This is a quick start tutorial and a review of the best features of the Korg microKorg keyboard/vocoder. I will show you how to use the arpeggiator, vocoder, factory reset, solo timbres and more.
Demo Mode
Press SHIFT key and ARPEGGIATOR to enter demo mode
Select Program number 1 – 8 to select a particular demo (good for testing the audio)
Factory Reset & Turn off Locked Protected Sounds
To perform a factory reset on the microKorg
Press Shift + Program Number7 then turn the 1/cutoff knob to select one of the options below
IP9 – Reset only one program, use “2/resonance” to select single program
Pr9 – Reset all data for all programs
GLb – Reset global data
Press the blinking Program Number7 to activate the particular reset
If the unit says Pct (protected) do the following to unlock it
Press Shift + Program Number8 (use 1/cutoff knob to select protection on or off)
Sounds and Banks
16 sounds per bank (Big Encoder Program Select Knob Changes Banks)
8 sounds on side A (use “A side B” button to select A or B)
8 sounds on side B (use “A side B” button to select A or B)
Use the program number to select sound 1 through 8
Performance & Edit Modes
There are two modes you can choose when a sound is selected (performance mode & Edit Mode)
Performance mode
In performance mode the performance knobs (the four knobs on the top right) act as they are labeled
When you change sounds by selecting the program number, it automatically puts the keyboard into performance mode. To renter into performance mode when you are in Edit Mode, reselect the program number (sound) that you are already on.
Performance Knobs:
1/Cutoff – adjusts cutoff frequency, good for sweeps
2/Resonance – adjusts resonance height, good to soften or sharpen sound
3/EG Attack – Adjust the attack time, more time smoothens the beginning of the sound
4/EG Release – Adjust how long the sound lasts after the key is pressed
5/Tempo – Adjusts LFO tempo
Edit Mode
To enter into edit mode and exit out of performance mode, rotate the Edit Mode knobs (Edit Select 1, and/or Edit Select 2)
In Edit Mode the performance Knobs (1/Cutoff, 2/Resonance, 3/EG Attack, 4/EG Release, 5/Tempo) adjust the corresponding values below them depending on which edit mode is selected
For example- if you rotate Edit Select 1 to Oscillator 1 then the 1/Cutoff knob would adjust the value below it in the row Oscillator 1. This value is listed as the WAV.
Solo Layers (Timbres)
Each Program can have 2 timbers (layers) and 2 oscillators per layer
Push Timbre Select to change between the 1st or 2nd layer
The light to the right of Timbre Select shows which layer is selected
When the particular layer is selected, the Edit Select knobs will only edit that particular layer
Press Shift and Timbre Select solo the layer that is selected, when the layer is soloed the light will blink
Arpeggiator
Push Arpeggiator button to turn on the arpeggiator
To edit the arpeggiator sequence,
turn Edit Select 2 to Arpp A or Arpp B and chose the Program Numbers1-8 to select the beats on and off.
To Turn the arpegggiator Latch on and off,
turn Edit Select to Arpeg B and turn the 1/cutoff to select latch on or off
To get back to performance mode while using the arpeggiator
turn the Edit Select 2 out of Arpp A or Arpp B and push the program number you are currently on.
Arpeggiator Slave to External MIDI
To use an external MIDI chords to trigger the arrpegiaotor,
Turn the Edit Select 2 to the global position, then turn 4/EG Release to select pre
To use the microKorg keyboard to trigger the arpeggiator
Turn the Edit Select 2 to the global position, then turn 4/EG Release to select pos
Vocoder
To use the vocoder
Turn the Program Select knob to the green Vocoder selection
Once in vocoder mode, the Edit Select 1 and Edit Select 2 controls the functions in green writing
Push Formant Hold to latch the last note when using the vocoder
Audio In
To run audio through the microKorg keyboard filters and effects
Turn Edit Select 1 to OSC 1 then turn 1/CUTOFF to select Aud
Push the keyboard notes to trigger the audio
Push the program number to trigger performance mode and use the performance knobs to change the cutoff and resonance frequencies
