Korg Micro X - 1st impressions (long review)

I've been waiting months for these to come out so I could try one. The other day I walked into my local music store and there it was. I plugged a set of headphones in started checking it out, and of course, I wound up leaving with it. My overall impression is: fantastic! But it doesn't get 10's across the board - it does have some drawbacks. But first the good news, it sounds great. As the owner of a Karma and a Triton Rack, I'm familiar with this synth engine and I know what it sounds like. I can't say that it sounds exactly like the Triton or Karma, even though it's got many of the same combi's and programs. But that's not a problem for me. Even though some of the sounds may be a little different, perhaps not quite as lush sounding, it still sounds really excellent. Believe it or not, I actually like some of the Micro X versions better

The kind of music I do is ambient electronic and new age soundscape-type stuff with lots of Wavestation-like evolving pads, and there are a huge number of sounds in that category, as well as the ability to edit them into your own sounds. It comes with an editor to use on your computer. The Micro X is probably being targeted towards the dance music genre as there are plenty of those kinds of sounds, but with close to a thousand sounds between the combi's and programs, there are an abundance in every category. I also really like the dual arpeggiators, real time control knobs, and the fact that it can take sustain and expression pedals.

Ok, some of the negatives - it's got the worst lcd screen I've ever used. It's very small and hard to read, epecially when you are in category mode because the lettering is so tiny.

I sometimes use the lowest power drugstore glasses for reading, but I've never had to use them for playing a synth. It's really a drag, but I can't read the screen without magnifying glasses. Plus the fact that the color of the screen is red, with black lettering. I don't know what they were thinking with this. I imagine once I get all my sounds edited and grouped together, I'll be able to use it without having to look at the screen as much. It' s laid out just like the Triton and Karma, so at least I'm familiar with it.

The other negative thing about it is the build quality. I'm a big fan of Korg products and have owned many of them, but this one feels very cheaply made. I take pretty good care of my gear, so I don't think it will be a problem, but I doubt this could take much abuse. I expected better quality from something they are charging $650 for. It also comes with this day-glo orange plastic case that looks like something that power tools come in. Nice to have a case, but I don't know why they couldn't have made it in black or gray. The store saleman said they were going for an "industrial" look, whatever that means.

However, having said that, I'm still very happy with it and am really looking forward to getting in and tweaking the sounds. It really fits my needs as far as a very small portable keyboard with incredible sounds. A few years ago I bought a microKorg, but the sounds in it are nowhere near the Micro X - totally different synth engines and features. Although I'm very much into synths, my main instrument is electric and midi guitar. When I do a gig, I have a lot of gear to carry, so I wanted a synth that had Triton quality sounds in a small package. Having this synth engine in a 2 octave keyboard is like putting a Corvette motor in a Mini-Cooper. It's basically a baby Triton LE. Plus, I can midi my Novation X-Station to it which gives me a 4 octave keyboard to control it with and makes for a very compact and easily portable synth rig - I'm calling it The X Team.

There's more I could write about it, but those are some of the important points so far, without going on indefinitely. Maybe I'll post an update as I work with it more. Overall, I'm very impressed with it.

I am confused I thought that Micro X has exacly same ROM as Triton + 32 megs of diffrent rom ??

Original Triton Classic = 32 MB of Sound ROM

Korg TR = 32 MB original + 32 MB new ROM

Korg X50 = same 64MB as Korg TR, but some different Programs and Combis

Korg microX = 32 MB original + 32 MB new ROM (slightly different than the TR/X50)

From the microX description:

Funny that you complained about the LCD screen. I saw one @ GC the other day, walked up and tried to play it.

This keyboard failed my 30 second test. I think that you should be able to walk up to any keyboard,no matter how sophisticated, and figure out how to do something basic, like select a program, intuitively. I was so frustrated by trying to read the screen, I walked away.

Also, why make a keyboard as nice as this, and only put a two octave keyboard on it?

From the 30 seconds that I played it- it does sound good.

The Korg microX is intended to be extremely portable (which is why it also comes with its own plastic case).

If you want something with more keys, the Korg X50 (61 keys) would be the way to go. It has similar features to the microX:

-- similar (but not identical) Sound ROM

-- same VST functionality

http://www.korg.com/gear/info.asp?a_prod_no=X50&category_id=1

so how is it possible that the Oringinal 32mb presets sound better on karma even though they have exacly same original presets?

Probably the quality of the built in ADACs...

My AN200 sounded like ass, and when I pulled the PLGAN card out and put it in my motif rack, it rocked. Seriously. as an example

1. Sharing the same original 32MB of Sound ROM does not mean they have the exact presets (they might, but I don't know)

2. The Karma (similar to Triton Classic, Studio, Rack, and Extreme) has a 5 simultaneous Insert Effects (IFX) capacity. The Korg TR, microX and X50 only supports 1 IFX at a time. Therefore even if some of the presets based on the original 32MB of Sound ROM have the same name, they CAN'T exactly sound the same since most Karma Programs use more than one IFX.

3. Karma function vs. dual arpeggiators

I just bought one of these and agree about the LCD screen being small. But I am just using it for sequencing in my home studio, and the Micro X Plug-In Editor software seems to work like a charm as an AU inside Digital Performer. The editor display is about 20x the size of the LCD.

