OffsetGuitars.com

I need a little $400 synth/controller, but it's hard to get an idea of the character of each synth from demos. The MicroKorg is appealing, as the sounds seem a bit gritty and noisy - the Micron seems more HiFi/lush, but the examples/presets sound like the worst synth sounds from the 80s/90s - the XioSynth just seems like a LoFi version of the Micron.

Any opinions from actual users of these synths?

cant speak for the micron or xiosynth but the microkorg is really fun. im not very well versed in synths but for my ears it seems to be able to do a lot more than just gritty noisy. although gritty and noisy are my kind of thing.

I love my Micron.

Theres soooo much stuff on it....

The Micron kicks ass if you leave the presets behind. It's crazy how many good sounds are inside of it.

I have a Microkorg XL. Great sounds, great looks, shitty build quality. The Micron is a good choice. I see the Xio more as an excellent all-in-one device. It has some nice sounds, but it's mostly an interface/controller with a synth thrown in for the hell of it.

The Microkorg is capable of some great sounds, but is a complete pain in the ass to edit. The Micron has some great sounds out of the box, and I think it's a little simpler to edit.

lots of love for the micron - thanks, i'll try one out at the store. still a little tempted by the battery power of the microkorg (and the fact that overstock.com has the black key version), but i think it will come down to sound (so i really need to test these synths).

one question, can external signals get processed by the filters/efx/ring mod/vocoder in either synth?

just spent a day playing with my dave smith evolver - i realize it has enough to keep me happy for a long time - and probably more on target to my tastes than either a micron or microkorg.

so a new novation sl remote is on order to control the evolver with - my little m-audio controller was just not giving me enough live parameter access.

I'd definitely say the MicroKorg would achieve the most interesting sounds- or at least the most familiar to modern music.

I own the KORG and the ALESIS. The Alesis is more useful for creating sequences and beats, etc. However- I find the sounds on the KORG to be better, especially the organ sounds, strangely enough. Who'd have thought? I especially like to midi my 88-key controller to the KORG and use it as a sound source.

Im really torn between the korg and the Micron too. Can any of then mimic really warm analog synths?
like black moth super rainbow or Carbon based lifeforms?
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Thinking of replacing my midi keyboard, it does not get much use these days, thinking it might be easier to make the creative process flow if i can hook it up to my guitar amp via pedals etc.

I hardly ever use my Microkorg these days, it's just so cumbersome to program compared to my soft synths.

And I sold my Micron, now you mention it. Cool, but just not for me.

I recently got to try a MicroKorg XL, a new model they have. I think it's $500 but it's much improved. I was debating between that and the Korg R3 which is also great but I think the XL wins. The presets are fantastic, bigger keys than the MicroKorg...definitely give it a try.

rocklibrarian wrote:I recently got to try a MicroKorg XL, a new model they have. I think it's $500 but it's much improved. I was debating between that and the Korg R3 which is also great but I think the XL wins. The presets are fantastic, bigger keys than the MicroKorg...definitely give it a try.

I have an XL. It looks and sounds great, but the build quality is deplorable.