Maxikorg vs Korg 800DV

[Jexus]

OK so what is the deal with these names, I see a synth with label reading MAXIKORG in one place, and somewhere else I see the same synth named "Korg 800DV".

And what do you think about this model ? Anybody has one ? Today's value for one ?

[sam]

They are both the same...2 700s in one box..That vintage sound.

Early DM and soft cell...ect.

Very nice.

[drawtippy]

There is actually another name, the Korg K3! As far as I know they are all the same synth and it was rebranded as different things when Korg bought Univox.

I am lucky enough to own one of these. Mine is labled the Univox Maxi-Korg. This synth was recommended to me by Peter Forest, the author of the amazing A-Z of Analogue Synths books. It took me about a year and half to find one in nice condition under $1000 US. Basically, it is Korg's answer to the Oddy and some even say the Mini.

It is a great synth, no pitch or mod wheels and no midi. The CV is that non-standard type as well but the sound options are incredible. It really covers a wide range and it's duophonic! Quirky, heavy, lots of wood, colorful and sounds bad a*s. I need to get pics and sound demos of all my new goodies up on the forum. Cheers.

[Jexus]

sounds bad a*s

badass you say... need to have it

[sam]

I have a Korg 700 and 700s....They just sound so great. I would love a DV .
They sell for around 800 euros.

If the price is right..Go for it..

I think the Human league "being boiled" bassline is the 700s.

[Micke]

As for the original question; they're indeed the same however the ones badged Univox Maxi-Korg (aka K-3) were marketed in the US by UNICORD.

Thus:

mini-KORG 700 = Univox MINI-KORG (K-1)
mini-Korg 700S = Univox MINI-KORG 2 (K-2)
Korg 800DV = Univox MAXI-KORG (K-3)
Korg Polyphonic Ensemble PE-1000 = Korg Poly-Ensemble P (K-4)
Korg Polyphonic Ensemble PE-2000 = Korg Poly-Ensemble S (K-5)

UNICORD owned the Univox brand and for many years was the US importer of Korg (Keio Electronic) and Crumar products. Unicord kept marketing Univox equipment until 1978 or so but stopped rebadging Korg products in 1975 or 1976 because they decided the Korg name had more value than the Univox name.

In 1985 UNICORD was bought up by Keio. In that same year Keio changed their corporate name to Korg Inc.

It's quite interesting to note that *Korg* was just a brandname until 1985.

Micke

[Micke]

They are both the same...2 700s in one box..That vintage sound.

Early DM and soft cell...ect.

Very nice.

Besides David Ball of Soft Cell (who afaik only used it on Soft Cell's early demos and live), Vangelis, The Cure, Kitaro and Swedish prog-rockers Kaipa were also using the Korg 800DV/Maxi-Korg back in the day.
I don't think DM ever used one though.

[Dirk]

There are more family members:
SB-100 SyntheBass

Korg 770

Korg M-500SP

Korg 900SP

Traveler


I have a 800DV and a minikorg.
Soundquality is among the best in the world. They can both sound sweet and brutal if you want. And change between a lovely sweet tone to a monsterous bass at the flick of a switch and a change of a slider.

Very highly recomended.

[drawtippy]

Great pics dirk! I love the way most of them share the same sliders/colors. The sliders look metal on the 700S are they? Also, I've contacted other owners about putting midi in the 800DV what's your advice?

cheers

[bill H.]

The caps are plastic, if that's what you are asking. And I'm missing a couple unfortunately.

I purchased mine new. Yeah I'm that old. It was originally a "three badge" version but to avoid embarrassment I took the Univox plate off the back as soon as I got it. Univox was not associated with pro quality gear in the 1970s, to put it mildly.

These Korgs were really well built. It's incredible... mine really hasn't had any problems and it's 30 years old and was in constant use for over 10 years. It's now a bit slow to warm up and the Travelers aren't as smooth as they once were, but I'll give it that.

[sam]

They are both the same...2 700s in one box..That vintage sound.

Early DM and soft cell...ect.

Very nice.

Besides David Ball of Soft Cell (who afaik only used it on Soft Cell's early demos and live), Vangelis, The Cure, Kitaro and Swedish prog-rockers Kaipa were also using the Korg 800DV/Maxi-Korg back in the day.
I don't think DM ever used one though.

I think I once read that photographic (some bizzare album) DM used the 700..?

Hey micke you won my quiz...

[insky]

Well I haven't been on here in a while and as you can tell from my avatar I have a MaxiKorg. From what I understand the MaxiKorg K-3 was branded for the US market and the 800DV was for the Europian market. Also from what I understand the 800DV does not have external CV control for the filters like the MaxiKorg does. I read this from Blue Synths but I may be reading it wrong. And you're right about it being a beast.

Anybody know the story of the 770? As far as I know it's half an 800DV wouldn't that make it a 700S in a different case? Anybody know the differences between the 770 and the 700S?

They sound great. Totally unique. I've never heard anything like it (except a 700S). I'd say the 800DV is worth the extra price over the 700S. I've never owned a 700S but I'd think it would get kind of frustrating having only half a synth.

It just screams early New Wave from the 70's. In fact you can see the MaxiKorg in action HERE with The Cure playing A Forest in 1980. It's at the very beginning. I like it played at this speed much better.

[Dirk]

Great pics dirk! I love the way most of them share the same sliders/colors. The sliders look metal on the 700S are they? Also, I've contacted other owners about putting midi in the 800DV what's your advice?

cheers

Some of the turning knobs are metal (VCO's), the others are just like on the 800DV.

I'm gonna put cv/gate on mine and use a converter that can use Hz/V. I have posted them before.
Here are some links: http://www.vintagesynth.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=361647#361647

[Dirk]

Anybody know the story of the 770? As far as I know it's half an 800DV wouldn't that make it a 700S in a different case? Anybody know the differences between the 770 and the 700S?

The 800DV is 2 700s's that can interact with eachother. And has 3 positions for the switches. So a 800DV is more than 2 700s's (k2).

The 770 is more of a 700 with 2 fully ajustable vco's. The 2 vco's can be ringmodulated. The rest is about the same as on the 700, but with 3 positions for the switches instead of 2 for the 700. So the 770 is a tiny bit less than 2 700's(k1).

You can make any sound the 770 can make on a 800DV, with a bit of outboard routing, but not vise versa.

[Jexus]

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