All user reviews of 5/5 for the Korg MS-20 Mini

As the mini MS-20 mini-keys, if you want to play furious solos, it will be difficult ... if not, connect an external MIDI keyboard or buy the kit version (twice as expensive when same)!

As for manufacturing, it seems very correct for the price.

UTILIZATION

I do not advise as first or only synth due to both the lack of memory, limited MIDI (but compared to the original, that's a lot!) And semi-modular side not so obvious at first !
Besides that, it will always add an effect behind ...

All this explains why in my opinion the most resales synth secondhand because it had a "buzz" his enormous output and some are surely precipitated without thinking!

As patching is not easy, I recommend these tutorials (in English but it is visual):

(for use without the module part).

(for the module part).

on the other hand, it is a perfect synth for those who like to experiment ... I must say that with such a look, it will be douterai!

SOUNDS

I love the grain!

I said that I had the original there almost 20 years (it was already hyper vintage at the time!).

In any case, when I refer to my recollection, it sounds like the original ms-20, the difference may be the stability of oscilloscope that here "driftent" not (but that is surely due to the age of the machine).

About the famous controversy on the breath, all I can say is that mine virtually no breath (or maybe I got lucky ... or I become deaf with the age!).

It sounds much more vintage than other recent analog or I tried:
for example the recent Moog have a much bigger sound with thicker oscilloscope but ultimately sound less "live" too straight.

Note that I am not saying that these Moog does not sound good - indeed they are perfect to complete - I'm just saying they lack that little something mind of the mini-MS20 and most vintage synths!

Note that you can still grow the sound by adjusting
the HP filter around 9am and resonance to 15h, it is as if a sub is rajoutai).

This synth excels in special effects and sounds a bit "dirty" we must say that the original has been widely used in the beginning of the new-wave (experimental / cold wave trend) but more recently, in the late 90 by electro artists (the best known are Air, Mr oiso or Portishead).

OVERALL OPINION

It seems to me that this is the first reissue of a vintage analog synth (at least on a large scale), it is either a particular stage in the history of synths!

Given its success, Korg expected to repeat another classic: Arp Odyssey ... when will reissue polyphonic such as the Prophet 5 or Jupiter 8?

The mini-MS20 is perfectly complementary to other synth alone because it is a little too distinctive, but it sounds so much more "vintage" (or some idea that one has the vintage sound) than the other competitors out in recent years!

It is certainly not very practical in the context of creating a song (no memory, limited to MIDI notes, time to patch) but this sound so delicious grain, it is just an excuse!

Technical doc is easy to find.
I have not been MS20 so I do not know if it is completely faithful to the original. The tests say yes, then ...

UTILIZATION

The manual is not bad I think useful. The commands available on the front, a button / function is great, but when we returned in the modular part, better know what you are doing. As this is not my case, I'm glad to have a manual with examples of patches and explanations on the functioning of the beast!
otherwise, the keyboard is completely playable. I guess it depends on the style of play, but it really is not bad. After it's true that I do not have big fingers ...

SOUNDS

ouiiiii!
He yells angrily!
Esp the part is great. And the addition of midi / usb is a gain invaluable when making sounds on his computer with apps and other machines!
Coupled with a delay, it's magic!
I was so happy in receiving I made a video:


Well, it's quick, I fly the machine, but it always sounds more to get an idea.

OVERALL OPINION

I had a MS 10 is fifteen years but it was not for me and since I was drooling over. But it was too expensive. Korg thank you for this re-release! It is a machine that made me really want, and I'm not disappointed! Especially at this price!
He must spend some time on it to tame (something I have not had time to do yet), but it feels great potential.
I already have a VA (the Korg R3), a super bass station and evolver: the complete ms 20 good stuff, it is very different from these machines, of course r3 but also two other analog monos.
I had the opportunity to buy a cheap Polysix long ago, hearing the grain of the old cuckoo, I regret not having done so, they could discuss both.
I read a lot of reviews on the breath, I admit that it does not bother me at all, I have not even gaffe, but I'm not a stickler for clean sounds ...