All user reviews of 4/5 for the Korg microKORG XL

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My "more":
-> The weight, size and the possibility of battery power that make a synth MKXL really go anywhere.
-> The microphone and the vocoder function.
-> The publisher and the bookstore, which is not the best, but still practical.

My "less":
-> No noon thru, not practical for the uses of the hardware like me.
-> Lack a little space in memory (128 preset max) but it has pushed to select patches.

UTILIZATION

The general configuration is very simple. However editing sounds in depth can be complicated.
There are only 3 knobs so that you are constantly turning gusto. Moreover, given the number of parameters, sometimes you have to be very specific to target the desired value.

To overcome these difficulties, there is the editor PC (and Mac I suppose, but not tested). It is quite well done, with the transmission MKXL is thinking, which can load banks, patches, put them where desired, very quickly.

So for those like me who do not want to go through a PC for editing sound, this synth is not for you. If you like the sound, look instead to the side of Radias to the same sound engine, but much of the volume pot especially multimbralité.

SOUNDS

What follows is totally subjective:

Dépote sound, it is very direct. Thereby leads to that contrast, and low aggressive. The tablecloths are not neglected, nor the keyboard.
The effects are pretty simple, but effective enough as the Decimator, or disto (I do not care everywhere).
The arpeggiator is basic but offers a big plus on bass and lead. Allows the shuffle to swing, I appreciate that feature.
The vocoder is powerful, it's one of my favorites. The voice is very intelligible and the sound is effective.

The sounds are not the finesse, but it's a synth that is made for a fairly straightforward style, like rock, electronica and danceable mix of both.

OVERALL OPINION

I used it 2 years and then I exchanged against an R3 which has the same sound engine, plus MIDI thru, more accessibility, of infinite knobs, display a knob, the real keys, the forming motion ... In short, much more.

I think with the experience, I would take a direct R3, which for me, given the low price difference, and well above.

It was my first real synth, before that I was using a lot of VST. The MKXL was my first step towards the hardware, now I am in full hardware config. So instead he managed that task

On delivery of this little keyboard wonder, I first thought: "KORG have put out a toy piano".
However, on powering it up and pressing the keys, I was soon to realize this was no toy! I tried out all the pre-programmed instruments, from both the A & B banks. Easy!

I also found the controls (knobs and dials) were robust and easy to use..Switching between instruments - again easy; just a turn of the Genre and Category dials and a new instrument was ready for play.


UTILIZATION

Shortly after receiving the MicroKorg XL, I just had to experiment with all those cool looking options on the right hand side of the keyboard. A change in timbre, filters, effects, arp'ing and so on. Plenty there to keep me up late while I experimented.

I was pleasantly suprised with the supplied goose-neck microphone with its' XLR connection! The vocoder is the real "FUN" part.


SOUNDS

The only disappointment was in the ultra-light weight body;it felt a little too much like a toy., compared to the knobs and levers on top of the keyboard unit. But the sounds are not toy like, they are very professional.


OVERALL OPINION

Overall, a great addition to your musical instrument collection; it it light and very portable - so much so, that KORG have even enabled it to run off 6 AA batteries, so you can take it camping, to the beach, a party, or wherever! I love the overall feel of it and the way it sounds, I don’t have a single complaint with this any more, I do admit when I first felt it , it seemed pretty cheap. But after you mess around with it and see how powerful it really is, you will regret saying anything like that. This is a great board with great stock presets that you can use and will keep you occupied for quit some time, you wont need to upgrade for a while!

Everything has been said before, and with what completeness. I will focus on the really nice arpeggiator (5 designs available, malleable in real time by the three buttons on front panel). Note the absence of memory use: we must sacrifice the presets to install the sound of his own. Although detain poverty of the machine percussion and SFX: drum machine soon becomes necessary. The Miniak has 600 preset, by comparison.
The vocoder is still his forte. The "line in" allows you to benefit from any of the 17 instrument effects MKXL. Too bad it lacks an entry for the sustain pedal handy for 6 or 7 piano sounds. The mini-keys, we made it: they allow same gestures impossible on a normal keyboard. However, I would have preferred the keyboard or R3 Miniak.
Obviously not to sequence: twice that or noon for a USB to a computer.


UTILIZATION

Employment is intuitive and the manual is very well done quickly useless. But three buttons to manage effects, envelope, filter, patterns etc. ... it's really light, the publisher computer proves an invaluable resource. Paradoxically which at the same time reduces the value of its portability (less than three kilograms and battery operation): if it takes a computer to manage the cattle ...

SOUNDS

Sounds: they forget my criticisms ... They are already good at basic presets, all. The improvement is a breeze. Great for techno, hip hop, electro, the bidouillagesà JMJarre. You can even jazz with the 3 type Wurly electric pianos or Rose, W. Organ, the brass. The vocoder is incredible and immediately usable. Low of 16 Appliances fat, Synths Motions are full of surprises (there is one who speaks to you telling his life). The arpeggiator, delay and resonance knobs can compensate for the lack of percussion (I still bought a drum machine in addition). Leads are very interesting (you do not find them on the workstation) I like the Phunky Lead, the sheets are warm and focused strings (it lacks perhaps imitation vocals). Delay, echo, chorus, flanger, distortion, reverb, gain, is essential, and in good shape.


OVERALL OPINION

I use it for six months, I hesitated with the Microkorg classical, R3, and the Miniak Gaia Roland. The MKXL was cheaper and sounds suited me. But today, when I can afford it, I sell for a Miniak because of its 600 presets (instead of 128), its 37 major keys), the sustain pedal, the vocoder 40 bands (at de16 place), two modulation wheels (instead of one), his percussion sounds, its multi-timbralité (4 instead of two).