Would You Pay $277/£169 For The Korg Monotribe?

Korg Monotribe Pricing

Music gear retailer Hard To Find is now listing the Korg Monotribe at £169, or about $277.

If case you missed it, here are the specs for the Monotribe:

  • The powerful sound of true analog synthesis
  • 3-part analog drums, using discrete analog circuitry
  • Popular Electribe-style sequencing.
  • Active Step and Flux features for realtime dynamic loop manipulation
  • Advanced multi-function ribbon keyboard; Chromatic, Continuous, & Wide modes
  • Auto-tuning provides stable pitch for accurate chromatic playability
  • Selectable oscillator waveform, noise generator, and versatile LFO
  • Uses the same VCF (filter) circuit as the classic MS-10/MS-20
  • Sync In & Out jacks allows synchronized integration with multiple units
  • Battery operation, built-in speaker and compact size deliver on-the-go groove-making

We don’t know what other retailers are going to price this at – but what do you think of the Korg Monotribe at that price? 

Here’s a teaser video that shows the Monotribe in action:

We’ve previously featured the Korg Monotribe demos and specifications and the Monotribe was a reader favorite from Musikmesse 2011.

via waveformless

71 thoughts on “Would You Pay $277/£169 For The Korg Monotribe?”

  2. no….if they lost the drums and limited sequencer, added midi pitch control and maybe some more synth parameters then I'd be interested

  11. Time to start importing gear from the USA then, as that exchange-rate looks like it's heading in the $2 = £1 I remember from childhood. LIke when the Euro came in I think it was worth something like £.50…

  12. Another no here. for 2 reasons, the first should be obvious enough: I'm more into soft synths than hardware.

    But after checking the video and some googleing I think I'd still lean more towards the Dark Energy synth module before checking up on this one.. So this one:
    http://www.doepfer.de/Dark_Energy_e.htm

    Sure; its not fully comparable (no step sequencer for example) but when checking up on the produced sounds I think Dark Energy scores a bit better.

    Just my 2 illiterate cents 🙂

  13. Another no here. for 2 reasons, the first should be obvious enough: I'm more into soft synths than hardware.

    But after checking the video and some googleing I think I'd still lean more towards the Dark Energy synth module before checking up on this one.. So this one:
    http://www.doepfer.de/Dark_Energy_e.htm

    Sure; its not fully comparable (no step sequencer for example) but when checking up on the produced sounds I think Dark Energy scores a bit better.

    Just my 2 illiterate cents 🙂

  14. Another no here. for 2 reasons, the first should be obvious enough: I'm more into soft synths than hardware.

    But after checking the video and some googleing I think I'd still lean more towards the Dark Energy synth module before checking up on this one.. So this one:
    http://www.doepfer.de/Dark_Energy_e.htm

    Sure; its not fully comparable (no step sequencer for example) but when checking up on the produced sounds I think Dark Energy scores a bit better.

    Just my 2 illiterate cents 🙂

  15. Another no here. for 2 reasons, the first should be obvious enough: I'm more into soft synths than hardware.

    But after checking the video and some googleing I think I'd still lean more towards the Dark Energy synth module before checking up on this one.. So this one:
    http://www.doepfer.de/Dark_Energy_e.htm

    Sure; its not fully comparable (no step sequencer for example) but when checking up on the produced sounds I think Dark Energy scores a bit better.

    Just my 2 illiterate cents 🙂

  16. Another no here. for 2 reasons, the first should be obvious enough: I'm more into soft synths than hardware.

    But after checking the video and some googleing I think I'd still lean more towards the Dark Energy synth module before checking up on this one.. So this one:
    http://www.doepfer.de/Dark_Energy_e.htm

    Sure; its not fully comparable (no step sequencer for example) but when checking up on the produced sounds I think Dark Energy scores a bit better.

    Just my 2 illiterate cents 🙂

  17. Another no here. for 2 reasons, the first should be obvious enough: I'm more into soft synths than hardware.

    But after checking the video and some googleing I think I'd still lean more towards the Dark Energy synth module before checking up on this one.. So this one:
    http://www.doepfer.de/Dark_Energy_e.htm

    Sure; its not fully comparable (no step sequencer for example) but when checking up on the produced sounds I think Dark Energy scores a bit better.

