Korg 01/W
| Category | Electronic (workstation synthesizer) |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Japan |
| Classification | synthesizer |
| Wikipedia | en.wikipedia.org |
| Wikidata | Q3198936 |
Overview
The Korg 01/W is a digital workstation synthesizer introduced by Korg in 1991 as the successor to the enormously successful Korg M1. It combined PCM sample playback with Korg’s AI² (“AI Squared”) synthesis engine, a 16-track sequencer, an effects section, and a 61-key keyboard, providing a self-contained instrument suitable for composing and performing entire arrangements. Several variants — the 01/W Pro, Pro X, and 01R/W rack — extended the range across different keyboard sizes, formats, and storage options.
Origin & History
Korg released the 01/W into a market that the M1 had effectively created: the all-in-one digital workstation. Introduced in 1991, it added waveshaping to PCM playback, expanding the textural range available without requiring external sound modules. The 16-track sequencer borrowed concepts from Korg’s earlier T-series instruments and was paired with floppy-disk storage on most models. The line was discontinued in 1995 with the arrival of the Trinity, which moved Korg’s workstation thinking toward touchscreen interfaces.
How It’s Played
The 01/W is played as a conventional polyphonic synthesizer keyboard, with patches selected by category and edited via menu pages on a small backlit LCD. Its built-in sequencer enables full multitrack arrangements without external gear, with each track addressing a different patch or drum kit. The stock factory sounds — bright pianos, warm pads, aggressive brass stabs, and detailed drum kits — defined a great deal of early-1990s commercial production work.
Cultural Significance
The 01/W appears across early-1990s pop, R&B, film scoring, and television music. Several of its preset sounds, including the pad and brass voices, became signature elements of the era’s mainstream production. Today the instrument is collected for its distinctive waveshaping textures and for the historical interest of its place in the workstation lineage between the M1 and the Trinity.
Related Instruments
- Yamaha CS-80 – an earlier flagship synthesizer
- Korg Wavestation – Korg’s contemporary advanced wavetable instrument
- Korg Prophecy – a later mono-voice Korg synth
- Roland Juno-106 – an analogue counterpart from the previous decade
- Korg Kronos – Korg’s later flagship workstation
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 01/W a successor to the M1?
Yes — Korg replaced the M1 with the 01/W in 1991.
What synthesis engine does it use?
AI² (AI Squared), combining PCM playback and waveshaping.
How many tracks does the sequencer have?
16.
Image: Korg 01/W FD, derivative work by Clusternote, public domain (Wikimedia Commons).