Is the micokorg worth getting? Are there any other synths for cheaper that are better or just as good? Or can I get patches or vsts that are as good

i dont own any synths except for the animoog app (if that even counts lol), but i have heard and found in my research that the microkorg is a pretty dope piece of machinery, but it as not as vast in sound range as per say the alesis micron for the same price. i have listened to korg monotrons, and due to some popular belief are able to accomplish some insanely dope sounds and even fx to your arsenal

and they're only atleast 1/6 of the price

Dorian Concept on the microkorg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TB0wHB3khOg


In the end, all synths in that price range basically sound the same. It's all about how skilled the user is.

Softsynths will be cheaper and probably more flexible in most cases. But not as hands on as a physical keyboard synth.

Considering how Korg just updated the Microsynth with some free patches, it's nice to see how they're still supporting a 7-9 year old product. (I'm probably wrong how long it's been out, but I'm too lazy to correct myself). In a nut shell, the Microkorg was a condensed MS2000 keyboard in a slimmer package, but here it is 2013, and still being sold. Softsynths can be from free to 1/4 of the price of even a Microkorg, but you wouldn't get a vocoder thrown in. Or something so portable that you don't need a DAW interface to setup.

If it's the price you're worried about, go to www.Guitarcenter.com and just scope out a used one. However, now all a sudden, Microkorg has some company from Novation on it's territory. The MiniNova, and the BassStation2. Now buyers can decide if they'd rather have something different soundwise, but either way, it depends on how much analogue oompf you really require. If you need digital pianos, pads, real guitars or acoustic instruments, then you won't really be in the market for the MicroKorg anyway. (Or the Novations for that matter). This is a area softsynths can cover for you, but more than likely is going to cost you more. (I haven't kept up with softsynths lately, so I have no idea if you can get a VST grand piano softsynth for free). You easily could pick up a decent Roland, Korg, or Yamaha digital synth from the late 80's-00 used, and get those sounds that way if you're willing to scope out what's out there. All depends on how nerdy you want to get on your research for the right keyboard.

Oh yeah, which brings me to my next gripe about the MicroKorg. The keys themselves....Not the easiest to play, and not as many as you'd ideally want to play. But you can't expect everything from such a small keyboard for the price they go for. This is where you maybe want to go get any USB keyboard controller, and have more keys, knobs, sliders, and support for your DAW programs. You could even hook up a 88 keyboard controller to a Microkorg if you really need better action, but I don't see the real reason to.

Point is, it's a decent package for it's price range, still has it's fanbase, still getting new sounds now and then from Korg, so decide if it's what you are looking for or not.

what kind of bang for the buck does this have compared to vstis? being able to resell is a plus of course.

well, you dont need any extra processing power to make synth sounds.

when you pick up a vst, you also have to consider the cpu requirements to run the vst. some vsti's require lots of processing power to use them at full potential.

so does your computer meet the requirements? will your audio interface handle everything without crackles and pops?

if not, you'll be using half of what you actually bought. that's why hardware is nice cause you don't need to worry about the computer side of things. software is nice too cause if you have a capable computer vsts are cheaper and its just less shit on your table. and energy bill?

Well, that's a bit hard to guage without knowing

1) what your budget is-I mean, how much are you willing to spend, and what is your HELL NO point? I assume you've got at least a SP, or some other sampler out there. But now you need some keys, and you're aren't too sure which route to go. However, are you trying to go hardware or software? And if it's software, how fast/effecient is your computer? Do you have it running great, or is it getting mucked up with computer games, or a ton of pirated movies you downloaded, so that it runs hella slow when you fire up your DAW program? This is why hardware might be better in the long run if that were the case. Otherwise, it's time to buy a new laptop/computer anyway...

2) Knowing what you have already...A SP, but do you have a audio interface or mixer of some sort? Do you have a microphone? A pre-amp? Compressor? Effect unit? (Kaoss pad, rackmount reverb, etc). And most importantly, studio monitors? Or are you going to be using headphones mostly? (To keep your neighbors/landlord happy?)

