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MS2000
Analog Modeling Synthesizer

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This is a famous "VA" synthesizer (VA stands for Virtual
Analog). One of the first VAs to come on the market, after the
groundbreaking Clavia Nord Lead (inspired by the great "RA" - short for Real
Analog - Sequential Circuits Prophet-5), and together with the equally famous
Roland JP-8000 and Yamaha AN1x from the other two "historical" Japanese
synthesizer manufacturers.This synthesizer was seen as Korg's rebirth of their classic
mono, the MS-20 of the late 1970s. To confirm the similarities between the
two, the MS2000 offers a virtual patch matrix, where it's easy to assign sources
to destinations, although in digital form, while the MS-20 made use of patch
cords to connect the various components to each other. The MS2000 is an
incredible machine, capable of warm, analog pads to digital craziness, with
basses capable of shaking a concrete floor, soaring leads, electronica-style
arpeggios, lush synth strings, special FX and much more.
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With free, easy access to a myriad of knobs laid out in a very
logical form, it's possible to customize sounds rather fast and efficiently.
The on board effects and most notably, the arpeggiator, do a great job of
expanding the sonic horizon of this machine. The Korg MS2000 doesn't
disappoint, and at the time of its debut, I remember many reviews that reported
how this was the first virtual analog that really sounded analog, like
the real thing.
Another great addition is the splendid vocoder, that
successfully emulates Korg's own VC-10. Patch H12 - Vocoder Pulse in
particular nails down the classic, funky vocoded sound of the era in which the
VC-10 was produced.
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Korg MS2000 factory demo songs
Korg MS2000 factory preset audio demos in mp3
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Preset with audio demo |
My comments |
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A01 - Stab Saw |
Incredibly fat and analog sounding synth brass patch |
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A02 - Synth Lana |
Beautiful, haunting arpeggiated synthesizer that pans in the stereo
spectrum |
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A03 - Evolution |
Marvelous warm pad |
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A04 - Boost Bass |
Classic '70s funk bass, "liquid" and resonant |
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A05 - Dirty Sync |
Oscillator sync at its best |
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A06 - Zoop Mania |
Complex patch that utilizes the great sounding arpeggiator |
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A07 - Ice Field |
Beautiful, "cold" sound, great for soundtracks |
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A08 - Lounge Organ |
Incredibly realistic '60s organ, in easy listening, lounge vein. |
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A09 - MG Bass |
Only
one of the many great Moog synth bass emulations on this machine. |
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A10 - GatesOfHell |
Very
cool and modern gated synth, for techno or trance |
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A11 - PWM Strings |
Perfect 1980s strings, with Pulse Width Modulation |
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A12 - Turn Wheel |
Classic rap whistle or monosynth |
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A13 - Synth Tp |
Cute
synth trumpet sound, very expressive |
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A14 - DWGS WaveSeq |
The
DWGS waveforms were featured on Korg's classic DW-8000 |
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A15 - Drive Bass |
Excellent drum 'n' bass bass |
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A16 - Surrounded |
Nice
fly-by whirly synth special fx |
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B01 - Lazy Pitch |
Resonant pad - key release triggers pitch drop |
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B02 - Stairs Pad |
Marvelous soft pad adorned by beautiful arpeggiated dew drops |
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B03 - Silk Pad |
5th
pad, typically digital |
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B04 - Zap Bass |
Nice
rubbery bass, mod wheel opens filter and mutates it in FMish, ring
modulated syn bass |
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B05 - Uni Synth |
Incredible, beefy lead synth, perfect for trance and other dance
styles |
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B06 - PsycheTrance |
Great example of the Mod Sequence, a very nicely arranged trance pattern |
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B07 - Deep Bell |
Very
nice, simple but intriguing new age bell patch |
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B08 - Synth Clav |
Excellent recreation of a Clavinet |
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B09 - Line Bass |
Typical 1980s synth bass, reminiscent of some sounds used by Front 242
and other similar bands |
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B10 - SearchEngine |
Nice
arpeggio line |
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B11 - Voice -A- |
Excellent syn voice patch, similar to an early 8-bit sampler - great
use of the vox wave. |
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B12 - Far Horizon |
Another excellent lead synth |
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B13 - Glass |
Glacial and supremely digital ensemble |
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B14 - Random |
Soundtrack for a party on an alien spaceship |
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B15 - Jami Bass |
Bass
sound inspired by a few of Jamiroquai's songs perhaps. |
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B16 - Loomy |
Nice
fx with slow portamento time and pitch drop at release |
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C01 - Poly Line |
The
perfect analog polysynth. |
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C02 - Krazy Arpy 1 |
Put
this arpeggiated pattern in sync with your beat for more interesting
textures. |
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C03 - Mod3&4 Squad |
Rising resonant synth - the modulation wheel opens the filter |
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C04 - What D' Time |
Modern sounding bass |
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C05 - Healing |
Aggressive synth lead - mod wheel engages ring modulation to great
effect |
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C06 - Auto Disco |
Automated electronic disco setup |
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C07 - Candy Box |
Cute
door bell sound |
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C08 - Vintage EP |
Outstanding reproduction of a Fender Rhodes through fx |
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C09 - Mini Bass |
Classic Moog Minimoog bass |
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C10 - Tap Lead |
Beautiful and animated sequenced lead |
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C11 - Royal Pad |
Very
warm and regal soft pad |
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C12 - Freq Lead |
Reso
synth with crazy LFO effect |
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C13 - Solemn Brass |
Outstanding analog emulation!!! |
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C14 - IZDISA-WS |
Modern sounding |
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C15 - House Bass |
Classic muted synth bass, typical of early '90s house |
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C16 - Invaders |
Robot speech |
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D01 - Ana Fuzz |
Trendy distorted synth |
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D02 - Water Edge |
Super beautiful, moving soundscape... sea waves and alien birds
flying by |
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D03 - Reactor Pad |
Very
nice soft pad |
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D04 - MS-101 Sqr |
Simple and yet classic square waves |
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D05 - Edge Lead |
Distinctive and very expressive synth lead |
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D06 - Goa Trax |
Another great, busy trance lead, this time tailored for Goa trance |
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D07 - Retro BD-SD |
Excellent representation of the classic Roland TR-808 |
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D08 - Wet Reed |
Nice
squiggly synth that reminds me of a certain type of sound used by the
Yellow Magic Orchestra |
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D09 - Fat Bass |
Very fat - downright obese |
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D10 - Flashlight |
Great pulsating pad |
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D11 - Stream Pad |
Beautiful, supremely synthetic analog pad |
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D12 - EP Fusion Ld |
Very expressive fusion sound - the classic electric piano layered
with synth |
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D13 - TremoloSynth |
Nicely done |
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D14 - Motion Pad |
Beautiful evolving pad |
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D15 - Banana Bass |
Great sounding digital synth bass! Incidentally, there was a
German synthesizer named "Banana"... |
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D16 - Bad Dream |
Very
good synth fx |
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E01 - Century Stab |
Another great sounding analog emulation |
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E02 - Simple Arpg |
Beautiful '80s arpeggio |
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E03 - Tin Memoreez |
Hollow and metallic |
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E04 - Organ Bass |
Classic organ bass, this also works as a regular dance organ |
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E05 - High Voltage |
Another excellent osc sync synthesizer lead |
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E06 - Trip Planet |
Great pattern going, trip-hoppish. |
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E07 - Dry Plant |
Simple but useful |
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E08 - Reed Piano |
Classic Wurlitzer electric piano patch |
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E09 - Magnum Bass |
Gnarly, meaty analog bass |
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E10 - Mad Lead |
Great trance lead with some ring modulation going. |
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E11 - Belly |
Outstanding vocal pad, reminiscent of the classic Mellotron choir
for some reason. |
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E12 - BackInTheDay |
Typical '70s synth |
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E13 - Synth Brass |
Typical early '80s polysynth brass |
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E14 - ElectroShock |
Great industrial patch |
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E15 - Bakin' Bass |
Perfect synth bass for hip hop |
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E16 - Telephone |
Nice
emulation |
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F01 - Golden Synth |
Nice
show-off of how powerful the MS2000 can sound. |
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F02 - Blue&White |
Amazingly beautiful pad with sequence in the background. |
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F03 - Pan Tran |
A
very beautiful new age pad |
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F04 - Warp Bass |
Acid
bass at its best |
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F05 - Killa Lead |
Absolutely killer lead - useful for many genres. |
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F06 - Tribe'n Beat |
Complex beat, very industrial |
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F07 - Bound Ball |
I
have heard this type of patch in several other synths of the last
years... there's a similar sound on the Alesis QS series called "Dew
Drops" |
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F08 - Cutting Arpg |
Excellent emulation of a wah-wah guitar being strummed! |
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F09 - Bass Machine |
Bass
is definitely a strong point on this machine |
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F10 - Trip 2 Ibiza |
The
darker side of trance |
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F11 - Ana Strings |
Classic, full analog strings |
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F12 - Past Mind |
Incredible split setup that reminds of Vangelis, Tomita and other
classic '70s electronic composers. |
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F13 - Future Vibe |
Interesting patch |
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F14 - Euro Synthe |
Complex, vibrating synth with sparks flying all around |
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F15 - Digy Bass |
Classic TB-303 emulation |
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F16 - Thunder |
Very
well done. |
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G01 - Square Comp |
Classic VA sound |
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G02 - Krazy Arpy 2 |
More
arpeggiated patterns, perfect to be placed "under" the main rhythm. |
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G03 - Sweep Pad |
Highly resonant, mysterious pad |
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G04 - Sub Bass |
I
hope your speakers can reproduce this kind of bass... the MS2000 can
go low! |
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G05 - Phenomenon |
Simple and effective synth |
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G06 - Ready 2 Air |
Yet
another good goa / trance / rave sound |
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G07 - X-Mod Perc |
Cool
patch |
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G08 - BritishOrgan |
Nice
emulation of the Vox Continental |
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G09 - 80's Bass |
Absolutely. |
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G10 - Min.Deal |
Classic happy house sound of the early '90s |
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G11 - Astral Vox |
Outstanding!!! This reproduces perfectly certain vocoded
atmospheres of the 1970s. |
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G12 - Rez Lead |
Useful |
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G13 - Soft Brass |
Pure
analog |
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G14 - CPU Talk |
Strange but intriguing |
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G15 - Phunk Bass |
Super fly... |
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G16 - Jet Set 2000 |
Accurate emulation! |
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H01 - Poly400 |
Very
powerful resonant synthesizer |
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H02 - Diginator |
Another excellent moving synth |
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H03 - Light Pad |
Exactly |
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H04 - Bass&5thLead |
Very nice split |
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H05 - Woody's Lead |
Who's Woody? |
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H06 - Filter Muzik |
New
millennium style electronica. |
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H07 - TimeZone SFX |
Excellent sci-fi fx |
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H08 - Pulse Comp |
Nice
staccato synth |
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H09 - Vocoder Ens |
I am
saying "This is the Vocoder Ensemble of the Korg MS2000 - Vocoder
Ensemble patch" |
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H10 - Vocoder Cho |
Korg
MS2000 H10 Vocoder Chorus |
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H11 - Vocoder Wah |
Dee,
Dee, Dee Wah, Wah... Dee, Dee, Dee Wah, Wah |
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H12 - VocoderPulse |
"This is the typical vocoder sound from the 1970s... Robot...useful
for... sci-fi effects... and similar" |
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H13 - VoiceChanger |
"This vocoder patch... will change the sound of your voice... and will
make you sound like somebody from the Lord Of The Rings movie" |
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H14 - Vocodevil |
"Hello... this is the Devil... and I'm speaking to you from the Korg
MS2000 Analog Modeling Synthesizer" |
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H15 - AudioIn INIT |
n/a |
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H16 - INIT Program |
n/a |
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Features at a
glance |
| Year of release: |
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| Polyphony: |
4 voice |
| Presets: |
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| Rhythms: |
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| Keyboard: |
3-octave |
| Responds to velocity: |
yes |
| Sound generation method: |
VA |
| MIDI: |
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| Sound expansion capabilities: |
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| Effects: |
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| Controls: |
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| Outputs: |
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| Display: |
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| Misc: |
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MS2000 description from Korg:
Since its
introduction in 1978, the KORG MS series of synthesizers caused a sensation by
its sound, looks, and flexibility in sound creation. More than twenty years
later, a new MS instrument is born, fusing the functionality of the SQ10 analog
sequencer and VC-10 vocoder that were also part of KORG's lineup. The
MS2000/MS2000R simultaneously returns to the origin of synthesizers and opens a
new universe of possibilities.
Unparalleled
analog modeling power
The tone generator of the MS2000/MS2000R uses a DSP-powered analog modeling
system. The analog modeling system acclaimed on the KORG Prophecy, Z1, and
Electribe series has been refined to produce an incredibly wide range of sounds.
From sharply cutting to powerful and thick, all the awesome sonic power that can
be produced only by DSP technology is packed into a compact keyboard or module.
All major sound parameters are arranged on the front panel, allowing you the
total freedom of manipulating knobs and switches in real time.
Powerfully
awesome waveforms
The oscillator section consists of two oscillators and a noise generator.
Oscillator 1 lets you select from eight oscillator algorithms, including basic
analog synthesizer waveforms such as sawtooth and pulse waves, to unique
selections like VoxWaves and 64 DWGS (Digital Waveform Generator System)
waveforms first featured on the Korg DW-6000. Each waveform can be modified by
applying a suitable type of WFM (Waveform Modulation) for an even wider timbral
selection and movement.
