If I understand it well enough, this could essentially do the job of many synths I own, all in one, while replacing all of these and take up less space on my desk. This beast looks powerful tbh.
Yepp This is it Its actually an excellent way of putting it why didnt i think of this 😅 if you rather have one synth instead of 3 or 4, this is the kind of synth to do that
Nice video my friend - I do agree this is more major league synthesis than something simpler like the Minilogue, but the SOUNDS this synth can create and the depths of sonic magic is far wider than the Minilogue. A beginner in synthesis isn't a beginner for long once things click in place.... It was a pleasure to work on the voicing for this synth and hope people dig it once they get one in their hands - this one is very special. :D
Love the new space! Creative space in the back for your own music and a YT space in the front with lights and cameras for the videos. Balance is brilliant! Good job. Korg MoltiPoly- sure!
Got this 2 weeks ago. Can't stop playing with it. Very deep and powerful. Just now figuring out what to do with it musically. It has great potential as a live performance tool especially if you have TWO of them synced up. It's crazy fun just as a toy!
Excellent review. Good job not spending the first 5 minutes talking about the Mono/Poly and the next 20 minutes playing with the Kaoss Physics (like I’ve seen somewhere else). I feel like this is a very capable virtual analog riddled with distractions. The name has some people asking “how close to the original does it sound?”. 🤔 🤦♂️ Then the Kaoss Physics. It’s a fun addition but I would maybe use it on 5% of the patches (and that’s generous). It’s like some people are reviewing a very good cake but only talking about the icing. You didn’t fall into that trap, well done! 😎 My main negative points: - No expression pedal input (that would have made the lack of aftertouch more acceptable) - One octave too short - Only one set of knobs to tweak 4 envelopes It surely has lots of very desirable features as a pure VA (like modelling multiple types of portamento etc. - that’s genius), many very good filters, 4 oscillators per voice (very uncommon I think) and so on.
As a beginner I’m actually highly interested in this synth. I understand it’s deep, but the surface has so much to offer too. This is really a synth to grow with. This sounds like a perfect synth for someone just starting out who doesn’t have the budget or space for multiple synths, and likes the idea of a deep synth with highly usable presets to get you started on your musical journey.
@@johndonovan2743 Yes it's a bit challenging to learn the menu diving and button pressing workflow. Much easier with the computer based USB editor. Not as obvious or logical as a hydrasynth. But having 4 actual poly channels each with four oscillators and two filters is extremely powerful almost like 4 synths.
As someone who's fairly new to synths (I owned a novation circuit in 2015ish when I was about 15 at the time) I have only used a DAW and midi since after I sold it and just recently picked up a SP-404MK2. I have reawakened my creative side after all this time. I realized I needed something to sample and I wanted the most versatile instrument I could create sounds with. I'm currently in the military and move periodically so I have a somewhat of a minimalist thing going on so I can pack at a moment notice. I ended up ordering this because even though I'm not experienced with programming I understand the concept and plan to master this thing over the next few years. I started this "synth searching" journey when I found a minilogue preowned but when I was about to close in on a good deal it was sold. After compare and contrast on various models of Hydrasynth Explorer, Minilogue XD, I felt like this one had the most refined sound and capabilities despite the slight intimidation of learning curve. Thanks for the video though I've watched this like 6 times now.
Great video, Bo! This one is definitely on my “list.” Have always loved Korg synths; sold them for many years. I like the deep architecture of this one.
They will most certainly go the polysix/wavestate route and come out with a super expensive premium 5 octave version with after touch. Show me the money!
You can send most of the new Korg's poly aftertouch info, but what good is that if you run out of processor and it leaves notes on, locks up etc? Most of Korg's new multi timbral synths don't have the processing power to add poly aftertouch and be very useful at the same time. The Wavestate won't function so well as a multichannel multi timbral slave, which is a shame.... I don't expect this one to be any better, and I am sure it will lock up and be useless as a slave, just like my Wavestate is.... It is fine if you do something simple like the video shows, but you will run out of processing power long before it ever gets anywhere near close to running out of total voices... The main reason they don't have poly aftertouch in the keybed, is because they barely have the processing power to support it as it is.... These will soon sell for 419 used (Current lowest price Wavestate I have seen), or less, used in short order, just like the Wavestate.... This Multipoly costs 899 new now, just like the Wavestate was, and will be worth 400-500 less in no time at all... The retail price of these will drop to 699 fairly quickly as well... Just like the others have in this lineup.. Which is still overpriced for what it will be worth when everyone realizes what it actually is.... Buy one and try it, but you have been pre warned........ I wish I would have known before laying out for a new synth, a Wavestate, when it first came out, and they purposely massively devalued it already by reducing the retail price significantly.... I rarely use the Wavestate now, and it basically collects dust..... And I don't expect this one to be any different... My two cents.... Buy a better synth, and be done with it.... You will get what you pay for....
I like the WHO IS THIS FOR part. Smart inclusion. It sounds great in your demo, really capable device for the price and as someone else said below, beginners dont stay beginners for long. Virtual Analog has come a LONG way in the last few years.
4 layers of virtual analog is the killer featuer here, only Nord have done that before. about time they had some competition. fantastic video bo, lovely clean bright overhead view to contrast the moody talking head shots!
Depending on how you're defining VA or multitimbral, what about the Waldorf Q and Blofeld, Korg Radias, Novation Nova and Supernova 2 (6 and 8 parts, each with complete FX chain), Alesis Ion, Oberheim/Viscount OB-12, and maybe the JD-800 (sort of VA)...
@@ReubenSound multimbral as in can play more than one sound at once, splits, layers or different midi channels. i think none of the synths you mention can do that. the only one that comes to mind with 4 parts is nord lead, and they were doing it since the early 90s.
