New Korg synth, the Monotron

[flat earth]

This is quite fun.

Polytron using a sampler:

[kilon]

Originally Posted by audibleobsession

Yes, sure is, but a gate wouldn't help things (too noisy when its on!). The only solution is to just LPF it around 8 or 9Khz then pass it through a more musical EQ to give it back some air now that the noise is gone (I like using UAD Helios 69).

It's really best though for bass as I'm finding, since it's fun to make smooth and fat sliding lines that would otherwise sound very tacky, toyish, and ultimately thereminy as a higher lead. Here's my take on Benny Benassi's Satisfaction (previously described EQ chain, plus side chained with a monotron kick drum...nothing too special). Also attached a second original tune below it:

Hey I really enjoyed both of your videos very much. I think you could go abit further with the Benassi bass and I think you could have gone further with your composition in the tiger dance. But both are very good music, the first one I enjoyed thoroughly the video as well. by the way, very cute dog.

The second had better sounds than the first, but abit repetitive. But again very nice song. What I can say about the video ?

BOOBS DANCE

It always fun to see some unique ideas like this pop up in the forum and youtube video. I love youtube for this alone.

[VictorStar]

Originally Posted by danielb

The Monotron certainly has tons of character - it really doesn't sound much like anything else that I have.

It is also surprising versatile, considering its limitations. The reason is the extreme range of all of the values available, particularly the range of LFO speeds, and the pitch range of the VCO.

It is a bit noisy though, but IMO not enough to spoil it.

Right, and remember we're talking about a 60 dollar synthesizer here!

I paid a lot more for my Chimera BC8, which is pretty similar in function.

[gordonmerrick]

Originally Posted by flat earth

This is quite fun.

Polytron using a sampler:

Great video/project.

[Leviathant]

So I just found out today that Korg released the schematics for the Monotron to the public - http://www.korg-datastorage.jp/Manual/monotron_sch.pdf (and if that's been pointed out in another thread, my apologies for fragmenting by posting about it here, too)

I just picked up a 500mm softpot (ribbon controller) from Mouser that I'm going to try and hack on to mine, but with the schematics being released, I decided to try and organize a central site for sharing modifications that I do, or that other people do, if I can collect a decent enough pile of mods - modotron.com (there's not much to look at just yet)

I did something similar back in 1999 when I bought a Boss DR-110 -- having found a service manual on eBay, I made a site - bit.ly/dr110 - and put the schematics online, and a whole slew of fun mods came about from that. I'm hoping something similar in spirit comes about at modotron.com.

[tumbleweed]

Originally Posted by Leviathant

So I just found out today that Korg released the schematics for the Monotron to the public - http://www.korg-datastorage.jp/Manual/monotron_sch.pdf (and if that's been pointed out in another thread, my apologies for fragmenting by posting about it here, too)

I just picked up a 500mm softpot (ribbon controller) from Mouser that I'm going to try and hack on to mine, but with the schematics being released, I decided to try and organize a central site for sharing modifications that I do, or that other people do, if I can collect a decent enough pile of mods - modotron.com (there's not much to look at just yet)

I did something similar back in 1999 when I bought a Boss DR-110 -- having found a service manual on eBay, I made a site - bit.ly/dr110 - and put the schematics online, and a whole slew of fun mods came about from that. I'm hoping something similar in spirit comes about at modotron.com.

great initiative, I'll definitely be checking this site out once it gets going!

[Llitsor]

There is a Monotron modders forum already. Obviously it's new, so not many people on it yet, but it has some posts already and should grow.
The Unofficial Korg Monotron Forum • Index page

[GeorgeHayduke]

Yea, nice site!

I just wanna know one thing: How to run this thing from my regular Kenton CV converter. I'm not buying it until I find out, and I don't wanna buy all sorts of 3rd party external addons which would clutter up my work space.

[Leviathant]

Originally Posted by Llitsor

There is a Monotron modders forum already. Obviously it's new, so not many people on it yet, but it has some posts already and should grow.
The Unofficial Korg Monotron Forum

Yeah, I was checking that out later that night, I'm looking forward to all the stuff that people come up with. What I hope to do with my site is sort of consolidate stuff... it's kind of the same way I started my NIN site @ theninhotline.net. There was a lot of info out there, but I wanted to make it easier to sift through the cruft.

I'll likely be duplicating a lot of info from other sites, but only with permission, and always with credit and a link to the original. When I did my DR-110 site, I had initially only linked to other people's mods, but then their sites all started to disappear, so I figured hosting locally is a better option. None of my sites are going away anytime soon

[audibleobsession]

Originally Posted by audibleobsession

Yes, sure is, but a gate wouldn't help things (too noisy when its on!). The only solution is to just LPF it around 8 or 9Khz then pass it through a more musical EQ to give it back some air now that the noise is gone (I like using UAD Helios 69).

It's really best though for bass as I'm finding, since it's fun to make smooth and fat sliding lines that would otherwise sound very tacky, toyish, and ultimately thereminy as a higher lead. Here's my take on Benny Benassi's Satisfaction (previously described EQ chain, plus side chained with a monotron kick drum...nothing too special). Also attached a second original tune below it:

Originally Posted by kilon

It always fun to see some unique ideas like this pop up in the forum and youtube video. I love youtube for this alone.

Thanks alot for the nice comments! You're right, it does get repetitive but I just wanted to show off what the Monotron can do, put them both together in less than an hour. I've been having fun making very random videos, so I'm glad to hear that people are liking them My pug was just a puppy there, he's a bit older now (9 months or so). Great dog! He was freaked out by a track zipping by and then by the cheering in the random song (which I think contrasted well with the benny benassi haha). Maybe I will take that Tiger Dance and turn it into a song though, it is a cool little riff. And yes, what more can be said other than BOOBS DANCE hahaha

[audibleobsession]

With all the great response it's gotten, I can't imagine Korg wouldn't make a Monotron 2 or (monotron XL?)...what features would we all llike to see? I call for a real keyboard in an AKAI LPK25 type of size...I know others will want midi, but not me...what about you guys?

[Ojd]

Today i've tried monotron with some keyboards/organs. I really liked how volume control adds grit and distortion - nice. Volume pedal would've been better, though. Cutoff knob is really essential for this kind of work. Behringer FCV + Filter CV mod = must be really fluid workflow from now on. I really didn't realized that monotron is a great stompbox! Also "Minimoog feedback" trick doesn't work, because it overdrives even without feedback At max it just like the cranked resonance. This trick certainly works with moog filters (its a native feature of the moog lp).

LFO is the main limitation - no tri wave? The reason is really simple - LFO is just another osc, tuned down, SAW CORE osc to be specific (like ARP Odyssey). It means, to get TRI, it needs loads of additional circuitry. Also they are the easiest to make (like this one electro-music.com :: View topic - Super simple V/Hz VCO ). Anyway its a fun toy. But i wouldn't destroy it with modding, for 303 bass buy 303 bass (or xox, or mam, or whatever, its not cool anymore ), though nice hip-hop subbasses, also theremin tones (i played "neonlights" some days ago - nice ), but that's about it. It also damn noisy (there are mods to bypass noisy headphone amp), but not really noticeable with 1 or 2 tracks, if your arrangement contains like 20 overdubs it would be apparent. If KORG releases any PRO version i'll buy it.