Monotron Delay: Worth It?

Monotron Delay: Worth It?
Today I'm talking a bit about the Korg Monotron Delay, and weather or not I feel it's worth the asking price of $50-60 USD. The Monotron Delay often catches flak for being a noisy toy, but I really feel that if you look past the noise, it's an amazing piece of gear to keep on hand. In this video, I'll go over a few reasons why. Enjoy!
GEAR IN THIS VIDEO:
Korg Monotron Delay: amzn.to/39vXCKZ
Zoom H5 (audio recorder): amzn.to/2ZTJwzP
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[@marshallemmet1366]

As a man more interested in making noise than music this thing is basically the dream synth.

[@FreeBeat]

Oh yeah this is the product for you! It's pretty addicting to just sit there and make random noises for hours lol. Definitely get a cheap plastic stylus to use with it too!

[@lucbrousseau9527]

The stylophone gen x1 is also a affordable noise making machine/synth

[@azeriustv]

@@lucbrousseau9527 Yes for the one who want less random Noise. Stylophone is great.

[@sadacksounds2986]

This beautiful little device is worth a Million Dollars in my opinion; so versatile and unique. I always have at least one sound device with me wherever I go and the Monotron Delay became one of my favourites. It helped me so much to exlpore sound and get away from the believe that all music I play (been playing instruments for 21 years) has to be perfect and flawless in every way. This incredible high expectation regarding my own playing skills has become a curse to me resulting in being miserable, insecure and unhappy with my music and, of course, with myself. When I first started using devices like the Monotron Delay, the Pocket Operators or the Bastl Kastle in little jams I fell in love with the strange, noisy and unperfect sound and the countless possibilities of combining the devices. It is really working for me almost as a therapy So glad they were invented! Love your channel and the way you present all the devices, thx really!

[@FreeBeat]

Yes!!! The monotron (and all of the other pocket instruments) really help with focusing on the "sound" rather than stressing over the music, I love that! Thank you so much for the kind words!!!

[@QNEGRO1]

I got one too, love it to death❤

[@ryanreach3710]

Dude I just got one of these after owning a PO33 for a month. This combo is pure bliss. It's fun. It is unreal it's so cheap. Crazy how ppl scoop up plugins on sale for this price when they could have an awesome piece of hardware. Gonna go play with my delay now :) thx for the vid! Subbed

[@FreeBeat]

Right? It's just a terrific piece of gear and it works in basically any setup! Thanks for watching :)

[@keithedwinsmith9416]

The monotron delay, I do have one, always reminds me of the sound effects in that classic 50s sci-fi movie “Forbidden Planet”! 👍🏻😃👽👽

[@FreeBeat]

Yes!!! So many 50s sci-fi movie sound effects could be remade on it haha. Thanks for watching!

[@DocBolus]

Love my Monotron Delay, did a whole LoFi ambient track using just this and a yamaha SU200 on my channel. I think you are right in that the noise is part of the charm. Another handy tip is to use a 1/4" jack to play the keyboard with. You can be more exact in what you play with one.

[@FreeBeat]

Nice! And yeah, I also used a Nintendo DS to play it a few times haha. Appreciate you watching the video!

[@DocBolus]

@@FreeBeat No problem

[@Snolferd]

I'm planning on doing a grind project in the near future and this looks like the perfect thing to combine with my DIY mini synth to make it sound tolerable, it's affordable and does a lot of stuff, thanks for reviewing it, it really helped me!

[@FreeBeat]

Glad you enjoyed the video, thanks for watching!

[@MVMullins]

I just got mine today and I'm having a ball with it. Running an Artiphon Orba through it and tomorrow who knows what? About 30 years ago I owned an Oberheim OB8 and I let it get away from me when I was short on money. I've been kicking myself ever since. This helped scratch that itch and even though the two don't compare, it's nice to have something reasonably priced that is so much fun. The sounds have nostalgia associated with them and I can't wait to record with it. I agree with your assessment of this awesome little piece of hardware as must have!

[@FreeBeat]

Thanks for sharing, so glad you're loving the monotron delay!

