Korg Nautilus 61 AT Synthesizer

In the Footsteps of Titans. All in One Instrument!

Limitless possibilities in musical expression and absolutely easy operation—that’s what the new KORG NAUTILUS stands for. Alongside the nine well-known and now further developed KORG sound engines, which naturally stem from KRONOS technology, the Nautilus combines the best and newest sounds available on the market with a completely novel control concept.

The wide-ranging sound and effect palette and extensive technical capabilities make the Nautilus unique in the world of music workstations, alongside its sleek and elegant design. Besides a polyphonic arpeggiator, traditional sampling and audio recording functions, and many other features, the Nautilus is technically state-of-the-art.

The very simple and efficient design of the instrument houses the latest generation processor that ensures contemporary demands of musicians and producers in the studio and on stage are met. This consistent technological advancement has brought forth this beautifully designed and high-quality synthesizer: the KORG NAUTILUS.

The starting point for the sounds included in the NAUTILUS was the idea that Korg wanted to break away from preconceived notions about which sounds a conventional music workstation should contain. Instead, boundaries in sampling and programming were to be expanded, because all programs had to meet at least one of the following criteria:

Unique Sounds

The NAUTILUS contains distinctive sounds, some based on phrase loops, prepared pianos, household percussion, and more. Numerous instruments known only in certain cultures require special playing techniques that you don’t even need to simulate on the NAUTILUS: factory-ready phrases are already available. These phrases can be quickly and highly effectively integrated into songs.

Current Sounds

Additionally, the NAUTILUS offers sounds that are instantly suitable for today’s popular music genres, including synthesizers, drum kits, and many other sound effects. The EDM, electro, and chiptune areas stand out particularly among the synth sounds. Furthermore, the NAUTILUS contains over 50 drum kits with sounds that definitely don’t remind you of yesterday or the day before. The sound effects include drum sounds with dance accompaniment for beat creation that can be used right away. The Nautilus is not only up-to-date but ahead of its time.

Standard Sounds

Of course, this workstation also contains bread-and-butter sounds like grand piano, piano, electric piano, guitar, bass, and much more. For the new grand piano sound, we also sampled the studio acoustics, whose level can be effectively dosed relative to the actual grand piano sound. A new electric piano model with a wonderfully rich sound is ideal for funk music. Look forward to numerous phrases with typical guitar and bass parts, so keyboard players can "reasonably" play guitar or bass as well.

The DYNAMICS Control for Unlimited Expressiveness

The DYNAMICS control lets you instantly vary the keyboard’s response, whether more brilliant and broad or more restrained and narrow. Real-time changes to these settings can be quickly and easily used as a new expressive tool on stage and in the studio. This can go so far that you barely recognize the chosen basic sound anymore. First, find the ideal setting for your playing and then experiment with the creative possibilities you find on the NAUTILUS.

When you activate the DYNAMICS control and turn it left, the response to your attack becomes more differentiated, leading to an expanded range. This lets you play even subtler and more expressive piano solos and accompaniments, where dynamics naturally play the main role. Turning the control right reduces the dynamic range, which simultaneously results in a more powerful basic sound. This is especially necessary in a band or ensemble where you don’t want to get lost in the noise.

Real-Time Controllers for Fast and Detailed Sound Editing

The six real-time controllers on the left side of the control panel allow flexible real-time control of sounds in program and combi modes. Each controller can be assigned desired sound aspects: filter frequency, effect amount, note length, tempo and swing of the arpeggiator or drum track, snare drum type, and much more. In combi mode, timbres can be linked, allowing comfortable balance changes with these controllers.

New and Intuitive Control Concept

Despite the versatile possible settings, the NAUTILUS has received a completely new and very tidy user interface. An elegant and intuitive control concept lets every user easily keep track. The menu navigation on the display clearly shows the desired path to each setting without getting lost in the densely populated control panel.

With the MODE button on the right side of the control surface, you access a display showing all modes available in the instrument (Program, Combi, Set-List, Sampling, Sequence, and Global). Each mode displays different parameters over several tabs at the bottom of the display, while the PAGE button allows further detailed editing of the respective mode. Thanks to the new control concept, the setting procedures are the same everywhere. The user-friendly navigation of the NAUTILUS also means you can always return to the starting point, the mode selection, with the MODE button. There’s even a dark mode where the display mainly shows black areas—your eyes will thank you.

Six Quick Access buttons on the right side of the control panel can be assigned desired shortcuts to keep paths to a direct menu point or function short. Four suggested assignments are available by default. If you want to use your own shortcuts to various menu pages or functions, you can program up to four user assignments. Functions like recording or the sequencer transport buttons can be configured here alongside, for example, different mode areas. This way, you always have the most frequently needed functions "at hand." An absolutely brilliant control concept.

Arpeggiator and Drum Track Function

There are 4 "scenes" with arpeggio patterns and drum track sets that perfectly match the respective factory sound in program and combi modes. Such scene changes can be used creatively, facilitate improvisations, and broaden horizons when writing new songs inspired by the currently selected sound.

Color TouchView Display

The control center of the NAUTILUS is a 7" (800 x 480 pixels), color WVGA TouchView display. Thanks to the TouchView display, sounds or other parameters can be selected by simply tapping and values adjusted with dragging movements with surprising precision. Interactive instrument and control panel graphics invite you to, for example, lift or lower the grand piano lid or plug patch cables on a semi-modular synthesizer model. The TouchView display also offers a handy search function to find (and preview) specific sounds.

Set List Function for Flexible Live Use

New 16-Track MIDI Sequencer and 16-Track Audio Recorder

Korg Nautilus 61 AT: Powerful Sound Variety!