@@WoodyPianoShack Nope, all those synths can play at least four different sounds/patches at the same time, split across the keyboard, or on different MIDI channels. No confusion over polyphony, but of course multitimbrality uses up voices.
It sounds almost as good as my Radias rack..somehow it's more pleasant than the ModWav. I like the Kaoss-pad, that is always a nice addition. Thanks for the demo!
Thanks for the review and demo. Sounds good, I prefer Roland and Novation for pads and bass I like something like a Pro 1 or a Moog. I liked the other sounds you demoed on this synth.
I'd be very interested if they offered this in a module form factor. Although maybe they are hesitant to do that because other devices controllers might have a harder time dealing with the multi-timbral keyboard splitting. Personally I'd be fine to just do it via midi like you showed with the Digitakt, but definitely a possible constraint.
The touch screen pinball is a really cool idea 😁 otherwise it’s a vst synth with a dedicated midi controller. The amount of sound possibilities are astonishing though.
Definitivly a surprise.. I not expected that, also not heard before that comes out... sounds interesting. But for me I really would like a Desktop Version like the other three... Then I would buy.. Can play it from my Hydrasynth , I dont need a polyaftertouch Keyboard, I have already, would only make the price higher..
As a opsix and wavestate owner, i find this one to be very intriguing . Often i wish the wavestate could be more traditional (but i love the wavestate for being insanely wild) and this seems to be that synth. You did a great job for the time you had to cover this thing. While watching, I started thinking what if four separate keyboards were attached so that each layer could be played independently. That’s assuming that each layer can have its own midi. Kraftwork would have killed. to have a synth like this. I think this would fit a live players scenario very well .complicated yes, but seems to beg to be played live. I hope they have a software editor for it like the other ones because that would turn this thing into an unbelievable beast.
Very impressive synth that would keep someone busy for a while diving in and mastering it. One could create very detailed, specific, and ultimately unique sounds. Build quality looks good from afar. But, for me, 1) I'd want more octaves on that keyboard, though. It's a polysynth, and begs for a 4 or 5 octave model. I just envision me wanting to go play off to the right and to the left. Sure, I know, I could MIDI it to a controller, but... 3 octaves is short. 2) And w/Aftertouch. 3) And seeing how dependent one would really be on that screen, a Larger Screen, especially on an upcoming bigger keyboard model. It's a menu-diving synth and that screen is tiny.
Sounds good, most VA's do imo, I have a Nord Lead 4 and Modal Argon 8 that sound great, the Nord especially is beautiful sounding. For the longest time my main synth was a Virus and that synth could blow most others out of the water.
Just bought the Argon8, after lots of research, to fill a particular space in my sound pallette. Then, just a few days later, I saw this, and now I have terrible GAS. I will just have to see if the A8 can still satisfy my cravings. At least it has aftertouch 🥲
The Kingkorg Neo is also part of the family. And it’s a VA too. Korg should have combined the specs together with this Multipoly and brought out only one advanced VA synth. The Neo has no real reason for existence as it is a clone of its bigger predecessor at the same price level. Why pay the same to get less. But the KingKorg has very good VA filters.
NEO isnt really the same sort of synth tho as the rest. Its like you say... Its a refresh of an older synth, and in terms of polyphony, functionality etc its very different. It does sound good, but yeah its expensive
Yep , you’re right, apart from the form factor the Neo doesn’t really share that much in its concept with the other 3-octave korg synths. If the multi/poly would have the DWGS waveforms as well, the Neo would probably be superfluous.
@@newignisYou can sample/convert/import these DWGS waveforms on this synth if you want to. Korg's website says it comes preloaded with 200 waveforms and permits to converts waveforms to import them via their Editor/Librarian. This means we can design, draw, code and download/purchase waveforms to import and this synth suddenly became even more polyvalent/fine-tunable/customizable/powerful/able to replace most if not any synth we have. This is huge imo.
22:21 According to loopop the arpeggiator is global on purpose...so that it can rotate between the individual sounds (just like the arp on the Mono/Poly rotating between its oscillators).
@Tedtt655 It's more of a form-factor, feature-set, and sound-design issue for me than the sound. Their filters are not always the best, but generally, Korg sounds really good. However, their synths are very often too crammed and menu-divey for the kind of features I need the most. This one feels like it has the right blend of subtractive ease with a "first layer" of complexity that is easily accessible and even more crazyness possible if you dive even deeper. And it sounds amazing :)
@balkan2k I don't think Korg makes bad products necessarily, but it mostly has released synths that appeal to a different target audience. It looks like the features they threw together here fit my needs plus the sounds are beautiful. It seems powerful but more hands on with enough depth to discover a lot.
I think it sounds decent, not great, not bad. It certainly sounds very digital and this is not a bad thing (I have both analog and digital synths and love both), its just the way it sounds. BUT...after watching the "making a sound" part of the video, I feel the menu diving is quite a thing and this is one of the synths that would be more fitting to come as a VST...because yes there is an editor for the hardware, but I can't see a reason to spend a grand on something that sounds like this...which again, is not bad, but considering the previous similar format, hardware synths from Korg, a VST version of this, at a fraction of the cost, would be more appealing, especially since I am not crazy about the way it sounds, but its an interesting synth, non the less.
It does sound very nice. But like a lot of people in the comments, I'm also frustrated with having no aftertouch on this version of the synth. At least they have kind of stuck to a blueish/purple colour for virtual analogue. If it isn't blue it isn't virtual analogue in my book. Korg MS2000, Roland JP8000, Yamaha AN1X and newer synths like the Modal Cobalt 8, all blue.
Who is this for? I guess me- ill sell my hydra and micromonsta. I love how deep this synth goes and the layers just covers everyrhing i need from synths.
