707 Performing Synthesizer

39 Years old Musical Instrument (Electronic) Korg

707 Performing Synthesizer © 1987 Korg.

The Korg 707 Performing Synthesizer is a digital FM-based keyboard synthesizer. It features a 49-key velocity and aftertouch-sensitive keyboard, and is capable of 8-note polyphony with multitimbral operation. The instrument is based on a dual-oscillator FM synthesis architecture, allowing layered and split sounds as well as real-time parameter editing through a dedicated Performance Editor section.

The 707 offers 100 internal programs, expandable via RAM cards, and supports MIDI In/Out/Thru for full external control and sequencing integration. It was designed as a portable performance synthesizer, including optional battery operation and strap attachments, allowing it to be used in a stage-oriented 'keytar-style' configuration.

Sound design is focused on FM synthesis with additional modulation capabilities such as envelopes for pitch, timbre, and amplitude, as well as LFO-based modulation and digital delay effects.

TRIVIA

The instrument was part of Korg's mid-to-late 1980s expansion into compact, performance-oriented digital synthesizers alongside models such as the DS-8.

The Korg 707 is also notable for its inclusion in several music production ecosystems of the era, offering compatibility with external MIDI sequencing and patch storage via memory cartridges.

SOURCES
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Machine's bios.