Korg
Japanese multinational manufacturer of electronic musical instruments, audio equipment, effects processors, tuners, and related products.
Last updated October 23, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Korg is a Japanese electronic musical-instrument company founded in Tokyo in 1962 by Tsutomu Katoh and Tadashi Osanai. The business began as Keio Gijutsu Kenkyujo and later operated as Keio Electronic Laboratories before adopting Korg as the principal commercial name. Its earliest product was a compact electromechanical rhythm machine, the Donca Matic DA-20, introduced in 1963. The company subsequently developed rhythm machines, electronic organs, synthesizers, digital pianos, music workstations, effects processors, guitar pedals, tuners, recording equipment, electronic hand percussion, and software instruments. Korg’s move into synthesizers followed the work of engineer Fumio Mieda, whose programmable-organ prototype persuaded Katoh that the company could extend its organ expertise into the emerging synthesizer market. The Korg miniKORG, released in 1973, established the brand in electronic keyboards and helped define its long-term identity. Korg later became associated with instruments that combined substantial sound-design capability with practical performance features, including transpose functions, onboard effects, sampling, sequencing, and integrated workstation arrangements. The company’s 1988 M1 Music Workstation was a major commercial and technological turning point. It combined synthesizer sounds, digital samples, sequencing, and workstation functionality in a single instrument and became one of the most successful synthesizers of its era. Korg continued broadening its range through digital pianos, professional and accessible synthesizers, stage keyboards, effects products, tuners, and software-based instruments. The company has marketed products for professional performers, recording musicians, composers, educators, hobbyists, and home users. Korg has also operated beyond its core name. It acquired Vox in 1992, retaining a connection to the guitar-amplification and electric-guitar markets, and later expanded through products sold under the Vox brand. Korg was for many years the exclusive United States distributor for Marshall Amplification, although that distribution relationship ended in 2010. In September 2022, Korg acquired Darkglass Electronics, a company known for bass-oriented effects and amplification products. Yamaha Corporation became a controlling shareholder in Korg in 1987, shortly before the launch of the M1. The relationship was described as cooperative, while the companies continued developing and selling their own products. Korg founder Tsutomu Katoh later repurchased most of Yamaha’s shares in 1993, restoring Korg’s independence from that controlling investment. Katoh died on March 15, 2011. In recent years, Korg has continued combining hardware and software approaches, including synthesizer platforms such as wavestate, modwave, and opsix. The brand remains positioned across professional and consumer electronic music technology, with a portfolio spanning instruments, signal processing, accessories, and selected guitar-related products.
History
Korg originated in Tokyo in 1962 when Tsutomu Katoh and Tadashi Osanai established Keio Gijutsu Kenkyujo Ltd. Katoh had operated a nightclub, while Osanai, a University of Tokyo graduate and accordionist, performed there using a Wurlitzer Sideman rhythm machine. Dissatisfied with the machine, Osanai persuaded Katoh to support the development of an improved rhythm device. The resulting company first operated under names connected with Keio, reflecting both its location near the Keio railway line and the names of its founders. The company’s first commercial product was the Donca Matic DA-20, an electromechanical rhythm machine released in 1963. Its name referred to the characteristic sound of the device. A solid-state successor, the Donca Matic DE-20, followed in 1966. These products gave the young company experience in electronic rhythm and accompaniment technology. In 1967, engineer Fumio Mieda approached Katoh with the goal of developing keyboard instruments. Katoh commissioned him to build a prototype, and approximately 18 months later Mieda produced a programmable organ. Keio introduced the instrument using the Korg name, formed from a phonetic rendering of Keio and an abbreviation of organ. The company changed its corporate name to Keio Giken Kogyo Inc. in 1970, while Korg increasingly became the public-facing brand. Korg’s organs performed well in the late 1960s and early 1970s, but Katoh recognized that the company needed to distinguish itself from established organ manufacturers. He directed the business toward the then-nascent synthesizer market, applying its keyboard expertise to electronic sound generation. The Korg miniKORG appeared