People outside of the synth world will probably never understand the joy that's derived from watching equipment videos, however we'll have you know that the enjoyment is great.
I have to say that after a few weeks with the MS20 I feel like I learned more about the principals of synthesis than several years messing about with soft synths. It forces you to delve a bit deeper and actually try to understand what you are doing - and I have found that its really helped me to get to grips with sound design (though I have a long way to go!). I'm having an absolute ball
+Anders Panders i agree completely. in adition to that i just bought the sq-1 and it expands ms-20's playability greatly. you can incorporate it into a bigger rig and/or make a lot more sounds. what i like to do is to use the ms-20 as a modulation generator. that way you can sync MG with outboard gear easily and give you interesting patterns to work with.
This is a great idea Nick. Please do more of these interactive demos in the future. Also - please schedule them for later in the evening if possible so fans in North America can participate. Keep up the awesome work!
Great work as always Nick. Very few other presenters. Are so engaging without being serious. Love Sonic Talks and you are solely responsible (with the weekly show) for keeping me interested in music production & technology
there's no "pwm" patch point on the ims-20 app, it's just possible via other means (within the app, you can automate a lot of parameters using the mock sq-10). however, what they DID add to the front panel of the ims-20 app is found in the modulation generator section...they added "MG Key Sync On/Off" as well as "MG Tempo Sync On/Off" the tempo sync would be nice considering midi clock is now an option but oh well, not a deal breaker
Nick - I have always loved you, and as a straight man and non-stalker, I mean that in the most innocent way possible. Which, as I write it, immediately sounds horrific. Bollocks.
So bummed to have missed this live :( After the initial review there were 2 questions I'd like to have asked - 1. Can you show us some of your patching Nick? Some sounds you used as go-to over the years. So thanks for that! 2. Considering you have the original, will you be buying the MS20mini for yourself Nick? Its a tough decision between this and the BS2 - of course I'd love both but there are the Volcas to save up for too :) Really great video, thank you for doing it!
Excellent video. This does seem - as it should be - very much the same as the original. Pink noise better than white for s/h, ext signal processor wild and bizarre etc. Incidentally playing the filter is a must, but don't expect tuned keyboard follow. The beauty of it is the weird tunings. With practice and the right reverb/echo the sound is better than in the video.
A Polysix with saw wave option for the sub oscs, sample and hold, and a high pass filter would be amazing. And whatever is in the Minibrute to make one oscillator sound like 2 detuned oscillators. But all of that might be too expensive, so just a Polysix reissue would be nice. And a rack version.
they have the original patching examples which are pretty funny and a supplementary pdf patch book done for the soft synth version with more contemporary sounding patches
come to think of it, the only reason why it wouldn't work as two completely independent voices is because there's no oscillator out jacks on the 'bay. so there's no way to route a single oscillator to that second VCA.. sonicstate's answer is closest to the truth: you can have two separate pitches, but they'll always run through the single HP/LP/VCA path at the end. and that VCA is hardwired to EG2.
....any way to sync the cuttoff lfo to the midi clock of a DAW like Cubase ? Do I really need stuff like Kenton Midi CV converter ? No Trick available ?
Yeah Salvadory, I agree. But I guess sound is the important part. My favorite synth in my studio is a bright Red Roland SH-101 released in the early 80s that is battery operated and can be played like a keytar! Talk about a toy! Thing is, all analog synths are toys to people like me and if they are made from plastic and have survived 30 years...who cares!
Do you need to have an external unit hooked up for the sample and hold to work? I followed all of the steps, but it doesn't seem to be working. Any suggestions?
Nothing impressive about the Minibrute? Really? That has to be the coolest, most versatile single oscillator mono synth ever. Whoever invented the ultrasaw circuit, making one saw sound like three without making it sound like a digital supersaw, is a genius. Then mix in the pulse wave and add PWM, for an even thicker sound. Then add the sub oscillator. Most synths would need 6 oscillators to do what the Minibrute does with one. The Minibrute and MS-20 are both great sounding and unique synths.
