The GIANT Korg MS-20!

[@_mickmccarthy]

I can just imagine going into a music store to buy one with one of those giant cheques

[@AlexBallMusic]

That would be the most perfect moment.

[@2112jonr]

@@AlexBallMusic Dom Jolly would approve 🙂

[@ohmtronseedling]

i'd certainly hope that after you bought the giant synth with the giant cheque you'd then walk down the street carrying it while wearing your giant sunglasses.

[@jamescuttsmusicjcm5013]

​@@AlexBallMusicoh alex.... just imagine what a moment like that could do to your life. It makes my eyes twinkle just thinking about it...

[@MikkelGrumBovin]

And a Giant pocket calculator , to check the change... We dont wanna get f.... over by the salesclerke !

[@JorbLovesGear]

I can't believe any are still around, unbelievably cool to see it in action

[@AlexBallMusic]

Yep! It's like an MS-20....but REALLY big.

[@nickthane]

Honestly I just assumed it was a normal sized synth and Alex was way smaller than I thought.

[@rachelar]

Like Dennis Waterman in Little Britain

[@neilldehaan2522]

@@rachelar "I made the theme choon." 😁

[@kendo695]

gies a drum machine off ye !

[@nstrug]

Small or far away?

[@freewheeler8924]

When you learn how analog synthesis works, you're also learning about music, physics, acoustics & electronics, and it sets you up for a career in any (or all!) of those fields.

[@mima85]

Now imagine if Roland would've done a blackboard version of the Jupiter 8. That would've occupied the entire classroom wall xD

[@AlexBallMusic]

When you need an entire room for just one synth, that's the good stuff.

[@mima85]

@@AlexBallMusic Indeed, that's what modulars are for :-D

[@synth-eticfantasies5683]

Interesting piece of music and synth history! Synth schools need to be a thing again! There so much to learn about the different available types of synthesis it's not even funny!

[@rleriche5044]

Music college/courses are never far away.

[@GizzyDillespee]

They were just about to start synth classes at the local instrument store that's based around lessons for things like drums piano guitar, but they sell synths, so why not? But then the c word hit the world, and then the b word went to "superpartners", so there goes a bunch of their synth sales, and that was that as far as synth lessons. Plus there isn't an established repertoire and pedagogy, so... it would be nice, and probably will catch on eventually.

[@synth-eticfantasies5683]

@@rleriche5044 Yeah but that's a different kind of beast, isn't it?

[@synth-eticfantasies5683]

@@GizzyDillespee Interesting! I hope the best for the store and that it will manage to do the lessons!

[@johnnystankiewicz295]

I dont get how can people go to music schools. The chances of you making good money, or even becoming rich are so much slimmer than for less artistic things you could study. I like music but you need money to buy music stuff, or literally anything else

[@muppetpaster]

1:06 that is correct....My dad visited that "school" in those days...He went to Japan regularly for business and came home with the latest Japanese synth/organ gear .

[@AlexBallMusic]

Ah, fantastic!

[@peterkadarmusic9728]

That’s one cool dad!

[@PerryCodes]

Way cooler than my dad.

[@emdotambient]

And I thought my dad was awesome for bringing home Belgian chocolates! 🤣

[@ednasdiscomachine6049]

Obviously, the larger MS20 has a much bigger sound than the original. I noticed it as soon as I heard it. Would be great to hear the even larger one. That thing must sound HUGE!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Naturally.

[@DJKL]

@@AlexBallMusic but hold on, I kind of assumed it would have the same size circuitry etc (or am I just missing the joke?)

[@Nilesong1]

I used to drool over this synth back in the eighties. It was hung on the wall behind the till at Rose Morris in Denmark Street. Not for sale unfortunately so I bought a Mono / Poly. Still have it. 😊

[@pontram]

Wonderful ! It should be possible to make such one DYI, based on a Ms-20 mini. That would be in the field of Look Mum No Computers 😁

[@dtscape]

That's amazing. I knew nothing about this. It's functional but almost comical.. 😂😂😂 I love it. Again, thank you for a wonderfully funny and educational video. You're a true legend Mr Ball.

[@MusicalWizardryMarcoIannello]

That thing is ginormous! Also, lovely to see Don Muro mentioned, I discovered about his existence by pure chance, incredible player and synth connoiseur

[@FSK1138]

korg needs to reissue this giant Korg MS-20 , as a korg and ms20 fan something about it has always intrigued me

[@123Andersonev]

my favourite analog mono synth, so much versatility in an affordable package.

