Korg Forums

[jtag]

uhm i think its already too late without a quick update, everyone know its crap, the future of this fisherprice sampler wont be bright ...
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[beatifictatter]

multi-sampling, i think thats what its called.

being able to record 3 or 6 (ie 1 or 2 for each octave) evenly spread samples of piano, strings etc. then having a hidden (as in no keyboard shortcut) parameter in the samples menu where you can group those for use when spreading across the keys in keyboard in 'keyboard mode'.

at the moment 'keyboard' mode sounds awful, especially the higher pitched notes. its pretty much useless excet for a few synths and drums.

it was advertised as being able to do this well. but it doesnt, and the people who have labelled it a toy have a point here, it does sound like my casio sk-5.....surely a company like korg has moved on since then?!?!?!?

i'd hope to be able to have strings,mellotron and piano (taken from sample libraries on pc) in one bank for live use, via the 'keyboard' mode,.....
but im finding im having to sample in a full two octaves of samples of piano etc, leaving me very few sample keys left for anything else or to mess about/resample on.......another big let down with this machine.....you'd think the fact it has keys would mean they had really sunk their teeth in to them being useful in a musical way....not just black and white pads.......in some ways my 404 and a midi keyboard did a better job. at least then i could sample whole octaves of instruments but still have access to the other banks etc and not be running out of samples for live songs and experimentation......

come on korg, sort it out. SOON!!!! there are way too many things on this wish list, even if they can sort three quarters of them i'll change my tune, but at the moment im half regretting not going for a laptop and keyboard/interface combo like the x-station or something......they've marketed it as an 'all-in-one', but it's not a very good solution without some fixes..

[3sleeves]

[quote="jtag"][quote="jtag"]Ok i cant believe it ... no MONO/poly choice of playin samples??? no samples cutting each other?? I mean this is BASIC for:
DRUMS, MONOPHONIC SYNTHS! and even classic sampled material, almost everything! Or should i use this baby just to sample on the fly??? Honestly the gear is missin things but this is HUGE, and i cant see a workaround ...[/quote]
Am I alone on this? Do everyone use only overlappin samples??? Im still on my own that this should be a major fix ...[/quote]

I know what you're saying, but honestly it's easy to achieve a similar sound by setting the sample release point at say 20 or less and just letting go of a key when you want it to stop. I wouldn't mind a remedy for this, but I don't see this as a huge issue personally.
My main complaint is the inconvenience of the knobs for fine tuning. I don't like how the slightest bump of the knob can throw the current parameter setting totally off. Maybe if you could tweak the FX parameters on the computer and have them control the keyboard in real time this would not be a big deal. The shift key functions are handy for selecting, but are still not perfected yet.

[beatifictatter]

~bounce~

im pushing this back up the board as people have started using another 'os updates and suggestions' thread, this one has had much more input from members.....

[microboy]

EDITOR:

SAMPLE SECTION

it would be amazing to have a PARTIAL LOOP function:

so you can save the attack of the waveform and loop only the body of the sample.. avoiding the premature end of the sound on high notes..

the zoom possible with mause scroll: without clicking on the fu****g arrow

snap to zero point and zoom deeper on the wave: avoiding to become blind and get perfect cutting sample

would be nice to have PORTAMENTO function

PATTERN SECTION

GRAPHIC SEQUENCER (like KORG DS - 10 maybe?) with solo and mute button, velocity Sample/Track Mixerr and quantization grid at least!

having a graphic sequencer for creating pattern when connected to computer, cold be very nice!

the pattern section should record at lest DRUM SEQUENCE + 2 TRACKS like KORG DS-10 so Sequencer could get some more sense

MICROSAMPLER

updating EDITOR/LIBRARIAN Software and making a new firmware with thoose new functions in MICROSAMPLER, would be already a GIANT STEP!

my opinion

MB

[shabby]

the possibility to have an fx setting for partition, so every partition can have it's seperate fx, it would only take somekind of programme message and the switching is quite fast anyway

[microboy]

I Think EDITOR Needs to be UPDATED

I record my samples MONO at 24 Khz so i have a bit more then 8 seconds per Key

right? so..

GRID WITH BEATS OR SECONDS LENGHT WOULD BE REALLY APPRECIATE! to check exactly how long is my sample or my beat

but telling the truth, best thing to do would be a PARTIAL LOOP function

so i will not care about seconds anymore as i can loop a part o f my sample just long 2 seconds and have it playing endlessly!!!!!!!

My YAMAHA SU-10 gots this function and is very very useful...

i wish someone from korg can read thoose suggestion, and hope they will care about us!

regards

[MarsHottentot]

Hi, this is my first post.
I have yet to get mine, but I don't think I have any illusions to this being much beyond an advanced toy - a modern SK-1, if you will. I envision the Microsampler being something I sketch with, maybe use lightly at gigs, but certainly not make into an integral part of my set up.

The initial sale price of $750 US and the sudden plunge to $500 US (with another drop sure to follow in the next year) tells me that Korg had bigger ideas than what they produced and it seems very "rushed to Christmas". I'm wondering how much Korg is making off each unit sold because, if they're just breaking even or taking a loss, I'm afraid what you see is what you get.

It's got good industry reviews, but that's to be expected with Korg buying advertising space. The real reviews are usually tacked on to the front of a companies 'newer better' product review as a pitch.

The believable reviews are here and places like here. And the NAYS seem to outweigh the YEAS.

I'm going to say that it seems like the 'Micro' series is aimed at beginners and dabblers - not serious samplists (?). The same people who bought the Microkorg to augment their bands 'New Wave' edge who will likely be growing their hair out as we speak in anticipation of the coming grunge revival .

