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80 of 80 people found the following review helpful.
Amazing mini synth with vocoder
By Vynny
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2P8YN112E62K9 I have another video review for the Korg M50 61 Key Synthesizer Workstation which is similar to this video review so feel free to check it out if you get chance.I purchased the microkorg more for the vocoder than the soft-synth but I have to say that both elements are equally stunning. Now this video review of the MicroKorg only covers the very basics - think of it as an overview from someone who has had enough time to play with the keyboard, but has yet to fully get into the deep side of the programming. I haven't even skimmed the surface of what this keyboard can do in terms of sound and versatility.The synth sounds themselves are amazing as you will hear from the video, and that's despite me using the camera's onboard mic to record. And the vocoder is every ELO fan's dream!Really for the price there's nothing on the market and it should be in every keyboard musician's toolkit, whether you're a studio performer or a live player. I feel that even the 'sequel' to the MicroKorg, the MicroKorg XL,is less useful as it relies more on connection with a computer than hands-on in the field programming that the MicroKorg can do.Anyway - have a look at the video and see what you think. Personally I love it!
68 of 69 people found the following review helpful.
I can't believe the size, the price, or the sound
By BENJAMIN MILER
The MicroKorg is probably the finest synth you'll ever get at that price. It's very small (same size as many of those toy keyboards you grew up as a kid, but this is no toy), and has 37 keys, although the big criticisms here is Korg opted for toy keyboard-sized keys, rather than full-sized keys (the similar sized and similarly priced Alesis Micron, also 37 keys, used full-sized keys). It's a four note polyphonic virtual analog synth capable of fantastic analog sounds, with all the great sounds of the '70s, '80s, and '90s! It's essentially a Korg MS-2000 in a small package, but with an 8-band vocoder (instead of 16-band), and a superior arpeggiator, great for all you electronica and techno buffs out there, or those who want to create Tangerine Dream-like rhythms without the bulky gear that group had to use back in the glory days of the mid '70s. I've been aware of vocoders for ages, and of course, was a huge trademark in Kraftwerk's sound (they started using vocoders starting with 1973's Ralf & Florian, which is one album prior to their famous breakthrough, Autobahn), I am so happy to now personally own a vocoder, that is, one included in a synth. It has a condensor microphone for use of a vocoder, although you can hook up any standard microphone too. Like most any synth made in the last 20-25 years, it's MIDI, so you can have it interact with other MIDI synths, drum machines, your computer, or any other MIDI device.Although it comes with an AC adapter for home and studio use, you'll be happy that you can use 6 AA batteries, so you can bring it with you on your next camping adventure (plus it has a headphone jack too, since hooking it up to speakers might be a bit difficult in the Great Outdoors).It's also fully programmable, you can alter the sounds already included, or you can erase one of the settings and start from scratch. I really love the features you can do here. You can have it polyphonic, or monophonic for use of soloing, or retro-'70s analog sounds. It has two oscillators, you have many different choices of waveforms. You can edit the arpeggiator so you can get it to do different rhythms (it can do up to a sequence of 8 notes). I also really like the delay feature, to get that echo sound when you release the note, it really gives it a fuller sound. You can get it to pan for that wonderful stereo effect, or select a phasor. You can even program it to have the pitch wheel and modulation wheel do things, such as altering pitch, the resonance, vibrato, etc. There'e two edit knobs, and five more knobs to help you with the programming. But I very much suggest you read the instruction manual, or you might have a hard time programming it. But once you get a hang of it, you'll have a ton of fun programming your own sounds and see what you can do. Despite the keys itself, it's actually a fully professional synthesizer.The MicroKorg might be geared for the younger audience, thanks to its low price and many of the techno sounds it can do, but Jean Michel Jarre uses one and he's hardly young. Not to mention you can make it do a lot of non-techno sounds too, like classic '70s analog sounds, or '80s polyphonic synth sounds (like what you hear on Van Halen's "Jump") so it doesn't just appeal to the young segment.It's great see many professional musicians using it from Jean Michel Jarre right down to Nick Rhodes of Duran Duran. I even saw a documentary directed by Hans Fjellestad called Moog, which was about Robert Moog and of Moog synthesizers, and they showed several techno/electronic groups where the main emphasis was on their Moog gear (naturally), but one group was clearly shown with a MicroKorg.This is no 88 key workstation, that's for sure. In some cases that's a good thing, especially if you like in a small apartment and you're concerned about space, but for such a small synth, I am completely blown away at what this can do. You really need to try and buy this synth, you won't be disappointed!
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful.
so itll set you back about 400
By M. Radovilskiy
bucks but, this product is frekin awesome, i bought it and i am glad i did, the synths are full programmable, the best thing about this synth is that it is SO versatile, has many banks to make and save sounds on, comes with a manual thats clearly laid out. it has a headphones out (1/4") stereo out L & R (2 1/4") dynamic 1/4" and included condenser mic (with mic in) line in and a midi in, out and thru. i am glad because i can use some other midi device to control its tiny keyboard. one of the coolest things i didnt know about the keyboard when i bought it, was it has a 6 AA battery panel to power it, so u dont need wall outlet, the sound quality is fantastic, i had it hooked up mono so im sure stereo is phatty. the synths have a wide range of dynamic controls, and sound like big bucks, for the money you pay for it. it only has truly 3 downsides1. small cheap feel keyboard (can be a plus because the unit is quite portable)2. few knobs to get the job done, so you have to go through each set of sound variables to really program the sound, which makes it difficult to do it live.but once u programmed your sound to where u want to play with only few variables you have got it down3. ive noticed that almost always i have to turn the knob to its full range, both up and down for it to activate its function as if it re-calibrates everytime on its range of motion (in order to edit a variable, such as arpegiator gate time)i do recomend you try the unit at a store before buying amazon, so you can see if this unit is for you,overall with its limitations, and functionality and quality, i must say this unit IS for me! thank you KORG!
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