Minibrute has the Steiner Parker filter but other than that nothing too impressive. Plus it's plastic and built by a company who only makes virtual synths (albeit great ones : ) Dont know why so many people are interested in comparing the brute with the mini
Im new to MS 20 mini. But it cant play lower note while I am holding a higher one. For example: I am holding G, and I press F, which is 2 steps lower, and It doesnt change from G to F. But when I play from G to A for examlple, then it plays A. My MS 20 mini is new I bought it today. Is this a problem?
It's called note priority, in your case it sounds like v it's set to high note priority. I can't recall but it may be something you can change in the settings.
"can you get vowel sounds out of it" ... not really? Listen to shpongle, so many of his vocal synth sounds (some of the best in the world) are done with an ms-20... two words. "Envelope Follower"
i dont understand why he needs to mult out for the Sample and hold in to both filters, (37min) why not just go into the total jack that does both filters and the frequency modulation?
the build quality on the brute does leave a lot to be desired- not saying the korg mini is great it isn't but the brute looks and feels like a plastic toy despite being sonically pretty interesting-
With the filter keyboard playing, one particular little theme must work such as: tü tü tüüürü tü tü rüü rü :) (from that Tom's Dinner remix) :) (you made back in the days Sir, am I right?) :)
thanks as usual Nick san.... the more i hear this ...the more i dont like the overall sounds it produces... it s like a gasp from the past....a historic thing...really. Much prefer the sounds of microbrute....compared the ms20 mini anemic midtones only sounds... everyone should HEAR first what they are abt to buy....its the sound , after all...so take your pick !
I actually prefer the 3DS version, the DSN-12. It's based off of the MS-10, actually, but has some unique features and you can sequence 12 synths together.
its great to have all these analogs coming back but only oberheim has taken the mantle and built them like tanks like they used to be- the sem and ob 2 and 4 voice are built like tanks- most of these new analogs and reissues are built like crap- even moog needs to step up- their pedals are built great- their synths- hmm????
This guy def drops the ball several times throughout this vid. Doesn't seem like he had a grasp on patching. He tried unsuccessfully to make patches and nothing happens. Plus there is no need to show us sample and hold 3 times! To the person who asked if the mini has enough voltage to mult/split a CV signal, it does. This guy says it doesn't buy repeatedly uses the mults on his orange modular to split signals. So obviously it has enough voltage. WATCH MARC DOTY!
People outside of the synth world will probably never understand the joy that's derived from watching equipment videos, however we'll have you know that the enjoyment is great.
+Space Lab 2020 I completely agree.
it is like cat videos for music geeks!
I have to say that after a few weeks with the MS20 I feel like I learned more about the principals of synthesis than several years messing about with soft synths. It forces you to delve a bit deeper and actually try to understand what you are doing - and I have found that its really helped me to get to grips with sound design (though I have a long way to go!).
I'm having an absolute ball
+Anders Panders i agree completely. in adition to that i just bought the sq-1 and it expands ms-20's playability greatly. you can incorporate it into a bigger rig and/or make a lot more sounds.
what i like to do is to use the ms-20 as a modulation generator. that way you can sync MG with outboard gear easily and give you interesting patterns to work with.
I learned about synths on an ms10 in 1982.... that serie was a great learning tool with the patch panel
I want the smaller modular MS-20 kit but not willing to pay 3x for it when the assembled MS20 keyboard version is less
I went to school with a guy named Rich Harmonics.
This is a great idea Nick. Please do more of these interactive demos in the future. Also - please schedule them for later in the evening if possible so fans in North America can participate. Keep up the awesome work!
Great work as always Nick. Very few other presenters. Are so engaging without being serious. Love Sonic Talks and you are solely responsible (with the weekly show) for keeping me interested in music production & technology
there's no "pwm" patch point on the ims-20 app, it's just possible via other means (within the app, you can automate a lot of parameters using the mock sq-10).
however, what they DID add to the front panel of the ims-20 app is found in the modulation generator section...they added "MG Key Sync On/Off" as well as "MG Tempo Sync On/Off"
the tempo sync would be nice considering midi clock is now an option but oh well, not a deal breaker
One of the best synths ever! I wish it polyphony!
Nick - I have always loved you, and as a straight man and non-stalker, I mean that in the most innocent way possible. Which, as I write it, immediately sounds horrific. Bollocks.
perhaps sort of, though there is only a single vca and envelope/gate etc
This is great,... I love how it's live.. never seen you run off to get a cable before.