@@jakobymaster I have both this and the Hydrasynth. It does NOT have some of the really nice patches and glassy tones of the Hydra. Also I miss the wave shape live display. Maybe I don't know quite how to program it. However the Hydra is a great controller for the MP especially with aftertouch and the ribbon strip. Also you can map in the expression. The Hydra (except the Deluxe) is missing the extra layers.. I could not give up either one.
Don't know about poly aftertouch, as that requires a much more complicated keybed design alone, but normal aftertouch is pretty easy and cheap to add. the components needed is practically an op amp and a couple discrete components which is a few bucks plus maybe 10-20 bucks for the touch strip off the shelf. So to add it from the factory wouldn't ruin the pricetag. I don't really get why companies avoid this in anything but their Prime keyboards at like 4k+ pricetags these days. Theoretically this wouldn't have to add more than max 50$ to the overall price tag .. so if I want to buy this, wether I pay 600 or 650$ It wouldn't bother me. It's still at a price where most people wouldn't break the bank. Another thing is wether a pure "module" design where you could put 3-4 of Korgs different synths in a frame on one row and use any kind of prefered "controller" with Poly Aftertouch is more desireable than these either mini or not premium full size keybeds. Depends how "iffy" you are about cheap keybeds as many modern both Korg and other brands Synths use these days. They are often horrible cheapish to play compared to a good ole 90's Synth keybed from any of the major brands used to be.
I saw a lot of the announcements from Korg about this and immediately thought I wanted it, no questions asked. I mean, 4 layers of analog sound? Feels like a no-brainer. I‘m glad I came to watch this video because it showed me that this one really isn‘t for me. The 4-layer system obviously immediately reminds me of the wavestate, but I‘d be longing for the multi/poly to be able to sequence like the wavestate does. Hearing that it doesn’t have that capability and I’d need extra machinery to achieve that changed how badly I‘d want it, so thank you for another one of these videos that gives important information like that. 👍🙂
i feel like this is gonna end up being a classic. waiting for the module though. unless they get the gain staging right on the plugin like they did with the modwave. wavestate and opsix natives volumes/gain are so low to begin with, it’s weird.
Hi Bo, thanks for the wonderful video again. While I get that this is a more complex synth than a beginner would need, do you think that if said beginner ignored the more advanced functionalities it would still be a harder first synth to learn synthesis on? Where I live, it is not that much more expensive than a Minilogue xd while seemingly offering a lot more.
Depends on what kind of beginner you are: If you are absolutely new, a minilogue xd is a better starting place If you have produced using soft synths the multipoly is probably not too difficult
Great review! This one looks very cool, though I've barely scratched the surface of my OpSix so I guess I should keep my GAS in check. Definitely agree with the comments on the keys: It's hard to accept a brand new synth at this at this price point with a keybed that's objectively worse than what came with my UltraNova.
pretty cool but... i have too many synths already 😅 how can one explore all these sounds? How has one the time for that? All the love tho Bo! Keep it going!
I pro gigged for 30 years - been out of the game for 15, but if I was still going I most definitely would have one of these in the rig. Depth and versatility - from emulating classic 70s sounds through to layered modern EDM. Would like to discover what aftertouch features I could trigger from a controller keyboard. I take that most control alterations on the Korg Multi/Poly could be SysEx recorded?
Great review. Thanks! I am a full time DJ with a background in jazz piano. People have been after me for years to combine my DJ work with synth. I am a beginner on synths, so would need something with full-sized keys with as-simple-as-possible methods of locating killer lead sounds during a live performance. I have looked at Korg mulipoly which seems pretty cool too, but no aftertouch which I'm not sure is critical for live performance. Any recommendations from your experience?
"as simple as possible" method is using any performance-oriented keyboard synth with a "Favorites" function that you configure at home with whatever sounds you prefer. Alternatively, something with "categories" that can be setup to work in a similar fashion. You best choices are the Roland Juno-D6, Juno-DS61, FA-06, or Fantom-06, or the Novation Ultranova. Also, bare in mind that nearly all of these companies focus on '80s and '90s sounds rather than try to cater to as many people as possible with more modern-sounding presets in a wide-rangin variety (they can, but they won't for whatever reasons), so it will be a big help for you to learn sound design and create your own presets from scratch if you don't find what you want off the bat. Alternatively, get Native Instruments Komplete and one of the Komplete keyboard controllers and play the sounds you want with Komplete Kontrol, the best VST host around. No DAW needed or recommended. Komplete Kontrol does have aFAvorites function that will allow you to assign and pick favorites. During a live performance, no mouse will be needed, you have all the control you need directly from the Komplete keyboard controller.
For me the intriguing feature of this synth is the virtual voice cards( not covered here). Each is customizable, on classic synths like the OBXa you could tweak the potentiometers on each voice card if you were brave enough to go under the hood but it was a pita. As you cycle through the cards with keypress you get nice variation. I'm tempted by this digital beast for sure.
Prologue has a richer analog tone but is super basic compared to multipoly… i prefer prologue but its way less versatile and cant do sound design on the level of this synth
It has this darker warmer tone, not far from early 2000s va synths and not so bright vst-esque. But is it the usual flimsy opsix keybed? I really with they would step up the game and offer something semi-weighted.
Korg claims that it is a new, semi-weighted keybed, different to the one used in the Wavestate/Opsix/Modwave range, still without aftertouch though, which is a big bummer. I'm definitely waiting for more reviews / comparisons between the Multiploly and the older keyboards before I decide on getting it. I hope that it's a better keyboard, because I want the Multi really bad...
If you read up on Radias you only need to look at the oscillator section to see that it is quite different. 2 osc per part and very different choices for those oscs.
