microKORG vs. Akai MINIAK

letsgr1nd · Post by **letsgr1nd** » Sat Nov 12, 2011 5:18 am

help! which one to buy???

rharris07 · Post by **rharris07** » Sat Nov 12, 2011 5:54 am

From personal experience - I would stand by the microkorg every day of the week. It is one of the most useful synths I've ever owned.

visceralvoids · Post by **visceralvoids** » Sat Nov 12, 2011 8:57 am

Both are close competitors, they even have 37 keys.

Miniak has full size keys which the microKorg doesn't have. Akai Miniak has the Micron/Ion synth engine developed by Alesis inside it along with vocoder, drum sequencer and other tricks. To make drum sequences on the microKorg you have to do some creative programming or route external drum machine or audio through the audio osc. But microKorg's synth engine is no slouch and programming it will be alot easier.

microKorg is a well liked, good sounding synth, there was a thread here recently where people had said they owned two or three even more. (I've had two myself). It has a good rep on its side. Programming the microKorg is more straightforward than the Alesis/Akai engine, once you get used to the matrix style menu (multi-function set of knobs). You can mix external audio sources through both synth models as well.

You have the opportunity to try out both at a music store since a) microKorg is still a hot seller it will be for sale and b) Akai Miniak is new and for sale.

letsgr1nd · Post by **letsgr1nd** » Sun Nov 13, 2011 1:30 am

i bought a microKORG today. they had one at guitar center for $100 off. you should elaborate on running external audio sources through it.

visceralvoids · Post by **visceralvoids** » Sun Nov 13, 2011 1:40 am

External sounds can be processed by the microKorg’s filter and more.
Use "audio in" as the input source for oscillator #2.
This video explains everything:

Rick N Boogie · Post by **Rick N Boogie** » Sat Nov 19, 2011 3:06 am

Love the radio signal through the MicroKorg. That's got me thinking outside the box a bit more. awesomeness.

garranimal · Post by **garranimal** » Sat Nov 19, 2011 4:03 am

Interesting, I just traded my Microkorg for a Miniak. Also posted some initial thoughts about the Miniak with comparisons to the MicroKorg on my blog.
Quck summary:
- Miniak does bass a little better IMO
- and has three oscillators per voice
- and has a slew of quality filters to choose
- with two filters per voice that can be serial or parallel in similar fashion to Andromeda
- and bigger keys
- and nicer microphone
- and finally 8 voice polyphony, not 4.
- But Microkorg has better editing I'll agree readily
- and free software editor available on Korg website
- and better effects IMHO.

And something I didn't mention was the Microkorg as many more oscillators including many DWGS waves. The Miniak has 3 basic oscillator types plus noise, but has a waveshaper function to transform those waves. I'm really getting into editing more sounds on the Miniak now, and think it fits what I'm doing a little better than the Korg.

Post by **meatballfulton** » Sat Nov 19, 2011 3:20 pm

FWIW

Miniak is now available at NovaMusik for only $249. Almost cheap enough to tempt me to buy one...

link

Still $399 at most other online dealers.

Harp3 · Post by **Harp3** » Sat Nov 19, 2011 3:37 pm

I got my Miniak thru NovaMusik two months ago for 275. 250 is definitely a good deal for one of these(although maybe not for beginner's)

microKORG vs. Akai MINIAK

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