KingKorg is legit!!!!

[Oldretro]

I think it looks like a neat keyboard. I definitely want to play one for sure, but im still on the fence about buying one. From the sound examples i like what i hear, and like always i take early criticisms and comparisons with a grain of salt

You are right, there is nothing better than hands on experience. In the mean time I have had look at the Parameter Manual, and listening to some more demo's on YouTube, and I must admit it seems to be capable of a bit more than I first expected. And after listening to some sounds I got the impression that it can sound quite lush and creamy. Could that be the tube? One thing worries me though, what to do when the tube is worn out. Any guesses if there will be a affordable replacements when that happens (how long would it last anyway)? Will it render the instrument silent if the tube is broken, or can it be by passed?

If I recall the Electribe forum has quite a bit to say on new tubes.(some of those guys replace their tubes out of the box) Although the process for changing the tubes on the KK will be more complex then the Electribes top panel having a section for the tubes. Worst case scenario you can send the board in for repairs, surely Korg will service the instrument for years to come, and when they stop the service manual should be available.(If this is still a board of choice for you)

The Kingkorg (still can't get used to the name ) has hit the local stores, I'll going to try one today. Let's see if it is something for me. Another candidate will be a MS-20 mini, but that has to wait until they are in the stores. Anyway, if I'm impressed I'll buy the King
BTW, it might be a good idea to put the KingKorg in the "family tree" of the Korg Forum (Moderators, if you please?).

[michelkeijzers]

BTW, it might be a good idea to put the KingKorg in the "family tree" of the Korg Forum (Moderators, if you please?).

It will probably be done when there will be threads started for that synth.
It's quite different from other synths/workstations so I guess a separate thread tree will be usefull.

[Bald Eagle]

I had the opportunity to play the King Korg today for about 15 minutes. I'll start by saying that up until now I did not like anythig about it.

But now after seeing it it does look better in person than in the pictures so that was the first plus. The keybed has a decent feel although as we all know there's no aftertouch.

More importantly it sounded pretty good. I mostly played with the presets and for the most part they were all very nice. I tweaked some of of sounds a little but didn't go very deep. You can really get some kick ass sound out of this thing and the tube really can deliver quite a punch.

I am not thrilled about the control surface layout. The osc, filter, amp, lfo and eg should all have been on the left although not as bad as I had expected. At least not when playing a high lead.

It was enough fun to make me want to at least try it again but I don't know if I will get one. With the MS20, Sub Phatty and Prophet 12 right around the corner I will likely go with one of those instead unless GAS gets the best of me and I get them all.

[von haulshoven]

bought a king korg.
good VA.

here a track with it, the whole ring modulator intro is from the kingkorch,
http://soundcloud.com/vonhaulshoven/f-k

[Sharp]

Sounds almost like a Waterphone.

Very nice.

Regards
Sharp.

[jimknopf]

Not sure, if it is in the making, Sharp, so the question:
will there be a KingKorg forum soon?

In Germany we have the first owners meanwhile. After my first extensive test last week it may well be that I might join them.

[ozdaniel(AD)]

enjoy... http://youtu.be/3ZRJhEFCMuA

[djcactus]

cool vid, just picked one up a couple days ago. Really enjoying the board, surprisingly easy to navigate.

[javaj]

finally played one today.
I really wanted to like it. It doesn't look bad and a little better in person.
For the price, they should have after touch.
I think Japan/Italy got a little arrogant in naming it. I expected greatness and didn't hear it. I think they need a better sound pack for it as the presets didn't do it justice. Maybe Messe will bring an update but as it stands, sort of a letdown.

[jimknopf]

I play it since two weeks now and definitely think it sounds great.
It's the most fun I have had with any synth since Moog was back.

