Introduced in 2002, microkorg Became one of the best-selling synthesizers of all time. But a lot has changed since then. Korg has actually attempted to update this early 21st century classic a few times over the past 22 years, but they haven't quite caught on like the original. Oxymoronically named Microkorg XL microkorg s (which added speakers and not much else), and Microkorg XL+ (Just a Microkorg XL with a facelift) All failed to grab the OG. But Korg is hoping microkorg 2 Will be the true heir to the crown.
The MicroKorg 2 is an improvement on the original in almost every way, that much is clear. It's less clear whether Korg has a winner on its hands, or whether the MicroKorg 2 is a nostalgic attempt to cash in on a classic. There are so many great little synths these days, I'm not sure this will be the answer for everyone.
modern sound
One of the biggest changes from the original Microkorg is the sound engine. At its core, the MicroKorg 2 is a virtual analog synth (it's digital but it aims to sound analog), just like its predecessor. But the scope of its sound-shaping power is much wider. In addition to standard waveshapes such as sine and saw, the Microkorg 2 has access to a configurable noise source and a library of PCM samples that can be used to add a transient at the beginning of a patch, similar to what you might find on the Classic . Like a Roland synth from the 80's D-50The Microkorg 2 also has three oscillators (instead of two in the original) and a continuously morphing multimode filter.
The Microkorg 2 is also a multitimbral synth with double the number of voices (eight versus four) as its predecessor. This gives it the ability to create complex layered patches (say, an arpeggio and a pad together) or wonderfully detailed chords. Add to this an expanded six-slot mod matrix with many more sources and destinations, as well as a wider selection of effects, and you get a device that is clearly better than its name suggests.
Photograph: Terrence O'Brien
What's really impressive is that it's far more powerful, but it's also much easier to program than the original. While the big-knob and genre-based patch browsing remain, gone is the obtuse system where you're forced to look up parameters on a huge table when trying to tweak a preset or create a sound from scratch. The Microkorg 2 doesn't have anywhere near as many knobs-per-function, but the 2.8-inch screen and relevant buttons make it very easy to find your way.
In fact, I would go so far as to say that making patches on the Microkorg 2 is really fun. It's definitely not something anyone would have ever said about the original.
Not great navigation
However, the style-based patch navigation feels outdated. This was questionable in 2002 and seems downright bizarre now. The way it's broken down – four categories with eight banks and eight programs in each bank – seems unnecessarily complicated. Also, only 64 of the 256 slots are reserved for user patches, which is annoying for those who like to optimize for live shows. That being said, if it doesn't have a giant knob with the words “HipHop” and “Trance” across it, is it really a Microkorg?
Photograph: Terrence O'Brien