Fortified with nine powerful sound engines — each optimized for a specific task — the Korg NAUTILUS pushes the performance envelope for synth workstations. Leveraging Korg’s latest cutting-edge technology, NAUTILUS advances the state of the art with its robust feature set, which gives you fingertip access to a massive arsenal of premium sounds, full-featured sampling and HD audio recording, studio-grade effects, and stunning processing power — all harmoniously integrated into a sleek, robust chassis that’s easy to transport and looks incredible onstage. Korg KRONOS set the standard for the modern, multi-engine music workstation. Now, NAUTILUS gives keyboardists the sonic capabilities of KRONOS, with an even larger sound set, in a streamlined, more affordable Japanese-built performance synth workstation.

Achieve your musical goals faster than ever

NAUTILUS redefines the capabilities — and indeed, the very notion — of the performance synth and keyboard workstation. Its nine sound engines, working fluidly in tandem, further advance the refined multi-engine architecture Korg first pioneered in KRONOS, while their Dynamic Polyphony Allocation and Smooth Sound Transition technology ensure all your notes are voiced and your sound transitions are seamless. Factor in NAUTILUS’s TouchView interface and control panel with customizable mode buttons, and “workflow” becomes a quaint concept supplanted by intuitive, stream-of-consciousness creativity that allows you to achieve your musical goals faster than ever, and in any manner you choose.

Nine synth engines, one powerful instrument

NAUTILUS harnesses the awesome power of nine individual synth/sound engines and integrates them into a single musical instrument that offers you unlimited creative potential. Korg uses advanced technologies such as dynamic voice allocation to allow all the sound engines to gracefully share the stable, enhanced hardware platform that is NAUTILUS. In operation, the results are nothing less than jaw-dropping. Whether you’re a performing keyboardist, songwriter, or producer, NAUTILUS is a formidable instrument for delivering your musical message.

An arsenal of dazzling sounds and studio-grade FX

As much as computer-based DAWs have made inroads into keyboardists’ stage setups, gigging pros at Music Experience know that from a live performance perspective, a DAW-based rig is no substitute for a roadworthy, self-contained synth workstation that interfaces seamlessly with your DAW for composing and recording in the studio — while delivering a wealth of instantly accessible sounds and powerful features with the immediacy of real-time, hands-on control during live shows. Boasting up to 14 simultaneous effects and 32 simultaneous EQs, NAUTILUS has the standalone production power you need to create finished tracks with professional studio polish.

The KRONOS pedigree

Korg invented the keyboard workstation in 1988 and has remained an industry leader in the category ever since. Along the way, they have continually refined and integrated proprietary digital, analog, processing, and hardware technologies into instruments in which they remain virtually invisible, working smoothly under the hood to let you connect with your music on an almost subconscious level. With NAUTILUS, Korg has distilled technology from their flagship KRONOS — the instrument of choice for world-class keyboard stars like Herbie Hancock, Jordan Rudess, and Jon Batiste — into a streamlined synth workstation that puts a cornucopia of 2,200 dazzling sounds at your fingertips, along with the means to quickly select, modify, and arrange them to satisfy your every creative whim. NAUTILUS even expands on the power and flexibility of KRONOS with expansions for both the PCM and Piano engines, resulting in an even more robust sound set. With NAUTILUS, you will never run out of amazing sounds!

The keyboard of your dreams

NAUTILUS is available with three different keybeds to suit a range of keyboardists’ preferences. NAUTILUS 88 features Korg’s acclaimed premium RH-3 (Real Hammer) action, which is evenly graded to feel heavier in the low register and lighter in the high range, like a real acoustic grand piano. For players who don’t want or need weighted hammer action, Korg has developed a new Light-Touch keyboard that facilitates smooth glissandos and lightning-fast synth solos. Organ and synth players at Music Experience are raving about the Light-Touch keybed, which is available in NAUTILUS 61 and, by popular demand, NAUTILUS 73 — which gives you six full octaves, C to C.

Sleek, elegant design looks incredible onstage

While the 88-key model is fitted with sumptuous wooden end panels, the 61-key and 73-key models feature a sleek new chassis with swoopy curves that rise up from the bottom to the sides, conjuring the maritime design inspiration behind NAUTILUS. It all adds up to an elegant, yet tour-tough instrument that looks as good as it sounds.

