MicroKORG

The original microKORG

The microKORG XL

The microKORG is a MIDI-capable digital synthesizer/vocoder from Korg featuring DSP-based analog modelling. The synthesizer is built in such a way that it is essentially a Korg MS-2000 with a programmable step arpeggiator (the MS-2000 has only six simple patterns), a less advanced vocoder (8 bands instead of 16 bands on the MS-2000), lack of motion sequencing (MS-2000 had three motion sequences), lack of an XLR microphone input, and in a smaller case with fewer real-time control knobs.

The microKORG was released in 2002 and is still in production as of 2022^[update]. It has sold an estimated 100,000 units sold as of May 2009. In September 2007 Korg released a limited edition of the microKORG with reverse-color keys, although the functionality was otherwise unchanged. At NAMM 2008, a successor dubbed the microKORG XL was introduced.^[1] Available since early 2009, it uses Korg's MMT (Multi Modeling Technology) engine, borrowed from the newer and more powerful Radias/R3 synthesizers. Also, in late 2016, a slightly updated version was released, dubbed the MicroKORG S. This edition retains the same sound engine as the original MicroKORG, but offers an integrated speaker system (stereo + sub), updated color scheme & twice the patch memory. In 2022, a VST Version was released as part of the Korg Collection. ^[2]