Korg M-500

The best part of using the Korg M 500 is that it is so much fun to use. It is small and compact, it will give you some great sounds in such a small unit. Plus they are going for pretty cheap. The great effect on this board is the random vibrato effect. It will really give the sound you are using it on a punch and make it sound “crazy”. I love using that effect and have built a lot of songs from just using a sound with that effect. Then run it through a mixer and put it into the computer so I can eq it some because it will be rather sloppy trying to mix when it sounds so crazy. But that is by far my favorite thing to do with the Korg M 500.


UTILIZATION

The Korg M 500 is one of the easiest to use vintage keyboards you will ever have your hands on. Its so much fun and its very small. You can throw this thing in a bag and take it with you where ever you go. It also looks pretty cool to with the retro wood grain look. So just the style alone will look great in your studio.


SOUNDS

There where a lot of hit songs in the 80’s that used synths from the Korg M 500. With a little tweaking and maybe running it through an effects processor on your pc or mac you could get some cool stuff that could give you a hit today. The possibilities on this keyboard are endless and on such a compact unit. I am not a fan of the brass sounds though, they just don’t sit well with me. Very thin sounding trumpets.


OVERALL OPINION

Its great, affordable and compact. I don’t regret having it, and if something happened to mine I would find another one and get it right away.

see above.

I wish the vibrato also modulates the release of the AR envelope, because we hear the stop hard after her into the shot.

UTILIZATION

it is easy to use, one hand on the keyboard and the other on the knobs when there is need.

Obviously we could have dreamed of for a pedal switcher portamento, but then I become boring.

SOUNDS

no velocity or aftertouch, again we could have dreamed of a velocity modulating the filter opening like all digital imitating analog sadly.


The sounds are beautiful, low cut filter will be honest, sensitive setting.

it is not far from the moog filter but with a limited but effective, not Raisonnance or contour.

the synth sounds, you can make a wave at the Theremin in the treble, the bass is fatter.

noise is limited, and it registers on a cutting section, we would have liked noise part, but then I'm terrible.


flutes to Mr. Kitaro old school, not pass through the filter?

oboe, clarinet, very hot.


trumpets and horns that farts.

the strings do not pass through the filter and there is more boring on the other hand.

this synth patches are exeptional. For everything lfo and envelopes is very limited.

OVERALL OPINION

this synth is very nice and cheap.

There is not a lot of things, but he does it very well, but with defects simplicity, but who cares, it has not a synth!

I do not know if this is minikorg and evolution of this synth I think it's worth it.

excellent value for money, this is not a toy, it's tough, it does not crackles, at least not mine, it's a bit the same knobs on the MS20.

the synth presets is nice, it goes faster, the patch is already there.

With the experience I only buy machines to life, it has to sound good to me and I can find it and repair it is not obvious at all.
I do not want to hear about memories and therefore not corespondances sound position knobs. For me from now a synthesizer sound that is equal to the momment it is, old.

I would be an exception for one day and JD800 dx7.

If you like the style progressive rock Tangerine Dream, JM jar, Kitaro, Schulze ..

We love this synth!

According to Techno and derivatives it is certainly not the best, though.

32 keys
30 presets 5 1 synthe
Synthe 5 2 (3 + sound synthe white noise and pink noise)
5 brass (three trumpets, one trombone, one tuba)
5 string (two violins, a viola, a cello, a dblebasse)
5 wood (recorder, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon)
5 voices (whistle, soprano, alto, tenor, bass)
1 large knob on / off as the volume that gre
1 large knob for the pitch
1 large knob for the attack and sustain for a
1 large knob for modulation
1 large knob for modulation
1 large knob for portamento
2 horizontal sliders: one for the traveler (filter) and one for the modulation
3 switches: one for the vibrato
For a repeat of the vibrato
1 for the portamento
The traveler will only work on 2 presets of synthesizers and brass.

Great look (in 1985) with a wooden, plastic keyboard, no aftertouch, polyphonic certainly (I check welds) monotimbral.

Output Jack 2 6'35 (high-low out)

UTILIZATION

Very very simple, no need for manual

SOUNDS

For good or deaf low aggressive ", some presets are dealing (synth 1 and 2 32 ', the bass is also interesting). The traveler, as the Korg PS-900 is impressive, the portamento is also the vibrato is a bit worse than the PS-900 but hey .... he will have done the trick!
The sounds are not realistic! But damn, they are good!! (Sorry for bad word) I particulirement gets off the sounds and they incorporated very well into my music .... If you want to make very flat ground you can! If you want to make big bass, you can! I find it versatile even if it has only 30 presets. His traveler (filter) is so good that every sound can be exploitable.

OVERALL OPINION

I love its looks, its sounds, its traveler. I do not even resell the galley .... I love him too! I consider the little brother of PS-900 (released in 1975), so it has some weaknesses against it but it makes up for its low weight and low "footprint. And then her look! ! With its large buttons that can be good tritouiller ever!

I bought 150 on occasion and the dark because I had seen on photos.Et is a very good surprise.
It does not please you can not therefore be better to look to try before you buy (I did the opposite).
I am very satisfied!

Monophonic synth presets.
32 keys
30 presets (See other reviews)
Look great vintage (we like it or not, I find super cute!)

UTILIZATION

RAS, super simple. We select a preset ... and triturated.

SOUNDS

We can get good low fat (2 synthesis by 32 ') or otherwise well Scheer (Synth 1 in 32' playing with the traveler and sustain), but also the leads can move towards a therenim.
Subtilis small it is possible to "pair" two presets to one another (eg synth 2 in 32 'in 32 + Wood'...). It is then well beyond the 30 preset, it adds 125 combinations supplmentaires ...
Personally I have allocated my permanent Manir M-500 analog chorus (Korg CHR-1) and rendering is fantastic, the sound becomes more in depth. If we add this one delay and / or reverb, overdrive even see the possibilities of the machine becomes gigantic.

OVERALL OPINION

I found my M-500 on a site well known for enchres 130 (including postage), I do not regret my purchase. J'espre to continue using it for many years. It is a small analog synth that does not look, but which provides maximum pleasure.