King Korg - Up Close

The new King Korg Virtual Analog Synthesizer has been somewhat overshadowed by the simultaneous announcement the Korg MS-20 Mini, which frankly stole the show at NAMM this year. However the King Korg also has some pretty desirable features.
We had a visit from product specialist Luke Edwards, who showed us what the new King Korg can do.

[@AntoineBaril]

I just bought one yesterday. I'm really stoked! What a powerful machine!

[@NealVan]

Excellent demo and covered as much as anyone in a single demo of a complex keyboard I've ever seen on YT to date. Well done to both gentlemen, and thanks for showing me how to play the opening line to Strawberry Fields as a bonus. :-)

[@JanetRich]

We just got the KingKorg a couple days ago. Really enjoying it! Thanks for the great video!

[@mrmaramind]

Still liking it?

[@DanielOakfield]

Thanks Nick for bringing this video, always very pleasant!

[@calle68]

I like this video and I like the way the synth is demoed. And I like the sounds too! Thanks!

[@jeremythornton433]

I bought one not long after it came out and I keep forgetting just how good it is. I spend most of my time on my Kronos. Videos like this remind me that I need to play my KK more.

[@jeremythornton433]

@@googledriver8795 I've never tried. I doubt it though. I think you might be able to do something with splits. I haven't played with that either. Right now, I'm busy since I just got a Moog Grandmother. Birthday present from my wife! One thing I one day want to do is see if I can sync up the clocks with the 2 of them.

[@HerrStich]

Great review again, Nick. Your review of the Venom highly influenced my purchase of one for the awesome price of only $200. I've been very satisfied and was well prepared for the quirks with the software ahead of time, so no disappointments.

[@EspenFrafalne]

This looks like something i could buy! Love the oscillator and filter section 😍

[@adriansmithmusic]

One of the funniest Nick Batt moments captured when he holds up the Gooseneck mic: "This won't hurt a bit!" :D

Great synth! Like allways, love your close ups! Cheers

[@mattysen]

The pad sound at 11:35 is unreal!

[@hmcjury]

I've had extensive time with one and I want one. I didn't at first because anything with PCM sounds usually sucks for tweaking but it is actually a truley tweakable synth. There is some menu diving when getting deep with routing but it's not bad and doesn't slow you down. It might sound good here but first hand sounds even better. I think it would sell like hotcakes at 700 to 800 bucks instead of over a grand In the states.

[@WBWelcomeBack]

wow. some quite impressive sounds in there... thanks for the review :)

[@VincentsVideoVisions]

UGH! When he played that Underworld pad with the delay I got a shiver up my spine!

[@bazZzment]

Great video as always, thanks Nick & Sonicstate! Sounds quite beefy to me, will have to check it out! Careful with the shutter speed on your camera though... makes me feel a little dizzy at times.

[@cresshead]

excellent demo and review thanks chaps!

[@sonicstate]

Thanks Stephen, not sure what you mean about the s hutter speed? its standard 50 or 60 I think.

[@miarcani]

Great video and excelent presentation.

[@GNeuman]

Looks like Korg are smashing the competition with this and the ms20....very impressed

[@impurfekt]

Dear Korg, Please release a mkII version of this with three times as many knobs. Thanks, 2019

[@HotStrange]

Ahh dude I would have to have it.

[@dmomcilovic9185]

Try the prologue

[@latontolog]

Seriously.. How can this thing be so huge and still not feature more hands-on control? I feel like if they released a module/desktop version with more knobs, less menu-diving, and no keyboard, I would be super tempted since it sounds real good.

[@emilholmsten8600]

Bro!! Fukkin love the first song😍😍😍

[@lawgege2167]

amazing synth he gave me the goosebumps! great arts from korg i will buy it!

[@buschovski1]

i was looking for someone who mightve gotten this fairly recently did u buy it if so how do you like it?

[@lawgege2167]

@@buschovski1 hi friend I took a roland jupiter x a little in the same idea namely vintage sounds I changed my mind because of the tube lamps I nevertheless have a microkorg xl which sounds good too!