My point is, with the above taken into consideration, can we honestly expect any kind of OS update? I think we can reasonably expect a software update but beyond that, I'm not so sure. The question is simple: Is there any money in it for Korg? Will an OS update boost sales of the Microsampler more than if they just forged ahead and did a Microsampler MX or whatever with all issues addressed sold for 200 dollars extra?

For the sake of clarity, I think we should have a poll with the concerns expressed in this thread so we can have a list of issues in order of importance. We can then use this as a template to appeal to Korg - if enough people send in a unified complaint, I think our chances of getting an OS update is better.

Thanks for being here,
Mars
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[shabby]

the MS is def. more than a toy..so i must disagree on your view.. we all expect a total solution within one machine and for the max. 350 €.. this is so now, and quite spoiled (i am also talking bout myself here).. so lets try to leave the track of making this the perfect all in one solution..

Almost all companies have lost their strenght in updates and os improvements in favour of a new product.. at mofo namm or whatever.....

some minor fixes / implementations will make the machine for me a great tool (it is already my main machine in my live / compsing set). i think after working with the ms for some months, the following will be possible within the design and delevering the goods as they (korg) promised in their marketing campaing..

0. FIRST OF ALL WE NEED A EMAIL ADRESS TO SEND OUR SUGGESTIONS AND COMPLAINTS TO.. WHO HAS IT!!!

A. ESSENTIALS

1. auto loop function

(now i still use my KP3 for this). i think the major drawback for using it as a live looping tool. it is impossible to make a beat and sample the beat and have it loop directly afer the sample process.. the KP3 proofs it is within the machines frame (i think MS AND KP3 share large part of the same main frame)

2. proper midi implementation.. or RELEASE A PROPER MIDI MANUAL of the current implementation

the manual talks a bout sysex and nrpn's but is very bad written on how it is supposed to be programmed.. the way it is organised on the MS itself is nice if u are assembling material and making some sketch, but for real compising and live creation it needs porper midi control..

making the ms a real loop live sound mangle tool needs the midi.. i manage by midi caputuring the sysex from the MS to have some stuf on my controller thru sysex.. real manipulating decay and release, reverse and loop plus tune and semitone make a sample a source more material variation

midi controlling Level. makes it possible to slowly fade in the sperate samples for sound scoring or soundcapes.. whatever.. u do..

3. Volume settings for metronome
it makes your ear bleed

4. headphones only playback of metronome
a must for live the audience not having to hear ur click.

B. Some less urgent but nice tingies:

5. the rom bank be a ram bank, we do not need those lame sounds!!
at least give us some rom packs to choose from..

before anyone starts adding.. stuff like wings.. multitimbral sampling... remember to ask yourself the question:

IS IT IN THE MECHANICAL / ELECTRONICAL MAINFRAME OF THE MS

peace!!!

[lloydsmith]

Mars - I posted a satisfaction poll a few threads ago.

It would be nice to have some kind of official response to the main criticisms from KORG - but maybe they have no answers that they think we would want to hear at this point.

[MarsHottentot]

lloyd,
My idea for a poll is of what we'd most like to see in a Firmware update, rather than customer satisfaction. So, it's a different poll, I think.

Shabby,
I think too many folks here expected something a bit more sophisticated, possibly due to the outlandish launch price. I still think the current price is the main reason folks are losing their minds over the list of limitations. It has less functionality than an ES1 had at the same price and that's 10 years old already.

It's not going to be the center of most samplist's rigs, it's going to be a peripheral tool with a specific function - and auto looping ain't it.

I'm having few issues with what I've read - I'm an experimental artist, so beat syncing and what not is not as important to me as it would be to a dance artist as I'm probably using it in a more textural manner. I still wouldn't make the Microsampler my main board, but it will certainly have a useful place in my set up. As I said, I'm not counting on a firmware update.

Also, when I say 'toy' I mean I'm keeping my expectations reasonable - it's not my Emax II.
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[lloydsmith]

Ah - my bad.

[jbl]

i agree with shabby on most points. for instance, straight record and loop would be nice and a better explanation of midi ( though trial and error has its place too). the metrenome has a workaround but takes a few steps. personally my biggest disappointment came from hearing keyboard mode which is actually where i expected it to shine.

i do hope it gets updates and i really hope the software gets updated but...

let's set some things straight.
*It wasn't rushed for Christmas. I bought mine in Japan months ago.
*msrp is always higher than actual price. anyway, the price is actually quite reasonable given it's functionality.
*there would be nothing wrong with this as your main gear (people are spoiled and when they have so much they often lose sight of creative process, but that's a different topic).
*finally, if you A~B this with the mpc500, it loses the battle in functionality and memory capacity but wins in os stability, effects and ease of use (arguably, of course), with the sp-404~ the ms-1 has more functions, sp-555 is pretty close in many ways but not portable.

[jtag]

If we start to compare prices and capabilities ... my iPod 2G applications make better timestretch n pitch, i can choose if want to use my samples mono or poly, i can even record n export WAVs 24 bit, same for reg midi files and i could go on ... a few dollars applications and an mp3 player and i have a more complete workstation of this not sophisticated peripheral TOY ...
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[jbl]

i concur. the ipod touch is very versatile. however go tell mpc or sp users they don't need hardware anymore.

all i'm saying is this is a great piece and if we actually compare apples to apples then it's worth the price and then some. now if we're comparing to computers plus software (which is what ipod touch is really) then yeah the ms-1 has a long way to go.

in any case, maybe we (myself included) should get back on topic.

I want autoloop, record and loop start automatically (plus the ability to start/record with a midi pedal{maybe this can be done already???}). if this were a true looper, many naysayers would be wowed i think.

korg, are you listening? autoloop in os update.