The RK-100S 2 is Korg's keytar in translucent red, built around a 37-note slim keybed and the MMT synthesis engine. Six AA cells and a pair of headphones are all it takes to get playing, which is rather the point of a strap-on instrument. Players who move about at the front of a stage will get the most from it.
What makes the sound
Two oscillators and a noise generator feed the filter section, with waveforms running from saw and pulse through triangle, sine, formant and a PCM/DWGS bank. Wave shaping adds drive, decimation, hard clipping and a set of sub-oscillator options. Polyphony reaches eight voices, halving to four once the vocoder is switched in. There are 200 programs on board, and a patch can hold two timbres in layer, split or multi.
Vocoder and audio input
Sixteen bands of vocoding are included, with level and pan set per band plus formant shift and hold. The monaural mini input takes a headset microphone for singing through the synth, or a phone if you would rather play along to a track. Arpeggiator patterns cover up, down, alternating, random and trigger shapes, with a step function layered on top. Effects amount to a two-band EQ per timbre.
Playing away from the mains
Six AA batteries, alkaline or nickel-metal hydride, give roughly eight hours of continuous use. Plug into an amp or headphones and move around the way a guitarist does. An optional 9 V adapter covers rehearsal rooms. No power cable to trip over.
Body and included items
The instrument measures 839 x 262 x 74 mm and weighs 3.5 kg with cells fitted. Korg supplies a strap and a soft case, along with the manual and a sticker. MIDI is out only, and a USB type B port handles computer work. Readout is a three-digit LED.
See it in action
Specifications
| Keyboard | 37-keys (Slimkey, velocity sensitive, no after touch) |
|---|---|
| Program Number of timbres | Maximum 2 (when using Layer, Split, or Multi) |
| Polyphony | Maximum 8 voices (Maximum 4 voices when the vocoder is selected) |
| Synth | 2 oscillator + noise generator |
| Oscillator 1 | Waveform: SAW, PULSE, TRIANGLE, SINE, FORMANT, NOISE, PCM/DWGS, AUDIO IN |
| Oscillator 2 | Waveform: SAW, PULSE, TRIANGLE, SINE |
| Wave shaping | WS type: DRIVE, DECIMATOR, HARDCLIP, OCT SAW, MULTI TRI, MULTI SIN, SUB OSC SAW, SUB OSC SQU, SUB OSC TRI, SUB OSC SIN, LEVEL BOOST |
| Multi-mode filters | Filter 1: -24 dB/oct LPF, -12 dB/oct LPF, HPF, BPF, Thru |
| Vocoder | 16-band vocoder, adjustable level and pan for each band, Formant Shift function, Formant Hold function |
| Effects | Timbre: 2-band EQ |
| Arpeggiator | UP, DOWN, ALT1/2, Random, Trigger (6 types), Step Arpeggiator function |
| Programs | 200 programs |
| Audio Input/Output Input | Input: Input jack (Mono dynamic mic, Line input) |
| Output | Output jack (Headphone, Stereo, Line out) |
| MIDI | OUT |
| USB | Type B |
| Display | 7-segment LEDs, 3 digits |
| Power Supply | Six AA battery (alkaline or nickel-metal hydride), or Optional AC adapter (DC 9 V) |
| Battery Life | Approx. 8 hours (using alkaline batteries) |
| Dimensions (W x D x H) | 839 x 262 x 74 mm/ 33.03" x 10.32" x 2.91" |
| Weight | 3.5 kg/ 7.72 lbs. (included batteries) |
| Included Items | Manual, Sticker, Strap, Soft Case |
| Accessories (Sold separately) | AC adapter |
Specifications from Korg. Appearance and specifications are subject to change without notice.