Korg Mini Pops
{{Short description|Drum machines}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2014}}
The Mini Pops were a number of early analog drum machines from the Japanese musical equipment company Korg during the late 1960s and the 1970s.{{cite web |title=Korg Mini pops 3 vintage analog drum machine '69 |url=https://www.matrixsynth.com/2011/04/korg-mini-pops-3-vintage-analog-drum.html |website=MATRIXSYNTH |access-date=2 October 2022}}{{cite web |title=Korg Mini Pops 120 |url=http://www.estecho.com/gear/Korg_Mini-Pops_120.php |website=ESTECHO |access-date=2 October 2022 |date=17 December 2016}} The machines were based around a number of preset rhythm patterns,{{cite web |title=Korg Mini Pops |url=http://www.hollowsun.com/donations/minipops/index.html |website=Hollow Sun |access-date=2 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927103039/http://www.hollowsun.com/donations/minipops/index.html |archive-date=27 September 2011 |url-status=dead}} such as waltz, samba, rhumba, bossa nova, tango, slow rock, swing, and rock 1 and 2.{{cite web |title=Korg MiniPops 35 (MP-35) |url=http://www.vintagesynth.com/korg/mp35.php |website=Vintage Synth Explorer |access-date=2 October 2022}}
Models
=Minipops 3=
Released 1967, and features four drum sounds.{{Cite web|url=https://encyclotronic.com/drum-machines/korg/mini-pops-3-r105/|title=Korg Mini Pops 3|website=Encyclotronic|language=en-US|access-date=2018-09-26}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.sequencer.de/syns/korg/Minipops3.html|title=Korg Minipops 3 Drummachine/Module simple sequencer|last=Moogulator|first=Mic Irmer|website=www.sequencer.de|access-date=2018-09-26}}
=Minipops 5=
Released in 1966.
=Minipops 7=
The Mini-Pops 7 released in 1966, featured 15 drums sounds and 20 patterns.{{cite web|url=http://aerozonejmj.fr/korg-mini-pops-7/|title=Korg Mini Pops 7 (1966) |website=Aerozone JMJ|language=fr-FR|access-date=2018-09-26}} It was the most used of all. French musician Jean-Michel Jarre used it throughout his breakthrough album, Oxygene. Some rhythms were achieved by overlaying two of the presets in a manner not intended by the machine's original design. Équinoxe Part V, VI and VII featured the Rock 1 pattern.
Aphex Twin used it on his album Syro, and in homage named a single "minipops 67 [120.2]".{{cite journal |last1=Wilson |first1=Scott |title=7 pieces of gear that helped define Aphex Twin's pioneering sound |journal=Fact Magazine |date=14 April 2017 |url=https://www.factmag.com/2017/04/14/aphex-twin-gear-synths-samplers-drum-machines/ |access-date=2 October 2022}} Echo and the Bunnymen also used the Mini-Pops 7 drum machine at the beginning of their career.{{cite web |last1=Leas |first1=Ryan |title=Read About Echo And The Bunnymen's First Gig In An Excerpt From Will Sergeant's New Memoir |date=November 2021 |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2165413/will-sergeant-echo-and-the-bunnymen-memoir/columns/sounding-board/book-club/ |publisher=Stereogum |access-date=12 February 2022}}
A variant of this instrument was sold in the US under the Univox brand, as the Univox SR-95. This featured slightly different "Beguine" and "Slow Rock" rhythms, and was missing the rimshot of the Mini-Pops 7.
=Minipops 20 S=
Released 1967. The S denoted stereo
=Minipops 35=
Released 1976. Features 6 drum sounds and 9 patterns.{{Cite web|url=https://encyclotronic.com/drum-machines/korg/mini-pops-35-r108/|title=Korg Mini Pops 35|website=Encyclotronic|language=en-US|access-date=2018-09-26}}
=Minipops 120=
Released 1976. Features 6 drum sounds and 16 patterns.{{Cite web|url=https://encyclotronic.com/drum-machines/korg/minipops-120-r104/|title=Korg Mini Pops 120|website=Encyclotronic|language=en-US|access-date=2018-09-26}} This was also sold in the United States under the Univox brand.
=Minipops Junior=
Released 1972. Features 10 preset rhythms.{{Cite web|url=https://encyclotronic.com/drum-machines/korg/junior-r109/|title=Korg Mini Pops Junior|website=Encyclotronic|language=en-US|access-date=2018-09-26}} also has a footswitch to stop and start the rhythms.
A Minipops Junior was used by Echo and the Bunnymen on their debut single, "The Pictures on My Wall."{{cite magazine |last=Lewin |first=Jon |date=December 1985 |title=Echo-Plex |url=http://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/echo-plex/11955 |magazine=One Two Testing|location= |publisher= |access-date=11 April 2023}}
Gallery
File:Korg Mini-Pops 5.jpg|Korg Mini-Pops 5
File:Korg Mini-Pops 7.jpg|Korg Mini-Pops 7
File:Korg Mini-Pops SR-120 Desktop.jpg|Korg Mini-Pops SR-120 Desktop
File:Korg Mini-Pops SR-120 Portable.jpg|Korg Mini-Pops SR-120 Portable