Tips from the Darkside                   -James Bernard

Sculpting your own sounds by tweaking factory programs on the microKORG.

Last time around, I covered the basics of editing and creating a program using an initialized program and the edit matrix. Before you try out this new tip, spend a few minutes going through the first microKORG tip, “Demystifying the Edit Matrix”, and then come on back to this one!

This time we will use a few advanced editing tips to create entirely new sounds, based off of a few of the factory programs. One of the features of the microKORG that I dig is the built in FX section. The Chorus/Flange and Phaser effects are great for twisting sounds, so first, let’s work with the FX:

1. For this example select program B12 in the TRANCE Bank.

2. Now access the MOD FX using the EDIT SELECT 2 knob, and then select “FL9” (flange) as the type of effect, using knob 1/CUTOFF. You can adjust the LFO Speed and Effect Depth using knobs 2 and 3, respectively. For the korg.com mp3 example, I set knob 2 to a value of “41” and knob 3 to a value of “120”.

3. Try out some of the other MOD FX like Ensemble and Phaser.

I also use the BPM synced stereo delay along with the arpeggiator to create interesting rhythmic patterns.

1. For this example, select program A63 in the RETRO Bank.

2. Now select a “L – r” (Left – Right) delay using the EDIT SELECT 2 and 1/CUTOFF knobs.

3. Set TEMPO SYNC “on” using knob 2, set the DELAY TIME to “3.16” using knob 3, and then set the DELAY DEPTH to “100” using knob 4.

4. Now adjust the arpeggiator to change the pattern and octave: Select ARPEG.A using the EDIT SELECT 2 knob, set the GATE to “0” using knob 3 and set the RANGE to “1” using knob 5.

5. Now change the arp pattern using the PROGRAM NUMBER keys. Press the 2, 3, 5 and 6 keys so that they are flashing, and play some keys on the keyboard.

You can also create some very interesting sounds using the Virtual Patch function. Virtual Patch is like having the sound design capabilities of a mini modular synthesizer built-in. You can use any of eight different modulation sources to modify any of eight different destinations, with up to four different “patches” at the same time. This allows for some pretty twisted sonic possibilities.

For this example we are going to use an initialized program:

1. To initialize a program, press and hold the SHIFT key and then press the PROGRAM NUMBER 3 key twice. Now assign LFO2 to modulate pitch by selecting PATCH 1, using the EDIT SELECT 2 knob.

2. Select “LF.2” using knob 1, then “Ptc” using knob 2 and then select a MOD INT value of “63” using knob 3.

3. Now use LFO 1 to modulate the cutoff by selecting PATCH 2. Select “LF.1” using knob 1, then “Cut” using knob 2 and then select a MOD INT value of “-63” using knob 3.

4. Next use LFO2 to also modulate panning by selecting PATCH 3. Using knob 1 select “LF.2”, then select “Pan” using knob 2 and then set the MOD INT to a value of “-62” using knob 3.

5. Now let’s get a little nutty and also modulate pitch using LFO1! Select PATCH 4 and then “LF.1” using knob 1, then select “Ptc” using knob 2 and then set the MOD INT to “-63” using knob 3.

After twisting these sounds as above, I wrote a quick demo, posted on korg.com that I hope you enjoy. For the drums, I used one of the factory TRITON STUDIO presets, and also ran them through the Vocoder of the microKORG. All of the other sounds you hear are from the microKORG.