It sounds every bit as good as bigger and much more expensive workstations. The samples are very high quality. I have auditioned them all and the only sample I'm not crazy about is the brass sample. It sounds a bit thin and synthetic to my ears. Careful programming, judicious use of FX and playing technique can compensate for that. The sampled instruments are clear and realistic. Many of the analog emulations sound quite warm. The variety of samples are a little more limited than you would find in a more expensive workstation, but all of the basic "bread and butter" sounds are covered and they are good.

You have the ability to create and store completely customized drum kits where you can assign any sound to any key, or one sound to multiple keys (important for things like drum rolls). The ability to program velocity cross switching between sounds on each key adds even more versatility. The joystick and four assignable knobs on the control panel give you plenty of expressive capability in any program or combination. The depth of programability is excellent. You have dual multimode filters with resonance, filter, amp and pitch envelopes along with a variety of creative modulation options. The variety, quality and usefulness of the FX are excellent as well.

There are plenty of great factory presets to play right out of the box. The Arpeggiators are fun and can provide musical inspiration. The 2/3 size keyboard takes getting used to, but has a good feel and works quite well. I still hit an occasional sour note when I'm playing fast arpeggios or chord changes. The included editing software is a godsend. I wouldn't want to deal with a few buttons and a two line LCD for editing like I did in 80s and 90s. The one major oversight in the editing software is the lack of event editing in sequencer mode. I'm using this as a standalone program, so an event editor with a piano roll view would come in very handy. I do have a couple of issues with the sequencer. One is that from what I can tell, you have to work on and save an entire piece of music in one location at a time. I prefer to work on different parts, save them in different locations and then assemble them all in one location when I'm done. I've only been using this for three weeks, so I might be missing something. The other issue is having to save sequencer data to an SD card or lose it when the instrument is turned off. No big deal unless there's power failure in the middle of a masterpiece you are working on and haven't saved it yet! Internal, non-volatile memory would solve that. I had that on other instruments and liked it a lot. As far as other software goes, there's a good video demonstration and plenty of documentation in PDF form on the supplied disc. A paper quick start manual is included in the box.

The microSTATION feels very solid. Nothing feels flimsy. The keyboard is nicely responsive with a good solid feel to the key-bed. There is a minor cosmetic problem. The button function labels on the control panel are silk-screened gray on a silver background, making them almost impossible to read unless I'm crouched right over the instrument. Black lettering would work better. Fortunately the buttons are few enough in number where I have most of them memorized.

Incredible value. The sound quality, depth of programability, and sophisticated sequencing capabilities are at level I would expect in an instrument costing three times as much. The only real marks against it is the lack of battery power as an option and the lack of internal, non-volatile memory for the sequencer.

I have never had any major issues that required me to contact Korg. With the exception of a somewhat temperamental Polysix I owned 30 years ago, all Korg products I owned always work perfectly and as advertised. I think that speaks well for their quality control. The documentation included on the supplied DVD-Rom is excellent.

There is real wow factor here. It's amazing that such a small, inexpensive instrument can create such big, sophisticated sounds. I can take and use it in places where I wouldn't want to lug my larger keyboards. I have a dedicated music room, but I set this up at my basement computer where I also have an Arturia Minimoog installed as a micro studio annex. The microSTATION makes a great USB controller and I don't need any additional sequencing software.

50 years piano, 40 years synthesizers and drums. Professional back in the 80s.

Pop/rock with a cinematic sensibility, downtempo electronica.

47 years, guitar, bass, keys. rock and blues/rock. weekly gigging/sessions

rock, blues/rock, 80's hairband rock

25 years

Rock, hip hop. country, blues, new age

Been doing music for about 10 yrs. now.

Hip-hop and Rap

Music teacher

Ambient, new age, classical

Hobbyist

ambient, electronic, trance, techno, house

The sound of this unit exceeds my expectations. Competing unit the Yamaha MM6 only has SOME original Motif sounds. The rest are PSR sounds. The Roland Juno Di does have the Fantom engine, but I have not been impressed with any Fantom. This unit has the same engine as the M3 which I have loved since its' release. I have owned the MM6, the Motif ES and the MO6. I have played the XS. For $600, the microSTATION gives you excellent sound comparable or better than the Yamahas that I have seriously been a fan of until now. The last time Korg was the lead unit in my arsenal, I played a Wavestation EX. I still miss that big boy! Also, the audition tracks for each sound can be an inspiration for how to use each sound. Also, this keyboard is so smart that it will set up the sounds and effects to play a certain style and I does not sound canned in any way. Your playing ability is reflected in the result. (So you still have to practice. :))

Compared to the Yamaha MM6 and the Roland Di, this unit has more professional features than the others starting with the sequencer. The Sequencer can capture quick grooves and jam sessions with the dual arps, or it can be a track by track recorder. Or, one can use the grid method as with drum machines and groove boxes. There is nothing out there like this. I thought the mini keys would be a down side when I bought it. But I read up on the MIDI spec first so I could use my 61 full size key controller. Those mini keys play organ patches better than I could ever play them on a full size-key keyboard. The small size allow the ability to play everything quicker. I haven't even connected my other controller yet. Add to it the ability to use a SDcard to store everything, this is truly amazing. You have all of the basics in a workstation that would normally cost $2K without sacrificing sound. Impressive! The mini keys are great for laying drum tracks too.

I played all of the programs and combis plus recorded a jam session with the dual arps without even cracking the manual. They only provide a quick start manual. The complete manual is on the disk. But the quick start, gets you going very well. I read it after I did most things intuitively.

This is a plastic keyboard. Don't drop it and you should be fine. I will say that the keys are made to last. I don't feel like I have to hold back in fear of breaking them.

I rate this 100!! I feel like I own a M3 or a Motif XS in terms the ability to play so many dynamic, relative/up-to-date sounds. Add to it that I can sequence and vibe with the intelligent arps is great! The MM6, nor the Juno Di can do this. And if you hate the mini keys? Buy a CakeWalk/Roland A-800PRO, the fastest USB MID and regular MIDI controller (Very playable full-sized keys.) out there to use the microSTATION as a cheaper M3 module. Very sweet!

Never had a problem with Korg.

Very nice and compact. Great space saver.

Church musician. I lead the praise!

Gospel/Worship and good old R&B