Minilogue 2-YEAR Review - IS IT STILL WORTH GETTING?
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- Опубліковано 25 лип 2024
- 2 years with the Minilogue and here is my review.
Find the Minilogues in stores here (affiliate links)
Korg Minilogue XD
EU: thmn.to/thoprod/465932?offid=...
US: imp.i114863.net/Rxg72
Korg Minilogue XD Module
US: imp.i114863.net/aymeN
EU: thmn.to/thoprod/480179?offid=...
Original Minilogue
EU:thmn.to/thoprod/379052?offid=...
US: imp.i114863.net/2PbZM
Good alternatives:
Cobalt8
US: imp.i114863.net/eDP4X
EU: thmn.to/thoprod/506277?offid=...
Argon8
US: imp.i114863.net/0bKWL
EU: thmn.to/thoprod/473936?offid=...
Argon8 module:
US: imp.i114863.net/DE9vG
EU: thmn.to/thoprod/483322?offid=...
Korg Wavestate
US: imp.i114863.net/6a3mE
EU: www.thomann.de/se/korg_wavest...
Novation Peak
US imp.i114863.net/zQZYx
EU: thmn.to/thoprod/412523?offid=...
Affiliate links means that I get a small commission if you use them to buy something.
Presets:
NEW 100 PRESETS for Minilogue (original): store.bobeats.tv
My Minilogue (original) Presets: gumroad.com/l/100miniloguePat...
My Minilogue XD Presets: gumroad.com/l/minilogueXDpresets
Videos:
My Minilogue XD Sound Demo: • My Favorite Minilogue ...
My Minilogue XD Custom FX Demo: • 10 AMAZING FX for Korg...
My Minilogue XD Sequencer Tutorial: • Minilogue XD SEQUENCER...
My Minilogue XD Pad Tutorial: • Minilogue XD MAKING PA...
My Minilogue (original) Sound Demo: • DEMO of 100 NEW Minilo...
My Minilogue (original) Pad Tutorial: • How to make an EPIC PA...
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Twitter: / bobeatsmusic
Facebook: / bobeatsmusic
MY STUFF
Presets & samples: store.bobeats.tv
Merch: merch.bobeats.tv
Music: bobeatsmusic.bandcamp.com
COMMUNITY
Discord: community.bobeats.tv
FB group: / simply. .
BUSINESS INQUIRY
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#KorgMinilogue #MinilogueReview #Synthesizer
Find the Minilogues in stores here (affiliate links)
Korg Minilogue XD (US) imp.i114863.net/Rxg72 (EU) redir.love/dlk50GPM
Korg Minilogue XD Module (US) imp.i114863.net/aymeN (EU) redir.love/rLNOZ0vC
Original Minilogue: redir.love/JjsQmfX1
Good alternatives:
Cobalt8: (US) imp.i114863.net/eDP4X (EU) redir.love/nazGt9Tn
Argon8: (US) imp.i114863.net/0bKWL (EU) redir.love/29RChEad
Argon8 module: (US) imp.i114863.net/DE9vG (EU) redir.love/SdJ443ie
Korg Wavestate (US) imp.i114863.net/6a3mE (EU) redir.love/pLjYs9YB
Novation Peak (US) imp.i114863.net/zQZYx (EU) redir.love/CBWO0Row
Affiliate links means that I get a small commission if you use them to buy something.
Presets:
NEW 100 PRESETS for Minilogue (original): store.bobeats.tv
My Minilogue (original) Presets: gumroad.com/l/100miniloguePat...
My Minilogue XD Presets: gumroad.com/l/minilogueXDpresets
you're fire on the synth especially at 8:56 made me feel like I was on mars!
Love this. Great idea. I was just thinking about olderish synths when looking at my feed with lots of reviews of what new and shiny...
I think revisiting older-new classics is a great idea.
Thank you, Bo. Love the concept of a 1 or 2-year follow-up review and hope to see more of these for other gear. Great idea.
Classic video! This synth has something special to it. Great presentation of sounds here, they have revived some more love for the Minilogue! ✨
I have a Minilogue (Limited Ed. flat black/grey colour) and love it. So yeah, I like this video format. Reviewing gear after a few years helps with perspective and insight. Enjoyed it.