Would love to, have to see how my family feel about that!
when using both filters with some patching they work like a comb filter, so you get the vocal sound known from some other demos.
So bummed to have missed this live :(
After the initial review there were 2 questions I'd like to have asked -
1. Can you show us some of your patching Nick? Some sounds you used as go-to over the years. So thanks for that!
2. Considering you have the original, will you be buying the MS20mini for yourself Nick?
Its a tough decision between this and the BS2 - of course I'd love both but there are the Volcas to save up for too :)
Really great video, thank you for doing it!
Nice video. You really tell and show on a plessent way. Had a great time watching it.
Excellent video. This does seem - as it should be - very much the same as the original. Pink noise better than white for s/h, ext signal processor wild and bizarre etc. Incidentally playing the filter is a must, but don't expect tuned keyboard follow. The beauty of it is the weird tunings. With practice and the right reverb/echo the sound is better than in the video.
thanks for taking the time to do the Q&A on a holiday.
I just checked out a video of that educational ms-20.
what a trip!!
Thanks Nick for giving up your bank holiday. Lovely review. Can't wait to get one!!
A Polysix with saw wave option for the sub oscs, sample and hold, and a high pass filter would be amazing. And whatever is in the Minibrute to make one oscillator sound like 2 detuned oscillators. But all of that might be too expensive, so just a Polysix reissue would be nice. And a rack version.
I think if Dave Smith was able to manufacture new chips for his poly synths, I'm sure Korg could do so as well?
Have you tried sequencing using expert sleeper? Didn't see any talk of it during the video.
Best modular synth vid, for ppl in modular synth!
what speakers was he playing thru?
does it have 1/4 audio out or does it have to be connected to a pc interface ?
they have the original patching examples which are pretty funny
and a supplementary pdf patch book done for the soft synth version with more contemporary sounding patches
i'm wondering if the pwm mod can be accessed like on the original via a pad point?
The best synth reviewer online!
search youtube, somewhere someone demos how the two oscillators can be seperated. it's limited though.
come to think of it, the only reason why it wouldn't work as two completely independent voices is because there's no oscillator out jacks on the 'bay. so there's no way to route a single oscillator to that second VCA.. sonicstate's answer is closest to the truth: you can have two separate pitches, but they'll always run through the single HP/LP/VCA path at the end. and that VCA is hardwired to EG2.
....any way to sync the cuttoff lfo to the midi clock of a DAW like Cubase ? Do I really need stuff like Kenton Midi CV converter ? No Trick available ?
Yeah Salvadory, I agree. But I guess sound is the important part. My favorite synth in my studio is a bright Red Roland SH-101 released in the early 80s that is battery operated and can be played like a keytar! Talk about a toy! Thing is, all analog synths are toys to people like me and if they are made from plastic and have survived 30 years...who cares!
The FutureRetro Mobius is a great sequencer with hz/volt and volt/octave and dinsync.
The MS-20 actually has two VCAs, so in theory it should work just by adding a second envelope module.
Could I take an external module, and use it with the MS-20 mini? Particularly, an LFO and another filter?
@12:42 that sounded close to oscillator sync type sound. Can you only do this with an external sound source coming into the MS-20?
Tiptop Audio sell their own 3.5mm cables called Stackcables that work just like stackable banana plugs; just plug a second cable into one of the ends.
Do you need to have an external unit hooked up for the sample and hold to work? I followed all of the steps, but it doesn't seem to be working. Any suggestions?
Hi their. Is this the midi controller version.
Nothing impressive about the Minibrute? Really? That has to be the coolest, most versatile single oscillator mono synth ever. Whoever invented the ultrasaw circuit, making one saw sound like three without making it sound like a digital supersaw, is a genius. Then mix in the pulse wave and add PWM, for an even thicker sound. Then add the sub oscillator. Most synths would need 6 oscillators to do what the Minibrute does with one. The Minibrute and MS-20 are both great sounding and unique synths.
Thanks so much for this Nick, and sorry you had to give up your bank holiday! Hopefully they'll give you a free day off some other time :P
Can you use spilt 3.5mm patch cords or banana plus to send a patch parameter to two destinations e.g. Mod wheel to hp AND lp filter cutoff?