3) What are you really trying to do? Just give your beats a good bassline to sample into the SP? Are you planning to play live or are you strictly going to be in the studio? Do you prefer analogue sounds or digital?

I mean, I don't know too much about what you have, so suggesting something you're not ready for or haven't really decided what's ok to spend isn't going to really give you a definitive answer. If you are trying to go more software based, and your computer is as fast as it's going to need to be, studio monitors, audio interface, and you've got some sort of keyboard controller already, then and only then should you see what softsynths/effects are worth the money that you'd spend on a Microkorg. Reason would be a great place to start, but FL studio 11 could also work. There are a ton of free synths/effects out there to try, but if you're serious, you might want to go out and buy some of what you're using. And that starts to add up quickly.

If you're just wanting a SP/sampler, synth (Microkorg), and a portable mixer, (DJ or maybe a 2-6 channel), and you're not planning to upgrade beyond this setup, then you can do that for sure. But you'll eventually want to have more options, so try to accomodate yourself in the future for what it is you're out to do.

http://www.musicradar.com/tuition/tech/the-27-best-free-vst-plug-ins-in-the-world-today-277953/1

go nuts its all free

I'll still support the Alesis Micron/MiniAK (it's same thing, different company)...as well, Novation x-station ain't bad. It's easier to program since it has more face sliders and stuff, but it's not as versatile...in terms of sound quality, I'd rate them like this:

1.) Micron/MiniAK (tons of modelling and routing of LFO/env with zero alias)
2.) MicroKorg (still not bad for a 14 year old audio engine)
3.) X-Station (not great but not terrible, makes up for sound with everything controllable on the face like oldskool synths)

All 3 are around same price range.

regarding bang for the buck, its not bad regarding depth but I never really liked programming mine back when i had one. They tend to hold their value pretty well at around $225 so you cant go wrong to pick one up to try and flip it if you dont like it. Personally, I would recommend something like an alesis ion or micron (I'm partial to the ion dt the keys and knobs..these days they can be found pretty cheap.)

I think the big question is what do you want to do with it...that should let you know how appropriate the synth is for you.

only had the microkorg xl+ couple weeks .. very clean sound .. few editables .. not really dug too deep .. does what i need

don't know if you still Need help, but i post it anyways... i got my microkorg about 4 years ago and since day one i'm in love with it. for ist Price it's hard to get anything like it. i use it in almost every single tune i'm producing. when i bought mine the xl was already available but the dude who sold it to me said that the "original" one (not the xl) would be musch more fun to work with because you have a lot more knobs to twist around. you can, of course, initializethe patches and with a few twists and tricks you can get some pretty amazing sounds out of this Little Thing. if you should get your microkorg, i would suggest to watch a few Videos on YouTube from a dude named bloomypetal (just type this in the search bar and go to his channel). he has some really incredible and unorthodox tutorials on his channel and he uses the microkorg to the fullest imo (for example he plugs in a Little Radio and fucks around with the knobs to get some heavy atmosphere). all i can say is BUY IT, you won't regret it. peace

an alternative for very cheap:
novation xiosynth25
the good:
-great sounds, 3 osc (i think is the same engine of the yet mentioned x-station, if i'm not wrong)
-not that difficult to program (many submenus but many many knobs + parameters written in the keyboards)
-soundcard (not that "top" indeed...) and usb/midi controller (cool)
-cool fx inside
-cool arpeggio and gator function (gator=some sort of gate writable on the fly)
-works on acdc/battery/usb...
-cool patches easly loaded via usb

the bad:
-built badly (the chassis is pure plastic...) and some keys could let you go...(....damn1...)
-no midi in (...damn2...>>you can do it with external audio soundcard...but...)
-you can't fx/filter the audio in (...damn 3!!...that's weird! they build a synth/soundcard/controller but you can't apply any fx/filter to the incoming audio...!!) as on mikrokorg

Check out this amazingness: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsWLbeu7HYk