KVR Audio

kritikon · Post by **kritikon** » Mon Jan 28, 2013 8:52 pm

I concur totally.

I yeah, I just checked SoS readers Ads...

(About the advertiser)
Korg MS-20 MK1, 1978. Classic monosynth. With KORG35 filters. Stunningly good condition - extremely clean throughout. Photos available.
£1250. Email (Birmingham, West Midlands) 03/01/13

Although I also saw one as low as 950.

And at today's exchange rate -
1,250.00 GBP = 1,961.95 USD

$600 really is an absolute steal.

kritikon · Post by **kritikon** » Mon Jan 28, 2013 8:58 pm

Just found another one on eBay asking for nearly $3000

http://www.ebay.com/itm/KORG-MS-20-ms20 ... 3f0ea46303

It's probably at the silly end of the spectrum, but I'll bet he gets close to it.

And I have to say - I didn't realise I could get that kind of money for my MS20 but it still doesn't interest me because they are such superb synths I'll be doing a Heston with it. And even when I'm dead, I'll have it superglued to my cold hands.

olikana · Post by **olikana** » Mon Jan 28, 2013 9:09 pm

kritrikon u jumped in with 2 feet in this dicussion but completely missing the ball of the disccusion.
noone complains for the lack of midi control for the actual ms20 analog synth itself.(don't know even if it would be possible).
but only lamenting that the hardware could have doubled up as an excellent midi controller (making it even more of a bargain and more bedroom producer friendly).
ppl are still using legacy ms20v midi controllers as centerpiece of their studios....and they sell used for more than 200$. it's something that would have been highly valued.
urosh says it would cost a lot more to double layer the pots with encoders etc....i'll just go by his word.....but if they just overlooked it it would be a shame.

Kriminal · Post by **Kriminal** » Mon Jan 28, 2013 9:11 pm

Cant see it beating the DS-10.

breakmixer · Post by **breakmixer** » Mon Jan 28, 2013 9:40 pm

Wormhelmet wrote:Does anyone know some commercial music I could look up that is heavy with MS20 sounds?

Juan Atkins(Cybotron) used the Korg MS10 on 'Clear', it's the single osc version of the MS20...

http://www.vintagesynth.com/korg/ms10.php

Wormhelmet · Post by **Wormhelmet** » Mon Jan 28, 2013 9:53 pm

Thanks for posting that! Classic. Great sounds. Very cool.

welldone · Post by **welldone** » Mon Jan 28, 2013 10:03 pm

An absolute classic featuring the MS-20:

As stated in an interview with XLR8R magazine, he said that it took him two hours with a Korg MS-20 to make.

Sequent · Post by **Sequent** » Mon Jan 28, 2013 10:18 pm

Awesome tracks in both those videos!

gunnare · Post by **gunnare** » Mon Jan 28, 2013 11:08 pm

My ears think that Madonna Ray of light is MS20 from 2.39:

I see used MS20 synths in used-markets all over Europe. People are desperate to sell, also the controller is everywhere.

I have seen MS20 synths sound very good in live-shows, that sound agressive and electro like. I think the most attractive thing with the synth is the great distortion in the resonance. *Where a moog sounds smaller when you add resonance, the MS20 seems to explode with overtones. I think the synth benefits from effects more than other synths. A moog sounds fat even without FX, but with the MS20 I think the magic happens when you add FX.

600 dollar is amazing, it is obvious that they did everything to make it affordable, the biggest drawback is smaller keys, and no velocity or aftertouch. I am sure that it could easily have been more than 1200 dollar, but Korg wanted to show the world that they could build an affordable analogue synth.

All the best
gunnare

Sequent · Post by **Sequent** » Mon Jan 28, 2013 11:14 pm

That, and they wanted to be close to the original. Remember there WAS no velocity or aftertouch back then.

Yes, I'm pretty sure William Orbit was using an MS20 on that album.

Sequent · Post by **Sequent** » Mon Jan 28, 2013 11:30 pm

Here you go:

"WILLIAM ORBIT: How did I know you would ask me that? Oh, it's all in a pile there if you wanna look at it. It's not a ton of gear. Most of it is pretty retro: a Korg MS-20, a [Roland] Juno-106, a [Roland] JD-800. Much of the album was done on a Juno-106. You can get so much out of that synth. Also a significant amount of it was done on the MS-20 -- the more spiky sounds. A few things that people think are guitar are actually the MS-20. And then there were a few more bits and pieces: a few modules, a Yamaha DX7, a Novation Bass Station, a [Roland] JP-8000, a lot of Roland stuff. I've always liked Roland stuff."

From here: http://www.geocities.ws/madonnamax/inte ... orbit.html

kritikon · Post by **kritikon** » Tue Jan 29, 2013 12:13 pm

olikana wrote:kritrikon u jumped in with 2 feet in this dicussion but completely missing the ball of the disccusion.
noone complains for the lack of midi control for the actual ms20 analog synth itself.(don't know even if it would be possible).
but only lamenting that the hardware could have doubled up as an excellent midi controller (making it even more of a bargain and more bedroom producer friendly).
ppl are still using legacy ms20v midi controllers as centerpiece of their studios....and they sell used for more than 200$. it's something that would have been highly valued.
urosh says it would cost a lot more to double layer the pots with encoders etc....i'll just go by his word.....but if they just overlooked it it would be a shame.

It's a silly lamentation, because most analogue synths aren't set up to be or intended to be h/w controllers. And TBH most buyers for something like an MS20 won't be newbs with no gear and having only the MS20 as their controller. It's just a bit irritating when almost always on KvR any new h/w is knocked for not being something or other. Same with VSTis too - it always has to have something extra. It's never good enough that 99% of prospective customers are slavering over having an absolute classic analogue monster synth selling at a fraction of the going price. It's not a h/w controller so anyone who wants it to be really should just get over it and go buy something else which will be far better suited to being a h/w controller - maybe something like -errr - a h/w controller?

And as you say, if something looking like an MS20 is wanted as a h/w controller - then for $200 anyone can go buy one. And if it's that important, $200 isn't much money for the controller of your dreams. Personally I'm happy to keep $200 off the price and buy me a nice new MS20. When I want a new controller, I'll consider controller options separately. Midi controllers is a complete red herring when talking about analogue synths.

EvilDragon · Post by **EvilDragon** » Tue Jan 29, 2013 12:25 pm

+1 on everything above said.

Wormhelmet · Post by **Wormhelmet** » Tue Jan 29, 2013 2:14 pm

Kriminal wrote:Cant see it beating the DS-10.

I have that! You are talking about the Nintendo DS10, right? That is a freakin cool piece of software. No midi, but hey, it sounds great and is fun and you can wirelessly sync two DS10's together. Coolest piece of software to hit DS platform ever.

breakmixer · Post by **breakmixer** » Tue Jan 29, 2013 7:42 pm

I've got a Prophet 08 on order but DSI are messing about the shipment to the shop supplier, I'm wondering wether to cancel and get a Tetra desktop and this MS-20 instead. I have been given the option to cancel

Hardware wise I already have M-Audio Venom, Roland Alpha Juno, Mopho, Plugiator and Yamaha DX-21...

So Tetra and MS-20 or

Prophet 08

What say you?

Given the hardware I already have...

KORG to re-release the MS-20!