Korg Module Pro for church - Sand, software and sound

Over the last several weeks, I’ve been practicing and playing through church tunes. Our liturgical group covers genres from pop, light rock, classical and traditional hymns to gospel. I’m trying to keep up my chops while our group awaits its post-pandemic return.

This has been a good opportunity to wring out any issues with Korg Module Pro (on Apple iPad) and a Korg Microkey Air 49 controller. Both Korg products have been solid and I feel comfortable with the idea of using this combo live in church.

I’ve also been able to evaluate the suitability of Korg Module for our church repertoire. Module’s set-list features are very easy to work letting me build quick-access layers and splits. Set-list features are well thought out and I strongly recommend purchasing the Module Performance Expansion.

Thankfully, set-list combis store patch and effect edit, allowing me to dial in a consistent level across combis and to tweak attack, release and reverb. Just don’t forgot to save the set-list after making edits!

Right off the top, I’m quite happy with Module’s stock Hammond organ sounds. My three favorite patches are Gospel Organ, Simple Organ and Clean Organ. Church music doesn’t require over-the-top distortion. The Korg rotary speaker simulation is very good and the speed transitions (ramps) are realistic — a vital component for gospel music.

The only thing missing organ-wise is a traditional church organ. I have not purchased the Korg Organ and Clav Collection which offers a classic organ. I intend to buy the organ expansion during the next Korg app sale. In the meantime, I’m substituting Simple or Clean organ.

As to other instruments, I need orchestral woodwinds, French horn, and strings. Compared with Miroslav Philharmonik Mobile Edition, Module Pro is a general purpose, all-rounder, not a specialist like Miroslav. The sounds are good enough for live play, but would not please a purist. Nor would they be adequate for mocking up symphonic music.

Korg offer the KA Pro Orchestral Dreams expansion. “KA Pro”, by the way, means Kurt Adler Productions, who sell a full range of orchestral samples. If Korg Module isn’t to your taste, the KA Pro samples are available in the CrudeByte iSymphonic Orchestra (iPad) app. Orchestral Dreams is comprised mainly of full orchestra emulations. The emulations implement multiple velocity levels including percussion. Full orchestra emulations are not suitable for our repertoire (especially the percussion!) and I don’t plan to buy this expansion.

The Korg sounds make for good layers. The Woodwind Ensemble patch is serviceable by itself, but is fuller and warmer when layered with the Horn Ensemble voice. Same for the Solo Flute. By itself, the Solo Flute resembles a Mellotron flute, especially when playing chords or clusters. Horn Ensemble knocks down the tron-y flavor.

Here’s a quick list of my favorite patches: Wind Ensemble, Horn Ensemble, Synth Horn, Romantique Strings, Strings Pad, Solo Flute.

What’s missing? Module has solo violin and cello, but it’s missing most other solo orchestral instruments (including essential double reeds). The violin and cello voices have hard attacks and a lot of bow — difficult to tame. Thus, overall playing is limited to mainly ensemble or pad-like voices. Quite the shame. Korg need to add an orchestral expansion with solo instruments and/or small sections a la Miroslav.

Yes, I auditioned the Triton expansion pack. Having owned a Triton Taktile 49, I’m not satisfied with the Triton orchestral voices, solo voices, in particular. That’s why the Triton Taktile is gone, gone, gone.

Oddly, I have not found a simple synth pad among the plethora of synth patches. I want something very light and plain for layering — a non-fat synth pad without sweeps, sparkles and other tricks.

Functionally, I wish layers could cross-fade (“tilt”) across the keyboard. This would let us overlap (cross-fade) the upper and lower instruments forming a soft split. Hard split points are rather jarring when a right- or left-hand line needs just a note or two past the split point. Examples include Oboe/Bassoon or Oboe/Cello splits where a short blend across the split point is highly desired for continuity.

Overall, Korg Module Pro is a solid, reliable citizen within its limitations. Module is intended to appeal to and serve a wide range of users. If you need good electric piano or high-quality acoustic piano, it’s got ’em, too. I stand by my earlier positive recommendation.

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