Korg Minilogue

The Minilogue is great for getting the grips with analogue synthesis and ever since I got this synth, about a month ago, I’ve been creating 3 to 4 patches per day – just for practice, just for fun. So far I’ve discovered how ringmod can dirty-up the sounds (combined with pitching VCO2 an octave highter than VCO1), for instance, and I’m also getting awesome results by applying a negative envelope on the filter. Even made a ‘vinyl scratch’ using the envelope (quick attack, quick decay) on the pitch.

Ease of use: I didn’t even RTFM so far :-)

Build: Very classy looks! I’m thinking of placing a mirror behind it so I can see the wooden backside :-) The small screen is big enough for all info, and I just can’t stop watching the oscilator reacting to my tweaking.

Whishes: Would be awesome if you could filter VCO1 and 2 independently, though.

Update: 4 months ahead and i'm still making new sounds almost daily! The manual wasn't clear on this, but you can overwrite the fabric patches (1-100), meaning you can save up to 200 user patches in total!

Update 2 (june 2021): still making patches daily, including some 808 like percussion sounds!

Update 3 (dec 2022): programmed all 200 patches, keep on getting awesome results :-) One thing though: the Korg patch saver for Windows doesn't work well (unless it's the FIRST midi-software you install on your pc/laptop, apparently).

i'm not a keyboard player, i play guitar, so i'm am not a big expert in synths. For me 4-voice polyphony is more than enough, and the fact that it has medium keys makes my playing easier ( but i am not used to normal keys, so maybe it's not an issue just for me)
the fact that most of the functions have it's own knob, it makes it easier to change parameters fastly.
of course this synth may not sound as full as expensive analog synths do, but actually i think in the mix it wouldn't be so obvious.
an ideal start i think for those who are new to analog synths (like me), especially becouse of that little screen that shows how the waveshape changes

I am a guitar player that dabbles with synths and keyboards. I think the Minilogue is simply fantastic! It has a logical layout of controls that are ergonomic and simple to understand. The Minilogue is great for beginners who wish to learn how synthesis works. The OLED display shows the waveforms, which is helpful, and is easy to read despite its small size. The unit is small and light, making it very portable.

The mini keys themselves might put off some discerning players but they're fine for me. Some might not like the modulation joystick, but it's also fine for me. One can always connect an external MIDI controller if need be.

The only thing I think needs improvement is the delay effect. It is quite noisy. The pre- / post-filter routing, however, is very cool. If I desire cleaner effects, I use external gear. You can get a lot of mileage out of this synth and a couple of stomp boxes.

All in all, it is a top-notch beginner synth with its sound, its four voice polyphony and portability. It is well worth the money!

For me, the Minilogue blows both the Korg MS-20 mini and the Monologue out of the park.

The Minilogue is simply a better Monologue with poly function to the extent that I accidentally downloaded the Monologue user manual without noticing. So rather than buy the Monologue, wait till you can buy the Minilogue instead. Now compared to the MS-20 Mini, the sound is much more aggressive and crisp. In my opinion, Korg has finally created the successor of the MS-20 the MS-20 Mini should have been. A soon to be classic and promising entry for affordable analog poly synths.

Now to my biggest problem with the Minilogue: a quality case. The Korg Minilogue bag that is recommended for it is too expensive for its bad quality. If you want a soft case buy the Thomann pedal bag instead. I wanted a hard case so was disappointed that no such case exists for it atm. I therefore spend another 160 Euros on Thon's Economy Suitcase case. Please case makers, give us a proper case.

Conclusion:

If you want a fully poly analog synth of good quality and sound in this price range, you won't find anything better at the moment.

This synth offers a lot for the modest (for a fully analogue synth) price: 2 oscillators, LFO, delay, frequency filters, up to 16 step sequencer, arpeggiator, motion record, midi and beat sync, and much much more.

It is a lot of fun to use: recording up to 4 motion sequences (yes, you can record tweaking your filter knob!), odd time sequences, analogue delay (!), not mentioning modulations, envelopes, and all sorts of different things.

A tiny display is just great visualisation tool, it is actually very engaging to see how the waveform actually changes when you twerk the knobs.

Great first synth to learn the basics of sound synthesis, capable of creating deep, reach sound (especially if processed through some external effects). More than reasonably priced. Nice look and stylish wooden back panel included!

It lacks midi thru, which many (me included) would appreciate, but not a big deal.

Overall: well done KORG.