Korg A3 – To capture a wide range of sounds from a single instrument, modern recording studios use a complex array of effect units. Today (1988), these units are not just secondary devices but essential instruments vital for creating diverse sounds.
While full racks of effect units and compact pedal boxes can replicate nearly any studio effect, they lack the ability to quickly switch between different effect settings. Some multi-effect devices address this issue, but they often fall short when using multiple effects simultaneously. To overcome this challenge, KORG has developed the Korg A3 Performance Signal Processor, a true multi-effect device.
41 Different Types of Dynamic Effects and a Special Selection of 200 Separate Effect Chains
The Korg A3 boasts 41 effect types, including reverb, delay, exciter, distortion, chorus, and a rotary speaker effect. It features specially designed effect patterns that allow for the simultaneous use of up to 6 effects connected together. These combinations, known as effect “chains,” include 20 pre-programmed chains of the most essential and commonly used effects in the A3’s internal preset memory.
This extensive range allows users to create anything from standard settings to unique special effects effortlessly. With 200 memory locations (100 internal and 100 on a memory card), both effect chains and individual effects, along with their parameter values, can be memorised for instant recall.
This advancement represents a significant leap from previous effect devices, enabling users to quickly set up complex combinations of effects by selecting the appropriate program. Now, the sophisticated combinations of effects once limited to studio settings are readily available for live performances.
Expansion of effects with card memory
Until now, effect devices—even those with multi-effect capabilities—only allowed you to use built-in effects, limiting their creative potential. The Korg A3 changes this by letting you add new effects and multiple effect chains from a continuously available series of ROM cards. It’s like getting a new effect device every time you load a ROM card.
Depending on your needs, the Korg A3 can instantly adapt to a wide variety of signal processing roles, from guitar and studio applications to wildly creative sound effects. This is the first effect device in the world to offer ongoing expandability, keeping pace with the ever-evolving world of signal processing.
Uncompromising sound quality with digital filtering technology
The quality of a multi-effect signal processor hinges on its sound quality. The Korg A3, with its unique effect combination architecture, is built around a specially developed DSP (Digital Signal Processor), ensuring perfect preservation of the original sound through complete digital processing from input to output. This eliminates the degradation typically caused by multiple A/D and D/A conversions.
As a result, the output sound is as clear and clean as the original. High-frequency sampling noise is significantly reduced by a 4-times oversampling digital filter, optimising sound quality. KORG engineers have enhanced sound quality by easing the filter’s burden in cutting out unwanted frequencies and minimising group delay drop-out in high frequencies.
The Korg A3 continuously monitors data discrepancies and recalculates waveform data, effectively increasing the sampling frequency to four times the normal value (48.4 kHz) and eliminating strain in filter processing while removing sampling noise. This ensures high-quality sound reproduction faithful to the original input signal.
Unprecedented ease of operation
Real-time control of program changes, effect ON/OFF, effect volume, and parameter settings is possible with the optionally available FC6 Foot Controller. Checking and editing parameters is simplified with double function editors, featuring both rotary and push-button operation, and a large LCD displaying all pertinent values.
The Performance Editor function allows control of multiple effects simultaneously for easy real-time editing of complex effect chains. For convenience, the Korg A3 has input terminals on both the rear and front panels, with front panel input priority, making it ideal for rack mounting.
Korg A3 Internal effects
- Reverb group
- Compressor group
- Distortion/overdrive group
- Delay group
- Stereo delay group
- Modulation delay group
- Phaser group
- Stereo tremolo group
- Exciter group
- Ensemble group
- Rotary speaker group
- 3-band EQ group
- Speaker simulation group
- Pedal pan group
- Gate group
- Pedal wah group
- Early reflection group