Kristian Wontroba i wanted it in that colour but now i got the xd i like it is silver , i also got mine before i saw the gun metal ones
These kinds of reviews are the most interesting to me, because you already know the goods and the bads and can give a more fair review about it. good job and, and also got me interested in eventually getting one second hand!
Hello Bo, good idea this kind of review ! It allows to know if "older" good gears still deserve regards amongst new cool stuffs (capabilities, price...). Thanks for the great job !
Cheers mate!
This is a perfectly timed follow up! I work with a MiniLogue on a show and was lurking for something as simple with its workflow. Thanks for your exceptional work!!!
Great idea to do these longer term reviews. Thumbs up 👍🏻
Thanks, Bo. Just picked up a used one, so I am busy exploring it; keep em coming!
I love the way you say "quirky resonance" 😍
Great 2 year overview. It was my first synth and I learned a lot about syntonization in general from it as it is so easy to work with. I have since moved on with a couple of other models, like a mother 32 from Moog and the new Behringer Model D. As well as a host of other gear, but I started with the minilogue. Keep up the great work Bow...
My brother just lent me his Minilogue as my first as well. I'm just getting used to it. Only half way through learning all it's odds and ends but a shit ton of fun so far.
Love this video! Particularly like the "what is it good for?" section-pointing out what kind of sounds it is best at, as well as what features really shine on the product. I think it's a great idea to do more of these--"revisiting" a synth to see if it still "holds it's own" relative to other newer products out there. It'd even be good to ask: "Is this Minilogue still worth getting now that the Minilogue XD is out?" Comparisons are particularly useful to those of us struggling to decide upon a synth while comparing it to another synth (my guess is that's most of us)--as the cost is always part of the equation, but of course the sound might be the biggest part of the equation.
Thanks for this. It's one of the most useful Minilogue reviews I've seen, and it really clarifies the shape of its sonic space. You have alleviated a nagging doubt in the back of my mind that I didn't even know I had.
I sold mine a while ago and I still miss it. It really added a beautiful lo-fi, retro vibe to many of my productions. And it was fun and easy to use. I think I will buy it again at some point. Definitely a future classic!
Really good concept dude, every musician have a different opinion after 2 years of use. Than using it for a week and being hyped.
Aw man I was planning to do this video for the Monologue. I like the idea of reviewing gear after a few years of really getting to get to know it.
Do it!
Please do the monologue!
Yes do it!
Yep, do it!
Yeah, do it anyway! Even if it was the Minilogue, it wouldn't matter, but the Monologue's a bit different, too
Your patches at 13:15 and on were absolutely lovely. Great work.
great video - i remember watching videos on the minilogue back when i started out learning synth stuff and its interesting to check this device out once again while actually understanding everything being said. i will most likely get a minilogue in the future. glad you took the time to go over the "alternatives" - imo there is no real alternative for the minilogue at this price point if you want a device that you can use for live performances. i need my buttons and knobs dontchaknow
It truly is a great synth.
very helpful. Super glad I found your channel.
I just love the layout looks so clean might have to get one
Thanks for the critical look at this synth after much time with it. Just got one so it’s been eye opening to hear what some of the weaknesses are but also how to compensate for them too. I like the workflow and sound so far and it works well with my mpc. Cheers
Super video. I'm considering Minilogue for some point in the future. Very informative.
I picked up a Minilogue. Build quality & work flow make it a lot of fun.
Your video on whether the Circuit was still worth it sold me on that instrument and I LOVE it. Your Minilogue video may do the same.
Great video :-) I'm still using my Minilogue and just accept that it's different to my other synths and try to embrace this difference. I actually prefer this synth to my Moog Sub37 if I'm honest. Not sure if anyone has mentioned this but there's a whole new set of patches for the Minilogue from Korg - available for free. They've provided new packs most years since this synth was released.
Lovely synth, seems very quick to work with. Good to see a review and to hear your thoughts BO, after the initial hype is over. ;) Considering adding it to my collection.
