Korg iS40 Guide

•A redesigned front panel, where countless design hours spent have resulted in a logic and “friendliness” that were sure you'll appreciate!

•A powerful new 4-way speaker system with incredible low-end!

•The most natural-sounding and totally musical accompaniment patterns ever, thanks to Korg’s world-wide network of Style and Arrangement developers!

Once you’ve worked with the iS40, and experienced these new improvements, you’ll see and appreciate the fact that this product is truly different and innovative!

Arrangements and Styles

This is the main operative mode in the i-series. As soon as you power-up the iS40, it is in Arrangement mode. There are 192 arrangements available, and you’ll find them organized into 3 banks of 64 arrangements each. Banks A and B are preset arrangements, and the arrangements in the USER bank are freely modifiable. The USER bank can be used to load new data from disk. As well, A, B and USER Arrangements can be edited and stored in the USER bank.

Each arrangement combines up to 2 programs (sounds) on the keyboard with a Style. A

Style is the musical sequence data ( drum/percussion/bass/ multiple chording and background patterns) that provides a particular genre of music, e.g. rock, pop, ethnic, etc. Each style contains 4 variations, 2 intros, 2 endings and 2 fill-ins. These styles can detect which chord is being played on the keyboard, and then trigger patterns that adapt to that particular chord.

A Style “lives” in an Arrangement, which when selected, provides “orchestration” for six tracks: drums, percussion, bass and accompaniment tracks 1-3. These are referred to as the Backing Tracks. In addition, there are {Upper} Upper 1, Upper 2 and Lower assignments for live keyboard playing on top of the Backing Tracks. All of the tracks in an arrangement can be edited for sound selection, volume, panning, muting, etc., and then stored in the USER bank, and on disk as custom arrangements. New styles and arrangements can also be loaded from disk. A Style can even be changed inside an Arrangement , e.g. the “Polka band plays Motown!”

*Note that Arrangement banks A and B are grouped by musical style, as referenced (screened) on the upper - left of the front panel.

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Korg The iS40 manual Arrangements and Styles
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The iS40 specifications

The Korg iS40 is an innovative and versatile musical workstation that caters to musicians, composers, and sound designers alike. Combining portability with a robust feature set, the iS40 stands out in the crowded realm of digital instruments. Designed with both beginners and professionals in mind, this instrument offers a wide range of functionalities that facilitate creative expression.

At the heart of the iS40 lies its extensive sound library, boasting over 600 sounds sourced from Korg's renowned engineers. These sounds encompass a diverse array of musical genres, including acoustic and electric pianos, synth leads, strings, and percussions, providing users with a rich tapestry to explore their musical ideas. Additionally, the iS40 features over 200 preset styles, which are designed to accompany various musical genres, allowing users to simply play along with preset rhythms or even create their own.

One of the standout technologies in the iS40 is its advanced PCM sound engine, which delivers high-quality audio playback, ensuring that performances are both dynamic and realistic. The inclusion of the powerful filter and modulation options further enhances the sound design capabilities of the workstation. Musicians can manipulate and shape their sounds with precision, creating customized tones that suit their artistic vision.

The user interface of the iS40 has been designed with simplicity and functionality in mind. The well-organized layout, with a color display and intuitive navigation, allows users to easily browse sounds, styles, and settings. Furthermore, the onboard sequencer supports up to 16 tracks, enabling detailed composition and arrangement of musical ideas, complete with real-time recording and editing features.

Connectivity is another strong point of the iS40. The workstation provides USB connectivity for seamless integration with computers, enabling users to interface with music production software and DAWs. MIDI input and output capabilities also allow the iS40 to function as a controller for external devices, expanding its versatility within the studio or live performance settings.

Battery-powered operation makes the Korg iS40 truly portable, allowing musicians to take their creativity on the go. With a light and compact design, it is an ideal choice for both home studios and outdoor sessions. Whether used for practice, composition, or live performance, the Korg iS40 delivers a powerful blend of features and functionalities that satisfy the needs of any music creator.
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