Korg MicroKorg XL - SonicLAB Review

[@nicolesproducerpack]

I own this keyboard. A great purchase, better than the original Microkorg. I love building presets and saving them into my Microkorg XL Sound Editor. This way, you can have unlimited presets saved (because you can keep transferring them onto the Sound Editor and then save your soundbank), and you don't have to limit them all on your keyboard!

[@synapticflow]

Does it have the same patches from the original Microkorg?

[@nobel11]

It doesn't out of the box, but it can load patches from the original, so you put them on if you want to.

[@CarlBrownFI]

It's about time someone explained the software. Cheers

[@maximilianorodriguez1402]

Hi. Is it possible to generate percussion patches at the Mikrokorg XL? I'm asking cause i would like to create some rithmn bases for my compositions.

[@maciejobjasniacz]

Why I can't open sound editor on FL Studio ? when I open sound editor without using FL Studio it works, because in the same time when I edit it on sound editor, it changes sounds on my synth as well, but I can't hear any sound from it... can you help me, please?

[@middle_pickup]

Can you use a midi controller to control the editor parameters such as filter cutoff and resonance? Or can you only use your mouse?

[@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!

[@GavinMcCloy]

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.

[@CharlieTheBlubber]

This guy is right. The original microKORG is much better looking than this one. I'm happy I got the original =]

[@viruslived]

I got the limited edition XL+ pre-ordered. It's going to be a blast!

[@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.

[@yellowskyline5]

IT'S £250 AT GAK!!! mine came 2 days ago and it's insane :D

[@MrIlyaki]

clear and straight-forward review. thank you

[@Gundrs]

there are ALOT of great plugin synths. but the feeling of using a real hardware synth is great. and the microkorg xl has usb. so its really easy to set up in a daw

[@CaptainErn]

i've heard of the quneo, and you might be right there. it did seem like it might be a big help. thanks for the input!

[@numanuma20]

I think I want the XL+

[@Synthematix]

the microkorg has multitimbral capabilities, but the mininova has more modern sounds, the microkorg works with a usb to midi converter and has better software.

[@VGEric]

Simply a beautiful review... thanks!

[@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.

[@ritchmean5964]

gday there i was wondering if the microkorg xl supports midi bank select from abletons midi clip view? thanks in advanced :)

[@MrThrashman666]

Why none of the synths that I've seen have a more complete arpeggiator? The few types of arpeggios and the ability only to skip but not mute a step of the sequence seems very restrictive to me. Am I missing something out?

[@Scotty_Russell_Music]

I concur Sir,we clearly have a case of "RTFM" failure here. Alternatively i'll explain the boys gear to him for 20 quid an hour :-)

[@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.

[@IOwnedCamo]

I payed $300! Great deal, great synth!

[@G8tr1522]

Ahhh, i know. The aesthetic alone (on the original microkorg) was almost convincing enough to get me to buy it. So retro...

[@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?

[@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.

[@dulaone]

Have you ever done any reviews on the microX, R3, RADIAS-R, X50, PS60 or MP10Pro ?

[@Shred_The_Weapon]

I've owned my XL for seven years, enjoyed it very much but never tried getting an external editor for it. Is there an available iOS editor?

[@YouzTube99]

@ShreadTheWeapon: No, but Korg offers a number of iOS apps. No idea where you're located, but the U.S. distributor has a sale on apps and software through August 26, 2018: www.korg.com/us/news/2018/071102/

[@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.

[@Spineloro]

Hell of a synth✨

[@footmarshian]

yes i agree i cant make my mind up also i want to get a small synth but i see the first micro korg is built way better but it does not have USB i want it for pads and bass i really cant decide

[@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!

[@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!

[@XDanimalzX]

Does anyone have the link to the software editor for the XL can't find it at the korg website. They only have the Software editor for the XL+

[@JoshuaInsomnia]

Great review!

[@nielsdeminitair]

i just bought a micro korg xl, and i downloaded the program you se in the vid and i downloaded the USB driver, but how do i transfer sounds from my microkorg to my daw? and how do i send the sounds from the program you see in the vid to my microkorg,

[@JacobClementeMusic]

i like the xl but no pedal inputs

[@lolmayonnaise]

"Tam-ber", Nick, "tam-ber"

[@sufiboy]

Got one of these second hand for £60. Absolutely a bargain!