[@RichardCarlsson]

Guybrush: "That's the second biggest MS-20 I've ever seen!"

[@HoraceMash]

Good clarification of “interesting”. It’s that kind of attention to detail that sets this channel head and shoulders above less interesting channels.

[@keyboardkingpin]

Straight legendary didn't even know about this...I NEED 2 OF THEM. Well done Alex ! You didn't drop the ball on this one.

[@keyboardkingpin]

@noimalma There is always room for more gear.. even if I have to renovate...I have some rare gear videos in the works dropping soon as well. I have a friendly competition with Alex on who can drop the rarest gear...Alex is currently kicking the Royal sh*t out of me in this competition.

[@rygelxv]

I am just happy to find your videos. You have a very chilled and nice way to show us things that we would never see and hear, and in the end we get a cool track to listen to. Thank you!

[@joelspaulding5964]

Every episode- just superb. First tone- straight out of "Land of the Lost".

[@cortical1]

Without fail, I just find myself singing out loud over your polyrhythm jams. The alterna-grooves you create are irresistible. They are cerebral, visceral, and they rock out. And it's a great way to disrupt the grad students in my lab just outside my door. ;)

[@AlexBallMusic]

Cheers. Album of polyrhythm jams coming soon. Finishing it up.

[@cortical1]

@@AlexBallMusic Excellent. 🧠

[@AutPen38]

Those photos of the synth school classroom are incredible. Bill Gates should have dedicated his career to getting a synthesiser of every desk instead of a laptop.

[@electronictiger]

This is brilliant. Had no idea these giant ones existed. They would have been great in a performance setting as well. Fun stuff, thank you Alex!

[@mournblade1066]

4:02 Holy shit! Don Muro! I saw him back around 1986 or so at Penn State--Altoona Campus. He was touring on behalf of Korg, and was demonstrating all of their then-current products.

[@glenesis]

I'm hugely excited to watch this! Glad you got hold of it!

[@pekkagronfors7304]

One of these yellow ones hangs on the wall in a music store in Stockholm, Sweden. I've always wondered what that is. Now I have the answer. Thanks.

[@djGreenALERT]

Ahhhh made back in the days where the term 'beast' really DID apply to synths! Love this video, and love that synth! My goodness. I haven't heard the name Rose Morris in AGES. I bought some stuff with them in the 80's when they were in Tin Pan Alley.. Does that even still exist? Woo that raw synthy goodness.. Great Video. Thank you to all involved in bringing it together!

[@AndyVonal]

Absolutely fascinating! I knew about these things but who know they were still around! Thank you for bringing this to us! Huge Hugz, Alex!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Cheers Andy. Yep, thankfully some have survived!

[@Andronicus2007]

I hope making synths like these will stop all the complaints about synth controls being too cramped and hard to use!

[@agerven]

Like obviously many others i first thought it was a nice trick with video. But when you explained its purpose it realy made sense. Especially at my age where i need stronger glasses frequently to keep being able to read all the small print. Brings back lots of memories to my first synth, which was an MS 20 and that i enjoyed for over 25 years. One of the most versatile and logically layed out things i had, using it on stage as well as in the studio.

[@ohheyitskevinc]

While watching this, I can’t help but imagine a Roland school of synthesis with a JD-08 up the front and everyone sat there with binoculars. Great video as always Alex!

[@StanwaxLaser]

Im not sure whats the craziest - the size of them MS20s, or you in flip flops :O Another stoker of a vid - keep up the stellar work Alex.

[@synthsandstuff]

Fascinating stuff Alex, thanks for your lesson 🙂

[@synthnerd4539]

Excellent. I look forward to Korg reissuing these, and in similar quantity. 👀

[@Goettel]

A giant in the hands of a giant.

[@danielortizdecaracas]

just simply amazing

[@RCAvhstape]

That outro jam is killer, great sounds.

[@user-yc5um2pl5v]

Yes! Would've been go great to hear the full version!

[@martinlubitz3171]

Thanks for the video, amazing story🙂👍

[@eugenecanady5452]

i saw one of these in a Synth Museum in Florida years ago. Still love the concept.

[@808v1]

love bizarre stories like this one, thx for sharing.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Yeah, unique and very of the time. Was fun to research.

[@mournblade1066]

Wow, that's absolutely amazing!

[@SynthgodXXX]

This was so awesome! Super funny, too!

[@noisetheorem]

Am I the only one who would really like to see some semi modular synthesizers built to the size factor? I didn’t get that maybe it’s because my eyes are so good anymore, but I think this is absolutely beautiful.

