Korg minilogue xd - Sintetizzatore Analogico Polifonico

KORGminilogue XD is a 4-voice programmable analog polyphonic synth, analog style panel with direct access to parameters. It has an articulate structure that combines the warm and Fat timbres of traditional analog synthesis with those generated by the Multi Engine and programmable digital effects, the OLED Display with Oscilloscope aids programming, and the Sequencer: Realtime, Step, Motion, is an advanced creative tool.

KORG minilogue xd programming illustrated by Leonardo Gabrielli

The analog circuitry of minilogue XD

minilogue XD is a programmable polyphonic analog synthesizer with 4 voices of polyphony and a synthesis structure consisting of: 2VCO + MULTI ENGINE, 1VCF, 2EG, 1VCA, and an LFO; to which are added Wave Shaping for harmonic shaping, Ring and Cross Modulation, Sync between oscillators, two-pole filter, and Drive that adds more body to the signal sent to the filters. Each parameter has been carefully tuned according to the requests of established musicians. The timbres obtainable from this instrument range from warm Pads sounds, to typical fat and present analog bass timbres, to solo Lead sounds that are always dynamic and penetrating, thus covering practically every genre and repertoire requirement. 500 memory locations of which 200 are already programmed from the factory allow you to save your own sounds.

The Digital Multi-Engine of minilogue XD

In the synthesis structure, a digital Multi-Engine oscillator is added to the two traditional analog VCOs, greatly increasing the timbral versatility of minilogue XD. The Multi Engine is originally supplied with 3 types of sound generators: Noise, VPM and a User Slot, which can generate sounds different from those of analog oscillators. The three sources however can be used simultaneously, and thus obtain hybrid timbres of yet-to-be-explored potential.

• Noise Generator: provides 4 types of noise essential for percussive sounds or effects. The digital filter can be used to change the color of the noise itself.
• VPM oscillator: This Multi-Engine internal oscillator generates sounds for VPM (Variable Phase Modulation)/FM synthesis, with a two-operator structure, 16 types of oscillators controllable directly via the SHAPE knob. It can produce sounds, punchy and metallic with a complex harmonic spectrum, far beyond the possibilities of pure analog subtractive synthesis, but still with very intuitive programming.
• User Oscillators: allows you to load other types of Custom oscillators, which can be downloaded from the internet. There are 16 Slots for their placement, while a Morphing Wavetable oscillator is already provided as a Preset.
• High Quality Digital Effects: The high quality effects of minilogue XD are obtained from a powerful dedicated 32-bit floating point DSP, which generates of 3 different types of effects: modulation, reverb and delay that can also be used simultaneously. You can choose from a wide range of Chorus, Ensemble, Delay, and Reverbs, which add the finishing touch to each timbre; this section also has Slots for loading Custom effects.

A video in Italian on the structure of minilogue XD

The User Custom resources of minilogue XD

minilogue xd has a widely customizable development environment. The unit has 16 Slots for User Oscillators, and 16 for User Effects. Custom resources created with the SKD (Software Development Kit), as well as Sounds made by users, can be loaded and managed through the dedicated Software Librarian made by KORG. What timbres can be created using the subtractive synthesis of traditional analog oscillators combined with digital ones? Each user can create their own original sounds, and thus participate in the dedicated international community. You can start with a Sample Code provided by KORG.

The Sequencer of minilogue XD

minilogue xd has a polyphonic Step Sequencer with 16 dedicated control keys, supports Real Time and Step recording, the 16 control keys directly select a Step, quickly change its pitch, Mute status, or even improvise. Motion Sequence accurately stores the movements of 4 knobs, enabling the creation of sounds that evolve over time; both smooth and very abrupt changes can be recorded on each Step. This function can be used to create sounds with a distinctly different timbre for each Step from a single Program, such as Percussive Patterns or sound effects of various kinds. Motion Sequence is a source of much inspiration in the field of Sound Design.

The User Interface

Joystick: Controls Pitch Bend and Modulation, etc. It can also be assigned to control a selectable parameter on the Y-axis

Voice mode - Four different voice modes can be selected on minilogue XD:

• POLY: minilogue xd operates as a 4-voice polyphonic synthesizer.
• UNISON: operates as a synthesizer, with the 4 voices in unison.
• CHORD: chords up to 4 voices can be played.
• ARP / LATCH: (ARP) Activates the arpeggiator, which can also be used when the Sequencer is running/(LATCH) activates or deactivates the LATCH function.

