Cherry Audio PS-20 vs Korg MS20: Does it sound like the MS-20 or is it just inspired by it

[@ottam]

Sure, it's not *exactly* the same, but it sounds very very similar and is a fraction of the cost. Cherry Audio has good products, very low prices, and were giving away their stuff during lockdowns. They also have very friendly customer service and interact with the people who buy their stuff. Whether you like their products or not, they're running their business like I wish all VST companies would.

[@StarskyCarr]

That’s a very good point. For the price they’re a no-brainer which is why I picked up 4! I do t need them but think we should support companies where we can. If everyone gave me a couple of ££ I’d get a lot more done 😂

[@markjeffery3237]

This. The Polymode, CA2600, 106 and Realistic/Prodigy (which is free!?!) are simply superb for the money (or free). The Obie8 voice sounds good, but is just too much work for limited return. Cherry is a great company, and I be buying this in the morning. Great stuff as ever Starsky 👌🏻

[@thebreathalyzer]

I have the Cherry Audio and Korg plugins for this. I have the Korg Odyssey plugins too for iOS and Windows. I like the ARP module in Voltage Modular also.

[@marcelmaes5275]

Not exactly 100%, but indeed, for the 99% it does have , it is a big percentage cheaper. Even cheaper then Korgs own emulation of the MS20. Do people actually hear this in a mix? And do musicians only use the MS20 in high-resonance-mode? Never owned a MS20 but I doubt if I should have used this distorted sounds often.

[@irrationallynegative]

They’re really close. I have the MS-10 so I can’t do a thorough comparison, but it’s definitely the same sound. Thank you for the excellent video, love your channel. Cherry Audio are really coming out with some great stuff at great prices.

[@apislapis]

As always your A-B comparisons are incredibly useful for the greater synth community, so many thanks. I think you hit the nail on the head for me when you write "great value synth plugins." I don't have the MS20 on my GAS list (but I quite like it's smaller sibling the MS-10) but the MS20 inspired PS-20 is less money than a night down the pub, and would provide you with more than 1 night's worth of entertainment going forward. Great value indeed!

[@andreavailati8292]

just had the chance to compare the PS-20 and the Behringer K2...well..the PS-20 sounds way richer than the analog from Behringer, it really surprised me. I am sending the K-2 Back to amazon!

[@SYNDRONE]

...what! :_D

[@andreavailati8292]

@@SYNDRONE I swear

[@SYNDRONE]

@@andreavailati8292 It's interesting. I gotta give the PS-20 a try, but it's hard to believe it would win over the K2's hardware filters!

[@andreavailati8292]

@@SYNDRONE to be honest I couldn't feel any major differences on how the filters sound, and considering that the ps20 ones can be automated from the daw it was an easy decision to send back the k2 and stick to the vst. I bought an Ms20 controller Instead and I mapped that on the ps20. I am very happy with it

[@SYNDRONE]

@@andreavailati8292 That sounds like a cool idea. I went with the Arturia MS-20v and got a regular 16 knob controller to map things to it, but found the K2 to have a grittier sound with better filters which screamed more than Arturia's 🤷🏻‍♂️ so I'm still eyeballig with the K2. 😅

[@thebreathalyzer]

Oh, man. This is great! I really like the Cherry Audio standalone synths, they all have a unique vibe. The DCO-106 is really nice for doing lead and bass sounds with my wind controller.

[@JunoDK]

The "stepping" when turning a knob on PS-20 can be avoided by holding the CTL-key while you turn it - it gets way smoother that way - and also, you can double click on it and type whatever you want...

[@flame2fame_music]

Every hardware synthesizers sound a little different, comparing to each other. I think, Cherry audio did a very good job emulating Korg Ms20, especially for the price! Also, thank you for the the detail sound comparison!

[@craigturb]

I’d love an MS-20 one day for that growly filter with so much character. May have to make do with the PS-20 for the convenience. You can’t argue at that price! Really nice video, Starsky - thanks for putting it together.

[@GrootsieTheDog]

Korg has there own emulation. Not as cheap (But still way less than hardware - and they have sales periodically) but the filter is GRRRRowlin!

[@docjoesweeney]

Great video mate. Thanks for the detail. The PS-20 and the Eight Voice are my two favourite softsynths at the moment. Good to hear how it stacks up.

