The Korg MS-20: Control Panel Part 3

[ottohinterseeer]

there seems to be a part of your accordeon missing???

[noeleen92]

would you like to sell it????

[madskinnerup]

Hi!

I love your videos! I have a question. Do you know, if it is possible to check the exact date, when an Ms-20 has been produced? Do you know anything about the serial numbers?

Best regards!

[AutomaticGainsay]

@madskinnerup If there is a way to do that, I don't know what it is! Good luck in your quest!

[beatmachine123]

@madskinnerup Check wikipedia dude :)

[johnnyblaze104]

RAAAAW!!!!! do you know how much these shits cost??? i hate being broke...

[ArtsNL]

Hi ! Thanks for the video's the helped my out a lot to understand the Korg.

I'm quite a beginner with synths and I bought a Korg MS20 last week ;)

I do have some questions though.

Can you explain me in text what exactly the Frequency modulation controls do.

I don't understand exactly what the cutoff frequency modulations do and what the EG1/EG2/EGXT exactly do.

I found some nice patches to make some great loops (with cables) but I don't know what I'm doing. Can u make a video for that?

[mickooyy]

Hi i have a question..i recently purchased a ms-20. Im trying to use the ms-20's filter to filter my external instruments such as my sh 101. Im not sure if im doing something wrong or if the there is a problem with the synthesizer. Basically im sending the output of the sh-101 into the top 3rd plugin "Ext Signal in" and i am hearing nothing. Can you please help me set up my ms-20 so i can filter external sources?

Thanks in advance

[A440Hzzz]

@mickooyy

I tried the same thing with my Moog Li'l Phatty. I had to wedge a key down so it would think I was playing something to get it to let the external audio thru. There's probably a better way of doing it other than my lo-tech approach...

[wasupthere]

Thanks Marc, that is great! my english is not very good, did you say that the EG2 cant work at the same time on both hi and lo filter? Btw, you got a great sense of humour in the intro video,...difficult not to memorize the peculiarity of this synth now :-)

[wodolei65]

хуета

[BakeliteArmy]

Fantastic videos, sir! I wish my MS 20 was white now.

I like the troll's comments though. Made me laugh. I'm pretty sure in his world he really can't see the difference between the MS20 and the Vsti. He certainly can't any shortcomings in his grammar and spelling!

[Hightower2804TP]

Damn what a beautiful synth!

I'm sure you are a proud owner

[sitonka]

Thanks Auto Gainsay! I have been looking for another analogue synth. We have a lot of old roland gear, and I was looking at either a sci pro one or a moog prodigy, but seeing the fuzzed up variety of soinds you make with the MS 20 I think I have made up my mind... I NEED A KORG MS 20... NOT A HOLIDAY!!!! I knew the guy from addnToX uses one loads, and now I can sort of tell which songs he uses it on. I love the blend of real drums with old synth. Cool videos. Thanks

[AutomaticGainsay]

Thanks for watching! I'm glad I've helped!

[juga0nought]

u can download this for use in fl studio-absolutley free. i got this as a vst its really good but having hardware probably is better.

[AutomaticGainsay]

It depends on what you're looking for, really. I personally tend to enjoy my synthesizers better when they're not trapped inside of another device. ; )

[juga0nought]

ok well i take it u know about fl studio and have used the korg ms-20 on a vst. but if you havent then dont knock it ;) :P 8)

[AutomaticGainsay]

Sadly enough for FL, etc., I don't have to have used them to know that they are imperfect approximations of the MS-20. When they are capable of very nearly duplicating the sound (not "sounds like," but instead "is indistinguishable from"), functionality, and behavior of the MS-20 as well as the actual physical experience of playing one, then perhaps I'll rescind my statement. : )

[juga0nought]

u dont know about it so u cant say. i assure u - i could make this whole video again using the vst and it would sound the same. but please dont get upset about it.

