20 Reasons We Still Love the microKORG, 20 Years Later

[@Reverb]

For more about the microKORG, including how to make patches, visit Reverb News here: bit.ly/3sMDoa0

[@thomaspervanje]

I'm 20 years late, but I just purchased my first Micro Korg, and it's fantastic for all 20 reasons you've identified. Thanks for sharing this post.

[@billypilgrim1]

I will never get why everyone loses the included vocoder microphone.

[@TheWongKeys]

I think the microkorg is one of those synths where it became popular enough to enter the hands of many musicians from a broad genre variety; past the relm of just synth nerds. And to many of those people the vocorder is kinda lame.

[@billypilgrim1]

@@bigtiredkeith Lol yes! Where do they all go? The only thing more ubiquitous than missing mics on Microkorgs are dead keys... :(

[@eph_kni]

wait it comes with a vocoder microphone!?

[@epicon6]

Because everyone sticks whatever tubes they can find up their bums.

[@moxie96]

I haven’t! I was lucky that the music professor who was upgrading to a moog located it the day I got my mk off him for $200 11 years ago. He was not sure if he still had it! The keyboard was already a decade old at the time but it lucky even then I got it for way below $400

[@roscoechance5155]

I've wanted one of these forever. Bought one used a couple years ago, the metal faceplate was pushed in a bit - easy fix, loosened some screws and popped it back out. Ordered a replacement mic and power supply for a reasonable price too. This thing is legendary. So much fun to play. It invites you to play and create.

[@ColossalView]

It was first synth and I’m glad it was. The inspiration it gave me was endless for song ideas! 💡 The MicroKorg S is ridiculously great too.

[@Sammm107]

Bought my microKorg 15 years ago. Crazy how it's worth more than what I bought it for nowadays. Great sound, great UI. Classic instrument EDIT: They also made an inverted version with the black and white keys switched. Wonder how many people have it nowadays

[@emersonmiles07]

Got mine in '04, tried selling multiple times but couldn't part with it. Still have it and use till this day

[@RogerHeathers]

Great video, but would’ve loved to’ve seen demos of the piano sounds, drum synths etc.

[@milk_bath]

It doesn’t do those sounds.

[@milk_bath]

@ghost mall It doesn’t do those sounds. You new?

[@hardcorehouse]

NYC classic micro kzbin.info/www/bejne/pprcamecnbyFjNE

[@milk_bath]

@ghost mall It has been around for 20 years. So yeah, you must be new. Thanks for sharing your synth furniture with me. Too bad you don’t have any actual music on your account. Be sure to dust your furniture, wouldn’t want to lower the resale value. 🤑

[@milk_bath]

@ghost mall I’ve never owned it either, yet I know about it. It is one of the best selling synths of all time; you get exposed to it without even trying. It seemed like almost every band had one in the 00-10s. That’s why you seem new here. So if you aren’t new here then you are self admitting to being ignorant. You perpetuated your ignorance by not watching the video and then made impossible demands, or you watched the video and are just too dense to understand its capabilities or lack there of. Either way, you obviously have more dollars than senses. Which is it kiddo?

[@drillbag]

great video!!! - it can do arpeggios (plays arp sound) - it can do drums! (plays arp sound) - it can do video game sounds (plays arpegiator again) and also pianos! (more arps) hahahaha

[@ChrisSmout]

While I love the MicroKorg and have two myself, I do think this 20 reasons list is stretching. Eg: "it can do videogame sounds" I would have loved to hear what kinds of sounds your team could have made, rather than twiddle presets.

[@rleriche5044]

Exactly; without putting in that work it comes off as a sales pitch.

[@ArruVision]

+1 love the microkorg, but neither the blade runner nor Dr Dre patches sound that close to their originals.

[@scopex2749]

I have had many synths since they first were invented but not one of these YOU SOLD ME! I gotta get one of these for my studio! Thanks.

[@seniscram7958]

I just decided to get back into playing music...and then realized that I had a microkorg boxed away somewhere. I eventually found it, put some batteries in it and had a blast!

[@EzyoMusic]

I was hoping to hear examples of everything in this list.

[@taylorperkins6089]

Me too

[@kirrinuchis]

Kind of a low effort video...

