KORG Mini MS-20 additional information and specifications
Korg is celebrating their 50th company anniversary this year, the MS-20 turns 35. This suggest paying homage to this cult synth. And indeed, on NAMM 2013 Korg presents a “real”, fully analog MS-20, just as we know and love it.
Called Mini-MS-20, it is ca. 15% smaller than the original, and sports a MIDI In and a USB MIDI port. This isn’t using surplus Legacy cases as some have speculated (which were 20% smaller) but instead individually designed cases, equipped with a specifically developed keybed. The main PCB is more or less euqivalent to the original, including the components selected to be as close to the original as possible. It is not yet known which filter variant has been chosen, although it may be assumed that, just with the Monotron, it will be equivalent to the Korg35 chip, with slight modifications.
BTW, project management were the same engineers who did the originals. As a consequence, the instruments include the original manual, including patch sheets. You don’t have to be a seer to expect a golden future for the Mini MS-20. With a suggested price of 600 Euros, this will find many friends, and will make all those happy who couldn’t afford a ‘real’ MS-20 due to their exorbitant 2nd hand prices
The MS-20 is reborn! 1978 original circuits come to life
Presented in 1978, the MS-20 monophonic synthesizer, thanks to its rich, robust sound, his powerful, iconic analog filters and flexible patching options to be popular today. The typical sounds of the original MS-20, the Korg MS-20 synthesizer plug-in the Legacy Collection and the iMS-20 app for the iPad, now attracting more than 300,000 users.
Now the sounds of the MS-20, MS-20 are in the mini wakes to new life. The same engineers who developed the 1978 MS-20, today’s circuits reproduced faithfully and its physical size reduced to 86% of the original size, without changing the traditional and timeless look of the model or to waive details!
The MS-20 mini fascinated today with absolutely authentic analog synthesizer sounds of his ancestors.
Developer comments
The 50-year anniversary KORG we again engaged in an analogue synth and this effort to create flowing parameter settings that characterize analog synthesizer especially. The original specifications of the MS-20 should remain intact. The developed by us 35 years ago, analog circuits still deliver the same unbeatable, powerful sound, from the lowest bass to the extreme heights. To experience the depth of the MS-20 mini, you have to play it yourself!
Highlights
The MS-20 mini was realized by the engineers of the first MS-20 and used a complete reproduction of the original analog circuit
2VCO / 2VCA / 2VCF / 2EG / 1LFO structure
Self-oscillating high pass / low pass filter with a unique distortion
External signal processor (ESP)
Extremely flexible patching system
Reproduction of the MS20 at 86% of its physical size
Reproduces every detail of the original, down to the packaging, the manual in the original style, the template for the patch panels and patch cables
MIDI IN and USB port”
Update 3: some additional specs:
“Keyboard – control voltage output (exponential) (0 – +8 V)
Keyboard – trigger output (+5 V -> GND)
VCO-2-1 + VCO control voltage input (linear response) (0 – +8 V)
VCO-2 control voltage input (linear response) (0 – +8 V)
Second VCO:
VCO-1 + VCO-2 external frequency control input (OCT / V) (-5 V – +5 V)
Third VCF:
External signal input (max 3 Vp-p.)
External control input for the cutoff frequency of the high-pass filter (2oct / V) (-5 V – +5 V)
External control input for the cutoff frequency of the lowpass filter (2oct / V) (-5 V – +5 V)
4th VCO + VCF:
Total external modulation input (T.EXT) (-5 V – +5 V)
5th VCA:
External control input of the initial gain (0 – +5 V)
6th EC:
EC 1 envelope – Normal output (-5 V – 0 V)
EC 1 envelope – turned output (+5 V – 0 V)
EC EC 1 + 2 trigger input (-> GND)
EC 1 trigger input (-> GND)
EC 2 envelope – turned output (+5 V – 0 V)
7th MG:
Delta output (sawtooth positive – Triangle – Sawtooth inverted) (5 Vp-p)
Square-wave output (pulse width – rectangle – narrow pulse) (0 – +5 V)
8th Noise Generator:
Pink noise output (5 Vp-p)
White Noise output (5 Vp-p)
9th Sample and Hold:
Clock trigger input (-> GND)
Sample signal input (5 Vp-p max.)
