76-key Korg Triton keyboard

MIDI Life Crisis · Post by **MIDI Life Crisis** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 9:53 am

I am offered the use of this at a remote venue for a piano only performance. Any feedback on the action and piano sound would be most helpful. Basically, I'd like to know if it is a light weight, spring action keyboard, which it appears to be, or if it has weighted keys.

Thanks.

Gravity Jim · Post by **Gravity Jim** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 10:15 am

I'd expect a light synth action. In those Korg lines, usually only the 88's (ProX) have weighted actions.

Although even though it has apparently been discontinued, some of the online retailers still have listing for it, and they show a Triton Pro 76 with a "Hammer Weighted Action." So,,, maybe?

MIDI Life Crisis · Post by **MIDI Life Crisis** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 10:17 am

Thanks Jim. I watched a couple of Youtube "performances" (if you can call them that) and it seemed like very little effort went into the key presses (and even less in the performances!).

But I digress....

Prime Mover · Post by **Prime Mover** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 12:16 pm

Yeah, for the fact that the Trinity/Triton were upper eschellon sound producing powerhouses in their day, they had the action of a cheap toy. I wouldn't use one for a piano-only performance if you paid me. And this is coming from someone who plays on a QS8 (not renound for awesome action).

MIDI Life Crisis · Post by **MIDI Life Crisis** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 12:38 pm

Ok then. Dumped it is. I dont know why people don't get it that if you hire a pianist you need a piano. Duh!

mhschmieder · Post by **mhschmieder** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 1:19 pm

One of the worst keybed actions and piano sounds ever, but it looks like you already got that figured out.

A shocking thing, given that almost anything is a better choice than a 76-key Triton! Really! Even a more recent Korg arranger workstation has better action and better piano sounds!

Prime Mover · Post by **Prime Mover** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 4:06 pm

I've learned to live with semi-weighted action like on my QS8 (pretty similar to most electric grands, anyway), but I just can't touch an unweighted keyboard with a ten-foot pole, not for piano anyway.

Trinity/Triton are synthesizers, they're for making lots of huge, weird, and grand sounds, but they're terrible pianos. Pretty much all 90s synths are. Hell, I hear QSs used all the time on albums, and I think they're horrific, but they're worlds better then the Korg piano patches.

Still, I'd love to have a little 61 key Trinity on a 2nd tier for leads and fun stuff. On second thought... nah, I'll stick with one keyboard and rotatable keyboard maps.

donreynolds · Post by **donreynolds** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 5:34 pm

I have one. It is not weighted, but it is a spring action. The piano sound could be better, but passable. I usually use TruePianos VI on my laptop. They sound great I think. Not as true as Ivory, but VERY passable.

I really like my Triton. I think it is a great instrument for what it is.. a synth workstation.

monkey man · Post by **monkey man** » Mon Feb 06, 2012 12:57 am

Try not to break the keys with those big, fat fingers of yours, Magilla.

That's Monkey's tip for ya. That way, the damage won't be deducted from your pay. See? Where would you be without my priceless genius?

Phil O · Post by **Phil O** » Mon Feb 06, 2012 7:05 am

mhschmieder wrote:One of the worst keybed actions and piano sounds ever, but it looks like you already got that figured out.

A shocking thing, given that almost anything is a better choice than a 76-key Triton! Really! Even a more recent Korg arranger workstation has better action and better piano sounds!

I'm not a pianist, but a friend of mine who is would agree with this assessment. He borrowed one once for a session in my studio and hated it. We did, however, record the MIDI performance and later replaced the sounds, but he still hated the action.

Phil

David Polich · Post by **David Polich** » Mon Feb 06, 2012 7:10 am

Forget the action...the sound of the Triton was horrible. That was its
main problem.

Tobor · Post by **Tobor** » Mon Feb 06, 2012 10:35 am

donreynolds wrote:I have one. It is not weighted, but it is a spring action. The piano sound could be better, but passable. I usually use TruePianos VI on my laptop. They sound great I think. Not as true as Ivory, but VERY passable.

I really like my Triton. I think it is a great instrument for what it is.. a synth workstation.

Can't say as I can argue too much about the critical assessments of the Triton piano sounds, but I love my 61 key version and have used it on a thousand gigs in the last ten years.

The piano at least cuts through in a loud rock/r&b band context, the organs are effective, and the MOSS board Wurli sound is better than anything else I've encountered, including VIs.

I've always considered Korg strong on the meat and potatoes stuff for the most part. I had an 01W/FD for ten years before my Triton and it was still cooking when I replaced it.

I'm looking forward to test driving the Kronos when it's time (probably soon) to finally retire the Triton from live action. The pianos should be infinitely better. Although I will also consider Yamaha and Kurzweil. My main home 88 keyboard is a Yamaha S80.

Tobor

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