Packed with premium pianos

Pianos are the bedrock of most keyboardists’ soundsets, and NAUTILUS features the largest number of advanced piano libraries ever contained in one product. Not only is NAUTILUS fortified with all the gorgeous grands and uprights from KRONOS and Grandstage, but it also features an updated version of Korg’s SGX-2 piano sound generator, which leverages 12-step velocity switching, sympathetic string resonance, variable ambience, and more to bring out the nuanced expressiveness of your acoustic piano performances. From the mellifluous tones of a legendary German piano to the thrilling sounds of a famous Italian grand, Korg’s SGX-2 piano engine delivers a level of detail that captures every delicate nuance of these intricate instruments.

Electric pianos, classic tonewheels, epic synths, and more

Korg’s renowned EP-1 electric piano sound generator reproduces seven classic electric piano sounds with stunning realism, while the CX-3 engine — the heart of Korg’s coveted CX-3 reissue — serves up the distinctive sound of legendary tonewheel organs. Add to that MOD-7 VPM/FM synthesis, the PolysixEX, MS-20EX, and AL-1 for analog modeling, and the STR-1 for physical modeling, and you have a dedicated engine for any type of sound you’re looking for. Deployed together in Program or Combination mode, these distinctive sound engines create entirely new timbres.

Updated HD-1 PCM engine for High Definition synth sounds

The most powerful sound engine in Korg’s history, the HD-1 High Definition PCM sound engine is built on Korg’s proprietary low-aliasing sample playback oscillators and features full-bandwidth multimode resonant filters and fast, smooth envelopes and LFOs for flexible signal modulation. Acclaimed industry-wide, Korg’s PCM sounds are meticulously crafted by a specialized team. As technology advances, data that was previously omitted due to technical limitations has been drawn back into service for NAUTILUS. While the impressive quantity of waveform memory might be roughly equivalent to a computer-based sound engine, the real difference is in the superior level of quality and finish that become manifest when you play these sounds as instruments on your NAUTILUS.

Sampling to the nth degree

NAUTILUS takes sampling to the next level with out-of-this-world sounds like “Nails Piano,” which combines a piano with chromatically tuned samples of nails being dropped on the floor! Korg’s Open Sampling System lets you quickly sample any external audio source, whether you’re in Program, Combination, or Sequencer mode. You can load custom samples into the user sample bank via USB memory to take advantage of NAUTILUS's massive 60GB SSD capacity. NAUTILUS supports samples in AIFF, WAV, SoundFont 2.0, and AKAI S1000/3000 formats. What’s more, you can exchange large amounts of sample data with your computer at high speed using a USB Ethernet adapter. And, uniquely, you can use instruments or samples you have created on your Mac or PC as the basis of a NAUTILUS production.

Onboard 16-track MIDI and Audio recording

However you choose to go about producing your music, NAUTILUS is ready with a sequencer/recorder that offers 16 MIDI tracks and 16 audio tracks. MIDI sequencing is great for quickly capturing ideas and whipping together professional-quality phrases using the Drum Track or RPPR (Realtime Pattern Play/Recording) functions. The 16-track audio recorder concurrently captures up to four tracks of uncompressed 16-bit or 24-bit data at a sampling rate of 48kHz. You can play along with recorded tracks, season with effects, and then re-sample NAUTILUS playback and place the re-sampled WAV files directly in a track. Polishing your tracks is easy using mixer automation and editing functions such as copy, paste, and normalize to achieve your desired results.

16 powerful onboard Effects processors

NAUTILUS provides 16 onboard effects to add impact and finesse to your musical creations. Each of the 12 Insert Effects can be applied to individual or multiple timbres in a combination, or to individual or multiple tracks of the sequencer. In addition, two Master Effects may be applied to sends 1 and 2, and two Total Effects can be applied to your full final mix. Plus, a separate 3-band EQ is available for every timbre, for every sequencer track, and for every audio track to adjust tonal balances or for creatively equalizing the overall sound.

