Korg RK-100s

We rated the Korg RK-100s a 7/10. Unlike most of the other instruments we’ve reviewed, the RK-100s is actually a keytar! This particular model has a really nice vocoder and is pretty lightweight. In addition to this, it has waveshaping, multi-mode filters, and two high-quality ribbon controllers. While the keytar may not be for everyone, this model is a nice choice! The only two big cons we noticed were 1. An unideal placement of the pitch bend knob, and 2. A lack of aftertouch.

Korg RK 100s Keytar Overview

The Korg RK-100s Keytar is designed for on-stage performances. According to the maker, this is a stylish and powerful instrument that stands out from the rest. 

So what makes this little keytar so special?

You are about to find out. 

Features

The Korg RK-100s 2 has many more features than its predecessor from the ’80s. Let’s check them out!

Two Ribbon Controllers

What exactly are ribbons?

Ribbons are a type of control / button that is typically used to change a musical aspect. They can allow you to alter pitch, perform sweeps, and more. 

Each of the two ribbon controllers on the Korg RK-100s has a different function. This instrument in particular has both a long ribbon and a short ribbon. The short ribbon controller allows you to modulate/bend the pitch. On the other hand, the long ribbon controller adjusts filters, and pitch. 

Convenient “Favorite” Buttons

This stunning little keyboard only has five buttons. This makes it really easy to navigate the instrument. The favorite button allows musicians to register the sounds they like most, so you won’t have to be searching in the long patch menus during your next gig. 

Internal Analog Modeling Sound Generator 

There aren’t many instruments (or pieces of equipment) that are analog these days. The Korg RK-100s’s internal analog modeling sound generator gives it a sound quality that fully digital keytars just can’t replicate. It’s like comparing a CD to Vinyl- You just can’t compare when it comes to timbre! 

3 Colors to Choose From 

The Korg RK-100s is available in red, black, and white. Its guitar-like shape makes it a sought-after model. Musicians have referred to it as ‘sleek’ and ‘stylish’. 

Vocoder

What exactly is a vocoder? 

A vocoder is a piece of musical equipment that analyzes a sound (typically, a human voice). 

The vocoder on the Korg RK-100s is 16-bands. You can pan and adjust each sound within the vocoder. You can also use formant shift, and formant hold. 

Formats are harmonics in your voice. Through the vocoder, you can adjust the tone or timbre of your sound. 

That all being said, Korg vocoders don’t necessarily need to be vocalized in. You can use sounds already on the instruments, as well as add your own voice via a dynamic mic (connected to your instrument).

Arpeggiator  

Is this a keytar, or is this a synth? In a way, the Korg RK-100s is a bit of both. This model’s arpeggiator has a step arpeggiator (pattern-based arpeggiator). A maximum of 16 patterns can be saved inside the instrument itself. You can also save them externally if you’d like to save even more. 

Inputs

This model has a MIDI input, as well as a dual-purpose input jack. 

17 (Master) FX 

Edit your sound inside the instrument with the master effects function. 

PC Editor

The PC editor technology allows you to alter the sounds on a keytar more than ever before. 

A New, Lightweight Model 

The old keytar was quite heavy. However, with the new design, the Korg RK-100s is only 3.4 kilograms. Having a lightweight instrument can make taking things on the go so much easier. Take it from the classical piccolo player- There’s power in having a light and little instrument. 

Perform Wirelessly

The Korg RK-100s allows you to perform wirelessly, by running on just six AA batteries. It boasts an extremely long battery life of up to eight continuous hours. 

Other Features

Other features in the Korg RK-100s include: 

• Waveshaping 
• Multi-mode filters

Korg RK-100s Specifications

• Dimensions:
• Weight: 
• Sound Generator: MMT / Multiple Modeling Technology 
• Synth Specs: 2 oscillators and a noise generator 
• Voices and Polyphony: 8 max, 4 max when the vocoder is active

Who Is It Suitable For?

Like many keytars, the Korg RK-100s is suitable for keyboardists who want to play the role of a guitarist without having to learn a new instrument. The RK-100s is a great choice for either professional gigs or low-pressure gigs. It’s portable yet sturdy and looks sleek. Not to mention, the controls are simple, so anyone can navigate them. 

In conclusion, I’d recommend any musician, from mid to late teens into adulthood, try out this keytar. It’s a unique instrument that you don’t see around on stage every day. In addition to all of this, the Korg RK-100s can easily be used as a master keyboard as well. 

The Korg RK-100s In Action

Vadim (bandmember of Dragon Force) tries out the Korg RK-100s in real-time in this video.

Musician ‘Pink and the Keytar Cat’ also reviewed this keyboard. 

She actually repainted the model so that it was purple and blue color shift! Now, while I don’t condone painting your new Keytar with spray paint, I did give this candid review a listen. (As it appears that she many many, many more keytars and keytar experience than I do. Anyways…).

She actually wasn’t a fan of the look of the instrument or the name, but I was more looking for her opinion on the voices available, key feel, etc. If you decide to watch this review as well, I suggest you fast forward past the first few minutes. 

Here’s what she liked, in a nutshell: It has a tap tempo, it sounds great, and 

Pros and Cons 

Pros

• This instrument can double as a MIDI controller
• Automatically shuts off, in case you forget! 
• It has over 200 built-in programs 
• Has ribbon controllers that are both short and long 
• It has a mic and audio input jack inside 
• Can run on just AA batteries

Keytars just being keytars is a thing of the past. With this instrument’s ability to arpeggiate, and double as a MIDI controller, you have a lot more power. The automatic shut-off is a practical and convenient feature that will save your batteries in case you get distracted talking to fans. 

