This instrument more than any other brought electronic music into the mainstream. Nobody disputes the greatness of these specialist devices, but on a practical level, they were no match for the M1.

Roland made iconic analog drum machines, but they werenвЂ™t even trying to replicate real sounds. Sure, it was capable of producing crisp, realistic drum sounds, but it was very expensive. Almost a decade earlier, the Linn LM-1 emerged. But there were challenges in incorporating a host of dedicated machines into a single production with ease and without breaking the bank. Throughout the вЂ™80s, electronic instruments worked their way into pop productions.

The world got used to hearing these iconic tones all over the charts, which fuelled the desires of prospective buyers. In any case, KORG shipped every M1 with the same 100 sounds. Perhaps it was for a lack of space, or for the commercial imperative of catering to specific markets. It was common practice for synth designers to ship instruments to different regions with their own presets. The synth shipped with 100 factory presets and because the M1 could access 4MB of sample ROM (a neolithic amount these days, but this was more than 30 years ago), the sounds were of a high-quality and very diverse. The versatility of the M1 made it a producerвЂ™s best friend its bang for buck ensuring its place in the studio for the long haul.

Korg m1 workstation