What's So Great About the Korg MS-20?

In partnership with Korg, we're here to explain just why so many people are excited about the MS-20's full-sized reissue.
Now through June 30, List on Reverb for a chance to Win an MS-20FS: bit.ly/3iNUCA3
Read more on Reverb: bit.ly/3hWAsTV
Shop the Korg MS-20: bit.ly/3hVGHaE
0:00 - Intro
1:30 - Filters
2:53 - Dual Envelope Generators
4:58 - External Signal Processing
6:38 - Sample & Hold
8:40 - Drum Sounds
11:55 - Beat Sampling MS-20

[@jakp8777]

Presenter would be good at tutorials for people just getting into analog synthesizers. Good video.

[@iamgolum72]

For some reason those sounds started hurting my ears.

[@Monomonmamon]

I knew about the korg MS-20 because of the DS game Korg DS such a good eye opener about synths

[@voidburner8271]

That green looks amazing

[@entropybentwhistle]

8:11 makes me hungry for spinach linguine.

[@MisterRorschach90]

When I saw white I was sold. I can actually have an all white semi modular synth with white patch cables on my desk next to my all white itx setup.

[@TheKirkYates]

Now you can be a true P I m p

[@user-rv8wb1nl1b]

join the klan. . .you can if you live in shamerica !

[@user-rv8wb1nl1b]

@Self Nify anythings possible in shamarica . Stealing land from indians , arming israel and saudi !and all in the name of an imaginary fiend , god.

[@leeontos]

You're so minimalist, no wood on sides?

[@teamcoalhapcharcoal]

KKK guy

[@smokey5100]

Love mine... Definitely worth it

[@genm4827]

Sounds juicy!

[@tshou520]

I have a Korg MS-20FS and three Behringer K-2's (with PWM mod) with a Polyend Poly (optional for the K-2's). Four voice MS-20 and can be easily doubled for twice the cost LOL. I was going for a sort of PS-3xxx thing. I rigged up an easy v-trig to s-trig module. For the resonator, I'm using the NLC Resonate. For the mixer, I'm using the Behringer CP3-A. Homemade mults. Not a bad little setup. I'm probably going to cannibalize one of the Behringer K-2's, replacing the the pots with four gang pots so that I can dial them all in at once. It is a pain to patch four at a time, but gives a nice retro effect since you can't get all four to behave exactly the same way. I'll probably buy a fourth K-2 because I'm not going to mod my FS. I have always wanted one of these. I had an MS-10 back in the day. Bass monster. Now, if we could see an MS-50? I've started work on MS-50 Eurorack modules. Easy, since the MS-50 modular. But, I wish that Korg or Behringer would put one out. It would make my life a bit easier. A lot of the work has already been done as they aren't terribly different from the MS-20.

[@afreezaphorogiancossack2194]

TY Fess, great video. I guess one takeaway for anybody is something you said toward the end. You were recording as you were trying out different drum sounds, and later sampled them. Like they used to say on Adult Swim, ALWAYS RECORD EVERYTHING!

[@ErikHawk]

Nice! Sounds larger than the other clones 😂 Afrorack, yeah! I want this t-shirt now too.

[@__Anton__]

I remember this from my school days, I wanted one then, I still want one now🙂

[@markonmac]

When I get my green MS-20 I'm going to pretend I got it at the Army Surplus store. It was used for top secret experiments and somehow one escaped into the wild.

[@parkerrieke9767]

I like the way you think

[@garysmith8455]

Nice little demo. Back in 1978, I bought TWO of these and the SQ-10 sequencer. STILL have them today! They were both on stage during my early 80ies cover band days and provided all the leads while the Polysix did all the polyphonic stuff. Our show's setlist had plenty of Styx, Kansas, Europe and even some Yes ! Today? A pair of Kronos 73's and a 50th anniversary Voyager hand signed by RM. BTW The MS-20 was $850. back in that year, but when a new Mini Moog Model D was on sale for $1400, I just could not afford a pair of them. Glad to see these are back AND mostly likely a bit more stable then the original as well.

[@noname-ng6sj]

That is fucking mental, you bought a legendary piece of gear and you did covers 40 years ago? You're an actual crazy person.

[@CharlesFerraro]

You have a signed Voyager by Bob Moog? That must be worth upwards of $60k. That should go into a museum someday.

[@garysmith8455]

@@CharlesFerraro Yes, bought it when Moog was celebrating the 50th year anniversary, I visited the factory in NC. that year, and a lady that was putting the illuminated panels on the Voyagers found out that I had bought some some months back. She looked at me and quietly said "Your one of the lucky ones....." I found out that day, that this one, was one of the last 25 units of the 100 total that were signed by Robert. Mine is Black Ash with blue lighting. The signature really stands out in that sparkle / silver pen he used on the black finish. (O:

[@CharlesFerraro]

@@garysmith8455 Thats amazing. Do you have pics of it somewhere? I’d love to see it.

