Synthesizer Show & Tell: Korg MS-20 Mini

[@usaroman]

Finally a generous soul sharing the how to the most signature sounds from the ms20. 🎉

[@richardelam3371]

I've had my MS 20 since 1979 and have never seen a better tutorial on how to use it...Thanks

[@gotwork77]

someone finally made it make sense thank a million

[@ianpullman203]

This is the best breakdown of the patch bay i've seen yet. Thank you!

[@MarshalArnold]

Really appreciate the walk through of the patchbay, very informative!

[@ge0rgeharris218]

I hate, hate the mini keys on my machine!!! I love the way it sounds but I will never buy another synth with mini keys again!!! I was trained on full size keys many years ago and I find the concept of mini repugnant!!! NEVER AGAIN!!!

[@altusnoumena5935]

This is the most informative and easy to understand video on the ms20 that I've come across. Thanks so much friend. Great song, and there's something about your cadence that really reminds me of David Lynch which is really soothing.

[@HansBaier]

I really like the slim keys. I think they feel great.

[@StephenLearson]

Hans Baier to each his own

[@Livefreetrader69]

Yes, these keys are amazing. Anyone watching this video shouldn’t listen to that first comment. They are great.

[@hytyttiva]

@@Livefreetrader69 Yes Micro Korg keys are far more worse!

[@ArrayzableMusic]

QUALITY!! Awesome collection of patches, great presented and played and a really great track at the end! Personal fan of the MS-20 mini 😊

[@StephenLearson]

Arrayzable thanks!

[@dr.strangevelo6031]

That was a super useful explanation of the patch bay. Thanks for this!

[@ruudvincent6078]

Thanks, for this video. So glad now I can buy the full version with decent keys. A dream come true!

[@SkuppyVincenzo]

Gotta be the best tutorial going round with a few nice patches, thank you so much

[@StephenLearson]

Skuppy thanks a lot!

[@MrOuija-rr8kq]

VERY informative. Thank you.

[@StephenLearson]

Mr. Ouija thanks for watching!

[@AntonArhipov]

5:00 That external signal in trick did not work with my ms-20 mini at all. I'm now puzzled if it's broken or if I missed something important

[@austinsellers8721]

Ive been looking for a video like this since before i bough my MS20. dont know why it never came up. as ive been wroting songs its been kinda scatter brained...THANK YOU SO MUCH!!

[@sinistar99]

This is honestly the best one of these. Maybe because I already know the patch bay somewhat but this covers it really well.

[@hujuu]

Great walkthrough. Thanks.

[@ricochetsixtyten]

this synth sounds like butter, I got the vst but still... so smooth, the noise is so heavenly

[@palindromeAU]

Analog gear & noise... Did my head in!

[@goji9000]

Very informative. I’ve owned mine for a little while and have mostly learned by doing. I’ve come along pretty well, but this tutorial will help even more. Thank you very much for this video.

[@StephenLearson]

goji9000 thanks for watching. I mostly learned by doing too, but to make the video I had to review all the names of the patch points. I was used to calling one of them the “wiggle” patch.

[@ianwilson7637]

I really got a lot more out of this video than I have out of most other MS-20 vids. The "patching for dummies" pics in the beginning were fantastic for someone like me who, despite have programmed synths since 1981, has never had to patch anything. This was easy to follow and enjoyable. Admittedly I have the Behringer K-2, but still. Thanks.

[@StephenLearson]

Ian Wilson Can I confess that I actually rewatch my own video when I forget how to patch the MS-20?

[@ianwilson7637]

@@StephenLearson , I believe it. I have notes all over the place detailing how I did something. This is especially true with all these synths that don't have patch storage. Believe it or not the first synth I ever owned that did not have patch storage, was a Behringer Model D. It has been a tough road 🤣

[@StephenLearson]

Ian Wilson In this golden age of synths these are tough problems indeed! 🤘

[@soundsurface4881]

@@StephenLearson Good times have the best problems! 🎹

[@rautshsale1948]

thanky you for actually talking about the keybed itself. was wondering about the quality of the keys and this is something nobody mentioned however, i understood it correctly that it's more a "good to know" than a "they are so bad, don't get them" right? also, would you say the noise also a "good to know" or a "it's so bad. don't get it"?

[@rautshsale1948]

?

[@elderchildren]

hey :) thank you for the vid. I'm trying to find a way to sync Frequency of the Modulation Generator externally to a sequencer/keyboard or any other clock source. So far, no luck. Does anybody know how to do this?

[@captainsickooso7087]

Great breakdown, subscribed!

[@MarshalArnold]

Yeah, slim keys aren't a very fun experience, but this synth sounds so awesome! P.S. laughed my ass off with the chicken, hope to see it again in future show and tells 😁

[@StephenLearson]

Marshal Arnold thanks! What’s a semi-modular synth talk if you can’t include a rubber chicken?

[@salvadorramos2545]

Not even 1 thousand of views and this review/tutorial is pure gold! I'm so interested in having one of these but, is that noise problem when you press a key really annoying? Would a noise gate pedal help?

[@StephenLearson]

Salvador Ramos I notice the noise only when I press a key down so a gate pedal would not work. I’ve heard other people say that their MS-20’s are fine (no noise). It might just be my unit.

[@salvadorramos2545]

@@StephenLearson thanks so much for respond. Well, it sounds like a flipping coin, perhaps? Great channel by the way!

