Korg Monologue - Linux (what works ?)

[deagle]

Hi, I am looking for some advice as to whether the Korg Monologue (note Mono) works with Linux (FWIW Ubuntu 23.10).

I normally don't worry, things just seem to work nowadays on Linux.... but the Korg website specifically states that the Korg Mini USB driver (Windows and Mac only) is required for a USB connection to a computer.

I am hoping that it will support connection to a DAW (Reaper) and allow the Monlogue to be used as a MIDI keyboard to soft synths (Vital, SurgeXT, VCV Rack).

Will it be recognised as a MIDI device ?

Not expecting the Korg System updater to work. I can dual boot into that as a one-off.
Not expecting the Korg Sound Librarian to work - though that would be good to be able to load and save user programs/presets,

Thanks

Deag

[tseaver]

@deagle

First, I have no experience with the Korg Monologue. But, looking at its manual, the rear panel has the standard 5-pin DIN MIDI In and Out connectors, which means you should be able to use the KM as a MIDI controller, assuming you have another way to get MIDI transmitted to your Linux PC (e.g., MIDI in port on your interface, or another MIDI device, or a cheapo MIDI-to-USB cable).

If it were me, and the device looked otherwise interesting, I wouldn't rely on that workaround: instead, I would look for a way to buy it with a no-questions-asked return policy, so that I could figure out what really works when connecting the device over USB to my Linux box. It is possible that the device does "simple" / standard things over USB (transmit / receive MIDI, transmit audio) in "class compliant" mode, while requiring a driver (or a reverse engineering effort) to do more arcane stuff (saving / loading patches, etc.).

[Linuxmusician01]

Hi, I am looking for some advice as to whether the Korg Monologue (note Mono) works with Linux (FWIW Ubuntu 23.10).

I normally don't worry, things just seem to work nowadays on Linux.... but the Korg website specifically states that the Korg Mini USB driver (Windows and Mac only) is required for a USB connection to a computer.

I am hoping that it will support connection to a DAW (Reaper) and allow the Monlogue to be used as a MIDI keyboard to soft synths (Vital, SurgeXT, VCV Rack).

Will it be recognised as a MIDI device ?

Not expecting the Korg System updater to work. I can dual boot into that as a one-off.
Not expecting the Korg Sound Librarian to work - though that would be good to be able to load and save user programs/presets,

Thanks

Deag

I have one. Yep: USB Midi and 5-pin DIN Midi in- and out works. It's a tiny workhorse: converts Midi to sync, has a 16 step Midi-sequencer, etc. You won't regret it. Beware; the knobs are rubberized and will turn into sticky goo after a few years. Buy some new knobs at Aliexpress (example). Like these "Moog-like" ones.

I've got no idea why Korg has a driver for this thing on their website.

P.S. Wanna know what settings a patch has using Linux? See my post on the Korg forum.

[deagle]

tseaver - thanks for the reply. Class compliant, will likely do the basics and I have a dual boot into Windows for emergencies. Good tip on shopping - I think I will probably buy from Amazon who currently have an x-mas extended returns window.

Linuxmusician01 - good to hear that it works via USB. Oddly, I spotted one in a local specialist Synth shop - probably being used as a Midi Controller (or maybe a sequencer). Lots of quite expensive modular kit on show.... but the fact that the Monologue was on the bench and in use, tells me that it is a solid piece of kit.

https://github.com/agawley/MonologueLibrarian looks interesting too, but unless I am mistaken seems to read the current patch (not write it back).

[tseaver]

@deagle

https://github.com/agawley/MonologueLibrarian looks interesting too, but unless I am mistaken seems to read the current patch (not write it back).

The list of open auto-generated dependency pull requests:

https://github.com/agawley/MonologueLibrarian/pulls

makes it look like the package is no longer being maintained (along with the last commit on 2020-07-04).

Looking at the code in the top-level script:

https://github.com/agawley/MonologueLib ... r/index.js

I'm not a NodeJS developer, but the simplicity of that script suggests that it might be possible to write back to the synth, assuming it supports SYSEX in both directions, although I don't see any evidence that the author meant to do that.

[OccinticLady]

Hi there,

Trust me, it works. Even better than that. The factory sequences can even be "extracted" to Seq24 as single notes for further processing.
I have set mine to ch16 and it shows as a thing with two inputs in the Qjack graph...I think you'll need the second one...
Korg...just works here...and I can know, I have six different instruments in my setup...
Love to hear a creation, so...go ahead and share if possible
Melissa

[Primeval_Mudd]

Hi,

Should anybody need them, I put step-by-step instructions in a post here a couple of years back.

viewtopic.php?t=24266

And I did a little video:

Updating a KORG Monologue in Linux

I don't think the call to arms at the end was particularly successful!

[A.O.S.]

In my experience most synthesizers and keyboards with USB will work under Linux. Be careful when it is an older synthesizer. Especially the ones with very first USB implementions could be non class compilant. But they are quite rare.

The bigger issue is updating the firmware, something which you should definely do. Here you need almost always a windows or MacOS system.

[Primeval_Mudd]

The bigger issue is updating the firmware, something which you should definely do. Here you need almost always a windows or MacOS system.

Hi A.O.S,

Monologue firmware can be updated in Linux, as per the post & video in my reply just above yours ^^

Hi,

Should anybody need them, I put step-by-step instructions in a post here a couple of years back.

viewtopic.php?t=24266

And I did a little video:

Updating a KORG Monologue in Linux

I don't think the call to arms at the end was particularly successful!

[A.O.S.]

Monologue firmware can be updated in Linux, as per the post & video in my reply just above yours ^^

Ah, thanks for your hint, I overlooked it.

I think the guy in the YT Video is quite brave. Personally I would never use WINE for Firmware Updates, unless the manufactor says something different. I consider the risk to brick your device is relative high.

But yeah, I don't know what I would do if I hadn't any access to a Windows machine.