Korg 05R/W

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$150.00

3.5 (7)

2 Critic Reviews

1 Review

This product is Vintage or Discontinued

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Page last updated Jun 03, 2026

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5.0 (3)

$150.00 8 available Used

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Description

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If you hanker after Korg-quality sound but can't afford to trade in your existing keyboard, the new Korg 05R/W could be the answer.

Basically, it's the heart of the 01/W workstation keyboard squeezed into a half-rack module. Plug it into your existing MIDl keyboard and it gives you 6 megabits of high-quality samples, AI² synthesis, 100 user programmes, 100 combinations, 128 General MIDl programmes, stereo programmable digital effects, 8 drum kits and a serial interface which lets you connect to a PC or Macintosh for multimedia and sequencing work.

In other words, it'll make just about any other keyboard sound like a Korg. Even better news, it'll cost you just £599 (in 1993). And there's no disguising the value of that.

Product specs

Brand	Korg
Model	05R/W
Finish	Black
Year	1990s
Categories	Digital Synthesizers
Analog / Digital	Digital
MIDI I/O	MIDI Input, MIDI Output, MIDI Through
Polyphony	32 Voices

FAQs

What type of synthesis engine does the Korg 05R/W use?: The Korg 05R/W utilizes a digital synthesis engine known as AI2 synthesis, which is renowned for its rich and versatile sound capabilities, making it suitable for a wide range of musical styles.
How many voices of polyphony does the Korg 05R/W offer?: The Korg 05R/W offers 32 voices of polyphony, allowing for complex layering and rich sound textures in your compositions.
Is the Korg 05R/W compatible with modern MIDI setups?: Yes, the Korg 05R/W is equipped with MIDI Input, Output, and Through, making it compatible with contemporary MIDI setups for seamless integration into your studio environment.
What are the key features of the Korg 05R/W sound module?: The Korg 05R/W features AI2 synthesis, 32-note polyphony, and 16-part multitimbrality, providing a versatile and powerful sound module for both live performance and studio production.
How does the Korg 05R/W compare to the Korg M1 in terms of polyphony?: The Korg 05R/W offers twice the polyphony of the Korg M1, with 32 voices compared to the M1's 16 voices, allowing for more complex and layered compositions.

Videos

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piano4joy - Alexander Nagel

KORG 05R/W Sound Demo

piano4joy - Alexander Nagel

Korg 05r/w - making a tune on it!

The Bro

Korg 05R/W (Preset Sounds)

Digithalis

Korg 05R/W Demo

Sam Niverba

Ambient patches Korg 05R/W

Phonopollution

Reviews

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Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Korg 05R/W.

Comparisons

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The 05R/W lacks the advanced waveshaping capabilities found in the 01/W, making the NS5R a preferable choice for those seeking richer sound options.
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0 0

An alternative, the NS5R, is noted to be in better condition and may better suit certain musical styles.
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0 0

The 05R/W's screen is notably smaller compared to the O1W-FD, impacting ease of use for detailed editing.
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Value and pricing

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The 05R/W typically sells for around 160€ (175$) on reverb.com, indicating the 250€ asking price is excessively high.
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User experience

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Owners suggest that the 05R/W can appear visually worn or "junk-like," affecting perceived value despite its sound quality.
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Owners recall the 05R/W's complex menu navigation and small screen, making sound design and sequencing challenging.
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0 0

Despite its limitations, the 05R/W is remembered fondly for its robust sound library and substantial polyphony for its time.
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Features and functionality

0 0

The 05R/W lacks a resonant filter, limiting its ability to produce certain electronic music styles like rave tracks.
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Use cases and applications

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The 05R/W is sought for specific patches like "Death Stars," valued for their unique atmospheric qualities, especially in lower registers.
Source

Critic Reviews

The Korg 05R/W - Review and Retrospective | Planet Botch

planetbotch.blogspot.com

The Korg 05R/W, released in 1993, is a compact synthesizer module that offers notable polyphony and multitimbrality, catering to musicians seeking the classic Korg AI2 sound without the bulk of a full keyboard. While its price was initially high compared to secondhand alternatives like the M1, its portability and ease of use, especially with the Korg SE05 software editor, made it an attractive choice. However, the module's sound quality suffers from noticeable tonal anomalies, particularly in the transition points of the multisampling, which may deter purists. Despite these flaws, its ability to layer program patches into powerful combinations compensates well, making it a versatile tool for creating diverse sounds. Overall, the 05R/W stands as a competent relic of its time, offering reliability and ease of sound creation, although it doesn't quite match the depth of higher-end analog synths.

neutral

Full Review

Korg 05R/W (MT Oct 93)

muzines.co.uk

Korg's 05R/W synthesizer module might look like another entry in the crowded General MIDI market, but it packs serious creative potential. While its reliance on familiar AI2 synthesis and lack of individual outputs might raise eyebrows, the 05R/W redeems itself with an impressive set of factory presets. Its Bank A sounds showcase the full power of Korg's 0-series, and the General MIDI sounds in Bank G are surprisingly excellent, outshining even some non-GM presets. The built-in Mac/PC interface adds practical value, making this half-rack unit a versatile choice for musicians seeking a compact yet powerful sound module.

positive

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3.5 out of 5

Based on 1 Review and 7 Ratings

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melonadem

546

over 4 years ago

Objectively not bad

On its own, this is a good synth, it features a lot of classic sounds while being in a relatively compact box. There's really no noise to be heard, the screen is obviously not gonna be great for a "budget" synth like this, but it's at least easy enough to just pick a preset and play.

However, it's pretty redundant if you have something like the M1 VST, which is much easier to whip up patches/combis in, can run multiple instances of it at the same time, and has all the expansions included... yeah, this leaves a lot to be desired. I got this, thinking it'd be a compact 01R/W, with a GM mode built in, but it's obviously far less than that, as a lot of the sounds here sound like they came from the M1. Understandable, really, that's probably how I got it cheap.

I've heard the XD5R is just this but with more sounds, so if you have to get some Ai2 sounds, go for that instead, maybe?

Preferred Settings + Usage:

Combi 08 Sax Heaven is a very, very nice sounding split combi! Program A75 Log Drum is the mallet sound that appears in later KORG synths and it sounds great here.

Roles:

Composer Music Producer

Genres:

Funk / Soul Synthpop Jazz fusion