Since the MKii is effectively a VST in a box, I’m thinking it would be possible to modify the existing (or future) firmware or for someone to roll their own. Of course this could result in a Microbrick ii…

Impresses me more & more every time I hear it. Some of those haunting ethereal sounds are terrific

Not worth the trouble.

Maybe not to you, but depending on how much excess power is hidden in the hardware it could be expandable by multitude voices, respond to external aftertouch, have added waveforms, etc. while keeping the same intuitive and friendly interface. This might be even more relevant if the box is going to be available for 20+ years. At this point it’s difficult to gauge how much “trouble” it really is—seemingly more difficult projects have been user modded for lesser reasons.

I like this fantasy, I've got a wishlist if anyone's willing to rework this thing, but I'm just being real. The chances that a skilled enough person think this is worth spending their free time on is highly unlikely. They'd have to really really really love their mk2 to spend their energy there instead of elsewhere. Korg has by far the greatest tools, skills, and monetary and other incentives to make firmware updates to this thing and I'm not expecting them to do much with that, particularly at this point in time where we don't even know if the product is going to survive on the market, let alone stay for 20 years. I think the OG microKORG is the only synth ever to have achieved that exceptional feat. Yet AFAIK no one has hacked into that, even if it's possible to do so.

Hardware mods are fairly common, software ones are really really rare. The mk2 is far from being the first so-called "VST in a box" and that didn't lead to a rise of software hacks.

The reason the MKOG would be difficult to upgrade to any extent is because the hardware and the firmware are closely tied—sure, one could add a feature but how does one interact with it? Also, a great deal of the software that probably exists is in firmware form—how does a normal user even get to it? MKii is more flexible thanks to the way its interface and executable code is put together. There’s a chance that the MKii could be viewed as a long-term boxed VST worthy of the effort given its potential to become such a long-termer. Until someone or someones looks at the code and understands its potential or lack thereof, I doubt flippantly writing off the idea expresses honest foresight.

But, for what it’s worth, the internet probably wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for people asking “what if?” followed almost immediately by a slew of “why even?”s before any real brainpower is put into the problem—I suppose we’ve made our contribution here and for that the webs is truly blessed.

I've watched that video so many times.
This bass sound demo is just as awesome!
https://www.instagram.com/p/DEki57qRDq9/

I concur completely. Running off a cpu with some base OS slows the envelopes and especially transients of sounds.

Hi all, I am new to the forum, and to synths in general. I am a bassist but was a pianist when I was child so can move my fingers on keys.

I just purchased a microkorg 2 for 530,00 (since the OG Microkorg is priced 400,00 in the same shop, getting the mk2 black edition with a soft bag for 130,00 more didn’t sound bad). For me, as a newbie, looks (great interface), works and sounds gorgeous. It serves both to play around and to be connected to my Roland VB99 and trigger synth sounds on my bass via pitch to midi (latency wise).

I have 2 questions at which I can’t find an answer in a plain english fashion (I am really a beginner).

1) how can I record the Korg into Iphone Garage band? Read that I need an interface such as a Focus Rite, but I saw people just connecting a camera kit and a USB. Now, the MK2 has Midi in-out ports, a USB-C and an Aux-in port. Which ports and cables should I use exactly to record, a camera kit and a midi to Usb cable (from the Korg midi-in to the camera kit)? Or an aux-in to USB? Or a cable from the korg USB-C to camera kit Usb? Confused!! What can I do exactly with the audio-in, connect a player and hear the music I can then play on? Not clear which in-out need for what :(.

2) my keybed is pretty uneven, not only talking about the space between keys, but some have 1-2 mm height difference and not only the last key. As a new, not really cheap item, not be willing to open it to fix it by myself, should I return it and get a non defective one, or it is completely normal fir such synths? Or is it due to the fact that it is new and will fix by itself with time?

Thanks all!

1) To record the SOUNDS coming out of the microKORG into your iPhone you need to:

- Connect the left and right audio outputs of the microKORG to an audio interface
- Then connect the USB output of that audio interface into the iPhone. This MAY require the use of a camera connection kit or some other adapter if your iPhone does not have a USB input that matches up with the USB output your audio interface.
- Note that not all audio interfaces will work with an iPhone, look for one that is class compliant.

1b) To send and receive MIDI signals in and out of the microKORG you typically use its USB connector when connecting to a computer or iDevice.

MIDI signals don't make any sounds, they're control signal that let machines control one another. You could use the microKORG to control software synthesizers running on your computer for example. Or use an app to play the microKORG.

The microKORG also has 5-pin MIDI In and Out connectors, those are typically used when connecting to other hardware devices with similar connections.

1c) The Aux-in is typically for connecting an audio player or some other line level electronic instruments. You can have the sounds pass through unaffected, like a backing track for you to play over. You can alternatively apply a variety of effects to those signals, or record them into the looper.

I strongly suggest going through the microKORG 2 manual, and generally researching any terms and subject you are not familiar with. There's no hurry but there are a lot of topics to learn if you want to get comfortable in the pro audio world.