[@FuzzleMusic]

Their Eight Voice is my main soft synth at the moment. Too good!

[@meedily]

Sounds much better than the Korg Legacy version, though.

[@thetrick9]

Great comparison as always. It would be interesting to see an MS 20 shootout (real MS 20 or mini vs korg legacy collection MS 20 vs PS-20 vs u-he diva).

[@0e0]

I compared PS-20 to Diva... they sound fairly close.. ps-20 i believe is based on the Rev 1 filter.. The mixer section of the oscillators for Diva drive way more than ps-20 so after level matching them I like the sound of PS-20 a little better. Obviously the fully patchable interface of PS-20 wins here. for Diva i'm always using the Rev-2 version of the MS-20 filter (Urs wrote that they made a bit of a mistake on the highpass of the Rev1...still a cool sound though) I was hoping synapse would do a version of the MS-20 like they did with the The Legend but PS-20 came out and i'm enjoying it.

[@0e0]

the Rev 2 filter of Diva sounds most like the PS-20 (just tested it)

[@sinikoncar7838]

I only now realised that they used the external processor in the beginning of "No Nose Job" by Digital Underground.

[@middle_pickup]

I would love your take on the Korg MS-20 vst, and the Arturia V collection version as well. The MS-20 is such a unique instrument. It deserves the love.

[@gkillmaster]

me too!

[@h-voltage]

I had an MS20 filter in my modular synth, and Arturia nailed it pretty good. For me, Cherry audio is not a serious contender when it comes to synths.

[@mick_hyde]

Thanks for the comparisons.

[@StarskyCarr]

My pleasure!

[@0e0]

I was hoping someone would do this comparison..THANK YOU!

[@ogasi1798]

busy firm this lot eh :-=) - nice one starsky

[@patchbaycowboy]

Definitely worth it for the ps20 imo. Saves the hassle of the tuning instability I’ve found on the ms20, which is really hard to tune (if you have sausage hands like me 😅)

[@jhcmusicii6181]

The PS 20 is surprisingly very very good. I was expecting the real thing to blow it out of the water especially in the subbass region but it didn't. Sure a little different but slightly.

[@StarskyCarr]

I have to admit, I wasn't expecting it to stack up quite so well either! :)

[@muzikman2008]

Love Goldfrapp too, listening to Lovely Head, I hear it after all these years 😎👌 Will Gregory knows how to manipulate a MS20...good shout!

[@Goettel]

Fun fact: Sonicstate's Nick Batt did some mixing, engineering, programming and bass synth playing on Felt Mountain (not sure if he used PWM ;-) ) . Amazing album.

[@pachacache5186]

The problem with cherry audio is = after some time we need to login with the email address window while the plugin is purchased, why?

[@muzikman2008]

Problem is, ya got 40 years worn out MS20 against a digital emulation in software, there's gonna be some differentials. I have used Korg's Legacy Collection for years now, I wonder how that would do in a comparison?...hmmm, But.. I love the newer VST's coming out from Cherry Audio, they seem to have it spot on to be fair. I like their Jupiter 8, Juno 106 VST too. Great video demo as always Starsky.

[@StarskyCarr]

Yep, it's always going to be an issue.. I'm using the mini, but that'll sound a bit different to a 40 year old.. and they used a vintage unit - which will sound different to other vintage units. So I try to find the character of the synth rather than exact matches. The filter on all MS20s has the distinct MS20 feel - both revisions do. BUT matching everything will never sound exact. Something I have to 'fight' in comments sometimes :) you're absolutely right.

[@atozee1500]

Splendid! I wonder how the FS sounds compared to the mini if there is any difference at all.

[@StarskyCarr]

I don’t think so, but there will definitely be differences in vintage vs modern. Apparently they used a vintage j it so it won’t sound exactly the same as my mini. But it’s close and has a similar character.. just loses out on some more dirty filter settings (which are the bits I like!)

[@bradleybrown1567]

For me the differences are close enough and negated by the added features on the PS-20. As well as the significant price difference. The built on sequencer is a nice addition too instead of having to add the extra cost of buying an sq10 for the vintage / sq1 for the mini. 😊

[@sinistar99]

16:34 It seems like Env2 sets its starting point when it's triggered, so holding down the key won't make that go down. Digitally it looks like it restarts the env when you change the knob... So the analog machine may actually be more accurate since it looks like it's adding the voltages instantly on the fly. I may be wrong but that's what I've noticed with the MS20 messing with the envelopes a lot.

