Novation Mininova Vs Korg MicroKorg XL+ 

I own the Mininova, and the first MicroKORG, (not the XL) and they are both good at different things. I think the Mininova sounds thin and metallic, (a lot like an 80's FM synth) but it has a ton of width and motion, so I think it's better for certain pad type sounds, and the performance controls are very intuitive. The MicroKORG has a lot more body to it, so the low end is much thicker and it sounds warmer than the Mininova.

Due to my specific needs (I was looking for a good instrument to be played with headphones, during travels for business reasons) I decided for Microkorg XL +, because it is smaller in dimesnions and powered also on batteries. Then I was surprised for the good quality sounds, the user friendly minikeyboard (better than the one from the competitors) and I found it very good also as a regular sinth for live applications. To my objective, it was incredible to be able to play such a good instrument while sitting on a train, without disturbing the other passengers and using my smartphone as a drum machine connected to the Audio IN, mixed with the microkorg sounds!

I am getting the Novation Mininova because of what Teddy Riley said about the vocoder. He is a vocoder collector and he said that the Mini Nova was very unique from other vocoders.

That's a really tough call. I like how this vid is an actual comparison. I hate it when people put up "vs" and it's two synths at the same time. Good vid.

Screw it, I'm getting both.

There is a mistake in the specification comparison list at the end. He says in "Multi-Timberality:" that the MicroKorg is only 1 part and the Mininova is 2 part (split or layered). When in fact it's just the opposite, the MiniNova is only 1 part and the Korg is 2 parts . I have the Novation Mininova so I know. If you do the research you'll find out that is the case.

I could be wrong, but think the Mininova is favoured by the reviewer (just my humble opinion) people confuse loudness with sounding good and the mini nova is definitely louder at times on this demo but the korg sounds better regardless. Bells and whistles don't account for much as a live performer I want simplicity and functionality. I'd like to hear actual live band performances with the xl before I commit to buying anything but definitely has potential.

I have both of them. And the MicroKorg is easier to get familiar with...The vocoder option is great...and the soul of the sounds are richer with micronkorg. BUT! There are more sounds and options on the Novation...and the Look of this keyboard is just amazing... If you need to choose a solid sound and a very easy plattform... I choose MicroKorg

Thank you very much for this comparison. This is very tough, can't decide which one to buy, because they both sound great.

I just got my mini nova last week. LOVE IT!

Nice to hear some old classic tunes!

what a demo, thanks & nice job on the classic house lines!

The microkorgs have always had this verry 80's never ending story-ish vibe which I absolutely love!

Fantastic demo. Nice work.

I really enjoy this video you made, it helped with deciding what synth to choose as I was so undecided, i went with the Novation MiniNova, but I still want to purchase the Korg lol... 👍👌

So I was listening to this video and reading the comments, and literally EVERYTIME I thought: "This sounds awesome" and I scrolled up...it was the Korg. Guess for X-Mas I am getting a XL + :-)

Phenomenal simplistic comparison sans voiceover. Thanks!

Now that was a great comparison!!

We are thinking of doing a video recording how we record our videos and sound. We basically use Focusrite audio interfaces for recording straight into Ableton Live. Our main unit of choice is the Pro 24 DSP but it all depends on how many inputs we require at the time. Video is then synchronised to the audio using iMovie. If ever you need a good recording interface the Focusrite offers pro quality at the right price.

I like so much the sound of mininova! thanks for this demo.

3:40 omg! running up that hill!

Good song choice man! Running up that hill

great vid, helped out a lot!

Cheers for the upload, Mininova it is :-) Can't wait!!!

like for Running up that hill theme👍

Oops, Shabbee you are right, we have mixed up the spec at the end - the multi-timbrality of the MiniNova is 1 part and not the Korg which has split and layer. Thanks for pointing that out!

Mininova is monotimbral. Microkorg can play two sounds. That's a HUGE difference! (Given that sound quality is of the same range). If you already have a set-up, you might indeed hesitate between the two, as the Mininova has some interesting features that the Korg hasn't. But if it's your first and only syth yet and you don't have any money to invest soon, if you only have like one machine so far, (a sequencer of sorts) go for the Korg without hesitation, it's a no-brainer. Seriously, trust me.

seems to me the xl has a more organic sound, a lot smoother......the novation seems a little more 80s synth sounding. both are nice, but I lean towards the xl

Wow. You guys should make one about the new Roland jdxi vs the mini nova

hey there!! thanks for the great video. i'm really curious about the name of the sort of function you present at 2:23 which is using the step arpeggiator. what fascinates me about it is the capacity to choose chord v. up/down or other more common arpeggiator modes. does the mininova also have this function? i'm VERY called to this, and this would honestly be a major reason for what might call me to getting something like the XL+ over a simple microKORG if these are major differences as well between those two. thanks again, very instructive and helpful video!

ok ppl really need to stop yelling at each other about which of these is the “superior” synth. they each have their own strengths and weaknesses & i think it’s entirely a matter of personal preference. for me, the mininova is my synth of choice, but the microkorg does have a lot to offer in and of itself & i would love to someday own both. it’s ok to disagree about this - that’s how opinions work. but there’s no need to be so mean about it.

enjoying all these memories of classic tunes hehe

They are both very cool..I use them both...they both sound amazing to be so small..

