For discussion about setting up your studio and advice on the gear and equipment within it.
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By crossings Sat Jul 24, 2010 12:55 am
it's a one-trick pony... anyone that already owns a synth would be wasting money by getting this. it's just a stylophone in a more fragile casing. :?
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By distortedtekno Sat Jul 24, 2010 1:07 am
crossings wrote:it's a one-trick pony... anyone that already owns a synth would be wasting money by getting this. it's just a stylophone in a more fragile casing. :?

i wouldnt be wasting money on it at all. it's all about the ms-20 analog filter for a different sound other than the curtis filters on my evolver or the 3 pole filter on my x0xb0x.
$59 later i'll have one more filter to tweak out parts of my tracks on the 1k. the 1k's filters aint bad for digital, but the korg kills it.
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By J-tawn Sat Jul 24, 2010 1:43 am
at first i was like this sounds bad but after a while i kinda liked it( pause), and that filter sounds like butter so id get it i like KORG. I got a microKORG right know funny to say i can hear that this monotron is korg for sure
By Destinite Wed Jul 28, 2010 12:53 pm
Anyone who owns a synth would be wasting money buying this...riiiiiiiight. Have fun tossing your Phatty in your pocket. Not that it's anywhere near an equivalent, but it's something I could see myself having mad fun with on the road, like with my Kaossilator. And $59? I just came. Buying one today.

Check this guy out - did an entire track with the thing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zn4D79Jgn_4
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By distortedtekno Wed Jul 28, 2010 8:37 pm
Destinite wrote:Anyone who owns a synth would be wasting money buying this...riiiiiiiight. Have fun tossing your Phatty in your pocket. Not that it's anywhere near an equivalent, but it's something I could see myself having mad fun with on the road, like with my Kaossilator. And $59? I just came. Buying one today.

Check this guy out - did an entire track with the thing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zn4D79Jgn_4

Cool video. I love it when people get the most out of just one synth. Now THAT'S creativity!!!
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By dbz Thu Jul 29, 2010 1:28 pm
Almost bought a stylophone recently, will probably get one of these.
By Destinite Thu Jul 29, 2010 3:56 pm
Got mine last night at Guitar Center - out of the Sam Ash and 3 GC's in my area, this one only had two left. The kid behind the counter asked me if I wanted to pay for the replacement plan. For real? On a $60 piece of kit? Then I asked if he had any Electribes out to demo and he straight-up told me he didn't know what an Electribe was.

ANYWAY - I'm so digging this thing. I might put together my own Monotron song like the dude in that video. Got a tight kick drum thing going this morning. Only thing that bugs me is the hiss when you plug in headphones. And just **** with the filter and my mp3 player was a blast. Fits great in the pocket, too.

Plus as you don't **** with the knobs while it's off, the sound stays just as it was when you last had it on.
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By polarAC Thu Aug 12, 2010 8:55 pm
Whats also important is that this first time that one of the big 3 (Korg, Yamaha, Roland) has gone back to REAL analog synthesis. It is a very small step, but I expect Korg will come out with a bigger analog unit if this thing takes off.
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By distortedtekno Thu Aug 12, 2010 9:24 pm
polarAC wrote:Whats also important is that this first time that one of the big 3 (Korg, Yamaha, Roland) has gone back to REAL analog synthesis. It is a very small step, but I expect Korg will come out with a bigger analog unit if this thing takes off.

Yeah I've been thinking the same as well. Korg has been keeping my interest for a while. I'm loving the Korg DS-10 Plus for the Nintendo DSi XL and I cant wait to run it through the Monotron's filter. 8)
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By Pastor-of-Muppets Thu Aug 12, 2010 11:31 pm
polarAC wrote: It is a very small step, but I expect Korg will come out with a bigger analog unit if this thing takes off.


or even not a bigger one, just a slightly improved version (e.g. midi control) like the progression from DS-10 to DS-10+

I ordered mine today
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By bliprock Fri Oct 08, 2010 3:42 pm
Could not say no!! guys in the shop new it and i was just there to get MPC 1000 harddrive adaptor kit. I have synths and did say i wanted to get another 1. My mate had a Real MS20 so have played with the ms20 filter before so knew it was good idea to get 1 just to plug stuff into it. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND A NOISE GATE though.....im limited with no large mixer at the moment but imagine feeding samples out your mpc1000 through it or viceversa, sample through the filter into mpc. OR even do both at same time, yeah both at same time lol.....Which reminds me that i wonder about feedback and how the old MPC 1000 deals with it. will search here for that now.

AND ....ITS REAL ANALOGUE so i rekon its just gonna be a good old fasioned VCO, remove ribbon controller and plug in a CV from something and Hey Presto you could controll pitch and note on and note off right??? just make sure its the right type of CV as korg is different to moogs i think. Yeah wicked so then you get some old drum machine or midi to CV converter and play that Korg Monotron sequenced from your MPC. Im gonna have to do that.

O and i forgot that you gotta tune it first. get a screwdriver and go DO RE MI so you make the range of the controller a full octave like a real keyboard. do this after its warmed up first though...

too much fun
By jellyjim Mon Oct 11, 2010 9:40 am
Yeah man. To all you Monotron haters, you're missing the point. This thing is just fun fun fun. It's like a little puppy on amphetamines wetting itself any time you come near. I like watching TV lying on the sofa playing with it (the Monotron not the puppy) ...

... and then when the fun's over and you put through some proper monitors .. it might have toy like features but try telling me it sounds like a toy ... oh know it doesn't .. it sounds like an analogue synth .. fat, loud, brash and creamy.
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By switch18 Tue Oct 12, 2010 5:27 pm
I have a Korg MS-20. The resonant filter on that thing is among my favorites and what makes grown men salivate on command. The one on the Monotron is super sick and amazing too & very close to the original.

There is a video on Youtube with a guy comparing the raw oscillator of an MS-20 and the Monotron. I was blown away. They were nearly identical.

The Monotron synth made my studio walls shake. No lie. I ran it through a Space Echo & a Kaoss Pad and the thing just wailed like a siren. The deep bass drones I was getting were jaw dropping.

The built in speaker is alright, but plug into a system and see what it really does.

It's not a rompler so if you're looking for a piano sample or a clavinet, might not be your cup of tea.

My only challenge is the ribbon keyboard. A stylus would be nice, like my Stylophone, but I'm just going to use it for drones so don't really need the keys.

For the filter alone, this synth is worth it.

I agree with the above. That they're making a genuine simple synth like this is a good sign of things to come. Monotron XL, here we come. My wish for it is the exact same concept, but a controller (XY pad) like my Kaossilator.

Also, don't forget the modifications you can make to this are infinite. I've seen CV mods, expanded modulation & even someone controlling it with an analog sequencer. There is already hundreds of options for modification.

Don't like the case, take it out and make your own. See, you can do that with analog synths, not romplers!!!

I've purchased 2 of them. I have lots of analog synths, but I think the Monotron's are a steal at the price.

Can you tell I love my Monotrons?!?! :lol: