AudioPilz vs. the Korg Phase 8: Hipster Kalimba or Synth Punk Masterpiece?

AudioPilz kicks off with a classic side-eye at the Korg Phase 8, dubbing it an ‘over-engineered hipster kalimba.’ The Phase 8 arrives with eight resonating tines, shipped in C major—yeah, that’s right, a synth that’s also a glorified thumb piano. But don’t be fooled; this isn’t your nan’s mbira. It’s got innovation lab fingerprints all over it and enough weirdness to make even the most jaded gearhead raise an eyebrow.

The video doesn’t waste time before poking fun at the drama of Korg Berlin’s first non-merch outing. It’s not the cowbell the world demanded, but it is a statement piece, and the mastermind Tatsuya Takahashi’s involvement is all over the build. If you wanted a reason to throw money at FX pedals, this might be it. But as AudioPilz makes clear, this is a proper oddball that’s out to disrupt your studio feng shui.

Despite all the future-tech hype, the Phase 8’s range is about as broad as your local chip shop’s vegan menu—one octave, mate. Sure, you can swap out resonators and fine-tune with a hex key, but you’ll still be boxed in. The triggering system is clever: coil-based drivers for plucks and pad-like envelopes, with a nod to double triggers and all sorts of envelope meddling. But you can’t help but wonder: is this cleverness or just complexity for its own sake?

There’s even an ‘air slider’ to make it more sensitive to vibes and feedback. Or you can go full John Cage, prepping it for weirdness or droning out. But for all its modular bravado, the instrument seems hell-bent on keeping you in its own little world, and not everyone will want to live there.

AudioPilz gets his mitts dirty showing off what the Phase 8 can actually do, and it’s a right old racket—in the best way. You get minimal wave shaping, but crank the velocity and you’ll find yourself deep in distortion territory. There’s tremolo, pitch envelopes, polyphonic AM (quantised if you dare), and a sequencer that’s more flexible than a punk in a mosh pit. Don’t expect a ton of MIDI storage, but DAW integration is slick enough for proper studio abuse.

Jam sessions veer from techno to experimental beats, with the instrument’s natural tone shining when left raw and unprocessed. Still, AudioPilz is quick to admit that for long-term inspiration, you’ll want to slather on the effects. Some things—like the mad percussive sounds and object-based mayhem—are far better heard than described, so do yourself a favour and check out the video for the full sonic onslaught.

In the end, AudioPilz calls it: the Phase 8 might just be the best of its kind, mainly because it’s the only one of its kind. It’s beautiful, clever, and—let’s not mince words—about as practical as a chocolate teapot for most producers. Still, it’s a high-class oddity, a true flex for anyone brave (or minted) enough to use it outside novelty jams.

AudioPilz leaves the real deep dives to those with more stamina, but the challenge is clear. If you’re after something to break the mould and you’ve got the chops (and the wallet), the Phase 8’s a proper test of your creative grit. For the rest of us, it’s a curiosity—one that’s probably better watched than owned.