[@jessihawkins9116]

@@kirrinuchis yes very low effort

[@mswishe4]

“You can create great synth bass lines” plays one long filtered note then half assly hits two other notes. Lol very low effort video.

[@adrianreyes4702]

Thank for the DEMO!!!! I just purchased mine on REVERB today!!!!

[@markdressman9258]

My First synth and I'll never sell it! One of the greats!

[@LouisTorres-ut4ks]

Love it some things are just not for sale, great attitude,I'm the same way

[@beerwolf8518]

When I had one, I had put guitar strip pins on the side to use as a keytar standing up. It's a very good synth. I can't believe it's now that old!

[@thebod1]

I've got the MicroKorg XL and I have doubled it up with my Korg Triton and it sounds huge!

[@fogpumas]

I somehow got a brand new one for about $200 10 years ago. It’s indispensable. I’ve had numerous friends ask to buy it off me, but nope. It’s basically the only synth I need or want, as a guitar player. Incredible instrument. I hope they keep them in production for many years to come.

[@hanoverjacob]

I love that he keeps mentioning features/ sound possibilities but doesn’t show them. “It does drum”… no drums played. “It does pads”… no pads played …

[@AdamRobertshaw]

3:53 - no, it's not a talkbox, it's a vocoder. Different things.

[@smguy7]

Thanks for the great video on this great little synth! I still love my MicroKorg, even though I have the Korg Modwave, Wavestate and Opsix.

[@kyleplatz3751]

I have the KORG MS2000, which I’ve heard is essentially the exact same as the microKORG, but with more stuff. Interesting how they were able to make it so compact.

[@CaalamusTube]

You ever pick one up? It's hollow. It could be smaller.

[@jason-miller]

they made it smaller by having less knobs primarily, Sub menu diving. If you took the microkorg and broke out all the sub functions to knob per function again, it'd be back to the size of the MS2000

[@ArruVision]

@@CaalamusTube Or if you still don’t believe it, take one apart. It’s basically a MicroKorg-sized circuit board and plenty of fresh air.

[@CaalamusTube]

@@ArruVision I'm not sure I understand. It is a MicroKorg. Do you mean a Volca? Or are you saying the MS200 has a Board the size of the MicroKorg??

[@ArruVision]

@@CaalamusTube More like the latter, the board is probably bigger than the microkorg’s, but they do share the same sound engine and are roughly the same age of the design. Haven’t opened a microkorg so I can’t say for sure, but, as a comparison: the actual functional insides in MS2000 looks just like one plainly took the rack version MS2000R, and put it inside a much bigger keyboard cabinet. This is why all the MS2000 controls are centered in a 19” zone in the middle. And most likely designed this way, so that keyboard and rack versions could share one main board. So I’m other words, the MS2000 is heavily oversized re its inner components, looks cool though, but this is why it feels so light.

[@xavisegui1427]

do you have the link for the sound editor that works with current Mac OS? because the last update on the web is from 2016

[@davidreidy5750]

1st synth I ever toyed with 6 yrs ago at rehearsal was a Microkorg and I was immediately hooked.Fell into the rabbit hole to the point where I had to sell a few synths/drum machines and now I'm down to four.♥️🤖📼🔌⚡

[@ShaunNater]

This makes me really miss mine. Sold it years ago.

[@TheChiversBeatCompany]

same !!! I even bought it back and resold it eventually !! years ago !!

[@ia5662]

used to go into Sam Ash to get lost in this thing every time - I loved how many amazing house music sounds you can get out of it, but when I got to borrow a version from a friend, I totally did the vocoder and the Transformers intro "robots in disguise" lol - my band was rolling

[@mickeybreezy]

It would have been nice to see you demonstrate the features you were talking about.

[@jupitermarx]

I really wish Korg would take the looks and sound engine of the micro-korg in combination with the King Korg and Korg 61 and make one giant poly synth!!

[@ArruVision]

Check out the KORG MS2000, it’s 95% same sound engine, but with full size everything and 2 units can be chained for 8 note poly!

[@brucefellowes4848]

I bought one when it first came out and toured with it for 15 years. The memory died. Still own it. Just wish it had bigger keys

[@geraldperez2768]

I wish you showed the drum sounds

[@nolongerinuse915]

he didn't show the drum sounds because there are none. seriously, no piano sounds either, I have no idea why they'd say that

[@daltonrothchild6569]

This video: “20 years later” Me: “Whoa this came out in the 80s??”

[@boarderx949]

My first synth. Still have it but having issues powering it on now! Trying to figure out what’s going on with it… !?

[@vjspectron]

Some examples would've been cool...you mention using it as a drum synth but it would've been nice to see how you choose to achieve that with its engine. OG MicroKorg doesn't give you a great way to switch oscillators, but you can still designate 1 timbre as "snares and hats" and the other as "kick and bass/stab/arp" and have a lot of fun with tempo-synced LFOs assigned to filter and amp for simple 1-finger drumlines. You can further spice this up by using filter key tracking and EGs to make it a little more playable and dynamic.

[@Reverb]

Hey VJ Spectron, these are great tips, and we've definitely noted where you say "would've been nice to see how you choose to achieve that with its engine." You can find some other examples of the microKORG as a drum synth in our article here: bit.ly/3sMDoa0

[@TheChiversBeatCompany]

Such nice memories with this !! I've always loved this little baby keyboard. The only thing it was it's quite cheap sounding

[@infesticon]

Godammit he used the vocoder and now I want one again.

[@bangobingo69]

Why does no one make a full length VOCODER ONLY vid 😢

[@juanocordoba]

I had one and i loved it. Would get ut again

[@Mr.Monster1313]

I still have and play mine...lol. great video.

[@TheIndustrialRetrospective]

I only use mine for the vocoder and I also have a wicked Blade Runner Pads patch I'll use from time to time.

[@zoiksandmorezoiks2719]

Blade runner patch?… do tell more

[@enzoeltrago2362]

How do I sync what I play with the korg with the kick loops playing on my DAW? I have Tried but the tempo button is too sensitive and changes quickly. It also doesn't report bpm. advice ?

[@aaronhi50]

Mine is sitting right next to me, absolutely love mine!

[@BasedFrequency]

Microkorg is a absolute legend and should be in every studio in either mk form or ms2000. Tho i feel the mk has a better dac

[@sapienalien]

wtf kind of list is this where 15 is piano sounds but doesn’t show us any? i’ve been around the microkorg plenty over the years and have never heard anything from it remotely like a piano.

[@MegaXmXm]

Can you connect it to a MPC??

[@mattyg499]

Yup

[@AlbertSodylicious]

Release it as a Volca and I’ll buy it for sure. I got the XL and R3. Love them.

[@justins-d9825]

It's crazy to me that the Korg R3 is the same synth but better in every way, with more controls and a few extra options for the oscillators, and it's cheaper on the used market. People still haven't caught on to that fact.

[@jdlcmusic]

Hmmm... I'm gonna have to check it out

[@dracorex280]

Been seeing people recreate a lot of Crystal Castles songs on this and man is that a selling point for me! Love their sound despite the controversy of that group. I’m sold and they coming out with a Microkorg 2 soon!

[@samxday]

I really like it. Just wish it had more knobs.

[@hardcorehouse]

One of the all time classics-early convincing 80s sounds in an inexpensive package decades ago in the dark ages when there wasn’t much when it came to convincing vintage sounds. Since the 80s Korgs always underrated on their surprisingly good sounds. Heres a NYC classic using micro kzbin.info/www/bejne/pprcamecnbyFjNE

[@bubexpress5435]

i was a few months old when this came out

[@elmo-officalchannel9436]

Happy October!

[@nicksavage4763]

Got one used From Guitar Center Havent used for recording yet But its on the list.

[@70maurice]

Great player

[@baltimega]

Got one earlier this year. I need to delve into it more and stop using it for a quick preset

[@Ss0oUuLl]

Great synth, glad I got it before watching this video, because it's beyond infuriating. This guy talks about guitar processing, drum synthesis, 8bit-ish sounds etc. and you kinda have to believe because there's no further demonstration. I know I can process guitar through MK but do your viewers know that or do they want to hear it? But yeah I believe Dorian Concept sold a lot of MKs because I saw his videos before I had it and yeah I was sure I need that in my life. Not a single regret, it's a great synth.

