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Description

The Korg Trinity stands as a landmark in the world of synthesizers, blending advanced technology with intuitive design to inspire musicians of all levels. Known for its proprietary Access synth engine, the Trinity offers a vast array of sounds that range from lush pads to cutting-edge leads. This synthesizer was a breakthrough at its release, providing musicians with a comprehensive workstation that included sequencing, sampling, and a touch-responsive display.

The Trinity’s interface is straightforward and user-friendly, making it an ideal choice for both studio and stage. Its robust sound architecture allows for deep customization, ensuring that you can craft your unique sonic identity. With its powerful effects section, you can add depth and character to your compositions, whether you're performing live or recording in the studio. The Korg Trinity remains a reliable choice for musicians seeking a versatile and expressive synthesizer.

Key Features:

  • Proprietary Access synth engine for a wide range of sounds
  • Touch-responsive display for intuitive navigation
  • Built-in sequencer and sampler for comprehensive music production
  • Extensive effects section for sound enhancement
  • User-friendly interface suitable for beginners and professionals alike
  • Robust sound architecture for deep customization
  • Ideal for both studio and live performance

Product specs

Brand Korg
Model Trinity 61-Key 32-Voice Polyphonic Workstation
Finish Silver
Year 1995 - 1996
Made In Japan
Categories Workstation Keyboards
Analog / Digital Digital
Key Size Full Size
Keyboard Action Semi-Weighted
MIDI I/O MIDI Input, MIDI Output, MIDI Through
Number of Keys 61 Keys
Polyphony 32 Voices

FAQs

What type of synthesis does the Korg Trinity use?

The Korg Trinity utilizes digital synthesis, offering a versatile range of sounds suitable for various musical styles.

How many voices of polyphony does the Korg Trinity support?

The Korg Trinity supports 32 voices of polyphony, allowing for complex layering and rich sound textures.

Is the Korg Trinity suitable for live performances?

Yes, the Korg Trinity is equipped with 61 full-size, semi-weighted keys and comprehensive MIDI capabilities, making it suitable for live performances and studio use.

Does the Korg Trinity have MIDI connectivity?

The Korg Trinity features MIDI Input, MIDI Output, and MIDI Through, providing extensive connectivity options for integration with other MIDI-enabled devices.

What distinguishes the Korg Trinity from the Trinity Plus?

The Korg Trinity Plus includes the MOSS synthesis Prophecy expansion board, offering additional synthesis capabilities beyond the standard Trinity model.

michel darnelli

michel darnelli

Korg Trinity Demo

Video thumbnail for Korg Trinity Demo by michel darnelli

Korg Trinity Demo

michel darnelli

michel darnelli

Video thumbnail for Korg Trinity Demo - The Sound Of 1995 by Nismology5

Korg Trinity Demo - The Sound Of 1995

Nismology5

Nismology5

Video thumbnail for Korg Trinity: The 90s Silver Star! - Sound Profile by Speedy DTM

Korg Trinity: The 90s Silver Star! - Sound Profile

Speedy DTM

Speedy DTM

Video thumbnail for Korg Trinity - No talking demo by ADL-MusicLab

Korg Trinity - No talking demo

ADL-MusicLab

ADL-MusicLab

Video thumbnail for Korg Trinity - Space Ambient Soundset (50 presets) by LFOstore

Korg Trinity - Space Ambient Soundset (50 presets)

LFOstore

LFOstore

Video thumbnail for What is the KORG Trinity and is it any good?  A few answers and patches to help you decide! by Matt Wright Music

What is the KORG Trinity and is it any good? A few answers and patches to help you decide!

Matt Wright Music

Matt Wright Music

Reviews

PROS

  • Excellent keybed with aftertouch supports expressive playing

  • Integrated joystick+ribbon controllers enhance performance dynamics

  • Rich sound library within 32 MB of PCM ROM

  • Features a built-in monophonic synth engine (KORG Prophecy)

  • Multi-effects engine superior to later TR or Triton-LE series

  • Offers sub-outputs for advanced audio routing

  • First synth with a touch screen, described as bright and clear

  • 24-bit/48kHz sounds are rich and vibrant

  • Well-built with well laid controls and a semi-weighted Yamaha keybed

  • Unique space-ship look design adds aesthetic value

CONS

  • Dated appearance, including a slow B/W LCD touch screen

  • Floppy drive may require replacement with a USB emulator for modern use

Owner Insights

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

Setup and maintenance

  • Diagnostic mode can be accessed by holding 5 and Enter on the numpad during boot-up, useful for identifying issues like MIDI and battery errors.

