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Average Price: $55
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$500
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Description
Unleash your creativity with the Korg Monotron Analog Ribbon Synthesizer, a compact powerhouse that redefined the analog synth landscape. Perfect for musicians on the go, this portable analog wonder offers a monophonic voice driven by a single oscillator, delivering authentic vintage sound in a sleek, pint-sized package. The Monotron's built-in ribbon controller invites spontaneous exploration and makes it an ideal tool for both seasoned synth enthusiasts and curious beginners.
Dive into a world of sonic possibilities with its intuitive controls, allowing you to manipulate pitch and filter cutoff effortlessly. The Monotron's simplicity is deceptive; beneath its minimalistic exterior lies a versatile sound engine that can be a delightful playground for tinkerers and DIY electronics aficionados. Whether you're adding texture to a live performance or experimenting in the studio, the Monotron's analog warmth and character stand out, making it a staple in the modern musician's toolkit.
Key Features:
- Compact and portable design for music creation anywhere
- Single oscillator monophonic voice
- Built-in ribbon controller for expressive playability
- Classic analog filter for rich, warm tones
- Simple and intuitive controls for easy sound manipulation
- Battery-powered operation for ultimate mobility
Product specs
| Brand | Korg |
| Model | Monotron |
| Finish | Black |
| Year | 2010 - 2025 |
| Categories | Analog Synths, Keyboard Synths |
| Analog / Digital | Analog |
| Polyphony | 1 Voice |
FAQs
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Is the Korg Monotron Analog Ribbon Synthesizer suitable for beginners?
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Yes, the Korg Monotron is ideal for beginners due to its simple interface with just five knobs and one switch, making it easy to explore analog synthesis without a steep learning curve.
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What type of sound can I expect from the Korg Monotron?
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The Korg Monotron delivers classic analog sounds with a rich, warm tone, thanks to its analog oscillator and filter. It is capable of producing a range of sounds from deep basses to bright leads.
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How is the Korg Monotron powered?
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The Korg Monotron is powered by two AAA batteries, making it highly portable and convenient for on-the-go music creation.
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Can the Korg Monotron be integrated into a larger setup?
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While the Korg Monotron is primarily a standalone unit, it can be integrated into a larger setup via its headphone output, allowing you to connect it to external amplifiers or recording equipment.
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Does the Korg Monotron have any built-in effects?
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The Korg Monotron does not have built-in effects, but its analog filter can be used creatively to shape and modify the sound, offering a range of tonal possibilities.
Videos
UniqueSquared
Korg Monotron Analog Ribbon Synth | UniqueSquared.com
Reviews
PROS
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Compact and highly portable; ideal for on-the-go music creation
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Features Korg's signature VCF, LFO, and VCO circuitry for quality sound
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Can be used as an external filter, adding versatility to setups
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Ribbon keyboard allows for unique slide and knob-twisting noises
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Offers an affordable entry point into analog synthesis
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Fun as a supplementary tool for noise and effects in studio setups
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Battery-powered with an internal speaker for immediate playability
CONS
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Small ribbon track limits precise manipulation
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Some users find it too gimmicky, with novelty wearing off quickly
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Not considered practical as a primary instrument for professional work
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Sound can be noisy, may not suit all musical or recording environments
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Korg Monotron Analog Ribbon Synthesizer.
Features and functionality
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The Monotron Delay is noted for its challenging playability due to two octaves per inch, yet its delay effect is highly praised for its uniqueness.
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The original Monotron is highlighted for its LFO-modulatable filter effect, ideal for processing granular synths through its MS-20-like filter.
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The Monotron Delay is noted for achieving an 'infinite delay' mode by turning up the feedback, allowing for fun manipulation of time values to create rolling drones.
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The Monotron Delay features a modifiable Triangle or Square LFO, which only modulates pitch, differentiating it from the original Monotron's reverse saw LFO that can modulate pitch or filter cutoff.
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Use cases and applications
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Users report the Monotron Delay excels as an effect processor for external audio, enhancing other Monotrons with its lo-fi delay capabilities.
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The Monotron's small ribbon controller is noted for its limitations in playability, but the pocket-sized filter is deemed surprisingly useful.
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Pairing the Monotron Delay with a hardware vocoder can produce unique, alien-like vocal effects, expanding its creative applications.
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Comparisons
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The Monotron DUO offers basic sound capabilities but is overshadowed by the original Monotron and Delay in terms of versatility and interest.