[@buschovski1]

@@lawgege2167 the jupiter x is awesome. ive thought about that one. but i think the polybrute is going to be the one for me. and the pro 3 sequential and its sequencer is another.

[@sonicstate]

I will check though - thanks for mentioning it

[@richardtroiano7233]

This looks like quite a nice synth!

[@Intrapersonal77]

That dude just drops some total Alice deejay-deadmau5 1997 jam. Never expected that from a 61 key keyboard presentation

[@emilholmsten8600]

Exactly my thought! Legend 🙏🙏

[@waynesilverman3048]

Thar 1st tune ? He played? I thought it was his tune

[@tristanchroma9014]

Can't wait to watch this after I finish being productive- have seen many MS-20 Mini and Moog Sub Phatty videos but not nearly enough King Korgs. An improvement from the Radias, or a different beast entirely?

[@izzzzzz6]

One great thing about this keyboard is that there is always tonnes of headroom. One tip is to engage the apr when flicking through sounds. Shame there were not up to 999 presets for users to save to.

[@synesthetica]

One question: does kingKorg send the CV out according to the selected scale in global settings? This would be really awesome. It would be nice to play MS20 mini with a Pythagorean scale or so...

[@F0nkyNinja]

How come you never did a review of this?

[@thedeepblueskys]

I picked one of these KKs up ($500) last year in 2020, and it’s been a lot of fun. I’m about to explore running it threw a Microcosm pedal and sampling it into a Digitakt. That’s always been my goal of owning and using one of these KK’s... to make my own sounds and sample it, although when I’m in need of some nice leads and strings it’s always my go to.

[@latrellsingletonls]

Where did you get yours

[@thedeepblueskys]

@@latrellsingletonls I got it used from Reverb. I threw out a $500 offer on a $650 listing and I was surprised that the seller accepted it. Kinda rare to get a deal like that now days.

[@jenntaiga3316]

Interesting synth. Two questions though. 1) Does it have any drawbar simulation for any of the organs? and 2) How good is it for making your own sounds?

[@jacobbrown1690]

love it.....best virtual analog poly i ever bought. even better than my radias.....

[@johnadams5489]

This appears easy to operate. Not a lot of menu diving, and category of sounds and Favorites bank. It makes playing live easier. Nice Demo.

[@LesFarrington]

i really have not given this instrument enough credit. i was going to order a Moog Sub Phatty tomorrow. instead im going to go to guitar center and give it a run. I am leaning towards this unit now. it really does sound amazing. i would enjoy it more than my Little Phatty and its Cheaper. im really ashamed that i have overlooked it.

[@DS-fi4hf]

This sounds damn good!

[@loneraver2]

I stopped at that point too. I know I've heard it before but I can't remember where. I also want to know.

[@SpecialEffectsRecord]

King Korg is KING fucking blew me away today

[@mikehydropneumatic2583]

The filter demo was great but the vocoder option was a bit slacking...why don't they just show the vocoder options!??? Anyways great review and nice synth.

[@bitspacemusic]

I've probably heard it around NAMM then. Thanks!

[@SWANbeats1]

Sold it very well I think. Looks like a nice VA synth with extra PCM, Tube and CV out! Nice with the miniMS20...good job Korg...

[@MrPudUKG]

Good video, nice synth. Is there any chance of you being able to do something similar to this video with the new Dave smith prof 12??? Cheers

[@seattlesmooth]

Love this beast! Had mine for a just a week now. However all this CV/Gate control stuff is new to me. How do you get to the CV&Gate Menu settings? The display reads g29:CV&Gate Mode:MS-20, Monotribe, etc..I can't seem to find any settings for "g" and the manual's not that helpful. Anyone else know how to set it up to control a monotribe, ms-mini, etc...?

[@Zushikikato]

Really enjoyed this review! Wish I can afford one!

[@HotStrange]

Save up! You’ll get there :)

[@as680783]

Wow! I thought kit like this would cost upward of £2,000 easy. Amazing instrument. I want one. :D

[@kuglepen64]

Looks and sounds preeeeeeeetty awesome.

[@luisroland09]

I like so much this synth, but I miss more knobs dedicated and ergonomic panel... but the sound is great!!

