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Korg Monotron
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Korg Monotron

Analog Synth from Korg belonging to the Monotron series

Amigalynx Amigalynx
Published on 03/19/12 at 17:06
Monophonic analog synthesizer, "keyboard" diaphragm continuously variable ("ribbon"), an oscillator sawtooth down, ditto 1 LFO, LFO assignable to the pitch or frequency of the filter, a reproduction of the low-pass the MS-20.

UTILIZATION

Synthetic pure hardware, pure analog, the 5 knobs and the switch under the eyes, it can hardly be easier!

Just play first be asked to correctly adjust the keyboard driver, if you want to use the guide offered by the piano keys painted on the tape. This can be tricky but the setting is stable.
Then, not only the keyboard is pokey, but it also is not sensitive to its full height (and less sensitive to nearby Si acute - my Duo is the same). We must aim down the white keys (the black of a piano. You follow?). I strongly advise the use of a pen (a pencil is perfectly plastic case).
Despite this, with a little practice it is quite possible to play melodies. Even if it takes the drive to play fair, it does not take long to aim "about", the great differences of course being the most difficult to play well and quickly. And we can afford portamento madness!

SOUNDS

This is a great toy. Versatile enough somehow. Use either side can just play or make impressive sound effects.
When one wants to play fair, you can include:
-Let the filter resonance frequency 0 and the max for an electronic sound "8 bit"
-Set the frequency knob to 12 and the resonance at 11 am for complaints théréminesques. Playing with the frequency knob playing sounds really great. Moreover, with a little practice, you can imitate meowing with enough similarities to fool a cat:-D
LFO-to very low frequency, paired (with a large amplitude) at the frequency of the filter to have a natural decay
-Set the LFO fast enough, coupled with the frequency by putting a dash of amplitude for a nice vibrato.

It is also possible to play any really high, a buzz that there are oscillations with a shrill whistle, although the real bass sound is not too strong.

For sound effects, it would take too long to describe, but thanks to the LFO goes up very high in frequency and amplitude (and that can easily filter self-oscillate), you can really do stuff crossed out, FM-esque effects and company. The three videos Korg United States illustrate the possibilities. Start playing the sound normally and torture on the last note can show purely pleasurable.

Defects already mentioned here: the speaker practice to play anywhere but really feeble, weak and out of breath that, and especially the dirty "Pouc" and the beginning and end of notes because of the command "while or nothing "without the amp envelope, this is THE thing annoying.
I also regret that the LFO is not reversible, it seems to me that it would not have been too difficult and can make a fade-in by coupling it to the filter would have been nice ...

OVERALL OPINION

In the end, 40 euros ... it is probably 4 times the cost price for Korg. But we can not say that competition in the market "real synth that fits in your pocket" jostling (Gakken SX-150, but what else?). And despite its simplicity this machine is an extra toy. Although necessarily less comprehensive (and expensive!) Modeled on a synth smartphone (to stay in the "gadget"), it has the advantage of being dedicated: zero latency and a much more grip instinctive, more kawaii and always ready, it will not fit into the category "used a week and then never touch it."

My only regret is that he was not sold to kids 20 years ago for half price. I would have played all day, I would not have been alone, millions of parents would have become raving mad and it would be in every closet next to the Game Boy.