Korg Monologue Blue

What we say:

After the success of the critically acclaimed Korg Minilogue, the release of the Monologue was eagerly anticipated; a compact monophonic synth from the same family tree. As a more portable alternative, the Monologue has been redesigned to maximise the space on the small unit. Set in an attractive blue chassis with a vintage feel reminiscent of the Minilogue, it certainly looks the part! It also features the popular oscilloscope function which allows you to view waveforms in real time. This is quite rare for a synth within this price range and is useful for learning about sound design, as well as adding to the retro look and feel of the unit.

Underneath the hood, it features circuitry taken from the Minilogue that’s been tweaked and reimagined for a monophonic sound. It’s been loaded with 80 presets, which are overwritable, as well as an additional 20 memory slots to give you some space to come up with your own sounds. In terms of the sound itself, the Monologue sounds strikingly fat and warm, with a load of depth in the low end. It’s very responsive and each sound has a lush thickness to it that’s a testament to Korg’s engineering.

It has a broad range of parameters and despite it being fairly small, Korg have managed to fit in everything that you’d expect, along with a couple of extras. The pitch control is a welcome addition to the norm and allows for fine tuning. Along with this, the 16-step sequencer is of high quality and is really versatile, allowing slide and variation through up to 4 knob movements. Its compact keyboard is also great fun to play and feels strangely natural for a set of keys that size.

Not to be considered a downsized Minologue, but instead a force in itself, the Monologue is an advanced, well-built synth that sounds as good as it looks. With a huge range of sounds and a warmth that can only be found in analog units, the Monologue is a great choice for anyone looking for a compact synthesizer with a huge sound.