Feature:
The vocoder with included mic is an awesome feature! The vocoder sounds so cool and is a great addition to the right tracks. Also, the keyboard has a lot of settings that can be changed, but it also has a light that lights up to let you know when you've set the setting you're changing back to its original value. Very helpful.

Quality:
While it is made of mostly plastic, it seems to be very tough for being plastic. If you put it in a nice case or bag, it seems very secure and I would not worry at all about it breaking. It seems like it would last for a very long time.

Value:
For the price this is an amazing little synthesizer -- it looks and sounds a lot more expensive than it is.

Desirability:
Every time someone sees my Korg, they ooh and ahh about how "cute" it is, and then when they hear it they're like "WOAH I WANT ONE." Also, the wood paneling and olive color give it a very cool retro feel. The size of the keyboard is awesome, too, it makes it extremely easy and convenient to transport.

Sound:
This keyboard can make just about any synth sound you'd want it to make. Obviously it doesn't have anything like piano but that isn't what this keyboard is designed to do. It does, however have a pretty good electric piano imitation. Some of the bass sounds that come out of it are absolutely ENORMOUS and are ridiculous coming out of such a small package. All in all, it sounds GREAT.

Ease of Use:
At first, all the knobs and the huge list of parameters can seem very overwhelming but it doesn't take long at all to figure how they work and how you can begin customizing your own sounds from the presets. The small keyboard doesn't impede the playability at all, in fact it makes it easier sometimes, and if you want more keys you can always use a MIDI controller which is very easy to attach.

Overall:
If I lost this keyboard or somebody stole it I would cry! I would DEFINITELY purchase a new one. This keyboard makes the most amazing synth sounds and is SO FREAKING PORTABLE. You couldn't find a better keyboard that is easier to carry around, it weighs practically nothing and takes up no room, but it sounds fantastic.

• User: a customer from gmail.com
• Submitted: 5/26/2008
• Style of Music: Rock/Electropunk
• Location: Ohio

Feature:
It comes with a mic for the vocoder but it's better to use a real mic. Vocoder sounds pretty damn good too, kinda old school. It doesnt have that many features, but who needs them?

Quality:
It's really light, very portable. Not that solid, what do expect for $400.

Value:
You can't get a better synth for the price. Perfect for beginners, but a lot of professionals use it also.

Desirability:
looks alright

Sound:
I wasnt expecting that much from a $400 synth, but damn, this thing sounds good. Pretty thick for a digital synth.

Ease of Use:
Real easy to make sounds, everything you need is on the front of the keyboard. The manual is good. Once you get used to the size, the keyboard is playable as hell, the keys are slightly weighted, really good feel.

Overall:
probably replace it with a real analog synth eventually

• Submitted: 4/24/2008
• Style of Music: funk, hip hop
• Location: MA

Feature:
Virtual patching and different waveforms for LFO allow for really creative sounds. You can plug in external audio sources and use the Micro's features to turn it into an FX box which is wicked cool. The vocoder sounds awesome as well. The mic that comes with it is fun. I don't use a more expensive mic, I prefer to use the one that comes with it because you can get really cool sounds from it. I LOVE the small keyboard. I can reach an octave and a half with a single hand which allows for some really creative playing.

Quality:
Every knob and key works and feels as it should after 3 and a half years of use.

Value:
Honestly, if you played the keyboard for someone in the next room and then had them come in and see the keyboard, I think they'd be blown away at how big and cool of sounds came out of such a little keyboard.

Desirability:
It looks really cool. I'm a fan of the retro-analog look. Wood panels on the side are neat.

Sound:
Some sounds sound cheap, and some sound like they're created by a giant powerhouse synth. Either way, the presets contain a lot of great, creative sounds, and along with creating your own patches you can get wicked cool sounds out of this thing.

Ease of Use:
You can use the factory presets if you don't want to program yourself and won't have to worry about not getting good sounds because the factory presets make great use of the keyboard and are really creatively designed. Programming takes a bit to learn. Once you do I think it's intuitive enough that programming whatever you want becomes simple. Most patches aren't velocity sensitive but it's easy enough to program them to be so if you want.

