Korg miniKORG 700FS Manuel D'utilisation page 9

be used as the third keyboard placed on an electronic
organ, not as a solo instrument. Therefore, we thought
about the specifications and layout with a focus on ease of
understanding and operation for organists.
The operation panel had to be under the keyboard for organists
to be able to easily reach it. The frequently used octaves and
waveforms selection switch knobs were given special shapes
so that they could be recognized and switched instantly. At that
time, the in-house nickname for them were "enema knobs."
For players who were touching a synthesizer for the first time,
we also devised a system that ensured that the sound would
not be lost regardless of what operation was performed. For
example, a mechanical restriction was applied to the two
knobs of the Traveler so that one knob's function did not
overtake the function of the other one. I thought that this
was a good idea, however, this restriction was removed from
some models in order to satisfy a request from an oversea
distributor to widen the variable range. This reintroduced
model includes two types of knobs: one with the restriction
added and one without. Please try playing both models.
The "Traveler" function was installed in many of our products
ranging from the first prototype, Korgue, and this miniKORG
700 series to the effectors. The name, "Traveler", signifies two
travelers who travel back and forth on a long journey, and is
used for the low-pass filter and high-pass filter knobs.
The control panel on the left side of the keyboard of the
first prototype was equipped with a looooong Traveler with
a special structure in which a knob moved back and forth
on the same track. In the illustration, next to the Traveler,
you can see a joystick for pitchbend, vowel switching
buttons for A, I, U, E, and O, and some letters of "Reverb"
in the upper column, which will be applied to the one
after the next and subsequent products. This reintroduced
model additionally provides a joystick and reverb that were
abandoned in the 700S for miniaturization purposes.
Left panel of the first prototype
The pitch of a general synthesizer at that time was very
unstable, so we followed the same Hz/Volt system as the first
prototype. Speaking of how stable the pitch of miniKORG 700
was, this sound source circuit was used for the world's first
meter-type handy tuner, WT-10, which was released afterward.
The Hz/Volt system was uniquely developed by taking an
idea from the attenuator principle of an electrical measuring
instrument; however, we had to additionally provide a
separate converter to connect to instruments produced by
other manufacturers that used the Oct/Volt system. This is a
behind-the-scenes story that I can tell you now. (Note: The
miniKORG 700FS is designed so that it can be connected to
Oct/Volt system devices while adopting the Hz/Volt system.)
The number of knobs was minimized so that anyone
could operate easily. The envelope generator was
designed so that the sounds of most instruments could be
generated using only two knobs: ATTACK and SINGING/
PERCUSSION. This was not the ADSR system.
After it was put on the market, some people in the
industry commented that KORG's (Keio Giken at that time)
synthesizers had unique specifications and function names
that were different from those used for instruments marketed
by other manufacturers, and that KORG should have
matched them for standardization reasons. General names
and functions were adopted in the synthesizer MS-20 that
was released a few years later, however, this was a painful
choice for me. I have always thought that musical instruments
are interesting because each of them has individuality.
The miniKORG 700, miniKORG 700S, and 800DV are
sibling models. The basic circuit of these models is the
same. 700S is a 700 model with VCO added, and 800DV is
a 700 model equipped with a double voice function.
It was often said that this series had a deep sound. As a
designer, I did not have any special know-how of how to produce
a deep sound. However, when I look back, it rings a bell.
For example, the shape of the triangular wave that is
used as the sound source may have been the reason.
When I tried to make a cleaner waveform during my initial
experiments, I repeatedly found that the sound was weak.
A sound is sound. A sound is not a form of waves. I learned
that I should not look into an oscilloscope to produce a
clean waveform.
miniKORG 700S taught me what is important for a musical
instrument creator.
9
Auditor, KORG INC.
miniKORG 700FS
development supervision
Fumio Mieda