Funniest User Reviews from the SonicState Archives: Korg Pt.1

Many years ago Sonic State set up a "synth site" where members of the public could share their opinions on popular synthesizers; showering praise or venting their frustrations in a collection of mini reviews. I've recently commenced my dive in to this time capsule of synthesized social history and wanted to share the mirth and nostalgia buried within.

You can experience the archive for yourselves by visiting https://sonicstate.com/synth/ and then scrolling down to this section:

Today we dip our toes into what is perhaps my favourite mainstream synthesizer brand, KORG. Founded in 1962, the company has released an incredible variety of synthesizers, samplers, drum machines, effects and miscellaneous musical contraptions. Synthesizer wise, they've run the entire gamut - from mainstream, workhorse products like the M1 to quirky, wild sounding instruments like the MS20.

1991's 01/W could be seen as both mainstream and wild. Announced as the M1's successor, the 01/W contained a deep synth engine of with brash, adventurous wave-shaping (check the demo above). Whilst not universally popular, some users seem to have developed an...erm, particularly close relationship with the instrument:

"Its powerfull sequencer will make your music dreams worth wild....the 01/wfd will love you if you know how to use her..i know my SYNTHia does :)"

Well, I guess anything that keeps this guy off the streets is a positive. I wondered how one might one "use" a synth in this context? Perhaps this other comment can shed some light on the process:

"I KEEP BREAKING KEYS. I'M GOING TO CUT THE TOP SO I CAN REPLACE ALOT QUICKER WHEN I'M AT A JOB. GREAT SOUNDS BUT NOT A VERY DURABLE PIECE. MY WINDOW SCREEN IS STARTING TO GROW DIM. 10 YEARS OF HARD PLAYING AND I GUESS IT'S TIME TO RETIRE IT. DON'T GET ME WRONG I TAKE GOOD CARE OF IT. I JUST WORK IT TO DEATH."

And Charlie Clouser's DX7 thought she got a raw deal! Of course, one Korg synth is such a battleship that I suspect it will outlive us all - 1986's DSS-1 sampler. It's a bipolar mix of extreme highs (classic, beautiful 24dB filters, digital delays, a novel hard-sync implementation that works on samples) and frustrating lows (clunky DOS, lack of MIDI CC support & only 256kB of memory - which wasn't great even in 1986!) that make for an enigmatic instrument; it sounds incredible - as good as any hybrid synth, if you're prepared to put in the work.

This reviewer didn't agree:

"Am glad I did not buy this piece of junk. even for a $150. no sequencer on this, very little sample ram,tiny interface,very limited effects. korg makes very good synths but the DSS-1 is nothing but an embarrassment to them. people can call this the DSS-0!!!!"

The DSS-0! Fnar Fnar! Mind you, there was plenty of DSS-1 love on display too:

"Stay away from factory disks, they give you a rash ......

Try the unisono-mode ;)

... and you'll f****** kick your EMUlator...."

I imagine this guy with an eyepatch for some reason. Anyhow, during this synth site trawl, I like to find examples of mild civil unrest, and the DSS-0 review clearly struck a nerve with another patron:

"Ignore the review above, this is a very warm and powerful sounding hybrid synth. Totally overlooked by stupid bedroom DJs and tweakers with too much money from mommy & daddy - thank goodness, it keeps the price down. It's still a professional quality synth for pro's who can play keyboards, not one-finger sound designers."

Nowadays, the £5-600 DSS-1 is still fairly cheap or an 8 voice hybrid synth, so I guess those one-finger trust fund bedroom DJ's must still dictate market trends. Talking of bedroom DJ's, and bringing us forward in time - the Electribe range of groove boxes were incredibly popular - each model featuring different synthesis/sampling/effect possibilities. The EMX1 featured a step sequencer married to 16 fairly simple (yet varied) synthesis algorithms - ringmod, sync, vpm, waveshaping, etc. There were also a number of filters, modulators and effects.

I feel with this range, Korg were aiming for mass-market appeal; placing their existing synthesis technology (specifically MMT here - also used within the Radias synth) in boxes that were not in anyway focused on traditional keyboard skills; instead placing pattern and motion sequencing front & centre. Of course, this miffed some people off:

"This one should say on the package 'No musical skills or creativity needed, just plug'n play'"

I was relly impressed @ first! But as soon as you start working with it you realize that this piece is crap! The 16 Synth models could have been reduced to 4 would not matter. A special Modeling mode for an Unisono?? But when I realized that there is no velocity switching in the Parts, I went crazy and smacked that EMX on the floor. 2 points becuz of the Valveforce technology and the little yellow lights behind 'em.

I've had mine for 6 weeks but I finally sold it last night. After delving into it for over 200 hours and 4 songs I have come to the conclusion that is the ultimate poseur machine. It's for people that want a generic dance sound but don't want to work on getting that sound from separate hardware boxes. If you are a sheep and like to paint by numbers then this is the box for you. I'll give it a 3 cus of the cool sequencer and knobs i guess, and because it's a good synth for trance, neo-country and polka.

I tell you what, if AI gets it's way then even the most basic Electribe polka-tweaking is gonna seem like an exotic, niche, human artistic gesture! To be serious for a moment - I've not played an EMX1, but I do have Radias experience. I can't imagine for one second that it wouldn't be possible to create something really impressive & original with it, the building blocks (and weird effects) are all there.

Ah finally, a call to order:

"Guys please, lets play nice!. With the korg-emx1 it is more than possible to create some amazing electro types of music. Personally myself, I'm into 80's music, Jean Michel Jarre, Prodigy and anything which makes a noise. The EMX1 has all the features and sounds for what i make, and it does sound very very impressive. Stop following the idea of everyone else and make something fresh 'for a change.'"

I guess that's a nice place to pause, because wow, next time it heats up. We'll be taking a look at 2002's MicroKORG, the ultimate indie-hipster-straight-across-bangs synth and the ultimate we needed to give our lead singer something to do in this song synth. See you then!

Posted by MagicalSynthAdventure an expert in synthesis technology from last Century and Amiga enthusiast.

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