[@justindpeak]

Great video. Too hard to really get a comparison of the two with the stepping.

[@wanderingjuniper]

Sounds good (amazing) for the price

[@mauriciomandara5946]

Interesting to hear and compare the Version 2 MS20 software from Korg ... great review... and good software to save presets for the price (if you have a mini or an original)... thanks for sharing!!!

[@StarskyCarr]

Good point!

[@jadanoliver6237]

I own and it works for the tracks I have. I would own the real thing because I own this. So Cherry Audio is driving the industry. I like the Korg and think it is badass. And that it is poly beast is great, but I will be honest I use it mono synth or unison. DCO 106 is something I love as well having owned a Juno. I am able to have as many Juno and MS20 tracks as I want, that is the good thing about plug ins.

[@TerenceKearns]

Fantastic comparison video. Very illuminating. Liked and subscribed... It's almost as though you need a subtle fuzz effect and/or a warble effect (slow tremolo) to get the digital one to sound more like the hardware version. Not that it will bring it closer to parity, but that it will be more similar in style.

[@StevenSmethurst]

Currently available on humble bundle for a very cheap price

[@sinikoncar7838]

I'm really not that picky. But there is a very big difference in the filters - one that you would hear in the mix. I would use the sound created by the extreme filter settings of the hardware but not from the software. Otherwise the PS20 sounds very good. I will test it out.

[@StarskyCarr]

Yeah they all sound pretty good until you push them into more radical areas.

[@TwstedTV]

I wish you had also tested it with the Korg official VST versions. Thats why I came to this particular video, because I thought you were going to compare the VST's. Korg right now for Black Friday 2021 has the KORG-MS20 for $49.... And the Cherry Audio PS-20 for $29. Yes I know always go to the original manufacturer. But just wanted to know..... 😎👍

[@urfavoritehumanbean879]

The 20 bucks more for the Korg one with even less features are absolutely worth it, because they nailed it immensely (to another degree even compared with the other synth emulations by them). It sounds amazing straight out the box. Said by a Cherry Audio lover, by the way. This is just a specific case.

[@jtn191]

Thanks for this, I tried comparing it on my own to your hardware vids but didn't get far!

[@timbeneton8068]

ohhhh that hardware sound.... was really hoping someone will get there but unfortunately not yet

[@MPHORROCKS]

Love CA's stuff! Was there stepping on the lowpass filter of the PS-20 at around 8:25? Is that an issue with the vst?

[@StarskyCarr]

No that’s the control coming from the XD. The way it sends MIDI is a bit weird… so your stuck with 128 values. I use the mouse at some point because of this.

[@umanoid1523]

Even if it doesn’t sound like the original $29 its a no brainer. I buy a lot of their stuff because they spend time making the presets. Adding great extras. And they always have their own character. My biggest problem with some of their synths is they need a good cpu and im working with an upgraded 11 year old mac tower. It works but for synths like this is pushing it. I end up turning off the built in effects on patches which reduce the cpu load and use low cpu versions of those effects.

[@Eonetronix]

I use an oscilloscope while hearing the sound, some sound has different wave shape especially saw tooth, but the filter fx quite the same, I think it's really cool especially for $29 😀

[@StarskyCarr]

I normally take a look at the waveshapes, but when its such good value...

[@Chris6741]

I've never even thought of getting an MS-20. Always heard them described as aggressive. Those filter sweeps sounded beautiful though. Definitely curious what else it does well.

[@stefanelf7794]

The sounds make me think of Knifonium, especially the low pass filter sweeps are similar IMHO

[@synthanatomy]

Great video :)

[@StarskyCarr]

Cheers... there;'s a couple more now. Exhausting my synth collection matching their plugins :) The 2600 and the 106 kzbin.info/www/bejne/sGO2YZRmZZqDq5I kzbin.info/www/bejne/ipSud4qifdSYgqM

[@musician1971a]

Though of course not exactly the same I was actually surprised how well the PS-20 sounds! Now it is suddenly on my wishlist. I actually think it may be better than Korg's own plugin version

[@waggon321]

I've got the Realistic and the 2600. Not bad at all. Of course,the real test is in a mix

[@StarskyCarr]

Yeah.. except if you know how what you're doing you can make anything sound good in a mix. So as a test it falls down slightly. Any of these CA synths work really well. There are some minor issues here and there.. keep posted for the next couple :0

[@estudo13videos]

You can set up 14bit resolution midi.