Dynamics and Real-time knobs for maximum expression

NAUTILUS’s Dynamics Knob lets you control changes in volume and tone in response to the velocity with which you strike the keys, and you can even customize it in real time to match your playing feel for a particular song. The Dynamics Knob is powerful — turning it to the left makes the keyboard respond more softly to your touch when delicate expressiveness is required in solo situations or quiet, small-ensemble settings. Turning it to the right yields a stronger, flatter dynamic response that’s more appropriate for overdubbing in a thick track or playing in a band. The six Real-time knobs give you give you direct control over changes to Prog and Combi sounds. Freely assignable to a number of functions, Real-time knobs are ideal for controlling a variety of functions such as filter cutoff, effect depth, gate time, tempo and swing of the arpeggiator or drum track, type of snare drum, and much more.

Intuitive color TouchView display

NAUTILUS’s nerve center is its expansive new 8-inch (800 x 480 pixel) WVGA color TouchView display, which lets you choose a sound with the touch of a finger, and gives you deep, intuitive control over every parameter. The display’s Touch-Drag capability means you can, for instance, adjust the lid of a grand piano or connect a patch cable to a semi-modular synth model with just a simple finger swipe! The display also has a convenient Search function, which allows you to search for (and preview) sounds based on their titles. Korg’s TouchView display, together with the Real-time knobs, not only integrates, streamlines, and simplifies the operations of a very sophisticated high-tech instrument, but it also puts your creativity front and center at all times. And that, friends, is what it’s all about.

Included software bundle:

• KORG Collection M1 Le (synthesizer sound module)
• UVI Digital Synsations (synthesizer sound module)
• AAS Ultra Analog Session (synthesizer sound module)
• AAS Strum Session (acoustic guitar sound module)
• AAS Lounge Lizard Session (electric piano sound module)
• Reason Studios Reason Lite (DAW music production software)
• Skoove free 3 month trial of Skoove Premium (online piano lesson)
• KORG Gadget 2 Le for Mac (DAW music production software)
• iZotope Ozone Elements (audio mastering plug-in software)
• KORG Gadget 2 Le (music production studio DAW app for iOS)
• KORG Module (piano/keyboard sound module app for iOS)

What KORG Says...

NAUTILUS pushes the boundaries of what a performance synth and workstation is capable of. With the power of nine engines to drive a new approach to sounds, plentiful sampling, audio recording, effects, and processing power, there is simply no other synth that delivers more to explore sonically, with the workflow to get you there faster than ever. Korg spent years refining all our digital, analog, processing, and hardware technologies and delivering them in a way that helps the musician connect with their instrument. The result is the incredibly powerful, one-of-a-kind NAUTILUS.

Nine different sound engines offer massive expressive power

The NAUTILUS features nine dedicated sound engines to realistically reproduce sounds such as pianos, electric pianos, organs and more. To start, the enhanced SGX-2 piano sound generator offers delicate expressiveness to capture all the nuances of the acoustic piano, and NAUTILUS features the most piano libraries ever put into one product; with 12-step velocity-switched sound, string resonance and more. The EP-1 electric piano sound generator realistically reproduces seven different famous electric piano sounds. The CX-3 engine – the heart of our sought-after CX-3 reissue -covers the distinct sound of classic tonewheel organs. Add to that MOD-7 VPM/FM synthesis, the PolysixEX and MS-20EX for analog modeling, and the STR-1 for physical modeling, and you have essentially an engine for any type of sound you’re looking to get. Used together in Program or Combination mode, these distinctive engines create completely new timbres.

New sounds offered over three broad categories

The approach to the included sound on NAUTILUS, started with Korg setting aside our preconceptions of what sound should be like on a conventional music workstation, and instead focused on pushing the boundaries of sampling and programming to create a brand-new classifications of programs that we divide into three groups:

“Unique” sounds:
The NAUTILUS brings you distinctive sounds including phrase loops, prepared pianos, found percussion and more. Many seldom heard-of musical instruments found in different regions around the world can be difficult to play, but distinctive phrases played on these instruments are featured on the NAUTILUS. Use these phrases as-is in your songs—let your imagination be your guide. The NAUTILUS features sounds that were sampled for the first time just for this instrument, including prepared piano sounds created by placing different objects between piano strings and recording samples, or “found percussion” sounds made by turning ordinary items into instruments to be struck. Not only do these novel and mysterious sounds provide an unexpected flavor to your songs, they offer broad possibilities for sound effects used in film and TV music as well.

“Current” sounds:
The NAUTILUS also offers the freshest sounds that blend in well with today's music scene, including synths, drum kits, special effects and more. For synths, be sure to check out the EDM, electro and chiptune sounds for starters. Also, the NAUTILUS features more than 50 kinds of drum kits—sounds that most strongly reflect the changes in music over time. The special effect sounds offer useful material like drums added to dance music to create beats—sounds that you can put to use right away.

