MINILOGUE XD PATCHES

Korg Minilogue XD review

I started working with this synthesizer three times and it was only the third time that I succeeded. At first I was put off by the lack of a modulation matrix. When it comes to modulation capabilities, the Minilogue XD turns out to be more limited than the MicroKorg, which has been produced for 20 years.

The second time I tried to create my own oscillators and effects, because it seemed to me that this could be the real power of this instrument. Unfortunately, it turned out that although Korg had an excellent and innovative idea, its implementation in practice leaves much to be desired: if you are not a professional developer, you can forget about quick and efficient creation of your own oscillators.

It was only the third time that I managed to create a set of sounds that I was happy with. You can buy this set today on this page.

Paradoxically, I think the strength of this analog synthesizer lies in its third, digital oscillator. It's not the first time Korg has done a really good job with the instrument's potential and capabilities. And not for the first time, the ux is a bit lame here (as in the aforementioned Microkorg).

Despite the lack of a typical modulation matrix, we have access to a quite large library of various digital oscillators. Despite the inability to integrate the LFO with several parameters at the same time, we get a hidden "extra" LFO with pitch modulation. What's more, Korg also hid an additional envelope assigned only to the third oscillator - thanks to this we have the ability to create living, organic, complec sounds. Of course firs you have to find and learn all those tricks. It took me a while personally.

There's something frustrating about what at first glance feels like a "knob per function" synthesizer requires a rather tedious and repetitive diving menu. After some time, however, you can get used to it - then the real fun begins.

Two analog oscillators and a filter did not impress me with their sound. As I mentioned, the third oscillator turns out to be extremely helpful here - also when we put it in noise mode. We have as many as three types of noise, each of which can be additionally modified bypassing the master filter. What's more, the entire third oscillator can be excluded from the classic synthesis chain bypassing the filter - this gives additional possibilities when it comes to sound design.

In short - Minilogue XD is a very good continuation of the classic Minilogue, although I have the impression that it is not the final form of this product line yet. If the instrument received, for example, a software update adding even a modest modulation matrix on board - it would be great.