Korg MS-20 mini Monophonic Synthesizer

Amaze Yourself With The Authentic Analog Synth Sound of The Korg MS-20 Mini

The Korg MS-20 monophonic synthesizer, first introduced in 1978, is still a coveted instrument to this day, thanks to its thick, robust sound, its powerful, iconic analog filter, and its versatile patching options.

Over 300,000 people have enjoyed the distinct MS-20 sounds from the original, from Korg's MS-20 plug-in synth, and the iMS-20 iPad app.

Today, the sounds of the MS-20 have been reborn as the Korg MS-20 Mini. The same engineers who developed the original MS-20 have perfectly reproduced its circuitry and fitted it into a body that's been shrunk to 86% of the original size, yet retains the distinctive look of the original that remains unfaded despite the passage of time.

The Original Analog Circuitry

The MS-20 mini painstakingly replicates the original MS-20. A development team led by the original engineers themselves worked to recreate the original circuitry, and when it was necessary to substitute a part, these engineers made the decisions based on careful listening, in order to reproduce the original sound faithfully.

In fact, the sound of the MS-20 mini has a somewhat bright and extreme quality to it because its sound is that of an original MS-20 in mint condition at the time it went on sale, before any of the components aged.

2VCO/2VCF/2VCA/2EG/1LFO Structure

The MS-20 mini reproduces the distinctive synthesis of the MS-20; two oscillators with ring modulation, and envelope generators with hold and delay. The VCA maintains the basic design of the original, but it's been modified to produce less noise than the original.

Self-Oscillating High-Pass/Low-Pass Filters With Distinctive Distortion

One of the greatest characteristics of the MS-20 was its powerful filters, which provided resonance on both the high-pass and the low-pass. Maximizing the resonance would cause the filter to self-oscillate like an oscillator, producing a distinctive and dramatic tonal change that was acclaimed as inimitable, and was later used on the monotron and monotribe.

The filter circuit was changed mid-way through the production lifecycle of the MS-20; the MS-20 mini uses the earlier filter, which was felt to be superior due to its more radical sound.

External Signal Processor (ESP) for Processing an External Signal

The ESP carries on the experimental spirit of MS-20; it allows you to use the pitch or volume of an external audio source to control the synthesizer. For example you can input an electric guitar and use the MS-20 mini as a guitar synthesizer, or input a mic and use it as a vocal synthesizer.

Extremely Flexible Patching System

The patching system provided to the right of the panel lets you create complex sounds by plugging-in cables to change the connections between the various units. The possibilities are limited only by the user's imagination; different combinations of the modulation input/output and trigger, sample and hold, and noise generator can produce an incredible variety of sounds. By patching according to the MS-20 flow chart that's printed on the panel, even the beginner can start taking advantage of these possibilities right away.

86% of the Original Size

MS-20's design concept started by borrowing from the vertical layout found on larger and more expensive modular synths of its time, and then creating a more portable, inexpensive, and easier to use version.

• 2VCO / 2VCA / 2VCF / 2EG / 1LFO structure
• Self-oscillating high-pass/low-pass filters with distinctive distortion
• External signal processor (ESP)
• Extremely flexible patching system
• MIDI IN and USB connector

SPECIFICATIONS

Keyboard

• C-C: 37-notes (3 octaves), mini keyboard designed specifically for the MS-20 mini

Manual Controller

• Control wheel (center click), Momentary switch GND

Input and Output

• Signal In: Amplifier Out, Band pass filter Out, CV Out (0 - +8.4V), ENV Out (0 - +5V), Trig Out (+5V--GND)
• Signal out: Signal output (mono 1/8" mini phone jack, 2Vp-p output impedance 3.5k ohm)
• Head phones: Head phones output (Stereo 1/8" mini phone jack, 33 ohm, 48mW)
• USB: Type B, USB-MIDI Input/Output (Only note messages (velocity is not used) can be transmitted and received)
• MIDI: MIDI Input (Only note messages (velocity is not used) can be transmitted and received)

Power Supply

• DC9V

Accessories

• AC adaptor (9V/1.7A), Patch Cord x 10

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