Nautilus EP-1 MDS electric piano sound engine

The EP-1 MDS is a software sound engine that is available on some Korg synthesizers, such as the Korg Kronos and Korg Nautilus. The EP-1 MDS engine stands for "Electric Piano Modelled Dynamic Stereo" and it is a type of synthesis that uses physical modeling techniques to create realistic electric piano sounds.

Unlike sample-based synthesis, which uses recorded samples of real instruments to create sounds, physical modeling synthesis uses mathematical models to simulate the behavior of the physical components of an instrument. In the case of electric pianos, this includes modeling the behavior of the hammers, strings, and pickups that are used to create the sound.

The EP-1 MDS engine includes a variety of electric piano sounds that are based on different models and brands of electric pianos, including classic instruments like the Fender Rhodes and Wurlitzer electric pianos. The engine allows for detailed control over the sound, including parameters like the hardness of the hammers, the placement of the pickups, and the level of the sustain.

One of the unique features of the EP-1 MDS engine is its dynamic stereo functionality. This allows the sound to be spatially positioned in the stereo field based on the velocity of the notes being played. For example, low velocity notes might be panned to the left, while high velocity notes might be panned to the right. This creates a more realistic and expressive sound that responds to the player's touch.

Overall, the EP-1 MDS engine is a powerful tool for creating authentic and expressive electric piano sounds that capture the nuances and characteristics of classic instruments.