Korg MS-50

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The Korg MS-50 - modular in design and at the height of the MS-series synthesizers. This keyboard-less expander type module is completely patchable and uses Korg's Hz/V type of CV and Gate for control with other synths like the MS-20. There are lots of knobs and patch points on this one... The MS-50 is still a single VCO monophonic analog beast but offered more patchability and power than any other MS synth. Other features include a ring modulator, voltmeter and sample & hold. It was also designed to complement the SQ-10 sequencer. It has been used by The Chemical Brothers.



5 VISITOR COMMENTS

Amstrad
January 14, 2012 @ 6:11 pm
I had a ms20 for years and after trying this i must said i expected a bit more.
Even having both a hp/lp ota vcf´s the filter was indeed not so ms20ish. Perhaps it´s not using the korg35 chip like in the lastest ms20,the one i tried was no so fat and punchy to me, and i don´t say that in a good way.
Also just 1 VCO doesn´t bring too many possibilities. And i bealive most of the patching options are there either in the ms20 or even 10....
I would call this a ms10.v2.... However it costs like two ms20...
Just for collectors (my opinion).
evan
February 9, 2011 @ 7:21 pm
I noticed that some MS-50s (such as the one shown here) have "Expander Module" printed in the lower right. Others have "Synthesizer" instead. Was this a shift in Korg's marketing? Trying to market the MS-50 as a standalone modular and lowering the perceived cost of entry versus implying that you first need to buy an MS-10 or MS-20 to use it? And if so, I'd assume that the "Synthesizer" versions were manufactured a bit later on?
noddy
December 18, 2010 @ 7:15 pm
In reply to Matt below.... the MS20's lack of PWM is easily fixable. The MS10 has PWM and it's quite a simple modification to also build it into the MS20. I've done it..!
solus
January 14, 2010 @ 3:20 pm
It has a diode filter that is sweeter than the ms 20...I have 2 and love them.
Matt
October 9, 2009 @ 3:46 pm
The MS-50 combined with the MS-20 is amazing and the MS-50 has a number of features not present on the MS-20, including PWM; it's also completely modular.

The MS-50 tends to be quite expensive due to its rarity (it was released in a fairly small quantity a year after the others in the MS series) but is such a great synth. It has both Hz/v and 1v/oct inputs, so can also be used, for example, with Roland mono synths.

An MS-20/MS-50 combination is, in terms of versatility, the equal of an ARP 2600 and, with the MS combination, you also have the advantage of the ESP.
 
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  • Demos & Media
  • YouTube Image
    Video 1
    - Korg MS family party (MS-50 + MS-20 + MS-20 + SQ-10)

    Brochure - PDF of 1980 Korg Brochure, submitted by Niels Kloes

  • Specifications
  • Polyphony - Monophonic
  • Oscillators - 1 VCO + pink and white noise
  • LFO - 1 LFO
  • Filter - 2 VCFs (highpass/lowpass)
  • VCA - 2 ADSR envelope gens
  • Keyboard - None
  • Memory - None
  • Control - CV/Gate
  • Date Produced - 1978
  • Est. Value - $500 - $1,100
  • Resources & Credits
  • Images from Korg product brochure.

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