I was talking a lot of shit due to the cost and the kind of synth that it is (virtual analogue), but it actually sounds very good. I will wait for the module though.
As I already have the KingKORG (black model) whose sound I love, is it really worth doubling up with the Multi/Poly, another analogue modelling synth? Of course the Multi/Poly is a more modern, more capable synth, but besides all of its terrific extra features, the real plus for me is its powerful motion sequencer, which is identical to that of the Wavestate. There are two things I have always disliked about the KingKORG - its crappy keyboard and the lack of a sequencer. So now that Korg has released the Multi/Poly module, perhaps I should get it to go with my Wavestate SE with its excellent keyboard with aftertouch. Together they would make a fantastic system!
Lovely machine. I don’t know if it’s me but it sounds very eighties. I think I’d love one of these but you’re probably right on the ideal user and as I tend to just use the presets on my MPC and tweak the filter and the envelope on the microfreak, so this probably would be wasted with me. If anyone’s interested my first outing with the MPC/ microfreak is out tomorrow I use distrokid so it’s everywhere 😀( hope you don’t mind the plug Bo)
Nice video Bo! I was wondering, have you ever considered a loop station like the Boss rc505-mk2 as your main 'sequencer'? A synth like this for example and even a simple circuit tracks for beats, both as midi slaves to the looper, gives you a lot of freedom i would think, especially when using also mics and other external instruments (like even a guitar or..) Kind greetings from Belgium!
Out of curiosity, I don't use or know much about Aftertouch. I know the basics like we can modulate the cutoff so its frequency change after we finish touching a key. However, in real life electronic music production and composition, why would we want aftertouch, what would it add and which problem would it solve or make it easier if poly aftertouch is available?
It has aftertouch response. In fact it responds to incoming MPE/polyAT. This keyboard version is to fleece early adopters before the desktop version is released; typical Korg.
@klstay , yes, it responds to aftertouch from a different controller. It's just hard to believe that Korg would release it with a keybed that does not produce aftertouch itself.
@@markkeneson6806 that is not hard to believe at all coming from Korg (or Roland or Yamaha). All three have a long established practice of only putting AT on “top tier” offerings. This is one of the reasons why a desktop version of any of these sub thousand dollar synths from them is preferable.
If I understand it well enough, this could essentially do the job of many synths I own, all in one, while replacing all of these and take up less space on my desk. This beast looks powerful tbh.
Yepp
This is it
Its actually an excellent way of putting it why didnt i think of this 😅 if you rather have one synth instead of 3 or 4, this is the kind of synth to do that
Mult-timbral FTW!
Nice video my friend - I do agree this is more major league synthesis than something simpler like the Minilogue, but the SOUNDS this synth can create and the depths of sonic magic is far wider than the Minilogue. A beginner in synthesis isn't a beginner for long once things click in place.... It was a pleasure to work on the voicing for this synth and hope people dig it once they get one in their hands - this one is very special. :D
Great work! And hope you doing well!
Not sure what it is, maybe the filters, but the sounds are really creamy and controlled. Love it.
Love the new space! Creative space in the back for your own music and a YT space in the front with lights and cameras for the videos. Balance is brilliant! Good job. Korg MoltiPoly- sure!
Got this 2 weeks ago. Can't stop playing with it. Very deep and powerful. Just now figuring out what to do with it musically. It has great potential as a live performance tool especially if you have TWO of them synced up. It's crazy fun just as a toy!
Excellent review. Good job not spending the first 5 minutes talking about the Mono/Poly and the next 20 minutes playing with the Kaoss Physics (like I’ve seen somewhere else).
I feel like this is a very capable virtual analog riddled with distractions. The name has some people asking “how close to the original does it sound?”. 🤔 🤦♂️ Then the Kaoss Physics. It’s a fun addition but I would maybe use it on 5% of the patches (and that’s generous).
It’s like some people are reviewing a very good cake but only talking about the icing. You didn’t fall into that trap, well done! 😎
My main negative points:
- No expression pedal input (that would have made the lack of aftertouch more acceptable)
- One octave too short
- Only one set of knobs to tweak 4 envelopes
It surely has lots of very desirable features as a pure VA (like modelling multiple types of portamento etc. - that’s genius), many very good filters, 4 oscillators per voice (very uncommon I think) and so on.
As a beginner I’m actually highly interested in this synth. I understand it’s deep, but the surface has so much to offer too. This is really a synth to grow with. This sounds like a perfect synth for someone just starting out who doesn’t have the budget or space for multiple synths, and likes the idea of a deep synth with highly usable presets to get you started on your musical journey.
@@johndonovan2743 Yes it's a bit challenging to learn the menu diving and button pressing workflow. Much easier with the computer based USB editor. Not as obvious or logical as a hydrasynth. But having 4 actual poly channels each with four oscillators and two filters is extremely powerful almost like 4 synths.
@ I’m leaning towards a Gaia 2 instead now and picked up a Nyx to fill my analog fix.
As someone who's fairly new to synths (I owned a novation circuit in 2015ish when I was about 15 at the time) I have only used a DAW and midi since after I sold it and just recently picked up a SP-404MK2. I have reawakened my creative side after all this time. I realized I needed something to sample and I wanted the most versatile instrument I could create sounds with. I'm currently in the military and move periodically so I have a somewhat of a minimalist thing going on so I can pack at a moment notice. I ended up ordering this because even though I'm not experienced with programming I understand the concept and plan to master this thing over the next few years. I started this "synth searching" journey when I found a minilogue preowned but when I was about to close in on a good deal it was sold. After compare and contrast on various models of Hydrasynth Explorer, Minilogue XD, I felt like this one had the most refined sound and capabilities despite the slight intimidation of learning curve. Thanks for the video though I've watched this like 6 times now.
