On the keyboard's right-hand patch selection knob, you'll find the same Program Category options as the original XL: Poly Synth, Bass, Lead, Arp/Motion, Pad/Strings, Keyboard/Bell, Sound Effect/Hit and Vocoder/Audio In. The updated presets on the XL+ provide as neat a summary of that appeal as we can imagine. The XL+ follows suit, introducing new, 2013-ready genre-specific presets and sound samples rather than messing too much with the winning formula.Ī large part of the success of the microKorgs is due to the instant gratification they offer. We've seen the Electribes, Kaoss Pads, Kaossilators and Monotrons updated in incremental steps: a few new sounds here, an extra effect there, a slightly smaller model every once in a while. Korg's product development strategy over the past few years seems to have been based around relatively small and regular updates to existing models. 'The XL+ introduces 2013-ready genre-specific presets and sound samples, rather than messing too much with the winning formula'

The all-black XL+ which we insisted on for review looks amazing but in practice it's not the most user-friendly combination we've ever come across! For practical reasons, we'd suggest thinking carefully about whether the undeniably cool aesthetics of the murdered-out model really give it the edge over the conventional black and white and (similarly limited edition) black/red alternative. We think the balance is probably about right in this case. These aren’t like ipods, not everyone and their granny wants one.That being said, rock-solid build quality doesn't come cheap if you want an affordable synth you're going to have to accept a compromise in one or two areas. But go to the techno crowd and you’ll see that, although it’s still popular, it’s far from an “everyone has one” kind of thing. It’s cheap, retro-styled and screams “hip”. Sure if your friends are a bunch of indie rockers yes, maybe everyone has one. and now of the keyboard players, how many AREN’T into synth-type sounds? and of the ones that are, how many DON’T own a microkorg? That puts things into a much more accurate perspective.

But how many people is that? 5? 15? 30? Instead think of how many people in the world AREN’T musicians? Now of the musicians of the world, think of how many AREN’T keyboard players. All yall saying 100,00 units isn’t much don’t realize that the synth market is a small (believe it or not) niche market, in the synth manufacturing industry selling 100,000 units is like making a record that goes platinum.

Microkorg sound editor alternative