2) I can't answer that, you'd have to compare with other units to see if its within the norm. I suggest taking pictures and posting them here, maybe other owners will chime in and see if it's similar to theirs.

Thanks a lot!

Oh Wow, then I am missing so much the possibility to record the loop. I guess that by sending drums samples into the looper through the aux in, I could then build bases. So so sorry that this lasts until the MK2 is turned on.

Korg! Make that happen with a firmware update!

On the recording point, ok no way to connect it directly to the Iphone. I have a couple of nice pieces of equipment for my bass though, and I remember that at least one of them works as an audio interface too, allowing for recording. Have to check on how to leverage it as an audio interface for the MK (via midi I guess).

My keybed seems perfectly straight to my senses (both visually and feeling the keys... this seems like it might be an issue with your specific device)

Edit: A bit uncertain what you mean, you say speak about space between the keys, but then you say height difference.
There is no concernable height difference on mine but there is a slight (does not affect playing and only visible straight above) difference in the spacing, but more like .5 mm or less difference. Perhaps you could provide a photo of what you mean so we can comment on if it looks normal or strange?

I'm betting there is no storage space to save that audio buffer through a power cycle, so that might be very unlikely to be a firmware update.

I see it more as a jamming feature then anything else. I want to use it as a performance tool and live loop stuff but so far I'm struggling to make it behave with other gear. (it jitters and de syncs with all 3 sequencing devices i have tried so far)

Edit: i finally found a clock source steady enough for the looper to work. Turns out my handy little midi-hub/swiss army knife the RK-006 has a really good and stable clock. I set it as master clock for the MicroKorg 2 and a drum machine and was able to layer chords and bass on the drum beat and then jam out with some leads. Fun! :D

Yes, I mean both! Many keys with different spacing, mostly visible but none affecting functionality, and 3-4 of them with a height difference too (up to couple mm more or less)! All playable but not acceptable for a new item and not exactly a 20 euros toy. Had in any case 30 days no questions return, but was shipped back free of charge as was recognized as defective.

PS: can’t see how to load pics from phone, see only an URL

You’re right about jamming but you know, in a sea of studio focused mini synths and VST controllers, microkorg was devoted to live performances in a rock band fashion too. A jam means something like soloing for a few minutes (at least) so that you can build up all from scratch. But there are not only electronic parties performers or studio youtubers out there, there are also bands performing precise things with precise timing and all has to flow accordingly. If I need a sequence, then have to add a sequencer with ready sequences to play upon, right? I find the looper very limited in this sense. I have a 2008 Roland machine for my bass that has more or less the same looper, and so was before than 2008. The MK2, being a 2024 machine, and on the high part of the market segment (price wise), could have that. It offers a lot, but could be perfect from my point of view (which is no-pc and no-vst setup on gigs), with:

1) a sequencer with basic drums presets;

2) a different on-off button. Indeed, its super annoying on-off button behind is so invasive, geometrically stupid as it’s the only part going out from the flat back panel. Also, with batteries in, it turns on so often when moving around in or out the flight case and in general, I strongly believe that they had to use a much more discrete, and less toyish,…button, as it feels extremely cheap too).

3) divided keys. So annoying that a so powerful machine can’t stand songs where there are 2 different sounds playing. Most being a pad on the left and a lead/other on the right. I guess that I could overcome this with a pedal getting one 4-voices sound on the keys and a different 4-voices sound on the pedal).

Everything else is up to you experts but from the point of view of a simple user like I am, these 3 improvements would make the perfect Microkorg. Add me integrated speakers then, and would be happy to burn 700,00 bucks instead of 530,00.

Since you're new to this stuff let me offer you some context:

1) KORG skipped on implementing a sequencer into the original microKORG because it was hard to fit within its matrix interface, choosing to enhance the simpler to use arpeggiator instead. People have grown to really like that arpeggiator and the (relative) ease of use of the microKORG is seen as one of its strong points, so later microKORG have followed a similar formula. You'll see a similar pattern in direct competitors like the MiniNova and Hydrasynth Explorer.

I don't know why they chose to add a looper this time around but I presume ease of use was a factor. Loopers are commonly used in performances too, they just have their own play technique. I think it complements the vocals effects in particular.

Regardless, if a sequencer with drums is essential look into the JD-Xi.

2) For what it's worth, it looks like the same button they've been using for the two previous generations of microKORG, and I don't remember hearing people having any issues with it.

3) 3 octave keyboards are too short for proper splits, and multitimbrality make synths harder to use. There are some exceptions (like the microKORG XL incidentally) but you usually have to look at bigger 4 octave keyboards to get those kind of features. The microKORG 2's ability to at least layer parts is above average.

The synth that comes closest to your ideal microKORG is the JUPITER-Xm, it even has built-in audio interface capabilities so that you don't need an another device to record it.

It however costs about three times as much and is significantly harder to use than the microKORG 2

The microkorg 2 is in theory capable of using a different midi channel for layer 2 so you could use a external keyboard or sequencer to do that.

I have however not experimentet much with that yet, and don't know
how you would set it up to be audible but not play along with the main keyboard, and I have heard from various yt vids that the midi control of layer 2 is.. not reliable.