Korg MS20 mini vs Roland System-1

[FranciscoArellano]

Hi there,
I want to trade my system-1 for a ms20 mini. Just wondering if anyone has these two synths and their appreciation.

I tried a MS20 mini at the local store and I really liked it sound. I also like the system-1 but something about the sound of the ms20 just caught my attention and as a SYNTH ADDICT, I can't stop thinking about the ms20

I usually create ambient music and also some kind of electrodark music. As I saw in the ms20 there is no midi out, which means I wont be able to midi control my other gear (a price i'm willing to pay)...

There is just something about korg sound I guess... I freaking love korg.

Well, any opinion is welcomed.

Cheers!

[MutantLabs]

I have the System-1 for a few months and received my MS 20 Mini yesterday. Played with iMS-20 on my iPad for quite a while.

I personally would never trade one for the other, because I am finding both to be very different. The System-1 is a Roland, so it sounds well behaved, more exact/polished, still can be aggressive. It's not as "sweet" sounding as a Juno, for example, though. But with the Promars-plugout, you get easily into that territory.

The MS-20 on the other hand is a rude and dirty boy by nature. If I wanted a trance'y super saw, I'd grab the System-1. But if I want weird drones, squealy filter-sweeps or distorted electronic mayhem, I'd certainly got for the MS-20 and be there in seconds.
When I am noodling on the Sys1, it motivates me into nice melodies, chord progressions that immediately form into something along the lines of a "traditional" electronic song.
When I am noodling on the MS-20, it motivates me into weird electronic noises constant knob-turning to generate textures and sequences that I don't hear on the radio very often .

I love my MS-20 (Mini), but I noticed some things right from the beginning that might be worth mentioning:
- Only 5-pin MIDI input. MIDI In/Out via USB (not checked myself), though. Only notes, no controllers (not in and not out).
- It's noisy. Very noisy in my opinion. And the noise-source is before the VCA, so the noise goes up and down with your VCA-envelope, too. Very annoying. It disappears with higher VCO levels and the LPF open, but it's very audible otherwise.
- The VCO-2 pitch control is a single control over 2 octaves. For dialing in a slight detune between VCO-1 and 2 you have like 1mm of way on the dial. And for both VCOs to be in tune, it's not "0" on the dial but slightly to the left.
- CV is hz/V on the Korg and V/Oct. in Eurorack-Land. This hinders the extensions of the MS-20 with Eurorack-modules a bit. Can be solved by buying conversion modules for extra $, though.

To wrap up:
Two completely different synths that can do completely different things very well. So it depends highly on what kind of tones you want to get out of them.
I will certainly keep both.

[FranciscoArellano]

I have the System-1 for a few months and received my MS 20 Mini yesterday. Played with iMS-20 on my iPad for quite a while.

I personally would never trade one for the other, because I am finding both to be very different. The System-1 is a Roland, so it sounds well behaved, more exact/polished, still can be aggressive. It's not as "sweet" sounding as a Juno, for example, though. But with the Promars-plugout, you get easily into that territory.

The MS-20 on the other hand is a rude and dirty boy by nature. If I wanted a trance'y super saw, I'd grab the System-1. But if I want weird drones, squealy filter-sweeps or distorted electronic mayhem, I'd certainly got for the MS-20 and be there in seconds.
When I am noodling on the Sys1, it motivates me into nice melodies, chord progressions that immediately form into something along the lines of a "traditional" electronic song.
When I am noodling on the MS-20, it motivates me into weird electronic noises constant knob-turning to generate textures and sequences that I don't hear on the radio very often .

I love my MS-20 (Mini), but I noticed some things right from the beginning that might be worth mentioning:
- Only 5-pin MIDI input. MIDI In/Out via USB (not checked myself), though. Only notes, no controllers (not in and not out).
- It's noisy. Very noisy in my opinion. And the noise-source is before the VCA, so the noise goes up and down with your VCA-envelope, too. Very annoying. It disappears with higher VCO levels and the LPF open, but it's very audible otherwise.
- The VCO-2 pitch control is a single control over 2 octaves. For dialing in a slight detune between VCO-1 and 2 you have like 1mm of way on the dial. And for both VCOs to be in tune, it's not "0" on the dial but slightly to the left.
- CV is hz/V on the Korg and V/Oct. in Eurorack-Land. This hinders the extensions of the MS-20 with Eurorack-modules a bit. Can be solved by buying conversion modules for extra $, though.

To wrap up:
Two completely different synths that can do completely different things very well. So it depends highly on what kind of tones you want to get out of them.
I will certainly keep both.

I got my ms20 mini yesterday. I'm so happy with it... I just love the sound it has, it is AMAZING. It inspires me easily, and much more than the system-1 (I don't know why, but I haven't been able to synthesize many sounds I like with system-1). The noisy thing I haven't noticed it, but maybe its because I'm kindof new to all this synth thing. About the midi implementation, I was already aware of no midi out but is a price i was willing to pay.

Anyways, I still have no idea about modular synthesis though I read the manuals and have read many things. I do have some theory about it, but as my main language is spanish is difficult to "understand" properly certain things.

I have seen many people using effects with the ms20. Yesterday I used a delay effect with it and sounds even more awesome. So I'm wondering if I get a simple minikp to add to my setup specifically for the ms20.

Any suggestion?

And thanks for taking your time to answer. I think I'll keep both synths

[LivePsy]

"I'll keep both synths" - that is the correct answer

The MS-20 is limited to output through the filter/amp using the same envelope but has the ability to patch in additional oscillators, LFOs and envelopes. So it could be considered the start of a modular system in some ways. It sure is great. Its like an electronics workshop.

B

[Redmond Barry]

The MS-20 is a phenomenal synth! I would go so far as to say it has an infinite number of sound potential. I know there are some sounds I've created that I never found again, no matter how hard I tried. Even slight variations in setting can relate to each other in a unique way! In my opinion everyone should have an MS-20!