Korg EP-1

EP-1 : Electric piano sound engine from the KORG KRONOS/NAUTILUS

The finest vintage EP sounds now available in the KORG Collection

The electric piano sound engine EP-1 first appeared in 2011 in KORG's flagship workstation synthesizer, KRONOS. It adopted the newly developed MDS (Multi-Dimensional Synthesis) technology which expresses smooth and dynamic tonal changes finely corresponding to key touch, something previous sample playback methods could not achieve. In 2017, it was featured in the top-tier Korg stage piano Grandstage, and in 2021, a new electric piano model was added to the NAUTILUS workstation. This plugin version now features the latest EP-1 sound engine and has received new voicing, making it the definitive Electric Piano sound engine.

The overwhelmingly realistic sound and dynamic expression of EP-1 will stir the player's soul and unleash deep emotional responses. Experience the latest EP-1 sound engine and expand your creative horizons.

Features

• The EP-1 electric piano equipped with KRONOS/NAUTILUS is now available as software
• KORG's unique MDS sound engine faithfully expresses the nuance and dynamics of the electric piano
• Recreates seven carefully selected classic vintage electric piano models from the '70s and '80s (tine type, reed type)
• Diverse sound expressions with three multi-effects and reverb effects. Includes all 31 types of multi-effects such as vintage pedal effects, tape echo, and shimmer reverb

About Korg EP-1

EP-1 superbly reproduces the sound of seven classic tine-type, reed-type electric pianos, and vintage effects with high precision. Using KORG's carefully developed Multi-Dimensional Synthesis (MDS) technology, EP-1 delivers natural and real-time expression, unattainable with traditional sample playback methods. From pianissimo to fortissimo, EP-1 provides smooth and natural dynamic changes without noticeable transitions, this is a true musical "instrument." By controlling noise elements, such as mechanical key-off noise with release velocity in real-time, it enables unprecedented realistic and detailed performance.

What is the MDS sound engine?

Multi-Dimensional Synthesis (MDS) is Korg's proprietary sound engine system. In developing EP-1, we first meticulously sampled the tonal changes produced by electric pianos across a wide range of keystroke strengths, and selected from the finest individual electric pianos that offer excellent playability as the source instruments. By separating the pitch components and noise components such as hammer and key release and re-synthesizing them under separate control, we were able to recreate all the tonal changes of electric pianos. As a result, we achieved a sound engine system that reacts extremely naturally to player control, with sound editing performance, touch sensitivity, and temporal changes in sound that could not be expressed with normal sample playback methods.

The smooth tonal changes from soft to intense touch are naturally free of the noticeable boundaries typical of velocity switching. Temporal changes such as decay and release also achieve a natural feeling, different from those produced by envelope generators.