MicroKORG

The microKORG

The microKORG is a full MIDI capable synthesiser/vocoder from Korg featuring high quality DSP analogue modelling. The keyboard is built in such a way that it is essentially a Korg MS-2000 in a smaller case with fewer real-time knobs.

Synthesis

The microKORG uses DSP technology to emulate the sounds of an analog synthesizer. Sounds are generated with two oscillators—the first oscillator has the saw, square, triangle, and sine waves available along with a vox wave (for simulating human vocal cords), white noise generator, and 64 different waveforms created by harmonic additive synthesis; the second oscillator is limited to saw, square, and triangle waveforms. The first oscillator can also be replaced with the signal from one of the line-level inputs on the back of the unit, allowing external signals to be processed with the effects and filters of the microKORG. In addition, effects such as flange and digital delay are built in along with two LFO's with six different waveforms that allow the sounds to be edited further.

The keyboard has 4-voice polyphony.

The keyboard groups its 128 factory present sound patches into 8 groups:

• Trance
• Techno/House
• Electronic
• D'n'B/Breaks
• Hiphop/Vintage
• Retro
• S.E./Hit
• Vocoder

A large gold knob changes the selected sound bank. Each bank has 16 different patches, selected by the 8 lighted buttons on the front with a side A/B button to toggle between sets of 8. All patches are user editable, and don't necessarily have to follow the groupings listed on the face plate.

Creating/editing sounds

The microKORG uses two selector knobs to select between settings and five control knobs to modify the values of those settings. Information is presented on a 3-digit red LED panel on the front of the keyboard, which attempts to display letters using only the 7 segments. These characters can be difficult to understand at first, but become easier to recognise through use. Through MIDI and software from Korg, all of the settings can be edited on a computer as well.

Features

The microKORG keyboard is modelled after old analogue synthesisers, including wood side panels and large knobs on the face, giving it a fashionable retro look and accessible editing interface. The keyboard is also sold at a relatively low price—about US$400—making it much more reasonable than most synthesizers on the market which start at $700, with high-end models often meeting, or at times exceeding, the $2000 mark. The keyboard is also small enough that it can run on six AA batteries. Finally, an eight-channel vocoder is also part of the keyboard along with a microphone, allowing vocoder functionality right out of the box. Each patch can be used as a vocoder sound, and the vocoder is just as programmable as the synthesizer (with the notable exception of the virtual patch functions, which are replaced with individual panpots and gain controls for each vocoder channel).

Sightings

• In Rammstein's live performance of "Keine Lust," the keyboardist Christian "Flake" Lorenz rolls out on stage in a wheelchair with a microKorg on his lap.
• In The Juan Maclean's music video "Tito's Way" you can see shots of a microKORG being played.
• Polysics can be seen using a microKORG.
• LCD Soundsystem use a microKORG and can be seen utilizing it at live shows.
• Maroon 5's keyboardist Jesse Carmichael can be seen playing the microKORG at nearly all of their live shows, as well as on their DVD Friday the Thirteenth.
• Gruff Rhys of Super Furry Animals has been seen using the microKORG's vocoder live for the song "Juxtapose." It was housed inside a motorcycle fairing.
• The Neptunes have been known to use the microKORG on most of their songs.
• The Killers use a rhinestone-studded microKORG as well as a Nord Lead 2 on their albums and live shows.
• Duran Duran is shown using a microKORG in their "(Reach up for the) Sunrise" video. Nick Rhodes also used it on the 2004 and 2005 World Tour.
• Lightfromadeadstar's David Ley uses a microKorg onstage.
• Chromeo have a microKORG in their music video for the single "Needy Girl".
• Datapan use a microKORG (connected up to a Roland AX-7)
• Ladytrons' Ruben Wu uses a microKORG.
• Broken Social Scene uses a microKORG.
• Jimmy Tamborello of Dntel and The Postal Service uses a microKORG.
• Andre 3000 of Outkast plays a microKORG in their Hey Ya! music video.
• Jesse F. Keeler of Death From Above 1979 uses a microKORG.
• A microKORG sits on the synthesizer wall of John McEntire's Chicago studio, Soma Electronic Music Studios.
• Kori Gardner of Mates Of State also uses a microKORG.
• Nick Harmer from Death Cab For Cutie uses a microKORG - usually found sitting on top of his bass amp at live shows.
• KMFDM has been known to use the MicroKorg for studio use.

External links

• microKORG at Korg's website
• microKORG entry at Vintage Synth Explorer