NAMM 2019: Korg Minilogue XD polyphonic analogue synthesizer with bells on
Korg Minilogue XD · Source: Korg
Korg Minilogue XD · Source: Korg
Korg Minilogue XD · Source: Korg
Korg is on a roll with the third reveal of the day – the Minilogue XD. Like the new Volca Drum and Volca Modular images of the Minilogue XD were leaked but that does nothing to take the shine of the arrival of this Minilogue on steroids.
Minilogue XD
Is it everything we hoped it would be? Yeah, pretty much. We already loved the Minilogue but the XD brings in that awesome digital multi-engine oscillator that’s made the Prologue more and more interesting. It also adds an upgraded sequencer, micro tuning and a new effects engine. And, for me, there’s something about the balance of the layout that’s much more pleasing.
We still have the 4-voice polyphony but now the structure is 2 VCOs plus Digital Multi-Engine, 1 filter, 2 envelopes, a VCA and an LFO. Along with wave shaping and sync/ring modulation, there’s also cross-modulation, a two-pole filter with drive. The effects at the end use 32-bit floating point DSP processing and feature modulation, reverb and delay types. You can run the voices in Poly, Unison, Chord or Arp modes. And they’ve added a joystick for pitch bend and modulation or whatever you want to assign to it.
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That digital multi-engine
This is a really big deal. This third oscillator is equipped with three different types of sound generation – noise, a Variable Phase Modulation (VPM) and FM oscillator plus the all-important user slot for adding a growing number of oscillators created by the community. This really pushes the potential of the Minilogue XD into other realms and for people like myself who have spent the past year pondering the Prologue this could be the more space-friendly synth that gets our money.
Sequencer
The 16-step sequencer gets 16 buttons right on the front. It supports both step and real-time recording and you can edit steps on-the-fly. You can record the movement of up to 4 knobs for each step and of course you have your 4 notes of polyphony to play with.
Intelligent design
The Minilogue XD looks great. The balance of the front panel, the sequencer buttons, the joystick, the black and the wooden behind make for a superbly gorgeous synthesizer. The little organic EL display is also fabulous. On the back there’s a stereo output, a damper pedal input and two CV inputs. All very nice.
It’s not new or groundbreaking but it pushes a decent synthesizer to a place of desirability. It’s the sort of synth that could even distract you from your modular rack. Can’t wait to have a play on one.
More information
- Korg Minilogue XD webpage
Video
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