Leading Artists Find Inspiration in Korg's Legacy Collection

(Korg | Posted 2004-12-22)

Piano virtuoso George Duke is a master of style, incorporating elements of jazz, funk, R&B and rock into his unique compositions. He’s collaborated with and produced many great artists, ranging from Barry Manilow, Smokey Robinson, Anita Baker and Gladys Knight to his Grammy-winning work for Miles Davis.

Duke developed a preference for synthesizers, specifically Korg, during his musical experimentation with Frank Zappa. The Korg Polysix and Wavestation were staples in his early collection, so the Korg Legacy Collection was an enticing prospect. He confirms its wealth of possibilities: “First of all, it was an easy load. There weren’t any problems installing it. I began to play it and checked out its various components like the Wavestation and the Polysix. Finding those in a virtual package was really interesting to me.” George continues, “I wanted to see if these really sound like those instruments that I know, and I tell ya, all the patches were the same, the sounds were incredible. They were easy to use, and they fit in the track very well. I was amazed! Once I started using it, I found I was using it all the time, including on my new album. There’s a certain vibe about analog instruments, but even though this is a virtual representation of an analog instrument, it has that vibe to it.”

Another artist who has infused electronic music with a decidedly soulful appeal, BT has carried his success as a songwriter and performer into his multitude of film scoring ventures. He scored the Academy Award-winning Monster, as well as contributed music for The Fast and the Furious, Under Suspicion and Zoolander. He’s also currently writing music for an upcoming reality television chronicle he conceived about a rock star’s college exploits.

Korg’s Legacy Collection has assisted BT in keeping up with the fast pace of his work, while staying in touch with the sounds that got him started. BT remarks, "I’m really impressed that Korg decided to offer these instruments as software. I actually have all of the old original synths — an MS10, an MS20, an MS50, a Mono/Poly and a Wavestation. I compared the Legacy soft synths to the original units and in terms of accuracy, they sound great! Being able to combine the different synth models amazes me.” BT further exclaims, "The mini MS20 controller is awesome! It's so much fun because it’s tiny and not oppressive. It doesn't take up your whole workspace. The fact that I can manually patch things together is great. I've missed being able to do that. All in all, I think the Legacy collection is fantastic and I use it constantly."

Dream Theater keyboardist and long time Korg user Jordan Rudess is one of today’s most respected “prog rock” musicians. Now a solo artist as well, he relies on musical gear that can keep up with his busy schedule and meet his high expectations. He recently acquired the Legacy Collection and notes, “The Legacy software is a dream come true for me. Not only are these classic synthesizers available now as soft synths, but they are stunningly recreated and beautifully presented in their new form! The Wavestation in particular has always been a favorite of mine, so it's mind blowing to have the power of that instrument on my computer!”

Sounds from the Korg Legacy Collection are featured on George Duke’s next album, Trust, available in February 2005. For more information, visit www.georgeduke.com. For news on the latest happenings in BT’s busy world, visit www.btmusic.com. For more information about Jordan Rudess and Dream Theater, please visit www.dreamtheater.net or www.jordanrudess.com.

Leading Artists Find Inspiration in Korg's Legacy Collection

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