Overall:
I've had it for three and a half years and I still use it in my productions and live performance. It's really fun and can get really big sounds at the same time.

• User: a customer from yahoo.com
• Submitted: 4/17/2008
• Style of Music: Electronic/Rock
• Location: New Jersey

Feature:
It has many nice sound features, although the editing out sounds is limited.

Sound:
the sound is amazing, one of the best synths, I've ever used.

Ease of Use:
The keys are smaller then normal, but it is mini, personally I like the small keys, they are nice with my fingers. The only problem I have is when I use the mini korg, then go to a reg. keyboard. it takes a bit to get used to. And someone complained about the keys before... ya, it's mini what do you expect. they also said that the vocoder is nice. That dude is on crack. It is the worst part. The vocoder is really distorted beyond all means. I doubt that guy even bought it.

• User: a customer from hotmail.com
• Submitted: 2/25/2008
• Style of Music: Industrial
• Location: jacksonville, fl

Feature:
great product for entry level synth heads/ fm synthesis newbies because of price, heavy on features. ive been using this for years and still creating new sounds with it.

Quality:
great quality, to the person who said dont buy this it has tiny keys, your aer seriously a fool who obviously did no research on this and just dropped 450 dollars on something you knew nothing about but looked cool maybe? its called MICRO korg for a reason, sure its not the best keyboard but its definitely an amazing one. as most owners will agree. if you want the best, go ahead and drop 3000 dollars on a vintage synth seeing as the guy has so much money he can just spend half a grand on something he knows nothing about, then complain about no less.

Sound:
sounds great, sounds just like mk2000 etc. great reproduction of old synth sounds. to get any better than this you'd have to pay twice the regular price for minimal sound quality difference. that is unless your getting more osc's and filters, but for a begginner this is more than awesome.

Ease of Use:
ITS FM SYNTHESIS ITS NOT A PIECE OF CAKE. in terms of finding a sound u like from presets and playing, np 10/10

• Submitted: 2/17/2008
• Style of Music: folk electronic psych rock hip hop experimental other
• Location: california

Feature:
The tiny keys are a horrible feature of the keyboard, although I guess the vocoder is okay....

Quality:
It's made of cheap plastic keys, especially the keys. i bougt the reverse color key version and it was bad I dont't recommend.

Value:
i woulnd't get this again if someone handed it to me wqith a thousand dollars.

Desirability:
Umm... yeah I don't want it make one with biggger keys.

Sound:
The sound is okay, but it's like IMPOSSIBLE to get a good sound out of it with those tiny keys on it....

Ease of Use:
Two Words: TINY KEYS. I can't play this thing it's like impossible

Support:
They answered the phone, but they wouln't send me big keys

• User: a customer from gmail.com
• Submitted: 1/27/2008
• Style of Music: Black Metal, Rockabilly, 80's Synthpop
• Location: New York, New York, U.S.A.

Feature:
The best feature for me was the ease of use. Granted it may take a little more time for a newbie to get used to the controls,envelopes, lfo etc but as long as you have a passion for synthesis, you will find yourself navigating the menu and parameters in no time. The only thing that would have made this piece of kit even more brilliant than it is is if it were to have a sequencer built in.

Quality:
The retro wood finish adds a nice touch and the colour of it is nice but i wouldnt take it on the road with me. Maybe if korg gave it a metal finish like the electribe sx and mx I would take it out with me. The same goes for the pots but all in all if you look after it, treat it good and maybe take it out for a nice meal from time to time, it will last.

Value:
I bought this in 2007 so it had been out for a fair few years but for the price i paid I could definately not argue.

Desirability:
It does have desirablilty about. The retro feel called me straight away and the design of the layout had me itching to tweak those pots.

Sound:
The mircokorg delivers! All pre programmed sounds are excellent and cover a wide spectrum. There are classic analogue sounds from the heady old skool rave days, sweet sweeping pads, harsh basslines, filthy electronic leads and mellow classic organ sounds. The vocoder is top class. The combinations are endless when it comes to creating and modelling sounds.

