Microkorg or Microkorg xl?

[Powelly]

Hi
I am a complete beginner when it comes to synths, and i heard that the microkorg range was the way to go.

But im not sure which one to go with. So some help is needed

Also feel free to suggest other synths, but i have a 500-600$ price range, new or used.

So, help a new guy out

[xmlguy]

The Radias Rack is now $699 new, and if you wait for a 15-20% sale at Guitar Center, you'll get a much more powerful synth for under $600. You can use the Guitar Center prices as a competitive match at Sam Ash, if you prefer. Then all you need is a midi controller for keys, and those are cheap and regularly on sale.

[Powelly]

Alright
Soory, i actually made a typo on my first post
my price range is actually 400-500$
so, thats a bit out of my range, and i was really looking for a inbuilt keyboard
and the radias looks too complex for a beginner :/
and i live in australia, so eother online stores or universal prices

[xmlguy]

I suggest you buy an iPod Touch 8GB, if you don't already have an iPod, iPhone, or iPad, and then buy SynthStation 25 keyboard, when it ships. Until the Synthstation ships, you can buy the SynthStation app from iTunes as well as a large number of music applications. This will give you a wider range of apps for exploration and learning, plus the iPod is generally useful for email, skype, browsing, listening to music and videos...the list is endless.

Considering that the iPod is multipurpose, the cost of the keyboard and synth software is only $99, leaving room to buy another used synth, whatever you can find locally, like a Alesis Micron, MicroKorg, Novation Xiosynth 25/49 or X-Station 25. The X-Station is my favorite of these because it has a 2 input & 2 output USB Audio interface, which saves the cost of having to buy that separately to record the synth audio on a computer. The X-Station is also a great midi controller for softsynths running on a computer.

[Powelly]

maybe i should rephrase my question
i want to buy a keyboard synth, not a app or a midi controller
i and willing to pay 400-500$
i was looking at the microkorg range.
which one is better?
or can you suggest a better one, not necessarily the same brand.

[tpantano]

i want to buy a keyboard synth, not a app or a midi controller

well thats dumb, a keystation with an ipod is pro, and a keyboard.

people should start taking ipods and DS more seriously.

anyways, the radias rack is worth the extra $200. its worth way more than $200. however, if your all "OMGINEED A SYNTH NOWWWW!!!!!" like I am, the R3 is your best bet.

[xmlguy]

Click Here

[Powelly]

i want to buy a keyboard synth, not a app or a midi controller

well thats dumb, a keystation with an ipod is pro, and a keyboard.

people should start taking ipods and DS more seriously.

anyways, the radias rack is worth the extra $200. its worth way more than $200. however, if your all "OMGINEED A SYNTH NOWWWW!!!!!" like I am, the R3 is your best bet.

ah, thankyou for the reply.
i was looking at the r3, but whats makes it so much better than the microkorg xl?
they're both built on the same engine arent they?

[alec118]

Click Here

Hahaha, that site could be useful some day...

And the R3 is a great beginner synth, with a ton of features, a great sound engine derived from the Radias...and a keyboard.

[X-Trade]

i want to buy a keyboard synth, not a app or a midi controller

well thats dumb, a keystation with an ipod is pro, and a keyboard.

people should start taking ipods and DS more seriously.

anyways, the radias rack is worth the extra $200. its worth way more than $200. however, if your all "OMGINEED A SYNTH NOWWWW!!!!!" like I am, the R3 is your best bet.

ah, thankyou for the reply.
i was looking at the r3, but whats makes it so much better than the microkorg xl?
they're both built on the same engine arent they?

The main thing about the R3 is just that you get a lot more for your money. It is only a bit pricier but for that you get:
-full suite of effects to select from (MKXL only has a small selection of effects)
-two IFX plus 1 EQ per timbre (with two timbres) plus Master FX (the MKXL just has two MFX and master EQ I think)
-modulation sequencing
-a more complete interface with more hands on control (still not as good as the Radias though with dedicated knobs for a selection of the most important parameters)
- more professional, full sized keys

I think there is probably more that I haven't covered as I don't own either.

[Powelly]

hrmm
well the r3 sounds pretty good.
but its not battery powered, is that much of a problem?
and is it really that easy to use, it looks pretty difficult to me.
and does it hook easily up to software, because i want to make music

[X-Trade]

The connectivity is the same as the XL and the Radias and most other KORG products at this point - it can connect via USB for a Virtual MIDI port for sequencing, but you don't get audio over USB, it has to be connected to an audio interface just like you would for anything else to actually record the sound coming from it.

the USB/MIDI can also be used with the included software editor to edit the patches, but editing on the R3 itself would be much easier than on the MKXL because of the more flexible user interface, with assignable soft-labeled knobs and a better screen, more knobs and controls.

The microKorg XL is mainly a marketing fad - it plays on the popularity of the original microKorg.
There is more information on the subject in these posts:
http://www.korgforums.com/forum/phpBB2/ ... hp?t=53092
http://www.korgforums.com/forum/phpBB2/ ... hp?t=52393
http://www.korgforums.com/forum/phpBB2/ ... hp?t=47452

Not to say that it is bad, but the R3 is a lot better and represents a better buy at better value for money, usually. You may think 'its only effects' (mostly), but the effects do make up a large part of the Korg sound.
But as an example, I believe (haven't checked right this minute) the XL has no reverb effects, only delays. and its MFX slots are applied over both timbres (layered sounds) instead of the IFX in the R3 which are independent to each 'layer/sound'/timbre. So really it has more than twice the effects power alone.
modulation sequencing is fairly powerful too - it allows you to program changes to a parameter over time, like a custom LFO. it can be used to create rhythms or slow motions to pads.

battery power is cool but when I had a microKorg I only used it on batteries about twice in three/four years. If you really need battery power I guess that is one thing that it does have going for it.
And if you are serious about playing keys, the full size keys on the R3 are a lot more professional and will help you to develop playing technique.

[Powelly]

good answer!
so for using programs like, acid pro and fruityloops to make tracks, the r3 is easy to hook up?
how would you connect the r3 to a computer or something.
do i need additional equipment?

[xmlguy]

good answer!
so for using programs like, acid pro and fruityloops to make tracks, the r3 is easy to hook up?
how would you connect the r3 to a computer or something.
do i need additional equipment?

You should buy an Audio I/O interface like the $199 M-Audio Fast Track Pro. The X-Station that I mentioned has one built-in, so to do a fair comparison you need to adjust for that cost. For example, I got my X-Station 25 for $375, but the audio interface was worth about $200, so the real net cost of the synth is about $175, and it also acts as a superb midi controller. The R3 is a better and more powerful synth, but it's significantly more expensive when you add in the USB I/O interface. The X-Station is a better value, while the R3 is a better synth. The X-Station runs on batteries and recharges them too.

[tpantano]

good answer!
so for using programs like, acid pro and fruityloops to make tracks, the r3 is easy to hook up?
how would you connect the r3 to a computer or something.
do i need additional equipment?

when will people learn google knows everything?

anyways,
http://www.korgforums.com/forum/phpBB2/ ... hp?t=50987