|
|
|
Forum Moderator
Group: Moderators
Last Login: 5/10/2012 12:54:47 PM
Posts: 1,099,
Visits: 2,648
|
|
http://www.korg.com/ClassDetail.aspx?ID=122 | microKORG XL AUDIO IN-formation!
By James Sajeva
If you already own a microKORG XL, you know how great the internal sounds are. Sure; between the multi-modeling synthesis and kick-*** vocoding it inherited from its big brother the R3, there’s plenty to explore and tweak right onboard, but the sound sculpting abilities of the microKORG XL don’t stop there.
The microKORG XL has a sometimes overlooked – yet highly functional – feature: the audio input. This input allows you to run any audio source –MP3 player, synth, laptop, etc. – into the microKORG XL and wonk around with the signal. In short, your microKORG XL performs “double duty” as an effects processor, audio filter and even an auto-gate.
It’s incredibly easy to get started twisting and tweaking audio. Begin by connecting your sound source, then select program B88 “AUDIO IN,” which conveniently sets the microKORG XL up to accept external signals. Next, set the INPUT SELECT switch on the back to LINE and adjust the input signal using the LEVEL knob, along with the on-screen audio input indicator. Remember, you won’t hear anything until you hit a key, so make sure your master volume is lowered before you open up the audio stream, so you don’t damage your speakers or, more importantly, your ears.
Constant audio
If you’d like your audio to come through uninterrupted without holding down a key, simply turn on the arpeggiator by lighting the ARP ON button, set the edit knob to AMP EG, and run the RELEASE knob all the way up. Press any key if you don’t hear audio yet; that’ll open the floodgates. Now you can experiment with the filter and effects without interruption. Go ahead, set the edit knob to FILTER and go to town! Set it to EFFECT and tweak out the grain shift and delay that are already pre-set for the “AUDIO IN” program, or change them out for others in the FULL EDIT mode.
Gated audio
If your microKORG XL is MIDI-synced to the device that you’re inputting audio from (or vice-versa), you can use the arpeggiator in combination with the AMP EG RELEASE to gate or “stutter” incoming audio. Be sure the ARP ON button is still lit from the previous example. If not, turn it on now. If you don’t hear audio yet, just press any key (you won’t have to hold it). Last but not least, slowly bring the RELEASE down – which tightens up the gate more and more. If you want to take gating to the next level, get into the FULL EDIT mode where you can turn on and off steps in the arpeggiator to create your own gating patterns.
Combine all these tricks in real time!
Hey, why not? Since all of the knobs used to accomplish all of these tricks are right there on the panel, experiment by gating, un-gating, filtering, and changing effects on the fly!
Here’s an audio example that uses all of these techniques together. Enjoy! |
|
|
|
|
|
|