Korg Forums

[wasteisland]

Hi there. I am a guitarist but have recently taken a deep interest in electronic music. For a few months now I have been trying to achieve electronic like tones on my guitar however I realize if I ever wish to really play that style I will most likely need to switch over to a synth.

I'm a fan of Korgs but don't really know where to start. Could you guys help me out? From someone who knows nothing here, at first glance overviewing all the products the X50 catches my eye. Here is what I really need out of a synth:

**I will use it for live performance over anything! so what I would like is:

Many octaves (keys), at least the seemingly standard 61 keys.

Ability to program lots of user patches (and split patches, for example dubstep bass on the low end and xylophone leads further up in the same patch)

Ability to use a vocoder hooked up to a microphone.

Ability to build my own tones/download other use tones (if possible?)

Those are my primary concerns. I apologize if what I have tried to explain is unclear, I am not familiar with the terms used in these sort of product specifications. I have difficulty navigating the products and understanding all the specs, which is why I come seeking your aid. I figured I would ask the people who know best what would be right for me. The reason the X50 catches my attention is because it seems like the most practical for playing within my price range. Not important, but I also dig the look of it.

Thanks for your time, all comments/constructive critisism is appreciated.

EDIT: Oh and the ability to upload samples I have recorded to the keyboard and set them in a patch would be a HUGE asset to me.. I'm starting to think I will need to go up in price range here :/

[X-Trade]

Most synthesizers allow you to program and edit and share your own sounds. That is the point of synthesis - to synthesize.

If you want 61 keys then a workstation would be typical. Or possibly a workstation spinoff like the microX or X50 which have the Triton sound engine but no sequencer.

Or the newer microstation might be more to your needs, but I think you have to use a software editor to get to many of the parameters, you can't edit directly on the board.


Now this is where you have two distinct choices. You can go for a workstation - typically based upon samples (recordings) of real instruments. You often get synth waveforms too, but the point of the workstation is that it does fairly well as a wide variety of sounds.

Then you have the synthesizer. These sometimes have sampled waves and whatnot, but often no sequencer (not one based upon building whole songs anyway). But typically synthesizers are about producing more traditionally electronic, out of this world, unreal sounds. Some are fairly good at organs and electric pianos and such too, as these are also electric instruments. But the emphasis here is on generating sounds in realtime rather than playing back recordings of them.

In reality the border between the two tends to be a bit blurred, as already mentioned. For example the Radias is Korg's most recent flagship 'pure' synthesizer, but it does have some preset EP, organ, choir, strings, etc samples which you can use as the basis of your songs (they don't always end up sounding anything like the original string or choir sample, you can completely warp them beyond recognition).
_________________
Current Gear: Kronos 61, RADIAS-R, Volca Bass, ESX-1, microKorg, MS2000B, R3, Kaossilator Pro +, MiniKP, AX3000B, nanoKontrol, nanoPad MK II,
Other Mfgrs: Moog Sub37, Roland Boutique JX03, Novation MiniNova, Akai APC40, MOTU MIDI TimePiece 2, ART Pro VLA, Focusrite Saffire Pro 40.
Past Gear: Korg Karma, TR61, Poly800, EA-1, ER-1, ES-1, Kawai K1, Novation ReMote37SL, Boss GT-6B
Software: NI Komplete 10 Ultimate, Arturia V Collection, Ableton Live 9. Apple OSX El Capitan on 15" MacBook Pro

[wasteisland]

I'm not a fan of arpegiators or sequencing really.. Would be for straight forward performance colaborated with other musicians to take care of the other tracks.. I guess what I am looking for would be whichever would have more tones to work with, because I would definitely use patches such as piano, strings, wind instruments etc.. but I absolutely NEED those unreal electronic sounds.

I suppose what I am trying to ask is which is most similar to what a guitar multi-effects pedal would do for a guitar?

and what about the vocoder?

I have read that the X50 feels pretty cheap which is unfortunately because I am used to gigging and abusing my gear, however with a stationary instrument it kind of changes the game a bit

PS. Checking out micro stations now

[X-Trade]

Well the sequencer is more about producing your own entire songs in the box (e.g. as alternative to a computer DAW system or etc), rather than 'cheating'. Particularly if you're into electronic music, arpeggiators can be fun to make tightly timed basslines or such. Similarly the sequencer can be handy if you want to make a 'backing track' and play guitar alongside your track for example.

