Today I received two Korg sound modules: an AG-10 (headless halfrack synth) and the I/O Data rebranded version of the AG-3: the MIDI-KG/APW. Since the AG-10 is actually the version for Japanese PC-98 systems and the AG-3 is very rare and Japan-exclusive, I figured I'd make a little topic for them.
First up is the AG-3/MIDI-KG/APW (Apple version). This one was pretty much complete save the Mac serial cable.
As the MIDI-KG/APW has an audio-in, one cable is to hook up to the computer's audio out, while the other plugs into your speakers from the module's audio outs.
Curiously, the Korg software is dated 1997, while the included eMagic promotion disk is dated 1992-4. I have no idea what microLogic is, I actually expected the module to come with eMagic SoundDiver...
The specifications are almost exactly the same as for the Korg AG-10, except for the power adapter. However, there is one other difference...we'll come to that later.
The software appears to be for Windows 3.1 and later and Mac OS 7.5 and later. I'm not entirely sure what the Music Navigator is meant to be; one of the pictures in the manual makes it look like a softsynth similar to Roland's Virtual SoundCanvases and Yamaha's S-YXG softsynths.
I had to look in the manual to discover where the MIDI ports were hidden. What may look like an integrated speaker on some pictures is actually a removable cover:
This one comes with the PC-98 software for NEC's PC-9801 platform, a range of mostly Japan-exclusive systems that used many of the same chipsets as in IBM PC compatibles, except with a different hardware implementation. Although the systems run DOS/V (Japanese MS-DOS) and Windows, most programs written for them can't run on IBM compatibles, only starting to converge when Windows 95 became available in a PC-98 version.
I'm missing one of the Korg-branded vertical mounts, but since I will be putting the AG-10 in my rack that won't matter. The serial cable included may look IBM-compatible, but it isn't:
The pin-out is PC-98 specific. It might be that the 25 to 9 pin adapter is actually a converter for IBM PCs, but I'll have to check the connections with a multimeter to be sure...
All software is for DOS/V, so it will not work on IBM PC compatible DOSses. The Kuwatec software is an oddity: in the screenshots in the manual it looks like it is all in English, despite having been released only in Japan. I wonder whether it will work in an emulator...
The AG-10 itself has the same MIDI spec as the MIDI-KG/APW (the charts are exactly the same), except for one thing: the AG-10 accepts special Korg-exclusive sysex messages that can be used to change how the AG-10 processes other MIDI messages, making it possible to split messages between the AG-10 and another Korg module attached to the MIDI OUT port. This effectively means it is possible to chain multiple Korg AG-10 modules and make them play in unison as if they were one module (Yamaha TX-816-style).
Curiously, the Korg serial driver installation instructions come on a printed out sheet:
Aaaaaaand it looks like the AG-10 is in need of a recap and possibly some continuity checks on some connectors. Popping noise upon starting it, takes a while to warm up before sound comes out, high line noise, a dead left channel on the headphones out but not on the main outs. 😒 Looking at the circuit board, at least one small cap is bulging.
The MIDI-KG/APW however sounds great, despite looking more used than the AG-10. It is also five years newer, so most likely doesn't suffer from Korg's bad capacitor issue that their early 1990s modules are somewhat reputed for - although I thought the AG-10 (1992) was not on the list of affected modules.
Fortunately, the units lack a battery so no problems there... 😀
Sorry to hear about the AG-10 situation. It's a seemingly common problem, unfortunately; I have 05r/w and SC-88 units in similar states of repair candidacy.
Aaaaaaand it looks like the AG-10 is in need of a recap and possibly some continuity checks on some connectors. Popping noise upon starting it, takes a while to warm up before sound comes out, high line noise, a dead left channel on the headphones out but not on the main outs. 😒 Looking at the circuit board, at least one small cap is bulging.
Alternate solution: swapping the original and rather tired looking PSU for a generic 12V center-negative unit. This cut down the noise to more acceptable levels. The headphones out connector is wobbly and has a bad connection.