Ok, this is an hour long video. I just want to know, can you still hook up a guitar to it like the original? Anyone know? Thanks.
Paul TheSkeptic i know it's been 4 years, but yes
Hi!!! there is a way to control the lfo freq with a envelope generator??? to create a jarre fx sound?
Minibrute has the Steiner Parker filter but other than that nothing too impressive. Plus it's plastic and built by a company who only makes virtual synths (albeit great ones : ) Dont know why so many people are interested in comparing the brute with the mini
can this be patched to be duophonic? Independent CV in's on each oscillators and a polyphonic midi-cv converter?
I'm not 100% sure, but I think one of them is hardwired to the filter, so you would need another envelope.
Im new to MS 20 mini. But it cant play lower note while I am holding a higher one. For example: I am holding G, and I press F, which is 2 steps lower, and It doesnt change from G to F. But when I play from G to A for examlple, then it plays A. My MS 20 mini is new I bought it today. Is this a problem?
It's called note priority, in your case it sounds like v it's set to high note priority. I can't recall but it may be something you can change in the settings.
@@sonicstate by setting do you mean patch bay? So this shouldnt be the case that my MINI is corrupted? Or yes? Sorry for bad english and Thanks.
@@mihovil5806 I think there are some Midi settings. But I don't recall the exact details. I think the manual is your friend in this case
@@sonicstate thank you
Nick, you are awesome i laugh every time you went for something in the back jaja.
"can you get vowel sounds out of it" ... not really? Listen to shpongle, so many of his vocal synth sounds (some of the best in the world) are done with an ms-20... two words. "Envelope Follower"
In these days of compact living the key noise should always be brought up in a review. @11:38
This synth kicks ass!
i dont understand why he needs to mult out for the Sample and hold in to both filters, (37min) why not just go into the total jack that does both filters and the frequency modulation?
Yep, that's the way to do it. You just have to use the "T.Ext" knob on the filters instead of "Ext" to apply it.
the build quality on the brute does leave a lot to be desired- not saying the korg mini is great it isn't but the brute looks and feels like a plastic toy despite being sonically pretty interesting-
you should make a channel of people tweaking synths, i will watch that.
With the filter keyboard playing, one particular little theme must work such as:
tü tü tüüürü tü tü rüü rü :)
(from that Tom's Dinner remix) :) (you made back in the days Sir, am I right?)
:)
it actually has 2 envelope generators, so in theory it should work with a lot of patching :P
The only thing I could ask for now is a MS-20 Mini vs. Minibrute video.
Think about it ;)
Seriously though, that would be awesome.
The ludicrous amount of commercials spliced in make this challenging viewing.
install adblocker, works a treat
right on!
2:18 "Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends..."
at what? supersaws?
please ship pre-order :(
good job and good job
beautiful! all of it
Check out my Korg website at gotart.fr/bward/korgms/mstt.html for all manner of interesting tips on using your MS-20 mini.
Nice video
I reckon Omid Jalily could do the better job!
thanks as usual Nick san.... the more i hear this ...the more i dont like the overall sounds it produces... it s like a gasp from the past....a historic thing...really. Much prefer the sounds of microbrute....compared the ms20 mini anemic midtones only sounds... everyone should HEAR first what they are abt to buy....its the sound , after all...so take your pick !
I actually prefer the 3DS version, the DSN-12. It's based off of the MS-10, actually, but has some unique features and you can sequence 12 synths together.
+Christopher wootton It's got Sync and PWM, which the MS-20 doesn't have
Split your dinner down you Nick ?
its great to have all these analogs coming back but only oberheim has taken the mantle and built them like tanks like they used to be- the sem and ob 2 and 4 voice are built like tanks- most of these new analogs and reissues are built like crap- even moog needs to step up- their pedals are built great- their synths- hmm????
This guy def drops the ball several times throughout this vid. Doesn't seem like he had a grasp on patching. He tried unsuccessfully to make patches and nothing happens. Plus there is no need to show us sample and hold 3 times! To the person who asked if the mini has enough voltage to mult/split a CV signal, it does. This guy says it doesn't buy repeatedly uses the mults on his orange modular to split signals. So obviously it has enough voltage. WATCH MARC DOTY!