Is this the BEST synth ever?

Hey! I just bought a KORG MS-20 Mini and I wanted to show you guys how good this beast sounds and make a little DEMO out of it! Every sound that you hear in this video have been designed on the spot while discovering it. I always wanted to have a Korg MS-20 since, to me, it is a cult synthesizer. It took me 10 years to get the ‪@KorgOfficial‬ reissue, and I'm pretty glad I did! hehe
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Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
0:20 - Showcase & interesting features
1:07 - Sounds
4:53 - The sound you all came for (Da Funk)
5:31 - My final thoughts & outro
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Korg MS-20, Korg MS-20 mini, synth, synth demo, ms-20 demo, ms-20 mini demo, ms-20 mini sounds, synthesizer, synthesizer demo, korg, ms-20 test, sound design, music producer, music production
#synth #korg #synthesizer

[@Tonepusher]

How do you think it sounds? 🤔

[@Magnus_Loov]

Unique! It seems very hard to emulate both in software but also in hardware form. Behringers K2 is good but not the same. And no software version is even close. Manna from heaven for feeding samples/synths through that filter too. Also unique is the external signal processor to feed instruments/vocals into to get something like the vocal "singing synth" sounds a la Goldfrapp out of it. I am in the process of buying a used one and this video just further got my "gearcraving" for it stronger (the seller has been busy and I can''t pick it up until tomorrow). As you said a lot of artists/music styles have a Ms-20 in it. Adding further to your list Goldfrapp, Röyksopp, earlier Ladytron and Air. And off course all 80:s EDM and industrial. Only unanswered question for me is how it will patch with other stuff. The non-compatible Herz/Volt (or the other way around) instead of Volt/octave is talked about, but is that for keyboard controlling only . I mean, I get the impression that the rest of the input/outputs on the MS-20 are the "normal kind" so that I can use something like an LFO or envelope generator in or out of it with other gear. I mean Hz or octave should only affect keyboard related controlling, right. Is there something else that is non-standard like +/-5 Volt per something that is incompatible with patching stuff like the Behringer Model D, Behringer Cat, a Minilogue Xd etc?

[@DoctorNemmo]

It's decent

[@Tonepusher]

@@DoctorNemmo blasphemy!! haha

[@DoctorNemmo]

lol (it's great, so many emblematic tones in there)@@Tonepusher

[@droneopt]

I strongly agree, it IS the best the synth ever - IMO. I bought a mini about 3 years ago and also fell in love with it after playing around with it for an hour. I loved it so much I just HAD to get the full sized version when they released it 2 years ago because I wanted full sized keys and 1/4" patch cables & jacks. Out of all the 20+ synths I have bought and sold over the past 10 years, the MS-20 is my favorite and it is my "go to" machine for sound design. The patch panel and external signal processor offer unlimited creativity and experimentation. There's so much you can do with it. I also love this synth because it is completely analog, zero menu diving, no secret button pressing combinations to remember, has an onboard pitch to voltage converter, and it just looks cool as hell like a piece of 1970s test equipment. BIG thanks to Korg for recreating this awesome synth and making it affordable for people to own one.

[@Tonepusher]

💯💯💯 You're sooo right, that's the kind of synth that you keep forever hehe AND it's very very versatile, I use it for any genre.

[@borispradel1037]

I have full size reissue by Korg. It comes with two filters. The classic noisy and more aggressive filter of the MS20 mini and a softer, more melodic almost noise-free one. You choose between the two when powering on and holding down three of its keys. Fantastic synth.

[@Tonepusher]

Yeah I shouldve mention it into the video that the filter was very very noisy. At first I didn't like it tbh haha But then after a while I find that its adding something unique to the sound. And at the end of the day I always (almost) add some noise to my sounds. Full size must be a beauty haha 😍

[@hexfxtriks]

Have the original MS-20 I bought in college in 1983 many synths have come and gone but I've never thought of selling the MS-20. To Augment it I bought the MS-20 M the keybpordless version I put together. Such a classic sound!

[@Tonepusher]

Yeah the keyboardless version looks goooood haha I keep telling myself that I don't need it 🤪

[@RemixSample]

I still haven't tried the MS-20 but I love the sound of it! Great demo!