I'm thinking of buying one of these...but was only able to try out the X50 so far...which I loved. However, I don't want a large rompler...so the MicroX is right up my alley. I'm not as interested in cutting edge dance nonsense...though I'm sure some of those patches are usable. Does the MicroX have nice pads and pianos...and strings? Looking at the voice list...it seems to have them...but since you guys have one...I have to ask.

The Micro X comes with 640 "programs" and 384 "combinations," and only having had the thing for a few hours I cannot claim to have explored it fully. I keep getting side tracked, finding plenty of preset programs/combis to spend 15 - 20 minutes with.

That being said, I have come across wonderful pads - multi-layered ethereal new age wonders, orchestral things, VA-ish sweeps, etc. All kinds of evolving soundscapes that make use of the arpeggiators to sprinkle and ooze samples in and out.

I have also found lots of excellent string pads. The acoustic pianos, however, haven't knocked me out, compared to the sampled Bosendorfer in Mach 5, my Motif, or even the pianos on Roland's Session expansion board for the JV. But they're not bad, though. It has the usual collection of Rhodes/DX7-ish pianos that sound really good.

Despite the amazing preloaded programs (kudos to Korg's patchmeisters), one has to remember that these things are not available, as is, in multi mode when doing multi-part sequencing. I yearn for the day when all mutli-timbral synths have dedicated multi-effects for each part, as my TI Polar does.

Interestingly, I wandered into a music store last night looking for a little 25-key MIDI controller to set on my desk, next to my Mac, to play my software synths with. I got the Micro X on the spot -- a bit more than I set out to buy, but certainly a nice addition to my home studio.

Anyone auditioning the Micro X in a store really needs to check out the Combi mode presets. They've done the usual stuff with the arpeggiator to create drum loops with keyboard splits for added basses and pads. But they're a hoot to play, and some of them are downright clever. Lots of really hip grooves with a world/ethnic flavor... the Micro X, along with MOTU's new Ethno Instrument provide amazing tool sets to cook up a myriad of Middle Eastern, African, and Asian moods.

Yeah, another nice selling feature for me.

By the way, it's easy to miss the headphone jack which is (conveniently) on the front of the unit, down to the left. Now, if it only ran on batteries too....

I'm not into the dance stuff either, although occasionally I'll hear a techno combi with some interesting evolving pads in the background and I'll go into edit mode and pull out the bass and drums, slow the tempo down from 500bpm and wind up with a nice usable sound. I think the Micro X has plenty of great non-dance sounds. The pads and strings are awesome. I don't use acoustic piano sounds much, so I can't comment on them in comparison. However, there are some very nice electric pianos that could work very well for ambient, jazz, or whatever. I'd be surprised if you couldn't find what you needed within the soundbanks for almost any kind of music.

If the microX had the ability to have multiple insert effects on at the same time like the KARMA and Triton, it would definitely be worth the money Korg is asking for it. If not, they need to hack the price down to around $500 for it to be worth it. Korg tries to sell it off saying it has the ability to run 4 effects at once, which enticed me at first, but when I found out they meant 1 insert effect, 2 master effects, and a master EQ (which I don't see how that counts as an effect, it counts as an EQ), I got pissed and decided to get another keyboard.

The microX is not all it can be and Korg knows that.

That's funny about the LCD screen - I remember Korg's marketing saying that it was a specially designed high contrast LCD screen - fantastic for trying to read in dimly lit environments like on stage...

Cool...that's what I thought. I'm gonna go demo it tomorrow.

So do you guys see this differing from the MicroKorg in sound? Is it poly?

Ouch, looks like they have copied Elektron's Monomachine design. Lefthanders will soon be complaining !

Yes and yes...and 16 parts multitimbral. It's a rompler vs a VA. The Microkorg can't do what the MicroX does.

They should get the X50 then.

GODDY!~

(and a great review)

I played around with one of these last week. I think that $650 is too much for so few keys, too. Anybody know if there's ever going to be a desktop/rack mount version of this sound engine?

I'm sure if they would bother...how much would you expect them to sell the rackmount for?

Hard to say. A few more knobs, no keys... with that library I might go to $450 or so. I thought the sound quality was fantastic. Do the Korg soft synths sound that good?

I have to agree that the Micro X is over-priced for what it is. Especially since the build quality is not as good as other Korg synths, in my humble opinion. I think around $450 - $500 would be about right. I bargained a bit with my local store and got it for $600. However, as far as the insert effects issue, it may be lacking compared to the Triton, but it still sounds fantastic. I have some issues with the Micro X, but the sound is not one of them.

With regard to the question about the Micro X compared to the microKorg, they are totally different synths and there is no comparison other than the physical size. The microKorg is based on the sound engine of the MS2000 and only has 4 note polyphony. The Micro X is basically a baby Triton, although a bit stripped down. There are many other differences too numerous to go into.

As far as the LCD screen, I'm sure Korg spent a lot of time developing it in their laboratory, but in real life, it just sucks. Maybe it's good on a dark stage if you have eagle vision, but using it in my studio in daylight is not good. Besides the red back light, the screen is just too small for that much information - the characters are tiny, especially in category mode.

But once again, although I've got some issues with the Micro X, it's incredible for what it is and I'm very happy with it.