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The Monotron Delay's delay effect is compared to the Volca Delay, which uses a PT2399 digital chip, highlighting the Monotron's analog uniqueness.
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The Monotron Duo can quantize the ribbon to play scales and melodies, unlike the Delay, which spans the full pitch range, making it less suitable for precise note playing.
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Mods and upgrades
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Owners have successfully modified the Monotron Delay to add a resonance knob, enhancing the self-resonance on the filter, though it requires detailed soldering work.
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Owners have modified the Monotron Delay to add resonance control to its filter, enhancing its use for processing other instruments through the auxiliary port.
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Value and pricing
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It's considered one of the best value sound toys for its price, especially when used as a reverb with low echo settings alongside devices like the PO-32.
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Critic Reviews
4.0 out of 5
Based on 11 Reviews and 97 Ratings
903
More of a toy than anything
Firstly, I didn't buy the Monotron to integrate into a professional studio or anything. I build a lot of analog synthesizers and picked this up out of curiosity more than anything. It's really neat for the first day or so, but to be honest the size if probably the biggest issue. Since the ribbon track is so small, it's hard to manipulate with a great deal of precision. That and I personally don't really like overly tactile electronic instruments, so that's a downside for me when playing it. You can however patch it into other devices via patch cable and use it as a fun supplement to create some interesting sounds.
Like I say, it's more of a "gee-whiz" toy that loses its novelty fairly quickly, but I don't think any of us would realistically purchase one to record an album with anyway, so maybe give it a try if you're into low-cost gadget experimentation.
464
Size of a deck of cards real analog synth
Korg circuitry VCF, LFO, and VCO. Totally portable with internal speaker and battery power. It even has an input in case you'd like to apply another audio signal to those Korg circuitry Oscillators and Filter. Ribbon keyboard makes for cool sounding "slide while knob twisting" noises. I gave one of these to a young cousin who saw me playing with one. That was three years ago, before he had ever heard of a synth of any kind. He just filled his second modular rack last month and is trying to decide on either a third or one large rack to incorporate his dozens of synth modules. Everyone starts someplace.
41029
I got a duo for my kid but I use it too, mostly as a guitar effect of just a general effect to treat another synth like a DX7 or the fake Rhodes samples in my P88. Kids love these little fuckers. some how when I let my son play with my big synths he makes patches that sound like the monotron.
199
Why not?
It's fun to mess around and make chaotic noise with, but where I think it shines the most is as an external filter for a different synth. There's an awesome YouTube video of someone running a Kawai K1 through it that inspired me to get it in the first place. Really cheap to pick up (even though this classic version (which is the best one IMO) isn't made anymore) and a fun way to get an MS-20 filter sound. It's noisy but for <$50 what do you expect? The MS-20 is noisy.
230
The Korg Monotron, the original mini badass.
I own all three monotrons but I have to in terms of making synth growl noises with all three of them I think the original would be the most appropriate for making those sorts of sounds because this synthesizer allows you to modulate the pitch and cutoff really well.
1271
AMAZING FILTER FOR A COMPACT SYNTH
it's an amazing synth very compact which you can use as a synth or a filter...for only 20$....
41029
I got mine for Lucian but I play with it more. I use the filter input a lot while tracking guitars and mixing drum loops and stuff.
5455
Yeah it's a super fun piece. I used it a ton when I first got it but it's gotten fairly dusty. I should really break that sucker back out. That's one of the awesome things about adding gear here is I remember all the options I have.
Artist usage
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In a video of Disclosure playing live, a Korg Monotron can be seen as part of their equipment setup.
In an interview with Korg, Albert Hammond Jr discusses his use of the Korg Monotron Analog Ribbon Synthesizer.
At 3:20 in Virtual RIOT's "Studio Time #2", it is quite blurry but you can make out a Korg Monotron Analog Ribbon Synthesizer.
At 0:24 in the video titled "Mick Gordon - 11. BFG Division" on YouTube, Mick Gordon can be seen using the Korg Monotron Analog Ribbon Synthesizer.
Korg Monotron Analogue Ribbon Synthesizer From Korg's press release 2010
Liam Howlett of The Prodigy is set to use the Korg Monotron Analogue Ribbon Synthesizer at a large festival date.
The synth was shown to him just 10 minutes before stepping on to the stage at this years Southside Festival in Neuhausen, Germany.
Playing to an audience of over 4,000 fans, Howlett reportedly “got carried away with playing on it”.
