Korg Forums

[hoegge]

Just assembled and used my MS-20 kit. Nice synth, but have two issues and would like to hear other's opinions

1) The synth is very noisy, i.e. when I play turning both oscillators all the way down a lot of noise comes out (probably from the filters?). It means that a triangular wave sound almost drowns in noise (I can measure the level on a follow up post if you are interested). I have heard complaints about that with the MS-20 Mini, but should not be an issue on the full size MS-20. What should you expect of noise level in this synth?

2) The 3 red LEDs are so bright it is hard to see the controls in a dimmed room. Pretty annoying and seems to be a disease in the electronics industry to use LEDs that can be used as head or tail lights for cars. Please - don't use these super bright diodes for indication lights. Am I the only one, that think this is annoying.

Aside that, it is a fun and interesting synth

Morten

[LivePsy]

Noise
Yes, the old filters are noisy, I never use them. Hardly any different in sound otherwise IMO. Be thankful you have a choice.

LEDs
At least they are red. Kronos is blinding. But it's a blight on synths these days.

B

[hoegge]

[LivePsy]

Glad you worked it out because I didn't explain the filters at all

After I heard the new and old filters, I changed the jumper on the main board to always start up with the new filter. I can always power it on with the keys down if I want the old filter for a while. Unless you changed the board jumper inside, you will always get the old filters on power up without the keys held.

I just haven't bothered to switch to the old filters after months of use. I don't think I could stand the MS-20 if it only had the old filters.

B

[channel0]

I'm not sure if you could call the early 'noisy' filters a fault, since they add to the original sound of the early MS-20's. True the new filter available in the kit produces a lot less noise, but to me it doesn't have the character of the early in a sense of being aggressive.
I didn't have the impression that a triangle wave was 'drowned in noise' with the early filter. But I like the screaming mayhem the MS20 kit makes, just like the mini does. Tastes may differ.
As for the LEDS, they are bright, but a well lit front panel from one or more external light sources should compensate for this. Remember, this thing has new lights on, the original MS-20 show their mileage concerning oscillators, and lights.
_________________
Gear : Korg M-50; Kaossilator2, Kaossilator Pro+; The Monotron bros.; MS-20 mini,MS-20 Kit, MS-20M; Monotribe; Microkey61; the Volca bros; SQ-1.
non-korg : Novation Bass Station 2, Novation Ultranova, MFB Dominion 1
Controllers: Arturia Analog Exp the Laboratory61, Arturia BeatStep;Keith McMillen Qnexus, Korg NanoKontrol 2.
Tascam US-144 Mk II, Alesis iO4
System : Win 8.1/Ubuntu Linux; i5-3470 quad core cpu@3.2 Ghz; 8Gb Ram
DAW : Presonus Studio One Free, Cubase 5.1

[LivePsy]

[channel0]

maybe a couple of layers of dark varnish on them may help?
I wouldn't want to throw it out solely because of the bright leds
but now that I'm checking, the leds on the mini are far less brighter
_________________
Gear : Korg M-50; Kaossilator2, Kaossilator Pro+; The Monotron bros.; MS-20 mini,MS-20 Kit, MS-20M; Monotribe; Microkey61; the Volca bros; SQ-1.
non-korg : Novation Bass Station 2, Novation Ultranova, MFB Dominion 1
Controllers: Arturia Analog Exp the Laboratory61, Arturia BeatStep;Keith McMillen Qnexus, Korg NanoKontrol 2.
Tascam US-144 Mk II, Alesis iO4
System : Win 8.1/Ubuntu Linux; i5-3470 quad core cpu@3.2 Ghz; 8Gb Ram
DAW : Presonus Studio One Free, Cubase 5.1

[LivePsy]

What? Now I need to get the mini as well! LOL

If the MS20kit wasn't SMT, I'd be putting dimming resistors on the LEDs.

B

[channel0]

it would be nice to adjust brightness of the leds according to volume e.g.
but that's just wishful thinking. wearing shades would probably be overdoing it
_________________
Gear : Korg M-50; Kaossilator2, Kaossilator Pro+; The Monotron bros.; MS-20 mini,MS-20 Kit, MS-20M; Monotribe; Microkey61; the Volca bros; SQ-1.
non-korg : Novation Bass Station 2, Novation Ultranova, MFB Dominion 1
Controllers: Arturia Analog Exp the Laboratory61, Arturia BeatStep;Keith McMillen Qnexus, Korg NanoKontrol 2.
Tascam US-144 Mk II, Alesis iO4
System : Win 8.1/Ubuntu Linux; i5-3470 quad core cpu@3.2 Ghz; 8Gb Ram
DAW : Presonus Studio One Free, Cubase 5.1

[LivePsy]

http://www.lightdims.com/

[channel0]

lol, there's a business in this or everyone it seems
nice tip, but I'll stick with a well lit front panel.
you can't play this box in the dark live unless if you know it by heart
_________________
Gear : Korg M-50; Kaossilator2, Kaossilator Pro+; The Monotron bros.; MS-20 mini,MS-20 Kit, MS-20M; Monotribe; Microkey61; the Volca bros; SQ-1.
non-korg : Novation Bass Station 2, Novation Ultranova, MFB Dominion 1
Controllers: Arturia Analog Exp the Laboratory61, Arturia BeatStep;Keith McMillen Qnexus, Korg NanoKontrol 2.
Tascam US-144 Mk II, Alesis iO4
System : Win 8.1/Ubuntu Linux; i5-3470 quad core cpu@3.2 Ghz; 8Gb Ram
DAW : Presonus Studio One Free, Cubase 5.1

[slug]

I had the same problem with my active Tannoys - little LEDS that are beaming directly into your eyes... I just put a dab of black vivid pen on them and so on direct view Im not getting the intensity but can still see it active.

Now my Prophet 12 - that is a synth that needs a dimmer....