KORG MICROKONTROL
Apr 1, 2004 12:00 PM, BY ROBERT HANSON
It's a pretty safe bet to assume that programs like Propellerhead Reason and Native Instruments Reaktor are here to stay as part of most musicians' computer rigs. Even hardware companies such as Korg, for instance, are jumping into the soft-synth game. The only problem with soft synths is that these products are not in the strictest terms the “turnkey solutions” that they're touted to be — you still have to be able to play the damn thing. Thus, the industry has seen a deluge of hardware controllers hit the market in the past year. Everyone from audio-interface manufacturers to traditional synth companies have thrown their hats into the ring. And with this, Korg — a name synonymous with some of the finest keyboard and synthesizer products ever built — brings you the microKontrol.
THE SKINNY
The microKontrol packs a wealth of control options into a very small space. The unit includes a miniature three-octave touch-sensitive keyboard (with essentially the same frame as the microKorg), 16 touch-sensitive drum/sample pads, eight nonmotorized faders, eight rotary encoders, eight dual-mode LCDs (located above the corresponding channel strips), a global LCD, a data wheel, four scene/administrative buttons, octave-up and -down keys and a combination modulation/pitch stick. And unlike many of the new hardware controllers, the microKontrol is truly built like a tank. It features a sturdy aluminum and thick-plastic chassis that feels like a real instrument. All of the keys, knobs and sliders feel as though they were assembled to strict standards, giving weight to the notion that the unit will enjoy a long life in most studio environments instead of ending up in a back closet with all of the other $400 fads.
The unit also has quite a bit going on behind its sturdy build. The microKontrol is capable of storing and retrieving both prefab and custom MIDI assignment scenes — it comes preloaded with a handful of popular presets including Reason, Native Instruments Pro-53, Steinberg Cubase and other heavy hitters. Beyond that, the microKontrol doubles as a standard 1×1 USB MIDI interface, allowing you to bring external hardware into the mix. And, of course, the unit boasts full Windows XP and Mac OS X compatibility. It also includes a custom librarian software application that streamlines the process of creating, saving, storing and editing the assignment scenes.
Designed for both studio and work on the road, the microKontrol can operate stand-alone with either the supplied power adapter or with six AA batteries. The unit can also be powered parasitically from the host computer's USB port. And in case you were wondering, the unit measures 20.51 by 9.09 by 2.64 inches and weighs in at 5.51 pounds. Unfortunately, the chassis is just a little too wide for mounting on a pull-out rack tray, but the brushed-metal and black design makes it a great-looking addition to any stage, should you choose to take it on the road.
KOMPLETE KONTROL
To get started, I hooked up the microKontrol to my 1GHz PowerBook running Mac OS 10.2.8. Right away, Core MIDI had no trouble locating the unit's MIDI ports. The microKontrol can send and receive data through the standard MIDI I/O jacks on the back panel, as well as send MIDI Input data on two USB-only “soft” ports. A third USB-only MIDI Out port is reserved for data dumps from the host computer to the microKontrol. (This is probably a design trend you're going to see more of as the USB protocol continues to encroach into all things MIDI. A single USB cable can send multiple groups of 16 MIDI channels in both directions without hassle, effectively relieving some of the “bird's nest” effect that befalls many studios.)
Once everything seemed to be connected properly, I opened a file that I had started in Reason and got to it. The microKontrol itself includes both a preset for the Reason mixer and for the Malstrüm synth. (More presets are included with the software bundle.) To select one of the preset scenes, simply hold down the Scene button and scroll through the preloaded scenes with the sample pads. Once you arrive at your desired preset, simply lift off the Scene button, and you're ready to go.
The first of the factory presets that I called up was Malstrüm. Once I moved the MIDI icon in Reason over to a Malstrüm track, I was able to start tweaking. The factory preset has all of the sliders mapped to the ADSR section of the two oscillators, and the rotary encoders are set to motion, index, pitch and volume. The faders responded the best in this instance because there are clear start and end points. I felt that I had to turn the rotary encoders a little more than what was being represented onscreen. From there, I wanted to try out other presets, like the Reason mixer. There, I encountered an interesting little quirk: The only way that I could get the mixer to respond every time was to create a track for it in the sequencer pane and arm it for MIDI. On certain occasions, if I opened Reason with the microKontrol set to the mixer scene, I could get it to work. Overall, though, I was pleased with the way the microKontrol worked in both instances. The included software bundle also includes a pair of custom Reason files, as well as some Read Me documents that take users through the process of configuring the microKontrol with Reason; the same is also included for other program setups that require some explanation.
The next batch of preset scenes that I wanted to test was the collection of Emagic Logic synths, including the EXS24 mkII and the EVOC 20. To do that, though, I first needed to fire up the included librarian software and load those presets into the unit. The microKontrol librarian software comes loaded with almost 30 preset scenes ranging from Arturia Moog Modular V to Cakewalk Project5, and Korg is constantly adding and posting more preset scenes on its Website.
Loading a preset from the librarian application is incredibly simple. The main screen has an Explorer-style pane that allows you to search your hard drive for available presets. The factory sets are organized by host program and, when appropriate, by manufacturer (Spectrasonics, for example). Once you find the preset that you wish to load, all you need to do is drag it to the center of the screen, where a virtual copy of the 16 drum/sample pads resides. Each pad corresponds to an available preset slot in the unit. After you move all of your desired presets to the appropriate slots, simply click the Transmit icon, and the microKontrol will immediately reflect the changes. With the unit refreshed with the Logic templates, I booted up the program. And like with Reason, the EVOC 20 in Logic responded perfectly.
PAINT BY NUMBERS
The included preset scenes are a nice starting point, but much like no two people take their coffee the same way, users are bound to want to twist the microKontrol to fit their needs. Thus, the design team made it as easy as possible to assign each of the sliders, rotary encoders and pads to whatever respective MIDI controller or note you wish. The procedure is pretty straightforward, but you will need to refer to the manual a time or two because nothing on the main panel really points you in the right direction the first time.
To assign a controller, you must first change the unit to the Setting mode, which is a simple process of pressing and holding the Setting key and hitting one of the sample pads. Each of the first four sample pads corresponds to a specific set of physical controllers: The first pad corresponds to the encoders, the second to the sliders, the third to the pads themselves and the fourth to the pedal-input jack. Once you have entered the appropriate Setting screen, moving or tapping a controller will bring it to the main LCD, where you will be able to specify its MIDI controller number and channel. After all of your controllers are mapped and ready, you can save the whole thing to one of the internal memory slots and call it up at will. Users can also assign controllers to transmit RPNs and NRPNs (registered and nonregistered parameter numbers); the pads can transmit note data, as well as transport control messages and much more.
Creating custom MIDI maps is not exactly the most exciting thing to do — it's the synth-geek equivalent of busy work. Thankfully, Korg has made the process pretty darn easy. And even though the MIDI-controller market is becoming quite a crowded place, it's still a quickly evolving concept. Korg obviously did its research with this one: The sample pads are a great touch, and they are surprisingly responsive. The miniature keyboard took some getting used to, but it was pretty cool to be able grab almost two octaves' worth of keys with one hand. Overall, the company has created a great balance between features, price and durability, and the microKontrol should be considered a serious contender for anyone who is looking gain a little more control of their software.
Product Summary
KORG
MICROKONTROL > $375
Pros: Durable construction. Plenty of controller options. Can be battery-powered.
Cons: Small keyboard can be awkward.
Contact: tel. (516) 333-9100; Web www.korgusa.com
System Requirements
MAC: Mac OS 10.2 or later; USB port
PC: Windows XP Home Edition/Professional; USB port
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