A Synth That Doesn’t Know When to Quit

The Minilogue XD feels like the synth equivalent of a band that refuses to sell out — analog bones, digital blood, and a look that says yes, I belong both on stage and in your messy apartment. It’s part sequel, part upgrade, and all attitude — taking everything the original Minilogue did well, and injecting just enough chaos to make it unpredictable in the best way.

Sound Engine: A Crossbreed That Bites

Two analog oscillators per voice give you the classic saws, triangles, and pulse waves you expect. It’s warm, saturated, and surprisingly beefy for something in this price range.

But then Korg throws in that third oscillator — the multi-engine. This is where things get weird, in a good way. It’s digital, sure, but it doesn’t feel clinical. You get:

• Noise (fine-tunable for lo-fi beats or textural pads)

• VPM (Variable Phase Modulation — basically FM’s edgy cousin)

• Custom user oscillators (yeah, you can load your own. Go nuts.)

It’s like pairing an old tube amp with a glitch pedal that’s slightly broken but somehow still musical.

Built-In FX: Space and Dirt on Tap

The stereo effects section is no afterthought. The delay’s snappy, the reverb’s lush, and the modulation effects can go from subtle movement to full-on VHS melt. You can stack a few effects at once — enough to shape your sound into something cinematic, or downright haunted.

The best part? It’s all stereo. So your pads shimmer, your sequences breathe, and even simple patches feel widescreen.

Interface: Sleek, Straightforward, and No Menu Hell

Korg nailed the UI. The knobs are where you want them. The OLED screen shows your waveform in real-time — a small touch that actually makes tweaking more intuitive.

That joystick? A surprisingly expressive tool for pitch, filter, or any mod target you assign. You’ll find yourself using it more than you thought.

The motion sequencer steals the show, though. It lets you record parameter automation per step. Filter sweeps, pitch drift, wavetable shifts — baked into the pattern. It’s like DAW automation, but tactile and dirty.

Real Talk: The Trade-Offs

• 4-voice polyphony — It’s enough for lead lines, pads, and layered sequences. But if you’re into big chord stacks or jazz voicings, you’ll hit that wall fast.

• Slim keys — Playable, but if you’ve got big hands or prefer a piano feel, you’ll notice.

• No aftertouch — Bummer for expressive players, but you’ve got workarounds with modulation routing.

None of these are deal-breakers. Just things to live with — like tube hiss or that one broken fader on your mixer you’ve just learned to avoid.

Final Verdict: For Synth Freaks, Noise Sculptors, and Hands-On Creators

The Minilogue XD is the kind of synth that invites you to get weird. It rewards the curious. It’s not trying to be a Prophet, or a clone of some vintage classic. It’s its own thing — punchy, unpredictable, and full of personality.

For $600-ish, it punches way above its weight. Whether you’re scoring indie films, layering texture over beats, or just need a late-night synth to get lost in, the Minilogue XD delivers.

Not perfect. Not pristine. But always inspiring.