Hardware Choice: Korg MS20 or Moog Little Phatty or Modular?

chrisedmo · Post by **chrisedmo** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 12:00 pm

Hmmm, for ages i have wanted an MS-20 and i love the idea of going modular...
and i need a bit of help... I don't know which to go for ?

Im currently aiming to save up around £800 to drop on either;

A. Korg MS-20 (although these are starting to go for more than my range... grrr.)

B. Moog Little Phatty

C. Start my modular set up..

Bearing in mind, i play in a (rock/electro) band and would like nasty filters and weird noises and finally bass potential ?

which would you go for and why ?

Thanks!

muthafunka · Post by **muthafunka** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 12:07 pm

Don't really know B and C too well. Got an MS20 though and after seeing Soulwax/Nite Versions caning theirs in their recent live dvd I just fell for it a little deeper still. Is that strange?

btw over 800 quid for an MS20, you're kidding, no?

chrisedmo · Post by **chrisedmo** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 12:34 pm

muthafunka wrote: btw over 800 quid for an MS20, you're kidding, no?

Yeah i saw a great video of Soulwax going through their stage gear and yes MS20 usage is great...

Oh and yeah on eBay MS20 I have seen a few starting to hit £900 !! still around £700 - 800 for players ones..

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Korg-MS-20-MS20-E ... 286.c0.m14

thelike5 · Post by **thelike5** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 12:57 pm

For the $1200 + a used 25 to 30 year old MS-20 goes for I'd have to consider a Nord Modular G2.

Take a listen to demos of the G2 if you haven't already. There is a "cool factor" with the MS-20, for sure but in terms of overall sonic palette, the G2 is an absolutely stunning synth capable of creating absolutely mind-blowing sounds. Highly configurable. You can make it soundpretty much just like an MS-20 (or any other synth) if you want.

Factor in the costs of having to repair the MS-20 when something goes down (which it very well may) and its a no brainer.

If you were the lucky few who found your MS-20, TB-303 or other 80's analogs in the early to mid 90's for peanut$ or you have a trust fund I pat you on the back. Otherwise, I would recommend embracing todays technology, which is hardly a bad consolation prize.

Fernando Carvalho · Post by **Fernando Carvalho** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 1:16 pm

+1 for the nord g2, specially if you want to use the synth "on the road"

zenke · Post by **zenke** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 2:53 pm

I have an MS20 plus an MS50 and I must say I love them. However if I was to have that money now I would go for the G2. I think its a great KB and certainly I would not take the Korgs to a gig.
The G2 is so much more useable in those situations and more expansive.
granted it may not have the coolness of the Korg !

Machinate · Post by **Machinate** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 2:57 pm

chrisedmo, I can highly recommend going for a modular!

Start with an osc, a filter (like the doepfer 106-1 ms20 filter

an env and a vca. That's your first synth right there.

Then a midi-to-cv system. If you plan on ever getting a large rig then get a Kenton pro 2000.

- oh, I didn't see this was the "recommend an option the original author didn't include thread":

I recommend a strat. More twang than a gibson.

chrisedmo · Post by **chrisedmo** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 3:22 pm

Yeah really, im torn between the MS20 and Modular.. They seem to be able to go mad, and unpredictable which is what i want really - makes things more fun and no presets!

Off hand Machinate - what Osc would you recommend ? Is the doepfer one okay? - i was looking at the analogue Systems one ?

Machinate · Post by **Machinate** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 3:50 pm

I love the a110 - it's farkin great, actually.

People really dig the Plan B, too. Or, if you wanna go really crazy: the LiveWire AFg:

http://www.analoguehaven.com/livewire/a ... generator/

Machinate · Post by **Machinate** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 3:58 pm

as an aside, I have a really quite modest modular synth. You can see an HD video of me just freaking out on it right here:
http://vimeo.com/1523557

- Add a midi-to-cv interface to that and you've got one bad-ass little rig.

djsynchro · Post by **djsynchro** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 7:39 pm

The best thing about the MS-20 is how it looks, I think the filter sounds weak.
The things you can patch are not that amazing. I would go for a real modular.

chrisedmo · Post by **chrisedmo** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 7:45 pm

Yeah, the MS20 does look cool as...

But, i think im going to have to dive into the world of modular synthesis !!!

pixelmechanic · Post by **pixelmechanic** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 8:24 pm

The best thing about even a small modular is how *open* everything is for use / misuse... e.g. I regularly use my envelopes as sound sources

It's quite dangerous though... once you start you just want to keep adding... I've got a pretty good 12u mixed euro system (AS, Doepfer, Plan B, Bananalogue, Cwejman) I'll post a photo tomorrow! The best thing about a mixed system is that it really feels like 'my' synth...

check out http://www.modularsynth.net for a good modular forum

That said, I love the MS20 including it's filters...

Machinate · Post by **Machinate** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 8:38 pm

pixelmechanic wrote:check out http://www.modularsynth.net for a good modular forum

OR check out www.muffwiggler.com/forum for a GREAT modular forum with, imho, a MUCH better signal-to-noise ratio.

Poster · Post by **Poster** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 10:31 pm

djsynchro wrote:The best thing about the MS-20 is how it looks, I think the filter sounds weak.
The things you can patch are not that amazing. I would go for a real modular.

+1..

I've owned a MS20, loved it, but the sonic palette is very limited (excluding FX stuff)..
Bought a Voyager instead.. waaayyy better, interesting, broader sonical pallette, etc etc..
In the end the MS20 is not that modular at all..

If you go real modular be prepared to empty yer wallet if you want anything special..

I also highly suggest to take a look at the Nord Modular.. G1 or G2..
I prefer the G1 (I have the G1 rack) because it's sound is a tad rougher due to the D/A converters..

Little Phaty I cannot comment on..
I guess its a Voyager lite no?..