Standard sounds:
We’ve brought together all of the most important sounds a workstation needs including piano, electric piano, guitar, bass guitar and more, covering all genres. For the newly sampled piano sound, we’ve also recorded the lovely sonic ambience of the studio, and you can mix the piano and ambience sound as you like with the new ambience sound. A new electric piano model with a characteristic thick sound has been added, which works great for funky playing styles. We’ve also added many phrases that let you play back actual performances of guitar and bass parts that keyboardists will find useful.

The DYNAMICS knob makes delicate expression possible

With the DYNAMICS knob, you can instantly control the changes in volume and tone in response to how hard you play the keyboard (velocity); and you can customize this knob in real time to match the keyboard playing feel required for each style and song. Even when playing the same sound, you can turn this knob to get the feeling of playing a completely different sound. By finding just the right setting for your playing style, you'll uncover even more of the possibilities that the NAUTILUS offers. When you activate the DYNAMICS knob and turn it to the left, the keyboard responds more softly to your playing, giving you a wide range of dynamics. This allows for delicate, expressive playing when accompanying a piano solo or vocals, which directly reflects the dynamics of your performance. On the other hand, turning the knob to the right gives a stronger, more flat dynamic response. This brings out the sound when you’re playing in a band or ensemble, which works best when performing with a more even feel.

Make intuitive changes to sounds with the Realtime knobs

The six RT (real-time) knobs at the top left of the panel give you direct control over changes to the PROG and COMBI sounds. A variety of functions are assigned to each knob that lets you enjoy making changes to sounds, such as the filter cutoff and effect depth, the gate time, tempo and swing of the arpeggiator or drum track, the type of snare drum and more. In COMBI mode, you can group timbres and control their levels with the knobs. Further, you can press these knobs into the panel to lock them in place, preventing them from being accidentally changed while you’re playing. For instance, you could use this to enable only the knobs you often use onstage and push the ones in that you do not need.

A user interface designed for easy operation

For the NAUTILUS, we have completely rethought the user interface, considering that panel controls tend to become denser as more functions are added. The interface of the NAUTILUS lets users find just the things they’re looking for once they understand the principles. The MODE button lets you see what you’ve selected in each mode on a single screen, from PROG and COMBI to the set list, sampling, sequence and global modes. Each mode has tabs for each function, and the PAGE buttons offer more detailed editing with consistent operations. With the user-friendly navigation of the NAUTILUS, you can press the MODE button at any time to return to the start if you get lost. A dark mode is available for the display, using black as the primary color to reduce eye fatigue. Six quick access buttons are also available as shortcut buttons. The NAUTILUS further offers four templates as a continuation of the previous user-friendly features, which can be used to select modes like PROG and COMBI, as transport buttons for sequencer playback and recording and so on. You can also select your own settings as you like. What’s more, you can freely assign functions you frequently use and save them in one of four sets.

Convenient arpeggiator and drum track functions

Four scenes of arpeggio patterns and drum track sets are made available that perfectly match each PROG and COMBI preset sound. These are useful for switching between scenes while they’re played, for use when improvising during performance, or for expanding your vision when composing music starting from a sound.

Color TouchView Display

The nerve center of the NAUTILUS is KORG’s enormous eight-inch (800 x 480 pixel) WVGA color TouchView display. In addition to simply selecting a sound or choosing a parameter with the touch of a finger, the enhanced Touch-Drag ability allows more detailed control of parameter values. Interactive instruments and panel graphics provide the ability to do everything from adjusting the lid of a grand piano to connecting patch cable on a semi-modular synthesizer model. The TouchView display also hosts a convenient new Search Function, allowing you to search for (and preview) sounds based on their titles.

Dual polyphonic arpeggiators

In Combination mode or Sequencer mode, two arpeggiators can be run simultaneously. In addition to standard arpeggio patterns, these arpeggiators can generate guitar or bass riffs, drum patterns, or they can even be used as building blocks for sound design, to create pads, synth sounds, and sound effects that include subtle motion. You're also free to edit any of the patterns to create your own custom originals.