Very good review. Thank you for uploading
Really like my minilogue, It’s a keeper. Wish list.... No menu, everything on the panel, full size keys. Pitch wheel that’s more than a fifth above and below, modulation wheel
Love your videos.. thanks for all your work! cheers
thanks!! Have a great weekend
I’ve been a musician for 30 of my 35 years, and just now getting into synthesis in a meaningful way. Considering several options for a first hardware synth and your videos (especially this one) have been very helpful! Thanks so much!
I love that KORG went for a metallic, cold and icy sound, there truly aren't enough analog synths that go that way, many of them are wannabe Moog synths, which is nice, but someone has to make a moody, steel edged synth!
Finally someone who understands that Cold = Great!
Amen!
I am a HUGE Korg nut and love a lot of the stuff they do. I own or have owned a tonne of their synths. I have tried over and over again to love this synth but I cannot. It sounds thing, whispy and I dare say rather bland. Yes, I understand it's a sub-$600 analogue polysynth, which is pretty incredible value. I just don't think it sounds very good. For good cold analogue, I prefer the old Akai AX series synths from the mid-1980s. Not because they're old and 'vintage', but because they have so much character.
Every sound I hear out of the MInilogue definitely has a sound, but it all sounds very much tinny and the same. It doesn't do bass particularly well. It doesn't do leads particularly well. It doesn't do squelchy well. It does some decent pads, but nothing that comes out of it sounds any way astounding to my ears. I dare say it sounds like low cost soft synth.
I really hate the way this thing sounds. BLEUCH!
@@JayKaufman I like the minilogue a lot personally.
But I'm so glad you mentioned the AX's, I want an AX80 so bad!
@@JayKaufman The moment I hear someone say "doesn't do bass very well", I already know they've missed the picture with the Minilogue.
If you're looking for warm analog sounds that have a great bottom, Moog synths, the ARP Odyssey, anything from Oberheim, Junos do some good bass too (especially with that chorus), etc.
The Minilogue is a cold synth. Sure, it's analog, but analog doesn't = warm. It usually does, because that's what the general mass of musicians think of when they think of analog synths - it's an associative thing going on there. But analog doesn't have to = warm.
To really appreciate the tone of the Minilogue, pair it with something like a Machinedrum (also cold), and/or maybe a cold FM synth like the TX81Z. When you start to put it in a compatible context, you start to hear it really shine. I blame Korg for marketing it with buzzwords all over the place. Its strength is that cold tone. 13:55 is a great example. (& the delay is really authentic lo-fi)
I'd bought it on a whim and hated it pretty quickly. I've had a love/hate relationship with it, and almost sold it a million times. But then it makes its unique mark that makes me remember why I kept it. 13:39 is a great example of one of those moments. Imagine a Monomachine or a Machinedrum supporting that.
I rather like the noisy delay! Gives a rather nice quality to the sound. I get that it's not everyone's thing though.
Agreed. IMO little imperfections & stuff like that is what gives synths their character & uniqueness. Sometimes I like that noisy/crunch delay, sometimes I turn it off & use external delay, & sometimes I use the Minilogue's crunchy delay PLUS external delay & effects. It's fun to experiment. 😊
...it makes a copy from a copy from a copy...its either an analog delay or attempting to emulate a tape delay, where the sound degenerates as a part of the nature of the delay design. As a guitar player its very common and a lot better sounding IMHO.
The Minologue is a great synth with lots of capabilities and freedom. The USB noise has to do with ground-loops and internal grounding, that can be solved by having a common ground for all gears connected to the USB or a dedicated USB Hub with highend ground. As far as the "click", it's extremely great to whip-up some definition in the sound, as well as adding some punch in a base or that pulse to drive a lead sound. The envelopes are fast and responsive, which I totally dig. The only "second thought" as you also pointed out is the noise in the delay department. I have heard Korg was going to fix this in a firmware update but never seen it coming alive? Else the noise can add texture to the soundscape and actually lift the sound when you add an analogue compressor or top off with a reverb like "Big Sky", that's just an orgasm :)
I still like the Minilogue and the bomb for me is the sequencer, arpeggios and chord modes. That really is fun to play around with. Eg. Have a 120bpm baseline and you set the chords from the ML to 60bpm with 50dly and 70% feedback :) Then you get a nice combo with the impression you have more steps in the sequence than you actually have :)
Thanks for the great walk in the park! Keep them coming.
Can't wait to hear your thoughts on the new Minilogue xd!
I went in a store and tried it out today randomly. I had fun with it. I never used a synth before but was interested. Thanks for this video, helping me confirm that I'll buy it after I reach my goal.
Great video and I love the concept.
I love my Minilogue. I've had it since it was released and have only come to enjoy it more over time. I would say that it takes some patience and time to explore what it can really do and how to mold it to your liking. I also find it very easy to use and even accessing the menu options is simple. Synth flavors are very personal and this one suits me just fine. Yes, the delay is a bit noisy, but it's got a lot of character. Putting it in context, I have a Sub37, Erebus V2, Digitone (I know, not analog), and variety of eurorack voices. The minilogue has a special place in this family of machines. As for the concept of a 1-2 year later review, I think this is a great idea. It helps to cut through some of the bad press that may be inaccurate and can help people discover great stuff on the used market. Props, Bo!!
i bought my Minilogue right after they came out & still loving it! sure it's not perfect but it has a lot of character, the raw grittiness of the sound really cuts through mixes & the pitch bend is way more ergonomic for me than any other keyboard. just a really intuitive & well designed instrument imo especially for the price range
A good and clear review. Thanx BoBeats
I WANT THIS! Looks like hours of fun :D
...and you will finally get it! But wait, there's
more. You'll get the XD version!
Yupp, mine's arriving today:))
Yes it really is, got mine this year and am happy it was my first synth.
btw great idea looking back over recent purchases, nice video.
had my minologue for about two years and i still use it in every track, i love it, never wanna sell it.
Great demo/review!
Try electribe sampler 2.After almost 3 years of use i am glad to strongly recommend this peace of madness to you.Its cheap as circuit almost, it has very similar sounds to minilogue and monologue and i am sure that if you go really deep on it you will find the psychoacoustic vibes you are looking for.I read to many bad reviews for this product but if you go deeper you'll understand that you have a different historical digitakt and more.With respect and love from Greece.Keep going your fantastic work and pls give us more live session jams in your channel by your own soul.xxx
2 year review. Great concept. Cheers.
Awesome I Love It! You Are Making It Sing...
great vid again Bo. Thanks..
I don’t think I’ll ever get rid my of my OG minilogue. It’s was amazing as a starter, it can’t really be beat in the price range, and even now it really has it’s own unique sonic niche in my setup
I really like the idea of revisiting gear like this. The signal:noise of new gear often drowns out plain good gear regardless of how old it is. Well done!
Minilogue is the one synth that has stayed in my collection the most!!
I bought my Minilogue when they came out and liked it from the beginning. I'm still using it also on my live setup also. The good thing about the Minilogue is that it's it's own thing, a different animal than the other synths. Some people call the sound "weak" or "thin", but there is a need for that kind of sounds what the Minilogue makes at least in my music. I have a lot of other different synths too, but Minilogue stands as it is. That's the whole thing, not all synths are even supposed to sound the same.
This vid is great, but seriously needs a remake after the firmware patch they added a couple months back.
They added customisable microtuning (with presets), toggleable key trig mode, changed the slider range, and added asterisks and arrows to the LED display that indicate the original position of a preset's values. afaik it's all ported from minilogue XD, but they really didn't have to do it!
Very helpful, thanks
Watching videos about this synth and playing with it more and more is causing me to love it more than ever. It's truly one of the biggest "grower" synths I've ever seen or heard of. I remember getting it for $500 when it was still very new, and it's how I learned synthesis. Now I can do things with it I couldn't have dreamed of back then, and it still continues to surprise me to this day! It can even get surprisingly warm-sounding, contrary to what many demos and opinions would have one expect!
I have the XD version...the board is one the best I've ever owned! I simply love it.
I just bought this bad boy today. I can't wait to get my hands on it.
Thanks! Bought a minilogue a few months ago. love it. Might get a monologue or Berhinger Model D. So many great options.. but of course, if you have the money... Moog all the way.
Amazing video man thx
Thanks for a superb video.
Very good job reviewing the Minilogue.
Excellent review
this gave me asmr.
Everything i should know about this synth!
