The Japanese company returns to its roots for a limited release of the miniKORG 700FS.
Korg have announced that 2021 will see a revival of their storied and catalytic miniKORG 700 synthesizer.
Upon first releasing in 1973 the miniKORG 700 marked Korg’s debut mass-produced synthesizer and would signal the beginning of the Japanese company’s longstanding and revolutionary occupation in the field of electronic musical instrument design. Conceptualised as a ‘sub’ keyboard, the mono synth’s idiosyncratic layout saw the wealth of its controls positioned on the front panel below the keyboard for ease of access when catering to its intended placement atop an organ or electric piano.
Making a return some fifty years later with its reproduction overseen by Fumio Mieda who designed the 1973 instrument’s circuitry, the miniKORG 700FS offers a faithful recreation of the original unit bolstered by several new features that provide expanded functionality. Two oscillators, three waveforms, ring modulator, two chorus types and its distinctive ‘traveler’ controller function all remain intact, whilst new facilities including spring reverb, an arpeggiator, joystick controller, aftertouch, memory bank and USB and MIDI ports bring the recreated instrument in line with modern technology.
Available to pre-order from Thomann, Korg’s miniKORG 700FS is priced at £1490 and expected to ship within 5-7 weeks.
Watch two promotional clips of the instrument in action below.
Words by Sam Wilkinson.
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