Set list mode that demonstrates its power in live performances

NAUTILUS can organize all of the resources you need to get through a song—or a set—using the Set List mode. Using the Set List mode, the TouchView display can host 16 color-coded touch-screen buttons; each one can instantly call up the appropriate Preset, Combination, or Sequence—regardless of mode! You can also select different button colors, such as when you want to change the colors within a song while playing live. This is a powerful feature for situations that require quick and accurate control. The Set List mode even adds a nine-band graphic EQ, allowing the overall tone to be tweaked to match the venue.

Open Sampling System

Using KORG’s Open Sampling System, NAUTILUS can quickly sample an external audio source, regardless of whether NAUTILUS is in the Program, Combination, or Sequencer modes. The Open Sampling Mode can even resample the performance of the NAUTILUS itself. The user sample bank, which extends the convenience of the EXs sample library to user samples, allows custom samples to be loaded and played, taking advantage of the gigantic SSD capacity. AIFF, WAV, SoundFont 2.0, and AKAI S1000/3000 format samples can be loaded into memory via USB memory. Additionally, you can use a USB Ethernet adapter to exchange large amounts of sample data with your computer at high speed. Instruments or samples that you've previously created on your PC can be used to construct a music production setup based on just the NAUTILUS itself.

16-Track MIDI Sequencer / 16-Track Audio Recorder

NAUTILUS features a sequencer/recording section that offers both 16 MIDI tracks plus 16 audio tracks; a great resource for putting together a dazzling performance or a brilliant production. MIDI sequencing makes it easy to capture ideas, inspiration, and pro-quality phrases using the Drum Track, or RPPR (Realtime Pattern Play/Recording) functions. The 16-track audio recorder simultaneously captures up to four tracks of 16-bit/24-bit uncompressed data at a sampling rate of 48 kHz. Play along with recorded tracks, add effects, and then resample the NAUTILUS itself and place the resampled WAV files directly in a track. When polishing your tracks, feel free to use mixer automation and editing functions such as copy, paste, and normalize to get the results you want..

16 Onboard Effect Processors

NATILUS provides 16 internal effects to add impact to your sonic creations. Each of the 12 Insert effects can be applied to individual or multiple timbres in a combination, or to individual or multiple tracks of the sequencer. In addition, two Master effects can be applied to sends 1/2, and two Total effects can be applied to all tracks at the final stage of the sound. A separate three-band EQ is provided for every timbre, for every sequencer track, and for every audio track for adjusting subtle tonal balances or for creatively modifying the overall sound..

USB / MIDI Host Ports Accommodate MIDI Control Surfaces

Any class-compliant USB-MIDI controller can be connected directly to the NAUTILUS. Assign functions to a Korg USB MIDI controller with pads (nanoPAD, nanoPAD2, padKONTROL) to play drum parts, and switch between chords with chord triggers or when you’re in chord mode.

Smooth sound transitions that eliminate dropouts when changing sounds, regardless of the mode you're in

When you switch program sounds during a performance to get ready for the next section, or when you switch from Program mode to Combi mode, the sound that's currently being output is always given priority and its effects are maintained during the program change, ensuring a seamless transition with no dropouts. This function has also earned extremely high praise from pro musicians.

88-key model with piano touch, 73-key model with light touch and 61-key model available

The keyboard on the 88-key model of the NAUTILUS uses a four-stage real weighted hammer action made in Japan, called the RH-3. This action is heavier on the lower notes and lighter on the higher notes for superb playability. The 73-key model features a much-requested light-touch synth keyboard from C to C, as with the 61-key model. This key action lets you play organ parts with plenty of glissandos, as well as synth solos that take advantage of the keyboard’s wide range. The 88-key model is fitted with luxurious wooden side panels, and the 73-key and 61-key models a completely new design with impressive curves that rise from the bottom of the unit to the sides, patterned after the NAUTILUS’ namesakes: the Nautilus submarine and the cephalopod mollusk. All of these elements make the NAUTILUS a distinctive instrument onstage as well, brimming with personality.

Free bundle of music software

The NAUTILUS comes with a diverse variety of music software from Izotope including “Ozone Elements” which lets you not only create songs but also master them using AI, “Skoove” which will help you improve your keyboard playing skills, “Reason Lite” DAW software, as well as software synths from KORG and other brands. In other words, the moment you get your hands on this synthesizer you'll have a variety of tools to help you take your music to the next level.