[@Tonepusher]

It sounds soooo good hehe thanks man!! 😊

[@Veluvian]

Nice ambient and EBM sounds you got. I recently bought MS-20 full size but from the kit version. Indeed first minutes or an hour you don't have an idea what is really going on. But when you really start diving deeper you do realize what a beast this is. First of all MS-20 sounds amazing in any mix. I compare it with my Moog grandmother, which is a fat beast and in a mix with other stuff you have to cut lots of frequenses from it. MS-20 stands really well in the middle. Versatile and diverse, both for lo-fi textures and for hi-tech rich sounds. For many people this is the desert iseland synth. For me it could be still the Grandmother, but with MS-20 my life has changed and it will be a part in any track that I produce in the future.

[@Tonepusher]

exactly! 💯💯 haha I felt exactly the same, the first hour I was like wtf? And then when you get used to the interface and how it works...wow haha I understand that it's not for everyone though! It has a very unique and raw sound. But for me, it's exactly what I needed!

[@TheMosk207]

MS20 IS THE SYNTH

[@Tonepusher]

Totally, I knew it was good and cult. But I didn't expected something like this hehe I loooove it.

[@TheMosk207]

@@Tonepusher All the Hacker records made it with MS10 & 20. classic EBM SYNTH kzbin.info/www/bejne/a5Cqk2yEibR7rMU

[@ShitStaindGod]

It sounds incredible. Especially at the price point. I gotta tell myself I don’t need another synth though.

[@Tonepusher]

hahah well every time I buy one I'm like ''alright I'm good, I don't need another one'' and then.... Yeah it sounds insane..Sounds like no other synth really.

[@klstay]

The mini, 2600, and this are all "must have" classic analog monosynths. I know many feel a certain way about Behringer, but a K-2 can be had now for $200. They seem to sound quite close to each other so that might be an option for someone wanting this classic who does not want or care about the mini-keys or maybe for whom even $200 is a fair bit of coin.

[@Tonepusher]

100% !! I have a Poly D and for the price I mean, it's unbeatable...Sounds soooo close to the original. But if you can afford the "real" thing...go for it hehe

[@klstay]

@@Tonepusher that thing definitely screams, but to me the "real thing" is a rev 1 with the 35 instead of the 13600 which is a whole level above that. To get into that "space" I use a Steve's MS-22 eurorack filter which is definitely not the cheap way to go for anything...

[@theboofin]

It is a contender especially in the FS reissue. Having both Mk 1 and 2 filters is great since the Mk 2 is quieter for more subtle patches and when you use feedback distortion the Mk 2 also gives you more controllable options. Having both is key to the MS20.

[@Tonepusher]

Yeah the filters are crazy. To me that's what makes it the best. I mean the modulation matrix too. But yeah, must have in any setup

[@c128stuff]

The best synth ever.. not sure about that, but the ms20 is absolutely a very desirable synth, especially for those who love analog synths.

[@Tonepusher]

Totaly, it sounds like no other synths really.

[@user-yl1oo6ng3g]

Agreed. It IS the best Synth of all times. Okay, the Moog Mini Moog is also great but the Korg MS-20 is really amazing sounding. Especially it´s unusual filter combination - Highpass, Lowpass.

[@Tonepusher]

100%! and even on INIT patch I feel like it sounds unique right away haha great synth!

[@hardikjuneja9]

If one creates a bassline with this, do we need to layer this? or the sound itself is big enough? I always wondered if producers who create ebm with machines layers their basses as we do with VSTs

[@Tonepusher]

Good question, I think it's more of an artistic decision than technical. It's fat enough to be a bass by itself that's 100% sure though. The low end is fat and steady. Better than 99% of VSTs. I'd say Korg ms-20 as your main bass and then layered with a softsynth ftw.

[@synthetic24]

The main riff of Da funk is not made with a Korg MS-20 but with a Roland Juno 106.

[@Tonepusher]

Hey! It's possible! I've read many many places that they used an MS20. The highpass filter resonance on it sounds a lot like it when you add a small amount of distortion. But you might be right! 🤷🏻‍♂️ Can you share your sources with us? :) I'm curious!

[@user-yl1oo6ng3g]

Mr Oizo agrees. Flatbeat for example was made entirely with MS-20 and i guess Akai. Rob Acid also loves his MS-20. He gave one of his TB-303s away and got the Ms-20 for it.

[@Tonepusher]

exactly! and Flatbeat has one of the most satisfying bass ever hehe 👌

[@greattantrum523]

What is even more impressive is that Korg at one time made GIANT MS-20's. Look it up. To have one of those would be sick!

[@Tonepusher]

haha wow first time I hear that 🤔 It's very cool looking lol I didn't look at the price but I guess it's expensive af haha

[@mass-1128]

Question: When comparing the original MS20 to the mini, is there anything on the MS20 Mini that needs improving? Great video! 😁

[@Tonepusher]

I'd say the filters are a bit too noisy on the mini. However it gives a certain texture that I do like. Also the keybed feels like a plastic toy haha But at this price point I guess they had to cut corners somewhere! Honestly that's the only two things that I would improve.

[@mass-1128]

@@Tonepusher Many thanks for your feedback! I will definitely go with tge MS20 Mini/FE! 🤟🏻

[@MisAnnThorpe]

@@Tonepusher The original MS20s also had very noisy filters with clunky plastic keyboards! The second filter type doesn't suffer from the filter noise "problem" and seems to be generally considered the better version for bass sounds but I'm not sure that I prefer it.

[@florinchelniciuc831]

Hi again! 🙌🏻 Compared with your poly d, is this korg better for sound design? Thanks!

[@Tonepusher]

Hey!! Tbh if I had to choose which one to get first I'd say the MS-20. You CAN make ''moog'' type of sounds with the MS20 but you can't make these weird alien sounds with a Poly D! haha And also you can start to learn modular synthesis with the MS20. BUT if you're looking for that classic moog filter, the Poly D it is!

[@florinchelniciuc831]

@@Tonepusher., hi again. I know you use Cubase like I do. If you want to record automation, Cubase record automatically the automation like vst? Thanks! 🙏🏼

[@Tonepusher]

@@florinchelniciuc831 Yeah, you can do it by hand or via MIDI :)

[@jakeyboy2929]

Hey man. In regards to the first sound played how are you making an arpeggio with the ms20? Are you controlling it from a sequencer?

[@Tonepusher]

Hey! I'm controlling it with Cubase by USB, no midi 👌🏻 Only jack and usb

[@jakeyboy2929]

@@Tonepusher I use Logic Pro but was it just a step sequencer you were using inside cubase? That first patch sounds great man

[@Tonepusher]

@@jakeyboy2929 thanks man :) no it was a sequence I wrote by hand for the video! yeah the ms-20 sounds so great. My go to synth right now 👌

[@jakeyboy2929]

@@Tonepusherawesome man. You wouldn’t still have that patch would you? Also do you know if the ms20 mini can transmit midi via usb or did you have it hooked up to your computer via midi and audio cable?

[@SYNDRONE]

It IS the best synth ever. :)

[@Tonepusher]

Haha!🤘🏻 I obviously didn't try every synth that there is...But of all the synths that I've used, it's easily top 3!

[@SYNDRONE]

@@Tonepusher It just has one of the coolest and most flexible filter designs... 😎

[@Tonepusher]

@@SYNDRONE 100% agree, that HP filter resonance is insane. Especially with some distortion.

[@Rhythmicons]

Moog Voyager for the win.

[@Tonepusher]

Haha can't argue with that 🤔😋

[@Rhythmicons]

@@Tonepusher I always wanted one of those vintage MS20s back when they were about 1500 but that just means that I'd have to get the sequencer and the vocoder and have the whole panel going. I've only played the k2, but being HzV (right?) it wouldn't really play well with other gear.

[@Tonepusher]

@@Rhythmicons yeah it's using HzV, I never tried the K2. Does it sound as good as the real thing? I love behringer products. I know some ppl don't like the path they're taking. But I think it's super cool for musicians that don't want to pay 6000 for a synth haha

[@Rhythmicons]

@@Tonepusher When the twenty-somethings who are buying the behringer stuff are old enough, they will again drive up the vintage prices, but it's going to be a long market until then. Never played a vintage Korg, but I got to mess around with the Karp Odyssey tabletop unit. It's different from the Moog approach for sure and has a bit of a learning curve.

[@WeAreMagonia]

Where's the damn classic feedback loop patch ?!!!

[@MaxMatrak-]

First !