Vagabond Synth Nerd’s Journal Vol. 193 - Korg King KORG NEO Usage Report Part 4 Final Episode

This is the final report on the specifications and use of the KingKORG NEO from Korg.
In the previous article, I reported on the oscillator and filter sections of the KingKORG NEO sound source.

Korg KingKORG NEO Control panel (personal item)

■ KingKORG NEO is a Virtual Analog Synthesizer. After Setting the Filter…

I introduced the KingKORG NEO's rich waveforms and extensive filter functions in the previous article.
I think you will have understood that the oscillator and filter alone make this a synthesizer that is well worth buying.
After the oscillator and filter have determined the base of the tone, the synthesizer applies modulation to that tone, such as vibrato. The LFO (Low Frequency Oscillator) is responsible for the speed of this fluctuation.
Modulation of the oscillator produces a vibrato effect, modulation of the filter produces a wah (growl) effect, and modulation of the amplifier produces a tremolo effect. The speed (FREQ) and depth of modulation (INTENSITY) are set using the LFO to create expression in the sound.

Set vibrato and other tone changes using LFO (center left of photo)

■ The Rise and Fall of Sound is Set Using the ADSR and Envelope Generator

At the same time as adding expression to the sound with LFO, the rise and fall of the sound is set with EG(ADSR), the envelope generator.

EG (Envelope Generator) & LFO

EG stands for envelope generator, and ADSR is an abbreviation of the initial letters of A (attack), D (decay), S (sustain), and R (release). For example, the attack time for instruments such as guitars and percussion, which have a quick attack, is set to around 0. For stringed instruments and horns, the time it takes for the sound to come out is longer than for guitars, so the attack time is set to a later value. On the other hand, the guitar sound disappears quickly, so the release time is set to a shorter value, etc. The EG is used to set the characteristics of the instrument, the time it takes for the sound to come out and the time it takes for the sound to disappear, etc. as you imagine.

■ A Rich Selection of Effects for Finalizing the Sound

Once you have the sound more or less decided, the next process is to apply effects.
KingKORG NEO is equipped with three independent effect systems: PRE FX, MOD FX, and REV/DELAY.
PRE FX are effects applied upstream, such as amp simulators, distortions, and ring modulators. MOD FX are modulation effects such as chorus, flanger, and phaser, and REV/DELAY are reverberation effects such as reverb and delay.
The effects are also laid out in a very organized way on the control panel, making it easy to understand the signal flow and giving a glimpse of Korg's user-first philosophy.
There is also an independent equalizer (EQ) at the downstream part of the three types of effects. Using this equalizer, you can make changes to the sound.
When creating sounds with this type of synthesizer, you may feel that you want a little more low or a little more high. In such cases, you can get closer to the ideal sound by simply adding a little equalizer.

3 Independent effects with a well-organized layout (Top of photo)

■ 3 Types of High-Quality Effects for Easy Use!

First, the amp simulator PRE FX is a traditional Korg effect that has been included since the days of the SV-1, a classic keyboard instrument that I own.
It can simulate electric pianos and guitar amps, and it can also greatly change the nuance of the sound. By using this PRE FX with an awareness of the characteristics of the instrument, you can get closer to the instrument you have in mind.
Next up are the modulation effects, MOD FX.
These include the standard phaser, chorus and flanger effects, and can be used to add a wavering change to the sound.
Finally, there are the reverberation effects, reverb and delay.
There are 6 types, including tape echo and delay. The reverb category includes standard categories such as hall, plate and room, and covers a wide range of reverberation sizes.
MOD FX allows you to set the depth and speed, and REV/DELAY allows you to set the depth and reverberation time, so you can create a wide variety of reverberations.

■ User-Friendly Joystick

Another thing worth mentioning is the high level of operability of the joystick. The NEO has a joystick instead of a wheel. At first, I thought the joystick was unreliable, but when I actually tried bending, I found it very easy to use. In fact, I found it easier to use than the wheel type. After all, the fact that you can operate pitch bend and modulation at the same time is very attractive.
When using a wheel-type device to simulate guitar effects such as 'choking' and 'vibrato', you need to use the pitch bend wheel to raise the pitch and the modulation wheel to apply vibrato, so you have to operate two wheels at the same time. I think the joystick is a very convenient device that makes this process much easier.

Joystick with high operability

■ A Virtual Synthesizer that Can Withstand All-Round Use with KingKORG NEO

KingKORG NEO is an easy-to-use instrument that even beginners who are new to synthesizers can understand, and anyone with even a basic knowledge of analog synthesizers can operate it.
On the other hand, it also supports serious sound creation, and it has content that will satisfy users who want to create very specific sounds.
In that sense, I think it is a piece of equipment that can meet the needs of a wide range of users, from beginners to those with a lot of synthesizer experience.

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