[@garysmith8455]

@@CharlesFerraro Yes, many photos including unboxing. I have been doing 'unboxings' since my first synthesizers and organs back in the mid 70ies LOL. How can we hook up? Love to send you some. (I only have an FB account).

[@amazeus1980]

Shortened version of the video transcript: Each section is the coolest! Imo! …and you can do cool stuff with patch bay! Imo! 😂 Brrrezzzwrrrrrzzzz (in the background). Cool video! 💁🏼‍♂️🤦🏼‍♂️

[@lesjayco7785]

This guy’s up there with Super Hans

[@Toeatasandwich]

Is the bottom half of him on fire?

[@IanWaugh]

Awesome, great coverage. I wanted one of these back in the day but have been put off re-issues because they seem to stick to the outdated Hz system rather than the Volt/Oct. How does this fare in that regard as far as compatability with a Eurorack system goes?

[@fessgrandiose]

You can use Midi now, so you can use a Midi to CV Converter for Eurorack compatibility

[@IanWaugh]

@@fessgrandiose I know, but my point is, that functionality should have been included :-)

[@Attenuverter]

The tabletop (module) version can do regular 1v/oct or hz/oct. It also adds PWM.

[@IanWaugh]

@@Attenuverter Hey Chas - So it does 👍 But, alas, discontinued. But why oh why didn't Korg put this on the new model??? The more I look at certain re-issues and even new gear, the more crazy /stupid design decisions I see 😱

[@homeworldmusic]

I did a quick price look-up and you can save $800 towards other gear by going with the mini, but yeah, this is a honey.

[@macronencer]

Something went wrong with that sample and hold demo. That was just ramp wave modulation... didn't anyone else notice that?

[@kikiu2619]

Can't you review Rupert Neve 5057 Orbit

[@magnuseriksson8081]

Love that dirty drum sound, all sounds I have are too nice, well done!!!

[@marcelataylor-garcia2738]

can you get just a normal smooth sub bass with no filter for CCM purposes

[@rexterrocks]

I love the MS20 but I don't think it 'sets the standard for semi modular synths', not compared to the ARP 2600, as that is really semi-modular and really did set the standard for semi modular synths.

[@luisleiva4949]

Great

[@christianvandalstrom8337]

You want the old ones. It's the old electronics in them that create the right sound, this synth will sound perfect in about 40 years. :) it still sounds good though.

[@Oisin.Clarke]

How can you control the MS with a guitar? Does it do almost an audio to midi type thing and pitch tracks so you can play the oscillators or what?

[@fessgrandiose]

yes! the F-V Converter output is basically a pitch tracker. Try it out!

[@Oisin.Clarke]

@@fessgrandiose Sweet thanks a lot for the reply! Is this possible on my mini too?

[@fessgrandiose]

@@Oisin.Clarke yup

[@Oisin.Clarke]

@@fessgrandiose cool thanks will try this sometime, can't be that hard to set up

[@sonofdirt]

Nice demo, my only critique is the sample & hold demo sounded like the LFO modulating the filter.. instead it should be doing random steps like R2D2. I have an original from the 70's & love running drum loops through the ESP for distortion, envelope follower filter effects, & if you plug that ESP CV into the oscillators it gets WILD!

[@billgrabbe9992]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/r4uvkqisZd9oiMk

[@theboofin]

He just set it up wrongly...

[@Gluttonite]

My like is for the M.A.S.H reference.

[@Jeff_Rood]

I bought one of these back in the late 70"s, the two oscillators would go so far out of tune from one end of the keyboard to the other, it was unplayable. but ya it made wacky noises all day long. if you wanted to play some ELP or REO's riding the storm out, you were out of luck. guess you should just get a moog for that. i thought it looked really cool and it is a great way to learn the components of a synth.

[@strangersun7721]

Did anyone ever make a poly in the vein of the ms20? Vst or hardware?

[@Genshi]

Yes. Back in the late 1970s Korg also did the Korg PS-3100 which is basically a full polyphony version of the MS-20 (full polyphony meaning every single key can be played at once! Specifically, 48 Voice Polyphony.)

