Microkorg packs a punch (Korg MicroKorg)

Member Name: Leonbriggsy

Product:	Korg MicroKorg
Date:	03/09/09 (62 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: arpeggiator editor, great potential for sounds

Disadvantages: bad preset sounds and only 3.5mm mic connection

The Microkorg has been used by some pretty damn good artists. To name a few we have Air, Beck, the Prodigy and also some bad artists such as the Killers. (only joking, they used to be good until they released Day & Age)

So why did they choose this over the Microkorg XL which boasts a chipset based on the Korg Radias and a more sleek design...

The Microkorg is the cheaper option of the two and has its sound engine based on the old MS-2000. This makes its sound capabilities great but possibly not as great as the XL which has its chipset based on the Radias (as the R3 does).

In saying this the same sort of parameters are still available only layed out differently.

The Microkorg lists all of its parameters in a table on the right hand side which may appear complex to the novice but in fact it is an easy reference tool to see which parameter a specific rotary knob controls.

Using the two rotary knobs in the middle you can select a parameter category to adjust and then under each of the five on the right will be a corresponding set of effects to adjust.

The down side on the synthesis side is that there is only a four note polyphony so we can only use four voices at a time on a specific sound which does seem limiting but you can still produce some great monologue style sounds.

This does however better the XL in that you have an easy to adjust step arpeggiator with 8 buttons which can be used to turn on or turn off segments of the arpeggio.

There are many other differences between the two which can be found on the review of the XL itself.

In essence, the microkorg has 37 miniature-size keys (and if you don't like the size you can always hook up an external midi keyboard to control its onboard sounds), 71 waveforms and DWGS waves to choose from on one of the oscillators and many other standard effects you would expect to find.

Not forgetting to mention the 8 band vocoder... the Microkorg is an excellent affordable synth.

Summary: great value...if you're buying new