KORG - Sound on Sound

[IanR]

This item may be worth considering in the future.  I've only had a quick look but it sounds impressive.  What do others think?



http://www.korg.com/Product.aspx?pd=566#

The KORG site says they will be sold online for $299 US.  That sounds competitive with the MBR.

[Redler]

I'm testing it right now (I picked it up yesterday), so I have just a little experience of it...but here is a few:

I'm a MBR user and here is the comparison on it...

-The gtr/mic effects (presets) are even better than MBR, well, I haven't edited them much on MBR, just used the MBR presets.

-The condenser stereo mic is very good on SOS!!

-There isn't programmable drum machine on SOS - this is a bad thing! The drum sounds are really good. Good for jamming, but not for recording, because there isn't any fills. I think, I make my drums on MBR in the future.

-I downloaded Korg Audio Utility software on Korg's site...have just tested it, but very soon I sent' my test tracks in Audacity. Audacity is a good program.

- I used rechargeable batteries (2500 mAh) and they lasted all the day, so they did on MBR,too.

- No mp3 function on SOS, all tracks are on WAV. (Converting is easy in audacity)

-You can import audio tracks in SOS. That track is 'a new song' and you can overdub so many layers you want to. Amount of tracks is unlimited, as known. All that depends on just the capacity of memory card (small micro sd card (2bg included) with a SD card adapter for the computer.)

This after a few hours experience...

Kari

PS. This gear is so new that there isn't much information of it in the net; like user's reviews etc. Not even a topic on the Korg forum...

[64Guitars]

It looks like a very good portable multitrack recorder. I noticed it when it was announced at Winter NAMM in January. I like that it stores the data in WAV format rather than a proprietary format like the BRs do. This allows you to copy your tracks directly into a DAW without any conversion software. I wish Boss would use WAV format instead of their proprietary compressed formats. Memory cards are cheap enough that data compression isn't really necessary anymore.

I also like that the number of tracks you can record on the Korg is only limited by the memory card capacity. It actually makes two recordings at once, if I understand correctly. It records the current mix each time you record a track, so you're always ready to record the next track without having to bounce. And, at the same time, it records the current input as a separate track in WAV format so you can later copy the individual tracks to a DAW for final mixing. Very cool idea!

[dade]

I think it's awesome. If it picks up well vocals and acoustic, I think I'm gonna purchase it! 

@Redler: if you could post something recorded with the Korg qhen you can  thanks

[Redler]

@Redler: if you could post something recorded with the Korg qhen you can  thanks

Yes, the next one will be recorded on SOS!

Kari

[OsCKilO]

This looks great..


Please Post soon Kari!!!

[dade]

@Redler: if you could post something recorded with the Korg qhen you can  thanks

Yes, the next one will be recorded on SOS!

Kari

Thank you, you are the man

[launched]

Sweeet gear, and I love the new song you posted, Kari!!

[Redler]

Hi!
I recorded  "Stoneman" on this brand new recorder. There isn't programmable drum machine on SOS (as mentioned), so I made it on MBR and that was a bit tricky. Maybe there can be found a solution..
I played and sang all the song to one track on MBR, by using its drum pattern (tempo 99 bpm). Then I arranged the drum track and mastered it (Wav, SOS doesn't understand mp3). I transferred the track in my pc, took the microSD card from SOS and dropped it there from the PC. Put the card back in SOS and opened the drum track. It was the first track of my tune, or exactly the song ...
Then I played the first gtr track (acoustic).  Then the second track with vox (yes, now I sang without playing simultaneously!)  etc...

Naturally, I played wrong and made errors a few times. (In SOS is also A-B loop recording feature). I fixed them by using UNDO function.  User can select 1 undo, 10 undo or infinity. Because all the tracks are on Wav it takes a lot of capacity from memory card (2 Gb card included).  So, after finalizing my project (entire finalized song lasted about 4 min 15 s) I looked the card info; free space 46 minutes, used 94 minutes, that used time included the undo material, too. If I understood it right, it is not possible select for example 3 undo times...
So, maybe I'll purchase bigger memory card in the future.  SOS supports microSD cards (512MB-2GB) and microSDHC card (4GB-16GB). 2 GB or more is recommended. The adapter included (SD size, same size as in MBR).

On recording there is two ways to select input volume; automatic or manual control. I used automatic, because I think it would avoid possible distortion. And it worked well, imo. When I transferred the tracks in Audacity, I noticed that a few tracks were a bit 'weak' or low, but I amplified them enough. And indeed, Audacity was the tool, I panned tracks etc...and converted to mp3.

I'm pleased with the effects of this gear offers. Especially gtr and mic effects. I didn't find good effect for bass guitar (maybe these effects can be edited, don't know yet, I haven't learned just the basics, or maybe that is possible made in Audacity.  Audacity specialists, please give some tips...

Then a question about MBR. I'm gonna make my drum tracks on MBR, but the way I used this time was a bit tricky. I think I record next song on SOS with metronome on a certain tempo and export my song in MBR. Is it possible move that track on certain point e.g. on the third measure in MBR rhythm track? I recorded a short test on SOS 120 bpm and moved it in MBR, but the track wasn't synchronisized, I started playing on the third measure, as usual.  Maybe I'll try another attempt...but I'm interested in, is it possible... (edit: found the solution, see my message below..)

So, this is a short review. Thanks for reading!
Kari

ps. I found the owner's manual somewhere on the net, but don't remember where. If someone want's read it, it exists 'somewhere'...

[64Guitars]

Is it possible move that track on certain point e.g. on the third measure in MBR rhythm track?

Yes. You can use the Micro BR's Track Move feature (page 55/56) to move the data from the first measure to the third. When you specify the edit region (see page 54/55), use [TR2] (MEA). Set Start Meas to 001-1 (measure 1, beat 1) and To Meas to 003-1.

ps. I found the owner's manual somewhere on the net, but don't remember where. If someone want's read it, it exists 'somewhere'...

It's here:  http://www.korg.com/ReadMoreSupport.aspx?dld=4033