to see them at the Royal Albert Hall in June[1]. https://www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/events/2026/kraftwerk https://www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/events/2026/kraftwer...
fatherwavelet 9mo ago
Florian Schneider has been dead for 5 years and Ralf Hutter is pushing 80. Other people have made electronic music too since 1975.

glimshe 9mo ago

Physical hardware is fun, sounds better (when analog or acoustic) but I can't go back after a long time with a streamlined VST-based workflow. For playing without a computer, I simply use romplers for the convenience. So, while I have a gut desire for this gear, I won't ever actually buy it...

waffletower 9mo ago
Unfortunately, I definitely disagree with the "sounds better" argument, particularly for this instrument. I do own a vibraphone, and happen to also design synthesizers, and I did not find the Phase8 sound to be compelling. One of the appeals of a synthesizer is its spectral plasticity, and the output of the Phase8 relies too heavily on the sonic characteristics of the resonator medium. My vibraphone definitely suffers from this, and has the cultural baggage of being a recognizable instrument, but it is a much more pleasing sameness than the Phase8.

jimmyjazz14 9mo ago

Seems like the bars are just there to produce the (almost) sine wave oscillation part of the synth which is neat I guess but it just seems like a gimmick if I am being totally honest. I still respect them trying new ideas though.

kennywinker 9mo ago
I mean… this is pretty similar to how a rhodes works… are those a gimmick?
- jimmyjazz14 9mo ago
  Doesn't the Rhodes use hammers to hit the bars though?
fatherwavelet 9mo ago
I don't think it even sounds that interesting. Especially if you have ever used the various physical modeling ensembles in Reaktor. It isn't even close to some of those.

asdhtjkujh 9mo ago

Glad to see this has finally been released after years of R&D :) can't wait to see what Takahashi-san and team cook up next. In principle, Korg Berlin looks like a great model for satellite incubator within an established organization. Would absolutely love to work there.

kennywinker 9mo ago
I was wondering to myself why korg berlin exists. Like i would be shocked if they sell enough of these to pay for the preceding five years of rent much less the salaries. Is it genuinely moonshot r&d, like a bell labs or xerox parc? Is it just to prevent Takahashi from starting a competitor? Something else? Whichever reason, i’m glad it exists… it just feels improbable.
- asdhtjkujh 9mo ago
  Agreed, its existence is implausible, but I assume they're consulting on other projects for Korg Japan in addition to developing Phase8 and other prototypes. They're undoubtedly taking a loss (despite low European salaries) but their contributions across the board could also scale non-linearly. I also imagine that it's the olive branch that brought Takahashi back to the company after he left. He brought Korg back from the dead and they were probably and rightfully desperate to find a way to retain their top performer.
- ericwood 9mo ago
  It's honestly incredible they're bringing this to market! This style of incubator tends to work on a lofty goal and the research and ideas explored on the way trickle down into other parts of the company and find their way into more accessible products. Really similar in theory to the over the top concept cars manufacturers build that never see the light of day.
- TheOtherHobbes 9mo ago
  Phase 8 is a high margin collectible and brand promotion device. Korg may not make their money back from direct sales - although I wouldn't be surprised if they did - but likely there would be enough of a halo effect to make it worthwhile. I expect this will turn into a small range of variations with strings, tubes, and so on. But it's also part of a cultural trend moving back from do-it-all software products to tactile collectibles with a simple, legible purpose. Vinyl started that, and I think this is a kind of musical take on the idea that something mechanical has more presence and authority than software. Sonically I don't think that's true at all, but it's a comprehensible marketing pitch.

H1Supreme 9mo ago

Wow, this is really innovative. It really takes "physical modeling" synths to another, more literal level. Would love to have been a fly on the wall when the idea was proposed. This + an Ekdahl Moisturizer would be an interesting pairing.

hackomorespacko 9mo ago

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kennywinker 9mo ago
It’s news because you can actually buy one now. If you’re gonna be mean it’s best not to be mean AND wrong.
Ylpertnodi 9mo ago
> an Wikipedia?

techblueberry 9mo ago

And here I told myself I wasn't going to buy anymore synthesizers.

zgniatacz 9mo ago

Cheap Eurorack ersatz version https://gieskes.nl/eurorack/?file=4-relay-module https://gieskes.nl/eurorack/?file=4-relay-module ?

ben_ 9mo ago
This website is horrific I love it

r0me1 9mo ago

Maybe i'm not fully grasping how it works, but i don't really see the acoustic part, aren't the resonators just turning the steel vibrations into an electric signal via coils in the same way an electric guitar works? basically what's the advantage of this vs plugin an electric guitar as a signal input to an analog synth?

kagakuninja 9mo ago
Guitar strings do not generate sound, unless plucked. However there are devices like the Sustaniac and the short-lived Moog guitar that do use electromagnets to induce vibrations in the strings. So you could compare this to the Sustaniac. EDIT - forgot about the ebow

NoSalt 9mo ago

My son and I are both fascinated by synthesizers and what they can do. I bought this: https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Nts1Mk2--korg-nutekt-nts-1-mkii-diy-digital-synthesizer-kit https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Nts1Mk2--korg-nutekt... For us to build and play with, and we have a ball with it. This phase8 would be a ton of fun as well.

