The microKORG2 had the immediacy and cute factor of the microKORG, but even at its still-economical price, we needed more. And wow, did we get it. The logue SDK means this is an adorable synth that can load custom oscillators and effects — including Sinevibes creations. This could be the new “it” keyboard for the masses. It’s even got Achievements. (Really.)
You’d get a really skewed view of the keyboard market if you went by online chats and social media — though you’d get a fairly skewed view of, like, reality that way. The microKORG is by far the biggest keyboard of the 21st century by sales. I mean that literally, but you don’t really need some kind of inside market research, because if you listen to real-world bands, it’s everywhere. That means the microKORG2’s stiffest competition was, well, the microKORG, not least because the ubiquity means they’re all over the used market.
You really want to like the microKORG2, as it’s got a far more refined design, a new sound engine, and a beautiful color display. And it’s clear KORG knew the microKORG market, because they also added in a loop recorder and vocal processor. It got that big dial with easy preset loading that sold the first edition, and you’ve got the gooseneck mic. But it looks and feels more serious.
And yet…
There was some secret sauce missing on this instrument at launch.
And here it is. First, just some obvious stuff that the microKORG audience really needs:
- Split function (soloists, rejoice)
- Enhanced loop recorder with Slice mode — so it maps the loops right on the keyboard
- Step recording (in addition to the live recording, plus you can change presets on steps)
- Import/export loops so you can drop them into your DAW (for instance, as Ableton Live Clips)
That slice-to-keyboard mode alone could be massive for this synth. It’s easy, flexible, and something a ton of people would use.
Hidden in this update, too, KORG added a Trophy gamification feature that gives you achievements like in video games and smartwatches. I’m surprised no one did that before. (We could have a field day implementing that elsewhere. “Chin stroking achievement”? “Noodle palace”? “You’ll make the knobs fall off”? “You’ll never find the perfect snare”? The mind reels…)
And then there’s the sound design stuff. OSC3 got a lot more powerful. Run it in Low mode, and it’s an LFO. It’s available as a Virtual Patch Source, both in Low/LFO mode and audio-rate oscillator mode. Crank that up, and it can perform amplitude and frequency modulation — still with multiple waveforms.
But just as importantly, KORG has added logue SDK v2 support. Developers, that means you can run your stuff on it. The rest of us, that means we can run their stuff on it — starting with a special KORG collaboration with Sinevibes.
This pint-sized synth can now run desktop-class effects — $19 each, or $149 for all 15. Own any of them already? It’s a free update:
Linked – some past reviews/features on these:
- Albedo v2 granular cloud reverb
- Blend v2 multi-voice chorus
- Corrosion v3 multi-algorithm distortion
- DCM8 sample rate & bit depth reduction
- Dipole v2 through-zero flanger
- Finite granular pitch shifter
- Hollow v2 vast space reverb
- Integer digital-analog buffer delay
- Isomer ensemble delay
- Luminance v2 shimmer reverb
- Rerun self-randomizing repeater
- Shift frequency shifter
- Stator tape wobble simulator
- Vibrant deep phaser
- Whirl v2 barber-pole phaser
https://www.sinevibes.com/korg
And the architecture lets you use up to three plug-ins at a time, so from that list or your own creations.
I love this. I think there won’t be a bunch of influencer videos about this, or arguments in forums. I think it’ll just be the quiet keyboard that starts appearing everywhere. I’ll be curious to spend some more time with it on v2. It has that vibe of “this is the one you’ll tell your friends to get as their first synth, then wind up coveting yourself as you downsize and realize it could replace some stuff that’s collecting dust.”
Available from your retailers of choice:
If you buy something from a CDM link, we may earn a commission.
microKORG2 Keyboard Synthesizer + Vocoder [Perfect Circuit]
Thomann and Guitar Center have an all-black metallic edition, which gives it a nice vintage aura (I may wind up with one of these; you can place your bets). That’s down to $599 in the USA as I write this.
Korg microKORG 2 MBK – Guitar Center
Korg microKORG 2 MBK – Thomann
And Sweetwater has it in white:
Korg microKORG 2 – Limited-edition White
Product info and support downloads: KORG microKORG2 v2
Here’s how the functionality works: