Great instruction vid for the MS-20 envelope generators. I guess I never really noticed it before but the "MG/T.EXT" labels on the top knobs make sense now. :-)
I really get a kick out your vids. I've had my MS-20 for about 2 weeks. I'm a guitar player but have always loved synths. I bought this because it was it was a basic semi modular with external input. I was looking for a something that would sort of emulate the early EMS synths. Early 70's Eno type stuff. I'm leaning a lot, and at times you make laugh. Thanks
Just wanna say again: thank you thank you thank you! you the man! you have so much passion for this that it inspires me to be passionate too + you explain really really well.
Thank you so much for these videos ... the MS 20 has become one of my absolute favorite instruments (I'm a guitarist originally), largely because of the patch bay, but i don't know how on earth i would have even started to get to grips with it without your help.
Yours is the only MS-20 mini video where I hardly notice that infamous noise/hum issue ? Any idea why ? Is it because all the others didn't do proper gain staging ?
I've found I can turn the little black button into a low B key. I have to press the low C at the same time though. The trick is to patch the button to trigger EG1, set as a square envelope. The frequency modulation amount knob (bottom row, first knob of the three) needs to be set to give a one semitone / half step fall, which puts the synth out of tune as you turn the knob up without the button pressed, so you then have to retune it, and adjust a bit more. When I'm trying to play a tune by ear, I often find myself hitting the left side of the keyboard where the low B should be. This is the only one I own where I can just add the key :)
There's an interesting interplay between the two filters with the configuration you set up at 7:14. I've found that EG2 isn't disabled by it, but instead is just overridden if EG1's settings are faster. For example, if I set EG1's attack to 5 and EG2's attack to 1, the 1 wins and I have instant attack on the VCA. But if I set EG1 attack to, say, 3 and EG2 attack to 5, the 3 wins. Then if I set the filters to be controlled by EG2, they kick in according to the attack set to 5. Patching the EG2 Rev Out to the HP Filter Cutoff Freq lets me set up a sweet bandpass filter that evolves according to EG2's attack setting. These videos are inspiring, and experimenting with mine alongside your demos is giving me so many new ideas. Thank you!
I've been experimenting with the envelopes on my Mini and I've found the following. You can control the VCA with only EG1 if you avoid triggering EG2. Try patching the momentary switch into EG1 trig and pressing the switch. It should play the last note played by the keyboard but won't trigger EG2 and so won't totally effect a filter if you have the EG2 mod pot turned up. Obviously you need to patch EG1 to initial gain. Oddly, sending the pitch out of my Microbrute into EG1 trigger causes very odd things to happen, and in certain areas of the keyboard even allows perfect pitch control of the MS20! Other places it holds the note on allowing you to use EG2 sustain, EG2/EXT Modulation pot or the filter cutoff pot to control filter cutoff.
The Korg Ms 20 Mini will arrive this month in Belgium. I look really forward to link him to his 'new vintage' friends in my studio ( Arp Axxe, Korg Delta, Yamaha Cs-10 ).
oh man! is this series going to cover the patch bay and the external inputs (pitch tracking!) as well? Mine is on pre-order and I'm counting down the days til release!
great demonstration!! i've got one question: I'm using iMS-20 on iPad, and i noticed something strange: when i patch the EG1 out to control the VCA (initial gain), this doesn't stop EG2 from controlling VCA.. (which means by doing this patching, i have two EG controlling VCA at the same time..) too bad i don't have a real ms-20 (or mini) near me right now, which leaves me wondering if this is the app's simulation's problem?
This is so helpful to me, as I actually bought the KORG ms-20 mini, yesterday 😊 I have never used a synth before, so I have no idea how to use it. But I hope these videos will help. PS: I have been playing guitar and drums, etc before, so I know some theory 🤪
is it possible for EG1 to control the freq of the modulation generator? for some reason I always thought it could, but it doesn't appear to be the case?
I would use the "TOTAL" input for this. I have not tested splitting or passive mixers with the Mini, but they worked with the original. They should work!
I just tried one of these and I don't understand why the EG2 sustain works in some sort of negative way on the LPF. Can you explain it to me? Is it the same with the original MS20?
As someone who has had an MS-20 since about 1999, may I say that in my opinion the patch panel is without doubt a confusing, intimidating, idiosyncratic, odd, contradictory and basically insane thing, liable to trip you up if you are new to patching. BUT its worth persisting with learning and becoming familiar with it in the long run. The great thing about the MS-20 is that you can use it without any patching, which is I should imagine how many will use it. Your clips will really help folks.
1999?? By now you should be a MASTER....I was about 9 when I got it (present from my musician dad) 1n 1979 and it took about 1,5 years to master it (the synth, not playing"it)
What are the chances of seeing a gut shot of the insides of the MS-20 Mini?!?! Or is it just me that wants to see it? Cant wait to get one and mod it for PWM and other fun features left out
6:35 plugging EG1 to 'FREQ' of both oscillators is not the same that the default wiring on a classic MS-20. You should actually try it to hear the difference. (Default wiring makes the frequency go from zero to whatever note you played, plugging a cable instead makes the frequency go from the note you played up to higher freq controlled by additional EG1 envelope.)
A read of the manual would answer all of these questions. EG2 when output to the filters, the steady state is the sustain level. You need to turn the sustain down to give the filter somewhere to go after reaching its fully open point after attack and decay. If sustain is at 10 it cant go anywhere. Im not 100% sure why the sound is totally filtered out when sustain is at 10, but i'll live with the fact that i have to go down to about 7 to make the filter modulation work.
I'm a licensed expert on the subject and no Marc Doty does not in fact appear to be impaired. If anyone is concerned and wants to do an intervention due to observed impairment on the part of Mr. Doty then do so based on the idea that he has been exposed to lead paint from that door!! I was worried after that square tooth comment but I'm sure he's fine.... thats NAMM people... like thunderdome.
There has to be a wave that a moog wall of doom could make that could be called a squaretooth. Imagine some Dee Snider TS era filed tooth thing. Or a flattened top A looking thing.
The international dating site ad at the beginning of this was an interesting touch. Brings to mind an earlier video with a young lady, a minimoog and an arp. I say this is a compliment to these videos...(that women are travelling thousands of miles to try and get their hands on your...... (trying to find a synth name that isn't a little dirty.. moog, arp, korg... ah schmidt I can't decide!!!)
I have a number of performance videos, but I know how hard doing a search is, and every complaint is valid against the extreme sacrifice necessary for a search.
This clarified so many simple concepts that others have made so difficult to grasp for beginners in their videos. Thank you for this series
You are a funny guy, makes it so much easier watching a tutorial, generally.
I love your timing. Tech standup plus great info (and for me, nostalgia). Thanks for doing this.
Great instruction vid for the MS-20 envelope generators. I guess I never really noticed it before but the "MG/T.EXT" labels on the top knobs make sense now. :-)
Thanks a lot for this! Was looking everywhere for a quick guide on how to free up EG2! great tutorial.
I really get a kick out your vids. I've had my MS-20 for about 2 weeks. I'm a guitar player but have always loved synths. I bought this because it was it was a basic semi modular with external input. I was looking for a something that would sort of emulate the early EMS synths. Early 70's Eno type stuff. I'm leaning a lot, and at times you make laugh. Thanks
I’m glad I can help! Thanks!
Amazing sounds from this synth! Unique ones.
Just wanna say again: thank you thank you thank you! you the man! you have so much passion for this that it inspires me to be passionate too + you explain really really well.
+KennerMusicChannel Thank you very much! I'm glad to help in the inspiration department!
Thank you so much for these videos ... the MS 20 has become one of my absolute favorite instruments (I'm a guitarist originally), largely because of the patch bay, but i don't know how on earth i would have even started to get to grips with it without your help.
i guess Im kind of off topic but do anyone know of a good place to watch new movies online?
