The MS20 Korg35 filter, the OTA filter, and the MS50's diode ring filter are all just different ways to implement a Sallen-Key 2-pole filter and make it voltage-controlled, though. They do the same job in slightly different ways.
@@AlexBallMusic The Korg35 is particularly distinctive because of the way the control part works - it's not "just" controlled by the current into the bases of the two transistors used to set the cutoff because the voltage going into the filter changes, and that changes the current between base and emitter. So if you stick a sawtooth in, good and loud, the sawtooth sweeps the cutoff at audio rate! If you stick a squarewave in and look on a fairly accurate audio spectrum analyser you can see the resonance peaks move apart as you make the square louder. The diode ring filter kind of balances the control and input voltage between the two "legs" of the ring, and a similar thing is used in the Steiner Synthacon filter (which loads of us have in Arturia synths now) - just like in a ladder filter as one side goes up the other goes down and they cancel out. The MS50 diode ring filter is a very similar layout to the "traveller" filters as you say, but also the Yamaha CS80 and friends. Finally the OTA based ones are stable no matter what input you stick in, because the inputs of the opamps are always balanced and the gain is set by the current into the bottom of the input pair - the cutoff is totally uncoupled from the input signal. I should do a video on them some time. Edit: I forgot to mention, the Korg Monotron filter is basically a Korg 35 filter but super affordable. They're easy to build, too!
@@klinkske The service manual for the Volca Bass and Volca Keys are out there, and it's a diode bridge S-K filter kind of like the "Traveller" filter. The diode biasing comes off opamps rather than transistors making it more like the MS50 filter than anything.
Not only am I blown away at how incredibly enticing your documentary style video production is, but I am thoroughly impressed at your song writing. It's groovy as hell
Alex, thanks once again for yet another brilliant video. In 1979 I got my first synth, a MS10. Followed by a MS20. I remember gazing at product folders from Korg, containing pics of the MS50. In the early nineties a music shop placed an ad saying that they planned to sell old forgotten stock, collecting dust. One of the items was a MS50. Took me only half a second to decide to get it right away. Never regretted that decison. A rare piece indeed and once you get your head around the technique, it is a true gem. An expander, as well a synth and an effect unit, all in one.
I was thinking that I need to take it up to Sam as he's not only Mr MS-10/20, but I saw he got the accompanying SQ-10 sequencer recently. Would be fun to put that all together with a phone exchange and furbie organ. 😃
I have a small handful of channels whose videos I always eagerly await, and yours is one of them. You put so much effort into making quality music during your demos that I sometimes wonder whether this channel is secretly just your portfolio and the vintage gear reviews are merely a cunning cover story :D Not that I'd mind, as I enjoy both elements.
Someone on GS was like, "AB needs to make music instead of gear demos" and I was thinking, "what if you viewed them as music videos instead of as gear demos?" Then the complaint would be "these music videos aren't very comprehensive video manuals!" "Well, what if you viewed them as guides to what makes these synths special?" but really, expectations tend to make all experiences worse, not better. Also, 1978 UA-cam kicks 2022 UA-cam's ass. Even tho there wasn't YT in 78, there's just no room for doubt (and no CGI clickbait, except for on George Lucas' channel)
Always appreciate your videos and the level of effort you put into the compositions. They really push the extremes of what the instruments range can offer without being clinical - it's great. On another note, I've been pining for a MS-50 video from someone for so long... always wanted to hear one in action. To any MS-20 fan they certainly look like a killer piece of kit.
Thanks Thomas. It's a joy to play around with this stuff. And yes...the 50 completes the 20. For starters it has PWM that the 20 inexplicably doesn't. 😃
I used to own an MS50. Alex, well done for coaxing so much more out of this beast than I ever could! However the two things I loved on it were the ring modulator, which if fed with the the VCO set at a fixed frequency and the filter swept by one big knob (can't remember its name) on the panel but just through 15v to 0v with the filter in self oscillation, sounded exactly like the beginning of the theme to Dr Who. The second, the filter itself which was just really fat and gnarly, way nicer (dirtier) than that on my MS20. Brilliant video btw. You have definitely mastered the way of the funk!