With over 200 built-in programs, the PC Editor, and over 15 master FX, there is a lot of room to adjust your sound. In addition to this, the two ribbon controllers give you the opportunity to modulate, bend individual pitches, and more.

The dual purpose mic and audio input jack (along with a MIDI input) make recording and performing as easy as ‘Plug it in and go’. In addition to this, this little keytar can run on a handful of AA batteries, making less cord spaghetti (and less hassle). 

Cons

• The keys are slimmer than that of a normal, full-sized piano 
• There are no built-in speakers in keytars, so you’ll need to plugin
• The pitch bend button isn’t very accessible in its location
• There is no aftertouch on this instrument 
• The only kind of mic that you can add to the input slot is a dynamic one. Condensers aren’t going to be able to connect to this instrument
• Perfectionists might not enjoy the look of the RK-100s and RK-100s 2’s grain- The wood looks quite different from model to model.

The real con to this instrument is what it is not…This is not a normal keyboard or full-sized digital piano. If you are looking for something to play Beethoven or jazz standards on, definitely look elsewhere. In a similar vein, there are no built-in speakers in keytars, so you will need to make sure you plug it into an output. This requires investing in a speaker/amp, which some newer keyboardists won’t want to do. 

Another big ‘con’ is the pitch bend button. Several musicians have mentioned that the pitch bend button isn’t in the most accessible location on this model- and I agree. It could have a better and more ergonomic placement. This is a bigger con because the purpose of keytars is to imitate guitars- and their rocking pitch-bending capabilities. If the pitch bend button is hard to reach, that’s flat-out not good.

Another (smaller) con is that you aren’t going to be able to use a condenser mic with this particular vocoder. It is more of a performance instrument in this scenario. Essentially. if you are looking for a synth that has more vocal editing abilities and mic inputs, check out synthesizer/workstation keyboards along the lines of the Yamaha Genos. 

Lastly, a lot of perfectionists weren’t a fan of this one. Because it has so much natural wood grain, each instrument does have some variations. That being said, if you don’t mind your keyboard being on-of-a-kind, the last ‘con’ isn’t really even a con at all. 

Amazon Review 

Here’s what musicians that purchased the Korg RK-100s liked:

• The body of the keytar is largely made of wood
• The board is light
• It has a built-in vocoder
• It sounds really nice

Here’s what they didn’t: 

• The power cable is sold separately at many locations
• You can’t see the patch names you are using on the instrument itself, only the patch numbers, which took some getting used to for several musicians 

Quick View 

A Newer Model: the Korg RK-100s 2

Last year, in 2020, Korg released a newer model of the RK-100s. They stated that they began making the RK-100s again because they were popular that customers were continually asking for them to make more of them. 

So, what’s the same, and what’s different?

The Korg RK-100s 2 shares the ergonomic design of its predecessor. However, a handful of (really helpful) things have been added. For example, there are new solo sounds on this instrument. In addition to this, it has more built-in programs, 

Like the 100s, this newer iteration has 37 slimline keys and a compact body. It is velocity-sensitive and has the same built-in vocoder that everyone loves. 

You can watch the intro for the 100s 2 on Korg’s Youtube channel here.

Honestly, it sounds great. The timbre is lovely, making it a great instrument choice for the keyboardist who doesn’t want to learn the guitar. After listening to this overview, it is really easy to see how keytars became so popular in the 1980’s.

Noisegate also did a full review of this updated instrument that you can find here.

Here is a little bit more information about the RK-100s 2: 

• It has a soundbank of over 200 voices 
• It covers a wide range of genres, including steel-pan like sounds, dance music sounds, synth pads, basses, and more

Conclusion

We hope you’ve enjoyed this Korg RK-100s review. In conclusion, if you are looking for a used keytar that is going to be preowned and economical, check out the 100s. While there are a handful of cons with this one, its ease of access to all audiences, and excellent sound samples and patches still make it a winner in my book. 

 If you are looking for a new digital instrument with more updated features and a newer sound bank, check out the Korg RK-100s 2!

Be sure to come back to BestPianoKeyboard soon to read more honest reviews of synths, keytars, digital pianos, and more!

Music quote: 

“Music is enough for a lifetime, but a lifetime is not enough for music”  -Rachmaninoff

7Expert Score

We rated the Korg RK-100s a 7/10. Unlike most of the other instruments we’ve reviewed, the RK-100s is actually a keytar! This particular model has a really nice vocoder and is pretty lightweight. In addition to this, it has waveshaping, multi-mode filters, and two high-quality ribbon controllers. While the keytar may not be for everyone, this model is a nice choice! The only two big cons we noticed were 1. An unideal placement of the pitch bend knob, and 2. A lack of aftertouch.

PROS

• This instrument can double as a MIDI controller
• It automatically shuts off, in case you forget!
• It has over 200 built-in programs
• It has ribbon controllers that are both short and long
• It has a mic and audio input jack inside
• It can run on just AA batteries

CONS

• The keys are slimmer than that of a normal, full-sized piano
• There are no built-in speakers in keytars, so you’ll need to plugin
• The pitch bend button isn’t very accessible in its location
• There is no aftertouch on this instrument
• The only kind of mic that you can add to the input slot is a dynamic one. Condensers aren’t going to be able to connect to this instrument
• Perfectionists might not enjoy the look of the RK-100s and RK-100s 2’s grain- The wood looks quite different from model to model.