If you own an N364 or know someone who does, this is the gold standard. Do not use the line out with a standard guitar cable. You want a balanced, clean signal.
The Workflow:
Pro Tip: Sample the N364 through a vintage preamp (like an ART Tube MP) to add harmonic distortion that mimics the character of the original output stage.
If you just want the sound of the N364’s internal samples without the hardware hassle, you have options:
The Korg N364 is a time capsule. While you can buy a software emulation of the M1 or the Triton, the N364 remains a ghost in the machine—unloved by software devs, but adored by those who remember its weight and its sound.
By hunting down or creating your own Korg N364 samples, you are not just acquiring sounds. You are preserving the digital grit of the late 90s. Whether you need that aggressive Eurodance bass, that cold gothic pad, or that punchy garage kick, the N364 has a texture that no amount of digital plugin modeling can fully replicate.
Open your sampler. Start mapping. Let the 16MB of compressed, glorious 90s nostalgia flow through your speakers.
Need a head start? Check the pinned comment below for a link to free, royalty-free single-cycle waveforms ripped from a serviced Korg N364 (Includes 12 Bass waves & 8 Pad waves). Happy sampling. korg n364 samples
was famous for its 8MB of PCM ROM, which might seem tiny today, but the quality of its multisamples was legendary.
Rich Pads & Textures: Best known for lush, cinematic pads like "The Rain" and "Universe."
Aggressive Leads: Cutting-edge (for the 90s) sawtooth and square leads.
The "Workstation" Feel: High-quality (at the time) pianos, organs, and world instruments used extensively in Bollywood and progressive rock. Where to Find N364 Samples
is a hardware workstation, "samples" usually refers to one of three things:
Original Factory Multisamples: Many sound designers have meticulously sampled the factory presets (all 200 Program and 200 Combination sounds) into modern formats like SF2 (SoundFont), Kontakt (.nki), or EXS24
. These are often found on boutique sampling sites or community forums like Korg Forums. Official Korg Legacy Collection: Korg’s own M1 VST and Triton VST Go to product viewer dialog for this item. contain many of the same PCM waveforms found in the If you own an N364 or know someone
. While not a 1:1 N364 emulator, the M1 VST's expansion cards cover much of the same sonic territory. User-Created Soundbanks: Because the
featured a floppy disk drive, many original "PCG" files (program data) are available online. If you own the hardware, you can load these to get new sounds without buying physical expansion cards. Best Formats for Modern Production
If you are working in a DAW (Ableton, FL Studio, Logic), look for these specific sample types:
Kontakt Libraries: These usually include "Round Robin" sampling, capturing the velocity layers and filter movements of the original hardware. WAV Loops
: Good for the N364’s unique internal sequencer patterns and drum kits. SysEx Files: If you have an
or a compatible Korg synth (like the N264 or X3), you can download .SYX files to restore factory sounds or load custom community patches. Why Sample the N364 Today? Unlike modern "clean" digital synths, the
has a specific harmonic distortion caused by its 90s-era digital-to-analog converters (DACs). Producers of Vaporwave, Lo-Fi House, and Synthwave specifically seek out Pro Tip: Sample the N364 through a vintage
samples for that "vintage digital" aesthetic that feels nostalgic yet professional.
In the late 1990s, Korg ruled the roost with its AI² (Advanced Integrated Intelligence) synthesis system. Sandwiched between the legendary Trinity and the accessible N264, the Korg N364 became a secret weapon for keyboardists in rock, R&B, and electronic music. With its 64-note polyphony, 16-part multi-timbrality, and a famously aggressive filter, the N364 defined the sound of countless late-90s radio hits.
But in the age of DAWs and soft-synths, the hardware is aging. Floppy disks fail, LCD screens dim, and carrying a 40-pound keyboard to a gig is impractical. So, why are thousands of producers still searching for "Korg N364 samples" every month?
Because the sound is irreplaceable.
This article explores everything you need to know about acquiring, converting, and using Korg N364 samples in your modern productions.
The Korg N364 (along with its siblings N264, N5, and the rackmount N1R) represents a pivotal moment in 1990s sample-based synthesis. Released in the mid-to-late 1990s, the N364 wasn’t a virtual analog or a physical modeling synth—it was a ROMpler, relying entirely on compressed, high-quality samples stored in read-only memory (ROM). Understanding its samples is key to unlocking its enduring appeal.
Believe it or not, there is no official Korg N364 VST. However, Korg’s own iM1 (for iPad/iPhone) gets you 70% of the way there. But for the true N364 grit, use a different approach:
While not full samples, this "wavecycle synthesis" captures the essential harmonic content of the N364 oscillators.