I have a Korg Radias ( same soundengine as r3 and xl, but more polyphony ) and a Novation Ultranova ( same engine as mininova ). They are quite different, and I would not try to compare them. Both soundengines are good. It all comes down to which one you prefer making patches on. I think the one with the best workflow for you would be your best choice. You can get a lot better sound from both of them than in this video. Theese sound are to different for a x vs y comparision. This boils down to a contest between Korg and Novations soundbank makers ...

Had MicroKorg for a year or so and really enjoy it's analogue-type sound and recently purchased but awaiting delivery of Mininova. The two can't easily be directly compared since both offer high functionality/versatility at a reasonably affordable price - it's apples vs oranges. MK providing rich, deep synthasis and MN hardout bass with lush FM pads. If i had to choose one over the other i'd edge towards the Mininova simply because it offers more immediate hands-on control over selected pad plus the arp just looks a whole lot more fun.

Best MiniNova Video on RU-vid! Looked for some inspiration and motivation to buy it, next to all music store reviews ,which where actually totally boring, this is the most interesting one.

the mininova sounds fucking dope

Great song choices! It's a tough call because they both have their strong suits.

Thank you for sharing the video! 💎

I'm going for the Korg, as I want full portability. I need to throw outdoor concerts. I also like the pianos on the Microkorg XL. I think the brass/string patches are more up to date on it as well. just my opinion.

Tough decision but as I wanted a Midi controller and having a Novation bass synth I opted for the Mininova and I am not disappointed, go to say the Korg has a Casioesque looking keyboard. Great video, thanks.

Normally RU-vid isn't a great place to make sound quality judgments but comparing these two in the same video is quite helpful. I like both these keyboards but the Korg definitely seems to have an edge sound-wise.

I was hoping to hear the vocoders! Tasty video tho :)

Yes! I need both.

Hello, we are using a monitor stand! It is slightly wobbly but does the job ok.

The MicroKorg sounds more analog, the Mininova has more overtones. Personally, I prefer the warmer sound of the MicroKorg.

I have a Mininova, and it can sound so much better than what this video shows.

That arp progression you did on the MPK is making me want to buy it.

We can take a look at the editors. We will try and get time to do this soon.

There both amazing for different reasons

Really helpful, thank you

The man knows his classics!

I think both synths are good for what they are. If I was to choose one it would be the nova I think the sound of the korg is perhaps a little clearer and more defined and realistic but none of the sounds come across as particularly original or of this decade 2013. even after a lota tweaking it still sounds a bit 80's 90's albeit a great sounding 80's 90's got vst's that can do all that much better . However what I look for in hardware synths is there ability to inspire me to create new sounds and textures live in real time EVERYTHING about tweaking the nova is more immediate and fun though we all have our own perspectives on this so it won't be to every ones taste! After spending 4 hours at turnkey putting them through their paces and annoying the hell out of the staff I choose the nova, (Very nearly walked out with the mini brute though I still want one of those!) There is just somin about the nova that works for me I have an old wasp synth and that is one of my all time fav synths I kinda feel the nova has the potential to be a modern classic it does not try to be any thing other then what it is. Not sure I felt that at all about the korg though it is still a good sounding synth I just couldn't see me wanting to use it live Bottom line for me is that I just have a lot more fun using the nova if I owned both the korg would sit there unplayed.

thank you.. they sound great.

The micro is clearly excels in all the analog/classic type of synth sounds - far more musical & digestible, but the nova is absolutely amazing @ recreating those electro-mechanic (hammond, rhodes etc.) sounds via wavetables!

Great video, thanks, both are great..

Setting aside whichever you guys think is the better synth, can we just appreciate this dude was playing some cracking riffs in this video lol. Top notch tunes.

The Mininova sounds are standard with a lot of reverb ( Roland issue on a lot of keyboards ). If you putt the effects off (verb and chorus) ,then you hear the real filter and then compare. I have both boards in the studio and I use the Korg most (layers in pads and dynamics).I like the vocoder of the Mini more

Unfortunately by default the MiniNova and UltraNova have all the parts of the sound engine that make it sound more analog turned off, and the presets reflect that. If you dig into the sound engine a bit you can get it to sound warm and pleasing. I have a video about it here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-V6SoFa7aSqM.html

Proper old skool riffs. :)

Great playing and side by side comparison, thanks! I can't decide, overall the Mininova has more bang for the buck it seems.