[@marcinha1973]

Imagine the hw cost 50 usd and the sw 500. “The sw is a bit more musical...”.

[@えどもんど江戸者奴]

I want to use it soon. 👍

[@Major00Tom]

And without the noise bleed bug featured in the ms-20 mini.

[@freshkidblaze]

Do you have a model 84 / dco 106 / juno 106 shootout in the works?

[@StarskyCarr]

I have DCO 106 vs juno on the way.

[@StarskyCarr]

@@bassc That's exactly my conclusion... !! if you want identical go with Softube - but for the price the DCO is great value if not an exact emulation.

[@joeydendron]

Would've been interested to hear how the PS-20 low-pass compared if you turned the drive up: I thought the MS-20 sounded like it was saturating/overdriving (in a really, really tasty way)?

[@Roderick_Legato]

You completely left out the most obvious difference - the PS-20's jacks are bigger!!

[@0e0]

i believe if you turn down the drive parameter for the filters of the ps-20 you get more of those harmonics you are after inbetween filter movements on the hardware

[@StarskyCarr]

I tried. The centre position matches the hardware best.

[@0e0]

@@StarskyCarr 4 instead of vibe seemed a bit more accurate for me with different resonance settings though but i was just playing off the video and i don't have the hardware infront of me i've been really enjoying ps-20 I wish Synapse Audio would tackle the MS-20 like they did the Minimoog

[@keithmorris4105]

I like your style

[@hackapump]

The MS-20 is 40+ years old and analog all through the signal path. Could the minor differences we hear be the difference between your MS-20 and the one Cherry Audio analysed?

[@StarskyCarr]

quite possibly. I was looking for the character rather than exact tones - as you say there's will be slightly different to mine.

[@geoffk777]

Do you have a Kronos? I'd be interested in how it compares to the MS-20EX engine on the Kronos. I'd buy PS-20, but the Kronos already has a decent (I assume) emulation built in.

[@lundsweden]

The MS-20 is a very dirty girl, isn't she?! The Cherry Audio plug is pretty good, it's always going to be a challenge for a soft synth to be able to reproduce a filter with that much distortion in it.

[@tranceemerson8325]

in the lowpass demonstration you didn't use the drive knob on the PS 20.. you might have been able to achieve something even more similar if you had.

[@StarskyCarr]

I’d tried that when experimenting. It was best where it was. Good point though as I never mentioned the drive.

[@umanoid1523]

The MS20 sounds richer and fatter BUT the PS20 certainly isn’t bad as an emulation. It’s always about the filter character and I think its tough to get the exactly same sounding filters in software.

[@subconscious.com_usa6691]

True its very difficult to model a Analogue filter

[@rhythmjones]

MIDI 2.0 will fix those stepped sweeps.

[@h-voltage]

That PS-20 filter is a joke. I don't know how people can say it's close enough. It's not even near. I never really liked arturia, but their MS20 almost nails the filter sound. That one i'd say close enough This? Nope. Sadly this is true to all their synths.

[@silverqumera]

Vs Korg i ms20 or Kronos Exi MS20?

[@StarskyCarr]

I was considering putting it up against the Korg app and even had them up together in Logic, but it was getting a bit long winded.. as they've different functions etc. Soundwise the CA is close enough to the Korg, but I've not done exhaustive tests!

[@vimfuego8827]

And the cost of the PS20 is ? Argument over 😃

[@themountainradio]

I tested it and for the types of patches I do, it's not even close. If you detune one of the oscillators, you cheap a really weird sound, completely different to a real MS20.

[@StarskyCarr]

Yeah for some things it doesn’t quite get there… if you’re on the edge and pushing more to the extremes it can’t match the hardware.

[@86crush]

I stopped watching because there are too many ads. It gets ridiculous after a while.

