Korg has always offered something from everyone – they were pioneers at offering affordable synthesizers by choosing compromises that would provide loads of capabilities at a lower price (such as the PolySix, which recently got an iOS remake – review coming soon!). From there, they started producing more and more high-end gear while also filling out the lower-end for beginners and hobbyists looking for solid capabilities at an affordable price.
Now they are back with another keyboard that is loaded with features btu at an affordable price. Here are some details:
Korg once again re-defines the creative songwriting process with its new MicroStation. Featuring a small size and even smaller price, the MicroStation also includes the additional benefit of being a songwriting tool with its quick and intuitive onboard sequencer for recording. It’s ideal for beginners as a live keyboard, or for guitar players looking to easily lay down some drum tracks. The MicroStation plugs into your laptop or tablet with ease to provide a top-notch personal music tool unlike any other on the market.
Compact and portable, the MicroStation features Korg’s 61-key Natural Touch mini keyboard, numerous effects, dual arpeggiators and 16 tracks of MIDI recording power to transform musical ideas into polished productions.
The MicroStation is an ideal first keyboard, plus a welcome addition to any studio or home. To benefit novice sequencer users, new features such as easily accessible Loop Recording and Visual Grid Sequencing have been added to jump-start any type of music production.
The 61-key Natural Touch Mini-Keyboard has been acclaimed for its ease of playing. The proportion of the black keys and white keys has been adjusted so that chords are comfortable to play, and the feel is designed to allow rapid phrases to be performed with ease.
Korg’s world-class programming is featured in several hundred sounds, a variety of drum kits, and audition riffs that let users hear a selected sound in context before choosing it. The MicroStation also provides an SD card slot, allowing users to save their Programs, Combinations and song data directly onto an SD/SDHC card.
The MicroStation’s knobs and controllers are located for easy use. Frequently used parameters can be assigned to the four real-time control knobs for convenient sound editing or for performing with the arpeggiator. With the External switch on, these four knobs can be used to control an external MIDI device. A joystick is provided for even more expressive potential.
For detailed editing of Programs, Combinations, Drum kits and Arpeggio patterns, the MicroStation is bundled with the “MicroStation Editor” and “MicroStation Plug-In Editor” software.
As you can see, the MicroStation is aptly named since this is a fully functional music workstation in a portable package. The keys are smaller, but have been designed with playability in mind. Also, while you can plug into your iOS device to use as a MIDI controller, you will need to plug the keyboard into AC power. That is because this isn’t just a controller, but a full workstation with amazing features for the price.
Here is a video showing off the features of the MicroStation.
Also, the folks at Sweetwater made a great video showing off the features in more depth – especially check out their own customer B3 organ sound set that really demonstrates just how much you can do with this machine!
The Korg MicroStation is available now for $399 from Amazon, Sweetwater Sound and plenty of other retailers, so check your local Korg reseller!
Related posts:
No related posts.
