The eagle-eyed among you will have noticed that there are 3 kinds of Korg MicroKorg’s available at the moment.
All of the microkorgs share a common thread – they are relatively affordable, portable, lightweight, can use batteries or a power supply, have a built-in vocoder, are hugely versatile over a number of styles and are very user-friendly. All of them are digital, but use high-quality analog-modelling to recreate analogue-type sounds.
The most common question is “what’s the difference?”
Well, the original, standard Microkorg was released 15 years ago and still going strong! It’s got very good quality analog-modelling sounds, and appeals to fans of a vast array of electronic music from a wide variety of genres. Whilst great for electronic music – all kinds of house, techno, EDM etc, it’s also been used in rock bands of all hues.
Next came the Microkorg XL. This was soon replaced by the current Microkorg XL+ (more or less the same, but with some tweaks). These models looks quite different, and have several new sounds (including piano) that the original doesn’t have. The overall layout was designed to appeal to players that weren’t necessarily from a synth-playing background, but wanted to use those kinds of sounds in a convenient, hands-on way. Another big difference is that the microphone input for the vocoder is and XLR input (much better quality than the mini-jack on the original version). And the gooseneck mic is also much better quality.
Finally, the Microkorg S is essentially the same kind of beast as the original Microkorg, but the main difference being that the ‘S’ stands for SPEAKERS. The other microkorgs require headphones or an external amp/speaker/PA etc. The new S version means that you can play at home, in your bedroom, in the tour van, back of the car etc – wherever inspiration takes you.
All of the microkorgs share a common thread – they are portable, lightweight, can use batteries or a power supply, have a built-in vocoder, are hugely versatile over a number of styles and are very user-friendly. All of them are digital, but use high-quality analog-modelling to recreate analogue-type sounds.
Shape your sound, bring it anywhere.
The microKORG S continues to build on the success of the original.
With a serious sound, ubiquitous design, and superior build quality, the microKORG analog modeling synthesizer became an instant world standard when it was released in 2002. Since then, the microKORG has found its way into the hands of musicians far and wide, and now, receives an update to ensure it will remain one of the world’s most beloved synthesizers for years to come.
The new microKORG S features a built-in 2+1 speaker system with power that far exceeds its size. Its body sports an elegant white motif, and features new presets that represent the sounds of a new generation. Beneath the microKORG S’s sophisticated exterior hides a sound engine both brutal in strength and universal in application.
Built-in 2+1 speaker system ensures a rich and full sound at any volume
Inside that compact body of the microKORG, we've included a carefully constructed speaker system consisting of stereo speakers with clear imaging, plus a woofer that emanates a startling amount of low frequency. The chassis uses a new box structure, and the combination of ample box volume and a bass reflex port takes full advantage of the speakers, thereby delivering a rich sense of volume that exceeds the size of the speakers, a clear sense of positioning, and a rich low-frequency range. In addition to the battery-powered operation of the existing model, the inclusion of the built-in speakers allows an easy yet full-fledged performance experience even in an environment where there is no power supply or PA.
Since the speaker box is contained within the chassis of the instrument, the vibrations from the speaker can be felt through your fingertips. This tactile feedback allows you to experience the same subtle and dynamic response as when playing an acoustic instrument or electric piano.
Increased memory, new programs, and additional user programs
The memory capacity has been increased from the original microKORG. Mainly centered on simple and present sounds that shine on stage, we've added 64 powerful preset programs that meet the needs of the changing music scene, including clearly defined and punchy leads, electric pianos that sound great in an ensemble, and powerful and solid basses. In addition, we've also newly provided 64 additional slots for user programs, so you can save your own original sounds without overwriting the presets. This encourages a sound design process that's ideal for this instrument: select a sound that you like, and edit it.
