No VA does the same massive pads.... Love 'em. Can't really dial them on MicroKorg

Just got one for a bargain...can you tell me how to get the arpeggiator synced to MIDI? I heard it couldn't do that.

I've never had mine go out of synch with either the arp nor the sequencer. My Electribe EMX is my master, it even responds to the stop command, it won't start automatically though, you must trigger it manually (just like with the R3).

modern softsynths may perform better by most objective measurements but the MS2000 is a minor classic IMHO. a lot of love went into the design and it shows.

check out the music of Rene Hell, who knows this instrument inside out. i saw him play live once and it was quite something.

my first synth as well, i enjoy it with some caveats.

it's unabashedly digital, if this is your first synth or you're aware of this fact then it's a non-issue, however if you think you're getting a JP8000 you're not, as has been stated. the modulation matrix can really tear it up - i remember cruising thru the presets at a tender 18 and hearing the 'diginator' sound that i'm sure depeche mode used as a starting point for at least one sound on 'exciter', and pooping my pants a little bit.

i like the aliasing, it produces some nice artifacts and what not for EFX in your signal chain to 'grab onto' - certain types of reverbs and digital delays, for instance.

one thing to remember is that the output of the MS2000 (at least the blue one) is going to be lower than most other synths - this is a bug, as far as i know, and i've always fixed it (if i was in a situation where i needed to) by using the mod matrix to route the AMP eg to the AMP level (which is already hardwired, but selecting this routing adds more emphasis to that EG which brings your levels up to normal). a stupid workaround.

i made some nice cherry end caps for mine, looks cool. i think it is a great digital synth, and should be placed in that category rather than the VA it was manufactured as. i used to gang it up with the rack unit to get 8 voices of polyphony, loved that. and the little side wings are a great place to double-stick tape or velcro efx boxes and what not.

I love it! Super fun to tweak, you can really go from weird to bizzare in seconds. But if you want only simple analog-like tones..not so much.

I like the microkorg, ms2000 series, not much character, but good sound for the price. Not a big fan of the radius, r3 for some reason though, those sound to clean and glossy for me.

I bought a mint one not long ago and I like it. I have not spent tons of time with it. Royskopp uses a lot of MS-20s but I have seen them using the MS2000 on stage. If they use one then it must be worth something.

Does it make sense that I don't like any V/A .. but I like the Radias ??

I think it's hilarious the way Korg put a distortion thinger on it to replicate the filters of my original MS stuff. Oh and the filter is nasty too. So are the "oscs".

For the money, if you want modern and hardware build up a little 3 unit euro rack. Leave the toys for the kids..


Of course, that's just my opinion, I may be wrong.



alexP

i love my vintage gear too. but owning and enjoying a bit of cheap digital kit instead of a rack full of Cwejman doesn't make anyone a "kid". that's just an awful, awful outlook to have on music....and i urge you to try and grow out of it.

Haven't used mine in ages, however I wouldn't sell it.

ummm kinda. What other VAs have you used?

Nords, Virus, Novation, I've barely used Waldorfs. I just either hate them or find them just a bit inferior to my other analog or digital synths.

I tend to like my analog analog.. and my digital digital.

I just thought of the Radius as a really good digital synth. It reminded me of the Monomachine, but actually sounded better to my ears. Very dark and bright. Not too much midrange, which I guess could be bad in a way.. but it sounded right in context with the instrument. Very robotic.

I had a MS2K B rack and I totally agree with you. Kind of interesting for some things but honestly easily replaceable with a sub $200 VSTi. I really don't miss it at all, but I felt the same way about my Virus C.

Love mine.

Just finished a max4live device for it. It's just like a plugin now except audio is external.

http://www.maxforlive.com/library/device.php?id=900

Having fun with it.

The arpeggiator on the MS2000 syncs to MIDI by setting it's internal clock to "External". Now... when the MS2000 receives MIDI clock from a DAW or worstation synth, it should be in sync to whatever tempo you have set. Doing this will also sync it's step sequencer and delay f/x to MIDI as well. heh

there is a firmware upgrade that needs to be performed on many ms2000s to correct the sync issues. look under 'support' in korg's website. if this firmware update is not performed, arpeggiator and sequencer sync will be off.

Does it totally fix it? I had heard that it does not totally fix it.

I have one and how do you put the firmware update on the machine? MIDI cable connected to your PC? Thanks.

Yes I agree, I remember doing that upgrade myself years ago. I downloaded the patch from Korg at the time and did the upgrade with a free sysex program via MIDI.

Oh.. and I've liked what I heard from the Nord Lead 3... but never touched one myself.

Its been surpassed by VSTs but I think it still has its place... I got mine as a gift from a friend and wasnt disappointed, it sounds like the same synth engine as my EA1 and the delay is the same, which I think sounds splendid. Dont think of it as VA, just think of it as another instrument. Just like anything, it has its place. Haters gonna hate...

ummm... what are you talking about btw... just wondering... hater...

then microwave XT FTW

harsh and grainy where the radias is bright and shimmery

wish I picked up a radias rack for 700$ when korg where dumping them though......

The XT rack is the only Waldorf I've ever used on a project... great synth.. awful presets.. .trumpets? really??

Don't like it. Prefer the AN1x and KS-Rack over it for different reasons. Also it's too expensive (the keyboard version) for the power you get for a VA. May as well go software. I'm not a big VA person but having one around, as well as software, is a nice thing - esp if 'knobby', but the sound HAS to do something for me too and the Korg never did it for me.

The bargain I just purchased has turned out to be a dud, but he's going to send it to me anyway, so I can have a bash at repairing it.

Although I suspect it might be the mainboard. Any ideas where i can pick up a replacement guts for it?

that about sums it up. my first hardware piece (working one anyway); i love the flexibility, instant gratification, and a lot of the sounds I'm able to conjure up. but, truth is it's just not as naturally beefy or substantial-sounding as I wish it were. I've made about 40 "tunes" w/ nothing but ms2000 and i'm gonna have to process them thoughtfully to take out some of the harshness. I'm gonna hold onto it (I have been and will continue accumulating other mostly analog synths), because I've definitely had tons of fun with it, and though it sounds digital, it's got it's strengths. I guarantee I've pulled some voices out of the ms2000 that eq'd/affected correctly would make one say "damn"

Never liked it.

Radias blows as well, to my ears. I'd rather use a softsynth if that sound was what I was after.

My first hardware synth, bought it for a great price, nice condition too.

It does sound plastic, and the pots are ridiculously flimsy, lucky the keyboard is slightly nicer, but the biggest minus comes from the resonance being unable to go wild (is that the volume adjustment thing?), and the pure sound isn't exciting or deep and round like an analogue, but I love the weird organic and alive sounds I can coax out of it through modulation and eg-s, and I haven't even learned to use the sequencer section, nor have I used it with my guitar effects pedals. It does sound ace through my Blues Jr. but I've just begun learning, so it's headphones most of the time.

Luckily guitars can do punchy dynamic stuff, and this machine only has to bring on the ambient and weird lead and pad sounds, maybe some electronic bass later.

Am I right in saying you can only save your own sounds in the place of factory presets?