Korg ProLogue opinions

[kritikon]

There's a sale on with one of my main retailers - Korg Prologue for $1780 as opposed to its usual $2300. That's quite a good saving and tempts me a little. I've put Korg MiniLogue pretty well 2nd on my list after the BMonoPoly, though I could be persuaded to flip 1 and 2. I never really looked seriously at the ProLogue because it's a poly, and TBH I don't have that much interest in polys. Opsix and Wavestate give me most of what I want in terms of pads etc, plus ImpOSCar.

ProLogue seems to be like a poly version of the MiniLogueXD - VCO3 is an extra digital oscillator which looks reasonably versatile, and apparently there's an upcoming editor/librarian thingy whereby you can upload your own digital algos etc. But again - not sure I want a digital voice on an analogue synth - already have Opsix so what could PolyLogue offer me in terms of digital? I get it, but seems a bit like extraneous fluff on an analogue synth. Nice to have but not necessary to have.

I can get a MiniLogue for $750 or so. Yeah, more limited but I mainly do mono stuff anyway with that type of synth. I guess a ProLogue would give pretty big unison sounds, not sure that's worth an extra $1000. Between a MiniLogue and Minilogue XD - I think I'd go for the straight MiniLogue TBH.

Does a Prologue do any other stuff or is it just a bigger 8-voice MiniLogueXD? If it does something special I might put the MonoPoly on hold and get this deal.

[kritikon]

Must admit it sounds pretty good - vid of the 16 voice version. Still, a lot of the fancy stuff is to do with performance and lots of poly, neither of which appeal to me. Does a MiniLogue do most of that stuff?
Korg still make some grunty character filters - this seems a little like a wet dream of a MS20 done up to modern specs with steroids. I mean, I love my MS20 but it's a fuckin' toy compared to that beast.

[Uncle E]

The Prologue and Minilogue XD sound completely different from the original Minilogue (for the better, IMO). Totally different instruments.

[kritikon]

OK...different filters etc? On that vid it showed there's a filter drive - no filter drive on the straight MiniLogue? That might sway me - I love me some gritty filter drive.

[kritikon]

I went off and did a bit of proper hunting around for reviews of Minilogue vs XD, and you're definitely right about it sounding different. The new filter from the Prologue makes a huge difference and it does seem to be a whole lot more versatile. Hadn't realised how thin the Minilogue could sound compared to the XD. I couldn't find anything about the shaper in the original Minilogue - sounds very good in the XD/Prologue. And the FX are considerably better in the XD...Korg are putting out some stunning FX on all their hw nowadays.

That's put my cat amongst my proverbial pigeons. I thought I didn't want the XD and could save a few hundred. Now maybe not. And if I were to get the XD...maybe it's worth splashing out on the 8 voice Prologue on offer. Hmmmmmmmm. Maybe I should just kick the can down the road and buy a Monopoly and stop lusting after things I really don't need.

[kritikon]

Though...some demos of the Prologue/XD show great sync/cross mod. And that was one of the many things I really want with the Monopoly. It's not a stretch to directly compare the Monopoly and the XD - both 4 voice (of sorts with the Monopoly)? Very similar features in a lot of ways. In NZ the Monopoly seems to be $1300 (can get for less but not in stock at those stores - likely to be a while). So a Monopoly is more than the XD. And the Prologue is only $400 more than the Monopoly. And I have to say that that Korg filter is way more characterful than the Monopoly one.


AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAArgh! Choices.

[Constructed Identity]

There's a sale on with one of my main retailers - Korg Prologue for $1780 as opposed to its usual $2300. That's quite a good saving and tempts me a little. I've put Korg MiniLogue pretty well 2nd on my list after the BMonoPoly, though I could be persuaded to flip 1 and 2. I never really looked seriously at the ProLogue because it's a poly, and TBH I don't have that much interest in polys. Opsix and Wavestate give me most of what I want in terms of pads etc, plus ImpOSCar.

ProLogue seems to be like a poly version of the MiniLogueXD - VCO3 is an extra digital oscillator which looks reasonably versatile, and apparently there's an upcoming editor/librarian thingy whereby you can upload your own digital algos etc. But again - not sure I want a digital voice on an analogue synth - already have Opsix so what could PolyLogue offer me in terms of digital? I get it, but seems a bit like extraneous fluff on an analogue synth. Nice to have but not necessary to have.

I can get a MiniLogue for $750 or so. Yeah, more limited but I mainly do mono stuff anyway with that type of synth. I guess a ProLogue would give pretty big unison sounds, not sure that's worth an extra $1000. Between a MiniLogue and Minilogue XD - I think I'd go for the straight MiniLogue TBH.

Does a Prologue do any other stuff or is it just a bigger 8-voice MiniLogueXD? If it does something special I might put the MonoPoly on hold and get this deal.

Unless you've heard it you would have no idea. I didn't until a local store had one on display and I played it. I really can't say anything, it sells itself.

[Uncle E]

It would be sort of like comparing a Behringer Deepmind to a real Roland Juno 60, they have the same basic character but the Juno 60 has more of the things people are looking for when they think of analogs (warm, smooth, fat, etc.). The original Minilogue can sound great but the XD and Prologue are smoother, more polished, and less harsh. And the difference isn't small.

[AdvancedFollower]

Between the XD and Prologue you can't really go wrong with either. They're fantastic VCO polys at their respective price points.
I have an XD and I'm very happy with it. You can get some really interesting sounds out of it and the 4-note polyphony isn't as limiting as one might think, especially if you use a bit of reverb or delay to mask the voice stealing. I mean it's only one voice less than a Prophet 5. The XD does sound slightly different than Prolgoue. The filter is voiced a bit more aggressively, so you might want to keep the VCO levels going into the filter a bit lower and not crank the reso all the way up if you want smoother sounds. If you're used to working with VST's, it can take some getting used to actually have to gain stage your patches internally.