[@EchoKraft]

I own 2 of them ! Love them! Use them all the time!!

[@FreeBeat]

Nice! How do they sound fed into each other haha.

[@thejustingaw]

I was gonna ask the same question!

[@tonywharton5220]

I love my monotron delay. And like you say, it's perfect for pocket operators and any other synth to be honest. It can really give you a unique sound. For instance. Running a drum machine or changing your voice on the PS4 while playing Fortnite... Really freaks people out 😁

[@FreeBeat]

Hahahaha I hadn't even thought of running my own voice through it. What a good idea!

[@MarkusAudio]

@ 3:30 sounds that Hexstatic would approve :-) I'm so happy to have a Delay again, The Best of the Trio :-)

[@FreeBeat]

Thanks for watching!

[@albertocastillo7686]

This is one of my favorite pieces of hardware.

[@FreeBeat]

Same!

[@yanny2004]

loving your content man! keep it up :)

[@FreeBeat]

Thank you!

[@repeat_defender]

i just got a regular monotron and a p.o. 16 as my first synths and i think they’re a really great intro into the kind of confusing world of electronic music. super fun, at the very least, i can’t afford anything much more expensive.

[@FreeBeat]

That's such a great combo, especially for your first introduction to electronic music creation. Thanks for watching!

[@fuzzwithacid404]

Just got mine in the mail yesterday, already having a lot of fun with it. Can’t wait to try and plug some other things into it and get real noisy !

[@FreeBeat]

Glad you're enjoying it!

[@mgrollins]

Thanks for the NTS-1 comparison!

[@FreeBeat]

Definitely! I plan to go a little more in-depth with them a bit later, but since they're both so powerful and so inexpensive I thought it would be silly not to put them side by side haha

[@Imetalman2000]

I always have at least one or more pieces of gear running thought it. It’s definitely a must have.

[@FreeBeat]

Absolutely! Thanks for watching :)

[@marguskiis7711]

actually it can create very crazy and violent stuff alone too

[@chrisegonmusic]

I kind of feel like they accidentally made a classic. It's just weird and unique enough.

[@FreeBeat]

Yeah! I'll be using mine until the day they no longer produce AAA batteries 😂

[@chrisegonmusic]

@@FreeBeat Then we'll just mod it haha

[@pixelfrenzy]

If you read the user manual it says that the "INT." knob controls intensity, not interval.

[@FreeBeat]

Thanks for watching!

[@amitch1974]

It's excellent for using as a guitar delay.

[@FreeBeat]

Oh I bet that sounds awesome! I'll have to run my bass through it. Thanks for watching!

[@absoluteunit8628]

Wow thank you so much for this review. Just found your channel. That little guy looks like a blast. I think I'll get one for myself. They're not too expensive.

[@FreeBeat]

Thanks for watching! It's definitely a blast to use, you won't regret it!

[@memorytheater]

Just bought this and I absolutely love it. i love crunchy noisy sounds so much. That being said, do you know anything about using the lfo trim knob on the back panel? it definitely seems interesting.

[@FreeBeat]

I don't haha, sorry!

[@absoluteunit8628]

Hey dude I commented a month ago that I was going to get one, turns out I just got one of these gems as a christmas surprise. The first night I sat down with it I think I spent 5 hours toying with it just by itself. Really interesting finding out what you can do with just one analog delay. I hit some sound spaces that I'm not quite sure how to get back to.

[@jdssurf]

I always try to take cell pics of the settings I like, cuz I find myself in your situation often. I don’t have this unit yet, I want one though

[@matthewtunnicliffe201]

I love mine. I've been sampling the shit out of it since my Polyend Tracker turned up.

[@FreeBeat]

Oh yeah, it's perfect for sampling haha. Thanks for watching!

[@christopherross8358]

Was thinking of getting the GenX1, But I don't like the stylus - and worried that the keyboard onthe GenX1 would eventually be useless from getting scratched out of shape. Like how with works.

