MicroKorg vs Alesis Micron

laura woodswalker · Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 7:16 am Post subject: MicroKorg vs Alesis Micron

Hi! I am looking around & researching a small synth with lots of effects (I think it is called an analog modeling synth) to go along with my basic 61-key Yamaha keyboard. I was at Guitar Center fooling around with a MicroKorg (that little one with 37 mini-keys and a vocoder). I thought it was cool except that the interface is way confusing and is labeled for "rap/hip hop" "House" "techno" etc. Who wants to be limited to only a few genres?

I looked it up online and found there is a comparison war going on between the MicroKorg and the Alesis Micron... also a 37 key synth with lots of effects, and it also has a very cool feature, a sort of phrase-capture mode. Kind of 'on-the - fly' arpeggios & stuff. That would be very cool for jamming, esp. if you have 2 keyboards hooked up!

Well the MicroKorg has more dials than the NASA command center, and the Alesis has about 3. (each button does a million things though.)

Has anyone played these, and which do you prefer? I will probably save up and wait 6 months or a year before buying more equipment. I need to learn to play what I've already got first Laughing

Mohoyoho · Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 8:23 am Post subject:

They are both excellent instruments. For on the fly tweaking, the Korg would be a better choice because of all the knobs. I don't like its keys, however. The Micron has a better keyboard and has some wonderful sounds. Many believe the Alesis Micron has a more "analogue" sound. The Alesis has 8 voices and the Korg only 4. The Korg has a big brother called the MS2000 and the Micron has a big brother called the Ion.

As far as the "Hip Hop," "Techno," labels, don't be concerned with them. That Korg can do all genres of electro, and so can the Alesis. The Micron has some pretty extensive capabilities as far as modulations, but there is some menu diving involved. I guess the best suggestion is to use your ears, and pick the one that sounds best for the purpose you intend.

laura woodswalker · Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 8:47 pm Post subject:

Mohoyoho · Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 9:26 pm Post subject:

Don't judge a synth on its presets. Those are set up to entice what market the manufacturer thinks will buy the most synths at that time. Judge a synth on what you can do with it. Those presets can easily be rewritten with patches appropriate for you.

I think the Alesis would be a wise choice. I own the Alesis Ion, and I think it's a very nice synth.

kvnvk · Joined: Aug 27, 2006 Posts: 105 Location: Texas

I've owned both and although I'd agree the Micron had a better sound imo it was a bigger pain to program than the Microkorg. personally prefer the "matrix" styled programming of the Korg over the menu-diving on the Alesis synth, it may appear to be a bit confusing at first, but once you get the hang of the process it really is quite easy and intuitive. plus I was able to create some quite useable and interesting sounds on the Micrkorg.

laura woodswalker · Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 5:05 am Post subject:

kvnvk · Joined: Aug 27, 2006 Posts: 105 Location: Texas

it's been about three years since I've had either synth in my posession, so my memory is a bit vague on the specifics. as for saving your own patch sounds both synths should have a write/save/store button on the front panel, although on both you will have to first turn off the memory protect (which is on to keep the patches from accidentally being overwritten). if I remember correctly on the Korg you have to turn off memory protect each time the keyboard is powered on if you intend to save your own sounds, whereas on the Alesis once it's turned off it's off until such time you decide you want it on again. only downside to the Alesis is that I recall having trouble finding out exactly how to turn of the memory protect function (I don't think it was made clear in manual and I just had to figure it out on my own. the Korg, in comparison, is simple and straightforward in this regard). on the Korg you just overwrite the onboard presets (which was perfectly fine with me, didn't like most of them), I think the Alesis has both user locations or the option to overwrite existing presets .
I never messed with the "latch" function of the Alesis, so can't tell you anything about it (didn't keep the Micron around long enough once I got tired of the menu diving). if anything it probably is similar in function to the "hold" button the the Nord synths, which will hold the last played note/notes until you play another. with patches using the arpeggiator it will repeat the arpeggiated phrase without the need for you to continously hold down the keys. and to be honset I don't remember if the Microkorg has a similar function... I know I was able to create a few continously playing droning patches, but I think this was accomplished via routing in the mod matrix section and did not incorporate the arpeggiator.
as for "patterns/loops" on the Korg it just has the arpeggiator, which is saved as part of the patch data if you happen to use it with a particular patch. I know the Alesis has a step sequencer and arpeggiator and I'm guessing a seperate rhythm sequencer.
as for the splits and not having enough room over 37 keys to play a lead and rhythm if your Yamaha board has MIDI you could st everything up on the Micron and use the Yamaha as the keyboard controller.
anyway, from the standpoint of functionality the Alesis will give you much more than the Microkorg. sorry if this isn't as helpful as you'd like, but like I said, been quite some time since I've owned either synth, but from what you've been saying my guess is between the two the Micron would better suit you needs.

laura woodswalker · Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 5:12 pm Post subject: