So, we hipped you to the resurgence of interest in analog synthesizers already, and to the introduction of the Monotron, the first pure analog synth made by the mighty Korg company in, like, many decades.  Analog synths have become downright trendy in the best way thanks to artists spanning LCD Soundsystem to Dam-Funk, and the Monotron by Korg looked like a genius move when we first encountered it: a genuine analog synth, priced for recession-era hipsters at a cool sixty bucks! But them we got our hands on an actual Monotron, and…. WOW.

A recent review called the Monotron “the Gameboy for synthesizer fiends”, and that’s pretty dang accurate. If anything, the Korg Monotron resembles another fairly new, ultra-stripped down analog synth that synth freaks covet, the Gakken SX-150. However, while the Gakken is dope in its own gritty right, the Monotron goes way further. For one, it feels way more solidly built than the kit-based Gakken, but more importantly, it features a powerful filter, taken from the classic, collectible late-‘70s era Korg MS-20, giving it a truly classic synth sound. However, what’s coolest about the Monotron, beside its Daft Punk-esque robotic moniker, is how absolutely limited it is. Unlike a full-featured synth, the Monotron only has five control knobs, giving you crucial but limited control over pitch, intensity, and that almighty filter; it also doesn’t have a traditional keyboard per se, but instead a ribbon strip that you run your finger over in a smooth continuous motion to create sound.

Despite the limited features, what’s fascinating about the Monotron is that it has no specific “sound”; everyone seems to do something slightly different with it. This is refreshing in an era where everyone seems to have an infinite number of loops, samples and software synths at their disposal, but you consistently hear the same tired sounds and tricks being used in songs. There’s no instant recall on this baby: instead, the Monotron forces the player to be truly creative with limited means—it’s like the Ramones of synthesizers! You can even run other sounds through it—guitars, other keyboards, microphones—turning the Monotron into a truly twisted guitar pedal. At the same time, with a little ingenuity, one can use it to replicate a smash hit pop song, like Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance”:

As well, it’s possible to make an entirely serviceable trance-ish dancefloor number using just the Monotron, as this video makes abundantly clear:

It even has a practical application in worship music, as this rendition of “Amazing Grace” demonstrates:

So if you’ve always been curious about synthesis, or are a classic synth freak seeking uncharted waters, I heartily suggest you check out the Monotron. In capable hands—or even idiot ones—it’s got the potential to be both the sound of the past and the wave of the future. As one reviewer questioned, “is Korg’s Monotron a toy or a tool?” In practice, the answer is clear—it’s gloriously both.