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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