There is a synth from early 2000's, not impressive regarding polyphony or multitimbrality, but for its incredible sound. I don't own a Korg MS2000 yet, but will buy the rack version later this year.

I want you all users on all levels to freely express your experience about Korg MS2000, positively and negatively. What can be done with this synth that can't be made with any Roland, Yamaha or Access Virus? What is the magic with the relatively unusual Korg MS2000?

I've had both the MS2000R (rack version) and the MS2000 (keyboard version). Both are sold now. In fact, I just sold the MS2000 a couple days ago. Their value only seems to keep going up over time.

I think a major part of the appeal is the layout. It's incredibly user friendly, 95% of it is a 1:1 ratio regarding knobs and controls. Very little menu diving. To me, the MS2000 is the definition of a 'modern classic'. I'm sure I'll end up with another one. Only sold mine off to fund other gear. It's just plain fun to use and sounds great. Plus, it's simply a beautiful piece of gear.

The layout is superb. If you like knob-per-function, then it doesn't get much better than this. As a result, everything is very immediate and you'll find yourself tweaking everything while using it as a real-time performance instrument.

Soundwise, it has its strengths and weaknesses. You may find that you need some effects to mold it into a production-worthy synth.


If you want to hear it in action, here is a song I created that uses an MS2000 for the first half (including the main melody), along with an Eventide Eclipse. The Prophet 12 leads during the second half.




https://soundcloud.com/chemosit/do-n...-of-the-future

my first synth

remember seeing it in a guitar center 15 years ago

sold it several years ago for a nord lead 2

which too has been sold


a great synth

but not my kind of tone



not sure if it is just a microkorg with 1:1 knob function, 16 band vs 8 band vocoder, and the sequencer though...i think it may just be

i loved it...learned a lot on it

I hoped for that loving magic...

Compared to most synths at the time it was a monster, used by many.

The interface was and still is second to none. Looks were and still are top notch IMO.

Faults, stupid midi timing with the arp (unlike korg so don't know how this happened, some say it had a weak-ish sound (subjective but I always found it decent) and weaker knobs (gentle yes we all agree) but when used in tandem with its functions such as multi mode and multi option 12/24dB filter, dual lfo (which some 'premium' synths still can't manage to provide 17 years later, ahem, no names mentioned), multi lane mod sequencer (space acid heaven) and dwgs waves alongside VA and plenty of built in fx it's a great weapon.

Superb to learn on and superb to play on.

Wish I'd still got mine, will I get another one day? Maybe for nostalgia sakes.

Oh, rackable desktop option too, why don't others do this

It's a ton of fun. Despite being VA, the spirit of the MS series is absolutely alive in that thing. Rene Hell is a musician who's released some fantastic music made mostly with an MS-2000. Seen him play live, he knows that thing inside-out.

it's awesome. looks great, sounds nice (not the heaviest sound) and i want one again. always liked the keyboard version more than the rack/desktop (as much as i'm a fan of desktop units). can't beat the interface and that mod sequencer, just screams play me

This is why I sold mine:

1) Four voice poly in a digital VA just seems miserly in a mostly full-sized synth ...

2) Sound didn't suit what I was chasing at the time: warm, wide, silky, majestic ... Not really any of that ...

3) Despite generous UI albiet with skinny "knobs," controls seemed cramped despite all that space on the front panel ...

4) I felt it's footprint was too large for what it gave ... An impression only heightened when you picked up the box ... Felt like it was full of air (and not in a good way with the sound)

5) Stiff, cheap keybed ...


Many years later (and with a full Jupiter-8 ownership experience under my belt; the sound I really wanted at the time) I'd love to give one another try, sending it through some nice effects and with a better knowledge of synthesis ... and a better appreciation of what can be done with four voices ...

It would probably have to be a stupid good deal though ...

Not at you D.

Anyone can get an ms2k for the cost of one of those teeny weeny boutique emulations by R.

That's enough reason to own one.

4 voice poly isn't really enough. It can sound rather lightweight and unsatisfying although there are plenty of sweet spots where it will give you some warmth and girth if you hunt around for them. It's actually quite characterful sounding compared to a lot of VA's. In 24db mode the filter kind of just gives up at high resonance settings (12db mode generally sounds more pleasing to my ears). The distortion is filthy and sounds like nothing else, and that's probably a good thing for everything else. The mod matrix is cool, but somewhat limited. The delay is good fun. The mod sequencer is really good, especially cool in per voice mode - great for long sustained drones, lots of flashing lights. Some of the DWGS waveforms are really useful and significantly expand the palette of available sounds. The vocoder is very characterful is probably worth the price of admission on its own. I very rarely use mine any more, but every time I power it up I still enjoy messing with it.

After owning my MS2000R for many years, I rediscovered it again by only using the INIT initialized patch to make my own patches from scratch.

When I first got it, I didn't like most of the patches that came with it. I used it mostly as an effects processor. It has a really good delay, chorus, phaser, flanger, filter, and distortion.

I discovered there are many more patches online. There is/was a MS2000 yahoo group that had all those patches available.

