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Korg X-911

“Korg X-911 guitar synthesizer everything works!

This is a 1980’s attempt at something we do much better today with a pedal, but it’s cool for it’s quirky interface and it has the heart of a MS-20 filter and voicing in it. Plus it is now controllable with the Arturia Keystep 37!

It takes an audio input and processes it to generate a pitch voltage and envelope… using it to trigger two separate voicing sections which share the same oscillator. One is called Instrument and the other Synthe… you basically add the presets up on each side and blend them with the Balance slider. Each one has an adjustable filter setting or attack/release with the mini knob. You even get portamento which you can footswitch along with a hold function and interval jump.

It is only OK as a guitar synthesizer (it does work, I used a compressor in front) but it ROCKS as a mono keyboard filter unit or for running drum machines through… vocals can work but are iffy… don’t expect vocoding. I used a Fender Rhodes which worked well, so a Rhodes patch should too. Note it also puts out this voltage and trigger, but it’s Korg standard. It is monophonic, so the ‘voices’ are really just filtering the same oscillator in different ways. It is only good for tracking along about two or three octaves at most through the audio input, but tracks well if CV in is used over several octaves.

It does have CV and trigger in and out but they’re a weird Korg Hz/V standard, not normal 5V linear. So this will work with a Kork MS20 as an expander, or Korg Sigma/Delta/Lambda or even the PS3xxx series if you have a super studio! But not anything else.

UNLESS…

If you have an Arturia Keystep 37 (not sure about any other Keystep controllers but I ran mine with a 37) you can use it as a controller and arpeggiate or sequence in addition to just playing from it, or even control the filter or LFO with a couple of cables! This is a blast and the killer app for this little gem. If you have the Keystep now this is a great add… if not and you get this at least try one with it.” Click here to visit listing on eBay