Great video, Bo! This one is definitely on my “list.” Have always loved Korg synths; sold them for many years. I like the deep architecture of this one.
Good stuff Bob!
I really love virtual analog, and this sounds great. I really can't believe they aren't giving these aftertouch, come on!
Yeah poly AT would be amazing on these synths!
They will most certainly go the polysix/wavestate route and come out with a super expensive premium 5 octave version with after touch. Show me the money!
@@mh22xv Yeah, I think you nailed that.
@@mh22xv Yes, what you predict I too have stated, but as a wishlist, along with a larger screen.
You can send most of the new Korg's poly aftertouch info, but what good is that if you run out of processor and it leaves notes on, locks up etc?
Most of Korg's new multi timbral synths don't have the processing power to add poly aftertouch and be very useful at the same time.
The Wavestate won't function so well as a multichannel multi timbral slave, which is a shame....
I don't expect this one to be any better, and I am sure it will lock up and be useless as a slave, just like my Wavestate is....
It is fine if you do something simple like the video shows, but you will run out of processing power long before it ever gets anywhere near close to running out of total voices...
The main reason they don't have poly aftertouch in the keybed, is because they barely have the processing power to support it as it is....
These will soon sell for 419 used (Current lowest price Wavestate I have seen), or less, used in short order, just like the Wavestate....
This Multipoly costs 899 new now, just like the Wavestate was, and will be worth 400-500 less in no time at all...
The retail price of these will drop to 699 fairly quickly as well... Just like the others have in this lineup..
Which is still overpriced for what it will be worth when everyone realizes what it actually is....
Buy one and try it, but you have been pre warned........ I wish I would have known before laying out for a new synth, a Wavestate, when it first came out, and they purposely massively devalued it already by reducing the retail price significantly.... I rarely use the Wavestate now, and it basically collects dust..... And I don't expect this one to be any different...
My two cents.... Buy a better synth, and be done with it.... You will get what you pay for....
I Love virtual analog synths! Have the Virus Ti2, but this might be a good combo!!🥳🥳 Well done KORG!!
Whattttt???😲
Wow!!! what a synth!!!it is so nice!!!💎☕🥐❄😃
You're right, it does sound really good. I hope the ADSR on that cold you've got will have a really short release stage and no sustain pedal!
genius
This is an exciting offering from Korg 🙂
I like the WHO IS THIS FOR part. Smart inclusion. It sounds great in your demo, really capable device for the price and as someone else said below, beginners dont stay beginners for long. Virtual Analog has come a LONG way in the last few years.
Looks great! Hope Korg makes a VST of this similar to Opsix, Modwave and Wavestate.
Thanks B(R)O! You answered all my questions 😊
Awesome video!
Wow what a beauty 🤩
Really nice, lately Korg done a good job.
Now please Korg...release some electribe...with the same quality.
100% this!
Great review Bo, thank you! The multi/poly seems a lot like an upgraded Modwave... I'll have to check the differences carefully.
The presets sound really usable for once!
It looks and sounds like a ( much more powerful and capable ) spiritual successor to the old Korg Polysix ( I had one in the 80s - great synth )
4 layers of virtual analog is the killer featuer here, only Nord have done that before. about time they had some competition. fantastic video bo, lovely clean bright overhead view to contrast the moody talking head shots!
Depending on how you're defining VA or multitimbral, what about the Waldorf Q and Blofeld, Korg Radias, Novation Nova and Supernova 2 (6 and 8 parts, each with complete FX chain), Alesis Ion, Oberheim/Viscount OB-12, and maybe the JD-800 (sort of VA)...
@@ReubenSound multimbral as in can play more than one sound at once, splits, layers or different midi channels. i think none of the synths you mention can do that. the only one that comes to mind with 4 parts is nord lead, and they were doing it since the early 90s.
@@ReubenSound i realise now you are confusing polyphony with multitimbral...?
@@WoodyPianoShack Nope, all those synths can play at least four different sounds/patches at the same time, split across the keyboard, or on different MIDI channels. No confusion over polyphony, but of course multitimbrality uses up voices.
Roland SH-4d is 4 part polysynth multitimbral and also has a 26-instrument drum machine as its 5th track.@@WoodyPianoShack
I thought I would never change my Wavestate for another synth but I think this one is it
It sounds almost as good as my Radias rack..somehow it's more pleasant than the ModWav. I like the Kaoss-pad, that is always a nice addition.
Thanks for the demo!
Great resonance on that MS-20 patch!
Thanks for the review and demo. Sounds good, I prefer Roland and Novation for pads and bass I like something like a Pro 1 or a Moog. I liked the other sounds you demoed on this synth.
I actually thought the bass here sounded pretty good, while not detracting from your positive comments about the other synths you mentioned.
@@kengruz669 I'm stuck in the 80's for bass sounds that's why I like the Pro 1 a lot, it's very snappy and punchy.
For the yappers, pair this with the arthuria beatstep pro and your looper pedal of choice
i would run it through my 505 like i already do with my wavestate
I'd say it's for me. If they remove the keyboard and release a module version like they did with the other ones.
Lovely demo and presentation cute powerful synth
Great synth! Will ad to studio for sure
I want to know if the keys are as leveragely challenged as the Wavestate keys.
Sounds frankly fantastic
It really does, would love to hear what it sounds like with you at the keybed one day! I bet you could come up with some amazing patches
Another great review. Thank you.
I'd be very interested if they offered this in a module form factor. Although maybe they are hesitant to do that because other devices controllers might have a harder time dealing with the multi-timbral keyboard splitting. Personally I'd be fine to just do it via midi like you showed with the Digitakt, but definitely a possible constraint.