Really helpful, thanks Bo
I have to say, this is probably the best video I've seen of the Korg Mini. I've always kinda wanted to buy one, but decided to go for a more traditional keyboard, although with some fancy quirks like hammer-action keys. Maybe I'll get it later down the line when I have first learned to play the darn thing :D
You got a like as soon as I heard you play that very first little piece of music.
I own a Minilogue and a Monologue. If you're looking for easy work flow, quick to acquire a nice sound, the Minilogue will certainly welcome you in that aspect. It's certainly not a Moog, finding those smooth curvature creations, distinctly, its far from it.
The Monologue is really its own beast, and while you can have focus concentrated raw sounds from it, tailoring your frequency to get the proper sound in my experience takes more time. It forces you to understand synthesis, how a certain attack/release frequency is defaulted in a switch, versus a knob. Or your LFOs having Fast,Slow, T.Spot options in a switch vs wavelength to that on the minilogue.
Having only owned the Minilogue as my first synth, I found myself challenged with the monologue, which is no bad thing. If I had to start over I might've chosen the Monologue to be sure I got a good understanding of synthesis flow, but sheer fun no doubt is at the finger tips of the Minilogue.
you are just AWESOME !
The pricepoint and hands on control of Minilogue = can't go wrong with this one. Enjoyed this video!
Thanks BoBeats! Nice watching your video.
Follow up videos are my favorite. When a new product comes out we often get a flurry of videos about the latest flavor and then they dry up and we don't hear another thing. I like these videos where someone who really knows the instrument goes into what they like about it and what they don't this is far more helpful for me in my purchasing life then the cult of the new, i.e. always having the first video out about the latest gear that most of us can't afford...
I have both the Minilogue and the Deepmind (12), and both have very different and unique characters. The Minilogue arguably has better raw synthesis than the Deepmind, but the Deepmind's superb built-in effects blow those of the Minilogue out of the water. The DM's mod matrix is also pretty huge and boosts the raw oscillator capabilities into the stratosphere. In short: two very, very different synths. Both keepers and future classics.
I heard it was hard to get to different settings, like you have go through a lot menus to access just ADSR rI something similar. Is that true?
I was ready to pull the trigger on a DeepMind (for me, it was the 6, but this applies to the 12 as well). Then I found out there is no audio in, and no CV (sync) in/out. That caused me to buy a monologue (used for $200) and now I’m getting a minilogue for $300. If the DeepMind 6 had the same CV’s as the MS-101, I’d already own one. Incidentally I looked at the MS-101 since it was about the same price as the Minilogue. I chose the Minilogue because I can see the waveform in the oscope and it is polyphonic. I’d prefer the CV in/out of the MS-101... but giving up the polyphony AND the oscope for CV in/out to me just wasn’t worth it. I understand these are all MY needs, MY opinion and that someone choosing the MS-101 or DeepMind may make complete sense for their use case. I have NO problem with that, and am NOT saying one is better than the other because brand or anything other than use case.
*wince
@@EverettVinzant $300 for the Minilogue is a god damn steal, lucky you! I got it for $500 back when it was only out for less than a year and I still believe it's worth it. How are you liking the Mono so far? Oscillator Sink has some excellent tip/tutorial videos for it if you haven't seen them already, like how to use the resonance as a 3rd oscillator, the LFO as a 2nd pseudo-envelope, getting more LFO's in the sequencer, and more.
Mikeureko Thanks for the tip. Hadn’t checked out Oscillator Sink. I’m loving my Mini. I set up the Mini to be the “left hand” and the mono to be the right. I can tune them similarly, sync them, set them to different octaves and enjoy. I also use them as midi controllers on my iPad. I’m having so much fun just making noise...
Hi Bo, your playin’ is really cool here
I had mine on the chopping block a few months ago, but the more I dig into this synth, the more I love the sounds I'm getting out of it.
Hell yeah man!
I actually love this synth's sound. It's by far the best sounding synth at it's price point
Thanks !
Man you look like John Haughm, useful video, thank you!
Ive had a Minilogue for almost a year and I still dig it. If you want hands on controls and don't mind an analog modeling (digital) synth the Roland Gaia can be found at a decent price on the used market. I have one of those too and it's good for what it is I think.
My 1979 Yamaha CS-15 is clicky (all CS are). But I have learned to "cover" it.