Oscillator 2 lets you select from three types of waveforms. In addition to
detuning Oscillator 2 relative to Oscillator 1, you can also use it to apply
sync or ring modulation to generate complex sounds. The audio input jacks allow
external sound sources to be used in the same way as the internal oscillators,
and even processed by the internal filters, etc.
Sound
control
The EG (Envelope Generator) that applies time-variant change to sound parameters
uses a familiar four-parameter ADSR (Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release)
configuration. The LFO (Low Frequency Oscillator) used to apply cyclic change to
sound parameters allows you to choose from four types of waveform. Two EG's and
two LFO's are provided for each timbre.
The MS2000/MS2000R provides four types of filter: two types of low pass filter
(-12/-24 dB), band pass filter, and high pass filter. Resonance is provided, and
can be adjusted into self-oscillation. The effect section provides a modulation
effect (three types), a delay with three selectable types, and an equalizer. In
addition to volume and pan controls, the amp section provides a Distortion
on/off setting so that even soft sounds can be transformed into aggressive solo
parts.
Virtual
Patch function allows wildly creative possibilities
The MS2000/MS2000R provides a "Virtual Patch" function that simulates the
patching
capabilities of the legendary KORG PS series and MS series synthesizers. Not
only EG and LFO, but even velocity or keyboard tracking can be used as
modulation sources to affect parameters such as pitch, noise level, and pan.
Mod Sequence
function generates dramatic tonal changes
The Mod Sequence function applies time-variant change to sound parameters in a
way similar to varying the control voltage on an analog synthesizer of the past.
In addition to the 28 parameters on the front panel, you can apply time-variant
change to the pitch or step length and adjust it in real time.
Back to the
future
The MS2000/MS2000R is dressed in a retro teal blue body with rosewood side panes
and is packed with other great features of the past, like a powerful built-in
16-band vocoder and an arpeggiator with six types of arpeggio patterns. The
arpeggiator, Mod Sequencer and LFO's all sync to MIDI for ultra-cool rhythmic
effects. Both models allow the panel to be tilted for excellent visibility and
easy operation.
MS2000 specs from Korg:
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Sound Generation Method: |
Analog
Modeling Synthesis System-Synthesizer Program Multi Timbral = 2 (max.,
Split/Dual Mode) Voices = 4 voices Sound Source = 2 Oscillator + Noise
Generator, EG x 2, LFO x 2, Virtual Patch x 4, MOD Sequence 16 steps
(max.) x 3 -Vocoder Program Voices = 4 voices Sound Source = 1
Oscillator + Noise Generator, EG x 2, LFO x 2, 16 Channels vocoder,
level and pan of each channel can be edited, Formant Shift function
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Programs: |
128
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Effects: |
Modulation
effects (3 types), Delay (3 types), Equalizer
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Arpeggiator: |
6 types
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Inputs: |
AUDIO IN 1, 2,
Level switch LINE / MIC, [AUDIO IN 1, 2(LINE)]Input impedance = 39
k-ohms, Maximum output level = -3.5 dBu (Audio In knob maximum), [AUDIO
IN 2(MIC)] Input impedance = 22 k-ohms, Maximum output level = -33 dBu
(Audio In knob maximum), Input source impedance = 600 ohms
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Outputs: |
L/MONO, R,
Output impedance = 1.1k-ohms (MONO = 550 ohms), Maximum output level =
+6.5 dBu, Load impedance = 100k-ohms, Headphones, Output impedance = 10
ohms, Maximum output level = 35 mW, Load impedance = 33 ohms
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Control Inputs: |
Assignable
Pedal, Assignable Switch
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MIDI: |
IN, OUT, THRU
o Display : 16 charactors x 2 lines with backlight
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Power Supply: |
DC 9V (AC
adapter)
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Power Consumption: |
8W
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Dimensions: |
MS2000 =
737.8(W) x 371.3(D) x 147.7(H)mm / 29.0"(W) x 14.6"(D) x 5.8"(H),
MS2000R = 482.0(W) x 233.2(D) x 87.1(H)mm / 19.0"(W) x 9.2"(D) x 3.4"(H)
4U rack-mountable
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Weight: |
7.1kg/15.6 lbs
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Accessories: |
AC adapter (DC
9V, 600mA)
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Keyboard: |
44 notes
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Korg MS2000 pictures
(click on thumbnails to enlarge)



Korg MS2000 manual
available at www.korg.com
Links
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