There is also a knob that adjusts the depth of the Voice Mode, applying a different effect for each selected Voice Mode.

• POLY: turning the knob to the right switches to DUO mode and accentuates Detune.
• UNISON: Turning the knob to the right will accentuate the Detune.
• CHORD: Selects Mono or Chord Type.
• ARP / LATCH: (ARP) Selects the arpeggiator type.

Micro Tuning

minilogue xd has a micro-tune control function that allows individual tuning of the pitch of each key. The instrument already has 23 preset tuning types, including some created by Aphex Twin and Dorian Concept, plus each user can create and store 6 User Scales and 6 User Octaves. You can then start by experimenting with the microtonal tunings of famous musicians, and then proceed to create your own.

Oscilloscope

The OLED display can view the waveform generated by minilogue xd thanks to the Oscilloscope function. This displays changes to the parameters in real time, with visual feedback that greatly aids in programming and understanding the various functions. Finally, the Display can also operate in Slow Motion to display the stages of a Motion Sequence.

The connectivity of minilogue xd

• Stereo Audio Outputs: The instrument output is stereo including the effects, thus adding to the Synth's spatiality, depth, and more real placement in the environment.
• Damper pedal: At the request of many artists and users, the ability to connect a Damper Pedal has been added
• 2 CV IN inputs: There are two CV IN jacks, with voltage levels of -5V- + 5V. In addition to CV / Gate, these can also receive modulation signals (such as by moving the joystick up or down), allowing parameter control via external devices.
• USB/MIDI type B port for Computer (Pc/Mc)

logue SDK Custom Content - Sound Librarian - Sound Packs

minilogue xd can load new sound libraries and a wide variety of Custom Contents, its powerful MULTI-ENGINE can load new Custom Oscillator and FX to take personal creativity to the next level!

minilogue xd m Sound Librarian - The Sound Librarian for minilogue xd is an easy-to-use software that allows you to easily manage: Programs, Custom Oscillators, and FX via USB/MIDI connection.

* How to import Sound Packs, Custom Oscillators and Effects

Sound Packs are distributed as Preset files, ending with the extension. prlgpreset. To import a Sound Pack, start minilogue xd's Sound Librarian and drag the Preset file onto it. Custom Oscillator and Effects are distributed as a User Unit file, ending with the extension.prlgunit. To add an oscillator or effect, drag and drop the User Unit file into the corresponding list in minilogue xd's Sound Librarian, then press the SEND ALL button to load it onto your instrument. Refer to the Operation Manual included with the Sound Librarian for more details.

Factory Default User Oscillator: Waves

A USER oscillator: WAVES is preloaded on minilogue xd. WAVES consists of two main WAVETABLE type oscillators, and an additional SUB-WAVE that can be used as a source for RING MODULATION. LO-FI type timbres can also be obtained from this oscillator by appropriately reducing its Bit Depth. The source code of WAVES will be available as a template to begin creating CUSTOM oscillators. The source code of WAVES will be available along with that of the SDK on: GitHub, so new and original oscillators can be created.

logue SDK

minilogue xd and prologue share an Open Development API (Application Programming Interface), which allows users with programming experience to extend the operational possibilities of the hardware, via a dedicated SDK (Software Development Kit), i.e., a dedicated development tool. Through the SDK, new oscillator types can be created for the MULTI ENGINE, or Custom modulation effects can be added to those already on board the instrument. Users will be able to load these new resources through prologue Librarian a specially developed software application. (Mac and Win).

Important: * SDK code, Tools and documentation are now available on GitHub

User Oscillators

The MULTI ENGINE section of minilogue xd has 16 Slots where new oscillator types can be loaded via the Software Librarian. Once on board these CUSTOM oscillators co-exist with the VCOs of each voice, sounding with the same polyphony and multi timbre articulation, and are processed by the same signal path.

User Effects

The effects section of minilogue xd also has: 16 Slots to accommodate new modulation effects, 8 user slots for Reverbs and 8 slots for Delay effects. Once on board the instrument these will appear alongside the existing effects. The SPEED and DEPTH knobs can be used to control the parameters of CUSTOM modulation effects.