Korg Forums

r0mulus · Joined: 12 Nov 2013 Posts: 12

Hi all,
I am very much new here. Glad to meet you all! I am very surprised that Korg doesn't run their own forum, but, being that that is the case, I was hoping to get some feedback from the community on any features that are lacking from the KingKorg, ideally ones that could be fixed in a future version of the OS.

Here are my issues, along with a suggestion of how to implement them in the next version of the OS/firmware.

1) Tube and tube level are both global settings.

These options need to be moved from the Global settings to the Patch settings so that each patch can have recallable tube/tube level controls. This is actually a serious problem when you are trying to make both the best possible sounds and playing live. Who has time to remember tube levels/on/off state for all of their patches in the heat of the moment? Ain't nobody got time for that!

2) Timbres cannot be assigned to independent midi channels. Either side of the keyboard split cannot be assigned to independent midi channels. CV out cannot be assigned to either side of the keyboard split either.

This could be easily fixed in the OS. Simply add the option. Obviously, the KK is already splitting the keyboard input and assigning it to different voices internally. Why this isn't reflected as options in the UI is strange to say the least. It really bothers me that I bought a monotribe expecting to use it as a mono bass synth and couldn't assign the lower (or upper!) split to play it.

3) Expression Pedal input doesn't work or is incorrectly labeled.

The pedal control parameter "Expression Pedal" has a selectable value in the Global settings, but it seems to be useless as there is no mod source labeled "Expression Pedal" to assign in any of the mod routings. I have resorted to assigning the "Y+" to the expression pedal, and remaking my patches to reflect this functionality. In an ideal world, Exp pedal would be an entirely separate modulation source from "Y+" so that you could potentially do both things, which would be helpful in the case of modifying the pitch/drive/filter of a synth whilst using the expression pedal to modulate the amount of reverb or FX of your choice. Why this isn't implemented properly is a complete mystery. This extremely important topic (expression pedal) is very poorly covered in the manual.

These are my major three pain points right now. Please add any more if you can. Would be interesting to see what people think could be improved about this product.

As a final disclaimer, I am really happy with my King Korg. I bought it sort of as a replacement for my Alesis Ion, which had a shortage of polyphony. I find the midi implementation on the Ion to be vastly superior to the King Korg though, which is disappointing as there is really no technical reason other than disregard or laziness why more midi flexibility shouldn't be included standard. We are in 2013, after all...

Looking forward to your responses. Cheers!

SanderXpander · Platinum Member Joined: 29 Jul 2011 Posts: 7860

I don't know if the KingKorg is like other Korg synths but there, you actually use CC#04 for specific foot pedal control. That should be available as AMS source. CC#11 "expression" is a hard coded midi spec control change that usually controls volume.

Scott · Platinum Member Joined: 16 Oct 2009 Posts: 1015

djcactus · Senior Member Joined: 03 Dec 2011 Posts: 375

also each timbre can be assigned to a midi channel individually.
_________________
2xds-10, ds10+, m01

RikMaxSpeed · Joined: 19 May 2008 Posts: 17 Location: London, UK

I'd like a very simple little change: independent arpeggiators for Layers A & B. It's really helpful for creating rhythmic / animated sounds.

r0mulus · Joined: 12 Nov 2013 Posts: 12

r0mulus · Joined: 12 Nov 2013 Posts: 12

r0mulus · Joined: 12 Nov 2013 Posts: 12

djcactus · Senior Member Joined: 03 Dec 2011 Posts: 375

it can remember tube on/off globally when you boot it up, couldn't be much more for a per patch bases, though, i just keep mine on.
_________________
2xds-10, ds10+, m01

Jauly · Joined: 26 Nov 2013 Posts: 4

I've been experimenting with my brand-new king korg for some days now. I compared it to many analog synths and got some ideas that would, if implemented, help the synth and push it into new territories.

1. Smoother sounding analog synth oscillator waveforms with less aliasing.

Aliasing is occurring with polyphonic sounds at upper octaves. Especially the polyphonic multi oscillator sounds are a bit "flangish", tend to get stuck in kind of beating with each other. It's more significant the longer the release of the amp envelope is and it really starts to crinkle up if you turn cutoff under 30 and resonance over 50. Some of the smoothest and fattest VA waveforms had been in my Korg Prophecy, I even think the MS2000 oscillators were a little nicer. So this shouldn't be a problem to do?

2. Stronger VCA gripping envelopes.

I feel the amp envelope is a bit sluggish there as well because it gives no real "VCA" punch itself to the sound. Maybe it would help if the amp envelope could be set to exponential, logarithmic or linear behavior? I don't know exactly, because the punch parameter instead gives a too drastic "hi eq" effect (sounds like a pluck and not like a bassy punch), and so it does not fit smooth to the (rest of the) amp envelope. A kind of "volume flanging" is noticeable when I use the arpeggiator to trigger polyphonic arpeggios. It seems like the envelopes loose a bit teeth there. Maybe it's because of the waveforms starting at different cyvles? Set to "mono1" produces a much nicer, rounder, more defined and raw "analog" sound.

