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Average rating:
4.2 out of 5
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I'm not a pro by any means, but this little "booger" is real good for the money. Got one off ebay for 80 bucks, actually didn't know I had won it until I got an email from seller saying that the person that had won it, didn't pay. I'm so glad for that. I've toyed around with it and most all presets are stong. I love the pianos, especially piano and strings. Absolutely great, but then again, it's a korg. When I'm tinkering around, I'll connect it to my Roland XP10. I can actually come up with some off the same sounds my Triton LE produces. Combine it with an Ensoniq MR rack and you're in 7th Heaven. Thanks Korg and a "HIGH FIVE"
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Had this synth since 1996 and at that time it was a bargain. Really impressive sounds which are perfect for atmospheric music. It's one of the better sounding GM units out there and holds it own even today 10 years later. Obviously a cut down version of the X3 with a tiny LCD screen but was compensated with the bundled editor / librarian PC & MAC software that was included. I'm more into analogue / pure synthesis but this PCM machine gives the mix a digital edge. The acoustic sounds are a mixed bag ranging from good to amazing but I do agree the piano sound is mediocre. Great for pads and has some very usable drum kits. But the star of the show is the 2x dual FX processors. These can make all the difference. Recommended for beginners and pro's alike.
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Sounds? the factory preprogramed sounds are useless, If you want to edit the sounds that is practically imposible because of the small screen and lot's of scrolling required. Fortunately you can download some sounds from the internet and after much trying can manage to get at least some usable sounds on board. Piano sounds? you can't get a decent piano on this board, exception is the funkyroads patch but you also have to tweak it a little to make it work. How, don't ask me how because I managed somehow once and I can't repeat it again ARGH*#$.
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This board is a real catch-22: there are some totally beautiful pads/strings (by far the board's strongest sounds, which I haven't heard rivalled on anything else. I mean, just playing one pad sound is huuuge and can be a massive intro to a song) and there is the GM side of it: total shite in my opinion, because as soon as you switch to multi mode the sounds become thin and nasal. Even when you copy the effects parameters to match those of the single sounds (the multi must share the same two fx units so many of your sounds must have their fx sacrificed...and let me tell you this board relies heavily on the fx units for it's single/combi sounds) the multi mixes never sound the same. try it: even using ONE patch in multi, with, in theory, exactly the same fx settings, somehow multi mode never sounds the same! Thin and dull, not the polished and full sound of it's single mode brother. This has been picked up by other X5D users also: check out the QS300 reviews...I miss the wonderful pads/strings of this machine but certainly not it's gutless multi-mode! This board is a testament to the quality of Korg's FX quality! Remember, also, that many of the organ sounds are a direct result of the FX units: switch off the fx and listen for yourself! I'd recommend this board for those who already have a really good workstation or a few other boards and just want to use it as a sinlge-sound source, which is where it shines in single or combi mode (where 8 patches are layered and play simultaneously!)
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This synth is awesome, the stings, pads and organ sounds are perfect for black metal. The piano could be better as many people have pointed out.
I hug my little X5D before I go to bed each night, because it's so cuddly and cute!
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