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Most synths try to do everything. The Korg monologue does one thing very well: it plays one note at a time, with a fat, aggressive analog sound and a sequencer that makes basslines and leads come alive. It is small, it runs on batteries and it is one of the most fun ways to learn what a synthesizer actually does.
What is the Korg monologue
The Korg monologue is a monophonic analog synthesizer with 25 slim keys. Its sound engine includes two voltage controlled oscillators (VCOs), a two pole voltage controlled filter (VCF), an envelope generator, an amplifier and a low frequency oscillator (LFO), plus a drive circuit for extra grit. It stores 100 programs, 80 of them presets, and it can run on batteries, which makes it easy to use anywhere.
It weighs about 1.7 kilograms and has an aluminum top panel with a wooden back panel. Korg offers it in five colors: silver, black, red, dark blue and gold.
The sequencer
The monologue's 16 step sequencer is where it shines. You can enter notes step by step or record in real time, then add slides and key triggers. Motion sequencing records movements of up to four knobs, so the filter cutoff or drive can change on every step. That turns a simple bassline into something animated and expressive, and it is ideal for acid, techno, electro and industrial styles.
Aphex Twin and microtuning
One of the monologue's most unusual features is microtuning, which lets you play outside standard Western tuning. Korg worked with Aphex Twin on this part of the instrument, and some of the presets were programmed by him. Microtuning opens up alien, unsettling and beautiful scales that suit experimental and ambient work. If you know Aphex Twin's music through Selected Ambient Works 85-92, it is fun to hear those ideas in a hands on box.
The oscilloscope display
A small organic light emitting diode (OLED) screen shows the waveform in real time. As you turn knobs, you see the wave change shape. It is not just eye candy. It helps beginners connect what they hear with what is happening to the sound, which makes the monologue a superb learning tool.
Korg monologue vs minilogue
The monologue's bigger sibling, the minilogue and its successor the minilogue xd, are polyphonic, which means they can play chords. They are better all rounders for pads and harmony. The monologue is mono, cheaper and smaller, with a punchier, more aggressive bass character and that sequencer focused workflow. If you mostly want basslines and leads, the monologue is the smarter buy. If you want chords, look at our Korg minilogue xd guide.
A first sound to try
Set both oscillators to sawtooth, detune the second slightly, and pull the filter cutoff down until the sound turns dark and round. Add a little resonance and a short envelope to the filter. Now program a simple eight note bassline, add slides on two of the steps and record a slow filter sweep with motion sequencing. Turn up the drive. In a couple of minutes you have the kind of squelchy, moving bass that sits at the center of acid and electro tracks.
Connectivity
The monologue includes Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) in and out, Universal Serial Bus (USB) MIDI and sync in and out, so it fits with computers and with small hardware like the Korg volca keys or a drum machine. Pair it with the Arturia DrumBrute Impact and you have a compact, completely analog groove setup.
Who it is for
The monologue is ideal for beginners who want to learn subtractive synthesis on a real analog instrument, producers who need a strong bass synth and anyone who wants a portable box for jamming. It is less suited to people who need chords or deep preset libraries. The keys are small, so if you are a trained pianist, consider pairing it with a full size controller.
Who makes it
Korg is a Japanese company founded in 1962, known for instruments that have helped shape electronic music for decades. The monologue, introduced in 2016, belongs to the company's modern analog revival and remains one of its most characterful synths.
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