disassembled KORG M1 with the connector for plug-in memory module motherboard of the KORG M1 with the connector for memory module I when soldering the wiring - connecting the KORG M1 motherboard and the connector for the plug-in memory module 4MB part of memory module (such are in the module 8 pieces) New bass guitar (PC modeled), new sounds of Rhodes, piano and drums mew bass guitar (PC modeled), new sounds of Rhodes electric piano, piano and drums new bass guitar (PC modeled), new sounds of piano, strings and drums new bass guitar (PC modeled), new sounds of piano and drums 32 MB.īased on this finding, I decided that my memory module will have a maximum capacity of 32 MB and so the KORG M1 can have the best sample capabilities (memory capacity also determines the quality of sounds).įirst recordings from KORG M1 with my plug-in memory module with new samples:
The data memory of KORG M1 built-in samples has a capacity of 4 MB.Īs I found, the chip that plays the samples, is capable of serving 8 times more memory, i.e.
#Korg m1 sample software
I have proposed a solution to how the original data could be replaced by new ones.įor this purpose, I created a set of programs and the result was a software system that can prepare any suitable samples and store them in my memory module. I found out what is the structure of the sample data in the memory of processor's program. In addition to reading the original samples from the fixed memory to the PC, the program memory has to be read and to find out where and how the data of the samples are stored. It was about half a year of intense work in my spare time. This solution involved significantly more complex hardware modifications.
The KORG M1 does not have the data of the samples only in sample memory, but also in the second (fixed) memory with the program for the built-in control processor.Įven some essential data from 16 plug-in cards are also stored in this program memory, and the samples are forever determined.Īs a solution, I chose a plug-in memory module that will contain, in addition to the data memory, a program memory in which important data about the samples will be replaced by others. It is not possible to make a custom plug-in card that would fit into the expansion card connector. piano, normal bass is missing, Rhodes is missing, Timpani, good "open Hi-Hat", the strings are not good, etc.). In my opinion, the KORG M1 has some sounds that are totally unusable (respectively, usable just one times - even the legendary sound "Universe"), and several basic sounds are not good (e.g. In addition to these 16 cards, no other sounds (samples) can be put into the KORG M1. Samples are fixed in the synthesizer and can be expanded by only about 16 plug-in cards that include fixed samples, too. and finally the sound is processed by the built-in effect module.
With such "raw" sounds, some edits are performed - envelope, vibrato, filters, etc. The legendary KORG M1 synthesizer works on the principle of playing back PCM samples. This goal has been achieved and the whole project has been reached to a successful end. The goal was to remake the KORG M1 synthesizer so that it can be possible to insert a custom samples.
This is a very extensive project that includes hardware modifications of the KORG M1 synthesizer, development and production of several microcomputer devices, analysis of a large amount of data without any description, development of several computer programs, and production of samples.