Superbooth 2024: KORG Berlin Show off the Next Phase in their Acoustic Synthesis Project

KORG Berlin, the R&D development team headed up Tatsuya Takahashi who is known for popular instruments like the Volca family and Minilogue, will be showing a new Acoustic Synthesis Prototype as Superbooth 2024.

First unveiled at last years Superbooth 23’, Acoustic Syntheses_phase8 is the next development prototype that showcases Korg Berlin’s advancements in their new synthesis technique. While it’s not a finished product yet they look absolutely beautiful with a very unique design aesthetic to match what looks to be a very exciting new electronic instrument.

What is Acoustic Synthesis_phase8

– It’s an acoustic instrument that is part melodic synthesizer, part drum machine

– 8 independent electromechanical voices

– Sequencer with polyrhythmic shifting

– Waveshaping, Tremolo and EG control

– Replaceable and tunable resonators

– Mechanical sound shaping possibilities

So, what is Acoustic Synthesis?

As we saw last year, this synthesis technique lets you interact physically with the resonators in the instrument in a variety of ways. You will be able to pluck, mute or disrupt to design the sound you want. Interesting! It reminds me of physical-modelling common in digital synthesis however this is an actual physical technique. The difference between this prototype and last years is that Phase 8 is an actual product prototype rather than a proof of concept.

The actual vibrating bodies are a set of metallic resonators which have been tuned to exact frequencies. The resonator is made to vibrate like a piano with a hammer, the exception is that the hammer in this case is electromagnetic! This will apparently give precise control of when and how the resonators are hit.

This results in a complex vibration as the resonators twist, bend and contort. These are organized into modes each with a unique voice.

To celebrate this achievement, Korg Berlin have come out with 5 individual prototypes designed individually by the 5 developers in their own unique way. Each one has its own look and feel and gives the feeling of family and creativity.

So where to from here?

Phase8 seems to suggest that a finished product is not far off, Korg Berlin have stated they expect similarities between this and a first release. Everything going to plan we could see an announcement and release at next year’s Superbooth (2025)!

I’m really excited to see where this goes. Acoustic Synthesis sounds like a really interesting concept and holds a lot of promise with its physically vibrating bodies and electronic control. I’ve always loved the sound of physically modelled resonators like Mutable Instrument’s Rings and this could be an instrument that brings that concept to life in a new way.

Where can I see Acoustic Synthesis_phase8 at Superbooth 2024?

Acoustic Synthesis_phase8 prototypes will be available to demo at stand Z440 from 16th to 18th of May. Additionally, you can catch members of the KORG Berlin team talking all things Acoustic Synthesis at a special Gesprächskonzert on May 17 at 5:50 pm in the Auditorium.

About KORG Berlin

KORG Berlin is a subsidiary of KORG Inc. Led by Tatsuya

Takahashi, KORG Berlin is a transdisciplinary team designing new musical instruments. They recognize that releasing a product always has societal, economic and environmental impact – their goal is to be positive in every one of them. Tatsuya Takahashi is the former Chief Engineer of Analog Synthesizers at KORG Inc, known for his work on some of the most iconic synths and drum machines of the 21^st century: the minilogue, monologue, monotrons, early volcas, Triggers and the Granular Convolver.