@rabidsnake123 It doesn't have presets. The knobs on the front are connected directly to the analogue circuits which make the sounds, so that's not really possible. To answer your question, it's a very basic analogue synthesiser with a mono audio input to the filter stage. It's best used for special effects, whether that's creating them from scratch or processing other sounds. You could also look at the newer Monotron Delay, which I now prefer as it has a fantastic analogue echo effect.
Dont buy this crap! I bought it and played around with all its sounds and in about 2 hours i was done with it. I returned it the next day once i realized its totally not worth it. Save your money for a real synth.
This looks pretty awesome! only one question: Can you connect it to a keyboard and use the keys off the keyboard instead of just the ribbon keyboard on the synth? because i cant imagine u can play much on such a small ribbon..... hit back! x
@klikom8 It doesn't have a MIDI or USB input, so you can't control it from other MIDI devices. And you're right about the ribbon controller - you can't do much of any musical value with it.
@horganator Sure you can do much of musical value with the ribbon keyboard! It's just quite difficult to prevent it from sounding out of tune, but for wild solo lead sounds or deep bass it isn't always necessary to do this perfectly. And with enough practice, it should even be possible to get it perfectly in tune - certainly not more difficult than it is on a violin.
I just bought this sucker, messed around with it on the bus and when I got home hooked it up to a cheap yamaha keyboard with tons of presets, some good, some cheesy. The pitch > LFO on this setting alone makes this thing one of the best $60 purchases I've ever made. Seriously - you can use this thing as a sort of tremelo and much more - the simple design makes it easy to remember settings; how many Boss pedals are $60? How many Boss pedals have true analog oscillators?
How long before Korg puts 8 of these into a plasticy, micro-key case and announces their new 400GBP MicroTron modular-style analogue synth? However long is too long!!
@amorfay First, it's a synthesiser, but as the keyboard is a ribbon controller it's not likely many people will use it in that way.
Second, it's an analogue filter.
When you use it as a filter, it takes any audio signal and filters out all frequencies above the cutoff point, emphasising frequencies around that point depending on the amount of resonance you apply. That red flashing knob makes the cutoff frequency move up and down automatically.
@amorfay You have to look at the possibilities of how you could use it in your OWN studio. A lot of the time with video demos, they are adjusting the knobs WAY too quickly & extremely for it to sound musical. This box is great as a cheap filter for instruments,tracks, or complete mixes...BUT it's also cool as a synth for noises & drones etc for electronic music.
@culturaleyes Well, mine is still running off the original batteries that were in the box. With something this small I want as few cables as possible.
@jumbz2 I think you'd get the best results by putting your guitar through some other effects first. Try distortion and chorus, which should increase the harmonic content in the sound, which will then give the Monotron more to work with.
Arh... The real killer feature is the audio in. This'll let you use it as just an filter for other music and audio sources. And it's the classic Korg MS10/MS20 true analog filter with resonance. Nice:-)
@KiloOscar9 Definitely. The audio input lets you make an analogue mess of all sorts of crummy sound sources. Try it with vocals, with a reverb or delay effect after the Monotron. :-)
@LazyDaysSD Definitely fun. I love it. And it's cool to have some real analogue kit to play with. The filter on it is brilliant, although the output is a bit noisy (hissy).
The keyboard is very difficult to play accurately. You could if you practiced enough, and I'm sure you'll see some virtuoso performances on YouTube. One way to play it is by sliding from note to note - that way you know when you've got the right frequency.
what exactly is it? Does it come with its own presets or...?
rabidsnake123 1 week ago
@rabidsnake123 It doesn't have presets. The knobs on the front are connected directly to the analogue circuits which make the sounds, so that's not really possible. To answer your question, it's a very basic analogue synthesiser with a mono audio input to the filter stage. It's best used for special effects, whether that's creating them from scratch or processing other sounds. You could also look at the newer Monotron Delay, which I now prefer as it has a fantastic analogue echo effect.
horganator 1 week ago
It's a portable handheld synth. WTF DO YOU PEOPLE WANT AND OR EXPECT!? god, quit complain create something yourself if you dont like this.