[@awjaaa]

There seems to be no way to get signal into the delay without running it through the VCF. Is there a trick that I do not realize? I was hoping for just delay, but.. it seems that it has to be cutoff, if you want delay.

[@FreeBeat]

I just keep the filter completely open and it seems pretty good to me. Thanks for watching!

[@hippydippy]

Oh man! I have the Monotron, but now I have to order the pocket operator! Thanks.

[@rod86_]

is there a good way to record onto my PC? If you connect the aux cord to the PC?

[@luisespiritu3932]

Will monotron delay work with Koala Sampler? What cables do I need to use for doing live sets? Thanks! :)

[@FreeBeat]

Absolutely, all you need is a 3.5mm cable, and if your phone doesn't have a headphone jack then you'll need a dongle too.

[@luisespiritu3932]

@@FreeBeat I'm using android and it has a 3.5mm jack. I'm just wondering how can I use koala+monotron during live performances, where would I plug the speakers? Massive thanks 😁🙏

[@FreeBeat]

@@luisespiritu3932 Plug the phone headphone out into the audio in of the monotron, then the output of the monotron into your speakers :)

[@K_E_Robin]

I want to get myself Monotron Delay and later a EQD Rainbow Machine!

[@FreeBeat]

Nice! That'll be an awesome combo!

[@jack3361]

Great review

[@FreeBeat]

Thank you!

[@matred3538]

Thanks as always for more inspiration. I've got one of these and a Volca keys stuck 150 miles away in a draw and I don't own a car! Just getting back into the Pocket operators after a few years away. And got myself a TD3 for the Acid house/ trance.

[@FreeBeat]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@SonicVibe]

finally ordered one today for my po's and soma rumble of ancient times

[@FreeBeat]

Awesome!

[@SpeedStar76]

Simply the best monotron

[@FreeBeat]

I haven't tried the other two, but from what I can tell the delay wins by a long shot!

[@SpeedStar76]

@@FreeBeat I have the original monotron and had the duo. I sold the duo but kept the original. I have a vid of the monotron linked to a drone box I made

[@brusatv7983]

You should try hooking the pocket operator to a stylophone gen x-1!

[@FreeBeat]

As soon as I get my hands on a stylophone I will!

[@aadikandolkar]

Can I use it with a keyboard

[@rocknitty8963]

you can records those delays live on the PO? I tried to do it with my sp404 like a resample method and it doesn't work

[@FreeBeat]

If you have the po-33 you can record the delay into it as samples

[@jdssurf]

How to plug it in through my interface to hear through my monitors? Can you play it in Ableton?

[@FreeBeat]

Just plug it into your interface like any other instrument :) It'll work just fine in any DAW

[@DakDario]

Can i plug this unit to a dj mixer?

[@jonathanrowles2685]

Nice video, how about monotron delay and E-4 ;-)

[@FreeBeat]

I'll definitely give that combo a shot! Thanks for watching :)

[@GeradHopkinsOfficial]

how do you plug this into your Computer ?

[@FreeBeat]

Plug it into your audio interface (or mic jack if you're in a pinch) with a standard 3.5mm cable.

[@insektgod]

I like the greasy grittiness of the Monotron Delay... I haven't found any videos that compare it to the slightly larger more "Pro" Stylophone Gen X-1. I think both are bit on the noisy side with constant bleed through... Definitely agree that it can be worked with. If cleaner is better but you're still on a budget the Zoom MS-70 CDR, Mini Kaoss Pad 2s, or the NTS-1 is more likely to bring you joy. Still the Monotron Delay has some very endearing filth and diatomaceous crust especially when amplified externally or run through headphones. The Monotron delay pairs nicely with the BASTL Microgranny and Casio SK-1 for achieving a very ephemeral Lo-Fi digital with analog tape saturation style of sound. People who like that type of sound will understand it immediately and love the Monotron Delay forever... not because it competes against high end gear but precisely because it doesn't.

[@flo85woehler]

i have the Stylophone Gen X-1 and thining if the montron delay is still an option or if it do just the same thing, but in a tinyer housing?! Any thougts?

