PIANO EXPERIENCE TECHNOLOGY
The new C-720 piano is are based on KORG's innovative “Piano eXperience” technology (“EpX” for short) for an exquisitely vibrant sound and authentic stereo imaging. Thanks to EpX, every detail, nuance and sound of a grand piano can be faithfully reproduced. Recorded with exacting attention to detail, the enormous sample ROM preserves both the natural stereo imaging and the deep dynamic range of a concert grand piano, employing samples recorded at four velocity levels. While existing piano sampling techniques have resembled an audio snapshot, our new “Piano eXperience” technology is more of a hologram, accurately reproducing every dimensional detail of the sound. On the C-720, special functions like sympathetic resonance, the subtle damper pedal noise, piano body simulation, half-pedalling, and dedicated samples for the key off response are at the heart of our new tone generation. The combination of these refined elements allows your performance to express the rich depth and tonal detail of a grand piano - recreating the true “Piano eXperience” with a perfectly authentic sound.
| Sympathetic Resonance– This function is critical to producing a detailed and vibrant piano sound. It simulates the natural vibrations of freely vibrating strings while the damper pedal is pressed. With an acoustic piano, pressing the damper pedal causes a number of strings to vibrate in addition to the ones of the keys you press. Neighbouring strings are also excited in the process, thus contributing to a full-bodied piano sound. |
| Damper Pedal Noise– This function simulates the acoustic and mechanical noise you hear each time you press the damper pedal on an acoustic piano. The damper pedal also controls the sympathetic resonance and piano body simulations. |
| Piano Body Simulation– The actual sound of an upright or grand piano depends to a great extent on its cabinetry, body, sound board and so on. The “Piano Body” function adds this amazing depth and spaciousness to the sound. The resonances simulated make it extremely hard to distinguish the C-720 from a grand piano, because the sonic impression sounds so incredibly real. It is just like sitting in front of the sound board of a fine grand piano. |
Key-Off Sampling– This function simulates the acoustic and mechanical noise you hear each time you release a key. |
RH-3 (REAL WEIGHTED HAMMER ACTION 3) KEYBOARD
Derived from our OASYS 88, this graded hammer-action keyboard (called “RH3”) offers an amazingly touch-sensitive response. Weighted and balanced like a true grand piano, the keys of our RH-3 keyboard are progressively lighter towards the upper end of the keyboard. This high-quality keyboard provides four weighting zones. Ultra-responsive, the keyboard handles even the fastest note repetitions with ease. Unlike acoustic pianos, however, the response of our keyboards can be adjusted to suit the player's taste. And in an environmentally-friendly and responsible gesture, the keyboard weighting contains no lead.
Performance Mode - “Performances” are registrations of sound combinations. So, rather than selecting the desired sounds and changing their settings time and again, you can store your favourite combinations, complete with the split point to a Performance memory for easy recall. There are 30 memories (3 banks x 10) for as many Performance settings. |
DAMPER, SOSTENUTO AND SOFT PEDALS
The C-720 Concert piano come with the same three pedals as a grand piano - a damper, a sostenuto and a soft pedal. This provides a vast expressive range so that every single note sounds exactly as the player intends. Unlike other digital pianos in this price range, our instruments provide a continuous half-pedalling function for the damper and soft pedals for an even more authentic performance. Furthermore, the pedals can be freely assigned to other functions, such as starting the recorder, changing the speed of the rotary speaker effect, or producing typical guitar slides.
| Damper Pedal – Also called hold or legato pedal, this is the right-most pedal. This pedal faithfully recreates the effect of lifting the felt dampers from all strings, allowing them to vibrate much longer after playing a note and releasing the associated key. In addition to the strings of the keys you press, other strings also start to vibrate, producing a richer sound. |
| Sostenuto Pedal – Sostenuto (it.): ‘held, maintained' . The central pedal cause the notes you play to sustain, but applies only to the strings assigned to the keys you press while holding the pedal. It's almost like having a third hand: you can play a single bass note and hold it like a drone with the sostenuto pedal, and then play other notes that are not held in this way, but could be lengthened, just the same using the right pedal. |
| Soft Pedal – Pressing this pedal will make the tone softer and rounder. |
PIANO LESSON FUNCTION
The C-720 comes with a function that is based on 185 music pieces stored internally. These pieces cover the staple repertoire for piano classes. A score book with a selection of 32 of those pieces is also provided. The left and right hand parts of all internal songs reside on separate tracks (Part 1= left hand, Part 2= right hand) and can be played back separately, allowing you to practice one hand at a time and leave the other part to the piano. You can also fast-forward or rewind measure by measure or even set a specified range of measures to play back repeatedly for intensive practice. You can adjust the tempo as you practice, beginning slowly and advancing to full speed as your skills increase. Of course, you can also use the metronome while practising.
