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The microKORG XL+ improves on the sound and design of the microKORG XL. Pursuing the ideals that users expect from this compact keyboard, we have achieved further evolution. In microKORG XL+, this "music genre" has been reselected to suit the fast-moving modern music scene.
This is a cool little synth. I bought it for the vocoder ...and admittedly I'm just learning how to use it, but WOW what great fat sounds. It's something I'll use to play a little lick here and there, the mini keys and overall small size don't make it very playable, BUT if you need special effects, especially the vocoder, this thing can sit on top of your rig and give you that little special effect here or there. I'd think hip hop and dubstep producers would LOVE this thing - small, powerful, big assignable knobs to mod the sound on the fly. Heck, it's so portable you could be putting together new tracks in an airport while waiting for your flight. Crazy noise from a convenient package.
Good sound, lightweight, runs on battery's, small keys. Full of possibiliti...es to play with.
Comes with one key damage, G it goes up because limiter-bar is so thin and easy to brake inside. Have to disassemble and repair with heat solder tools. It sounds awesome, tried to control it with BCR2000 with PunkNew Wave setup overlays and so on. Will use it later with Zaquencer firmware applied to BCR2000 already.
Keys are small, have to use M-Audio 88 keys midi keyboard to play it.
Chopped RADIAS w/mini board-CHEAP construction. Save a few $ and get a R3
I... bought this product because I wanted the great RADIAS engine, for live use, in a small package.
I have a full RADIAS rack, so I had reasonable expectations. The RADIAS engine does rock and, if you choose, you can get down and deep in the synth engine. The size is perfect for the gig, the key bed is decent (but the black keys are SUPER thin) and getting used to the velocity sensing is tough on the VERY plasticy feeling board. Lack of Verb is a real minus, too, for live. Editing: don't even bother without the software. Nowhere near enough live control for something in this category, especially considering what is under the hood....
Pros: great sound engine and a nice variety of sounds in a small package, VERY nice vocoder. Looks cool. Much improved included mic from the original microkorg. Vocoder is outstanding, although it cuts polyphony by half (4 from 8)
Cons: Build quality is subpar for an item of this price. $59.00 Casio PT keyboards were built better than this back in the 1980s. It is so cheap feeling, I domt trust using it live, which is a shame, because the size is right, and it's a nice alternative to the original microkorg engine (which is also cool). The pictures make it look great, but it feels like a $20.00 dollar store keyboard. No verb, no aftertouch, minimal front panel control for live tweaks.
I own the following shortboards and mono boards to directly compare this to: Novation ultranova; Dave smith mopho and mono evolver keyboard; SCI Pro-1; Moog minimoog, little phatty II, voyager sig; avid venom; Akai MINIAK; Korg microkorg, microkorg XL, micro sampler, R3, Micro X, prophecy; Crumar Spirit; Yamaha CS01, DX100; Casio Cz101, PT10/20/30/50/82, VL1; Roland JP8080, SH1000, SH2000. not related: I also have the RADIAS rack, which this piece is descended from.
what did I end up using on stage - the Novation UltraNova and a Korg Micro X. The micro X is essentially a mini triton - it's built decently but is not VA - so it's not a great direct comparison to the microkorg XL. One of my all time favorite VA's is my Novation Supernova II EXP (so the ultranova is great, although monotimbral...). The ultra nova is a little more money but KILLS. Without verb and the VERY minimalistic interface, the MICROKORG XL just does not cut it - - if you like the sound of the Microkorg XL, spend the extra $50-$100 and get a R3 (it is bigger, but I can't stress the lack of faith I have in the XL's build quality) or really treat yourself and find a true RADIAS...
Microkorg XL+ ....this little synth is packed ...with power and potential....the vocoder is excellent....the effects are great....the menu system is not too difficult....and it's great value and sounds like a nice analogue sound.....with the benefits of digital control....plus the software editor works easily enough and makes editing and savimy patches and entire libraries a breeze....cannot go wrong with this little beauty....
Loads of great sounds out of the box; electronic, cla...ssic (pianos, keys), dubstep, space-y. Lots of cool vocoder modes, Besides out-of-the box greatness, there are many parameters to tweak. Runs off batteries!
I'm totally in love with this thing, even before exploring it in-depth.
Doesn't have drums, though.