[@ArruVision]

Also, if all you want is distortion on your guitar, running it thru a microkorg might be over engineering things.

[@Ss0oUuLl]

@@ArruVision depending on what kind of guitarist we're talking about. If we mean vanilla "loud is good" guitarist, they will be fine with muff/rat/screamer/centaur/clones/all of the above. If we mean "I point my neck to the skies as I speak with demiurge in their mother's tongue" guitarist, there's no way they're gonna miss out on some obscure digital clipping, with a side dish of delay and phaser.

[@ArruVision]

@@Ss0oUuLl No, i get it. But it is a bit funny that the on/off distortion of the microkorg (not filter, modulation, amp mod, delay) is the guitar effect mentioned in this video.

[@Ss0oUuLl]

@@ArruVision well yeah it's pretty simple but if you start to tinker with it, playing with input gain and output volume knob on the guitar or even filter the input, I think you can achieve somewhat of a sound pallette. Sorry that I can't prove my words because all my gear is left in the country that tries to send me to this absurd war.

[@ArruVision]

@@Ss0oUuLl No, you’re right I’m sure, there’s magic in there in the right hands. Wish you peace, change and justice. Stay safe!

[@6810]

Let's not forget that anything after a Windows 10 OS update from more than a year ago essentially renders the patch editing software useless/unusable without some very specific, machine configuration specific .ini editing. The number of hours and failed repeated tries later that I actually learned this burns... That said, OG hardware is actually fairly intuitive and thanks to the knob x 2 turning it is fairly straightforward. But until someone develops a universal, one-click patch solution for modern OSs or I can get my hands on a working potato spec windows XP/Vista/7 etc PC, the patch editing software will remain off limits.

[@samxday]

Was watching The Wombats recently. Got excited that they were using one live, then noticed they were just using the midi out. Not the sounds. Strange choice of controller keyboard 🤓

[@McDoinky]

“Reason number 3: It’s a fuzz pedal!” … “Reason number 4…” Why no demo?

[@McDoinky]

Also with reason 12. What is this half-assed video about?

[@proszto]

Let's talk about the follow up XL's design! I mean how is it possible to screw up the OG's design that much?!

[@ArruVision]

Ya, the original has had much more staying power for sure. Though, the MicroKorg is a micro version of MS2000 and IIRC MicroKorg XL is same kind of downsized KORG Radias. So it’s mostly a naming problem.

[@big_b_radical3985]

I've been going back to the old outboard gear myself. No subscriptions, no cpu overheating, no latency. The new hardware is either too expensive, unavailable, or qc issues and/or software bugs. Besides, the og microkorg engine still sounds excellent. That keybed though... my hands get injured just looking at it. I wish there was some hack (with layers of tape, etc.) to improve the playability. I've been spoiled by the reface keybeds.

[@Hinoirocks]

i don't think people were super into the shs-500(sonogenic) but it comes with a midi break out cable and uses the reface keybed. so it's an ok midi controller keytar.

[@big_b_radical3985]

@@Hinoirocks yeah if I had the extra money I'd pick one up. I have two refaces but would pick that one up because of the mod wheel. The reface keybeds are miles ahead.

[@nicksimms3771]

The number 1 reason should without a doubt be The Fucked Jam

[@kennywowie]

piano and drums, really? Not on mine and I got it new, so where's they go?

[@MD-fp5fy]

How to edit microkorg pls ,I think that so hard

[@foolycooly6738]

read the manual - it's easy

[@robmortimer4150]

It’s great, but I have (and prefer) the bigger sibling MS-2000b

[@ArruVision]

This is a KORG “secret”; several of their classic synths have a lesser known big brother. Same with Prodigy -> Z1, MicroKorg XL -> R3 -> Radias.

[@infesticon]

I converted one of these in 2005 , It is a very useable out of the box synth, But you know mini keys ..

[@MFKitten]

I had one of these and hated how inaccessible it was. I got it for the vocoder, but ended up not even liking it. Oh well!

