During our visit to Berlin for Superbooth, we were granted exclusive access to the Korg Berlin workshop and workspace by Tatsuya “Tats” Takahashi.
The founder and luminary behind Korg Berlin provided us with an up-close look and demonstration of their latest prototype, the Acoustic Synth Phase 8. After getting a look at the Phase 5 prototype at Superbooth last year, we were eager to see the advancements in the prototype's development.
Phase 8 offers five distinct tonalities, each with an eight-step sequencer and uses tuned metal forks to generate fundamental notes and overtones, similar to tined instruments like an electric piano, though in the case of a Phase 8, no physical, internal hammer ever touches them. These forks are tuned and controlled by magnetic coils and modulated through various control to blend the physical and electronic, creating sounds that feel alive—like guitar strings, xylophone keys, or flute air, all within electronic synthesis.
In the video Tats reveals that he and his team hopes to have a commercial product based on the technology within the next 12 months, so be sure to keep tabs open on Korg Berlin to learn more.
And don't forget to check out the rest of our coverage from Superbooth 2024 for more exciting news in the world of electronic instrument makers.