CrazedSpartania 7 months ago
Dont buy this crap! I bought it and played around with all its sounds and in about 2 hours i was done with it. I returned it the next day once i realized its totally not worth it. Save your money for a real synth.
infestedduke 10 months ago
@infestedduke twat
ambientfairchild 7 months ago
@videareen
i got one for $60 (Canadian Dollars).
worth the money.
great for effects.
mp3dmp3d 1 year ago
Sounds like it could blow your speakers. :-S
discostu333 1 year ago
This looks pretty awesome! only one question: Can you connect it to a keyboard and use the keys off the keyboard instead of just the ribbon keyboard on the synth? because i cant imagine u can play much on such a small ribbon..... hit back! x
klikom8 1 year ago
@klikom8 It doesn't have a MIDI or USB input, so you can't control it from other MIDI devices. And you're right about the ribbon controller - you can't do much of any musical value with it.
horganator 1 year ago
@horganator Sure you can do much of musical value with the ribbon keyboard! It's just quite difficult to prevent it from sounding out of tune, but for wild solo lead sounds or deep bass it isn't always necessary to do this perfectly. And with enough practice, it should even be possible to get it perfectly in tune - certainly not more difficult than it is on a violin.
leftaroundabout 1 year ago
@leftaroundabout OK, you got me there! :-)
horganator 1 year ago
@klikom8 Actually, you can plug in a keyboard into the audio in jack.
Nekkoru 1 year ago
@Nekkoru Yes, but you can't control it from an external keyboard, which was the original question.
horganator 1 year ago
What does it do? Perfect for a remix using the great audio IN. Put your mix through there and filter it. Game over.
phiniusjwhippy 1 year ago
I just bought this sucker, messed around with it on the bus and when I got home hooked it up to a cheap yamaha keyboard with tons of presets, some good, some cheesy. The pitch > LFO on this setting alone makes this thing one of the best $60 purchases I've ever made. Seriously - you can use this thing as a sort of tremelo and much more - the simple design makes it easy to remember settings; how many Boss pedals are $60? How many Boss pedals have true analog oscillators?
complacentnation 1 year ago
pretty cool.. but for the song effects, i'd just get the mini kp :p
noodlegrannybill 1 year ago
How long before Korg puts 8 of these into a plasticy, micro-key case and announces their new 400GBP MicroTron modular-style analogue synth? However long is too long!!
weaponEX 1 year ago
so its like an effects pedal for a guitar???
amorfay 1 year ago
@amorfay First, it's a synthesiser, but as the keyboard is a ribbon controller it's not likely many people will use it in that way.
Second, it's an analogue filter.
When you use it as a filter, it takes any audio signal and filters out all frequencies above the cutoff point, emphasising frequencies around that point depending on the amount of resonance you apply. That red flashing knob makes the cutoff frequency move up and down automatically.
horganator 1 year ago
im a little uninformed here what exactly is this used for???
amorfay 1 year ago
@amorfay Making noises ;o) Seriously, you could use it as an effects processor. Some people have modified it and hooked it up to a DIY sequencer too.
The sound it makes its quite awesome.
horganator 1 year ago
@amorfay You have to look at the possibilities of how you could use it in your OWN studio. A lot of the time with video demos, they are adjusting the knobs WAY too quickly & extremely for it to sound musical. This box is great as a cheap filter for instruments,tracks, or complete mixes...BUT it's also cool as a synth for noises & drones etc for electronic music.
937emotion 1 year ago
the only thing that I don't like about this is that you have to use batteries for it. I thought batteries were being phased out already! lol
culturaleyes 1 year ago
@culturaleyes Well, mine is still running off the original batteries that were in the box. With something this small I want as few cables as possible.
horganator 1 year ago 2
is this available in the uk now ????
a280281 1 year ago
i see you can plug an external audio source into it. do you think it could be plugged into a guitar for some crazy effects processing?
jumbz2 1 year ago
@jumbz2 I think you'd get the best results by putting your guitar through some other effects first. Try distortion and chorus, which should increase the harmonic content in the sound, which will then give the Monotron more to work with.
horganator 1 year ago
Arh... The real killer feature is the audio in. This'll let you use it as just an filter for other music and audio sources. And it's the classic Korg MS10/MS20 true analog filter with resonance. Nice:-)
KiloOscar9 1 year ago
@KiloOscar9 Definitely. The audio input lets you make an analogue mess of all sorts of crummy sound sources. Try it with vocals, with a reverb or delay effect after the Monotron. :-)
horganator 1 year ago
are these for sale yet? I NEED ONE!
facenuggetz14 1 year ago
@facenuggetz14 You should start to see them in the UK towards the end on June 2010
shabbee 1 year ago
is it pretty fun would you say? and are the keys pretty easy to play, or hard to play?
LazyDaysSD 1 year ago
@LazyDaysSD Definitely fun. I love it. And it's cool to have some real analogue kit to play with. The filter on it is brilliant, although the output is a bit noisy (hissy).
The keyboard is very difficult to play accurately. You could if you practiced enough, and I'm sure you'll see some virtuoso performances on YouTube. One way to play it is by sliding from note to note - that way you know when you've got the right frequency.
horganator 1 year ago