MicroKORG XL Patch Bank by Thoracius

Currently totals over 100 original patches for the MicroKORG XL (also compatible with the XL+). Tons of vintage, retro, lo-fi synths. Classic ’80s poly synths, leads, basses, pads. Listen to the videos in the left-hand column for a demonstration of each individual patch.

For this patch bank I recreated some of my best patches for the original MicroKORG, while improving many to take advantage of the more powerful synthesis engine of the XL, as well as creating many new ones as well.

I’m taking requests so that I can fill up the blank slots in the library with the sounds you guys want. Some of the sounds I’ve recreated by request so far include Mac Demarco, Tame Impala, Stranger Things, Joy Division, Gary Numan, The Beatles, Kate Bush, and The Doors.

FAQ

How do I install these on my MicroKORG XL or XL+?

Install the drivers and software from the KORG website and connect your MicroKORG XL to your computer via USB.

Make sure to install the proper software corresponding to your synth (e.g. MicroKORG XL Sound Editor for the MicroKORG XL and the MicroKORG XL+ Sound Editor for the MicroKORG XL+).

Are these compatible with the original MicroKORG?

No, however I do have a patch bank for the original MicroKORG, available here.

Are these compatible with the MicroKORG XL+?

Yes, for the most part.  The only difference between the XL and the XL+ is that a few of the digital waveforms are different.  The vast majority of my patches don’t use digital waveforms.

Can you do the synth sound from ________?

Email me and I'll take a stab at it. There are still a few blank slots in this bank, and I'd like to fills those with customer requests. (Yes, free upgrades, just email me.)

Patch List

WORNPOLY Worn out, tune instable polysynth
MINIBOOG Minimoog-style bass
MARTENOT Ondes Martenot-style early synthesizer lead
JPTR ARP 80s, Giorgio Moroder-, Neverending Story-, Jupiter-style arp
LETITSWL swelling lo-fi poly synth wash in the style of Tame Impala-Let It Be
SLFOSCNZ Self-oscillating resonant noise as popularized by Isao Tomita
SPACEWND Space wind sfx
C O REFL lo-fi bright 80s polysynth inspired by Mac Demarco’s “Chamber of Reflection”
DIGIBASS 80’s digital bass, FM synthesis DX7-style
THORIOLI inspired by 60s proto-synthesizer the Clavioline, very versatile saw wave lead, kraut rock
NANGBANG pulsating lo-fi polysynth inspired by Tame Impala’s “Nangs”
80SCHOIR 80s-style synth choir
FARFISA modeled after a Farfisa Mini Compact, made famous by 60s garage rock, the B52s, Blondie
FREAKYZ new wave-sounding, weird
LSTYRSBS wide, unison, chorus bass
THEREMIN expressive theremin patch, use mod wheel to increase volume and vibrato
LOFIPULS pulsating lo-fi poly synth
PHSSTRMH phased string machine, vaguely like an eminent through a small stone ALA Jean-Michel Jarre
MDEMARCO smokey lo-fi, mangled cassette tape, VHS, organ ALA Mac Demarco
ANADRUMS analog drums: kick, snare, toms
SQRSIZZL bright, sizzly square wave poly synth
YUKIBASS 80s bass
FMUFOPAD FM-style digital glass pad, UFO
LOFI PNO lo-fi, cassette tape walkman piano, intimate
FM MRMBA DX7-style digital FM marimba
BLSTBRSS 80s blast brass poly synth
CHORBASS chorus, wide, bass
RTROWVLD retrowave lead
POPCORNclassic square wave, very quick transient sound ala Hot Butter
SPRNTRL supernatural pad
PERCORGN lo-fi organ with a percussive attack
DAFTTALK vocal/vocoder/talkbox-sounding lead ALA Daft Punk
NOIZSYNC rich, fuzzy pad
NEWAGEEP warm, new age e-piano
NOISEHH classic synthesizer hi-hat
OH KEYS 80s digital, DX7-style, vocal piano
LOFICHSQ lo-fi, chorus, square wave poly synth
SHRDBASS shred bass, mellow distorted bass with no attack
CONNLEAD bright retro poly synth lead
WOW WASH swelling frequency sweep pad
LOFIFMEP lo-fi, FM, DX7-style e-piano, vhs fulltines
DULCI hammered dulcimer, zither, acoustic, new age, boxy-sounding, koto
JUNOBARO Juno-style poly synth with bright, resonant attack, 80s baroque synthesizer harpsichord
80S BASS Classic 80s bass with short transient attack
ADNTARP Fantasy/adventure arp
TRANSORG 60s transistor organ
SCIFIGOO sci-fi goo sfx, soundtrack, horror, drone
BELLYBTN old static-y polysynth with decades of dust in the pots
PRCNT13 bass inspired by John Carpenter’s Precinct 13
VC3SLEAD early synthesizer lead, inspired by EMS VC3s and BBC Radiophonic Workshop
BUCHLARP early synthesizer arp, inspired by Buchla
PWMPAD warm, pulse-width modulation pad
MOFGREEN warm, synthesizer e-piano, with hints of Vangelis
POPS toy keyboard pop sound, inspired by casio
NEWAVESQ new wave square wave poly synth
ITALOBSS italo disco bass
VOXHUMAN modeled after Polymoog Vox Humana, as used by Gary Numan on Cars, Airlane, …
M80N ARP 80s arp
THEDOORS Vox Continental-style organ ALA Light My Fire
DRGD CHR drugged choir
BADCOP Another 80s polysynth, warm
MERMAID similar to a theremin
PHASRSTR phaser strings
TOYFNTSY toy keyboard fantasy preset, inspired by Yamaha PSR
DRFTBRSS drift brass, mangled brass sound
STEAMPAD steam pad, inspired by Ensoniq SQ-80
SYNCSZL poly synth with bright sizzle
HRMONIUM synthesizer harmonium, accordion
SPRSTITN clavichord, modeled after Stevie Wonder’s Superstition
XMODDEST strange sound utilizing cross modulation
CHEESHRN 80s analog poly synth horn/brass
BIGBOTTM bass with big low end
TROMBONE analog french horn, synthesizer trombone
DRTYWRLY dirty, vibrato, lo-fi Wurlitzer-influenced patch
MDLRGONG early synthesizer analog modular gong sound
MELLOPOP soft, mellow, pop
NEWAVEBL new wave analog poly synth bell
NOIZPAD harmonically interesting pad
VLCTYPOL another 80s analog poly synth, velocity sensitive
STACKSAW lo-fi, stacked, detuned saw tooths
HARPSI acoustic harpsichord
STRKIDS emulated after Kids from the Stranger Things OST, sounds like a Roland Juno
STRGRTHN emulated after the theme song from Stranger Things, sounds like a Minimoog bass
XSAWARP early 80s saw wave arp
SLOW STR string section with slow attack
FM BELL DX7-like 80s FM synthesis bell sound, with choir-like overtones
JOYDIVIS emulation of a Arp Omni/Solina sound, as heard on Joy Division records.
DEALWGOD My attempt at that strange Fairlight sample used by Kate Bush on “Running Up That Hill”
LWRYLUCY Lowrey organ was used for that famous “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds” Beatles intro.
SUKLEMON That warm electric piano sound from Radiohead’s “Everything In Its Right Place”