Wow that was fun. The mini Korg certainly is getting some use as it’s original appearance was in a similar time period. There’s a lot going on in this video - thanks for being the first to demo!
@@klinkske I've only played the original 700 next to it and I'd say that the vintage one has less bass and top, but is more forward in the mids. The FS has wallop in the bottom and more sizzle. But when doing bandpass stuff, they both sound awesome and very Korg. The ring mod on the new one is awesome and the spring reverb and extra stuff is very handy indeed.
Doing it justice - what an understatement, I can't imagine anyone ever made this thing shine like you did since its release. Congrats on this purchase, Alex! Looking forward to more, it sounds incredible!
Hi Alex I love your videos I've had a korg ms 10 since 94 and around that time I always wished there were videos like this to watch but there weren't, I remember buying copies of future music and thinking how cool would it be to put this cd rom in and there's a guy explaing exactly how to use all my equipment . I don't watch the BBC or ITV anymore , just amazing videos like yours and various other people produce for free for us all to enjoy and learn from . Ps this Ms 50 video is class and will probably be the best video about it on the Internet forever 👏
Yes I admit I'm quite jealous now because Alex is doing exactly what I always wanted to do with the MS Synths but never managed. Getting the sick sounds into a harmonic structure is an art. Hats off Alex! Grüße aus Berlin.
Very cool. You always make great videos that are informative, but also very entertaining, concise and enjoyable to watch. The MS-50 (and MS-20, MS-10, and SQ-10) always makes me think of Chrislo Haas (DAF mk II, CH + BB, Liaisons Dangereuses), who was the Korg MS master/mad scientist, rivaled only by Kurt Dahlke (DAF mk I, Pyrolator, Der Plan).
Glorious stuff Alex, love it. The filter is so raucous! As a complete side note, I like your sequencer step being event related rather than a regular measure beat :-)
That's exactly what I love about the MC-4. Each step is an event with two CV values, a step time and a gate time. The step can be any value you want, as can the gate and there is no rule as to where you punch in "measure end". Tight as hell too. Awesome machine.
This is rather excellent Alex! I just love the sound of those old Korgs. Such mighty sound. Congratulation on your MS-50. Seems like a fun toy and powerful tool, especially in your capable hands.
I so miss my MS20/MS50/SQ10 stack, this really brings that home! Great demonstrations with your usual excellent musicality Alex, making these videos so enjoyable. Glad you are getting to keep this unusual beasty too!
Wow! Never knew these existed, great video as always sir, awesome addition to the studio and I do love the filter on 50 adds more to the MS sound palate with both. Top tracks as always 🎶🚀🔊
Nice video as usual Alex! The left/right filter demo reminds me of the "Lucid Dreams" track from Franz Ferdinand on which they play 2 Moog Voyager left/right like you for an exciting stereo madness.
Thanks for introduction, thats amazing. And oh myyyy, KORG35 sounds awesome, but that diode filter - that is really something else. And looking forward for more. All the best!
@@DestroyER82 I had the opportunity and after weighing it up, I decided not to open that worm hole. 01, 02, 20, 50 and SQ-1 are enough. (famous last words)
There’s something about those mid to late 70s synths that still sound so futuristic. I’m also very happy when you do jams that have a 79-80 vibe; catchy but threatening! :)
Cheers! Yep, SQ-1 to sequence and also for 2 channels of MIDI to CV, which is very handy indeed. I have the 50 hooked up to my computer basically. And yes...it's mine! (Evil laugh)
Thank you. ms20+ms50=time machines, one of my favorite albums ever. I'd watch a full length video on just patching the ms50 (or the two together), since as you say, there isn't many who can afford or find these. Hint hint!
As always a great video! I have owned a used MS-50 since 1989 and used it on many albums. There is an application I'd like to share here, my way of saying thank you. You can use the MS-50 in stereo as it has two vca's , enough multiples and an inverter. The inverted channel is output from either channel. There's only one vco but it doesn't sound as thin as the MS-20 vco's and you can use the divider as a sub oscillator and use the adding amp as an audio mixer. The lfo has pulse width modulation control, which is very rare. It wasn't until the Moog One that I found it again in a synthesizer. I didn't know about the diode filter, although I could distinguish it from the other MS filters.
