Yes, certain “early” units had a bad IC chip that caused crackling at the
ends of certain waveforms. While Korg has explained that this cannot be
narrowed to a specific serial number range, it is my opinion that “early”
means serial numbers before 000650. Try this simple test:
Select Program A004 Tricky Kit. Play the F or the G below Middle C, and
hold the note. As the sound dies out, if you hear a DEFINITE LOUD
CRACKLING, then your unit is affected. Anything that is not actual
crackling, then you don’t. In other words, don’t turn your volume WAY
UP and start to imagine that some tiny perceived noise at the end of the
sample (which happens on many waveforms, due to the limitations of
sampling in 16 bits) is the problem, when it isn’t. If you have it, you will
DEFINITELY KNOW IT when you do the above test. Otherwise, you’re
fine. If you have to turn your system up to 11 as the sound is dying out
and then you think you *might* hear something, you don’t have it.