Great helpful review! Can one wish for a comparison with the Prologue?
DAMN NOW I MISS MY MINILOGUE. THANKS A LOT. >:(
I need this now
I had a Minilogue for a spell. For around $500 it might be the best entry-level synth on the market. But it has a few minor flaws beyond what you mentioned. The lack of easily-visible marks on the knobs can be annoying if you are planning to program your own sounds. The pitch bender/lever is in a poor location on the panel. And the shift key is critical, as is the little OLED menu window if you want to access advanced features. Now some positives to add: The overall build quality is quite good and best in its price class. This synth can also CV sync with Volca synths/samplers/dm's, the Korg SQ-1 sequencer, Teenage Engineering Pocket Operators and some Arturia MIDI controllers (e.g. Keystep). Overall, I recommend the Minilogue.
Knob markings are easily fixed with a white paint pen :-) (And since there’s a groove for the paint, the final result looks factory-made.)
What is CV sync?
Minilogue or something else? Discuss here! Don't forget to connect over at twitter.com/bobeatsmusic & instagram.com/bobeats
NICE VIDEO THIS IS SUPEME !
SHERMAN FUHRER ON FACE BOOK ...OOPS !
For the price, one can get Oberheim Matrix 1000 and enjoy endlessly.
I love my monologue! It's awesome for sound design and plays nice with my volcas, pro one, and kawai k3m
It's a great synth, can definitely recommend.
I have been told on a synth user forum that USB-cables are unshielded so when connecting any hardware synth with a USB-cable to a computer make sure that the cable does not come close to electrical cables. Cheap trick, worked for me, the noise went away!
Yeah I have seen workarounds but also people not being able to solve it with the Minilogue in particular. I solved it by using a quite expensive USB adapter which helps with usb noise (don't remember the name). Great product but also very expensive :/
You can buy shielded USB cables. They're a bit more expensive but may be worth it if you're having trouble with noise.
High quality content. Thank you for the upload!
I've just been having fun putting the Minilogue through the filter of an Arturia MiniBrute 2 to do variations on the Who's 'Won't Get Fooled Again' sound , modulating the filter and amp with the 2 LFOs, it's given the Minilogue a new lease of life!
You're not cutting the high frequencies, you're cutting the bass with a highpass filter. And you're not mixing two LFOs in the Mixer. Haha. Great video. Love my mini. Specially the noisy delay.
Yeah you are correct with the HPF. I always say it wrong. The mixer however I say VCO, but maybe I slipped up :-) thanks for pointing it out
Very helpful video
it's getting some more competition with the reface cs and the deepmind 6/12 going down in price.. but i still feel minilogue is the best due to its unique original sound . i wish it was at least 6 voice but again 4 adds to its uniqueness in a way
FINALLY bought one...my first synth!
Me too :D The sound compliments the Psychedelic Dream Pop album I'm working on right now very well.
good idea =)
HI Bo
Great video
Still loving my Korg Minilogue!
I just purchased a Behringer ADA 8200 and I want to hook it up to my Focusrite claret 8 pre-x. are there any issues with these units?
Not really any ussues I think. I use a ada8200+clarett 8 pre and it works
The noise might be solved trying a different outlet or putting on ferrites (the cable might pick up RF).
As for resonance eating the low end is the same with Moog ladder filters, the M32 with one OSC is particularly prone to this.
The Minilogue is a great synth at a bargain price imho, polyphonic, presets, sequencer.
An alternative this is may be the Korg ARP ODYSSEY, paraphonic, no presets, no sequencer but big sound.
I wonder if using a usb ground filter would help the usb situation ??.
Fantastic revisit to, what i feel is a very well maturing synthesizer
Thanks for the insight! I'm sure this video will stay relevant for years to come, as more and more people get into analogue synthesis. I'm curious though: what piece of hardware would you recommend for a warm pad sound? Cheers!
Warm pads: Novation Peak
I always found an advantage the "click" of the Minilogue. You can remove it if you want. The only thing that has no way in this synth is the LFO Rate. From the 75% it jumps up and accelerates very fast: it doesn't seems anything with an analog rate progress.
I love my Minilogue even more now with the recent update from Korg. Any chance of a video demonstrating your take on its new capabilities?