2024 NAMM Show: In his latest loopop video, host Ziv Eliraz offers an in-depth look at the new Korg microKORG 2, including how it compares to the classic microKorg.
Eliraz had access to a pre-release version of the microKORG 2, so it’s not a final review, but the video does cover the new synth in depth and make clear that it’s a very different instrument than the original.
Topics covered:
0:00 Intro
0:50 New engine
1:55 Bi-timbrality
2:40 Keybed
2:50 Screen & UI
4:10 New assigns
4:40 No shift
5:10 Presets
5:45 Build & IO
6:25 New oscillators
7:05 New DWGS
7:40 New samples
8:25 New osc mod
9:30 New noise
9:50 Fixed osc
10:10 Filter morph
10:50 Modulation
11:10 New matrix
11:25 Arp
11:40 Vocal process
12:00 Vocoder
12:15 Hard tune
12:35 Harmonizer
13:05 Effects
14:10 Unison
14:50 Loop recorder
16:35 Pros & cons?
17:10 Outro
Never mind the mini keys and blah blah blah. Its a seriously potent upgrade with classy new fittings like the color screen & looper. The 8 voices are welcome. No more dealing with just the previous 4. Now it feels more like the solid basic synth that sits in the middle of a rig and enhances all of the specialized instruments. The broad usability might end up making this Korg’s real NAMM hit. It’ll be the best seller of its first couple of post-release quarters.
+1
Nah, I’ll wait for the microKORG 2 mk2
Wow this is going to be excellent. The original was my first synth and such a thing of beauty.
People bought this synth cause it was ‘cheap’. Why make it 33% more expensive?
I’d argue that this is a way better synth than any of the current generation of minikey synths, which are all competing around that $500 price point. The screen is a big selling point for me.
I’d guess Korg will drop this down to around the $500 price point after a year. They’ve dropped prices on a lot of their recent gear after they’ve sold as many as they can at the orginal price.
How much did it cost in 2002? 500 2002 dollars are roughly 800$+ in today’s dollars.
8 voices!! at last – that took so long.
And, as Arturia have shown with the two Freaks, KORG can improve the synth engine any time should they feel like it.
As Arturia showed? I suppose they did too, but I’d argue that Teenage Engineering rocked the firmware/functionality upgrades to existing owners first (and with a ton of updates, not the least of which being almost a decade after it’s release, it’s ability to function as an audio interface all on its own. Anyone know of a synth manufacturer to do so prior to TE, or additionally to Arturia?
Re: the microkorg2, the original was my first synth. This thing looks pretty awesome.
Arturia… new mini/microfreak ?
Not giving loopop any views after he posted his awful opinions on Twitter.
I don’t care to know what you are referring to but I will watch it now twice just to make your protest worthless 🙂
Had to look it up, as I thought it was gonna be about Israel or something.. you know, difficult things. But no; Loopop called Behringer out for publicly spreading lies about the reason why he stopped reviewing their products.
Very strong “opinions” indeed, my my. I’ll be sure to watch Loopop more than ever, even the video about this new Korg thing that would never buy.
Loopop is a great guy for sure, ill watch it a third time
At $699 I rather get a Minifreak or Hydrasynth Explorer. Yes this has some interesting quirks and upgrades over the OG version but theres is something about that big preset knob that turns me off so bad.
The hydra big knob is a patch knob 🙂 Probably based on the microkorg.
Guess the original was a no brainer – but in both directions – you either instantly got one or never thought about getting one ever. I was the latter type – not for me.
The new one was still interesting for me:
The new sound engine is powerful!
The color screen is super!
But missed opportinities:
5 Endless Encoders, so sound editing would have been on elektron level.
Dedicated filter and resonance knobs, instead of the huge preset dial wasting space.
No new microkorg for me.
BTW: I’m still in love with the original minilogue.
Matrix control is very fast and easy to use, many times way more efficient than a bulky synth with a knob per parameter. The only down side is you can’t control two parameters that are not on the same line at the same time, but this not really needed.
A dedicated cutoff/resonance knob is kind of (sorry for the wording) pathetic, making synths look gimmicky and ugly.
My point was: Matrix control needs endless encoders. Multiple function per knob needs endless encoders. It should be obv why.
“A dedicated cutoff/resonance knob is kind of pathetic, making synths look gimmicky and ugly.” – Nice try trolling XD
Arguing against cuttof and resonance knobs on a synt site – LOL
Isn’t a Genere Knob gimmicky? 🙂
But it’s classic gimmicky 🙂
Pick up and relative mode helps. “Dorian Concept” will disagree,
Search for the ” Fooling around on Micro Korg #2 ”