Last year these were both for sale, used locally. I went with the Mininova because of the animate buttons. Talked the seller down to $300cad too ;)

We were not sure weather to do the vocoder or not but we decided against as there are lots of vocoder demos and we wanted to concentrate on the sounds.

Oh yesss! What was this part at 6.20,i cant remember!! I loved it!!!Thanks for that super vid!!

i like your harmonies :)

It would be nice to see you try to build the same sound from INIT on each , string sound , lead sound , base sound , drum sound ect

Very usefull many thanks

great song selection :)

good demo/comparison!

also is there a user preset area on the mininova where one can save their own sounds, or is the mininova all prset banks?

The Korg sounds great! But for a real time artist it looks like the Mininova. More control right at your fingers

Just ran through this review to play the snippets :) Great fun. Wanted to like the Mininova but the sounds on the Microkorg seem so much richer

I want to go busking with it on the street using an AMP & a RC 505. I will need another battery pack anyway for the looper so I don't mind that the mini nova requires mains power which is no problem anymore these days. I like that there are so many free downloadable patches for the mini nova from the 70&80 I think, LOVE IT! Maybe I should try to rent them play around with it but I think the mini nova is just more versatile. Great review !

I'm not specialist but i feel like MicroKorg XL seems to sounds much more better no ? Good attack, more clear and more warm ... ( like we can allways feel the sound goes out from the matter - wood, crystal, etc )

They're both awesome

I use Mininova & Monologue. Great sounds!

good demo, like hearing practical examples rather than fast twiddly note runs, much easier to hear how each will be in use, think the Korg for me has the edge for analogue type sounds, both good though

The Novation has some neat sounds, but overall,....I think I like the Korg's sound better. They're affordable enough to just get both, but if I had to pick, I'd go w/the Korg.

I love the pad category on the novation i think it's better than the microkorg

A perfect keyboard demo by the perfect keyboard demo player. Can you please post hours of your badass keyboard demo playing? The internet thanks you. Gotta check your guitar playing videos I guess now..

I recently bought the MiniNova and I dont regret it, it sounds pretty awesome and its also easier to use than other synths. Now I would like to buy another synth, which one do you will better a Microkorg XL+ or the Little Phatty Stage II by Moog?

Forgot to showcase the vocoder but otherwise a great video, I like them both. Thank you.

Hey, cool comparison video. How was the sound in the video recorded though? I'd really appreciate a reply. Thanks in advance. (:

The Mininova provides a unique sound engine. I would use it to replace a Roland JD-XI that my Studio 8 supercedes. Thanks for the demo.

what are you using to hold the microkorg xl+? i've been wondering what kind of stand would work for it

I like the raw sound of the korg. The mininova sounds awesome aswell

love melodies which you play on vid! :)

Классное сравнение =)

I just ordered a like new MiniNova cause of how fun it looks to play !! besides,it has its own unique sound compared to Korg products in general which I love Korg already have over a half a dozen Korgs !! But cant wait to get my MiniNova in this Friday it looks like its gonna be a blast to play and much more powerful than what most people are saying here. there are a lot of great videos with much better representations of the novation Mininova on RU-vid.....its what made me decide on it instead of another Korg ;-)

One thing i have noticed with the comparison, and bear in mind i dont muck about with synths that much, but the mini ova has more sharpness in its sounds where as the Korg blends them together better. Thing is with your examples it shows that depending on what you want one synth may not cut it which puts it in perspective for people :)

Very nice comparison! Just subscribed!I liked the melody at 7:17, what's that song called? Thanks un advance! :)

They both great for their sizes and have own unique sounds i think. I like a retro trance sounding of Korg)

The mininova seems like it's right up my alley. It's only about $100 dollars more on Amazon, but what I have seen from this, I'd say it would be worth it.

Sorry we never got chance to reply to your message but someone has answered your questions above!

Im looking for a first synth and these two seem affordable and versatile. However I dont like the genre selection knobs I would much rather have something I can make my own unique sounds from scratch on. Any suggestions for me?

Thanks, it was useful🎉🎹👍

Nevermind the comparison. You played the Sweet Harmony riff @ 7:01 and thats cool!

I plan on getting a MiniNova at some point. Quite a unique synth.

This rules, thanks!

Interesting comparison - thank you. I'm leaning towards the Mininova. Can it be used as a midi controller for a DAW, via USB? Which of these two synths has the better keybed, or are they about the same?