KORG MICRO MACHINES
Posted on Thu 10 March 2011 in entries
KORG MICRO SERIES
If you’re short on space but you still need power, sounds and sampling in abundance, look no further than the micro series from Korg…
There are plenty of people out there who’ll tell you that ‘size isn’t everything’ and ‘small is beautiful’ and these two innocent phrases translate perfectly to Korg’s ‘micro’ products. Here’s a quick rundown of the Korg instruments that have taken a leaf out of Napoleon’s book…
KORG MICROKORG - MEET THE FIRST MICRO
Korg first introduced us to micro machines with the microKORG, a state-of-the-art analogue-modelling synth with a built-in vocoder. It may only have 37 keys, but the microKORG wows with its 128 Programs, all of which are rewritable as you can play with the two oscillators, envelope generators, LFOs and the 64 DWGS waveforms to create your own super sounds.
The eight-band vocoder has Capture and Freeze functions or you can turn your voice into wacky sounds at the touch of a button, especially if you start applying the mod, delay and EQ effects.
KORG MICROKORG XL - SUPER-SIZE TO XL
Next step up is the microKORG XL with its 128 preset sounds, 17 effects borrowed from the KAOSS pad, 37 natural-touch keys and a 16-band vocoder. Synthesis-wise, the XL features Korg’s multi-modelling technology, as used in the Radias, R3 and Electribe MX, letting you create sounds using seven types of oscillator algorithms and layering both oscillators if you like.
KORG MICROSAMPLER - AMPLE SAMPLING
If sampling is more your scene, then check the Korg microSAMPLER, which offers five sampling types including two brand new methods: Key Gate (great for grabbing multiple sounds from the same source) and Auto Next (grab a groove as separate samples on individual keys, then use Tap Tempo to match the bpm and divide the sample equally).
KORG MICROKONTROL - TOTALLY IN KONTROL
Giving you more than your usual controller, the Korg microKONTROL includes 37 mini keys, eight rotary encoders, eight sliders and 16 trigger pads to control your soft synths, DAW or external sound modules. Handily each of the encoders and sliders has an LCD above it to indicate the parameter and the transmitted value. A green LCD shows the slider value, whilst orange shows the encoder parameter.
KORG MICROKEY - THE KEY TO SUCCESS
If your budget won’t quite stretch to the microKONTROL, then just 69 quid* will buy you the 37-key USB MIDI controller that is the Korg microKEY. With pitchbend and mod wheels, Octave Shift and Key Transpose functions, there’s more to this than meets the eye!
KORG MICROSTATION - STATION CREATION
The latest machine to bear the ‘micro’ moniker is the Korg microSTATION whose size most definitely belies its power. This fantastic workstation combines a fully featured 61-key synth with a full-on sequencer, boasting 120-voice polyphony, 480 ready-to-use sounds, 512 Programs, 384 Combinations and much more. This beast confirms that size most definitely isn’t everything!
KORG MICRO SERIES SPECS
• microKORG price: £299*
• Synthesis: Analogue-modelling
• Polyphony: Four voices
• Sound sources: 2 oscillators, noise generator, multi-mode fiter, 2 envelope generators, 2 LFOs, 8-band vocoder
• microKORG XL price: £339*
• Synthesis: Multiple-modelling technology (MMT)
• Polyphony: Eight voices
• Sound sources: 2 oscillators, noise generator, 2 multi-mode filters, 16-band vocoder, 6 arpeggiators, 128 Programs
• Effects: 2-band EQ, 2x master effects, 17 further effects
• microSAMPLER price: £339*
• Sampling types: Five (Loop, One-shot, Gate, Auto-next, Key Gate)
• Sampling rates: 48, 24, 12, 6kHz
• Sampling time: 160 seconds per bank (mono, 48kHz rate)
• Polyphony: 14 voices
• microKONTROL price: £239*
• Controls: 37 mini keys, 4-way joystick, 16 pads, 8 rotary encoders, 8 sliders, Value dial
• User memory: 12
• microKEY price: £69*
• Controls: 37 mini keys, mod and pitchbend wheels
• microSTATION price: £399*
• Sounds: 512 Programs (480 preset), 384 Combis (256 preset), 48 drumkits (25 preset), 256 GM2 programs, 9 GM2 drum programs
• Synthesis: EDS-i (Enhanced Definition Synthesis - Integrated)
• Polyphony: max. 120 voices (single mode)
• Effects: 5 insert, 2 master, 1 total, 134 effects types
• Sequencer: 16 MIDI tracks, 1 master track, 128 songs, 480 ppq, 40-300bpm, 16 preset songs
* Prices from 1st March 2011 - please note that prices are subject to change in the future.
Purchase the Korg microKORG XL