How long before the module is announced
The touch screen pinball is a really cool idea 😁 otherwise it’s a vst synth with a dedicated midi controller. The amount of sound possibilities are astonishing though.
nice work bo! hello from chicago....
Definitivly a surprise.. I not expected that, also not heard before that comes out... sounds interesting.
But for me I really would like a Desktop Version like the other three... Then I would buy..
Can play it from my Hydrasynth , I dont need a polyaftertouch Keyboard, I have already, would only make the price higher..
As a opsix and wavestate owner, i find this one to be very intriguing . Often i wish the wavestate could be more traditional (but i love the wavestate for being insanely wild) and this seems to be that synth. You did a great job for the time you had to cover this thing. While watching, I started thinking what if four separate keyboards were attached so that each layer could be played independently. That’s assuming that each layer can have its own midi. Kraftwork would have killed. to have a synth like this. I think this would fit a live players scenario very well .complicated yes, but seems to beg to be played live. I hope they have a software editor for it like the other ones because that would turn this thing into an unbelievable beast.
Yes there is a complete editor/librarian!
true the price is quit a thing thees hard days for every one!! but looks very nice all in one !!
3:06 well that’s just a perfect sounding pad there
Very impressive synth that would keep someone busy for a while diving in and mastering it. One could create very detailed, specific, and ultimately unique sounds. Build quality looks good from afar. But, for me, 1) I'd want more octaves on that keyboard, though. It's a polysynth, and begs for a 4 or 5 octave model. I just envision me wanting to go play off to the right and to the left. Sure, I know, I could MIDI it to a controller, but... 3 octaves is short. 2) And w/Aftertouch. 3) And seeing how dependent one would really be on that screen, a Larger Screen, especially on an upcoming bigger keyboard model. It's a menu-diving synth and that screen is tiny.
All valid points I think! Something like this could be a must buy synth if it had a better screen + keyboard! Or multiple screens like HydraSynth
That arp at 1:16 sounds great. I thought maybe it was like intro music done with another synth.
Looks good more dark blue then on the advert photo , good arp
Sounds fantastic.
Sounds good, most VA's do imo, I have a Nord Lead 4 and Modal Argon 8 that sound great, the Nord especially is beautiful sounding. For the longest time my main synth was a Virus and that synth could blow most others out of the water.
Just bought the Argon8, after lots of research, to fill a particular space in my sound pallette. Then, just a few days later, I saw this, and now I have terrible GAS. I will just have to see if the A8 can still satisfy my cravings. At least it has aftertouch 🥲
fabulous sound
Remember the software version of this will be released next
How does it compare with the Novation Summit ?
Sounds good enough. all the building blocks are there
The Kingkorg Neo is also part of the family. And it’s a VA too. Korg should have combined the specs together with this Multipoly and brought out only one advanced VA synth. The Neo has no real reason for existence as it is a clone of its bigger predecessor at the same price level. Why pay the same to get less. But the KingKorg has very good VA filters.
NEO isnt really the same sort of synth tho as the rest. Its like you say... Its a refresh of an older synth, and in terms of polyphony, functionality etc its very different. It does sound good, but yeah its expensive
Yep , you’re right, apart from the form factor the Neo doesn’t really share that much in its concept with the other 3-octave korg synths. If the multi/poly would have the DWGS waveforms as well, the Neo would probably be superfluous.
@@newignisYou can sample/convert/import these DWGS waveforms on this synth if you want to. Korg's website says it comes preloaded with 200 waveforms and permits to converts waveforms to import them via their Editor/Librarian. This means we can design, draw, code and download/purchase waveforms to import and this synth suddenly became even more polyvalent/fine-tunable/customizable/powerful/able to replace most if not any synth we have. This is huge imo.
@@speakingcolors yes indeed, that would make it much more attractive as a sound engine.
22:21 According to loopop the arpeggiator is global on purpose...so that it can rotate between the individual sounds (just like the arp on the Mono/Poly rotating between its oscillators).
Yeah i think it should simply be switchable
@@BoBeats Hopefully it's just a firmware update away. Time will tell.
I love all this music stuff Bob, but when do we get to the food reviews!?!
My instagram stories!! I post regular barbeque stuff there
(No joke 🤣)
@@BoBeats🤣 Awesome!! I will check it out!
First Korg I find interesting enough to consider buying. What a beauty. 🤩
Yep. Same.
That’s wierd most korgs sound amazing
@Tedtt655 It's more of a form-factor, feature-set, and sound-design issue for me than the sound. Their filters are not always the best, but generally, Korg sounds really good. However, their synths are very often too crammed and menu-divey for the kind of features I need the most. This one feels like it has the right blend of subtractive ease with a "first layer" of complexity that is easily accessible and even more crazyness possible if you dive even deeper. And it sounds amazing :)
@balkan2k I don't think Korg makes bad products necessarily, but it mostly has released synths that appeal to a different target audience. It looks like the features they threw together here fit my needs plus the sounds are beautiful. It seems powerful but more hands on with enough depth to discover a lot.
@@dictabeat Exactly.
I think it sounds decent, not great, not bad. It certainly sounds very digital and this is not a bad thing (I have both analog and digital synths and love both), its just the way it sounds.
BUT...after watching the "making a sound" part of the video, I feel the menu diving is quite a thing and this is one of the synths that would be more fitting to come as a VST...because yes there is an editor for the hardware, but I can't see a reason to spend a grand on something that sounds like this...which again, is not bad, but considering the previous similar format, hardware synths from Korg, a VST version of this, at a fraction of the cost, would be more appealing, especially since I am not crazy about the way it sounds, but its an interesting synth, non the less.