[@CertainlyCaro]

SIXTY POUNDS FOR A MICROKORG!? Damn, that's some insane luck

[@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).

[@danielb7204]

I swear that little sound at the intro is a sample from "Backdrifts" by Radiohead I dig that

[@figivijay]

How many sounds does it have?

[@RLbitClassica]

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

[@allennunez]

i am getting mine tomorrow weeee!!

[@TheodoreChell]

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

[@danielbeccerra9775]

I just cant find the sound lab for pc...

[@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

[@ttoxique]

@fishfoodedd the original MicroKorg and the MS2000 engine have a much warmer filter/oscillator setup than the MMT engine of the XL/R3/Radias.

[@CaptainErn]

well synthesis isn't the concept that i have an issue with. i've made tons of custom patches on massive and i can always get them to sound how i want them to. my problem is with stuff like ableton etc. i suppose i should have said "sequencers suck" bc that's the real problem. i can compose things on paper better than in a daw. all the clicking in grids and piano rolls messes with my creative process and the ideas get lost in translation.

[@Synthematix]

im stuck between this, the classic microkorg and the mininova by novation.

[@flann5802]

Mininova have that "modern" sound, meanwhile the microkorg series are more "vintage", there're many patch but mininova still have more modern sound

[@akissparaskevopoulos]

good review man, thanx

[@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)

[@konradangst]

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

[@ttoxique]

@krakatoa47 @francaisemusique It depends what you're after. The XL has more features, but the MS2000 engine driving the original is inherently warmer than the MMT engine of the XL/R3/Radias

[@trackstasy]

thanks for this good video!

[@TheMaskCovers]

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

[@gastondartevelle]

Does anyone knows if the sound editor have the posibility to connect to a midi controller????????????????

[@Nocholas]

The sounds are generated in the Korg, not the PC. The software is controlling the digital parameters of the Korg. So no, you can't just add a midi controller to this software.

[@EmbraceEnds]

You've probably figured this out by now, but you can't transfer the sounds dude, you'll just have to record everything as audio.

[@Gundrs]

microrg xl seems like a great synth. onley downside in my opinion is the build qualety and look. it's really well made. but not as good as the original microkorg. and i do miss the metal body and wooeden side pannels. but other then that the microkorg xl is a great improvment

[@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.

[@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.

[@FollowTheFrequencies]

I've owned a few of the original Microkorg synths. If you use the presets, it'll sound terrible. If you are familiar with the grid-style synthesis(like in the old polysynths), you'll get tremendous sound. I'm not sure about this fella, the edit matrix looks cheap.

[@TangDynasty83]

Yes it does ; )

[@LorisPalmieri]

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

[@dollarstorekeyboard]

check out the korg microsampler

[@krakatoa47]

@hobbleheads get the emx-1. search it.

[@CaptainErn]

yeah ik multimedia has hella good apps. but i'm just a hardware kinda guy. i have ableton and NI maschine and komplete 7, along with a load of other VSTs, and i just can't get inspired by clicking my mouse to adjust parameters. and i'm not even from the oldschool either, (22 y/o) i learned music on an acoustic guitar and a piano and my brain just fails hard on software.

[@krakatoa47]

@francaisemusique definitely the xl.

[@ttoxique]

@TheodoreChell processor capability.

[@guinnessx]

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

[@krakatoa47]

@wearewoeandvoice agreed

[@kaybhee6]

sensei,,,, 2020,,, original still sells,,, xl,,, xl plus,,, etc will come and go,,,, all they had to do was incrs 128 presets to double.... gonna buy original yet again.... 5pin midi,, in,,out..thru..

[@dnbmuzik]

ive had one of these and i hated it the filters were useless compared to software you can get better sound out of an iphone lolz

[@golafs]

this is not a sampler

[@meateatingplant4830]

6.59 A. no it sounds shit

[@dnbmuzik]

Microkorg sounded rubbish when I owned one, I agree using hardware is more enjoyable, but I rather use software than a Microkorg for sound and ease of use

[@CaptainErn]

software sucks. but that is just my opinion.

[@dnbmuzik]

Heres my review: its shit, buy software.

[@kingtrance6826]

Not everyone wants to play a computer.