[@PetiteKeyboardist]

Does anything think it would be taken more seriously if the color was black or silver? I'm saving up for one, though, because it has a sweet sound!

[@zariisofficial]

I thought that too until i got mine out the box a few weeks ago, it's lovely looking :)

[@nathanweeks1257]

I use VST synths, but it would still be so cool to have something like this. One thing I like about the design of this is the big sturdy looking knobs. I also think the menus look nice. Probably won't ever get a hardware synth, but if I wanted one enough, this would be a contender for sure. It also has 24 note polyphony whereas the DeepMind 12 only has 12.

[@SPAZZOID100]

Nathan Weeks hardware lasts a lot longer than vst's.

[@HotStrange]

Working with hardware is so much more fun and inspiring.

[@user-dz2nw5qy6b]

Hello everyone, and tell me, is there a melody retention on it ? pressed and she plays herself on the synthesizer KingKORG Synth Review

[@badgereaux]

The tube isn't run at a high load at all, it's just an LED to simulate the glow when you dial it up. It should last an extremely long time, but I imagine you'd have to take the potentiometer caps and entire faceplate off to replace it.

[@Theseventhknight]

it's 2013 and the "main screen" is still one of those tiny, low-resolution screens that require tons of button presses and knob twists to navigate through! either put more real-time knobs or use a bigger screen. 2" across doesn't always cut it on stage. There's about three inches of blank space above the screen--why not make the screen go all the way to the upper edge of the synth, so it'd be more like 5-6" across?

[@monkey76kerr]

I think it's safe to say this is one of the best Synths ever created.

[@YouTubeSupportTeams]

best demo on sonicstate yet.

[@Mmsmickey]

I love the surprised reaction on 7:32

[@bobcatt2294]

An 8-step sequencer? Nick, please give feedback on this.

[@IRIDEHARLEYS]

Nick, after 8 years what are your thoughts of the King Korg? Have you played it since this review? I'm considering finding one of these or buying a Prologue 8 or 16. Totally different from the King Korg I realize but wondering which synth today you think would check the boxes for you if you had to choose between King Korg or Prologue?

[@KirklandWilliamsWorkout3000]

Prologue16

[@thekeysman1]

The dance piano part around 12:25 to 12:35 is that from a song? I like the Tone but i like the chords he used

[@jameshey3468]

Where love lives Alison limerick

[@TheMetalMusicMachine]

WELL DONE KORG!! BUT THIS WAS WHAT I NEEDED BACK THEN WHEN I BOUGHT MY TRITON LE TEN YEARS AGO... =P

[@rivalo5]

I think he means that the moving video parts are interlaced. You see these horizontal bars when the camera is moving fast. You should render progressive instead of interlaced for this kind of things.

[@CowboyNQ]

The keybed (and in fact the entire physical dimensions of the 'board are identical to the Krome).

[@62Tomate]

Fantastic "KingKorg" !!!

[@marclaliberte4118]

Is it available in Canada and USA?

[@Kinetikai]

"That's crusty." Laughing out loud, Nick. Nice job.

[@DrNordenstam]

I'm drooling

[@TheStruggleUK.]

I'm going to get me one of those gadgets! nice!

[@GNeuman]

Sounds really kick ass!!

[@EarthVsJazz]

I actually didn't get this when they announced this...Now I understand its power....

[@dcashley303]

Looks like a good 'ne... but I don't think I'll be getting one. After owning a MicroKorg XL I want all the controls at my fingertips, I don't want any hidden features being tucked away... think I'll save up for an MS-20 Mini instead.

[@bazZzment]

Maybe that's my mistake, I thought I've seen too slow shutter speed on the cam from the side of you both, somehow that video looks blurred to me. Maybe I'm wrong or something's with my computer! Great video nonetheless!

[@bitspacemusic]

What's the name of the first tune?

[@compagotv]

Wow this one impresses, great demo! Would also like to hear more effects in your own demo? Regardless, Korg is killing it.. Roland? Not so much. Thanks for all your efforts, from Sacramento, California

[@zariisofficial]

The first sound/arp you hear on the KK isn't in the factory bank whatsoever *justsaying..