Yeah! I used the sub oscillator trick in most demos and also did one where the second VCA was controlled by the second envelope with some gate delay for a stereo offset. I'll try it via the inverter, thanks for the tip. LFO pulse width mod - indeed, a great feature!
I forgot to mention the MS-50 can make a decent vocoder sound when using the ring modulator and singing. That way it sounds different from the Dalek effect. But honestly, a Korg VC-10 sounds better.
Alex Ball please drop an album with all your synth demo songs UA-cam eats alot of battery and also you cant turn the screen off while watching and my phone taps the back of my leg in my pants at work while listening, causing me to constantly stop and hit back to continue listening to what is arguably the most unique, listenable and refreshing synth music on UA-cam and maybe of all time! I just want to work and listen at the same time so I need it on Spotify or SoundCloud or something! Thanks for your work
had the Korg MS-10 when it first came out. Was amazing for its time. Main problem was no digital presets. The band had to wait for me to patch everything for the next song when playing out. But , it could do that sound half-way through Frankenstein really well. and of course the siren at beginning of Riding The Storm Out.
@@AlexBallMusic I’m so glad you give these vintage synths the attention. I actually like these synths created before things became ‘standardized’. I’ve noticed some of the newer manufacturers try to capture that innovation as well. And yet there are still innovations out there that have not been picked up. Most notably IMHO is the performance controls of the Sigma. I think 1977-79 might be that sweet spot for innovation occurring years ago.
@@PaulBoos Yes, that's absolutely the appeal to me. The wild west years where there were no rules or conventions. Individuals had bold and innovative ideas and the motivation to male them happen. The Sigma is an underrated synth, definitely. Very unconventional. I guess the spirit is there still, it's just harder to be heard in the noise of everything going on.
@@AlexBallMusic hey a request could you do a run through of the features of the MS-02 (and an MS-03 if you can get your hands on one). It appears to have features not replicated in modern devices trying to perform the same feature set. I know I want a conversion like that, but uncertain if that would work better or whether to just get a eurorack conversion.
Wow great example of the 50 I had a similar rig w/ the Mc-4 ms20/50 A-2600 memory moog Jupiter 6 and few others ms-03/04 the hz-1v.oct converter thingy was the real expander as it allowed the the 50 to communicate to almost any synth ,it was a labor of love to patch it all up and then program the Mc-4 in about 30min+ from scratch! But I always suspected the 50 filter was different than the 20 thanks for clearing that up , damn 40+ years wondering about that filter cheers Alex.yippies
Alex, I love the videos but it's so hard to sit through a whole one, what with having to constantly rewind the demos and listen to them over and over again. Keep up the fantastic work, I speak for everyone here when I say we appreciate the TV show level quality content you make. Edit: If you do see this comment, would you ever consider explaining patch routing and how you approach the process of patch design? You're amazing at making interesting noises and I'd love to have some way of seeing your processes.
The raucous, rough, analog sound of the MS family sounds surprisingly good when paired with the crunchy digital sound of the Super Drums. Loved that intro tune! The envelope follower bit with the bass and guitar was CRAZY good too!
Alex, you should once come and see the Synthorama in Luterbach, Switzerland. Mr Hollinger has a wonderful and huge collection of vintage Korgs, Moogs, Arps and many, many more.... all wired and ready to play.
The MS20 Korg35 filter, the OTA filter, and the MS50's diode ring filter are all just different ways to implement a Sallen-Key 2-pole filter and make it voltage-controlled, though. They do the same job in slightly different ways.
Thanks for the info. The sound is definitely different, though. Presumably down to the approach and components used?
@@AlexBallMusic The Korg35 is particularly distinctive because of the way the control part works - it's not "just" controlled by the current into the bases of the two transistors used to set the cutoff because the voltage going into the filter changes, and that changes the current between base and emitter. So if you stick a sawtooth in, good and loud, the sawtooth sweeps the cutoff at audio rate! If you stick a squarewave in and look on a fairly accurate audio spectrum analyser you can see the resonance peaks move apart as you make the square louder.