Recently I've been getting into the virtual patches and mod sequences.

Here's a cool video of the MS2K as a drum machine.

Suit&tieguy did some really cool stuff with MS2000.

I agree with Diametro though. It's physical size doesn't justify what it offers. Also the question of the DSP chip failing makes me think twice.

I love the characteristic croaky bass it does though.

Interesting opinions here. I own no Korg synth yet, only played the Legacy Collection VST and it was awesomely good for being a VST back in 2006.

I will buy the Triton, Prophecy, MS2000R and the Radias. Four Korg synths and I am more than satisfied. Much of my synth and obtaining is for learning, where every synth gives something in experience. I learn a lot from other sound designers patches as well, by analysing them in MIDI Quest Pro 11. Basically, it's insanity to have so many synths, because many are replacing each other.

I had an MS2000 for 3 times

It has a great vocoder and the mod sequencer was great too.
Eventually i sold it again because the arpeggiator didn't sync to MIDI clock properly.

I'd take a JP-08 Boutique (or any of them) any day over over MS2K. Much better sound (and ability to layer with JP-08) in a highly space-efficient package ... (I'll ask this to anybody who has difficulty using Boutiques — whether through actual sustained use or just imagined — maybe your fine motor skills aren't that great?)

I think what also helps the Boutiques vs. MS2K (aside from 15 years of advancement in VA technology) is their stronger identity. JP-08 gives 90 percent of Jupiter-8 sound with an almost full replication of that classic synth's UI. (Believe it or not, part of the reason I sold Jupiter-$ was that that it took up too much space literally as well as cognitively) ...

In the case of MS2K, while it can be a benefit to have an amorphous nature, I read it these days as a bloated Microkorg with a generous UI but still hard to shake that crunchy, digital sound probably best suited for a Jexus demo or NIN tribute band ...

Is this like "sixty percent of the time, it works every time"?

Eggzactly!

I do like iMS-20 (yes, an app!) a lot more, albeit it is only monophonic and just an app. Sounds more organic (or fat, whatever), gives all controls to fingers, has more effects, 2 really great filters, does not misbehave with MIDI....

Even if i'd needed a HW, I'd never pay more than 150$ for a ms2000. It is nice, but it is 2017!!
And, BTW, knobs and buttons are very fragile and almost always need a repairment.

This is a very cool tutorial!
All this ports well to a Blofeld.
He really makes the MS-2000 shine!

I own two of them, purchased brand new when they were first released. They are still in mint condition and I've never had to repair or replace anything.

Jexus' review is what got me originally really excited about it, so I'm happy to see this thread and absorb everyone's thoughts. The MS-2000 is super high up there on my "get this next" list.

I still have mine that I bought new and it's chugging wonderfully along...no issues. I love it. Sure it has limited voices but the sound is wonderful. I'd rate it a bit below the AN1x but above the JP8000.

And the Mystery Islands VST controller for it is awesome. From my composing station I can program, automate, load sounds from my extensive collection and save them so they load when I restart a project.

Sold mine for a Radias a long time ago. Never looked back. I knew the Ms2000 inside and out, and the Radias is far superior imo.

You're good user!
I was talking about buying used one, and i've seen 4 ms4k that needed knobs or buttons repairment, and repaired 2 of them. Just saying.

... well, it has somewhat of a design flaw that nearly killed mine
(some support sheet got loose and scratched all over the PC-board)

And it evades me, how possibly the MIDI SYSEX communication only works if you set the clock to external
(yes, I wrote a editor for it)

But I still like it, and it makes for a great MIDI controller also, the right and left empty spaces are ideal for placing a iPad-Mini there or the like.

(... and I had a super deal on it, got it for 50$, with case )

Depends what style of music u want it for.
It excels at make sounds quick that with a Virus takes time and it doesn t sound the same. Best for dry screaming time of sounds and also vintage sounds a la hip hop, dnb..
I own two and never sell! Microkorg just the same.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nMxV5T_TRYw
There is no synth that sounds just like that!!
Not for ambient though

There's one in my local thrift store but I don't have space to welcome it. It's going for ¥23,000.

Do you think the Radias can do everything that MS2000 does but more? Does the Radias replace the MS2000?

Yes. People say they sound different. I don't doubt that. The Radias has a better engine. But, I think part of the reason people think that is because the Ms2000, by default, has a more basic sound. If you strip down the Radias to it's basic sound: pull off the Waveform stacking, take off the amplifier distortion, minimize the effects (example reverb, which I don't even think the 2000 has), route through only one filter instead of splitting it off into a dual filter configuration, then it's essentially the same synth, but with a better sound, way more polyphony, and more waveforms.

Like the DSI synths, I think people confuse "complicated, poorly programmed presets" for "bad sound."

If you want "gritty" or "low res," it's very easy to do. Low bit resolution, cross modulation. It's super easy to get whatever you want out of the thing. Neither of those synths are "fat," but the Radias can be both "ballsy" *and* "lush" in a way that the 2000 never could be.