What synth doesn’t sound digital 😂
It does sound very nice. But like a lot of people in the comments, I'm also frustrated with having no aftertouch on this version of the synth. At least they have kind of stuck to a blueish/purple colour for virtual analogue. If it isn't blue it isn't virtual analogue in my book. Korg MS2000, Roland JP8000, Yamaha AN1X and newer synths like the Modal Cobalt 8, all blue.
Don't forget the blue Nord Leads 😉
Korg fan & owner from M1 to XD, but couldn't fall in love with this one, despite a great great review. Sorry 😕
Has kind of a Polysix look to it, the Polysix was my 1st synth way back in 1993!
It sounds amazing too!
Who is this for? I guess me- ill sell my hydra and micromonsta. I love how deep this synth goes and the layers just covers everyrhing i need from synths.
@@jakobymaster I have both this and the Hydrasynth. It does NOT have some of the really nice patches and glassy tones of the Hydra. Also I miss the wave shape live display. Maybe I don't know quite how to program it. However the Hydra is a great controller for the MP especially with aftertouch and the ribbon strip. Also you can map in the expression. The Hydra (except the Deluxe) is missing the extra layers.. I could not give up either one.
I’m Not a big fan of the road Korg has taken with keyboards, but this one reminds me a lot of the Nord Wave 2, which I love. Nice video Bo!
Don't know about poly aftertouch, as that requires a much more complicated keybed design alone, but normal aftertouch is pretty easy and cheap to add. the components needed is practically an op amp and a couple discrete components which is a few bucks plus maybe 10-20 bucks for the touch strip off the shelf. So to add it from the factory wouldn't ruin the pricetag. I don't really get why companies avoid this in anything but their Prime keyboards at like 4k+ pricetags these days. Theoretically this wouldn't have to add more than max 50$ to the overall price tag .. so if I want to buy this, wether I pay 600 or 650$ It wouldn't bother me. It's still at a price where most people wouldn't break the bank. Another thing is wether a pure "module" design where you could put 3-4 of Korgs different synths in a frame on one row and use any kind of prefered "controller" with Poly Aftertouch is more desireable than these either mini or not premium full size keybeds. Depends how "iffy" you are about cheap keybeds as many modern both Korg and other brands Synths use these days. They are often horrible cheapish to play compared to a good ole 90's Synth keybed from any of the major brands used to be.
I saw a lot of the announcements from Korg about this and immediately thought I wanted it, no questions asked. I mean, 4 layers of analog sound? Feels like a no-brainer. I‘m glad I came to watch this video because it showed me that this one really isn‘t for me. The 4-layer system obviously immediately reminds me of the wavestate, but I‘d be longing for the multi/poly to be able to sequence like the wavestate does. Hearing that it doesn’t have that capability and I’d need extra machinery to achieve that changed how badly I‘d want it, so thank you for another one of these videos that gives important information like that. 👍🙂
i feel like this is gonna end up being a classic. waiting for the module though. unless they get the gain staging right on the plugin like they did with the modwave. wavestate and opsix natives volumes/gain are so low to begin with, it’s weird.
Hi Bo, thanks for the wonderful video again. While I get that this is a more complex synth than a beginner would need, do you think that if said beginner ignored the more advanced functionalities it would still be a harder first synth to learn synthesis on? Where I live, it is not that much more expensive than a Minilogue xd while seemingly offering a lot more.
Depends on what kind of beginner you are:
If you are absolutely new, a minilogue xd is a better starting place
If you have produced using soft synths the multipoly is probably not too difficult
4 voice multitimbrality is great.
A four octave Poly Synth would have been awesome
Wish they dropped a desktop at the same time
wild that one keypress can turn into a full track
Great review! This one looks very cool, though I've barely scratched the surface of my OpSix so I guess I should keep my GAS in check. Definitely agree with the comments on the keys: It's hard to accept a brand new synth at this at this price point with a keybed that's objectively worse than what came with my UltraNova.
@@Pyroja This synth doesn't overlap that much with the Opsix 😈
Bo.. You probably dont recall another Korg Synth at the similar time. It was the korg Trident.. Now there was a synth.
this looks like a wavestate mixed with the modwave
not gonna lie tho this sounds pretty good.
It sounds nice actually
Dope but I'll just wait for it to come native
Korg should have just made new Z1 with their models or shall I say Yamaha’s synth models with knobs and touch screen galore. Call the Korg Multi Synth
pretty cool but... i have too many synths already 😅 how can one explore all these sounds? How has one the time for that? All the love tho Bo! Keep it going!
Like i said about the elektron boxes
They arnt pokemon, dont have to catch em all ♥️
@@BoBeats thats a good way of saying it! GAS is real asf. Cool synth tho 😂 it stays tempting
I pro gigged for 30 years - been out of the game for 15, but if I was still going I most definitely would have one of these in the rig. Depth and versatility - from emulating classic 70s sounds through to layered modern EDM. Would like to discover what aftertouch features I could trigger from a controller keyboard. I take that most control alterations on the Korg Multi/Poly could be SysEx recorded?
Great review. Thanks! I am a full time DJ with a background in jazz piano. People have been after me for years to combine my DJ work with synth. I am a beginner on synths, so would need something with full-sized keys with as-simple-as-possible methods of locating killer lead sounds during a live performance. I have looked at Korg mulipoly which seems pretty cool too, but no aftertouch which I'm not sure is critical for live performance. Any recommendations from your experience?
"as simple as possible" method is using any performance-oriented keyboard synth with a "Favorites" function that you configure at home with whatever sounds you prefer. Alternatively, something with "categories" that can be setup to work in a similar fashion. You best choices are the Roland Juno-D6, Juno-DS61, FA-06, or Fantom-06, or the Novation Ultranova.
