1977 Korg PS-3100 Analog Semi-Modular Synthesizer Part 2

This is an exploration of one of the most complex and interesting analog polyphonic synthesizers. PS series Korgs are rare and examples of them are few, so I decided to make a video demonstrating some of the sounds and capabilities.
Feel free to link to this video or post it on your page, but please give me credit by marking it "by Marc Doty." Thanks!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• analog
• synthesizer
• synth
• polyphonic
• korg
• vintage
• keyboard
• moog
• arp

[fliszt1811]

I recently bought a PS 3100 (well traded a copy of Sibelius 5 for it) and the highest F and E don't make a sound. Does anyone know why this may be happening, and if so a possible fix?

[AutomaticGainsay]

@fliszt1811 If the highest F and E are not working, but all subsequent Fs and Es are working, there's a good chance you just have a dirty key contact!

[twincrystals]

hi, i own one of these and the same three keys in each octave dont work, do you know why??

[AutomaticGainsay]

Yes, I do. What has likely happened is that you've had a divider chip fail. The PS-3100 uses a divide-down oscillator scheme. It has 12 oscillators, which are the top octave. The lower octaves are achieved by a chip which divides the oscillator output in half, resulting in a pitch an octave lower... then that is divided again for the next octave, etc. So, if the C# doesn't play on all octaves, it means that the C# oscillator or dividers failed. It is probably the divider.

[AutomaticGainsay]

The chips are still available! I can't remember the exact number, but it's something like MM5824!

[twincrystals]

can u post another video of the patches??

[PWMaarten]

Great videos, thanks for posting!

I'd like to own one of these someday.

cheers, Maarten

P.S. How can I get the complete song, I realy like it.

[KorgAddict1]

I have been dreaming of owning one of these beasts for several years.. Can I trade you my soul for yours? Haha

[monkeymirror]

Reminds me of Wolfenstein 3D.

[douro20]

So you made this music by tracking several different sounds together?

[kionay]

i want it.

[ComradeJX8P]

Sounds like a couple of squarewaves with some heavy LFO modulation

[taeffa]

Square in AM i think...

[dawoof]

5:46 can anybody tell me what soundwaves are those?

kinda organish.

[F0nkyNinja]

I liked the Square/Pulse wind at 5:10