Vintage Synth Explorer

Korg • MS2000 & MS2000R

This beauty from Korg combines state of the art Analog Physical Modelling synth sounds with a very vintage Korg appearance. Yes, this sounds as good as it looks! Remember Korg's MS-series (the MS-10, MS-20 and MS-50)? That's right, the MS or MonoSynth series are some of Korg's most sought after analog synths. They were some of the only compact Patchable monosynths of their time, and had a great Korg sound too. While the MS2000 is somewhat "hard-wired", it offers just as much and more flexibility while maintaining a straight forward and hands-on approach towards old-fashioned editing via dedicated knobs, buttons and flashy lights. In place of actual patch cables and input jacks, the MS2000 features a cool "Virtual Patch" mode in which signal can be routed to various sections of the synth (ie: LFO, Filter or Keyboard Velocity) using the LCD display and paging through various screens.

The MS2000 actually comes up against the similar Roland JP-8000 and Novation SuperNova & Nova synths. Despite its amazing look, the MS2000 has some surprising limitations. It has only 4-voice polyphony so you won't be creating very lush or complex pads and sounds with it. In spite of this, its sound is clean, crisp and very flexible. It can easily conjure up beefy basslines, sub-basses, wonderful sweeping leads, pads and hits. Classic features include a 6 pattern arpeggiator, a very flexible LFO with sample and hold and even vintage wood side-panels and printed block diagrams and programming data on the face.

Programming seems just about as classic as its look. The two oscillators offer up to eight waveforms plus noise. A great self-oscillating filter section provides 12dB high and band pass filtering and switchable 12 or 24dB low pass filtering. A typical set of Envelopes modulate the filter and amplifier. Extensive modulation is provided by the two LFOs. A 16-band Vocoder section (a la VC-10) is also on-board and it does an excellent job! There are also on-board effects which include chorus, flange, phaser, delay, distortion and EQ. It also features a "Modulation Sequence" mode which is a 16-step pattern or sequence you create in either step- or real-time and any tweaking or editing can also be recorded into the pattern to add movement to it. The MS2000 is a very well designed and flexible synth with a look and functionality that not only honors but transcends its classic predecessors. It is used by BT, Depeche Mode, Apollo 440, The Crystal Method, Placebo, the Faint, Royksopp, Adrian Belew, Jean-Jacques Perrey, Saga, Klaus chultze, Rick Wakeman, Yes, Yesterdays, Keith Emerson and Snoop Dogg.

The MS2000R is, of course, the rackmount version of this beast. Although there is no keyboard and no real need for one, the 16 function buttons on the front of the unit can be switched into "Keyboard" mode in which they function as keys, mainly for demoing sounds while you're programming it. This is a really great feature since most rackmount synths either don't allow you to hear your progress from the actual unit or they only feature a one-note demo button to hear your sounds. The MS2000 is truly a well thought out instrument for musicians of any level looking for classic and new sounds within a quality digital synth with a sleek vintage look that'll turn a few heads!

Released in 2003 with an updated sound set, a sharp new black metallic color scheme and dedicated vocoder mic, the MS2000B provides a combination of playability, expression and sound manipulation that is at once familiar, yet ready to open a new universe of possibilities.

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Antinet

Posted 11 hours ago

I almost bought this when I demoed it at GC years back. I tried the black version and didnt think it sounded as good. There's a real love-hate attitude towards this synth. My main defenses would be A. it sounds nothing like a roland B. it makes a bunch of wack sounds and gives you a lot of filter sweeps and arp good for weird not happy dance music.
SO what if it doesnt do an analog bass. That's what the old roland is for.
My old roland can't do most of what this does, so I'm picking one up. MAybe I'll change my mind, but variety is the spice of life.

aiden

Posted 42 days ago

toatally agree with you joe!!! go for a real analogue over this one any day. its good for controll but a bit annoying for sounds. even if you spend half your life on it !! the bass will never sound any better than the organ bass or house bass preset.

Patrick

Posted 46 days ago

I bought a MS2000R on Ebay for 250$ and I really love it! It's great value for money and it is very intuitive to work with. At first I thought it sounded a bit thin (on headphones), but now I've got it connected in my studio I'm simply blown away by it. Some serious power for only 4 voices!!

Juan Andres

Posted 47 days ago

I own a MS2000B and it's great! I just bought a Yamaha AN1x and will pick-up tomorrow. I can't wait to plugg them and make sound togheter ;)
I will tell you when I do it :)

JOE

Posted 59 days ago

Not to sure about the ms 2000. I bought one new and had it for 4 years-got some good sounds from it. All the presets are terrible apart from a housebass and one organ type preset. The paint easily chips of from under the keys after a while of playing it and two keys died on me as well. Because it is quite new you get alot of features on it. Would much rather have a real analogue than this one for the money. Also i would part with a little more cash and go for somthing like the yamaha cs 10 before they become unaffordable .although i liked this one at one point -i dont really recommend it anymore.

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