KORG Gadget 3 adds new instrument gadgets, effects, a new browser, and a play page. But what everyone is most excited about is that iOS now allows you to use gadgets as separate AUv3 plugins on other hosts. (The Desktop Gadgets plugin already had this feature, but iOS didn't.) Gadgets are also currently on discount.
This update from KORG includes many features, including:
- Gadget instrument collection with over 6,000 sound programs in total
- New gadgets: Santa Anna (guitar) and Sydney (sampler)
- Genre selection function allows you to create songs from your favorite patterns
- 5 new IFX including 8-band EQ, stereo imager, transient shaper, and more
- Play page: Easy use of the arpeggiator and chord entry
- All-new sound browser that allows you to select gadgets with your desired tone
- AUv3 support on iOS allows you to use your gadget with other music apps like Garageband
VST3 and AUv3 are now supported on desktop, as well as UI improvements on various pages. The desktop release already had plugin support, and v2 also added NKS support that can be easily controlled via the Native Instruments plugin, but now the long-awaited VST3 is also available.
followed by the city name. santa ana is a guitar for non-guitarists. Call up a rhythm guitar pattern and play it by touch or from your keyboard. It's not a new concept, but it's certainly well-suited to iOS, and Korg's product has some styles and playing techniques you won't find in rivals like his GarageBand. This also has a new built-in amplifier and effects.
I predict Sydney will be a big draw for CDM readers. Load six tracks with your own samples and apply tempo-synced time stretching to even long samples. They also added Lo-Fi effects to this.
So wouldn't it be great to have Sydney as another host? Now you can. His AUv3 support on iOS allows individual gadgets to appear on any host, making all the great mixers, pattern makers, and other tools available. If you love the ingenuity of Korg's instruments and effects, but have never really cared about Gadget's workflow, this is a big deal. (On macOS and Windows, gadgets already ship as plug-ins.)
And yes, you're excited. This is mentioned all over my feed, but I'll give you an example.
The list of gadgets has become huge.
Korg Gadget Collection
If you want to stock up, now is a good time. It seems like every gadget is on sale. I don't think I'm alone in wishing some of these were hardware. Korg, isn't it about time for you to release a digital reboot of the Volca series? But on the other hand, these are a lot of fun and you don't have to buy anything new and physical.
Notes regarding iOS version:
- The App Store will still show “Gadget 2” instead of Gadget 3. But this is how he got Gadget 3. It's a free update.
- Not all gadgets are supported. Anything that relies on external apps like iMS-20 won't work (to be fair, it doesn't make much sense anyway)
Additionally across all versions:
korg gadget
It's not quite as advanced, but I still love the often overlooked Nintendo Switch version. All that matters is that you have access to a gamepad and a fun game sound instrument. I will explain this in detail separately. A good companion in winter weather.
