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Description

Unleash your musical creativity with the Korg X5, a versatile synthesizer that packs a punch without draining your wallet. Designed for musicians who crave flexibility, the Korg X5 features 61 velocity-sensitive keys, allowing for expressive playing that captures every nuance of your performance. Whether you're crafting intricate compositions or jamming live, this synth offers a vast sonic palette with 64-note polyphony and a rich 8MB waveform memory.

Explore an impressive library of 430 multi-sounds and 215 drum/percussion sounds, enabling you to push the boundaries of your musical imagination. The dual independent multi-effects processors provide 47 effect types, including delay, reverb, and rotary speaker, giving you the power to sculpt your sound with precision and flair. Seamlessly integrate with your setup using 128 General MIDI programs plus 8 drum kits, including one dedicated to MIDI, for effortless song playback and production.

The Korg X5's compact design makes it a perfect companion for both studio and stage, ensuring you have access to professional-grade sound wherever you go. With the ability to save up to 100 original and 100 combination programs, this synthesizer offers a balance of innovation, portability, and performance that keeps pace with your musical journey.

Key Features:

  • 61 velocity-sensitive keys
  • 64-note polyphony
  • 8MB waveform memory
  • 430 multi-sounds and 215 drum/percussion sounds
  • 47 effect types via dual multi-effects processors
  • 128 General MIDI programs and 8 drum kits
  • Save up to 100 original and 100 combination programs
Jay Oganiza

Jay Oganiza

KORG X5 DEMO PRESETS & COMBI

Video thumbnail for KORG X5 DEMO PRESETS & COMBI by Jay Oganiza

KORG X5 DEMO PRESETS & COMBI

Jay Oganiza

Jay Oganiza

Video thumbnail for Korg X5 sound demo by Paweł Mikołajczyk

Korg X5 sound demo

Paweł Mikołajczyk

Paweł Mikołajczyk

Video thumbnail for KORG X5 - Checking the Sound  #korg #korgbrasil #ernaneborges by CASA DO SYNTH

KORG X5 - Checking the Sound #korg #korgbrasil #ernaneborges

CASA DO SYNTH

CASA DO SYNTH

Video thumbnail for Korg X5 vintage digital synth from the wondrous 1990s! by Gearfacts

Korg X5 vintage digital synth from the wondrous 1990s!

Gearfacts

Gearfacts

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Korg X5.

Features and functionality

  • The Korg X5D lacks resonant filters, making it less ideal for creating dynamic and evolving sounds.

    Source
  • The Korg X5D is valued for its lightweight and compact design, and includes a range of M1-adjacent sounds, which are sought after for their unique character.

    Source
  • The X5 is 16-part multi-timbral with 64 voices, offering a wide range of sounds including piano, drums, violin, harp, trumpet, and organ.

    Source

User experience

  • Editing sounds on the Korg X5D is cumbersome, and it does not offer a hands-on experience for sound creation.

    Source
  • Despite being large, the X5 provides a fun experience with its variety of playable sounds, appealing to those exploring vintage synths.

    Source

Comparisons

  • The X5D is described as a simplified version of the Korg X3, with more polyphony but no sequencer or floppy disk drive.

    Source
  • In regional markets, the Korg X5D is compared to synths like the Roland D50 and Korg M1, which are also valued for their distinctive sound patches associated with popular music.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • Though it has a renowned house piano sound, the Korg X5D's drum sounds are considered outdated for modern music production.

    Source
  • In Chile, Korg X5D is popular among Cumbia keyboardists because its onboard patches are linked to iconic tunes that newer synths struggle to replicate.

    Source

Value and pricing

  • On the Chilean market, the Korg X5D typically sells for $300-$350 due to its unique sound signature, despite being considered outdated technology.

    Source
  • While some listings show mint-condition X5s for $500+, a used one with a battery warning may only fetch around $100.

    Source

Setup and maintenance

  • The Korg X5 requires a patch memory battery replacement, which can be soldered in or might have a holder if you're lucky.

    Source
Add

3.5 out of 5

Based on 2 Reviews and 5 Ratings

5 star
4 star
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ghostfader

Good 90's Synth

I'm not a Korg fan but this lil one is cool!

This numeric synth is lightweight and you got plenty of sounds with the app. editor. Numeric commands are 90's style, more usefull than 80's ones but there's no rotary knobs, only one fader and switches. The factory banks comes with sounds from the M1 and good patches. Two Multieffects per sound/patch, with various effects.

zwoervleis

used this for years, but the keys are not reliable anymore

used this for years, but the keys are not reliable anymore, good sounds, still useful

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Shagrath uses Korg X5

Shagrath

Singer, Guitarist

Dimmu Borgir

...
Verified via YouTube

In this video he plays on X5 during recordings of In Sorte Diaboli.

See how Mustis uses Korg X5

Mustis

Keyboardist

Dimmu Borgir

...
Verified via Mortado

He used Korg X5 and X5D on stage with Dimmu Borgir.

See how Ryo Okumoto uses Korg X5

Ryo Okumoto

Keyboardist

GPS

...
Verified via Spocksbeard

Showed up in a list of Ryo Okumoto’s gear on the Spock’s Beard official website.

G

Geir Bratland

Keyboardist

Dimmu Borgir

...
Verified via Nordkeyboards

Geir Bratland uses the Korg X5 synthesizer, as noted on the Nord Keyboards artist page. This instrument features prominently in many of Dimmu Borgir's recordings.

See how Kimberly Goss uses Korg X5

Kimberly Goss

Singer, Keyboardist

Children of Bodom

...
Verified via Photo

In this photo, Kimberly Goss uses her Korg X5.

See how Axel Mackenrott uses Korg X5

Axel Mackenrott

Keyboardist, Composer

Masterplan

...
Verified via YouTube

In Masterplan's "Keep Your Dream Alive" official music video by AFM Records, Axel Mackenrott can be seen using a Korg X5 at the 1 minute and 46 seconds mark.

See how Phantom Slaughter uses Korg X5

Phantom Slaughter

Singer, Keyboardist

...
Verified via Photo

In this 2026 music video he can be seen with two iconic 90s keaboards - the Korg X5 and the Roland D-5.

Album Usage

The Korg X5 has been featured on the following albums:

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Korg X5, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

Yamaha HS8 W
Yamaha HS8 W Active & Passive Monitors
2
Event 20/20BAS V3 Studio Monitor
Event 20/20BAS V3 Studio Monitor Active & Passive Monitors
1
Lexicon LXP-5
Lexicon LXP-5 Effects Processors
1
Lexicon LXP-1
Lexicon LXP-1 Effects Processors
1
Tascam DA-30 MKII
Tascam DA-30 MKII DAT Recorders
1
Yamaha PSS-100
Yamaha PSS-100 Portable & Arranger Keyboards
1
Alesis Microverb
Alesis Microverb Effects Processors
1
Joe Meek VC3
Joe Meek VC3 Effects Processors
1

Community setups

Show yours
compilerbau

compilerbau

Gear IQ 208

compilerbau

compilerbau

Gear IQ 208

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