in 1973 and became the company’s first synthesizer. During the 1970s, Korg served both hobbyist musicians and advanced users through smaller instruments as well as larger, patchable synthesizers in the PS series. The company is associated with several practical and technical innovations. Its key-transpose function was reportedly inspired by a singer at Katoh’s club who needed accompaniment in a different key. Korg was also an early manufacturer to integrate effects into a synthesizer and to use sample-plus-synthesis approaches. In the early 1980s, it entered digital pianos, extending beyond synthesizers and organs into instruments intended to reproduce the playing experience and sounds of acoustic pianos. Korg’s most important commercial milestone was the M1 Music Workstation, introduced in 1988. The M1 combined digital samples, synthesis, sequencing, and performance functions in one instrument. It sold more than 250,000 units according to the cited reference material and was regarded at the time as the best-selling synthesizer. The launch occurred after Yamaha had acquired a controlling interest in Korg in 1987. The investment was amicable, and the two companies continued to compete and develop products independently. Korg later recruited the former Sequential Circuits design team in 1989. After several successful years under Yamaha’s control, Katoh had sufficient funds to repurchase most Yamaha shares in 1993. Korg diversified further in the 1990s and afterward. It acquired Vox in 1992, bringing guitar amplifiers and electric guitars into its broader brand portfolio. Korg also distributed Marshall Amplification products exclusively in the United States for decades; that arrangement ended in 2010. The company expanded into digital effects, guitar pedals, audio processors, recording equipment, electronic tuners, hand percussion, and software instruments. Katoh died of cancer on March 15, 2011. More recent development has emphasized accessible digital synthesis and hybrid hardware-software platforms. The wavestate, modwave, and opsix families illustrate Korg’s effort to offer distinctive digital sound engines in products positioned below the most expensive workstation and flagship synthesizer tiers. In September 2022, Korg acquired Darkglass Electronics, strengthening its participation in bass effects and related equipment. Korg today remains an active, internationally marketed electronic musical-instrument company with products spanning performance, composition, recording, sound design, education, and guitar-related applications.
- 2022
Darkglass Electronics acquired
[1]Korg acquired Darkglass Electronics, known for bass effects and related equipment.
- 2011
Tsutomu Katoh died
[1]Korg co-founder Tsutomu Katoh died on March 15.
- 2010
Marshall distribution arrangement ended
[1]Korg's long-running exclusive distribution arrangement for Marshall products in the United States ended.
- 1993
Katoh repurchased most Yamaha shares
[1]After several years of Yamaha control, Katoh repurchased most of Yamaha's Korg shares.
- 1992
Vox acquired
[1]Korg acquired Vox, expanding into guitar amplifiers and electric guitars under the Vox name.
- 1989
Sequential Circuits design team joined Korg
[1]Korg recruited the former Sequential Circuits design team.
- 1988
M1 Music Workstation released
[1]The M1 integrated synthesis, samples, sequencing, and workstation functions and became a landmark Korg product.
- 1987
Yamaha took a controlling interest
[1]Yamaha acquired control of Korg in an amicable transaction.
- 1977
Tadashi Osanai died
[1]Korg co-founder Tadashi Osanai died, after which Katoh continued leading the company.
- 1973
miniKORG synthesizer introduced
[1]Korg entered the synthesizer market with the miniKORG, building on its organ and keyboard expertise.
Products and positioning
A broad electronic-music technology brand serving professional musicians, performers, producers, educators, hobbyists, and home users through instruments, sound-production equipment, software, and related guitar products.
Rhythm machine · 1963
Donca Matic DA-20
Korg's first commercial product, released in 1963 by the company's predecessor. The DA-20 was an electromechanical automatic rhythm device developed to improve on existing accompaniment machines and established the company's early expertise in electronic rhythm generation.
Synthesizer · 1973
miniKORG
Introduced in 1973, the miniKORG was Korg's first synthesizer. It marked the company's transition from organs and rhythm machines into electronic sound synthesis and helped establish the Korg name in the emerging synthesizer market.
Music workstation · 1988
Korg M1
The M1 combined digital samples, synthesized sounds, sequencing, and performance functions in one keyboard workstation. Released in 1988, it became Korg's defining commercial breakthrough and one of the most successful synthesizers of its period.
