microKorg XL Sonic LAB Review

[TheodoreChell]

Being a digital synth, Why is it limited to 128 sound and polyphony of 8?

[francaisemusique]

gahh what the hell do i choose ? this or the origional

[krakatoa47]

@francaisemusique definitely the xl.

[Adso90]

Does the Microkorg work to Win7 64-bit?

Connect to Mixcraft, FL, etc. Via the USB

[gridsleep]

Good review. But the shaky hand held video gave me a headache and a bit of mal de mer. You might consider getting one of those shake-compensating camcorders or use a tripod.

[gridsleep]

Good review. But the shaky hand held video gave me a headache and a bit of mal de mer. You might consider getting one of those shake-compensating camcorders or use a tripod.

[ColossalCollapse]

@gridsleep you might consider stop bitching. Find a better review or tutorial on the net? This guy is great.

[djcondra]

From a production point of view, I really don't get these instruments. If I'm gonna edit a synth at my computer, I'll use a VST. The only thing I want hardware synths for is tactile control, and this synth doesn't have that, so skrew that.

[alikill]

@djcondra my thoughts exactly.

[MrIlyaki]

clear and straight-forward review. thank you

[MarctheDarc]

Sounds great! This would be a GREAT VA-synth had they just allocated the panel space differently.

They waste too much space on the patch select (which arent fantastic with 128 patches). And on the other hand there's far too little space for the editing. Lack of basic patch creation isnt acceptable on hardware imho.

And while the editor seems nice, Korg have more than once demonstrated poor computer-support. Like 6 months (november to may) without a working driver for Snow Leopard Macs.

Nice vid!

[IOwnedCamo]

I payed $300! Great deal, great synth!

[AquamanEffect]

So totally confused, there is like nowhere on the internet where it has where or how to download the software, and it's not anywhere on the website that i can see...please help!

[hobbleheads]

so imma be making hip hop beats and dubstep songs would this one be good or the micro sampler please reply asap

[krakatoa47]

@hobbleheads get the emx-1. search it.

[wearewoeandvoice]

@hobbleheads

if u got the bucks, go for the korg radias.

[krakatoa47]

@wearewoeandvoice agreed

[MyBestBadDay]

i payed $320 =D

[futureman]

Can you use this as a midi controller as well? Like, if I wanted to control reason with it... Or pro tools?

[TheMaskCovers]

@futureman I use it with Ableton/Garageband. So i'd say so

[weddingpresent]

Your reviews are so great, always objective. You really helped me chosing my gear (:

Thanks.

THUMBS UP FOR SONIC STATE (Y)

[iliketomoveitmoveit9]

So... I can hook the kaossilator pro into say... a microkorg xl my means of a midi connection? No laptop or anything? I'm new and starting out at this. Please someone answer...

[SuperMazy]

Brilliant review, I agree with fishfoodedd this review actually gives you an idea of the pros and cons, a bit lost when it came to some of the editing software but no doubt when I do get it I'll get a bit more used to it all! Thanks a lot sonicstate!

[YungShady01]

i'm beginning Piano course because I eventually want to play synth with a band and create music with Logic Studio, and I'm asking the price I pay for this synth, is it the only thing it's going to cost me or I need an amplifier or other things in order to actually play and learn synthesizer? Knowing what I wanna do with it is it the right one (in fact I like the 80's music like Depeche Mode's and Simple Minds' will I get these types of sounds?)

[YungShady01]

@YungShady01 Or Just If sombody who knows everything about synth reads this and wants to help, please tell me how I can communicate with you, I've got a lot of questions and I don't find easy when learning with nobody or nothing around me to really show me. thanks

[TheMrbrainwash]

@YungShady01 I hope you're not planning to use this as a practice piano. This keyboard is not suited for learning piano, but I assume you already knew this.

This is a digital VA synthesizer, not quite like the synths Depeche mode (and similar) used... But it is a useful instrument for playing synthesizer in a band, although it's not very practical on stage.

[YungShady01]

@TheMrbrainwash What would be similar to Depeche Mode's synthesizers?

[TheMrbrainwash]

@YungShady01 real analog, off course, or the vintage FM (yamaha DX7) synths, but both are really expensive. An Access virus B is 2nd hand very cheap and an ideal Virtual analog synth for beginners, but that's my oppinion. the microkorg xl is better if you don't want to edit too deep.

You could also use soft synths off course, those are most of the time good emulators of those old analog synths, but they are not very cheap.(the good ones)

[IwinUloseL0L]

Great review!

[tagc1136]

people from youtube! i need your help!!!! do you guys think this is a good choice to buy as a first synth? im kind of new with synths so i dont know much about them.

[foofeo]

@tagc1136

sounds wise, absolutely, this is great great fun to play around on, though if the keysize bothers you, go for the Alesis micron (or get a midi controller if you really want to go the extra mile).

but in terms of programability, go for something more like the roland gaia so you have a knob-per-function layout, which from firsthand experience is wayyyyy easier to learn on.

[RLbitClassica]

Are timbres the same as oscillators? Sorry, i am a synth newb :)

[TheAnderman]

Good fucking review!

[novanine9]

does it transpose in semitones?

[novanine9]

i heard that you can load all of the original microkorg sounds into the xl, via the editor...is this true?

Does it have the same cool filter sweeps, as the original?

Which one has better spacey ambient sounds, in your opinion...this or the original?

Can u use the filters effects on the vocals

thanks

[VGEric]

Simply a beautiful review... thanks!

[enefkei]

korg synths are awesome

[BootyStackr]

Nice review!  Helps big time!

