Korg Re-Issue mini-MS20 Monosynth!!!!

[TweakHead]

Thanks. Lately I've started to record this tweaking action stuff, like dreaming alive sort of madness, "get lost mode engaged" sort of thing. That's one of the things I didn't do with software, for example. Having the knobs there can really wire us to the machine, even doing crazy stuff like I did here.

But his demo of the Korg made me crazy, the filter really is lush sounding... You'd need some kind of distortion in software to get such overtones as those in this demo... Blows my mind. I'm one for the analogue filters on the virus, really like the squelchy warmness you can get out of those. Overdid the fx on this demo, like I often tend to while playing for myself, I guess - but the will of the flying carpet is not something one can rationalize much

[TweakHead]

This two features on the King Korg got me thinking:


Vacuum tube driver circuit adds rich overtones and powerful distortion

CV/GATE OUT jack lets you control a Korg monotribe or MS-20

A real tube inside a digital synth makes you think, no? It's something within the same lines of DS stuff, I think - have some analogue circuit adding a twist to digital stuff...

I think it's a shame you only have one filter per voice, as it would make more sense to have two with options similar to the Virus: serial, parallel or split. But it's got 18 types of filters on it, and from the demos they seem to sound great. And, again, the real analogue tube makes up for that (even for using the audio in option). So it seems as though this new VA is some serious contender and will certainly be much talked about and probably featured in many tunes and live rigs.

[feedingear]

The Korg Triton Extreme had a valve tube in it - i thought it did a really great job bringing to life organ patches and some of the synths which tend to sound very thin and weak on the workstation series. I got an M3 (the next version) and thought it sounded significantly worse then the Extreme - thin, weak, and very, very uninspiring. Gorgeous keybed though.

[namnibor]

Originally Posted by feedingear

The Korg Triton Extreme had a valve tube in it - i thought it did a really great job bringing to life organ patches and some of the synths which tend to sound very thin and weak on the workstation series. I got an M3 (the next version) and thought it sounded significantly worse then the Extreme - thin, weak, and very, very uninspiring. Gorgeous keybed though.

Yes, the **only** part of the M3 I would like is that 88 keybed! Korg ALSO used "valve-tube" in their newer grooveboxes to again, according to Korg, add "warmth" but having heard both the blue and red boxes, they have that same *sound* of likes of their Kaos Synth Pads. Kind of like trying to add "warmth" to the sound of an amplified mosquito! That's just my opinion and if someone else likes that sound, that is their choice and given right to.
Again, having had a Korg Radias, I have not yet heard any demo of King Korg that did not sound like the MMT Synthesis of it's predecessors.

[feedingear]

Dont get me wrong, I wouldnt touch a Korg workstation with a 50 foot pole nowadays. Once I got the Virus, I literally laughed out loud at how bad the synths sounded on the korgs. But the tube did do some nice stuff for the organs and ep patches, which is where those workstations excel.

Re keybed, i actually had the 73 key version - i really dont like weighted keys on anything but a piano. Luckily enough we now have a Rhodes mk1 in the studio .

[namnibor]

Originally Posted by feedingear

Dont get me wrong, I wouldnt touch a Korg workstation with a 50 foot pole nowadays. Once I got the Virus, I literally laughed out loud at how bad the synths sounded on the korgs. But the tube did do some nice stuff for the organs and ep patches, which is where those workstations excel.

Re keybed, i actually had the 73 key version - i really dont like weighted keys on anything but a piano. Luckily enough we now have a Rhodes mk1 in the studio .

