NAMM News - Alesis Ion and Korg Micro Korg

[Roland]

Any word from NAMM attendees on how they like either of these two new synths. The Micro Korg looks pretty cool. Battery operated (mini keys may be a pain) and lots of great sounds.

http://www.korg.com/gear/images/products/enlarge/lrg_MICROKORG.jpg

Alesis Ion sounds like it may be really promising too. :)

[Roland]

http://namm.harmony-central.com/SNAMM02/Content/Korg/PR/MICRO_large.jpg

[Paul Grib]

I've heard from inside sources that the MicroKorg isn't visually impressive when having it in front of you and that the sound is only that much less of it's " Big Brother" the MS2000. As far as the Ion I think the one at Namm was a non-working protoype. Yet I've heard great things of it's spec and development. The Ion should be released by Dec if we're lucky. The price will be around $750US which will put it right up against the Novation K station.

[Bob]

the microkorg's are out. The Ion's are pushed back to February...

[Bob]

The December issue of KEYBOARD includes the Korg microKORG on its cover.
It is reviewed in their "Holiday Gift Guide" and won a KEYBUY AWARD.

Here are some excerpts from the microKORG review:

* "Don't let its small size and mini keys fool you. This is a
little monster of a synth."

* "...the microKORG is possessed with some monstrous sounds.
Pads are lush and thick. Cutting lead sounds abound, basses range from rude
to obese, and there's even a pretty good analog Wurly imitation."

* "The 8-band vocoder is arguably the marquee feature here,
especially since the mic is included and designed into the case..."

* "There's really only one thing left to say: This thing's a
winerr, y'all, and an easy Key Buy."

[Felix]

From what I heard, the microKORG sounds great (no less impressive than the MS2000), and though it's small, the design is intuitive and simple (the large data dial reminds me of a Moog Source). I was blown away by the fact that Korg even includes the microphone to use with the vocoder!

I'd like to have seen full-size keys, but that price tag helps me forgive that small point. After all, I did manage with my DX-100 just fine back in the day!:D

Too bad the ION has been delayed. Hopefully they'll be showing a fully operational version at Winter NAMM.