[@FreeBeat]

That's funny, just about every instrument you mentioned is on my "to buy" list 😂 I really enjoyed your comment, your final point was an excellent one about how the monotron doesn't even attempt to compete with higher end gear thus giving it an immense amount of charm. Thanks for watching!!!

[@wiggesobk]

The monotron is cool. Especially the delay of course. But yeah, it could be a little bit less noisy haha

[@FreeBeat]

I'm honestly not sure if I would like it more if it was less noisy hahaha 😂

[@wiggesobk]

@@FreeBeat like Public Enemy said: bring the noise haha

[@FreeBeat]

😂🤘

[@MrSlipstreem]

Technically speaking, does the ribbon input device make this a fretless keyboard? :-D

[@FreeBeat]

I haven't thought about it like that but I suppose you're right hahaha

[@sidneiribeiro7666]

Orba review 🤔

[@thebmxband1t]

IT CAN BE MODDED TOO!!! Korg have provided solder points inside to basically turn it into a synth beast!!! This is one of best how to’s about that here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4XCkGCYfZ2EZtE Jonboy xx

[@FreeBeat]

Thank you for the awesome links! It's a little over my head right now, but this is something I could see myself doing in the future for sure!

[@marguskiis7711]

It can create vwery crazy and dark sounds and matrixes.

[@angusmcintyre217]

1970's HAWKWIND 👌

[@FreeBeat]

Thanks for watching!

[@angusmcintyre217]

@@FreeBeat Thank You for uploading this wee gem. What a pleasure.

[@DECIMA1]

It's cheap I think it's worth it!

[@FreeBeat]

100%!

[@lemonpepperdry5818]

I find mine quite enjoyable.

[@FreeBeat]

Awesome!

[@Motz_abst]

Sounds like the instrument they made the goat simulator music with

[@FreeBeat]

Is that a good or bad thing hahaha

[@electroshox]

Bend your cosmic farts... You even can let the noise self oscillating with its filter which sounds quite nice. Very usable with a gate behind it.

[@FreeBeat]

Cosmic farts would be an epic band name!

[@minalist7139]

you paired it with a pocket operator... dammit. now i have to get one. I blame you.

[@FreeBeat]

I take full responsibility 😁

[@minalist7139]

@@FreeBeat I just saw your video on the NTS-1. WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ME MAN?! I got a po-14 like 2 days ago. lol.

[@tonydarko67]

Now I need to buy a pocket operator

[@FreeBeat]

Yes you do!

[@Kalonofficial]

I bought one...

[@FreeBeat]

Awesome!

[@GikiOfficial]

I miss this synth. i sell it cuz u cant really do something professional

[@FreeBeat]

Depends on your definition of professional haha, I've used it in recordings before :)

[@vitaliiandronov8629]

everyone reading this: do not use mono-cables for that device. there's a high risc to broke it

[@inferrna]

I have Stylophone SX-1 and it looks better for me: it has more controls and kinda usable keyboard - so you actually can play melodies on it. Mononotron is more like a toy, also thanks its backlight - any child would be happy to get it.

[@FreeBeat]

I'd say they are two different instruments, each with their own character!

[@azeriustv]

I really cant feel this. This is so noicy and random for me 🤔

[@FreeBeat]

Yeah it definitely won't appeal to everyone. I love the noisiness of it haha. I've got lots of other videos featuring it on my channel if you want to see how it works with other gear :) Thanks for watching!

[@azeriustv]

@@FreeBeat I'll do. ;). But the Nts1 get more and more interesting since Ive watched your Video with the Megaman Po with Nts ;). Would Love to See this combi again

[@user-md3is4dq2d]

I've wanted one for a year or two, but shit, $50? I like it, the price isn't even bad, but it's just hard for me to justify the price

[@jdssurf]

Lmao if there is something you would love for another 50 or 100 bucks then wait and save. Otherwise, dude you know it’s awesome to have as many synths as you can lol.

[@user-md3is4dq2d]

@@jdssurf I ended up getting one, don't really use it, I got the delay and a PO KO