audiobriefs
9:57in productionCh. 1 · Not a leap. A replacement./ 9:57 · ceiling 15 min
Synths & drum machines · Instruments

Korg 01/W

Korg

It doubled the M1’s power—but gave you no way to shape the filter.

The Korg 01/W is a 1991 workstation that expands on the M1 with more polyphony, more memory, and Waveshaping—but does not deepen synthesis control. It delivers reliability and scale, not flexibility.

Synths & drum machinesInstrumentsSynthesisSound designSamplingSynthesis across the network →
Chapters & takeaways4
  1. 1:04
    Not a leap. A replacement.

    It was built to replace the M1—not evolve it.

  2. 2:47
    One chip, one trick

    Waveshaping is its only real innovation—and it lives on a separate chip.

  3. 4:29
    Bigger, not deeper

    More voices, more notes, more screen—none of it changes how you build a sound.

  4. 6:09
    Legacy without extension

    Korg pioneered effects and sample+synth—but the 01/W adds no new effect architecture.

Worth your time?

Yes. Use the whole thing.

3.5/ 5
What works
  • Waveshaping per oscillator via custom IC
  • 32-voice polyphony with 32 oscillators
  • 48,000-note sequencer capacity
  • 240x64 backlit LCD with graphical UI
What does not
  • offer user-adjustable filter slopes
  • support oscillator sync or ring modulation
  • allow LFO routing to pitch or filter
  • provide velocity-switched samples
Use it if
  • players who need 32-voice polyphony in a single box
  • composers relying on integrated sequencing
  • performers using Waveshaping as a consistent timbral layer
Skip it if
  • sound designers needing deep modulation routing
  • producers requiring modern sample manipulation
  • players seeking expressive filter control
The written brief1 min read

What it is and what it was built for

A 1991 workstation synthesizer built to replace the M1 and T series. It is a ROMpler with AI² synthesis, designed for live performance, studio composition, and integrated sequencing.

How it works, in terms a player would use

It uses AI² subtractive synthesis with one oscillator per voice. Waveshaping is applied per oscillator via a custom Korg IC, with 60 tables and a dedicated envelope. Programs layer up to four tones. Combinations stack up to 16 Programs across the keyboard or by MIDI channel. The sequencer records up to 48,000 notes across 16 tracks.

What it does better than anything else

It doubles M1/T-series polyphony to 32 voices with 32 oscillators. Its sequencer holds 48,000 notes—more than the M1 and rivalled only by the T-series. Its 240x64 backlit LCD displays graphics and four times the text of the M1’s display.

What it does badly

It offers no user-editable filters beyond basic cutoff and resonance. There is no oscillator sync, no ring modulation, no LFO routing to pitch or filter. The Waveshaping envelopes are fixed in shape and cannot be modulated by performance controls.

What people made with it

The sources do not state what people made with it.

Who should use it, and who should not

A player who values tactile control over a single, dense interface and needs reliable 32-voice polyphony with Waveshaping as a distinct timbral layer. Not for anyone needing deep sound design flexibility, real-time filter sweeps, or modern workflow integration.

Is it worth your time

Yes—if you need a self-contained 1991 workstation with expanded polyphony, deeper sequencing, and Waveshaping as a real-time timbral tool. No—if you need modern sample loading, velocity-switched layers, or responsive filters.

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