    Source
  • Replacing the soldered-in battery with a battery holder simplifies future changes, as it allows the use of standard coin batteries without soldering.

    Source
  • When booting, the Trinity will display if it includes additional cards, which can expand its capabilities.

    Source

Mods and upgrades

  • Installing a Gotek floppy emulator allows for USB key usage instead of traditional floppy disks, simplifying the process of loading sounds.

    Source
  • The MOSS board can be extracted from a Trinity and is compatible with Korg Triton or Triton Rack models, expanding their synthesis capabilities.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • Latest OS versions, 2.41 and 3.12, differ only in supported addon cards: solo-trib and moss, respectively, and can be updated via factory disks.

    Source
  • The Trinity's touchscreen reliability is critical; issues may arise with age, impacting functionality and ease of use.

    Source
  • The MOSS board in the Trinity is essentially half of a Korg Z1, offering sought-after virtual analog synthesis capabilities from the late 90s.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • Known for lush pads, the Trinity is favored by mid-90s metal bands like Cradle of Filth and Dimmu Borgir, making it ideal for recreating similar sounds.

    Source
  • Despite favoring newer synths, some users appreciate the Trinity for its retro sound, particularly its organ patches.

    Source
  • The Trinity with a MOSS board can replicate sounds found in high-end Korg models like OASYS, Kronos, and Nautilus, making it versatile for various musical styles.

    Source

User experience

  • Despite being bulky, the Korg Trinity is praised for its sound quality, making it a valuable find even with minor flaws.

    Source
  • Owners find Triton's hardware more robust than VSTs due to the unreplicated output OP-amp circuitry, leading to a thinner sound in VST versions.

    Source

Comparisons

  • The Triton Extreme is noted for a bigger, warmer sound compared to the Trinity, with the Trinity sounding as if it has a layer of white noise.

    Source
  • Triton includes most sounds from Trinity and adds more, but some prefer Trinity's filter despite other Triton improvements.

    Source
  • While the Trinity's piano sounds may be outdated, its pad sounds remain highly valued, and its keyboard quality surpasses most modern controllers.

    Source

Critic Reviews

Korg Trinity Range: Part 1

soundonsound.com

The Korg Trinity is revered for its innovative design and exceptional sound quality, making it a standout in the world of music workstations. Its intuitive touch-screen interface and remarkable effects structure set new standards for ease of use and sound separation. While it's praised for its power and flexibility, the workstation's limitations include its 32-voice polyphony and just four outputs, which may be a drawback for studio use. Despite its high price point, the Trinity's groundbreaking features and high-quality sound make it a desirable choice for serious musicians. Korg has indeed redefined the workstation concept with this "gourmet meat and potatoes" offering.

positive

Korg Trinity

soundonsound.com

Korg's Trinity is a landmark in workstation evolution, boasting a cutting-edge touch-sensitive interface and a robust effects section, making multitimbral synthesis a reality. Its innovative design allows intuitive navigation and editing, providing a seamless user experience. The workstation's expansive effects capabilities and hard disk recording options further enhance its versatility, offering unprecedented flexibility for musicians. However, a few hardware limitations, like the choice of 48kHz sampling and the restricted outputs, slightly mar the experience. Despite these minor drawbacks, the Trinity stands as a powerful and forward-thinking tool in the music production arena.

positive
Add

4.5 out of 5

Based on 5 Reviews and 14 Ratings

5 star
4 star
3 star
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1 star
alexander_kovacs

My first ever pro synthesizer and all time favourite.

This was my first professional synthesizer I got in 1996.... I spent a lot of time with it as my primary synth and explored deeply all its features. Excellent keybed with aftertouch and the left hand controllers (joystick+ribbon+sw buttons) support expressive playing style. It is surprising how many sounds stacked in just 32 MB of PCM ROM. The "plus" version has a built in monophonic synth (KORG prophecy) engine, which I did not use a lot as I had external VAs for this purpose. Today it might look dated - especially the slow B/W LCD touch screen.. but still, you can get very professional sound by tweaking the parameters, and understanding the way its constructed. I recommend to replace the floppy drive with an USB emulator. Strength of Trinity in my opinion: digital synhts/drums/basses; multi-effetcs engine (better than in the later TR or Triton-LE series!), sequencer; sub-outputs; joystick+ribbon - very expressive! Professional keybed. Space-ship look design :) I think the most beautiful digital synth ever made.

stargatemax

Trinity Pro 76. Awesome and beautiful!

