Korg miniKORG 700/700S synthesizers (1973–1974)
miniKORG 700
From MusicRadar:
Released in 1973, the miniKORG was an unusual instrument. Its relatively small number of controls were tucked below the keyboard, while a music stand was mounted to the flat top panel. Performance controls were nonexistent. The 700 had no mod wheel, pitch lever or joystick – just the truncated 37-note keyboard. The subsequent 700s sported a handful of left-hand sliders and knobs for adjustment of its built-in effects.
Though you’d be hard pressed to tell from such available parameters as Traveler, Scale and Mode, the 700’s smattering of knobs and sliders controlled a respectable – if spartan – analogue signal path.
The initial miniKORG offered a single oscillator, while the improved 700s provided a pair. Sawtooth, triangle and square waves fueled the beastie’s bark, while both low- and high-pass filters could be used to tame its tooth.
A single envelope generator was governed by a pair of sliders labeled ‘Attack/Slow’ and ‘Percussion/Singing’. Portamento and vibrato were offered on the miniKORG 700, as were a pair of chorus effects. The 700s upped the ante with three varieties of ring modulation.
The miniKORG word mark is set in Neil Bold. The controls are set in Futura Light.
Detail of the miniKORG 700. “Synthesizer” appears to be in News Gothic or similar.
Back of the miniKORG 700
Detail with traveler filters
Detail of the miniKORG 700S. “Synthesizer” here is added in Eurostile Extended.