The diode ring filter kind of balances the control and input voltage between the two "legs" of the ring, and a similar thing is used in the Steiner Synthacon filter (which loads of us have in Arturia synths now) - just like in a ladder filter as one side goes up the other goes down and they cancel out. The MS50 diode ring filter is a very similar layout to the "traveller" filters as you say, but also the Yamaha CS80 and friends.
Finally the OTA based ones are stable no matter what input you stick in, because the inputs of the opamps are always balanced and the gain is set by the current into the bottom of the input pair - the cutoff is totally uncoupled from the input signal.
I should do a video on them some time.
Edit: I forgot to mention, the Korg Monotron filter is basically a Korg 35 filter but super affordable. They're easy to build, too!
@@erroneousbosh Brilliant - thank you.
@@erroneousbosh i wonder what kind of filter is in the monotribe and volca keys. would gamble 35 and traveller.
@@klinkske The service manual for the Volca Bass and Volca Keys are out there, and it's a diode bridge S-K filter kind of like the "Traveller" filter. The diode biasing comes off opamps rather than transistors making it more like the MS50 filter than anything.
Woah, that first jam is KILLER! This series of synths certainly inspires you - good for us! Thanks again for your outstanding music, and knowledge.
Thanks Ned!
Ah yes, here they are again, the fantastic demos of alex ball ❤
Thanks!
Thank you Alex. You're a gem for taking the time to make all of these informative synth videos. It's hard work, and very much appreciated.
My pleasure! I can think of worse things to do. 😀
Very true. Well said 👍
Not only am I blown away at how incredibly enticing your documentary style video production is, but I am thoroughly impressed at your song writing. It's groovy as hell
Alex, thanks once again for yet another brilliant video. In 1979 I got my first synth, a MS10. Followed by a MS20. I remember gazing at product folders from Korg, containing pics of the MS50. In the early nineties a music shop placed an ad saying that they planned to sell old forgotten stock, collecting dust. One of the items was a MS50. Took me only half a second to decide to get it right away. Never regretted that decison. A rare piece indeed and once you get your head around the technique, it is a true gem. An expander, as well a synth and an effect unit, all in one.
Your music is some of the best sythersizor music around in My opinion, you get the groove going from the most unlikely sounds.
Thank you!
Beautiful video, such a gem of a synth.
I was thinking that I need to take it up to Sam as he's not only Mr MS-10/20, but I saw he got the accompanying SQ-10 sequencer recently.
Would be fun to put that all together with a phone exchange and furbie organ. 😃
@@AlexBallMusic I‘d love to see that! But don‘t let him touch the circuits or might throw flames at the end or something!😁
The smirk on your face doing movie tension, Ping Ponging filters like Zeppelins what is and what should never be Absolutely frikkn brilliant demo
It's crazy how each demo you do is a killer track on which I would love to dance all night long ...
I'm glad that the MS-50 is in good hands Alex, the collection is GROWING, looks like your place is getting small. Excellent jams!
Totally digging the sounds, as well as the retro filter on the video as well.
I have a small handful of channels whose videos I always eagerly await, and yours is one of them. You put so much effort into making quality music during your demos that I sometimes wonder whether this channel is secretly just your portfolio and the vintage gear reviews are merely a cunning cover story :D Not that I'd mind, as I enjoy both elements.
I'm a salesman living in 1978. I use a worm hole to access UA-cam.
Someone on GS was like, "AB needs to make music instead of gear demos" and I was thinking, "what if you viewed them as music videos instead of as gear demos?" Then the complaint would be "these music videos aren't very comprehensive video manuals!" "Well, what if you viewed them as guides to what makes these synths special?" but really, expectations tend to make all experiences worse, not better.
Also, 1978 UA-cam kicks 2022 UA-cam's ass. Even tho there wasn't YT in 78, there's just no room for doubt (and no CGI clickbait, except for on George Lucas' channel)
wonderful piece of Kit! loved all the other vintage gear along side! Makes my evening, whenever you release new content!
