Korg Monologue

The Korg Monologue is a monophonic analog synthesizer from Korg.[3] Engineered in collaboration with electronic music artist Richard D. James (Aphex Twin), it was released in January 2017[4] and has two VCOs, 25 keys, and a sequencer.[1]

Korg Monologue
ManufacturerKorg
Dates2017
Price$299 USD £299 GBP[1]
Technical specifications
PolyphonyMonophonic
TimbralityMonotimbral
Oscillator2
Synthesis typeAnalog synthesis
FilterCutoff, Resonance
Aftertouch expressionNo
Velocity expressionYes
Storage memory100
EffectsDrive
Input/output
Keyboard25 slim keys[2]
External controlMIDI (In, Out), USB type B

The Monologue was designed by Korg's then Chief Engineer of Analog Synthesizers, Tatsuya Takahashi, his last design before switching to another position within the company.[5][6]

It is a trimmed-down, single-voice version of the Korg Minilogue with various characteristics of its own,[1][7] such as the addition of microtuning,[4][7] a more aggressive sound due to an added drive knob, fuller low-end frequencies due to a Korg35 MS-20 style filter chip, and an E-E keyboard to make transposition easier for guitarists and bassists.

Development

The Korg Monologue was the last Korg synthesizer that Tatsuya Takahashi worked on directly. He later went on to be an advisor for Korg and currently holds a full-time position at Yadastar GmbH.

According to Richard D. James (Aphex Twin), the Korg Monologue is as of 2017 the only synthesizer on the market to have full microtuning editing. In his interview of Tatsuya Takahashi for Warp Records, Takahashi commented: "It was completely because of you that we included microtuning. If you hadn't insisted on it, I definitely wouldn't have discovered how powerful it was."[5]

Takahashi originally felt that microtuning was a "really niche thing" that would not be needed in a mass market synth, but was soon convinced. "If you try shifting the tuning while running a sequence (in a monophonic synthesizer), you can hear that it gives it another dimension even if it's subtle. To me, it feels like casting light on a rough surface and seeing different patterns as you move the light."[5]

To make Monologue more accessible, the keyboard was built to cover the E–E range of notes, like a guitar or bass.

Details

Korg worked with Richard D. James as an artist advisor to collaborate on the instrument's presets, sounds and scales.[11]

References
  1. Nagle, Paul (January 2017). "Korg Monologue: Analogue Synthesizer". Sound on Sound. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  2. "Specifications | monologue - MONOPHONIC ANALOGUE SYNTHESIZER | KORG (USA)". KORG Global. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
  3. "Specifications" Korg. Accessed 12 July 2017
  4. Megan Jow, Sydney (1 November 2016). "The new Korg Monologue lets users produce with Aphex Twin presets". Mixmag. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  5. "Richard D. James speaks to Tatsuya Takahashi". Warp Records.
  6. Wilson, Scott (17 February 2017). "Volca synth creator Tatsuya Takahashi leaving role as Korg's chief engineer". Fact (UK magazine). Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  7. Ongley, Hannah (12 July 2017). "listen to aphex twin sample his son's vocals on korg funk 5". Vice. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  8. Rogerson, Ben (1 November 2016). "Korg's new Monologue synth isn't just a single-voice Minilogue". MusicRadar. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  9. "Korg Monologue Review – A Life in Mono". MusicTech Magazine. 15 February 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  10. Wilson, Scott (1 November 2016). "Korg's new Monologue synth includes presets designed by Aphex Twin". Fact (UK magazine). Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  11. Steele, Billy (1 November 2016). "Korg's $300 Monologue synth runs on AA batteries (updated)". Engadget. Retrieved 12 July 2017.


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