Re: Synth Keybard with Drum Machine?
The word "synth" covers a lot of ground. Before you buy, you should understand the difference between Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) and Analog Synthesis or Virtual Analog Synthesis. PCM means that the synth uses pre-recorded samples of real instruments to generate sounds. Analog synths build sounds from the ground up using tone generators, filters, and modulation circuits. Pink Floyd used a ton of (Kurzweil) analog synthesizers to create their music, which is why it all sounds like it came from outer space.
I have a Micro Korg and a Roland Gaia SH-01, as well as an SH-101 and several other analogs. I also have an Arturia Mini Brute on order. These are great fun, but they are all either analog synths or virtual analog synths. They do not generally have typical PCM patches for sampled instruments, such as piano or drums. (The Gaia has some General MIDI patches onboard, but it's not the main purpose of this type of synth.)
You can emulate percussion sounds, string or wind instruments, and even pianos and harpsichords with analog synths, and some of these are easier to model than others. But your basic Roland/Casio General MIDI synthesizer uses pre-recorded samples of actual instruments to dish up the sounds for piano, drums, etc. So if your intention is to get something that will sound like a drum kit, you probably don't want a Micro Korg. But if you can live with electronic dance-trance sounds or other "artificial" sounding percussion, you might be happy with an analog synth.
I highly recommend the Gaia for anyone who wants to learn the art of analog synthesis. It is a flexible, powerful system. But the learning curve is steep - many control settings do not even produce any sound at all, and it takes a bit of practice and study to learn how to create different types of sound. A true analog synth with hard sliders is even better, IMO, because WYSIWYG for controls and such. I love my old SH-101, and can tell you that the Gaia, though inspired by its '80s era ancestor, simply cannot replicate some of the sounds that I can coax out of that old thing. There are some aspects of the digital emulation that they just didn't get right, such as the sample-and-hold randomizer that they implemented with a nasty numerical random number generator. I am chomping at the bit for the much-delayed arrival of the Mini Brute.
Back to your original question, the Micro Korg is a fun toy, but it is not easy to create patches with, and does not have PCM sampled instrument patches. It also suffers from "too much demo mode" in the factory presets - they sound great when you press a key in the store, but they are very hard to use for just playing music when you take it home.
You probably want to look for something that supports General MIDI (aka "GM") patches. I am not aware of an inexpensive analog synth that also has GM capability, though they probably exist. You might be happier with a Casio, Yamaha, or low-end Roland PCM synth if you want conventional instruments and drums. Casio is a budget brand, but they are actually very good synths.