What a GORGEOUS instrument! And beautifully showcased in your jams :o
How good is this thing??!! Amazing sounds abound! Thanks, Alex for taking us into the less-known corners of the Korg--Verse !
Always wanted one, wasn't disappointed. 😀
@@AlexBallMusic 😃 enjoy, man!! It's certainly wound up in the right hands!
Loved the filters when you blended them. So nice.
Absolutely, like recording two different guitars and panning.
Always appreciate your videos and the level of effort you put into the compositions. They really push the extremes of what the instruments range can offer without being clinical - it's great.
On another note, I've been pining for a MS-50 video from someone for so long... always wanted to hear one in action. To any MS-20 fan they certainly look like a killer piece of kit.
Thanks Thomas. It's a joy to play around with this stuff.
And yes...the 50 completes the 20. For starters it has PWM that the 20 inexplicably doesn't. 😃
I love these so much, beautiful gear, explained and demonstrated beautifully.
Thank you kindly!
Fantastic man! Once again, you nailed it!
6:45 fantastic! Great tones and groove. Reminds me of Daft Punk from their underground rave days
Man you make that synth sound good. Never heard of it before, but what a great sounding line of synths. Really tops.
A lot of of really cool jams. Great demo!!!!
I used to own an MS50. Alex, well done for coaxing so much more out of this beast than I ever could! However the two things I loved on it were the ring modulator, which if fed with the the VCO set at a fixed frequency and the filter swept by one big knob (can't remember its name) on the panel but just through 15v to 0v with the filter in self oscillation, sounded exactly like the beginning of the theme to Dr Who. The second, the filter itself which was just really fat and gnarly, way nicer (dirtier) than that on my MS20. Brilliant video btw. You have definitely mastered the way of the funk!
Holy shit, Alex. This was amazing from start to finish. Great work, and thanks for sharing the MS-50 with us!
Cheers!
Korg always makes Alex go nuts with the jams :)
Korg will do that to you. 🙂
Wow that was fun. The mini Korg certainly is getting some use as it’s original appearance was in a similar time period. There’s a lot going on in this video - thanks for being the first to demo!
That's the new miniKORG. Use it all the time, it's such a fun synth. 😀
@@AlexBallMusic how is it compared to the OG 700S?
@@klinkske I've only played the original 700 next to it and I'd say that the vintage one has less bass and top, but is more forward in the mids. The FS has wallop in the bottom and more sizzle.
But when doing bandpass stuff, they both sound awesome and very Korg. The ring mod on the new one is awesome and the spring reverb and extra stuff is very handy indeed.
Awesome video and what a rare beast, loved the pedal section. You rock Alex!
These demos rocked! Love to see that you're still making good use of the Superdrums xD
The Superdrums are so bad, they're somehow good. Scientists are still researching why.
Alex has some of the best sythersizor music around to be honest.
That was a good keep - such a lovely sound. Thank you for sharing.
Great presentation of this unique module. Your sound design is excellent, as always. Crisp and funky compositions.
Thank you!
I thought that first hand clap in "Oh My Mod!" was celebratory at such a funky bass line at first... outstanding work on this video again Alex!
Just applauding the synths.
Doing it justice - what an understatement, I can't imagine anyone ever made this thing shine like you did since its release. Congrats on this purchase, Alex! Looking forward to more, it sounds incredible!
Thank you!
most likely Trent reznor played with it at some point !
You are always my number1!!! top demoes top sounds. So tempted to click on Reverb....
Hi Alex
I love your videos I've had a korg ms 10 since 94 and around that time I always wished there were videos like this to watch but there weren't, I remember buying copies of future music and thinking how cool would it be to put this cd rom in and there's a guy explaing exactly how to use all my equipment .
I don't watch the BBC or ITV anymore , just amazing videos like yours and various other people produce for free for us all to enjoy and learn from .
Ps this Ms 50 video is class and will probably be the best video about it on the Internet forever 👏
The joys of UA-cam. Niches within niches. I only watch TV for live sport basically.
