Is Korg MS2000 good to buy?

Hey guys,

I want to buy and learn synth. I don't really know my budget, $500 used maybe, I don't know how much these things cost. I also don't know if having a Casio CTK 800 will have any bearing on which synth I buy. I was looking at a buying guide and it said:

I again have no idea how to answer those 2 above questions.

The sounds I like are along these lines (don't know if this'll help):

[YOUTUBE]RYg6SPJ8zUA[/YOUTUBE]

[YOUTUBE]ugw3ARV4X9g&feature=related[/YOUTUBE]

[YOUTUBE]Sm02JA1-T54[/YOUTUBE]

That kinda stuff.

Is a Korg MS2000 a good choice?

Thanks for any help

the ms2000 is a decent intro synth.

but you will have to take some time to read the manual or brush up on synthesis techniques

its a great synth to learn on imo because the user interface is laid out to follow the signal flow of traditional subtractive synthesis and most functions are accessable via knobs

nice simple synth to learn classic subtractive synthesis techniques on.

Crystal Castles? Just scream over the Metroid soundtrack.

srsly sure its good! and because of the knobs, its better than a MicroKorg. I forget what else Crystal Castles uses besides MicroKorg and stolen GameBoy samples. MS2k is a tremendously versatile synth and love the knobs and you can buy two and chain them for greater polyphony. Also second the "learning synthesis" part - it's great for that, as are Rolands like the Sh-32 and Gaia but I really prefer the Korg sound for most things.

the only issues I have with the MK and MS is the build quality. I own both and they both broke after a year or two. Alternatively there are the Korg Radias and R3.

you're gonna want this software:

http://www.plogue.com/?page_id=43

this is your key to chiptunes sound. last year i caught crystal castles in SF, the only thing i remember them using on stage was a MicroKorg.

for $500 i'd probably look into something like an older Nord Lead or Virus. maybe even the rack/desktop versions (if you had to), as these can be controlled via MIDI from your Casio or another controller. if you're looking to do complete songs (beats, sequencing, etc), then a Roland MC-909 might not be bad to start out with. lots of choices available.

EDIT: i wouldn't worry too much about the 'chiptune' sound, it seems Crystal Castles has moved beyond that a bit, and the other clip doesn't sound like that at all.

Thanks guys,

So I have some new model names to look at and compare;

Korg MS2000

Radius

R3

EMX-1 or ESX-1 if I want to do sequencing. (I don't know what sequencing is, so I don't know if I want to do it any help?)

Older Nord Lead or Virus

Roland MC-909

I have a Line 6 M13 and a Casio CTK-800 can I use these with a synth? Will having these have any bearing on which synth I choose?

Could any body please help me begin the elimination process between these models? (or recommend a new model). All I know I can do at the moment is just youtube each model because I do not understand all the specs and bells/whistles on synths.

Thanks

I've heard many good things about ms2000's. Also correct me if I'm wrong but the microkorg is just a rebuilt ms2000?

The original MicroKorg is nearly identical to the MS2000 and they can share patches. The MS2000 has a better vocoder (16 bands instead of 8) and the cool mod sequencer knobs. The MicroKorg lets you turn off arpeggiator steps from the front panel buttons which is nice and it can send arpeggiated notes over midi. (I forget if the MS can do that) While both are bitimbral, only the MS seems able to do keyboard splits or assign each timbre to a different midi channel. Also, two MS2000's can be chained to double the polyphony to 8 notes.

I've actually had more fun with the MicroKorg but its probably because I like microkeys. Also, the MK patch editor software is pretty cool.

A $700 Radias rack and less with any discount one can get out of GC makes most everything look bad. IDK why anyone would look @ the Gaia for one. Might be the time to get a Radias!

The Korg MS2000/MS2000b would be my favorite VA of all time if it weren't for that darn arpeggiator/MIDI timing issue.

I can't remember if it starts out late or starts too early but over time it becomes noticable. I was planning on getting a MS2000 or MS2000b to replace a microKorg (arrrgh, tiny keys) but that MIDI drift became the dealbreaker for me. I'm just going to save dough for something like a Radias KB. I wish Korg would re-release the microKorg with fullsize keys and call it the MS3000, the R3 is nice but the MS engine is alot "wilder" sounding.

They fixed that timing issue in an OS upgrade. Got a Radias now so I upgraded but I have an MS2000B that will be going up on E-bay shortly unless you want to buy it.

I just picked up an MS2000 on craigslist yesterday for 300 bucks...

How do you upgrade the software version on it?

I didnt notice any usb ports or anything like that... maybe I overlooked it?

Thanks

You load the file through a sequencer. KorgUK should still have the patch.