Korgalicious!
Alright, let's throw it back a little bit. We're going back to the early 2000s for some exciting, new-millennia tech. The Korg microKORG made its debut in 2002 and became a favorite of rock bands, studio dwellers, and sound designers, alike for its compact size, powerful analog modeling synth engine, and onboard vocoder. This format of miniaturized, vintage-inspired synthesis would go on to define the sound of indie's new wave of bands like LCD Soundsystem, MGMT, and The Killers, as not only were retro synth sounds back in full force, but evolving for the millennial audience.
Putting history lessons (and the frightening fact that 2002 was over twenty years ago) aside, the microKORG did quite a bit to kickstart a new sound in indie, along with being a reliable unit for newcomers to synthesis, being in production for the next twenty years! We're not here to talk about the history of miniaturized analog modeling synthesis, however, this is no YouTube retrospective thinkpiece. We're here to talk about the future, so let's have at it. This is the Korg microKORG2.
OK Korg
For the uninitiated, Korg is a master at synthesis of all shapes and sizes. From their Opsix MKII Altered FM synthesizer and KingKORG NEO to their line of bite-sized Volcakeys, Volcabeats, and Volcabass synthesizers, Korg has got something for every experience level, price point, and flavor of synthesis. No stone goes unturned in the Korg library!
Korg's expert handling of many forms of synthesizer makes them a prime pick for newcomers looking to explore the world of analog and digital synthesis. If you're even slightly inclined toward the synth life, check out Korg and you won't be disappointed. The microKORG2 carries similar qualities to fall right in line with Korg's family of products – intuitive design, extensive customization, killer sound.
Whichever way you slice it, Korg is a choose-your-own-adventure of synthesized sound – dragons and dungeons not included! Or maybe, somewhat included. We'll talk about that in a little bit. For now, let's get into the basics of the microKORG2.
Daft, Dre, and Dire, Dire Docks
Korg microKORG2 Presets
It's a pretty extensive universe when it comes to the microKORG2. Okay, when we say pretty big, we mean really big – think Star Trek or One Piece*. The microKORG2 starts out with a powerful, new, virtual analog synth engine. This engine is similar to the first microKORG in that it can produce all the same sounds as its predecessor, but different in the way it's operated. Rest easy, microKORG fans: the microKORG2 has you covered for all the turn-of-the-millennium, buzzing beeps and boops that made the original so great. What's great about this version is the expansion of the spectrum of sounds possible.
Ah, man. Too nerdy already? Alright.
The microKORG2 comes fitted with a setup familiar to fans of the original. A main dial and eight preset slot buttons function as the basic navigator for sounds on this synth. Each stop on this main dial is marked by a different genre of music the microKORG2 focuses in on in its preset sounds. Onboard, we have:
Programs and Vibes:
- Pop / Rock - Van Halen, Tame Impala
- Funk / Soul - Parliament, Stevie Wonder
- HipHop / R&B - Dr. Dre, Tyler, the Creator
- House / Disco - Daft Punk, Calvin Harris
- Ambient / Electronica - Aphex Twin, Brian Eno
- Techno / Trance - deadmau5, Armin van Buuren
- DnB / Dubstep - Skrillex, Burial
- Game / SFX - Donkey Kong Country, Super Mario 64
Each of these genres gets on its way with distinct presets right off the bat. Across each genre, the microKORG2 comes designed with eight preset slots on three distinct "time"-based banks – Classic, Modern, and Future. What this means is the microKORG2 is very reverent to classic synth sounds like fat, analog, synth bass thumps along and spacey, Juno-like synth pads while also being very mindful of the exciting, new sounds that have made waves in the last couple decades. This element of the microKORG2 makes it an incredibly exciting instrument to explore, as you may be quite surprised by the more modern preset sounds Korg thought to build in!
With the microKORG2's era-based, three-bank system, the sounds of internet-era lo-fi beats, dubstep, drum and bass, and more are alive and well. While we do love synthesizers that capture classic sounds, the microKORG2 deserves some hype as a synth that is not just a retread of '80s synthesizers (or even '00s synthesizers, for that matter!). The microKORG2 is an incredibly modern-minded synth for a new generation of players to get into vintage synthesizer tones while also having a field day with the sounds that undoubtedly defined the last twenty years. For that alone, we have to give it props.
Micromanagement
Korg microKORG2 Workflow
So here we are with our massive library of tones – where do we go from here? The microKORG2 works wonders in its workflow when shaping presets or creating your own from scratch. On the microKORG2, the original microKORG's parameter changing interface has been shifted slightly. While we're still getting a five-dial parameter changing interface, the overall experience has been altered massively with the addition of a color display screen. Contrasting the original's more simplified display, the microKORG2 comes equipped with a screen that effectively displays presets and parameter shifts in real time.
Since parameter controls change from preset to preset on the microKORG2, the addition of an animated color display screen allows for much easier adjustment and tracking of parameter changes. This screen contributes to the microKORG2's modern interface and workflow while staying reverent to its predecessor.
Customization goes beyond preset dials, however. Onboard the microKORG2, a series of buttons opens up customization for easy oscillator and LFO control, pitch, voice and more. These buttons light up alongside the microKORG2's other control buttons to keep track of where you are in the instrument easily. Wherever you are in the microKORG2 workflow, it's easy to find your way back home.
Korg microKORG2 Final Thoughts
As a follow-up to one of the most prolific synthesizers of the new millennium, the microKORG2 is a monstrously musical synth streamlined for composition and performance. Whether you're in a rock venue, a studio sesh, your bedroom, or anywhere in between, the microKORG2 is a powerful and capable little beast. This entry from Korg seriously comes alive for musicians of all stripes to introduce a vast spectrum of sounds from R&B pads and dubstep drops to rock organs and Space Invaders explosions. Wherever your priorities lay for music, the microKORG2 has you covered.
Step into the miniaturized world of the microKORG2 and hear the multiverse of sounds Korg is capable of.