[digitalmonkeynuts]

thanks my good fellow!

Great Review, Just what i was looking for, very informative, just what i was looking for.......by far the best review i have seen for this Synth.

[AntiqueStove]

Can you please share a link to where I can download the software? Thanks a ton

[louierock1995]

its on the Korg site

[shpongled1971]

Thank you, I lost my users manual :(

[ChrisSpazz]

this is the first place i've seen that showed what fx are on the keyboard, couldn't even find them on the korg site

[mastgrr]

Same. Seems like the Microkorg XL has all the standard effects except a Comb-filter and a reverb. Reverb I don't care, but it sucks that there's no comb.

[CarlBrownFI]

It's about time someone explained the software. Cheers

[fishfoodedd]

out of all the videos i have watched on the xl this one has convinced me to get this rather than the original microkorg.

i just wish that this one looked more like the first microkorg

[allennunez]

i am getting mine tomorrow weeee!!

[littlegreenjason]

@fishfoodedd I agree. This is a great vid. My only complaint is that everyone keeps saying that it doesn't feel that sturdy. I did like the wood paneling on the original microkorg. Oh well. I'm still probably going to get this. Found one on ebay for about $380.

[lorispalmieri1]

@fishfoodedd micro is one of the best sinth.. simple and has lot of possibilities

[P1ckAp8rt]

so say i wanted to take a song chop it up and put bits and pieces on every key, could i use this synth? would it work in any software i have?

[golafs]

this is not a sampler

[PANDAPANDAMADNESS]

You can control a sampler with the keys over midi, but before you buy anything you should take some basic courses because you need to know the basics before you start.

[P1ckAp8rt]

courses? what kind of courses?

[telepathyfever]

check out the korg microsampler

[weaponEX]

I just sold my microKORG XL.

It sounded great, all the presets sound focus-grouped to perfection, but I just couldn't perform properly on the tiny keyboard, plus I've understood why synth manufacturers insist on putting the realtime knobs on the far right!! I want them on the left, as close to the pitchbend and mod wheel as possible. Just one too many bells and whistles on this.

I wish there was more choice in this style of portable battery-powered synth.

[jacobclemente]

i like the xl but no pedal inputs

[CharlieTheBlubber]

This guy is right. The original microKORG is much better looking than this one.

I'm happy I got the original =]

[TurbeenBeatz]

yeah but this sounds better and has more functions^^

[TangDynasty83]

Yes it does ; )

[crackstasy]

thanks for this good video!

[fourbarposer]

Could you tell korg to add 2-3 more octaves while keeping the mini-keys and price the same. For now I'm getting old 80's stuff from ebay as back then they had atleast 4 on pretty much everything at this price range.

[squeakD]

What the hell.., there's not a pedal jack or even standard midi jacks? Why would they leave off a simple pedal unput for either sustain or footswitch functions and midi jacks? Geez.., even a single midi out would have been decent. It's a great sounding synth for sure.., but I'm shocked they left off the pedal input and standard midi jacks. My little Xio 25 may not have a vocoder.., but it at least has a pedal jack and a midi out (plus USB midi).

[wordsayers]

um.... it has midi in and out. and usb midi.

you're right about one thing, though, it has no pedal out. but why would you want that on a synth?

[squeakD]

Yeah, it's got USB midi.., but what ever happen to standard midi jacks.., ya know the one's that are still being used on 99% of the gear today. Lately USB has been an added bonus along WITH standard midi jacks. You've never owned a synth with a pedal jack? That's a pretty basic and standard jack.

[wordsayers]

no, it has standard MIDI IN and OUT jacks. as for a pedal jack, i can't imagine why you'd need sustain on a synthesizer with 8 note polyphony.

[squeakD]

You're right.., by bad. I don't why I was thinking it didn't have standard midi jacks. I've seen several complaints about this synth not having a sustain jack. What.., you're never sustained a pad on a synth even a synth with 8 note poly?

[wordsayers]

oh, maybe on a pad, but i wouldn't use this as a pad so much as something pretty close to an analog synth. and i can't imagine why someone would sustain an analog synth. now i see what you mean, though.

[squeakD]

I'm totally with you on the sustaining of more synth orientated leads. However, a pad isn't an uncommon patch to find on a synth. Those particular patches are often sustained by a pedal. Sorry about the mix up on the midi jacks. I don't know why I was thinking there weren't midi jacks on this model. I comment on so many synth vids I think my brain is taking naps without me :) Even big names in compacts synths have pedal jacks on them though.

[wordsayers]

haha, np, honestly i'm happy to have had this conversation, instead of the usual crap you find on youtube comment sections :)

as for pedal... i see what you mean. it's not what i'd use it for but many people would... if you used a midi controller to control it, would the sustain on the controller affect the microkorg? just wondering.

[squeakD]

Using a midi controller to sustain the MK's patches would depend solely on the MK. You'd have to look at the midi specs for the MK and see if it'll accept sustain commands. I would be surprised if it's not able to do that.

[Gwyo]

Yes, it recognizes CC#64 as Sustain

[jomarcavalcanti]

totaly agreed I wanna buy this thingy but it sucks not having a sus jack my moog lp tribute has sustain so wtf with korg

[Gwyo]

It does have a pair of standard MIDI sockets

[SteveDutchy]

Can you use the Microkorg XL's pitch and mod wheel in Reason and Ableton?

[guinnessx]

You can in Ableton. I don't have Reason, so I can't comment on that.

[Olphus]

Not enough knobs and no pedal input.

[SteveDutchy]

Thanks! Great review!