[@StarskyCarr]

I take out a lot that Google puts in but on long videos if you skip through it feels like lots more than it actually is. I measured it once and it was under a minute per hour, whereas TV is loads more.

[@muzikman2008]

Feels his studio monitors vibrating at 4:31 for low Hz slow moving speakers...i'm a geek lol...🤣👍

[@КлараРысь]

Thanks for review , now PS-20 = 6$

[@falangistavaleroso9689]

Virtual one sounds as my chilli farts, as all virtual: deep diarrea.

[@re8et355]

Vst vs real gear compares? Blindfold Thumbs up!

[@0815Snickersboy]

Real analog synth does not sound the same even among them selfs. Even two different real PS-20s won't sound "excatly the same". This one is very close though and an absolute banger of a feature rich synth for the 3ß$ price.

[@StarskyCarr]

Haha have you just watched my upload comparing 2 brand new analog synths? 👍😀

[@texacomann]

But the price makes it a nobrainer

[@GrootsieTheDog]

This unfortunately is a thumbs down for me - the filter is why you get an ms 20 imo. It’s like a clone supermodel who’s alike in ever way but one has a soul and the other doesn’t. Plus that strange amplitude issue. Yikes.

[@texacomann]

The real ms20 sounds much more crisp and analog

[@Robert_Babicz]

the ps20 sounds very different, sure the price is nice, but it feels dead...

[@StarskyCarr]

Yeah… doing the more clinical tests I could get them very close but when playing around with it I don’t get the same feel. It’s a difficult balance to get this across in a demo without either constantly repeating myself, overplaying it’s failures or being over enthusiastic about a good value emulation. Hopefully I got the balance right?

[@Robert_Babicz]

@@StarskyCarr you are right, i had the same with the 2600. its not really inspiring when you work on a real track.

[@sjfarrell2.0]

I picked this up today for £22 GBP. Bit of a bargain, IMO.

[@woopeedyscoop1858]

filter is underwhelming

[@oriomenoni7651]

I think you're too nitpicking in this comparison. The softsynth sounds close enough to my ears. No softsynth will EVER sound the same as a hardware synth. This one gets really close. It could get closer? Probably yes, but by a margin, not by far. In my opinion it's good. If it isn't good enough for you, go get the real thing, it's as simple as that.

[@StarskyCarr]

Funny.. others have said I’m not harsh enough 🤷‍♂️ I can’t win 😂 I think the balance is just about right. It’s not exactly the same as an MS20 but it’s well worth the money.

[@texacomann]

My Behringer beats it

[@StarskyCarr]

It would.. it's hardware, and CA's stuff is excellent for the price but not a perfect emulation - as I just mentioned in your other comment on the OBE review :)

[@KiR_3d]

PS-20 filter sounds so sterile! Yes, it has the same "mood" but it's like you're watching a soccer match on TV instead of being there. It's like an MS-20 made of "ideally manufactured components with 0% tolerances" and no any parasite effects which probably gives a lot of quirks in MS-20s sound. BTW, I've heard MS-20 Mini sound - it sounds also less "live". Probably because of high precision SMD components. Seems that Behringer somehow avoided that "effect".

[@KNHSynths]

The Behringer is sounding really good indeed.This emulation is just worthing the $29. It is not a MS-20 by any stretch of the imagination. I like your image of a soccer match watched on TV or in the stadium. It is the same story but you don't feel the same thing. Here I don't fell anything to be frank.

[@R1GAMBLER]

is Cheery Audio CCP🇨🇳

[@StarskyCarr]

I think it’s Californian.

[@fjfrancois]

Software 💤 💤 💤

[@StarskyCarr]

haha

[@fjfrancois]

😊

[@PorchBass]

Nope

[@ottam]

It's nice how a developer can carefully write thousands of lines of code then a KZbinr can do all the filming, editing, and presentation to review it, and somebody can just come in, drop a one-word comment and feel satisfied with themselves: "nope". Profound. Thanks!

[@PorchBass]

@@ottam give it a rest. I watch all the Starsky Carr videos, give them a like and make a comment just to hyoe the channel. The other day I watched the video with the two blue meanies all the way through. All the way! It was more of a deliberately curt response to the video title. Developers aren't good samaritans doing it for free, and they all exaggerate. Cheers and have a good one. No offense offered.