Microkorg XL

[55stevieboy2010]

Heard alot of great stuff about it, does anyone own 1 and can justify the £300?

Basically im using massive at the moment but the more i use it the more i keep thinking its not really ideal for the type of tracks im making. On 1 hand im into the kinda industrial techno sound for which massive is perfect however when i want to play around with more melodic, uplifting synths, i cant seem to get much variety from it. I realise a better user could probably make it do just about anything but would i find the job alot easier with a microkorg xl? In a way i also dont like the massive sound. Very crisp and clinical, much prefer something with a little bit of 'feel' which im hoping the korg would provide.

Also does anyone know why the limited edition black is £100 more? Does it have more presets etc or is it just becase it looks nicer...

Safety

[55stevieboy2010]

bump

[benjam]

I was gonna grab one a while back but the size put me off, the keys are way too small (even for my girly hands) and I wasn't too keen on the interface. Ended up picking up a Roland sh-01 (Gaia not sh1) instead,. Really nice synth bit more expensive but so intuitive, I felt like a boss demoing it in the shop. Might be worth a look.

[55stevieboy2010]

you find them easier to come up with the sounds you want than software mate? Massive for instance?

[Benedict]

I liked the MicroKorg XL because:
1. it has familiar, practical and more or less outstanding out-of-the-box presets,
2. it is light
3. it can be battery powered
4. it had usable PWM sampled pianos/EPs

I hated the MicroKorg XL because:
1. filters alias to buggery
2. knobs are terrifyingly flimsy
3. it has no reverb
4. it had no tap-tempo
5. the tempo-knob jumps in wild increments of 5s below about 75bpm and above about 130 bpm (why???)
6. it can only realistically be programmed via USB software interface (although the interface itself is very good!)

These may seem like superficial factors, but unless you're going analog, I find these kinds of things take priority over mere "sound quality". Hardware synths are good for playing live with (where sound quality is usually compromised anyway) and software synths are good for sequencing with (where, if you're lucky, sound quality will be closely analyzed via headphones).
I've owned a lot of synths (see below) and from my experience software synths sound better and are easier to program than hardware synths.
The MicroKorg XL can't compete with Massive for complex sound design, but it'll get the job done for your melodic uplifting, industrial techno - but it's only worth considering if you intend to take it to the stage.

If you play with bands and travel back and forth a lot on public transport, I'd say the MicroKorg XL is the perfect solution - otherwise have you considered Sylenth1?

Incidentally, I have no idea who you are or what you do, so please forgive my unintentionally patronizing tone! If you feel the need to retaliate with scorn and abuse, I will not start getting defensive

Here is a list of every synth I've ever owned:
MicroKorg (original)
MicroKorg XL (not XL+)
Korg Radias
Korg R3
Korg MicroSampler
Access Virus TI Snow
Nord Electro 3 73
Nord Lead 2 (not X)
Roland Sonic Cell
Novation Bass Station
Novation Xiosynth 49
Novation Ultranova
Novation A-Station
KorgElectribe EA-1 mk2
Korg Electribe ER-1 mk2
Korg Triton LE61
Korg X5DR
Korg X5
Korg X5Dr

[55stevieboy2010]

No your alright mate it was a very helpful reply!

it'll get the job done for your melodic uplifting, industrial techno - but it's only worth considering if you intend to take it to the stage

Ok fantastic as its, like you say good for techno and uplifting synths etc but why if i take it on stage only? I wont be, im purely a bedroom producer....Wont it be ok for that only?

And as far as programming your own sounds a mate who has 1 says he prefers the 'hands on' approach, thinks it helps him find what hes after easier, did you not find that?

[fragments]

Other reasons to buy hardware synths IMHO:

-You can easily flip the power switch and jam on it like an instrument instead of going through the very, very inspiring process of clicking a mouse.

-You can record knob twisting (some synths record the automation, others would require you to record the audio). And it's auto humanized ;p

-Being inspired by limitations of the device.