Prologue is of course a completely different beast with twice/4x the polyphony, dual layers and slightly more modulation routings. No motion sequencer, though, which is a shame. The XD sequencer is very useful as it can work as a makeshift envelope or LFO or as a step sequencer for parameters. I think the XD is better for more experimental/glitchy soundscapes, aggressive leads etc. while the Prologue is perfect for pads, strings and other smooth sounds with longer release and slower attack.

[cryophonik]

I had an XD for a while and totally agree with the comments above, especially AdvancedFollower. I sold mine a months ago because it was the keyboard version and I really wanted the module for space/ergonomics in my cramped studio, but I'm still looking for an opportunistic steal on one. I've never owned a Prologue, but I've watched/listened to many demos on YouTube and would love to have one, if only I had the space.

On a side note, maybe it's just me, but it seems to me that the 'logue series all seem to have a very characteristic scoop in the midrange, e.g., like a smiley face EQ setting was applied. It's not a bad thing, because it gives it a mellow darkness and warmth that sounds great, but it does seem noticeable to me. Has anybody else found the same thing, or am I just insane in the membrane?

[Uncle E]

Yes, you’re right.

[kritikon]

Between the XD and Prologue you can't really go wrong with either. They're fantastic VCO polys at their respective price points.
I have an XD and I'm very happy with it. You can get some really interesting sounds out of it and the 4-note polyphony isn't as limiting as one might think, especially if you use a bit of reverb or delay to mask the voice stealing. I mean it's only one voice less than a Prophet 5. The XD does sound slightly different than Prolgoue. The filter is voiced a bit more aggressively, so you might want to keep the VCO levels going into the filter a bit lower and not crank the reso all the way up if you want smoother sounds. If you're used to working with VST's, it can take some getting used to actually have to gain stage your patches internally.

Prologue is of course a completely different beast with twice/4x the polyphony, dual layers and slightly more modulation routings. No motion sequencer, though, which is a shame. The XD sequencer is very useful as it can work as a makeshift envelope or LFO or as a step sequencer for parameters. I think the XD is better for more experimental/glitchy soundscapes, aggressive leads etc. while the Prologue is perfect for pads, strings and other smooth sounds with longer release and slower attack.

That's very useful to know, thanks. That would actually tilt me towards the XD more. I love aggressive filters. I went back and checked out a few more demos - have to say the sync/cross mod on the Korgs seemed a little tamer than the Monopoly. But maybe that's just the way they've patched them? Can you get the Pro/XD to really scream with sync? And does the XD have a filter drive like the Prologue?

[kritikon]

I had an XD for a while and totally agree with the comments above, especially AdvancedFollower. I sold mine a months ago because it was the keyboard version and I really wanted the module for space/ergonomics in my cramped studio, but I'm still looking for an opportunistic steal on one. I've never owned a Prologue, but I've watched/listened to many demos on YouTube and would love to have one, if only I had the space.

On a side note, maybe it's just me, but it seems to me that the 'logue series all seem to have a very characteristic scoop in the midrange, e.g., like a smiley face EQ setting was applied. It's not a bad thing, because it gives it a mellow darkness and warmth that sounds great, but it does seem noticeable to me. Has anybody else found the same thing, or am I just insane in the membrane?

Cheers...I didn't realise there was a key version. Every one I've seen for sale here is the desktop. I'll have to check out XD keys - at this sale price though - prolly not that much difference between an XD key and the 8 voice Pro. I'm the opposite - no more deskspace but I've got some room on the stands if I get rid of the dying Juno or the moribund Wavestation - not much reason to keep either, really.

[AdvancedFollower]

That's very useful to know, thanks. That would actually tilt me towards the XD more. I love aggressive filters. I went back and checked out a few more demos - have to say the sync/cross mod on the Korgs seemed a little tamer than the Monopoly. But maybe that's just the way they've patched them? Can you get the Pro/XD to really scream with sync? And does the XD have a filter drive like the Prologue?

It wouldn't surprise me if the Monopoly could potentially sound more aggressive. As Uncle E said, those vintage synths tend to have more character than the newer stuff. But the XD can certainly scream when you use Cross Mod and Sync. There's also Unison mode for huge 8 VCO sounds.
I think the XD and Prologue have the same Drive control which is just a switch with two modes. As I mentioned it feels like the filter gets overdriven a bit even by just maxing out the volumes for VCO1 and VCO2 but it's a different kind of drive than the switch.

[kritikon]

Ok, I think I'm starting to narrow my gearlust down a bit. Checked it out - can get a XD keys for $1050 as opposed to Prologue $1780.

XD - nastier...great
XD - motion sequencer...great (I fell in love with the Opsix sequencer, so it's a big plus if that's on the XD but not on Prologue)

Prologue - more voices...really not sure I need 8 voices.
Prologue - better keyboard...I'm a crap player never had a piano in my life - means nothing to me
Prologue - more mod options...yeah that's a big plus
Prologue 8 voice - 4 octave keys...very useful but I can live with 3. Already do with other Korgs

I think XD KB is the one. Save $700 which is at least a Behringer Cat or MS20 or ProOne.
Will still get a Monopoly anyway whether I bought a XD or Prologue.

Might have to buy one after the weekend. Shame to miss the sale deal on Prolgue, but I really don't need and not sure I actually want a big poly with splits etc - seems designed more for live playing (which I don't).