SONIC WEALTH
In addition to this remarkable new piano sound, the C-720 includes a rich array of sounds, significantly extending the performance possibilities. An assortment of classic electric pianos (reed and tine styles), church and jazz-style organs, strings and choir sounds, harpsichord and clav(s), even mallet percussion and guitar sounds are available at the touch of a button. Any two sounds can be layered together and played simultaneously, and you can adjust the volume balance between them.
| C-720 | C-520 SOUND TABLE | |||||
| Button | Var 1 | Var 2 | Var 3 | Var 4 | Var 5 |
| Piano1 | Grand Piano** |
Brite Grand** |
Rock Piano |
Piano & Str. |
|
| Piano2 | Honky- Tonk |
Mello Grand** |
Piano |
Elec. Grand |
M1 Piano |
| E. Piano1 | Tine EP 1 |
SuitTine EP |
Dyno Tine EP |
Tine EP 2 |
|
| E. Piano2 | Dig EP 1 |
Dig EP 2 |
Reed EP |
Trem Reed EP |
|
| Harpsi/ Clav |
Harpsi 8‘ | Harpsi 16‘ | Clav | Synth Clav |
|
| Vibes/ Guitar |
Vibes 1 | Vibes 2 | Nylon Guitar |
||
| Organ1 | Jazz Organ |
Perc. Org. 1 |
Perc. Org. 2 |
||
| Organ 2 | Church Org. |
Pipe Flute |
Pipe Tutti |
||
2-TRACK RECORDER
The C-720 incorporates a multitrack recorder, enabling you to record and play back songs. You can use the onboard recorder to create a song composed of up to three parts (left hand, right hand, drum), and use the USB port to transfer the finished result to your pc. As song data is saved in the Standard MIDI File format, you can load them with virtually any hardware or software sequencer. Songs you record yourself are at first kept in a special buffer memory. Once you're happy with your performance, you can transfer it to the Songbook's “User Song” section for permanent storage. Most playback functions, like repeat loops, variable tempo, etc., are also available for use within your own repertoire. The recorder can even read 16-track songs in the Standard MIDI File (SMF) format created on computer or other hardware.
CONNECTIONS
The audio outputs let you play the C720 through an external speaker system, or connect it to an audio recording device. The C-720 also provides audio inputs, allowing you to listen to your CD player or other device, through the built-in speakers along with the sounds of the instrument itself - playing along with your favourite recorded music is a great way to practice.
There are also MIDI IN and OUT sockets that support the MIDI protocol, the standard that allows music data to be transferred between musical instruments and computers. MIDI allows you to control several instruments and devices from one instrument or device. The C-720 can even be used as 16-part multitimbral tone generator. The USB port is also available for MIDI data transfer.
METRONOME
There's no need for a mechanic metronome, as our instruments are equipped with a digital one. The metronome function is convenient for lessons and practice of intricate rhythms. You can add an accent tone (choosing either standard or bell tones) to the first beat and adjust the volume of the metronome.
In addition, the C-720 provides 37 different preset drum patterns, so you can practice playing along with a drummer. You can even pre-select rhythm variations for the choruses of the songs you're playing!
TEMPERAMENTS
Quite a few classical pieces were in fact composed with different tuning systems from the one we use today (equal temperament). To experience the original sonorities of such pieces, the C-720 provides nine different tuning systems in addition to equal temperament. Thanks to a quarter-tone function, you can even tackle oriental scores. Specifications subject to change without notice