-Personal preference (I find I do better work with a hardware synth, like that it's hands on, keeps me away from the infinite possibilities of the DAW for a longer period of time.


Don't get me wrong, I still use my DAW for a lot of stuff. But many of my tracks and their pieces parts begin life outside the box. Mostly I dub stems, I prefer to sequence audio in my DAW. But I'll sequence an entire tune on hardware occasionally. The effort/reward factor for arrangement isn't there for me.

[Benedict]

And as far as programming your own sounds a mate who has 1 says he prefers the 'hands on' approach, thinks it helps him find what hes after easier, did you not find that?

I will of course recommend that you defer to the higher judgement of your mate, if he is getting positive results.

I'm not trying to talk you out of the MicroKorg XL. I find it heartbreaking that software is killing the hardware synth industry. Personally, I find knobs great for performing (I used to be really into Electribes and tweakerism) but unless sound design is part of the performance, I usually prefer to do patch-building (particularly if programming a synth where tiny movements can make a big difference to the sound) with the un-compromised accuracy of a mouse. Or perhaps simpler sounds call for simpler methods?
Perhaps the USB editor gives you the best of both worlds? But if you're not gigging it, you might as well invest in a better-sounding softsynth and some USB knobs!
Bare in mind, the MicroKorg XL only has 3 knobs and navigating the synth engine through the menu hierarchy is a practical nightmare.

By the way, I haven't heard any of these new "dubstep bank" presets on the MicroKorg XL+. If they're anything like the other patches, they'll be a perfectly acceptable way of "referencing" dubstep in a track along side the industrial techno, even if the aficionados on this forum wouldn't give them the time o'day

[Benedict]

-Being inspired by limitations of the device.

This one is an excellent reason, I didn't think of that!

[fragments]

-Being inspired by limitations of the device.

This one is an excellent reason, I didn't think of that!

One of my favorites. Personally, I have trouble with over complicating things in my DAW with all the soft synths and FX and routing possabilities. Thinking of my DAW as primarily a arrangement and mixing environment helps me a lot.

Also, the Electribe series is amazing. I love my ESX. I'd like to get Maschine at some point, but doubt I'll ever part with the ESX.

[55stevieboy2010]

Bare in mind, the MicroKorg XL only has 3 knobs and navigating the synth engine through the menu hierarchy is a practical nightmare

Sorry mate can you explain this again? The synth engine through the menu?? Basically mean the 3 nobs make it hard to get the desired sound?? Apologies

[Benedict]

Bare in mind, the MicroKorg XL only has 3 knobs and navigating the synth engine through the menu hierarchy is a practical nightmare

Sorry mate can you explain this again? The synth engine through the menu?? Basically mean the 3 nobs make it hard to get the desired sound?? Apologies

This is regarding the approach or the experience..

Compared with having a dedicated knob for every parameter (as you would have with the USB software editor) having only three knobs available turns programming into the equivalent of keyhole surgery; you can't stand back and see the whole picture. Depending on:
> how well you understand the function of each parameter
> how non-linear your sound design workflow is
you may find that the three knob limitation doesn't make it harder but may have an impact on your spontaneity.

However, as Fragments pointed out (and I agree with him) limitations can be a massive inspiration. Too much choice can be a bad thing!
(I've only just discovered the dubstep-applicability of Reaktor 5's Lazerbass in Native Instuments Komplete 8, after owning it for 2 years! Komplete 8 gives you too much choice!)

Synth manufactures try to put as few knobs as possible on synths because knobs significantly increase the cost. Although I've never had one myself, I recommend investigating the Roland Gaia instead of the MicroKorg XL. The Gaia really will give you a hands-on experience, with loads of sliders making it very easy to achieve your desired sound - and it only costs about a hundred quid more (albeit, second hand).

[55stevieboy2010]

Makes complete sence, thanks for your time mate. Ill have a look at this roland then and go from there.

[Benedict]

I'd like to know how it works out for you