    Just my 2 illiterate cents 🙂

  19. No, but I doubt that HTFR really knows the price. They've been listing the Wavedrum Mini for a while for a ridiculous amount. Currently $400+. Maybe they hope that someone will pre-order from them at that price. I expect that Korg will provide pricing details to many retailers at the same time.

  21. Lets see, Monotron's are $50. And this is basically a beefed up montron with a limited sequencer and limited drum sounds for 200 dollars+ more. What are they smoking at Korg? No chance I even consider buying this unless it's under $100.

  33. I've don't have much confidence in the price either – but it is the only thing concrete that I've seen.

    At that price, I probably wouldn't hack it.

  36. The people over at KORG must be having a laugh at these Monotribe "pricing" stories. Up to this point, there is no validity to ANY of the prices that have been posted online. None.

    Enough with the games KORG, announce the ACTUAL price on this box and let's see if it stands or falls based on your price.

    Personally, I agree with those who have stated that the box is unlikely to sell for more than $200 in the U.S.A.. Any more than that, and KORG will definitely have a hard time with the sales of the Monotribe. If they don't believe that, take a look at what people here have said just today alone.

  37. I wonder when companies make these announcements without naming a price if they are looking to gauge reaction to see what they can sell gear for.

  38. It's a much more reasonable £135.20 when you subtract the 20% VAT. That brings it down to $225. I suspect that it'll end up selling well below that once it's been on the market for a month or two and initial demand has died off.

  40. If it was over $120 its a waste….buy a Shruthi-1 or a MeeBlip if its more than that….Since I own both, Ill still pick up a couple Monotribes but Im aware that its a rip at over $120, they have to literally cost $15 or $20 to build, theyre light and small Im sure so its gotta be about $10 to ship it…

  41. the touch keyboard sucked on the monotron… why are they still using it?

    no. for the simple fact that the drums are uneditable, the sequencer is trash, and it is NOT an MS-20 filter.

    take out the stupid drums, give me 16 steps and pattern storage, and STOP using that retarded touch keyboard… make that $200 and I'll buy it.

  44. Call me again, when it costs 500€/$. Then it will do something useful, that you can think of paying meaningful amounts of money. Monotron's price was harmless, but this is a bit too high for what it is.

  53. Interesting – that's pretty close to the Hard To Find price – but higher still than what most people seem to think this should go for.

  56. Why don't companies like Korg and Roland conduct surveys to find out what people want and what they'd pay for it *before* they put out a new product?

  57. Gotta pass on this.

    Hopefully they aren't "testing the waters" with this piece. Like… hopefully they aren't saying, "If this sells, we'll start focusing on more analog stuff"

  59. This would be the price range I would pay. And I really want this thing, but they need to be realistic, the majority of people are still looking at this as a toy (I am not one of those).

  60. It's pretty clear that all Korg needs to do to sell stacks of these is get the US price under $200.

    I'm still interested in seeing how hackable this thing is going to be.

  63. Monotron – $90 MSRP – between $55 and $59 street.

    Monotribe – $277 (if correct) should be approx $179 to $185 street.

    Still a bit pricey.

  65. honestly i dont think its worth 100 dollars. its really crap sounding and musically useless as far as i am concerned. i mean the whole casiocore crowd might jump at this thing but that scene is over a decade old now and well i kinda think we need to move on from it. i would rather have a sk1 and or a mtv40 than this shiet

  66. That's too high. I was excited when I thought it was gonna be like $150 or less but pushing $300, there's a lot of other stuff I could buy for that and not just music gear.

  69. $199 here in Vancouver canada.
    65 for my monotron.
    honestly, i have spent more on a weekends supply of nonsense.
    monotribe + montron + kaosscilator + 2 TVM powered speakers = beachside/camping ridiculousness.

  70. $200 i'd buy the thing. i found it at that price and bought one. No MIDI IN or OUT would be ok, i could get round it if only the external processing didnt suck. Its endless fun to screw with and i found plenty of uses for it. People before you review this things price have it in your hands first.

    To those who say its hackable, it is. very much so.

    To the MIDI whiners, buy a RCA-to-MIDI interface for $100 at your local music store and stop bitching.

    It is a fine machine, i love mine. I dont regret spending $200.

  71. I have 6 Monotribes, 2 of the 6 with MIDI mod, 4/6 with VCF mod, and 2/6 with VCO mute/VCF mod.
    They are a modders dream IMO

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