Korg Monotron Delay Analogue Ribbon Synthesizer

The Monotron Duo is a powerful synth in a little package at a very accessible price point. I’ve had a lot of fun introducing it to my live set up. Highly recommend picking one up!StoreDJ is my go to shop for building my electronica suite. Great service and range at the right price.

A toy that's not just a toy!

I'm not a keyboard player, and I'm hardly a musician but I do like synthesizers and love making funky/weird/lovely sounds with them. I have a small collection of decent "real" synthesizers that I'm very proud of and use all the time. This little guy was just a toy to add to the mix, but it's so much more!! Frankly, just about every video game or outer-space sound you want to make can be created on this powerful little synth, and with its' own speaker you can just leave it on the coffee table for guests to goof around with. I'd say it can definitely be used for recording or performance purposes too, it's sounds are unique and enjoyable. If you're a synth-head why not try this inexpensive little gadget!? I highly recommend it.

Awesome, inexpensive analogue synthesizer that fits in your hand!

The Monotron by Korg is an amazing handheld analogue synthesizer--yes, handheld. It's about as big as an iPod Touch and only uses 2 AAA batteries (runs 8 hours). Consequently, it may be thought of as a toy by some who are unfamiliar with synthesizers... but it is an instrument definitely capable of some awesome sounds despite being so tiny. I bought this item because I play in a band and wanted to add some awesome new sounds to our set. This fits the bill! The knobs, switch and casing are all very durable. The speaker of course does not give the full range of sound that the Monotron actually produces, but that's not really a downside, since you'll want to take the little guy with you and jam on it without disturbing your neighbors. Just plug your speakers into the ... MoreThe Monotron by Korg is an amazing handheld analogue synthesizer--yes, handheld. It's about as big as an iPod Touch and only uses 2 AAA batteries (runs 8 hours). Consequently, it may be thought of as a toy by some who are unfamiliar with synthesizers... but it is an instrument definitely capable of some awesome sounds despite being so tiny. I bought this item because I play in a band and wanted to add some awesome new sounds to our set. This fits the bill! The knobs, switch and casing are all very durable. The speaker of course does not give the full range of sound that the Monotron actually produces, but that's not really a downside, since you'll want to take the little guy with you and jam on it without disturbing your neighbors. Just plug your speakers into the headphone jack when you are at home. Cranked up, the Monotron makes some pretty wild noises. The ribbon controller is of course very short, with only a little over an octave, if you keep it set to play one note per "key" (more on this later). The sound is modeled after the famous Korg MS-20, so it can range from cute beeps to really growly synthetic screeching when the peak knob is turned to max. The Monotron is also great for making a simple beat with the LFO knobs--set the rate to the beat you want (the knob is clear and flashes on beat) and turn the intensity knob up to make some punchy rhythm. The switch on the left is for changing how the sound is modified; either play melodies on the "pitch" setting or make outer-space beeps, bloops, and beats on the "cutoff" setting. There is a screw on the top of the unit that you can turn to change the range of the ribbon controller, thus letting you fit more than an octave on it if you wish. Personally I keep it on one note per "key," since you can change the pitch of the entire controller using the VCO knob. This makes it easier to play consistent notes. That being said, the only possible downside is that it may be hard to stay on the notes you want if you have larger fingers, though using a stylus eliminates this problem. Since the ribbon is continuous with no break between notes, it is quite easy to bend away from the notes you are trying to play. But just wiggle your finger on each note to make it sound sort of like a theremin, and you'll be fine. =) There is also an auxiliary input, so you can use the Monotron's LFO and VCF knobs as filters for other instruments or sound-producing devices. This instrument is hard to compare to others since it's so unique. It's a great synthesizer and really fun to pull out at live shows. The large range of sounds makes it great for a number of uses in music, whether you use it for a beat or a solo. If that isn't enough, the Monotron has a great price! It's maybe $50 new, but I got it used for less. I definitely recommend this instrument to musicians and non-musicians alike.

