How good is the m50

[microkorgy]

compared to dedicated (non entry level) synthesizers, like a dedicated drum machine and a dedicated synth, sounds qualities wise? I mean, compared to having both of the others)


Thanks in advance

[X-Trade]

It really depends what kind of sounds you are going for and what kind of music you are making, and how you make it.


In general, the specific sounds from a synth will be better. But a dedicated synth won't do the 'bread and butter' sounds like acoustic piano, guitars, drums, etc.
Again a dedicated drum synth is great, but for acoustic drum sounds the M50 would probably be better and more expressive.

Also something like the M50 will offer a linear sequencer and pattern sequencer where you can program an entire song.


as I said, your question is really general and it just isn't really that simple.

[microkorgy]

It really depends what kind of sounds you are going for and what kind of music you are making, and how you make it.


In general, the specific sounds from a synth will be better. But a dedicated synth won't do the 'bread and butter' sounds like acoustic piano, guitars, drums, etc.
Again a dedicated drum synth is great, but for acoustic drum sounds the M50 would probably be better and more expressive.

Also something like the M50 will offer a linear sequencer and pattern sequencer where you can program an entire song.


as I said, your question is really general and it just isn't really that simple.

That's right, I wasn't specific enough. I guess I meant for electronic music, like dance related stuff. Like subwoofer like bass beats,

I was thinking of getting a tb-909 or some equivalent, plus the korg legacy collection, but then thought having them in one package plus extras would be more convenient (since I shun having separate boxes all over the place, things are already cluttered )

[microkorgy]

Not what you'd call a most active online forum .


Perhaps it's really the Roland users forum.


A simple question about a well known korg machine can't be answered?? A simple freaking, basic question 'must' go ignored by hundreds.



Wasn't this 'the' Korg interactive resource?


got to praise x-trade thou, for at least taking the time

[X-Trade]

Well yes, you do have just over 100 views. However the question is still fairly ambiguous.

I think personally for the kind of sounds and genre you mention, a pure synthesiser - in particular a VA - would suit you better. The Radias for example would be perfect, it has drums and synth parts and is incredibly flexible even beyond simple 'analog' sounds into all kinds of digital modulation and crazyness. You would still need to use an external sequencer though as you can't make entire songs from scratch on most dedicated synths.


The M50 is a workstation which is designed to emulate a variety of 'bread and butter' sounds - i.e. all the staples of songwriting. It does do quite well at realistic electromechanical instruments, the acoustic instruments are okay, and the synths are fairly good - but you'll get more mileage out of a real synth rather than something that lacks identity like the M50.

I'm not even saying its a bad instrument because it really isn't, but if you want synth sounds go for a synth!

[microkorgy]

Great


I was a bit confused partly due to the M1 having killer synthesizer sounds, and less on real instrument emulation, yet it's a workstation too.


I thought perhaps Korgs newer arrangers followed that same tradition of being good as both dedicated synths and 'band' replacements.

But perhaps that isn't so.


I might just stick with some software synths in addition to the MK. Then I just need a good beat machine, given the software once I've heard sound dismal. They wouldn't make it on any real record I reckon. I'd like to go beyond "garageband or myspace sounds", and have more 'production ready' sounds and beats, but there are like 10000 choices, and many of them get rave reviews, whether they sound professional or not.

[X-Trade]

The M1 was partly unique in that it was the first of its kind. There was no rule as to what it would do.
Its excessively synthy presets are mainly down to the fact that the technology didn't exist at the time (not affordably anyway) to reproduce the sounds of acoustic instruments in that way, and also synth sounds were very 'in' at the time.

Interesting synth sounds can still be considered a staple of sorts too though, and it is still a synthesizing keyboard - it wouldn't be complete without some synth sounds. The same goes for the M50 which has a great filter section but generally sounds more realistic than the M1 for example.


I know it should be obvious from your name but I didn't realise you already had a VA - the microKorg. Generally speaking M50 or another workstation would be a great complement to go along with a synth like the MK because it gives you a lot of things you don't have - sampled real instruments, drums, etc.

[microkorgy]

cheers. And yea the microkorg is limited. It's probably almost useless for ambient type of sounds, and beats programming. After a while, I get tired of the raspy or squeaky 'wild' sound, and lack of warmth.

And the notion that it's the same as the ms2000. The ms2000 sounds much warmer and thus musical than the MK, imo.

I basically still haven't found 'the main one' that I'm after, still searching .