What a crazy little thing - love it ❤❤
You got it Alex 👍👍
Quite the naughty box of tricks.
Yes I admit I'm quite jealous now because Alex is doing exactly what I always wanted to do with the MS Synths but never managed. Getting the sick sounds into a harmonic structure is an art. Hats off Alex! Grüße aus Berlin.
Very cool. You always make great videos that are informative, but also very entertaining, concise and enjoyable to watch. The MS-50 (and MS-20, MS-10, and SQ-10) always makes me think of Chrislo Haas (DAF mk II, CH + BB, Liaisons Dangereuses), who was the Korg MS master/mad scientist, rivaled only by Kurt Dahlke (DAF mk I, Pyrolator, Der Plan).
amazing musical demos Alex, they really shine!
Thanks Daniel.
Amazing like always, think that filter makes sense, it sounds brighter and gives an expanded range of posibilities. Huge!
Yeah, my guess was that it was a unique selling point to persuade people to get the expander to partner their 10/20.
Another great video Alex, and you always do justice to the instruments you demo!
Thanks!
Lovely sounds from these pieces. Well done!
Cheers
Glorious stuff Alex, love it. The filter is so raucous!
As a complete side note, I like your sequencer step being event related rather than a regular measure beat :-)
That's exactly what I love about the MC-4. Each step is an event with two CV values, a step time and a gate time. The step can be any value you want, as can the gate and there is no rule as to where you punch in "measure end".
Tight as hell too. Awesome machine.
This is rather excellent Alex! I just love the sound of those old Korgs. Such mighty sound. Congratulation on your MS-50. Seems like a fun toy and powerful tool, especially in your capable hands.
Cheers. Yeah, they definitely have a sound. A fully modular family member really opens some doors in that world too, so I'm loving it.
Great intro song. Great video. Keep em coming Alex!
Absolutely lovely tune!!!!
Excellent sound design and I love the track in demo 5!🎉❤😊
Dreaming of getting a MS-50 to my old MS-20😊
Keep 'em coming, Alex - the more obscure, the better!
Damn dude these were some of my favorite jams ive heard in yo videos and they are always sick!
Only just saw this. It gave me fizzy knickers! So glad it’s gone to beat home dude! Thanks for the shout out! ❤
Thanks for letting my have it! Amazing thing.
Congrats! The MS-50 is an awesome instrument!
Should have thanked you for the filter info btw, apologies but I forgot to say.
@@AlexBallMusic no worries! Information is and should be free! :)
thank you for the example's of using the MS-50 with guitar and bass. For someone like me that may likely never get to try one that was amazing to see.
Had to be done!
I so miss my MS20/MS50/SQ10 stack, this really brings that home! Great demonstrations with your usual excellent musicality Alex, making these videos so enjoyable. Glad you are getting to keep this unusual beasty too!
Ah, the classic trio. Might grab am SQ-10 if I ever see one for a reasonable price. Have the SQ-1 in the meantime.
Always a joy to watch your videos, Alex! Love the jams!
Once again, Korg proves to be my fave Japanese synth maker for just the sheer weirdness they made
Indeed!
Some fantastic compositions and arrangements in this video. Wow!
Thank you very much!
Wow! Never knew these existed, great video as always sir, awesome addition to the studio and I do love the filter on 50 adds more to the MS sound palate with both. Top tracks as always 🎶🚀🔊
the footsie jam is DIIIIRTYYYY 😩😩😩 some just amazing demos in this video. killer as usual!!
Thanks Alex, just stumbled on your channel, great stuff; informative, cool tunes and filming - glad to find another real one, keep rowing man!
Howdy! Thanks.
Damn dude. You can bust out a jam man! Great video and the best synth channel out here.
Cheers!
Madness! Love love love all your overly ring-modulated, over-vibratoed quirkyness! 💯💢💯
Cheers. Korg does that to a guy. :)
The filter comparison section is done nicely. And really appreciate you playing as much as talking.
Cheers Maurice, always striving for the talk/music balance.