Good little toy (with some pro capabilities)

The synthesis contained in this cell phone sized ribbon "synthesizer" used to cost 10 times as much as well as being 10 times the size back in the 80s. At least the advances in modern technology have enabled the resurgeance of analogue technologies to be both affordable as well as more compact (size-wise). Purists will balk at the fact that one can not effectively play the Monotron as a keyboard itself rather than use it as a noise and sound device. There is actually an input plug on this device which enables the user to plug in an external source and use the enveloppe filters on the Monotron. The delay on this device is analogue as well which means sound decay occurs quite quickly and is also affected by the other enveloppe settings. It's great as a toy, wonderful ... MoreThe synthesis contained in this cell phone sized ribbon "synthesizer" used to cost 10 times as much as well as being 10 times the size back in the 80s. At least the advances in modern technology have enabled the resurgeance of analogue technologies to be both affordable as well as more compact (size-wise). Purists will balk at the fact that one can not effectively play the Monotron as a keyboard itself rather than use it as a noise and sound device. There is actually an input plug on this device which enables the user to plug in an external source and use the enveloppe filters on the Monotron. The delay on this device is analogue as well which means sound decay occurs quite quickly and is also affected by the other enveloppe settings. It's great as a toy, wonderful as a noisemaker, but attention defficient folks may find its limitations tiresome quite quickly due to its lack of flexibility. Even though it is officially discontinued, you can still find very reasonable prices on this item online from international sellers.

Great little device.

I highly recommend it with one small caveat; it doesn't have a line level output, so plugging it into something else is going to require a preamp or something along those lines. With headphones the thing sounds wicked. Running external audio through the aux port is pretty cool on this as well and you can get some sounds of from the delay and feedback that are really similar to the EP-103 delay pedal. For some fun turn up the cutoff so you can hear treble and crank the feedback. Back off of the feedback a bit and then turn down the cutoff to get that deep rumbling spaceship sound. You may have to press a key, but after you get it going in a session you can do this over and over and never get the same results twice. It's a fun little device. It does have a lot of ... MoreI highly recommend it with one small caveat; it doesn't have a line level output, so plugging it into something else is going to require a preamp or something along those lines. With headphones the thing sounds wicked. Running external audio through the aux port is pretty cool on this as well and you can get some sounds of from the delay and feedback that are really similar to the EP-103 delay pedal. For some fun turn up the cutoff so you can hear treble and crank the feedback. Back off of the feedback a bit and then turn down the cutoff to get that deep rumbling spaceship sound. You may have to press a key, but after you get it going in a session you can do this over and over and never get the same results twice. It's a fun little device. It does have a lot of background hiss, so anything you're going to do with it from a serious recording standpoint is going to need a little cleanup. The input and output are both stereo though. Glad I bought it, might hack it and add a line level output to use it for recording. You also might want to add a little padding to the back of the battery door, as the thing shakes around you can hear the batteries smack the back. The little built-in speaker has no bass, so don't get disappointed when you first play a note on it. Plug it into somethingamplified and let `er rip.

If it is a toy at least it is an educational toy

Any sound device that forces a new way of playing on you is good and this does. However it is quite limited in what it can do. I think of it as a simple ear and finger training device that is unique to itself. All ribbon controllers take some getting used to. I like that this one has a recessed area for the keyboard as that keeps your fingers in the groove so to speak and it also gives a choice of major, minor, and chromatic settings. But.. you can't tell what setting you are on except by ear - three indicator LEDs would have been nice, in different colors would have been really nice. Even for beginners I think the Volca Keys is a better choice, but I do find this interesting if not exactly usable in most musical settings. The keyboard is tiny and its range is also ... MoreAny sound device that forces a new way of playing on you is good and this does. However it is quite limited in what it can do. I think of it as a simple ear and finger training device that is unique to itself. All ribbon controllers take some getting used to. I like that this one has a recessed area for the keyboard as that keeps your fingers in the groove so to speak and it also gives a choice of major, minor, and chromatic settings. But.. you can't tell what setting you are on except by ear - three indicator LEDs would have been nice, in different colors would have been really nice. Even for beginners I think the Volca Keys is a better choice, but I do find this interesting if not exactly usable in most musical settings. The keyboard is tiny and its range is also tiny but you can twist knobs to expand the range and expressive possibilities.