[jacke]

Regarding the original question: I don't know. Your question didn't go ignored anymore, hope you appreciate my valuable input!

A simple question about a well known korg machine can't be answered?? A simple freaking, basic question 'must' go ignored by hundreds.

[kimu]

if you do not need aocustic sound emulation, i would go with a good analog monophonic synth for bass line (as moog or in lower cost range a waldorf pulse or neptune or similar) and a good VA for all the other sound (generally speaking Access Virus series, even earlier than TI series could be a good choice).

a waldorf pulse + a Virus B/C rack would cost approx as a new M50 (at least here in italy).

[microkorgy]

if you do not need aocustic sound emulation, i would go with a good analog monophonic synth for bass line (as moog or in lower cost range a waldorf pulse or neptune or similar) and a good VA for all the other sound (generally speaking Access Virus series, even earlier than TI series could be a good choice).

a waldorf pulse + a Virus B/C rack would cost approx as a new M50 (at least here in italy).

thanks for the advice. I wonder though if the MK doesn't shine just in the area of bass lines

Basically what I wanted was a wide range of synth pads, and more 'full' synthesizer sounds (like with the M1), as well as good electronic beats. Good as in the tr-909, that people actually use. Perhaps the m50 isn't good for that, although it seems like a cool device.

[kimu]

well, the m50 gives you a wide range of synth pads, synth leads of all kinds, from analog emulation to hard electronic plus several good acoustic sounds especially in piano and strings section.

also you can have several ready-to-go drum track to be used with different drum-kits

let say anyway that in m50 you also paid the price of a full workstation that can be the center of your production rig giving that provide you multi-track sequencer, pc-integration (not for audio over usb), Insert FX and EQ.

imo it 's all up to how your workflow is and if you like or not korg synth sounds

[microkorgy]

thanks. yeah, the problem is I'm concerned about getting over saturated with sound widgets and synths and wasting hardearned money .


Already got a DAW, so I wouldn't want a work station and then see the DAW becoming useless or very underused. I'm concerned about being cost effective, since I don't really know what I'm doing .

I don't know if it's better to get several good soft synths since they're pretty cheap, instead of one good hardware synth (like a v-synth), or just a good work station since I'd also need beats. Etc. There's soo much out there... I'm not even sure whether soft synths can substitute for hardware synths these days.

Plus the groovebox thing, should I go with some software version, a hardware version, or just get a workstation with grooves plus synth pads .


It seems dedicated grooveboxes must sell for a reason. So perhaps a workstation isn't a substitute for everything. Or perhaps it could be, i don't know... I'm trying to narrow it down, trying to see what others are doing etc.

[Crystal Mech]

Sounds to me like you have a workflow problem, in that u don't know what tools / methods work best for you. The short answer would be to try everything out in a store & see what works best.

If you already have a DAW then u don't need a workstation. Hwr, I like to have the M50 coz it's a different way of working & it gets me away from the pc. Also, it is completely possible to record ur own grooves/sequences on the M50, ie u don't need a dedicated groovebox - People who own then just like their workflow, or like their sounds, but it's not needed to create grooves when u already have a daw/m50. HST, Only u can decide if u need an M50.

Re hardware V analog synths: Softsynths are much more cost effective than hardware. tbh, I find softsynths much easier to control too, using a tablet (bamboo pen+touch). Again this is something only u can decide.

[mocando]

It seems dedicated grooveboxes must sell for a reason. So perhaps a workstation isn't a substitute for everything. Or perhaps it could be, i don't know... I'm trying to narrow it down, trying to see what others are doing etc.

That depends on your needs. If you don't plan to get out of your home or studio, then maybe a DAW is a better solution, since is endlessly expandable. You can keep adding VSTi's at your will. Of course, at the expense of computing power, but with today's prices for a monster computer, that is not much of a problem.

Now, if you are on the road giggin, that's another story. You'll have to deal with hauling a PC or a laptop around, lousy quality integrated audio solutions, MIDI latency, possibilities for lockups and crashes, unpractical sound switching (instead of a pedal or a pad), then a real hardware synth/workstation is no match.

In my case, I don't gig too much, but still I have an M50 and a Wavestation, 20 years apart technology. I use the Wavestation as a MIDI controller for the M50 for almost all combis, and for specific ones I use the internal sounds of the wavestation. The quality of the WS's keybed is just awesome. I only use a DAW when I'm recording, or to accompany me when one of the band members is absent.

At the end of the day, is your decision.