I agree on two critical things:
- it definitely needs more factory synth presets (and certainly not in the "keys" section), like Arturias synth heroes or Clavias 80s synth classics I and II (these are samples, but that's the kind of sounds which more factory presets should cover), along with more modern electronica presets. The present factory preset base of much less than 200 (the others are wasted for more or less irrelevant additional sample sounds) is just ok for starting, not more, and definitely has to be updated by Korg to look good besides the richness of preset choices from other companies (Access, Moog, Arturia Origin etc.).

- omission of aftertouch is bad and stays bad

- and I add the third, which is an abolute no go, and got well earned critisism in an otherways very positive German review: it is a joke not to be able to save the valve/boost settings with presets - they vary a lot between presets, and it is completely unacceptable to have to adjust them manually by memory, nearly each time you switch to another preset. This just has to be fixed as soon as possible (I really hope it is possible by OS update!).

Despite these shortcomings the KK sounds really great, juicy, vivid, analog-like, from bottom to high range, and is a real fun board to me.

[xmlguy]

I just downloaded and tried the King Korg software editor. What a huge disappointment! Unlike every other editor for Korg synths, it doesn't show any programming details of the patches if you don't have the synth attached, apparently. All the other editors for the Radias, R3, and MicroKorg XL let you see all the details of programs without having the synth attached. This is a vital feature to me that I use all the time to look at patches to convert them between different synths and to try to help others on this forum. I often don't need the synth hardware to answer many questions that people have about particular patches, since I've been programming synths for decades and I usually know how a patch basically works and will sound if I can see these details. This lets me help novices who don't know how to program their synth, without me having to own that synth. I've helped many people here using this technique. I also use the editor to review and edit programs for the synths that I do own, but that I don't have currently connected, such as at other locations. I've even used the editors to create and modify patches while I've been travelling, without the synth itself, to make use of free time. Even though I can't hear the patch without the synth attached, I can usually get a program about 95% done without hearing it, then just fine tune it when I do get attached.

All the editor shows is the oscillator name with no parameters at all. It shows the effect names, but also no parameters. I also notice that there are no drag and drop options. The software doesn't look even remotely similar to the prior editors, while the prior editors shared a very similar design to each other. It's really irritating that Korg has completely thrown out a good design and started from scratch, losing these important features in the process.

[antitolg]

xmlguy, if you only read the title of the software you downloaded and installed: it reads "librarian" not "editor". looks like the editor is yet to materialize.

@jimknopf: was expecting some sound demos from you since you had it for sometime now but maybe you're holding back for a dedicated KK thread?
(curious about the acoustic pianos really: are they all toy pianos like featured in a few videos or any usable ones?)

[jimknopf]

From my view the acoustic pianos are toy stuff, not seriously useable.

Not holding back anything, I just don't see why you don't get by with the meanwhile various youtube examples - and perhaps test one at your local dealer. I'm glad I get my music going in the limited time I have for it.

[Kevin Nolan]

Do polls have a biult in delay on this forum or do they not work for some reason (TTL)? I cast a vote but it did not register.

[javaj]

Originally posted from my iPad so my quick review was short.
I think aftertouch would have made this more easy to swallow for the price. Also, that tube is great- but a horrible implentation. Even my SV-1 saves the tube settings with each preset. Imagine you are playing live and turn on the tube and boost, going crazy on some fat and crunch lead stuff, then you need to switch to a smooth and soft pad for a portion of the song. Not happening on KK, unless you quickly change patches AND turn off the tube (better remember to do that versus just getting lost in playing nirvana). That to me gives it a fail for a live instrument. How could they separate that from the presets is beyond explaination. They should have just taken the tube off completely, and offered a Volca (hahah) tube option that you can add to the keyboard (or any synth for that matter).

To me, not sure the sounds are worth the 1299 CDN. I am sure others can see past the presets and enjoy the programming and signal path (if it is all that it claims to be). 24 voice is nothing to sneeze at if this is to be compared to other VA's I guess.

Suggest anyone on the fence to NOT just order one online but definately do your homework. I think many would be dissapointed, but some might be overjoyed. I am not overjoyed