[@tblv9300]

still a beast

[@qhilipgaming6573]

KZbins getting a lot better with these ads, but just under 10mins is a little accessive

[@rosethorner8627]

Did you mean excessive or is this a pun of some sort

[@stevelipscomb]

Love our microKORG but unfortunately we've never been able to get the sticky keys fixed.

[@arcadeapocalypsemusic]

The microKORG is ALL OVER my new EP. kzbin.info/aero/PLqnHsZODko8iqtT63bbD4fagwLXmCZDNF 2 of the tracks are pretty much exclusively MK besides the percussion, even used the vocoder one 1 (for ONE word lol) Such a versatile little beast of a synth & I love it. Just wish it had full size keys for my big ass hands. (I am aware of the MS-2000, but from what I can gather online the sound quality not as good as the MK. Also, controlling it with MIDI just doesn't feel the same to me)

[@amsterdamned6209]

This one is well worth the limited polyphony!

[@tylrbass]

We Stan the microKORG

[@sadhill38again]

i tested 99999 synth plugin but nothing sound like a fucking microkorg

[@spahairel]

Hi. How can I change the tone to 432hz?

[@biggrime]

Microkorg is cool but om the used market the Korg R3 is a better all around synth

[@CoffinNachtmahr]

the answer is DORIAN CONCEPT

[@JaniErickson]

What's a "lie berry"?

[@AClassOldie]

Man, Big Smoke can play…

[@stephenericwalsh]

Cool video and synth. But neither pronunciation of Vangelis was right. The g does not like the j in jelly or jump but like the g in go or girl. Nitpicking sorry!

[@kierenmoore3236]

‘VAN-Gellus’ (with a hard G sound)

[@nur-wu9sh]

hi, i just hope someone to see this and help me. i can’t adjust the digital waveform. after i chose dwgs its just three line on the edit 2 sections, i can’t choose the program or anything. how can i fix this

[@MattLavergne4]

Reason #21: It's still used to this day by Brandon Flowers on-stage for each show 🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘

[@BugzKiller]

I can't believe how much these cost these days! I bought mine Used right when it came out, only 2 months old when bought for $250.00 with the crappy mic it came with. When these first came out I think they were $300 new!

[@nuttymsq]

When I see this board I think of seeing chad / pharrell “the Neptune’s”

[@_Julian__]

I sold mine to make rent, but it’s in my buddies possession. Gonna see if he wants to sell it back ::)

[@waynesilverman3048]

The slicer synth string fx ,The woman's and The killer's Hot hot heat (probably )

[@caleykelly]

Lol @ "does Bladerunner sounds"

[@adeevision]

I have one its great , but i don't think it has any piano sounds on the original

[@lynnleistinger854]

The vocoder never worked.Nothimg..still have the synth the digital number started roaming.

[@lynnleistinger854]

People thought s space ship was landing in my room.

[@Bag0HaZe]

This guy reviewed this board without ever making his own patch... even when he said the microkorg was great for piano patches 😂

[@nolongerinuse915]

classic piano sounds, what the fuck? i love the microkorg but the closest it comes to piano is emulating a Wurlitzer type thing about as well as a kids Casio from the 80's

[@justinlombardo8037]

Please take this down I was about to replace my shot micro korg and now the price gonna go up 😂😢

[@bigbasil1908]

What you played after talking about bladerunner sounded nothing at all like any of the music in the original bladerunner soundtrack.

[@wisnuprasetyo3319]

R3 is better I think

[@howardgreenwich490]

My dude - that sounds nothing like Vangelis and Blade Runner.

[@foolycooly6738]

I really like my microkorg, but this video is really lazy, it's like : " Hey, here are 20 reasons: 1) it has presets 2) you can download presets 3-20) you can play presets"

[@caleykelly]

Used car salesman vibes here. I have nothing against the mocrokorg, but this is kind of silly

[@nbuehster]

I wish they made a new MicroKORG XL. It's easier, and faster, to find sounds with two dials than with one dial and buttons. And the sounds on the MicroKORG XL+ suck, compared to the sounds on the original MicroKORG XL. Also, did they do away with the vocoder? If so, nobody's going to buy this. (like Apple doing away with headphone jacks)

[@hw4202]

not helping the hipster synth accusations that a tumblr page is the place to go to find patches

[@joaofilipeferreira1279]

This is the one the killers use