[@ricardopires9889]

All this and then... this monster groove outro. Thank you

[@tonycowin]

"I need an MS-20 sound but bigger". "Say no more".

[@AlexBallMusic]

😄

[@TDRKB]

That's incredible! Great research. You wouldn't believe this story without the hard proof! Great marketing technique! I'd like to see a Blackboard OP-1 or Blackboard Volca! Great video - just amazing!

[@ChrisSmout]

Initially I thought "Good lord, Alex has shrunk in the wash". Thank you for giving this oddity some limelight!

[@steverushforth7009]

That is amazing, in the early 80s I bought music grounds Korg display, MS10, 20, 50, SQ, and vocoder, when they sold it off, with it was a large box of manuals, one had the picture of that classroom, I always assumed it was a picture, I am stunned.

[@palindrone]

If you're traveling through Japan, you can see an export-unit "Giant MS-20" at the Museum of Musical Instruments in Hamamatsu City. It's on display with many other enviable specimens including a huge Roland System 700. Well worth a visit!

[@ivanlozano2019]

Big synth. Big sound. I love it

[@nubianrose_theband]

This is just an amazing and hilarious story, thanks for sharing it!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Korg and their weird ideas! That's why we love them.

[@midimoog]

I didn't know that there were two sizes. This is a significant discovery! Now Korg will have to make a reissue of these MS-20 GS (Giant Scale) and MS-20 HS (Huge Scale) models 😂

[@AlexBallMusic]

That would be genius.

[@dreamhyperdrive]

I hope they do !!! 🤞🤞🙏😃

[@lo-firobotboy7112]

Cool! What an unexpected ad intersting little synth history tidbit. I also love the appearance of the KPR-77. I had one many years ago and have been trying to find a replacement.

[@AlexBallMusic]

I waited years to find a KPR-77 for a good price and wound up with one with the original box, case, cables, manuals, brochures and everything. Great little analogue box.

[@lo-firobotboy7112]

@@AlexBallMusic Lucky buggar!

[@leomekenkamp]

Just imagine something like this today: giant versions of Roland’s Boutique synths.

[@EannaButler]

In for a penny....

[@annother3350]

They would turn out like the original size!

[@peterkadarmusic9728]

Or an SH-5.

[@Mewted]

have heard it have seen it, not a new story, but yeah super rare and it's amazing you got hold of one!

[@AlexS....]

BIG thanks for that GREAT story! 🗼🦣😁

[@rorz999]

Fascinating, I had no idea until thus video that giant MS-20's were a thing

[@jeremythornton433]

Wow! Amazing!

[@Pablo668]

Awesome! Really cool outro jam too. I won't lie, I really want one now. There are no good or justifiable reasons for this though.

[@PaulBoos]

Fantastic! I would so love to have one of these for playing in a band, mounted vertically so people the keyboard could actually see it being played/adjusted (just like the teacher would do...) Perhaps the band could be called Subliminal Synthesis Education;.. Alas, with only a few being made, that is unlikely. Loved your review of the history and thanks for ensuring the Star Trek theme was in there.

[@Joel-re1jz]

Beautiful

[@FLH3official]

👍🏻 Thank you very much for this video. I've an MS20 but I never imagined these big boys existed

[@AlexBallMusic]

Yep, MS-20 comes in a universe of sizes!

[@TheInterGalacticFederation]

i just learned. thanks AB

[@petermoore8811]

Like the music piece at the end. Good job

[@aszent]

Many years ago that MS was hanging on the wall at Session Music Walldorf in Germany. Impressive

[@SanderAnderon]

what a find, epic!

[@lonesomerider1196]

btw: the late & great florian schneider (ex-kraftwerk) owned one of these giants too... not sure, if this was the HUGE one or the slightly smaller one... i also have sadly no idea, what became of it after florian has died... :-( anyway... thanx for the video, alex! :-)

[@JoeWisniewski]

Love your videos. Great history pieces and you keep it fun. Great jams in here. Let's not talk about the Colossus in the room...

[@AlexBallMusic]

🐘🎚🎚🎚🎛

[@grenoblica]

Good god that jam during the credits

[@expandingknowledge8269]

I have one of Don Muro's record albums. He also played the KORG DSS-1, which I also own with my own floppy disks with sounds that I have created, over one hundred so far, drawing waveforms and sampled sounds. 😎

[@budgetkeyboardist]

That's AMAZING!

[@trevorjoseph8390]

The one in Rose Morris was there in the 80's saw it in situ.....wow!

[@ElectricApe]

My goodness that filters sounds great! Might have to get a normal-sized one. Great vid.

