Since its foundation in 1963, Korg has always set itself the goal of creating new musical and playful experiences. This led to the development of the first Japanese drum machine on disc, the Doncamatic to the development of the first Japanese synthesizer and the world's first needle tuner, followed by many unique instruments that offered the pleasure of musical entertainment to a large number of artists around the world.
Korg is committed to continuing to create innovative and uncompromising instruments to maintain the full potential of professional artists and creators while remaining accessible to everyone. Korg musical instruments are the result of the reflections and ideas of many artists loyal to Korg products.
Korg is distinguished with a series of innovations and pioneering products. The Key-Transpose" function was Katoh's idea after a singer in his club needed her accompaniment in a lower key, which was not enough for the accompanist. Korg was the first company to present effects on a synthesizer and the first to use a "Sample + Synthesis" sound design. The M1 Workstation, launched in 1988, sold more than 250,000 units, making it the best-selling synthesizer of all time. 2.
In 1989 Korg hired the design team of Sequential Circuits when they were relieved of their duties by the then sequential owner Yamaha. Yamaha Corporation has always been an important partner of Korg, supplying them with circuits and mechanical parts. In 1987, shortly before the release of the M1 Music Workstation, Yamaha acquired a majority stake in Korg. The acquisition of the company was mutually agreed, Katoh worked out the terms and conditions and the two companies continued to develop their product lines independently and competed on the market. After 5 very successful years Katoh had enough money to buy back a large part of the Yamaha share in 1993.
Since then, Korg has developed into digital effects, tuners, recorders, electronic hand-held percussion instruments and software instruments.