Lovely how the synthesjizer says "die" :) lovely sounds Alex
almost had one in 2001. got sick and couldn't pick it up. then it was gone 😱 thanks for the great review and catchy grooves!
Ah shucks, bad timing!
If it's any consolation, I've missed MS-50s by small amounts half a dozen times over the past five years. Hard to get hold of.
Nice video as usual Alex! The left/right filter demo reminds me of the "Lucid Dreams" track from Franz Ferdinand on which they play 2 Moog Voyager left/right like you for an exciting stereo madness.
Didn't know that one, thanks for the tip off!
@@AlexBallMusic If you can listen to it (until the end...) and tell us what you think about this stereo madness... That would be cool as well. :)
Thanks for introduction, thats amazing. And oh myyyy, KORG35 sounds awesome, but that diode filter - that is really something else.
And looking forward for more.
All the best!
And now I have both! Sexy times.
@@AlexBallMusic And MS-10 and SQ-10 to go for full set. ;-)
@@DestroyER82 I had the opportunity and after weighing it up, I decided not to open that worm hole. 01, 02, 20, 50 and SQ-1 are enough.
(famous last words)
@@AlexBallMusic It... is... Inevitable ;-)
A sound that was adored during the French house scene. Just gorgeous
Good work Fella!! Always wondered how that would cook!
You've outdone yourself again. Bravo!
This is one that Korg really needs to reissue.
Or a combined stereo 20/50 in a box with an extended patch panel. The MS-70.
You really are the best at this.
There’s something about those mid to late 70s synths that still sound so futuristic.
I’m also very happy when you do jams that have a 79-80 vibe; catchy but threatening! :)
Catchy but threatening - sounds like covid.
And yes, the future is coming and it was 45 years ago. What a sound.
@@AlexBallMusic I call it " Future Noir " but that's just me. LOL 😆
Congrats on korg kit addit.✌️
Rockin’ Roland
Korgchestra
very kling-klang sounding to my ear.
Love it !
I didn't know this existed, looks great. Your tracks sound amazing too.
Cheers. Yeah, quite rare.
Some fabulous sounds in this, lovely stuff!
Cheers Ben. You'd have fun with this chap.
Educational, informative, and entertaining as always! Were you using that SQ-1 I see there? Wow, that MS-50 stays with you? Excellent! Thanks, Alex!
Cheers! Yep, SQ-1 to sequence and also for 2 channels of MIDI to CV, which is very handy indeed. I have the 50 hooked up to my computer basically.
And yes...it's mine! (Evil laugh)
@@AlexBallMusic Ex-cell-ent....
@@AlexBallMusic You made very nice music on that thing!
Thank you. ms20+ms50=time machines, one of my favorite albums ever. I'd watch a full length video on just patching the ms50 (or the two together), since as you say, there isn't many who can afford or find these. Hint hint!
Thanks for the video 👍 it's inspired me to expand on my MS 20 mini ! 😀🎹🎵🎶
great demo of the ms 50 sounded really nice and crunchy while keeping its depth...
Quite a rude sound, yeah.
One of the coolest things i heard you do
That's a really cool synth. Would love it if Arturia or Korg did a vst of it to use with their existing MS-20's.
Well I learned something about the type of filter (Traveller) on my micro preset.
Great video, as per.
Played one of those once. Fun little synth.
this channel should be part of the national curriculum - and it's funny to boot
Cheers!
As always a great video! I have owned a used MS-50 since 1989 and used it on many albums. There is an application I'd like to share here, my way of saying thank you. You can use the MS-50 in stereo as it has two vca's , enough multiples and an inverter. The inverted channel is output from either channel. There's only one vco but it doesn't sound as thin as the MS-20 vco's and you can use the divider as a sub oscillator and use the adding amp as an audio mixer. The lfo has pulse width modulation control, which is very rare. It wasn't until the Moog One that I found it again in a synthesizer. I didn't know about the diode filter, although I could distinguish it from the other MS filters.
Yeah! I used the sub oscillator trick in most demos and also did one where the second VCA was controlled by the second envelope with some gate delay for a stereo offset. I'll try it via the inverter, thanks for the tip.
