Korg Forums

Hi

I have some questions about the microkorg XL (and since it is based on Radias I'm assuming it is best to post here). Firstly, I'll explain a little about why I'm looking at the microkorg XL:

Basically, if I do purchase this synth I'm looking to use it for creating some nice analog/vintage type of sounds that come (close). I can certainly hear die hard analog fans saying "if you want analog then buy analog" - however, for a number of reasons I'm a bit reluctant to buy an old synth 'just because it's analog'. Most analog synths are way over priced and unreliable, probably worth it for a collector though (which I am not). I think VA's stand nicely on their own.

Obviously VA's can sound watered down (down to opinion?). However, I liked the sound and warmth of the MS 2000 - albeit 4 notes of polyphony.

My questions are:

Does the microkorg XL come close to producing the similar kind of warmth/roundness/analog feel found in the MS 2000 engine?

I have heard some people say the XL/Radias is a little too precise, but again with decent programming can it be warmed/roughened up?

Is it worth the extra from the original microkorg?

The analog tune function on the XL appears to capture my attention the most which is not available on the original microkorg. Does it sound convincing when applied to patches?

Finally, I was going to buy the MS2000, but I can't find any locally. Also the portability of the XL is very appealing, but can it live up to the MS 2000 at 'recreating' a nice analog sound overall?

Your choices should be between the R3 or Radias, not the MKXL or MS2K. You can safely ignore the people who called the Radias engine a "little too precise". Actually, please invite them to post their comments directly here so that we can show you how much they do/don't know about them to make such an absurd comment. One difficult thing about comments is that you really have no good way to judge the knowledge and experience of the people giving their opinion. It's too easy to give someone who has spent 10 minutes playing the presets on a synth in a store equal weight with someone else who has spent hundreds or thousands of hours using and programming that synth, and even more hours with synths in general.

If this is your first synth, let me assure you that the least of your problems will be the capability of the R3 or Radias to produce the sounds you probably want. A bigger challenge is learning enough about synthesis and programming them to get what you want, because that take a lot of time and effort, regardless of the synth you buy.

If you can afford the Radias, buy it. If you can't afford it, the R3 is the next best choice and is the closet in power to the Radias, at a value price. The MKXL is a big step down in power from the R3, but not a big step down in price. Most people who look at the MKXL apparently haven't compared it to the R3, because few people would continue to look at it if the knew the difference.

well, microXl is a good choice over old microkorg, the keybed has been really enhanced and also sound engine and sound design possiblities are much more.

nevertless, if you look for a good vintage emulation, i would suggest you to have a look to Alesis Micron or Alesis Ion and to Use|Audio Plugiator.

Also you can buy new analog synth at affordable price (though they are monophonic) such as DSI mopho, DSI evolver of MFB synths.

Hi

Thanks for the reply! I might just add though that unfortunately I am limited by price which is a big pain in the ***

One thing I love the look of on the MS2000 is how 'to the surface' and accessible everything is! I don't want to sound ignorent but I'm guessing that I can't afford the R3 which is about 100 or so above my pricerange unfortunately!

The MKXL is within my pricerange, however. Unless I can source a second hand MS2000b. Perhaps it would be better if I searched for a used MS2K

Vintagedude wrote: Does the microkorg XL come close to producing the similar kind of warmth/roundness/analog feel found in the MS 2000 engine?

I have heard some people say the XL/Radias is a little too precise, but again with decent programming can it be warmed/roughened up?

Is it worth the extra from the original microkorg?

Absolutely! I use a Radias and the MMT can definately produce some great analogue-sounding results, but it does take more programming. The beauty of it is that it isn't limited to analogue sounds either, because it can go other places too. Whereas the MS2K/MK engine sounds more analogue all the time.

From that perspective, I think the MS2k and MK are more of an instant gratification machine specifically for analogue sounds, whereas the MMT engine in MKXL/R3/Radias is more a sound design tool, where it can go many places, including analogue. the overall programming structure is much better than the MS2k with the addition of two more virtual patch slots, the improved polyphony (layered mode was virtually useless for pads in the MS2k), and effects system routing is much more powerful (being able to choose effects instead of being limited to delay and a modulation effect). There are a few other improvements too that are less obvious.

I would seriously suggest looking at the R3 though, it has a much better selection of effects. if you can get one second hand I imagine it wouldn't be much more than an MKXL is brand new, and you'll get that extra bit of power.