@Nathaniel Matthias i dunno try Flixportal. You can find it if you google =) -reid
@Reid Axel thank you, signed up and it seems like they got a lot of movies there :) I really appreciate it!!
@Nathaniel Matthias happy to help xD
These videos are so so rad. I want this synth so bad now!!!!!!!!
Yours is the only MS-20 mini video where I hardly notice that infamous noise/hum issue ? Any idea why ? Is it because all the others didn't do proper gain staging ?
I've found I can turn the little black button into a low B key. I have to press the low C at the same time though.
The trick is to patch the button to trigger EG1, set as a square envelope. The frequency modulation amount knob (bottom row, first knob of the three) needs to be set to give a one semitone / half step fall, which puts the synth out of tune as you turn the knob up without the button pressed, so you then have to retune it, and adjust a bit more.
When I'm trying to play a tune by ear, I often find myself hitting the left side of the keyboard where the low B should be. This is the only one I own where I can just add the key :)
Is it possible to use a Y-patch cable to patch EG1 to both the HP and LP filters simultaneously?
Lots, lots of great information thanks!
haha im so glad you mentioned the hands! you and jexus are my favorite people on youtube!
There's an interesting interplay between the two filters with the configuration you set up at 7:14. I've found that EG2 isn't disabled by it, but instead is just overridden if EG1's settings are faster. For example, if I set EG1's attack to 5 and EG2's attack to 1, the 1 wins and I have instant attack on the VCA. But if I set EG1 attack to, say, 3 and EG2 attack to 5, the 3 wins. Then if I set the filters to be controlled by EG2, they kick in according to the attack set to 5. Patching the EG2 Rev Out to the HP Filter Cutoff Freq lets me set up a sweet bandpass filter that evolves according to EG2's attack setting.
These videos are inspiring, and experimenting with mine alongside your demos is giving me so many new ideas. Thank you!
I've been experimenting with the envelopes on my Mini and I've found the following. You can control the VCA with only EG1 if you avoid triggering EG2. Try patching the momentary switch into EG1 trig and pressing the switch. It should play the last note played by the keyboard but won't trigger EG2 and so won't totally effect a filter if you have the EG2 mod pot turned up. Obviously you need to patch EG1 to initial gain. Oddly, sending the pitch out of my Microbrute into EG1 trigger causes very odd things to happen, and in certain areas of the keyboard even allows perfect pitch control of the MS20! Other places it holds the note on allowing you to use EG2 sustain, EG2/EXT Modulation pot or the filter cutoff pot to control filter cutoff.
The Korg Ms 20 Mini will arrive this month in Belgium. I look really forward to link him to his 'new vintage' friends in my studio ( Arp Axxe, Korg Delta, Yamaha Cs-10 ).
oh man! is this series going to cover the patch bay and the external inputs (pitch tracking!) as well?
Mine is on pre-order and I'm counting down the days til release!
great demonstration!!
i've got one question:
I'm using iMS-20 on iPad, and i noticed something strange:
when i patch the EG1 out to control the VCA (initial gain), this doesn't stop EG2 from controlling VCA.. (which means by doing this patching, i have two EG controlling VCA at the same time..)
too bad i don't have a real ms-20 (or mini) near me right now, which leaves me wondering if this is the app's simulation's problem?
This is so helpful to me, as I actually bought the KORG ms-20 mini, yesterday 😊
I have never used a synth before, so I have no idea how to use it. But I hope these videos will help.
PS: I have been playing guitar and drums, etc before, so I know some theory 🤪
is it possible for EG1 to control the freq of the modulation generator? for some reason I always thought it could, but it doesn't appear to be the case?
I would use the "TOTAL" input for this.
I have not tested splitting or passive mixers with the Mini, but they worked with the original. They should work!
I am so glad you're making these videos!!!
I just tried one of these and I don't understand why the EG2 sustain works in some sort of negative way on the LPF. Can you explain it to me?