[@ImmortalIdeas]

Hella cool!! Gots some funk!!!

[@bondbug73]

How cool is that!

[@sleevegarnish5078]

so funny Alex as the student 🤓 brilliant !!

[@02fd84]

...But is it heavier than a CS80?

[@acialist]

there's nothing in the universe that's heavier than a CS80

[@lonophonic117]

Yes or greater

[@Lhenndyn]

Imagine a giant CS80…

[@djashley2002]

Nothing is heavier than a CS80! Even black holes at the centre of galaxies weigh less!

[@AlexBallMusic]

They should do a CS-80 where the little mini memory section under the flap is a normal sized CS-80. You'd need a team to play it.

[@MEGAMIGA]

Super cool device!

[@BlackCat-on6jn]

I think this video is one of your milestones.

[@djashley2002]

I certainly remember the giant Korg MS-20s turning up at various UK music trade shows during the early 80s. And I have to admit that I'm slightly surprised that some of them have survived the forty odd since then considering how few were made.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Yeah, I think there's at least 6 yellow ones in circulation, and that single giant, giant one.

[@dreamhyperdrive]

Thanks for the video. 👍😀 I wish I had one of those Giant MS 20s !!! 😂🤣 Anyway very informative. Thanks again 😀👍

[@petecole8091]

Excellent video as always! A few years ago I bought a Yamaha CS15 off a man who runs a studio in Wandsworth, London. And on his wall he has one of these! I’d never seen or heard of one of before but he briefly explained they were for schools. If you’d like I can put you in touch with him..? Maybe he still has it

[@MS-Patriot2]

Love the ‘nerding out’ on the formant style at 3’13” 😂.

[@AlexBallMusic]

🤓

[@MS-Patriot2]

@@AlexBallMusic Another bullseye on quality entertainment and information for us musicians and synth fans. Thank you Alex.

[@SomeMorganSomewhere]

That's AWESOME

[@terrordisco2944]

Richie Hawtin just debuted... this same idea. Interesting.

[@kentxx12]

The Sound on the Giant MS-20 is so big :)

[@alistairsteadman3765]

Don Muro featured on a Korg Flexi disc for the Korg Poly 800 which I then bought. Thanks Don 👍

[@AlexBallMusic]

Yep, Don is ace.

[@fatmavis]

I remember seeing this hanging on the wall in Rose Morris (I believe) in London.

[@Wazoox]

You know what's so good in your videos ? You're altogether deliciously British, really funny, and gifted with extraordinary musicianship :)

[@AlexBallMusic]

"Deliciously British" - I like that. :)

[@RudyAdrian]

I've seen photos of the "teacher's" MS20 before, but really great to get it all in context! Makes me wonder if any of the alumni went on to greatness :)

[@AlexBallMusic]

Yeah, I wonder how many went on synth journeys! Hideki at the Korg Museum did the class back in the day, so it struck a chord with him for sure.

[@kentxx12]

This is so good :)

[@robertgevere113]

Giant MS20 to the front of him and Collosus Modular to the back of him. The theme for this summer is BIG: Beefy Interesting Gear.

[@scottvogel8477]

I feel Korg missed an opportunity to sell these to big bands to use in music videos. XD Awesome vidoe as always.

[@baward]

Thanks for another fun and educational (of course) video. Like you, I had no idea that they made a larger version. Mine has “No.4” drawn in felt pen inside it, I’d like to assume its the fourth one made.

[@AlexBallMusic]

Ah cool, another one still in circulation. Good to know.

[@baward]

@@AlexBallMusic mine is fixed to the wall, which makes it very hard to play. CV/gate and a sequencer to the rescue!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Yes! A vertical keyboard is very impractical.

[@expandingknowledge8269]

I ordered a KORG MS-20 Pre-order when they became available from my Dover N.H music store. Mine had a metal tab that said UNICORD/UNIVOX on the back of synth. Sadly I traded this synth for a Polyphonic synth. My MS-20 was my first real synth.

[@isaac.anthony]

nice synth solo at the end!

[@BerndScheurer]

GREAT!

[@SYNDRONE]

So that's where the Behringer K-2 got its design from. :D

[@elektroboots1670]

i saw one of the smaller ones in a music shop window in Stockholm back in the late 90s - always wondered what it was

[@DJKL]

This is astounding! Such a strange story! (Confession: I have to admit that I still get a little thrill from seeing my name in the Patreon credits)

[@bitspacemusic]

I've been curious about this monolith since the first time I saw a pic in the 90's.