One day later, he used it again during their set at the Hurricane Festival in Scheessel, Germany.
The Prodigy are currently touring Europe and are due to play to 65,000-strong crowd at the Milton Keynes Bowl next month.
Powered by two alkaline AAA batteries, the compact monotron can be held in one hand. Although small enough to easily carry with you, the amazing monotron is packed with KORG’s legendary analog technology, generating thick and powerful sounds. Concentrating on the most important sound parameters, the controls have been streamlined as much as possible. The panel contains only five knobs and one switch. With this level of simplicity, now anyone can easily enjoy the world of analog synthesizers.
Palm-sized, battery-powered, ribbon-controlled analog synth with expressive effects and popular Korg filters.
Analog synths were once massive, temperamental monsters, but the Korg monotron proves that big things now come in small packages. The true analog monotron synthesizer fits in your pocket and makes it possible for you to play anytime, anyplace.
Although it is small enough to hold in one hand, the Korg monotron synth delivers enormous, dazzling sounds. The controls have been streamlined for ease of use—concentrating on the most important sound parameters, the panel contains only five knobs and one switch. With this level of simplicity, now anyone can easily enjoy the world of analog synthesizers. It's simply a blast to play.
Ribbon controller keyboard offers easy expression Borrowing the enjoyment of performing with a simple touch from Korg's wildly popular KAOSS products, the monotron synth's ribbon controller keyboard takes this ease of use even farther. Simple finger gestures can produce expressive effects such as vibrato and glide.
1VCO, 1VCF, 1LFO - Modular synthesis building blocks The Korg monotron's circuit is radically simple: one voltage-controlled oscillator, one voltage-controlled filter, and one low frequency oscillator. As a result, the process of sound creation is intuitive, and instantly understandable. And it's tons of fun. This Korg synth provides the joy of sonic creativity that's at the heart of analog synthesis.
The famous Korg filter This Korg synthesizer starts with the same highly acclaimed VCF circuit as KORG's classic MS-10 and original MS-20 semi-modular synths, and adds extra oomph to the resonance. Originally released over 30 years ago, these synthesizers are still coveted today for their aggressive, dynamic filters. The VCF Cutoff knob sets the frequency or tone of the filter; the VCF Peak (resonance) knob adds emphasis.
Semi modular satisfaction Just as on the original MS-20, the monotron's filter can be patched into, allowing any external audio source to be processed by the monotron's filter. The input jack (AUX input) built into the Korg synthesizer's compact body inserts the AUX input into the signal path right before the VCF. This provides a great way to connect a KAOSSILATOR, a keyboard, a guitar, a digital audio player or even an unmixed track to the Korg monotron synth and enjoy tone-bending filter effects.
Versatile LFO provides audio and visual excitement The LFO (Low Frequency Oscillator) can affect either the oscillator pitch or the filter cutoff. Both the speed and the intensity are individually adjustable, so you can create anything from a gentle vibrato to swooping tone changes of galactic proportions. As you turn the LFO Rate knob—featuring an embedded LED—the speed of the modulation effect and the speed of the blinking LED will change in tandem.
Listen anywhere—alone or with friends The ultimate in compactness, the Korg monotron synth includes a built-in miniature speaker. Along with the battery operation, this feature allows you to enjoy the monotron everywhere. There's also a headphone output that you can use when creating sounds at home, for recording, or for connecting to an amplifier or PA system. When used, it cuts off the speaker so you get personal monitoring or so that you get the full effect of your larger speaker system.
monotron key features: VCO Voltage Controlled Oscillator VCF with Cutoff and Peak Control LFO can be applied to the Pitch (VCO) or Filter(VCF) Ribbon controller keyboard Original Analog (VCF) Filter taken from the classic MS-10 & MS-20 Aux input jack lets you apply filter to any audio source Built-in speaker and battery power for Go Anywhere Analog sound Headphone jack for private use
Background: Apple MacBook Air running 'Guitar Rig 4' and 'Ableton Live 8' software Foreground: Korg Monotron synthesiser As used by: Cosey Fanni Tutti
"With great power comes great responsibility."
In this Facebook post, Alvin Risk can be seen with his Korg Monotron Analog Ribbon Synthesizer.
Album Usage
The Korg Monotron Analog Ribbon Synthesizer has been featured on the following albums:
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Korg Monotron Analog Ribbon Synthesizer, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
Community setups
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