ofalkaed 9mo ago

Years ago I used to make things like this, I discovered sites like 120 years of Electronic Music[0] and the Experimental Musical Instruments Journal[1] which my local library bizarrely had and went to town. Spent a lot of time digging through the local surplus shop that was a goldmine for cheap stuff for such things. The last project I started in on was a tuning fork organ, made my own tuning forks and coils and pickups to drive them, had big dreams with it but only ended up making about an octave worth, which I had great fun with. Most of these random instruments I controlled with my old Arp Odyssey which I even added CV outs for the LFO/Envelopes so I could modulate them and ran the output into the filter input, fun times. I might buy this, not really my interest these days but it really looks like great fun. [0] https://120years.net https://120years.net [1] https://barthopkin.com/experimental-musical-instruments-back-issues/ https://barthopkin.com/experimental-musical-instruments-back...

oori 9mo ago

Reminds me of the original Korg Wavedrum from the 90s, which was by far the best e-drum ever, you can lightly scratch it or hit it with a strong stick, endless tone and amplitude possibilities.

import 9mo ago

Looks cool but kinda seems like a baby of Intellijel plonk and rings with a different physical interaction.

wendgeabos 9mo ago

This needs to be mashed up with the Daxophone. Like, can I clamp pieces of wood into it and bow them?

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vegabook 9mo ago

cool, but doesn't sound that great when you close your eyes and just listen. Other synths beat this hands down especially at > $1000, and can easily bring in the physical world already, including live workflows. The issue is when we get into the physical analogue world, craftsmanship, materials, shape, often age, and of course the varied kinetic interactions with the sound solicitor, bring depth and richness which no little electrically-excited xylophone will ever get anywhere close to.

kazinator 9mo ago

So this is a synth in which a bank of oscillators use physically vibrating elements. From there, things proceed conventionally? It reminds me of systems in the "Sustainiac" family for generating unlimited sustain in an electric guitar, at any volume. There is a powered circuit which drives feedback into the string through a coil ("reverse pickup"). Typically the reverse pickup is in the neck position. So effectively the vibrating string becomes part of an oscillator circuit. We can imagine a harp like instrument (or koto) with multiple steel strings, oscillating under a Sustainiac-like pickup feeedback system, and used as the basis for synthesis. It looks as if the reeds in the Korg instrument might work similarly. This video is nice because it talks about the feel of the Sustainiac: how it "kicks in" and you feel the vibration swell just when you fret a note with your left hand. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsbdvkIua8o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsbdvkIua8o This one does a good job of demoing the three way harmonic switch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZwPPGsxY6g https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZwPPGsxY6g You can sustain the fundamental, or have it go to the octave harmonic, or even a higher harmonic above that. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsbdvkIua8o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsbdvkIua8o

ofalkaed 9mo ago
http://andrewmcpherson.org/project/mrp http://andrewmcpherson.org/project/mrp
4k93n2 9mo ago
the 'light pedal' by gamechangeraudio would pair well with this. it uses a real spring inside the pedal to create an analog spring reverb. theres also some sort of laser used as well since the spring isnt long enough https://gamechangeraudio.com/light-pedal https://gamechangeraudio.com/light-pedal there is also their 'motor pedal' which uses a spinning motor similar to one that would be found in a drone, and then a laser again or something optical to pick up the movement and turn it into a digital signal. they actually have a synth that uses 8 of these motors to generate the sounds/voices
- kazinator 9mo ago
  Motors spinning shafts that produce signals is a very old technique, dating back to the Telharmonium [1897], whose tonewheel technique was also used in Hammond organs [1935]. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonewheel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonewheel Speaking of spring reverbs: you can use a cheap piezo transducer mounted on the tremolo springs of an electric guitar as a passive reverb. Waylon MacPherson demonstrates this in his YT channel: it actually sounds good! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP5pJLgHrgw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP5pJLgHrgw

b00ty4breakfast 9mo ago

I'm not being dismissive when I say there isn't anything super innovative, within the individual components that make up this synth, but this is conceptually an electric tine piano with sound processing circuitry. That's sick,and I want it. I also want a zither-style stringed version and one with bells

scelerat 9mo ago

It’s interesting comparing the enthusiasm I see in this thread compared to the more jaded responses I’ve seen in r/synthesizers I think it looks cool and fun. Wish my workflow and time could accommodate it right now but they can’t. I’m really curious to hear what people who spend time with it are able to do.

jamesjolliffe 9mo ago

Sounds really cool to listen to someone talk _about_ this synth. Sounds pretty meh listening to the synth itself in any demos I've seen so far. Still an awesome product and piece of tech art. Myself, I can't imagine buying this synth for anything other than putting on a shelf to look at and talk about.

Joyfield 9mo ago

They must be more proud about the look of it than how it sounds because I can't find any sound demo on the page. Plenty of pictures though. I am gonna make a Photoshop alternative and on the product page I am only gonna have a lot of sounds of me farting.

beAbU 9mo ago

I'll wait for the Bad Gear review, thanks.