S / H output (5 Vp-p max.)
10th Modulation VCA:
Control voltage input (0 – +5 V)
Signal input (-5 V – +5 V)
Signal output (-5 V – +5 V)
11th Game Help Manual:
Control Wheel-output (-5 V <-0 v=””> +5 V)
Non-locking switch output (-> GND)
Confirmed the KORG MS-20 is back – Mini MS-20
The news has just came in from winter NAMM 2013. Korg are officially reissuing in the MS-20 in a smaller, more compact size. It will be using mini-jacks (1/8″ instead of 1/4″) and have USB-MIDI as well as regular MIDI… all this while of course being fully analogue.
Price is a very reasonable €600 and will be shipping in late february 2013.
Let’s hope it sounds as good as the original!
The return of the KORG MS20 and the NAMM King Korg rumors
NAMM is soon upon us again and just as always rumors are beginning to flourish. The first comes from KORG regarding two new products from Korg, the King Korg and the MINI MS-20.
The MINI MS-20 is rumored to be a new version of their analog classic, the MS-20 in a smaller chassis and with mini keys. The picture looks at first glance like the MS-20ic controller that came with the Korg Legacy collections, but some subtle details such as screw and LED locations appear to be different. Will it be an actual analog synth, or just a repackaged, self-contained version of the Korg Legacy version? The other rumor is about the King Korg, which some believe to be a 3-oscillator analog synth. But is it real analog or just another virtual analog?
Soon we will know, but it seems that after the success of the Monotron series, this could be a logical direction Korg might take. On the other hand, a higher price point would likely make these more niche products that would do smaller numbers than a company the size of Korg might bother with.
Korg MS-20 vs. Korg MS-20
Background description:
OK. This is not a song.
I had my friends MS-20 visiting mine for a brief moment. One of them is missing that legendary screw. You might have heard about this.
There’s two different filters in the MS-20. The Korg35 is in every unit which is lacking that screw in the VCA section, in the middle of the synth’s panel.
Rumours has it that the Korg35 filter makes the MS-20 sound more harsch.
You be the judge, but I for one can’t tell the difference.
Since I only had my friends MS-20 next to mine for a an hour or two, I wanted to take the opportunity to try them side by side.
I was only noodling and tweaking nothing but the filters or the parameters affecting the filters (envelope and LFO).
To make things more complicated, there’s MS-20 units with screws but still with the Korg35 filter inside.
I’ve had my MS-20 for about 18 years but never opened it up to see which filter it has.
Four Analog Promenades : 3-Dredging the time
Four Analog Promenades: This is the third video from Frederic Gerchambeau featuring analog synths
Korg MS-20 + Analogue Solutions Telemark + Plogue Bidule + Audacity
1 and 4 are played by hands, 2 and 3 are played by the machines.
Every videos have been made on the august 25th 2012 in Nantes, France.
1-Dreamlike prayer
2-Drifting logic
3-Dredging the time
4-Driven by the sun
Four Analog Promenades
Four Analog Promenades
Korg MS-20 + Analogue Solutions Telemark + Plogue Bidule + Audacity
1 and 4 are played by hands, 2 and 3 are played by the machines.
Every videos have been made on the august 25th 2012 in Nantes, France.