Is it the same with the original MS20?
As someone who has had an MS-20 since about 1999, may I say that in my opinion the patch panel is without doubt a confusing, intimidating, idiosyncratic, odd, contradictory and basically insane thing, liable to trip you up if you are new to patching. BUT its worth persisting with learning and becoming familiar with it in the long run. The great thing about the MS-20 is that you can use it without any patching, which is I should imagine how many will use it. Your clips will really help folks.
1999?? By now you should be a MASTER....I was about 9 when I got it (present from my musician dad) 1n 1979 and it took about 1,5 years to master it (the synth, not playing"it)
Don't get me wrong, I think the mini is a great synth on its own....
What are the chances of seeing a gut shot of the insides of the MS-20 Mini?!?! Or is it just me that wants to see it? Cant wait to get one and mod it for PWM and other fun features left out
thanks for that great demo!
Yes , but that is exactly what the "total" input is for , to rout for instance EG1 to more than one input....
Jexus is AMAZING.
And, most unfortunately in my view, EG2 is always going to the amp. The initial gain jack works only in tandem with EG2.
Excellent.... Thanks!
Any chance of Waldorf Rocket videos?
That dude is inspiring.
An oscilloscope would make these videos perfect.
Thanks!
Love it
6:35 plugging EG1 to 'FREQ' of both oscillators is not the same that the default wiring on a classic MS-20. You should actually try it to hear the difference.
(Default wiring makes the frequency go from zero to whatever note you played, plugging a cable instead makes the frequency go from the note you played up to higher freq controlled by additional EG1 envelope.)
Well, the world is getting more from me in the future!
High on synth!!! I am as well & I've not got my hands on this yet.
sorry if this may sound noobish. why do the oscillators need an envelope generator (EG1 @6:38)?
cool transient pitch effects
Top vids - thanks man .')
Great 💭s
I should confess that I actually said "squaretooth" on the NEXT video after that one, too. Maybe it is the lead.
Killer class, man! Thx!
Hey, thanks a lot!
"go wild with your crazy mad self" lol
plug the mg1 out to 'total' and tweak the cutoff freq mod buttons, but then these knobs are no more available for the lfo modulation.
Thanks.
A read of the manual would answer all of these questions. EG2 when output to the filters, the steady state is the sustain level. You need to turn the sustain down to give the filter somewhere to go after reaching its fully open point after attack and decay. If sustain is at 10 it cant go anywhere. Im not 100% sure why the sound is totally filtered out when sustain is at 10, but i'll live with the fact that i have to go down to about 7 to make the filter modulation work.
Whats a manual?
I'm a licensed expert on the subject and no Marc Doty does not in fact appear to be impaired. If anyone is concerned and wants to do an intervention due to observed impairment on the part of Mr. Doty then do so based on the idea that he has been exposed to lead paint from that door!! I was worried after that square tooth comment but I'm sure he's fine.... thats NAMM people... like thunderdome.
You rule!
There has to be a wave that a moog wall of doom could make that could be called a squaretooth. Imagine some Dee Snider TS era filed tooth thing. Or a flattened top A looking thing.
A lot fo the sounds its generating remind me of Boards of Canada minus the tape effects & reverb.
The international dating site ad at the beginning of this was an interesting touch. Brings to mind an earlier video with a young lady, a minimoog and an arp. I say this is a compliment to these videos...(that women are travelling thousands of miles to try and get their hands on your...... (trying to find a synth name that isn't a little dirty.. moog, arp, korg... ah schmidt I can't decide!!!)
No. I am not high.
init gain instant drone mode
I feel your pain
Alas, no.
It's distressed.
1. Sell synthesizer
2. Buy a new door
3. ????
4. PROFIT!!!
"There's an output for that."
are you high?
I'd love to hear someone actually play something on this rather than just make F/N noises. Damn Man.....
I have a number of performance videos, but I know how hard doing a search is, and every complaint is valid against the extreme sacrifice necessary for a search.