[@tshou520]

I have a Korg MS-20FS and three Behringer K-2's (with PWM mod) with a Polyend Poly (optional for the K-2's). Four voice MS-20 and can be easily doubled for twice the cost LOL. I was going for a sort of PS-3xxx thing. I rigged up an easy v-trig to s-trig module. For the resonator, I'm using the NLC Resonate. For the mixer, I'm using the Behringer CP3-A. Homemade mults. Not a bad little setup. I'm probably going to cannibalize one of the Behringer K-2's, replacing the the pots with four gang pots so that I can dial them all in at once. It is a pain to patch four at a time, but gives a nice retro effect since you can't get all four to behave exactly the same way. I'll probably buy a fourth K-2 because I'm not going to mod my FS. I have always wanted one of these. I had an MS-10 back in the day. Bass monster. Now, if we could see an MS-50? I've started work on MS-50 Eurorack modules. Easy, since the MS-50 modular. But, I wish that Korg or Behringer would put one out. It would make my life a bit easier. A lot of the work has already been done as they aren't terribly different from the MS-20.

[@bigchung3833]

Hello!! Would I be able to hook the MS20 into a studio monitor without an audio interface? And do I need a special cable? Like a mono? Cause I heard if you use the wrong cable you can burn out your synth? Thank you for the help

[@jared9977]

Literally the worst first impressions of a ms20. Im glad I've had one for years now and know it can make beautiful sounds.

[@Roderick_Legato]

0:28 Why are features caveats?

[@preciousmousse]

Is it polyphonic?

[@Sa1ahaddin]

Nope

[@theboofin]

Ha, missed with the sample and hold...

[@MisterRorschach90]

Wow it’s an analog version of what I used to do with the computer. I would play my acoustic guitar into the mic on my MacBook and use plug ins to manipulate it into sounding like a synth. I could do the same thing on stage with something like this. Or just get a synth pedal. This is cooler though.

[@Viper-dz2kw]

Why wouldn’t you just record an electric DI with an interface, you’d get a way cleaner signal

[@LORDS.And.Hammers]

Everything

[@CharleyHale]

Basically farting into a shure microphone and time stretching (or stenching?) it

[@angelog.spicolaiii8021]

Sure is sonically great. MS-20's legendary for all kinds of deep sound design. Uh u sure could create & patch everything you'd need to make a song. Butu (like-y-$aid) still need a sequencer¡: sampler¡: of some sort(hrdwr or/& computer:-:DAW) in auh recording studio?! to make a track!? So yeah ya can but not without alot of other allocution thanx folks

[@wjjackson0311]

How much

[@entropybentwhistle]

New are $1399 USD.

[@marlonmorais71]

You can get the mini version for like 450, which is excellent.

[@HiredGoonage]

Desert Island synth? Hell no. Some people must be massively sentimental about this thing. It's a monosynth from about 50 years ago.

[@spookypen]

This thing is great... but at 1400 the price ain't right.

[@marvinm.messier1120]

FUCK YA!!!!!!!

[@ARIOS44]

Sad hood synth modulation bro

[@lauscho]

I'm always a bit disappointed when a cool synth like this is demoed, but the keyboard is deemed a "no hands zone". I want to see someone actually PLAY the goddamn thing. Can this do crazy prog-rock synth solos where you actually PLAY the keyboard, or is it just for people that want to build sequences?

[@peterldelong]

Thank you

[@strangersun7721]

Takes time and dedication to be a good player. That's why you don't see more videos like that. This is why I like Sweetwater or Kraft Music KZbin channels. They have some awesome musicians on staff that demo a lot of products. Of course the ms20 will sound great in the hands of a good player.

[@Heathcliff_hensel]

The keyboard is actually kind of bad on the MS-20

[@lauscho]

@@Heathcliff_hensel Shame. I got to try the Mini version a while back and it was alright. Nothing mindblowing, but it seemed to work okay for me.

[@milk_bath]

I mean it has a keyboard so of course it is possible to do prog-rock solos. The better question to ask is what sonic character does the synth have when doing prog-rock solos.

[@stephanedx]

to expensive,800 ok no more,sound is good tought

[@user-jg7yb5ym1m]

Славьте Иегову БОГА😃

[@lukeweston1234]

Why on earth would someone pay 1300 for a monosynth that you can already find used for 500... you can also find the grandmother for like 900. Korg is out of touch.

[@HenritheHorse]

This is different than the Mini version, more true to the original 70s one.

[@lukeweston1234]

@@HenritheHorse did not know there was a difference thanks!

[@strangersun7721]

Yeah I'd agree to some extent. People LOVE the MS20 and they'll sell a bunch based on that, but I'd personally take a Grandmother for 400 USD less any day of the week. Plus Moog is employee owned and has a lot of people working in the US.

[@barrnycharlton8951]

not really people buy them. Korg do a cheaper mini version and Korg make a variety of other cheap analog synths that you could buy 2 off before you could afford a grandmother

[@Heathcliff_hensel]

You're out of touch, im out of time.

[@edjefferson9175]

How to make bad guitar worse.

[@aakash9058]

Sounds utterly mediocre

[@javierb5645]

Not the best demo to be fair i dont know what demographic they're targeting

[@YoungNino2017]

Am i the only one who just think it sounds really really bad???? LOL