[@rhettarmistead3107]

I had this problem, but when I used isolation(step down) transformer, as I had to convert from 240 Ac to 110ac, I bought a Japan unit, All noise stopped, beautifully quiet, unless intentionally!

[@cesarvalerio4292]

Great vídeo! Greetings from brasil

[@jeremie2639]

pretty nice tune

[@SouthShoreSonics]

From 2015 to 2018 I actually had 2 MS-20Kits with 3 number difference on the serial numbers. But due to space I sold one. I still have one and the fullsized keys, the 1/4" jacks, and the 12Vdc power, along with the choice of MK1/2 filter make all the difference to me. I experimented with the MK1 briefly, but MK2 is for me. I guess there will be second wave of FS MS-20s coming out this year.

[@AT-eh2eo]

wow!!!! such great material!! i would love to see more patches!!!

[@StephenLearson]

A T thanks! I’d like to do a video with more patches soon. I’ll let you know

[@AT-eh2eo]

@@StephenLearson i appreciate that! :)

[@soundsurface4881]

Amazing share, thank you! 🙏 Edit/ps: now I'm even further behind in my so-called "synth vision-quest!" The MS-20 is a lot deeper than I ever imagined, & now you come along & blow up what bit of normal synth sanity I thought was achievable in this lifetime. Oh well!...?... 🙃JK, sincere thanks again! U are tha ! ( pps: If you did a paper book of MS-20 patch charts I would most def buy it!!!! 🥰)

[@inventorwithadd]

Very good explanation! Good job!

[@Dmaccabees]

💥💯💥

[@mysynthsandstuff6519]

I agree with others, having owned an MS20 mini for a couple of years now the patch bay description, in this video, is one of the best on the tube. Would like to have seen a bit more time devoted to Sample & Hold which is the patch that I want the most but equally struggle the most with on this synth. Good video, thanks

[@mpmi7588]

you've convinced me to get one of these and I dont even play keys or know anything about patch baying.

[@StephenLearson]

MP MI Awesome! You should definitely do it. I didn’t know a thing about patching before I got the MS-20.

[@dafedeloss]

Excellent! Thank you. I totally dig my MS20 mini.

[@StephenLearson]

Fernando De Los Santos thanks for watching!

[@jackehaus265]

This is the first ms 20 mini video ive found that really explains it well! thankyou thankyou thankyou

[@sensitiverambo]

Ace.

[@robzecc]

Great tutorial, thanks!

[@ScottFromCanada]

I completely agree about the keyboard. I got an MS-10 and it feels MUCH more like a real synth instead of a toy, and it sounds amazing even with just one oscillator. Here's a question though: Is it worth getting an original ms-20? I find the mini to be VERY noisy but I have heard that the original is too. I haven't played one to do a comparison so I'm looking for opinions.

[@StephenLearson]

Scott Rogers I’ve never played an original MS-20 but I’ve heard they are noisy as well. It seems like Korg was dead set on doing a true recreation- warts and all. I’m crossing my fingers that Behringer will pop an MS-20 clone out for $24.99 ;)

[@networkservices3121]

19.99, plus tax. Made of steel and wood. Sliders feel a bit wobbly but are remarkably solid. guarantee the presets are craptastic and in no way reflect the synths ability. Just like the DM 12......

[@StephenLearson]

Network Services the presets in the MS-20 manual are hilarious! Turn all the nobs, patch 10 points to make the “clarinet” sound. You do that and get something that sounds nothing like a clarinet.

[@ProfessorSynth]

Scott Rogers I have 2 original MS-20s and neither of them is noisy. Hopes this helps.

[@ScottFromCanada]

Well, it sort of helps, but might cost me a lot of money! But thanks!

[@veganstevenmusic]

super video

[@mauriciomandara5946]

I keep coming back to this video since you post it and never asked you what effects you used on the MS 20 or since you have a nice collection of pedals and effects ... can you recommend a few that will fit well on this synth to get those tones ? Thank you for your videos !!! All of them are awesome !!!

[@StephenLearson]

Mauricio Mandara I don’t think I’m using any pedals in this video. I used to use iZotope’s Alloy 2 plugin a lot with the MS-20 for a tape saturation over drive. Now I use pedals more. The MS is real friendly with OD/distortion peadls. I’ll use it with the JHS Colourbox, Boss Distortion, and Strymon Riverside. even a Big Muff sounds great.

[@mauriciomandara5946]

Learson Peak thanks for your response!!! I watched your distortion pedals videos and the deco ... I am taking notes !!! Thank you 🙏🏼 you are AWESOME

[@StephenLearson]

Mauricio Mandara the Deco is super special. Another that sounds absolutely fantastic is the Saturnworks Dark Matter. My fav drive pedal for synths right now.

[@mauriciomandara5946]

Learson Peak thanks a lot Learson ! Keep the great work !

[@theinfinitetrip4283]

I have had mine for about 2 years now and I love it.Unfortunately Korg did not upgrade the midi spec enough so although you can use a midi controller keyboard it does not receive pitch or mod wheel from it. Adding an Arturia Keystep is a good move on the MS-20 though giving you great arpeggios and some live sequencing...much better than the SQ-1 although I use an SQ-1 to modulate the filters at the same time.

[@theboofin]

It's a bloody fully analogue synth. It will never have that shit...

[@richardrobinow5289]

Your video is very informative. Yes the keyboard sucks. Too small!! Wicked cool song as well. Nice job

[@richardrobinow5289]

The rest of the Synth is dope AF. Perfect entry level machine to play with.

[@isabelanica8001]

many words few examples of sounds or arpeggios