Ease of Use:
As i said this piece of kit is incredibly easy to use and it's so user friendly that the only other thing i was expecting was for it to by me a pint!! Menu navigation is a total doddle thanks to the matrix on the front panel. Being able to edit the parameters with the pots is handy and if for some reason you do have to consult the manual, you will find it quite informative and helpful.

Support:
Havent had to contact korg yet (fingers crossed)

Overall:
Badbwoy business for what i need it to do. maybe some PCM sounds and a hint of korgs multi modelling technology would have made it even more desirable but I'm well chuffed with it. We havent set a date yet but I'm sure I'll be taking the korg up the aisle soon enough.

• User: a customer from wolseley.co.uk
• Submitted: 12/5/2007
• Style of Music: Underground breaks, 4 to the floor, experimental downtempo
• Location: brum

Feature:
Lots of patches/sounds in this tiny machine. All are very interesting and of course can be changed via the analog knobs. I must say that the auto-arpeggiator (makes beats) is a very useful and great tool. Even if you are somewhat lacking in the creativity department when it comes to dance beats you can still squeeze a very cool beat from the synth.

Quality:
Well made but I wish the knobs weren't plastic; I use them all the time and am worried if they will last

Value:
A Korg for under $600? This is very good value with lots of features and great sounds

Desirability:
looks great with the analog/vintage styling; wood paneling is a nice touch

Sound:
AS many have said before, this synth is powerful for its size and price. Sounds truly analog.

Ease of Use:
Took me only a few hours fiddling with it to get he basic controls understood. Very user-friendly and is a great synth for beginners (like me)

• Submitted: 4/23/2007

Quality:
it is good quality but you would definatly need a hardcase if on the road and using it live

Value:
best!

Desirability:
it looks amazing with its vintage styling.

Sound:
amazing

Ease of Use:
its really easy to use and make your own settings great for begginers

Support:
no problems

Overall:
im going to be satisfied with this for a good few more years

• User: a customer from hotmail.com
• Submitted: 2/18/2007
• Style of Music: metal, drum and bass, trance, hardcore
• Location: UK

Feature:
i liked the features which include a arpeggiator and a vocoder.

Quality:
So far I haven't had to take the microKorg in, nor have I had any minor problems.

Value:
This was a pretty good value.

Desirability:
It is attractive and has a hint a retro style with the wood panels.

Sound:
I like the sound, though it would be nice if it had some effects,

Ease of Use:
THis synth is easy to use because you don't have to foll around with several knobs.

Support:
i haven't had to deal with the company.

Overall:
I would be happy with the microKorg for 5-10 years. Iwould like to buy The Roland jUno D, The Alesis IOn, and The KOrg Radius.

• Submitted: 2/4/2007
• Style of Music: pop rock
• Location: Atlanta, Georgia

Feature:
It comes with 128 built in programs, however they are fully editable, and very attractive sounds.

Quality:
The Microkorg is well built. I've taken good care of it so i wouldn't just how robust it is but I trust Korg to the fullest and it is very well built. It is very light weight, and very portable.

Value:
This synth is very powerful for only 400 dollars. I didn't know anything when I bought it and I learned a lot from it. It is such a great buy for beginners or maybe a pro who wants to expand their library. It also has a built in vocoder which just sends its value through the roof.

Ease of Use:
Every Parameter of the program you are editing can be changed very easily once you warm up to the product. It's all in the knobs. Your selection on the two oscillator knobs with control want the five knobs on the right do.

Overall:
This will be with me for the rest of my life. I liked the microkorg so much I plan on buying the new Micro X. Great Buy for 400 bucks.

• User: a customer from aol.com
• Submitted: 7/1/2006
• Style of Music: Electronica, Drum and Bass, Breakbeat, House
• Location: New York

Feature:
Vocoder is cool

Quality:
Kinda toy like

Value:
Worth it 4 the price

Desirability:
It's cool but not incredible.

Sound:
Quality. Kinda 80's but cool

Overall:
It's a fun little doodad 2 add to the studio

• Submitted: 3/17/2006