Korg Monotron - Excellent bit of Kit - Warp 9 to the Stars !!!

for the small price to pay, in the right hands they make a big big sound thats a clean signal to work with. endless sonic possibilities in a nifty little pocket sized package. Two reasons i dont score it higher - 1st There is no Power Supply Jack input of any sort, it will only take x2 AAA batteries unless modified ( then interference becomes an issue ! ). 2) The batteries don`t last that long , a few hours at tops. Also there is no clear indication as to the controls position. This machine can go quite crazy , and annoying if let loose a little too much. this is my third, one i lost, the other got a drink spilt on it , so clearly i think the word of these little mini synths. good for oscillation effects, Dr Who. Hawkwind & all kinda spacey Sh-t !!

Perfect portable effects unit

For those interested in small and portable synth setups, there isn't much when it comes to battery operated delay units. This is where the Monotron Delay comes in. The internal synth isn't bad and good for noodling around, but once you route a TE Pocket Operator (or any battery powered synth for that matter) through the audio in and delay, you'll see why this little machine is great for small/portable setups. Sure the delay is lo-fi, and maybe this machine could be about $15-20 less for the build quality, but still worth it.

Too Many Quirks for Pro Use

I'm not a fantastic keyboard player, and you don't need to be for one of these. This isn't an instrument as much as a weird noise generator and sound effect processor. First off, it ONLY runs on batteries, no option for a wall plug, which really sucks, because it necessitates changing the batteries before any serious use. Second, due to its analog nature, the sound is basically completely different every time you turn it on, and it takes 5-10 minutes for it to stabilize enough to be useful. My next point is the "aux in" jack. This is basically made so you can put funny sounds over the music on your iPod, but I decided to get stupid with it, and through using a lot of adapters, ran my Casio keyboard into this, and then out of the Monotron into a 15-watt solid state ... MoreI'm not a fantastic keyboard player, and you don't need to be for one of these. This isn't an instrument as much as a weird noise generator and sound effect processor. First off, it ONLY runs on batteries, no option for a wall plug, which really sucks, because it necessitates changing the batteries before any serious use. Second, due to its analog nature, the sound is basically completely different every time you turn it on, and it takes 5-10 minutes for it to stabilize enough to be useful. My next point is the "aux in" jack. This is basically made so you can put funny sounds over the music on your iPod, but I decided to get stupid with it, and through using a lot of adapters, ran my Casio keyboard into this, and then out of the Monotron into a 15-watt solid state keyboard amp. The sound was absolutely drenched in reverb, though the delay controls on both the keyboard and Monotron were off, and the amp didn't have a reverb function. This unit is unstable and will keep you guessing and second-guessing your confidence in it. It's only solid use is for making weird noises, maybe making intro tapes or processing samples for basement/Mac DJs. This can't be used effectively for serious music production.

Weird Noises, for a great price.

I love this thing, it makes so many weird noises. Just be advised, the part that looks like a keyboard functions as a ribbon with increasing pitch, there is no correlation between the pitch and the note that is displayed on the keyboard. None the less, I can't wait to work some of these sounds into my recordings. I have both this model and the Korg Duo Monotron Mini. I love this one quite a bit more, but recommend both as you can link them and bring the analog goodness to the next level. Do beware that analog equipment is a bit loud sometimes, it uses tape, and you can hear that hissing "tape sound". Having said that, I LOVE this thing, so worth the price. I take it on trips with me and plug headphones in on a plane or whatever, and just make odd sounds to pass the ... MoreI love this thing, it makes so many weird noises. Just be advised, the part that looks like a keyboard functions as a ribbon with increasing pitch, there is no correlation between the pitch and the note that is displayed on the keyboard. None the less, I can't wait to work some of these sounds into my recordings. I have both this model and the Korg Duo Monotron Mini. I love this one quite a bit more, but recommend both as you can link them and bring the analog goodness to the next level. Do beware that analog equipment is a bit loud sometimes, it uses tape, and you can hear that hissing "tape sound". Having said that, I LOVE this thing, so worth the price. I take it on trips with me and plug headphones in on a plane or whatever, and just make odd sounds to pass the time.