Also, bare in mind that nearly all of these companies focus on '80s and '90s sounds rather than try to cater to as many people as possible with more modern-sounding presets in a wide-rangin variety (they can, but they won't for whatever reasons), so it will be a big help for you to learn sound design and create your own presets from scratch if you don't find what you want off the bat. Alternatively, get Native Instruments Komplete and one of the Komplete keyboard controllers and play the sounds you want with Komplete Kontrol, the best VST host around. No DAW needed or recommended. Komplete Kontrol does have aFAvorites function that will allow you to assign and pick favorites. During a live performance, no mouse will be needed, you have all the control you need directly from the Komplete keyboard controller.
@@Jason75913 So very helpful. Thank you!!!
@@donwoodbury edited my post with extra suggestions
@@Jason75913 Oh my gosh thanks this is so helpful!
So, this works with a USB cabel on PC with full integration, like the Virus Ti?
For me the intriguing feature of this synth is the virtual voice cards( not covered here). Each is customizable, on classic synths like the OBXa you could tweak the potentiometers on each voice card if you were brave enough to go under the hood but it was a pita. As you cycle through the cards with keypress you get nice variation. I'm tempted by this digital beast for sure.
I agree! The voice card thing is very cool!
Great overview of the Korg Multipoly, you make it sound really wonderful! How does it compare to the Korg Prologue?
Prologue has a richer analog tone but is super basic compared to multipoly… i prefer prologue but its way less versatile and cant do sound design on the level of this synth
First! Incredible work Bo!
You win a cookie!
What’s the difference with Korg Modwave synth? You have reviewed both, another new video perhaps?
If i already have a wavestate module, do you still think this is good addition or wavestate is good enough?
Wavestate is good enough, i think you should add something with a different flavour of sound
Would you trade ir for a hydrasynth?
That would be an awesome comparison video topic. If Bo keeps a Hydrasynth of whatever kind in his studio.
It has this darker warmer tone, not far from early 2000s va synths and not so bright vst-esque. But is it the usual flimsy opsix keybed? I really with they would step up the game and offer something semi-weighted.
Korg claims that it is a new, semi-weighted keybed, different to the one used in the Wavestate/Opsix/Modwave range, still without aftertouch though, which is a big bummer.
I'm definitely waiting for more reviews / comparisons between the Multiploly and the older keyboards before I decide on getting it. I hope that it's a better keyboard, because I want the Multi really bad...
Thanks for introducing this new synth. A question came to mind: In what way is this not a repackaged Korg Radias?
If you read up on Radias you only need to look at the oscillator section to see that it is quite different. 2 osc per part and very different choices for those oscs.
Oh, it really sounded great ❤, thanks for putting this up 🎉
Du låter väldigt svensk, har flera frågor till dig. Hur når man dig?
Cracking!
I was talking a lot of shit due to the cost and the kind of synth that it is (virtual analogue), but it actually sounds very good. I will wait for the module though.
As I already have the KingKORG (black model) whose sound I love, is it really worth doubling up with the Multi/Poly, another analogue modelling synth?
Of course the Multi/Poly is a more modern, more capable synth, but besides all of its terrific extra features, the real plus for me is its powerful motion sequencer, which is identical to that of the Wavestate. There are two things I have always disliked about the KingKORG - its crappy keyboard and the lack of a sequencer.
So now that Korg has released the Multi/Poly module, perhaps I should get it to go with my Wavestate SE with its excellent keyboard with aftertouch. Together they would make a fantastic system!
I think adding something different makes more sense! Something that adds more to your sonic palette
@@BoBeats 👍
Sounds lovely, like Dune vst out of the box. It will be a perfect addition to any studio, for some nice quality HW VA style sounds and textures
@@Makis46 The Virus sounds closer to the Virus-inspired Dune3.
Lovely machine. I don’t know if it’s me but it sounds very eighties. I think I’d love one of these but you’re probably right on the ideal user and as I tend to just use the presets on my MPC and tweak the filter and the envelope on the microfreak, so this probably would be wasted with me.
If anyone’s interested my first outing with the MPC/ microfreak is out tomorrow I use distrokid so it’s everywhere 😀( hope you don’t mind the plug Bo)
korg has allays be innovative like Roland' has been !!!
I've been a Korg user for four decades. I hope they make a 49 key version. The current version is too small.
More keys please! 😎
I wonder if this is the same synth engine as the MicroKORG 2?
Take all 9 Kronos engines, extract them...and here we have many new instruments. Brilliant...!
Nice video Bo! I was wondering, have you ever considered a loop station like the Boss rc505-mk2 as your main 'sequencer'? A synth like this for example and even a simple circuit tracks for beats, both as midi slaves to the looper, gives you a lot of freedom i would think, especially when using also mics and other external instruments (like even a guitar or..) Kind greetings from Belgium!
Yeah! I have considered this. But never gotten into it
I cannot believe that Korg released this without any aftertouch.
Out of curiosity, I don't use or know much about Aftertouch. I know the basics like we can modulate the cutoff so its frequency change after we finish touching a key. However, in real life electronic music production and composition, why would we want aftertouch, what would it add and which problem would it solve or make it easier if poly aftertouch is available?
It has aftertouch response. In fact it responds to incoming MPE/polyAT. This keyboard version is to fleece early adopters before the desktop version is released; typical Korg.
@klstay , yes, it responds to aftertouch from a different controller. It's just hard to believe that Korg would release it with a keybed that does not produce aftertouch itself.
@@markkeneson6806 that is not hard to believe at all coming from Korg (or Roland or Yamaha). All three have a long established practice of only putting AT on “top tier” offerings. This is one of the reasons why a desktop version of any of these sub thousand dollar synths from them is preferable.
I rarely use aftertouch, you can assign the same parameters to a control pedal