[AutomaticGainsay]

Have you played an MS-20 enough to be a reliable judge of its actual sound in all applications? Do you have extensive experience with analog synthesizers to such a degree that you are able to distinguish the often subtle differences between them and their emulative counterparts? Do you wonder why hardware is costly and software is cheap? These are things to ponder before you tell the whole internet software is indistinguishable. : )

[snickerdoodle69420]

The vst has its own unique sound and thats what sounds are all about no? Its funny to think how producers wanted to move away from analog tape recording to digital because of its inferior sound and now producers are looking to replicate that imperfection of the past.

[sabotage1111]

where can I get the vst?

[DennisBastian]

Dont get me wrong juga, the ms20 plugin is very very good but dude, you really dont have the faintest clue as to what youre talking about. Take it from a guy who has spent countless hours on both. Nothing is like a real ms20. Nothing.

By the way, awesome videos man! Cant wait to check out your vids on the patch bay!

[DennisBastian]

my point exactly

[juga0nought]

do yourself a favour u ugly monster and shut up. i bet u wouldnt say nothing in front of me.

[DennisBastian]

think again

[juga0nought]

no thanks u need to think about makin some decent vids - that sample and hold bollocks is shit

[DennisBastian]

wow, ive really been put in my place now. thank you.

i hope you have a nice day because i will

[juga0nought]

ok as long as its crystal clear now as clear as those cheap spectacles ur wearing.

[DennisBastian]

The only thing thats clear to me is that youre so dumb you need to remove your own comments. Well, at least youre smart enough to realize that what youre saying is nonsense. I hope someday youll realise that an attitude like the one youre showing here is not going to get you anywhere in life. I wish you the best, honestly. Goodbye now.

[juga0nought]

how rude you cheeky bastard. im not dumb. just cos u live in the states dont mean ur cool -man!

[juga0nought]

netherlands then

[darkshiningstar3]

fuck netherlands theyre so cold there

[Oavatos]

HAHA XD internet tough guy lawl

[fishybishbash]

@AutomaticGainsay I heard Midge Ure on the radio this morning talking about the recent Ultravox reunion and he said they used all soft synths on tour, so I guess they are basically close enough. They're not as cute as the originals, granted, but sonically they're as good. Obviously.

[AutomaticGainsay]

@fishybishbash The conclusion you draw from Ultravox using softsynths on tour is that softsynths are more convenient and less expensive for a tour ( Touring with an MS-20, for example, means you spend a lot of time programming on stage), or that Midge simply likes the sounds they make. It's not remotely the same thing as making the assumption that the sound is equivalent. Even if Midge stated that they sounded the same, can't you tell they don't from listening?

[fishybishbash]

@AutomaticGainsay Well to be honest, no. Whats different? Do the originals sound - i dunno - more aggresive? Warmer? 'Richer'? Agreed the ability to grab pots and twist them is a radically different experience but if you get a patch together then emulate it properly on a well made soft synth then the differences would come down to nit picking. I love your videos - but I think your idea that the sound of anlogue versus soft is in any way significantly different is a romantic notion.

[AutomaticGainsay]

@fishybishbash The difference in sound depends on the synth and the emulation. It stems from the fact that it is actually very hard to fake the complex interactions of circuits in audio. The primary diff between vintage and softsynth is that the way you relate to the instrument is quite different, and it is also very difficult for softsynths to mirror every nuance and quirk. There is no value judgement in this.

[AutomaticGainsay]

@fishybishbash Whether these differences are relevant to you is another matter, if you don't care, it doesn't matter. If I were to generalize, I would say the sound is more natural, acoustic, and organic (and yes, I recognize the irony of those adjectives). Primarily, the more analog synths you play, the more you recognize the differences. "Emulating it properly" would require software, hardware, programming, and design which would cost more the money designers would make from it.