3. filter gain parameter & analog tuning parameter for filter

Well, most of the king korg filters distort very easy at resonance levels set over 50 and cutoff frequencies under 30 in a very static way. When you set the filter and amp envelopes to proper sustain levels, the resonance then sounds like stuck in a loop, interfering the oscillator beatings (slightly detuned oscillators). The only filter that is really smooth and silky is the P5 Filter, but that's because it is in general half as loud as all other filters. That's no problem for me! Instead, most of the king korg filters are simply set too loud, and I can't change the level of them. 2 Solutions: First I would appreciate an "analog tune" parameter for the filter tuning as well (to let them swing "warmer"), and second, there has to be a gain or saturation/input level for the filter before the amp. You can turn down the single oscillators in the mixer before the filter, but that won't touch the filter distortion itself.

4. Trigger out MIDI Notes + OSC. IN with the ARP.

I wish the arpeggiator would trigger midi out notes as well, because I use waveforms of my analog synths over the mic in as an oscillator in the kingkorg. In combination with the modulated king korg filters and it's very good FX section it is a pleasure to use oscillators from real analogues. Problem there is, I can trigger the mic in with the keys, but not with the arp!

5. LFOs at audio rate don't modulate well.

The faster the LFO's are set, the quieter gets the effect on modulating the resonance or the cutoff. After entering the audio range (50hz to 100hz) the LFO gets very brittle and does not modulate smooth or realistic at all. It works a little better (bot not much) on the Oscillator FM, though. On analog synths, the effect of filter fm is very drastic, but on the king korg the LFOs fade out in a brabble.

But besides the my critic points, I really like the self oscillating of the moog and prophet filters. As the prophet filter sounds well, I guess the other fitlers are set far too loud and therefore they heavily distort. The resonance itself can be very interesting and vivid when modulated with a key synced random lfo waveform. I'm just not sure about the tube. Because for me, tube distortion makes the sound not warmer or richer. Most of times the synth sounds better to my ears without the tube. I also want to add that my perceptions are very subjective and formed over many years with all different kinds of analog and digital synths. Many people may not even spend a second thinking about the things I've stated above. All in all I like the king korg very well as a synth in it's own regard, but not in imitating vintage synths. The handling of the effect section is laid out very well, the key action is good and the filter sounds very good if it doesn't distort. So for me, the King Korg is just a few tweaks away from a VA masterpiece.

Jauly · Joined: 26 Nov 2013 Posts: 4

Addendum to the filter distortion problem:

The most overdriven filter of the king korg is the acid filter. I've got a 303, and the original 303 filter does in fact not distort on its own. Sure, some 90's acid lines are distorted, but only if wanted (through a distortion pedal or overdriven input gain on the mixer). Even in highest resonance settings, the original real 303 stays bright and liquid. If you add some resonance on 303 filter in the king korg, the filter suddenly bursts into static humming and the sound gets far too loud.

If you set all oscillator or amp levels to a minimum, the filter distortion does not change at all. I just don't get why you can change all those levels, but it has absolutely no effect on the sound behavior? On most other synths you have different effects of saturation if you change the oscillator levels before they enter the filter, or you can set the filter saturation on your own (e.g. access virus).

Well, If something is on the to do list for the king korg, then, please korg team, start there...

Scott · Platinum Member Joined: 16 Oct 2009 Posts: 1015

Oldretro · Junior Member Joined: 20 Apr 2012 Posts: 91

RonF · Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 7:25 pm Post subject:

Independent PAN per Osc...and/or at least a Pan Spread mode similar to DSI synths, which is ubiquitous to Oberheim style patches, considering the outrageously good OB Filter mode on the KK!
_________________
http://soundcloud.com/ronf-3/sets/ronf-music
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCr1zAKpV_F226LQZrUYGPQA
Favorite Gear: Kronos 61, M3, Z1, Radias, KPro, KP3, Moog Voyager, Foogers, Virus TI, Jupiter 80, Integra7, GAIA, SPD-30, Kiwi 106, RE-201, MC808, RC505, MV8800, DSI P6 and OB6 and P12, Ensoniq SQ80, EMU MP-7, Eventide H7600, Eclipse, SPACE, Pitchfactor, Timefactor, Looperlative LP-1, Axe FX Ultra, Nord Modular, DSI Tetra, Tempest, PEK, JDXA, Eurorack Modular, Octatrack, MDUW, Monomachine, A4, RYTM, Waldorf Q Phoenix, MWXTk, Blofeld, TR8.

Jauly · Joined: 26 Nov 2013 Posts: 4

One thing that I really would like to have fixed is the LFO speed bug. Whenever you set the LFO to fast or audio rates and you play some keys, the LFO speed suddenly and irregularly drops down to very low frequencies. You can't handle this in a musical way, it looks like the CPU can't process a high LFO speed and key strokes at once.

Is there any chance for an update at all?