Korg MicroPiano Review

The Korg MicroPiano is a one-of-a-kind digital-grand hybrid- But miniaturized. This instrument bridges the gap between a toy piano and a real one.

 I loved the sounds this economical keyboard was able to produce, and the key feel wasn’t bad, either. I ended up giving it a 8.5/10. While I wish the MicroPiano was more compatible with DAWs for recording, the instrument meets its intended audience’s expectations well. But if you are a serious piano learner, the mini keys on the Korg Micro might be a hindrance- so know that this one is mostly just for fun! 

Overview

The Korg MicroPiano 61 is a mini digital piano that was made in the style of a grand. According to the maker, this is what the little instrument entails: 

“Stylish and compact, Korg’s microPIANO digital piano is charming and designed like a grand piano even complete with an opening lid! The microPIANO features Korg’s expressive 61-key Natural Touch mini-keyboard, carefully designed to provide true playability. The bold, smooth grand piano sound uses the same stereo samples as Korg’s flagship digital pianos, generating full-bodied tones with depth and character. This instrument provides pure piano enjoyment and will enhance your living space simply by its presence. 

The Korg microPIANO comes well equipped with 61 vibrant and authentic sounds. Keyboard sounds go beyond the traditional pianos to include electric pianos, harpsichords, accordion, celeste, organs, clavs, toy pianos, and more! Outside of the keyboard family, there are also flutes, strings, harps, bells, and mallet percussion sounds – marimbas, vibes, steel drums, even kalimbas, and music boxes! Of these 61 sounds, 25 are Short Phrase Sounds that can automatically generate phrases simply by holding down a key. For example, these include arpeggiated piano patterns or even organ sounds complete with phrases from famous pipe organ compositions. Sounds such as toy pianos and steel drums offer phrases mimicking the playing techniques unique to those instruments, and can be used as sound effects or as creative ideas. Using these Short Phrase Sounds can allow even the novice player to easily create a satisfying performance. 

The Korg microPIANO contains 40 demonstration songs featuring mainly classical compositions. Listen to these as demo songs, or enjoy them as background music in your room, just as you would listen to a CD or MP3 player. The demonstration songs can be played using the pre-assigned sounds, or you can play the same song using a different sound.” -Korg/Amazon

So, is the Korg MicroPiano actually worth $450? Let’s find out by diving into the features below. 

Features

A Real Lid 

The first thing that stuck out of me was the lid- Which actually opens and closes. While I’m not sure than this actually affects the sound very much since it’s digital, it’s an adorable touch. 

Natural Touch Mini Keyboard 

The mini keyboard feels nice for the price and is quite responsive. Miniature keys can prove challenging to play on for me personally, but overall the quality of the keybed is superb. 

Stereo-Sampled Grands and More

This little instrument has the keyboard sounds you’d expect it to have- Like electronic pianos, celeste, organs, and clavs. However, the quality of the sound surprised me- Or dare I say- Blew me away. No richness was lost during the sampling of these pianos! 

The instrument also has things like flute, bells, harps, and string sounds. There are two types of sounds inside the instrument: regular tones and short phrase sounds. 

According to Korg…” short Phrase Sounds” that can automatically generate phrases simply by holding down a key. For example, these include piano sounds that provide a left-hand accompaniment in the lower range, allowing you to play the melody line with your right hand; organ sounds complete with phrases from famous pipe organ compositions; or even accompaniment phrases as often used by hand-cranked barrel organs. 

Sounds such as toy pianos and steel drums offer phrases mimicking the playing techniques unique to those instruments, and can be used as sound effects or as creative ideas. Using these Short Phrase Sounds can allow even the novice player to easily create a satisfying performance. –Korg 

Demo Songs That Exceed Expectations

40 total demos that are so good they even make for nice atmospheric tunes for your living room. As you can tell by our “Korg in Action” section, this tiny instrument packs a powerful punch in the sound quality department. 

Korg MicroPiano 61: Specifications

• Weight: Approximately 11.5 lbs
• Demos: 40

Who is it suitable for?

The Korg MicroPiano is best suited for musicians who are living in a small space but looking for a cute yet quality instrument that sounds like the real thing. Novices will enjoy it- But there are probably some intermediate instrumentalists who will get a kick out of the Korg Micropiano as well.

The Korg in Action

The micro piano first made its debut in 2011. Check out this demo video to get a better idea of the sound.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• This instrument bridges the gap between a toy piano and a real one
• Offers multiple color choices
• Has a functional lid
• Stereo-sampled grand piano sounds inside- The tones are excellent
• Optional battery power
• It has a phenomenal battery life of 15 hours
• Compatible with a pedal switch and damper pedal
• Makes for a really cool gift for a kid or music enthusiast
• It even has a vocoder on it

The sounds certainly exceeded my expectations- As well as many other musicians’. It’s really handy that it’s compatible with pedals/switches, and has unexpected features like an extremely long battery life, a vocoder, etc. 

Buyers who got the instrument said things like “It’s the best micro piano ever” and honestly, it’s hard to argue with that statement! It’s the best of its class. 

Cons

• The mini keys can be hard to play 
• The wattage is pretty meek- The sound wouldn’t fill a room
• It doesn’t integrate well with DAWs anymore
• The lid doesn’t really do much for the sound since the instrument is digital
• Not really intended for recording with

Overall, mini keys can prove challenging to play for those not used to them. Unsurprisingly, the amplifier is really small, and it’s not really the ideal instrument for recording with via MIDI to USB, either (the latter being a bit of a shame given the gorgeous tones and price). 

Comparable Instruments

Korg’s “tiny piano” is the only thing that’s similar that I know of (and is a 25-key kids piano)- But honestly, the MicroPiano is one of a kind. 

Another instrument to consider from Korg might be the Kontrol 49- This keyboard is a MIDI controller which is very compact. As far as I know, they aren’t on the market anymore, but they are available online used.

If you are serious about piano practice a better option would be a full-sized practice keyboard such as one of the entry-level instruments below: 

• Roland Go: Keys
• Casio SA-76
• Casio CT-S200  

Quick View 

Korg MicroPiano: Conclusion

In conclusion, the Korg MicroPiano is an interesting combination of a grand piano and a portable piano mismatched into one. If you are looking for an extremely high-quality sounding and feeling micro piano to play around with, then this one is a great choice! 

8.5Expert Score

The Korg MicroPiano is a one-of-a-kind digital-grand hybrid- But miniaturized. This instrument bridges the gap between a toy piano and a real one. I loved the sounds this economical keyboard was able to produce, and the key feel wasn’t bad, either. I ended up giving it a 8.5/10. While I wish the MicroPiano was more compatible with DAWs for recording, the instrument meets its intended audience’s expectations well. But if you are a serious piano learner, the mini keys on the Korg Micro might be a hindrance- so know that this one is mostly just for fun!

PROS

• This instrument bridges the gap between a toy piano and a real one
• Offers multiple color choices
• Has a functional lid
• Stereo-sampled grand piano sounds inside- The tones are excellent
• Optional battery power
• It has a phenomenal battery life of 15 hours
• Compatible with a pedal switch and damper pedal
• Makes for a really cool gift for a kid or music enthusiast
• It even has a vocoder on it

CONS

• The mini keys can be hard to play
• The wattage is pretty meek- The sound wouldn’t fill a room
• It doesn’t integrate well with DAWs anymore
• The lid doesn’t really do much for the sound since the instrument is digital
• Not really intended for recording with