[fishybishbash]

@AutomaticGainsay Interesting points, thank you for responding and thank you for your videos. Your enthusiasm really comes across and is inspiring. By necessity I played hardware through the 80's and 90's - the fact that soft synths come anywhere near I find staggering. As far as not caring goes I guess my priority is whether the music that results is any good or not and that has very little to do with the minor sonic differences between sound sources. But your videos are great. Cheers

[AutomaticGainsay]

@fishybishbash In the end, I think you're right... whatever instrument or instruments you use which suit your purpose and inspire you musically is all that matters. Thank you very much for watching the videos, and fort sharing your perspective!

[AutomaticGainsay]

@fishybishbash I personally think the MS-20 is a relatively clinical sounding synth which lacks a lot of the sound quality I'm talking about. As such, I'd guess the emulation of it is probably closer than some other emulations.

[noddyspuncture]

@AutomaticGainsay I disagree there Marc, I have to say that when CV'd with my MS10 the MS20/MS10 combination can produce sounds just as exciting as any of my analog collection... Minimoog included. OK it's a different class (?spectrum?) of sound but just as spine-tingling and rewarding. Couldn't live without any of 'em...;c)

[AutomaticGainsay]

@noddyspuncture I'm not sure what this comment is in reference to, as there are a lot of things I've said here! Certainly, the MS-20 can create a lot of great sounds. It certainly has a distinctive sound, too. I have also had an MS-20/MS-10/MS-50 combination, and I was able to create some great sounds and have a great time doing it. My complaints about the MS-20 are these, though: 1. It is too stable, too clean, too... well... perfect to generate the messy sounds I love from older analogs.

[AutomaticGainsay]

@noddyspuncture 2. The "modular" section is horribly hobbled by the fact that there is no oscillator out, and you end up patching extensively to generate sounds other non-modular synths are capable of without limiting their output.

[veins91]

man when i ever get the money i want to get one.

got to love the oscillators

[benlinden9]

thing is, you can spend how ever much money you want, and spend years learning how different effects work, but if you can't play the damn thing then what's the point.

I've heard so many people talk of saving for a better synth, but really, what will it enable them to do if they can't use it properly?

[noddyspuncture]

The MS10 has Pulse-Width Modulation ... surprisingly the MS20 doesn't..! First thing I did when I got my MS20 was to add a PWM socket.. dead easy modification - well worth it too..!!

[1spsm1]

Mr oizo has made basses of "Flat Beat" on it! It is not only synth... it s a dream...

[karmacollapsed]

lol yeah it is!! soulwax(if you know them...) also uses them!

[ghostom998]

u loser, get a microkorg

[AutomaticGainsay]

Thank you for your comedic post. You've brightened my day!

[futuristique]

haha, kids nowadays... anyway, white ms-20?? you bastard, it looks awesome! :D

[AutomaticGainsay]

It was pooly painted by a previous owner... but it looks cool in the video! A skilled and careful painter using appropriate paint could make it look very cool in white, though!

[THChrysalis]

Microkorg... dude seriously, what the hell are you smoking?

[ghostom998]

u kiddin? that thing as got about 20 extra knobs and microkorg is inexpensive, powerful, very easy to use and get used too and can create some very cool and interesting sounds. its a smaller, cheaper and more modern version of the ms-2000 and has the same synthesiser engine, so therefore just as powerful.

[THChrysalis]

Nothing against the Microkorg. Its good equipment, I've had one myself for a few years. But how is he a loser for having an MS-20? You do know the knobs give you more control over the synth right? And I pray you know that the MS-20 can create sounds that are not reproduceable by newer synths. Thats why they cost at least $2000 more than the microkorg. Plus digital versus analog, tiny little keys... come on man.

[ghostom998]

suppose maybe the loser thing might of been a bit harsh, i was just havin fun but... theres just somethin about the microkorg i prefer to be fair. dont get me wrong, i wish the keys were bigger and the analog vs digital thing doesnt really bother me as much as it should.