1-Dreamlike prayer
2-Drifting logic
3-Dredging the time
4-Driven by the sun
“Hello ! My name is Frederic Gerchambeau. I have made this movie and this music. The music has been made in one take using a Korg MS-20, an AS Telemark, Plogue Bidule and Audacity. Enjoy !
http://www.myspace.com/fredericgerchambeau
/////////////////////////////////////////////
I am a (proud !) member of the french association PWM (Patch Work Music) :
http://patch-work-music.blogspot.com/“
Korg MS-20 sequenced by Plogue Bidule
Details below:
Korg MS-20 Series :
Ten ways to have fun with a Korg MS-20
1-Basic Plogue Bidule polysynth passing through the filters of my Korg MS-20
2-Korg MS-20 acting very strange
3-Duophonic Korg MS-20
4-Duophonic Korg MS-20 (2)
5-Korg MS-20 complexely arpeggiated by Plogue Bidule
6-Korg MS-20 arpeggiated – Filters’s resonance only !
7-FM-like sounds with a Korg MS-20
8-Crazy feedback loop with a Korg MS-20
9-Let’s jam ! Korg MS-20 sequenced by Plogue Bidule
10-Let’s jam again ! Korg MS-20 sequenced by Plogue Bidule
Hello ! My name is Frederic Gerchambeau. I have made this movie and this music. The music has been made in one take using a Korg MS-20, Plogue Bidule and Audacity. Enjoy !
http://www.myspace.com/fredericgerchambeau
/////////////////////////////////////////////
I am a (proud !) member of the french association PWM (Patch Work Music) :
http://patch-work-music.blogspot.com/
7-FM-like sounds with a Korg MS-20
Frederic Gerchambeau explores the Korg MS-20 Series, details can be found below:
Ten ways to have fun with a Korg MS-20
1-Basic Plogue Bidule polysynth passing through the filters of my Korg MS-20
2-Korg MS-20 acting very strange
3-Duophonic Korg MS-20
4-Duophonic Korg MS-20 (2)
5-Korg MS-20 complexely arpeggiated by Plogue Bidule
6-Korg MS-20 arpeggiated – Filters’s resonance only !
7-FM-like sounds with a Korg MS-20
8-Crazy feedback loop with a Korg MS-20
9-Let’s jam ! Korg MS-20 sequenced by Plogue Bidule
10-Let’s jam again ! Korg MS-20 sequenced by Plogue Bidule
Hello ! My name is Frederic Gerchambeau. I have made this movie and this music. The music has been made in one take using a Korg MS-20, Plogue Bidule and Audacity. Enjoy !
http://www.myspace.com/fredericgerchambeau
/////////////////////////////////////////////
I am a (proud !) member of the french association PWM (Patch Work Music) :
http://patch-work-music.blogspot.com/
If you cannot have a KORG MS20 – Raspberry Pi-MS Synth !
Marc Nostromo showing of the Raspberry Ps.MS synth:
Goofing around with a direct port of my synth architecture on a raspberry pi. Starting with the default sound and tweaking parameters. All done on a stock RPi. Audio recorded through the HDMI out.
Note that I am NOT trying to do a MS-20 clone, I just like the interface and the basic 2 OSC/2 Filter architecture. The Filters are slighly stripped version of the Tony Hardie-Bick’s “Most Excellent” DFM-1.
VINCE CLARKE – The Analogue Monologues – Checking out the Korg MS20
Well !!, and here’s the description:
The Analogue Monologues is a series of mini video-documentaries made by Vince Clarke (Depeche Mode/Yazoo/Erasure). In each webisode Vince talks about one of his analogue synths and explains where the on/off switch is. This series proves, once and for all, that he really doesn’t know much about anything (a must see!).
See all The Analogue Monologues in the ‘Video’ section at Vince Clarke’s official website at http://www.vinceclarkemusic.com
In it, Clarke delivers an amusing narrative, explaining that the synth has “a lot of wholes” in which a user can insert cables “to perpetuate the illusion that I’m technically brilliant and know what I’m doing”. It also features “infamous Korg imposters” (a picture of Rolf Harris) a pink rabbit vibrator, and a special function that only Aphex Twin knows how to use
DATAMASKIN