[@HotStrange]

So what? Are you being serious or trolling? You don’t buy a synth to play presets, you’re supposed to design your own patches! You might need to look into getting a workstation. *justsaying

[@motavisjones]

After the demo, just had to get it :)

[@JordyClarky7]

Aww I want one!

[@emnigmamachine]

I'm way more impressed then I thought I would be. Still rather get a Ms-20 mini though.

[@numanuma20]

Is it that old?

[@pcuimac]

What about the keybed? Is it Krome crap?

[@LCplLockwood]

What is he playing at 12:42? It sounds so familiar...

[@jameshey3468]

Show me love robin s

[@jasoncorganbrown]

This would be much more entertaining if nick could review this on his own. Why did Korg let Marc doty review the ms20 mini on his own?

[@FrancisJoa]

Yes it is.

[@DaneXbsinthe]

Korg (Roland and Yamaha too) have a history of repackaging the same core synth with different configurations of bells and whistles. This looks like an R3 in a nicer chassis. Tube and CV are nice bells/whistles, but no drumparts, no editor, no studio 'Total Integration' .....

[@tristanchroma9014]

Might have something to do with the actual tube in it >_> In terms of oscillators and filters I've always preferred the MS2000/Original MK to the MMT engine.. though I wouldn't give my R3 for anything, save a Radias.

[@mysterio77690]

Impressive...

[@Zinfidel1]

As another year goes by, i am still unsure about buying this or the Sledge 2.

[@HotStrange]

Ah dude me too. I can’t decide to save my life.

[@ifincstudios]

Just buy them both

[@thedeepblueskys]

I ended up picking one up in great shape for $500, and I love it. That was in 2020. I plan to sample the hell out of it into my Digitakt. I keep coming back to these old videos to help me with modeling tricks.

[@qwe1231]

Looks like a winner from Korg. Man, they're hitting on all cylinders lately, aren't they.

[@pcuimac]

Looks and sounds much more interesting than MS-20 retro monoradio synth.

[@djugel]

why are VA's always voice limited still? Should be 4 part multi

[@terrencemckenzy3679]

Dat king korg raw bruh WoW

[@chelloward]

Terrence Mckenzy did you get one ?

[@ShoreyJr]

10:00 isn't that Da Funk by Daft Punk?

[@junnunaumanen6672]

”This won’t hurt a bit” 😄😄

[@ariasdad]

Prince, Madona and Daft Punk? Best corporate demo ever.

[@DavidSynn]

I want one in the worst way.

[@synaProductions]

Deadmau5 presets?

[@rspteam12]

Great

[@flotopo]

The only thing missing at King Korg, in my opinion as a producer, is multi-timbrality. I'd love to be able to compose and entire song with sounds only from King Korg, sequencing the song externally in Cubase or any other DAW.

[@SPAZZOID100]

flotopo no. It sounds like you need a workstation.

[@SPAZZOID100]

flotopo just multitrack.

[@michaelbauers8800]

Impressive. It looks really easy to use, which the Access is not ( IMO.)

[@aviolentpurple9925]

+Michael Bauers Loser

[@michaelbauers8800]

+Jimmy Jacksonian A man of few words I guess...

[@SPAZZOID100]

Jimmy Jacksonian ????

[@anaraug]

NEXT TIME on "Name that tune" ...............

[@Shadouts]

Needs a rack version!

[@Zhevros]

Yeah but does it have its own character?!???

[@su4691]

@@holygeneration7 Do you like it better than your Kurz that you sold ;)

[@ph_stuff]

@@holygeneration7 So, you liked it so much that sold it in a week or two?? LOL Why did you sell so fast?

[@Mannex17]

dang what song is that at 14:26

[@robertsyrett1992]

Oh man, I was really hoping someone had answered this, because I have the same question.

[@cerealexperiments8865]

Reminds me of Deadmau5 - Some Chords, on the album 4x4=12, little under a minute into the track

[@robertsyrett1992]

Close, but not quite.

[@FaboulusFamos]

I guess it is Kele - Tenderoni

[@martinwsun1162]

bodyrox - yeah yeah