Yes, I too am learning that weighted, hammer-action, of which I too love on a piano, which have many years training on it. It's part of reason I am re-setting home studio set-up as the ONLY reason have kept an Alesis QS8 rompler with excellent weighted, hammer action keys because the piano sounds in particular are great and originally thought would use it's extensive ability to be used as a multi-zoned controller. It's now going to a dedicated place in dining room for using headphones and piano practicing scales and finger dexterity as it truely helps with the military service-induced peripheral neuropathy in hands/feet (no, do not play with feet, LOL).
Learned pretty quickly that although love the feel of weighted 88 keybed with aftertouch; rather have the semi-weighted action of controller such as Novation Remote SL 61MKII and Axiom Pro 61 for specific playing and midi chain of synth rack units as they both have velocity/aftertouch, BUT MUCH easier for proper attacks/responiveness with everything except piano.
Yes, the keybed of the Virus, (KB/KC) which seems to be exactly same as DSI mono evolver kbd and Waldorf Blofeld Black Kbd; is so outstanding that nothing compares!
One would think that with the proponderance of midi controller keyboards, manufacturers of same would place similar quality keys on them rather than the very "synth-action" status quo. I find the Novation and Axiom controller's keyaction the best of many tried BUT they still pale in the type of Fatar keybed Access uses. (I understand the Indigo/Polar shorter-type Access Keybeds use a different type of Fatar than the 61 keybeds).
With the above said, I no longer have thought of using Korg's M3 keybed or any fully weighted keys for anything but piano as well.
Am sure there will those that will perhaps not like the synth-action keys on new Korg MS20-Mini but with such an immediately tweakable monosynth, changing the envelope attack on the fly will more than make-up for it, not to mention nice analog synth engine.

[namnibor]

Well, since this IS on the topic of the Korg MS20 and how at NAMM 2013 a recreation of the moment Dave Smith and Roland firstly connected the first two synths with the midi standard; with Dave Smith using his then-Sequential Circuits new and first ever all analog poly synth with midi, the Prophet 600. THAT synth was also my FIRST analog polysynth back in 1983 but had to part ways with her due to military committments and mobility issues almost 20 years exactly. I learned synthesis on the Korg MS20 and have been (and am still) excited about the re-release of the 86% version talked about in this thread.
Recently have been talking to a retired electronic music producer that is weeding down a massive collection of instruments that he and his partner have accumulated over many years. Was presented with opportunity to re-purchase my analog SCI Prophet 600 in a roadcase, in great shape aside from wear on wood end-cheeks (something I will give my father to recreate out of original oak in his workshop), and one key that has been epoxied where it had started to crack at the very second to last bass octave (C1) key, with orig. manuals for about same coin as the Korg MS20-Mini and tax. Am planning on making this work for analog poly and will finally sell a lessor-used synth to justify it. Am pretty psyched!
The MS20-mini is still a consideration and am told with huge amounts of preorders, will be lucky if April/May will be able to make that choice. Am just not all that fond of leaving my financial info open-ended on a pre-order with anyone, for identity theft reasons, etc.
The Prophet 600 has an CV-IN for the filter that can be used with pedals, other synths, and with full midi, will integrate nicely in set-up. It's definitely not just a 'romantic connection' with this synth, as other than a Prophet 5, and having played friend's juno's, et al--nothing still touches this aside from of course a Moog; with the Prophet 600 actually having exact same analog osc's, VCF, 2 VCA's, as Prophet 5, with the envelopes being actually software (1982) a "poor man's Prophet" but sounds so good! This really balances out the heavy digital side of things with just one or two of it's 6 voice/12 VCO's, sounding very more warm than DSi Prophet 08, but of course the 08 has many more technical abilities due to technology.
Happy Happy Joy Joy!!

[namnibor]

Here's a newly performed test of the orig. Korg MS20 next to new Korg MS20-Mini http://createdigitalmusic.com/2013/0...-audio-photos/

[namnibor]

You do not need to understand Japanese to see the potential this best demo this far of my NEXT buy *after* new audio interface (Native Instruments Komplete Audio 6) purchase in a few weeks.
My Sweetwater Rep told me they have yet to see so many pre-orders for a single product as the re-release of Korg MS20-mini, and this youtube demo from Japan may start a bit slow but trust me, watch or do not watch your volume, especially if you have dogs in apartment/flat next to you

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GEO...ture=endscreen

Just imagine passing any Virus unison or otherwise through this filter? Better buy your 1/4 to 1/8 cables now and get them ready to contact alien dolphins

[TweakHead]

Yep, so you're still going for it after all, uh?

I think it's probably the best one on this "return of analogue" race. Along with the new Moog. Listened to the demos again and was blown away by the sound. And it's got very nice overall specs on it. Plus, saw one of the mooger foogers (102, the ring modulation one) going cheap on ebay, and feeling really tempted to get it - I heard it's like a dream come true coupled with the Virus.