The 03R/W has the same 32-voice polyphony as the 01/W, but unlike that module it does not include a sequencer, and has a marginally smaller 5MB of ROM samples. It also omits the Waveshaping section that is the major difference between the M1 and the 01/W in terms of voice architecture. One feature that sets the 03R/W apart from the crowd is that it is one of the new breed of units that supports General MIDI (more of which later), and announces the fact with a special logo on the front panel, in between the LCD display and LED MIDI indicator.

The unit, an extremely robust and solidly constructed 1U module, is supplied fitted with removable rackmount brackets and rubber feet, presumably to allow the unit to suit a consumer Desk Top Music environment as well as semi-pro and pro studios and keyboard rigs. From the left of the front panel are a master volume control, headphone jack, and a 16-LED MIDI indicator. These LED's, in two rows of eight, show either Timbre or Track activity in, respectively. Combination and Program modes, but beyond giving this visual display offer little in the way of MIDI analysis and troubleshooting.

To the right of the backlit 16 x 2 LCD are the unit's 10 keys. As on units such as Roland's D110, each key's function varies depending on what mode you are in — for example, once in Combination or Program Mode (confirmed by an LED), you simply hit the Edit key to enter Edit Combination Mode and scroll through the relevant pages with Page + or - keys, which themselves double in Prog and Comb modes as a switch between Bank G (ROM) and Banks C and D (Program Cards — if inserted). The fourth pair of keys move the cursor, and also allow you to flip between sub-pages. Finally there are the increment/decrement keys to alter parameter values.

As only an occasional user of Korg products, I found the key button layout on this particular unit very cramped and fiddly, a situation not helped at all by the actual button shape — it felt like I was pressing match heads. I also found that the keys quite often failed to respond to what seemed to me a more than adequate prod. Personal gripes aside, I feel the designers would have enhanced the units appeal by fitting more substantial key pads like those on the 01/W FD Workstation.