Korg • Legacy Collection
The Legacy Collection bundle from Korg is an awesome set of virtual instruments! Korg has recreated some of their most beloved and classic synthesizers here as software plug-ins - the MS-20 mono-synth of the 1970's, the super fat Polysix analog synthesizer and the ground breaking Wavestation digital synthesizer. Using Korg's own CMT (Component /modeling Technology) these virtual instruments sounds as good (if not better) than the originals and the whole package comes at an unbelievably low price! The Legacy collection is simply a must-have for any synthesist. The additional 84% scale MS-20 replica controller is worth the price alone! This USB/MIDI controller lets you feel like your editing and patching on the real thing - and it's compatible with any virtual instrument! The fourth plug-in in the bundle, Legacy Cell allows you to combine the MS-20 & Polysix plug-ins for even more dynamic and exciting sounds! Stand-alone operation via ASIO or Core Audio as well as VST/Audio Units make it at home in almost any computer workstation (RTAS or TDM may come soon hopefully).
Starting with the MS-20 plug-in, it fully replicates the front panel design of the original, complete with patch cables. Korg's CMT tries to replicate every part of the original, every transistor, resistor, etc. to virtually recreate the MS-20's circuitry and thus - its sound! The MS-20 sounds great, it's fat, buzzy, resonant, and (unlike the original) very clean and stable. Excellent for today's standards but still with a truly analog character and warmth. The original MS-20 was monophonic but polyphony is now available up to 32 voices with unison, de-tune and spread modes. Every knob and patch can be tweaked via MIDI or the MS-20 controller. It's fun to watch any physical patch connections you make on the MS-20 controller appear on-screen in the plug-in - in real-time! And every patch you create (unlike the original) can be saved and stored to disk. It ships with a slim 32 preset patches to get you going, but creating your own patches is what it's all about!
The Polysix was Korg's answer to Roland's Juno-series, and it was one of their nicest and lushest analog synthesizers of the 1980's. Now that it's virtual, it's still as lush and warm as the original. The original was only 6-voice polyphonic, but the plug-in has stepped things up to 32 voices, also with unison, de-tune and spread modes. The LFO and Arpeggiator can be synchronized to MIDI clock. True to the original, the plug-in ships with built-in chorus/ensemble effects and 32 presets, but you can create tons more of your own. Additional close-up Edit Views of the Polysix let you get into tweaking the sounds, but you can also use the MS-20 controller or any other MIDI source too.
The previous plug-ins are pretty nostalgic and fun. But the Wavestation really stands out here (just as the original did when it was introduced back in 1990). First, it offers a major update to user-friendliness in its programming interface that makes creating your own sounds much easier. But you may never need to get into editing your own as it ships with 550 presets covering a whole range of inconceivable sounds! What's more, performances, patches, and wave sequence data created on original Wavestations can be loaded into this plug-in via System Exclusive MIDI messages! The Vector Joystick of the original is here (and MIDI controllable) to mix together in 2-dimensions the four oscillators (A, B, C, & D). Various edit page views allow you to delve deep into tweaking wave sequences, performances (groups of patches), patches, zones, and more. It's almost too complex to get into here, but the Wavestation plug-in alone is an amazing resource of superb sounds from natural instruments to bizarre drones and textures that will set your music apart from others. Simply stated, these plug-ins are everything their original counterparts were...and more! The Wavestation plug-in, for example, uses the same digital coding as the original, but the original had a 32kHz sample rate and the new plug-in supports 44.1 through 96kHz - simply awesome!
As if all this isn't enough, Korg also included Legacy Cell, a Performance based plug-in that lets you freely combine two instances of the MS-20 and/or Polysix together along with a dual-effects processor for even more dynamic and unique sonic creations! It offers 127 presets with plenty of room for your own combinations. The MDE-X effects processor offers everything you could want from reverbs and delays to distortion and even the MS-20's filter section is available as an effect. A virtual Korg microKontrol is built-in to the Legacy Cell too for real-time assigning and manipulation of any editable parameters, and it works instantly with a real microKontrol too! The bottom line with this whole package is great plug-ins, great sound, great results, great price!
The synths has no probs sitting in a mix with my analogue drum machines.
Bottom line, they sound good, the fx vst is not bad either, quite useful.
I got mine boxed from ebay without the controller for £50 unregistered thank god, think korg doesn't let you sell your license on these so be aware!
The synths has no probs sitting in a mix with my analogue drum machines.
Bottom line, they sound good, the fx vst is not bad either, quite useful.
I got mine boxed from ebay without the controller for £50
Other than that, i don't mind if it isn't the real thing. I can have as many voices as i like (upto 32) and the CPU can hold. And that accounts for some massive sonic!
I've enjoyed every playing minute, and i still play a lot ofcourse. ;-)