For any synth heads out there: posted...

For any synth heads out there:

Posted on Jan 26, 2013 12:19 pm
J-bot
Byte-Mixer
Member Since: Dec 04, 2007

Korg has re-released their old analog synth, the well-known MS-20. And it looks like it is going for an attractive price point for an analogue. It's a lot less than a DSI Mopho Keyboard. Street price is looking like $600. So seems competitive with the Arturia MiniBrute's price.

Also, they rebuilt it using mini-keys, so the whole thing is about 15% smaller than the original size, which I guess makes it a little more portable. I'm not a huge fan of mini keys, but it's not a big deal for a mono synth since you won't be playing chords. However, I think it was said the Mini-MS20 (as Korg is calling it) has larger keys than the Micro or Micro XL. So kinda in between mini and full sized keys I guess. That could be good.

They've also added on more modern bells and whistles, like USB. And apparently they're using the original filter from the original MS20 Rev 1. Which is the filter that it was always known for.

So yeah, looks like a good deal, unfortunately I have no room for it, even with it being smaller. And I don't really have much use for a monophonic synth. But someone out there might want one. Besides, it's a rebirth of a classic synth. :)

Although the back of my mind tells me that this is more a step diagonally rather than a step forward. (it's not a complete sideways step as they are going back to their analogue roots with this) But yeah, let's hope Korg keeps moving forward with the analogue trend, and hopefully brings out a brand new beast.

(for the record, with my situation, if I WERE to get a monophonic synth, I'd spring for something like Arturia's MiniBrute, as it is much more interesting to me)

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Mozartist
Composer / Musician
Member
Since: Feb 04, 2008

Feb 08, 2013 09:05 pm

Very nice! I want one because I want to do Rush cover songs and that's a LOT cheaper than a Moog.

It's nice to know there is an option for something a lot less expensive!

nonamemusicguy
Member
Since: Mar 11, 2013

Mar 11, 2013 11:09 am

for my money, as far as an analogue synth goes, you cannot beat the Mini Moog Voyager! its amazing. check it out. also if youre a fan of the mini brute, have you seen the Arturia Origin.? very super sweet. Im still using the old motif, but I dream of synths and the money to get a better one. such is life. As for your question about the mini keys,,,that would drive me up the wall personally, i guess it is really a preference thing. I like at least semi-weighted keys, dont wanna feel like Im playin on paper keys.

J-bot
Byte-Mixer
Member
Since: Dec 04, 2007

Mar 11, 2013 05:14 pm

Yeah, I've played a Voyager at Rob Stemple's old job in Philly at Bauder Audio. Definitely a great sound, but I only had one night to fiddle with it, and I was playing with a bunch of other keys as well that night, haha! I really liked that electric blue voyager they were selling for awhile. (blue's my fav color) I think it sold on sweetwater for $3500-ish.

The other synths I tried out at the warehouse were an NL2X (which only fueled my GAS enough to get one last summer) Alesis Q8 or 8.1, can't remember which. Ensoniq TS-10. Rob was saying he didn't think anyone would ever buy it...ever....and it was up for sale. For all I know, it still might be, but it's not listed on the site's page, so I dunno.

For me, Moog stuff is generally way to rich or "boutique" for my blood though. The Sub Phatty, 25-key monophonic synth for $1K? I'll pass. If they put it out at 600 or 700, then I'd be looking harder. In the same vein (25 keys, mono-phonic) The mini-brute looks more interesting to me anyway. Sure it's single osc, but that single osc is capable of some nice stuff. Though with 2 VCOs and a SubOsc, the Sub Phatty is capable of a bit more, and I know staying in the purely analog domain isn't cheap to design and manufacture. I mean, look at the newer Oberheim 2-voice. $3500 pricetag.

And yeah, I know about Origin. But I'm not a big fan of a large modeling-based synths. (I like Virtual Analogue just fine, but I don't like synths that are designed to mimic other synths, even if they are modular) It's just my feeling on it. Now, if it was a new modular system that wasn't relying on stuff modeled from vintage synths...then you've got my ear. But yeah, I got an NL2X because it stands on its own, and I got a great price on it @ $760. (and the sound is very favorable to my ears) I would get the mini-brute (maybe) because it is its own beast. The Origin, nah, well the modularity intrigues me, sure, but not at a $3000 price point. If I want a modular VA set up, I'll get a used Nord Modular G2 or something, which intrigues me more than the Origin. Though, the Modular G2 still has a hefty price point even on ebay. :P

A couple others that were previewed at winter NAMM, that I didn't know about during my original post:

DSI is coming out with the Prophet 12. I know purists probably don't like the DCOs vs. having VCOs, but it's a great looking synth with a lot of power. Though, it does have the DSI sound, which some don't care for......and also the $3K pricetag is still too rich for my blood though, haha!

Then, there's Korg's King Korg, which is a VA synth. It looked interesting, but I don't know much about it. Kinda looks like an R3 or MMT on steroids. Sounds decent enough, but you can't really judge by youtube videos, hah!