How to create a MS-20 sound on MS-20EX

[Corgy]

Hi guys ... may be that some of you has a better idea of doing this...

The Beginning:
I made a nice and simple punchy Reso-Bass like sound on my MS-20 (yes the analogue from the 80s) - took a recording - and thought - wouldn't it be nice to have it on the Kronos too

First approach:
Taking notes of the MS-20 settings, loading a fresh EXi program, selecting the MS-20EX and dialing in my notes. Result ... hmmmm ... some similarity but far away, if compared directly

Well, it was naive enough to think, an analoque setting would copy 1:1 to it's digital brother.

Second approach:
Tweaking the filter cutoff, filter resonance, the envelopes and the amount of envelope sensitivity, and tweaked the "analogue button" ... well, there was some improvement ... at least. But I could not get rid of a certain undesired amount of brightness and the whole thing missed the punch of the original sound.

Final approach:
Cheating ... got a stereo compressor to improve on the punch and an EQ to get rid of this brightness and to lift a little on the low frequencies. Okay, that got me allmost there. I like it, but it isn't the same. May be that I am biased, but if I listen to both sounds side by side, I like the analoge better. It seems to have more - difficult to explain - fatness, is more smooth, has little more character ...

Does anybody have advice, how to approach this better? It's not about sampling the MS-20, that would be my ultimate resort, if rebuilding the sound with MS-20EX would fail completely.

[SanderXpander]

I usually have the same experience, but it's important to realize that no two MS20s are the same, especially not the vintage ones. It's part of the beauty of analog, I think. Korg made a model of either "the average MS20" or their own test model, but not of yours. General settings copying is a good idea but definitely use your ears to get closer. Make sure your levels are identical too, it's easy to find one more impressive if it's louder. And don't forget the resonance also affects the bass content - if the analog one has more bottom end it's possible its resonance range is different (or at least the pot is calibrated differently).

That said, play to the strengths of the digital model. Like you already noticed, you have a lot more possibilities to modify and beef up the signal. Simple EQ can do a lot. Many people like the tube preamp model to add some warmth/beefiness. The stereo compressor definitely has its use too.

[Corgy]

I usually have the same experience, but it's important to realize that no two MS20s are the same, especially not the vintage ones. It's part of the beauty of analog, I think. Korg made a model of either "the average MS20" or their own test model, but not of yours. General settings copying is a good idea but definitely use your ears to get closer. Make sure your levels are identical too, it's easy to find one more impressive if it's louder. And don't forget the resonance also affects the bass content - if the analog one has more bottom end it's possible its resonance range is different (or at least the pot is calibrated differently).

That said, play to the strengths of the digital model. Like you already noticed, you have a lot more possibilities to modify and beef up the signal. Simple EQ can do a lot. Many people like the tube preamp model to add some warmth/beefiness. The stereo compressor definitely has its use too.

Yesss ... I checked the tube preamp and it is doing much to get very close now. It is a good tool for such jobs and I have to admit that I just forgot about having those amps around in the Kronos. I use tube simulations in my DAW often ... well, but sometimes it takes a shove from somebody to point your nose to the right direction

Thanks