Anyway, as I said, a workstation is designed to provide a wide range of sounds. Specifically if you want good strings or piano sounds then you'll need a sample based instruments - which is almost all workstations. It may have a sequencer, drum tracks, and arpeggiators but you don't have to use them. They'll have very good synth sounds too.

The next problem though is that the best vocoders will be found in the aforementioned more 'pure' synthesizers like the Radias, R3, MicroKorg. These don't have the pianos and strings and guitars and such but have synthetic sounds and vocoders.

Korg's workstations do often have vocoders, but you'll need to make sure it is a workstation which features audio inputs - so NOT the M50, X50, or microX, or Triton LE or TR.
A Triton Studio/Classic/Extreme, M3, OASYS, etc would be a good example.

Personally I get the impression you'd have more fun with a real synthesizer like the RADAIS or R3, but you would have to sacrifice those realistic piano and other acoustic sounds. Specifically if you're into endless possibilities through tweaking.

Workstation synthesizers tend to be less fun to program because most of it is done through the screen with the data entry wheel. Whilst the Radias and R3 do feature this, there are knobs for the most common parameters.
_________________
Current Gear: Kronos 61, RADIAS-R, Volca Bass, ESX-1, microKorg, MS2000B, R3, Kaossilator Pro +, MiniKP, AX3000B, nanoKontrol, nanoPad MK II,
Other Mfgrs: Moog Sub37, Roland Boutique JX03, Novation MiniNova, Akai APC40, MOTU MIDI TimePiece 2, ART Pro VLA, Focusrite Saffire Pro 40.
Past Gear: Korg Karma, TR61, Poly800, EA-1, ER-1, ES-1, Kawai K1, Novation ReMote37SL, Boss GT-6B
Software: NI Komplete 10 Ultimate, Arturia V Collection, Ableton Live 9. Apple OSX El Capitan on 15" MacBook Pro

[wasteisland]

Well thank you for your input.. Looks like I may have to split my want of instruments and synthetic sounds into two and get one synth and one workstation..

:/

[korglifeguy]

[X-Trade]

[wasteisland]

I was thinking of an X50, R3, Kaoss Pad (or something similar set up)

Heres the thing though, I was talking with a friend of mine and he can get me a large discount on new Korgs.. pretty much cost me about the same or less than a used one.

So ideally the best choice would be an X50 or M50 since Tritons arent produced anymore... Between these two I figure the M50 is probably the best choice, but I honestly find the thing hideous an it begins to go out of my price range.. Honestly the only BIG turn off from the X50 for me is the rumoured cheap keybed feeling.. since that directly affects playing forever.

I also posted on the X50 forum asking about some details like to what extent you can tweak patches, and can you save them under new titles of your choice etc.. random stuff like that but no replies yet. I've watched just about every youtube video on the thing and they are all covers or a brief review.

):

Also drooling over the Kronos like everyone else, however wont consider it until I've played for many years and would use the thing properly, haha.

[X-Trade]

[wasteisland]

I have narrowed it down to the X50 or PS60. The keybed and build quality is the breaking factor of the X50, because it seems more capable than the PS60. I dont want to invest in something where the hardware will die in a year.

Sorry for the roller coaster or factors, just honestly not sure what to invest in for what I need.. honestly I'm not even completely sure what features I would utilise in the future.

Thanks for all the replies thus far!

[cello]

With either the PS60 or X50 there is a good flow of supply in eBay these days. I think that de-risks your decision a bit.

Buy the X50 first (I think that might be closer to what you're looking for). If that doesn't work for you, then offload it on eBay and buy a PS60.

Or even better - if finances allow - buy both. Then sell the one that doesn't win your selection contest!
_________________
Plugged in: Fantom 8, Jupiter-X, Jupiter 80, System-8, JD-XA, V-Synth GTv2, FA-06, SE-02, JU-06A, TR-09, VT-4, Go:Livecast, Rubix44, Shure SM7b, Push2, Ableton 11 Suite, Sibelius, KRK Rokit 5,

[wasteisland]