An MS2000 in sheep's clothing. The microKorg is a very cool and retro-looking version of the MS2000 analog modeling synthesizer. This compact keyboard is designed for portability and can run on batteries! But inside the microKorg is the exact same synthesis engine and sounds found in the killer MS2000 and MS2000R synths!

The keyboard's 37 keys are small and almost toy-ish. But they have a firm response and feel natural enough to play. The case is a sturdy plastic and there are wood end-cheeks. There is a plethora of written info on the face of the instrument and reminds one of the old Poly-800 and DW-8000 synths. The five knobs above all this writing initially control the filter cutoff, resonance, envelope attack and release times, and the internal tempo. But they can be assigned to control every other parameter available in real-time. Their assignable functions are what is written below them (hard to read in the dark). The top-mounted vocoder input microphone (included) hasn't been seen on a Korg since the decades-old VC-10!

The microKorg has 128 Programs organized into 8 categories: Trance, Techno/House, Electronica, DnB Breaks, HipHop/Vintage, Retro, SndFX/Hits, and Vocoder. The sounds are great and inspiring. There is only 4-voice polyphony and only one Program can be played at a time. But as a hands-on, real-time dance machine, this really is all you need...one hand on the keys and the other on the knobs!

The microKorg has two oscillators with 71 waveforms (7 simple analog waves + 64 DWGS waveforms from the DW-8000), a multi-mode resonant 12 or 24 dB/oct filter, 8-band vocoder, two ADSR envelopes, 6-pattern arpeggiator, oscillator sync, ring modulation, two MIDI-syncable LFOs, programmable multi-effects, and more! All knobs and buttons send/receive MIDI controller data. External audio can be vocoded and/or processed through the filter, effects and EQ via the included microphone or standard 1/4" stereo inputs. A built-in USB Interface would have been nice for true lap-top portability, but is currently absent. But in its affordable price range, the microKorg is an awesome synth for beginners, DJs, and even the pros looking for a compact performance synth with retro style, flexible programing and excellent sounds!

It's been used by Air, Atomizer, Bare Naked Ladies, Beck, Prodigy, Yesterdays, The Killers, KMFDM, Royksopp, Owl City, LCD Soundsystem, Jean-Michel Jarre, Nick Rhodes (of Duran Duran) and The Pet Shop Boys.

Isaac

February 25, 2010 @ 9:54 pm

I got mine a couple weeks ago used (but in perfect condition) for $200 and I absolutely love it. The tone has such a nice little personality. Coming from VSTs over to this little guy has been a very enjoyable process. The patch editor is a blast to work with as well. It's very clear why so many people love this little guy

Test pattern

January 9, 2010 @ 4:49 pm

I've been live looping mine with the boss RC50 latley. I've spent some serious cash on gear in the last year. Yet I still gig with it and it has never failed. If your complaining about the keys I think you miss the point. Remember the days when it was a casio a 505 and a 4 track tape recorder, those days are long gone.

StudioX

December 24, 2009 @ 12:10 am

I agree with Josh & everyone here, wow 17 pages, I've had one that got jacked years ago and I bought another copy two years ago. just got around to learning how to program this unit. It's way easier to get your head around the whole system when you start from the mixer on Edit Select 1 where you can decide if you want 1 or two ocsillators etc. . Totally versatile synth, remember it also has FM synthesis wave samples & dope-ass arpeggiator, you can chop vocals through it etc. The only thing I wish tt had was a full-size keyboard.

Josh

December 16, 2009 @ 12:50 pm

The MicroKorg is awsome Its the best Synth i palyed on so far beside the roland SH-201 I recommand this synth for beginners and pros alike who are looking for low cost$$$ synth. Its sounds Great Plus when you use its arpeggiator

Vyndarlys

December 6, 2009 @ 1:43 pm

I got my MK a couple of years ago when I started making techno and I've spent lots of time with it... In my opinion, it's strength is its tone... I love it's filter (the resonance has a nice FAT sweet spot) and it has lots of tone varieties to chose from... conciddering it can run on batteries it's probably best as a small portable single keyboard for rocking in a band of other instruments. In a midi rig, I find the smaller keys undesireable (if you can run it with a better controller) and as a controler itsself you seem to loose all the good bits in favor of it's weaknesses... (tiny keys and no ability to use the fat tones)... so if you want a rockin little keyboard to fit into your band, go with it... if you've already got a big midi rig, skip it and go for a tone gen. version.
Mind you, my reverse keys version is Gorgeous!

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