[karmacollapsed]

lol...i got a microkorg and i'm looking forward to the day i got my ms-20

[GNeuman]

Excellent demo! Thank you!! Not sure I like the white paint job though. There's a UK guy who sells wooden side-panels..

No, the MS20 is absolutely nothing like the Mini, couldn't be more different, in fact......MS20's are still pretty widely available on Ebay, some really good examples turn up by Japanese sellers. Expect to pay between £650-£800.. I got mine for £100 about 14 years ago from a work-colleague who didn't realise the worth, though I felt I conned him a little bit........

[magikroom]

Oh, that's shameful mate...100 quid? Just kiddin'...bargain there!

[maltcus]

how does the korg legacy ms 20 software compare to this? as far as sound quality?

[AutomaticGainsay]

Different. : )

[snorrevonflake]

I always thought of a synthesizer as a device to create weird electronid "short wave" noise and sounds and i think the MS20 with its semi modular concept and cool features like the External Signal Processor can do that perfectly. I had two some years ago and really had a lot of fun with them.

When i learned that back then they built these to "synthesize" natural musical instruments i thought thats a very strange idea.

[hamdemon99]

I read somewhere that in the late 60's the musician's union in the UK (mostly orchestral guys) had outright banned synths for fear that they were going to be used to replace violins and tubas and so forth. This was an assumption made early one by most lay people. Lucky for us, musicians who bought synths early on decided to think outside of the limits of imitation, doing weird things that only synths can do.

[AutomaticGainsay]

"Synthesis" is the process where different parts, concepts, etc. are combined to create a new whole. The term "synthetic" comes from this process, and originally had no "artificial" or "simulation" connection. Synthesizers were named for the process, not for the fact that they could simulate acoustic instruments. You're right, though... it IS a strange idea... as synthesizers (especially analog) aren't very good at simulating acoustic instruments.

[hamdemon99]

Thanks for the videos guys. You do excellent work. While this is a very good and useful machine, I used to own one and it seemed a bit...logy for lack of a better term. I could never get the attack to punch in like the Mini or the Odyssey and the filters were kinda dull. All in all, the Korg analogs are good synths but if you can get a Minimoog or an ARP Odyssey, do so. The Korg line is a good second choice.

[AutomaticGainsay]

Thanks! I don't know if it is evident in the videos, but I am really not an MS-20 fan. It has an interesting and usable sound, but it isn't the sound I seek in an analog synth. However, I would say that if you seek its particular sound, it pulls it off way better than any other synth!

[yoshimitsu1977]

patch! patch!

[AutomaticGainsay]

The patch section videos are starting out at Sonic State! Two of them are posted, there is one more in the works!

[yoshimitsu1977]

man, I can't find, could you give me the link? (by email, I guess you can't post a link on comment). Thank you!

[KosmynC64]

Look and sounds really Moogish.Awesome.

[vafangulozzo]

It is. It does not sound or look. It is!!! :D

[KosmynC64]

Christ are you serious?KORG bougth mini Moog from Dr.Moog?

[MacXpert74]

Uhh NO! The MS-20 is nothing like the Mini-Moog or any other Moog. For starters the Korg uses the Herz to octave system rather than the more common volt/octave system that Moog and others used. In addition, the mini-moog has 3 oscillators while the Ms-20 has 2. The Ms-20 has High pass and low-pass filters, the Mini-Moog has only the Low-pass. The MS-20 can be patched with cords the Mini-Moog can't. And on and on.. The only similarity is that the are both analog synths. Be that's about is really.

[vafangulozzo]

no no just kidding :D

[rgiskard]

Great video as always! Can't wait for the ones about the patch section.

[maltadude]

is it difficult to get one of these babies :P

[nekrobot]

Yay Korg MS20! Yay Part 3! Yay... yay!

[BlackGnosis]

Before there was microkorg, there was MS-20. :D

I always thought it was an awesome synth.