Yes it is old today, but it has so wonderful synth pads and sounds. I'm not a fan of acoustic sounds (I get them from other sources) so I only focus on synth sounds, pads, textures when it comes to hardware synthesizers and romplers.

The Trinity has such a nice and comfy keyboard. The world's first synth with a touch screen which is bright and clear.

speedydtm

90s powerhouse, 10s' classic

I acquired a fully decked out Trinity Plus back in late April 2019 and haven't been able to put it down since. Korg ABSOLUTELY struck gold with this one! The 24-bit/48khz sounds are rich and vibrant, the keybed is very fun to play, and the built-in patches are top notch. Even the somewhat dated acoustic sounds are usable now with some treatment, depending on how you apply them. Highly recommended.

gus79

The silver beast.

It´s 20 years old now, but still rocks. I use it mainly for synth sounds: it can get fat or it can sparkle, always with an impressive audio clarity. The Prophecy expansion board is outstanding: it´s basses and dirty leads are HEAVY. Overall, Trinity is extremely well built, with well laid controls and an excellent semi-weighted Yamaha keybed (mine is 61 keys).

badassist

A bit surprising vintage synth

Korg Kronos' little brother..? If not, it's still the funniest synth I've ever had.

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Yanni uses Korg Trinity

Yanni

Composer

...
Verified via YouTube

Yanni used the Korg Trinity in concerts from 1996-1998. You can see it being used throughout this performance of 'Waltz in 7-8'.

See how Tuomas Holopainen uses Korg Trinity

Tuomas Holopainen

Keyboardist

Nightwish

...
Verified via Nightwishers Italy

Tuomas used this synth for the album Wishmaster by Nightwish

See how Darude uses Korg Trinity

Darude

Music Producer

...
Verified via Photo

On this photo we can see Korg Trinity

See how Tony MacAlpine uses Korg Trinity

Tony MacAlpine

Guitarist

The G3 Jam

...
Verified via YouTube

At the 49-minute and 11-second mark of the YouTube video titled "Steve Vai - Live at The Astoria, London UK 2001 - Full Concert," Tony MacAlpine is observed using a Korg Trinity while performing live with Steve Vai.

See how Yoko Shimomura uses Korg Trinity

Yoko Shimomura

Keyboardist, Composer

...
Verified via Photo

In this picture of Shimomura's studio, the Trinity is on the shelf in front of the chair.

See how Labrinth uses Korg Trinity

Labrinth

Music Producer

The Collective (Children in Need 2011)

...
Verified via Soundonsound

In the Sound on Sound article "Labrinth: Producing Tinie Tempah," an image from the "Pass Out" interview showcases Labrinth's use of the Korg Trinity synthesizer.

See how Kitaro uses Korg Trinity

Kitaro

Keyboardist, Composer

Mickey Hart, Philip Glass and Kitaro

...
Verified via YouTube

The Trinity can be seen 25:29 into this video

See how LTJ Bukem uses Korg Trinity

LTJ Bukem

Music Producer

...
Verified via YouTube

In a YouTube video by VisionsOfMars, LTJ Bukem is seen using the Korg Trinity, highlighting its role in performing multi-factory tracks.

See how Goldie uses Korg Trinity

Goldie

Music Producer

Four Lions

...
Verified via YouTube

In this episode of Producers House, you can see the Trinity up on his wall.

See how Hideki Naganuma uses Korg Trinity

Hideki Naganuma

Composer, Music Producer

...
Verified via Radiosega

In this interview from 2012, he says that he uses the KORG Trinity.

See how Shoji Meguro uses Korg Trinity

Shoji Meguro

Guitarist, Composer

...
Verified via Archive

In this blog post, Meguro laments at the fact that his master keyboard, the KORG Trinity Pro, turned out to be "uselessly large."

See how Mustis uses Korg Trinity

Mustis

Keyboardist

Dimmu Borgir

...
Verified via Photo

Mustis is seen using a Korg Trinity, positioned to the left of his Korg X5 and Korg X5D on a two-tier keyboard stand, as evidenced by the image provided.

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Korg Trinity, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

Community setups

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wanya7

wanya7

Gear IQ 1824

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