Korg Trinity

Name: Korg Trinity
Brand: Korg

A high-end music workstation that combined sampling, sequencing, and synthesis in one unit, succeeding the M1

Overview

The Korg Trinity came out in 1995. It was Korg's flagship music workstation and the official successor to the M1. It sat above the N364/N264 series. It had a touchscreen interface and was praised for its build quality and powerful sound engine. The Trinity series (1995-1998) included the base Trinity, Trinity Pro, Trinity Pro X, and the Trinity V3 rackmount. It competed directly with the Roland XP-80 and Yamaha EX5 series, and it put sampling, sequencing, and synthesis in a single instrument. It never matched the M1's commercial success, possibly because of its high price and complexity. Workstation enthusiasts still respect it.

Specifications

Manufacturer	Korg
Model	Trinity
Type	Music workstation
Production years	1995–1998
Introduction year	1995
Number of Keys	61, 76 or 88 with velocity and aftertouch
Outputs	4x audio output, headphones, MIDI in/out/thru, 3x pedal
Display	20-character x 2-line non-graphic display
Weight	11.5 kg
Polyphony	32 voices
Multi-timbral Parts	16
Oscillators	32 oscillators
MSRP	$3,599 / £2,395 / ¥270,000

Design

The Trinity had HDR (Hard Disk Recording), Flash ROM for OS updates, and advanced synthesis options. You could combine up to eight Programs, each with independent polyphony, delays, MIDI filters, and effects sends. Add the HDR-TRI Hard Disk Recorder option and it expanded to 64-voice polyphony and gained four master effects.

Context

As the direct successor to the M1, the Trinity was positioned as a high-end music workstation in the professional market. It was Korg's answer to the Roland XP-80 and Yamaha EX5, with sampling, sequencing, and synthesis in one integrated package. Critics praised the sound engine and interface. Its complexity and cost limited its reach compared to the M1's mass appeal.

Market

Used Trinity units go for around $500-$800 in good condition, and there are anecdotal reports of units appearing for as low as $50. The unit uses a proprietary power supply and battery-backed RAM, which may need replacing over time. Owners commonly complain that the unit is large, heavy, and has a fragile display.