Music workstation
Korg Kronos
Kronos is a flagship workstation line combining multiple sound-generation engines with keyboard performance, sequencing, sampling, and production capabilities. It represents Korg's continuing workstation strategy for stage performers, composers, and studio users.
Synthesizer
Korg minilogue
The minilogue is a compact synthesizer line aimed at making hands-on polyphonic synthesis more accessible. It extends Korg's traditional analog and digital sound-design work into a smaller format suitable for musicians, producers, and hobbyists.
Digital synthesizer
Korg wavestate
wavestate is a digital synthesizer platform built around evolving and layered sound structures. It belongs to Korg's more accessible modern digital-synthesizer family and emphasizes motion, texture, and programmable performance sounds.
Digital synthesizer
Korg modwave
modwave is a modern digital synthesizer designed for complex modulation and evolving electronic sounds. It is part of Korg's contemporary line of accessible instruments for sound designers, performers, and producers.
Digital synthesizer
Korg opsix
opsix is a digital synthesizer associated with expanded approaches to operator-based and electronic sound design. It belongs to Korg's recent generation of instruments intended to make sophisticated synthesis available in a practical performance format.
Guitar equipment
Vox amplifiers and electric guitars
Through its Vox business, Korg participates in guitar amplification and electric guitars. Vox became part of Korg's portfolio after the 1992 acquisition and gives the wider group a presence outside keyboard instruments and studio electronics.
Music accessories
Korg electronic tuners
Korg produces electronic tuning products for musicians and instruments. Tuners complement the company's keyboard, guitar, and broader music-equipment portfolio and address both stage and practice applications.
Controversies
2020
CMA fines Roland and Korg for resale price maintenance
The UK Competition and Markets Authority fined Roland and Korg for implementing resale price maintenance that restricted retailers' freedom to set online prices. According to the reported event, Roland restricted pricing of electronic drum kits and accessories from January 2011 to April 2018, while Korg did so for music equipment and synthesizers from June 2015 to April 2018. The action concerned restrictions on retailers' ability to set their own online prices for the relevant products during those periods.
Brand decisions
2022
Acquire Darkglass ElectronicsM&ABackground
Darkglass Electronics had an established position in bass effects and related amplification products, complementing Korg's existing audio and effects activities.
Action taken
Korg acquired Darkglass Electronics in September 2022.
Aftermath
The acquisition broadened Korg's portfolio in bass-oriented effects and equipment. Further financial terms were not provided in the reference material.
1992
Acquire VoxM&ABackground
Korg had diversified beyond keyboards into effects, recording, and related equipment and sought a stronger position in guitar products.
Action taken
Korg acquired Vox, a business primarily associated at the time with guitar amplifiers.
Aftermath
Vox became a Korg-associated brand covering guitar amplifiers and electric guitars.
1987
Accept Yamaha's controlling investmentM&ABackground
Korg accepted a controlling investment from Yamaha shortly before the M1 workstation launch. The transaction was described as amicable, and the companies retained separate product development and market identities.
Action taken
Yamaha acquired a controlling interest while Korg continued operating and developing products as an independent brand within the relationship.
Aftermath
Korg later repurchased most of Yamaha's shares in 1993 after several successful years, restoring its independence from Yamaha's controlling stake.
Recent events
- 2022
Korg acquired Darkglass Electronics[2]
M&A
Korg purchased Darkglass Electronics, expanding its presence in bass effects and related amplification products.
- 2011
Tsutomu Katoh died[1]
Leadership change
Korg co-founder Tsutomu Katoh died of cancer on March 15, 2011.
- 1989
Korg recruited the former Sequential Circuits design team[1]
Leadership change
Korg hired members of the Sequential Circuits design team after they were released from their roles under Yamaha's ownership of Sequential.
- 1987
Yamaha acquired a controlling interest in Korg[1]
M&A
Yamaha became Korg's controlling shareholder before the release of the M1 workstation. The companies continued to develop their product lines separately.
Korg expanded accessible digital-synthesizer platforms[1]
Product launch · Product generation
Korg developed the wavestate, modwave, and opsix lines as comparatively accessible digital synthesizer platforms, using Raspberry Pi Compute Module 3 technology in the cited product family.
Sources5 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/korg · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled