THIS microKORG IS THE MOST EXPERIMENTAL VOCODER ON THE MARKET!

1. The Hardware: The MicroKorg 37-Key Analog Synth with Vocoder

The MicroKorg 37-Key Analog Synth with Vocoder is an impressive piece of hardware that has exceeded my expectations. It offers a range of useful features that make it perfect for electronic musicians, including a vocoder that, while not exactly what I would say is perfect, is still very effective with meaningful parameter controls. The keyboard is also MIDI functional, which makes it easy to integrate with other equipment.

2. The Specs

microKORG

• 37 mini-keys with velocity sensing

• 4-Voice Analog Modeling synth engine

• 128 completely editable presets

• 5 assignable realtime edit knobs

• 8-Band Vocoder with gooseneck mic

• Vocoder Formant Hold and Formant Shift

• Interactive arpeggiator with selectable steps

• External audio processing

• 3 Effects: Chorus/Flanger, Phaser, and Ensemble

• 3 Delay Modes plus a 2-Band EQ

One of the standout features of the microKorg is its size. It's small enough to carry around with ease, yet not so small that it feels awkward to use.

It's made of high-quality materials and has a comfortable weight, which makes it feel sturdy and reliable.

I have dropped my korg from about 4 feet onto my rug and it took no damage. The only fragile part is the goose-neck mic, which I didn't plan on using much anyways, due to its low quality.

Another great feature of the microKorg is its ability to load and trigger samples, which adds a whole new level of creativity to my performances.

I can create percussion lines on the fly that are not cheesy, but also don't have to be epic. In fact, there are so many hidden gems in this keyboard that I haven't even unlocked yet, which makes me confident that it will be the only keyboard I'll need for a long time.

The microKorg has 128 preset sounds, including vocoder, all of which can be tweaked in a variety of ways. The sounds range from standard trance/techno to huge bass sounds to ambient and experimental, so there's something for every electronic producer. With 128 presets and tons of settings to tweak, there are always new sounds to discover.

The microphone for the vocoder is decent, but it can be a bit wobbly and give feedback if you have it too loud.

If you plan on using the vocoder a lot, you might want to consider getting a better microphone.

3. The Drawbacks

One minor complaint I have is that the microKorg is not super intuitive for a non-keyboardist.

However, this is a small price to pay to unlock all its arcane secrets, and with a little bit of sleuthing or reading the instruction booklet, it's easy to learn how to use it.

In fact, I found it extremely easy to use and figure out thanks to my experience with software synths and watching videos on the microKorg.

If you have some basic synthesizer and sound design knowledge, you should have no trouble figuring this thing out just by playing around with it.

4. THIS THING IS SO MUCH FUN!!

Overall, I think the microKorg is an excellent entry-level synthesizer that offers a lot of value for the price. On Amazon It's currently listed at 429.99.

It has everything an aspiring electronic musician could want, and it's built to last.

However, I do recommend that you have some basic synthesizer knowledge before purchasing this keyboard, as it may be overwhelming for those who are new to synthesizers.

If you know what you're getting into, the microKorg is a great investment that will provide endless creative possibilities.