LFO pulse width mod - indeed, a great feature!
I forgot to mention the MS-50 can make a decent vocoder sound when using the ring modulator and singing. That way it sounds different from the Dalek effect. But honestly, a Korg VC-10 sounds better.
Epic ending. This is on my list but I am officially out of space … for now lol. I’m downsizing by priority 😊 thanks for the deets!
Yeah, my Odyssey went to make a space for this. I know the problem well.
By 'eck, those were some ace sounds. Cheers Alex.
Alex Ball please drop an album with all your synth demo songs UA-cam eats alot of battery and also you cant turn the screen off while watching and my phone taps the back of my leg in my pants at work while listening, causing me to constantly stop and hit back to continue listening to what is arguably the most unique, listenable and refreshing synth music on UA-cam and maybe of all time! I just want to work and listen at the same time so I need it on Spotify or SoundCloud or something! Thanks for your work
I'll stick them on Bandcamp next week. 🙂
@@AlexBallMusic thank you your work should be recognized it's not your average sound it's a style all your own
Brilliant video, and dating advice. What more could one ask for.
…and good grief, the sound of this thing!
had the Korg MS-10 when it first came out. Was amazing for its time. Main problem was no digital presets. The band had to wait for me to patch everything for the next song when playing out. But , it could do that sound half-way through Frankenstein really well. and of course the siren at beginning of Riding The Storm Out.
Really enjoyable jams and very informative... I really had no idea this even existed!
Yeah, the obscure member of the family.
@@AlexBallMusic I’m so glad you give these vintage synths the attention. I actually like these synths created before things became ‘standardized’. I’ve noticed some of the newer manufacturers try to capture that innovation as well. And yet there are still innovations out there that have not been picked up. Most notably IMHO is the performance controls of the Sigma. I think 1977-79 might be that sweet spot for innovation occurring years ago.
@@PaulBoos Yes, that's absolutely the appeal to me. The wild west years where there were no rules or conventions. Individuals had bold and innovative ideas and the motivation to male them happen.
The Sigma is an underrated synth, definitely. Very unconventional.
I guess the spirit is there still, it's just harder to be heard in the noise of everything going on.
@@AlexBallMusic hey a request could you do a run through of the features of the MS-02 (and an MS-03 if you can get your hands on one). It appears to have features not replicated in modern devices trying to perform the same feature set. I know I want a conversion like that, but uncertain if that would work better or whether to just get a eurorack conversion.
@@PaulBoos Discussed on this page.
www.alexballmusic.com/korg-ms-series
Love it I really liked the 👏 clap in the first demo song. All the the demos 🎶 music is great 👍 keep up the good work.
Cheers Alphonso. You gotta have the clap!
Wow great example of the 50 I had a similar rig w/ the Mc-4 ms20/50 A-2600 memory moog Jupiter 6 and few others ms-03/04 the hz-1v.oct converter thingy was the real expander as it allowed the the 50 to communicate to almost any synth ,it was a labor of love to patch it all up and then program the Mc-4 in about 30min+ from scratch! But I always suspected the 50 filter was different than the 20 thanks for clearing that up , damn 40+ years wondering about that filter cheers Alex.yippies
Glad to bring back your past. 😀
The FM at 2:30 is sensational, Alex!
Alex, I love the videos but it's so hard to sit through a whole one, what with having to constantly rewind the demos and listen to them over and over again.
Keep up the fantastic work, I speak for everyone here when I say we appreciate the TV show level quality content you make.
Edit: If you do see this comment, would you ever consider explaining patch routing and how you approach the process of patch design? You're amazing at making interesting noises and I'd love to have some way of seeing your processes.
Cheers! Glad you enjoyed the demos.
Might do some patching videos at some point if there's interest.
The raucous, rough, analog sound of the MS family sounds surprisingly good when paired with the crunchy digital sound of the Super Drums. Loved that intro tune! The envelope follower bit with the bass and guitar was CRAZY good too!
Analogue synths and digital drums is an awesome combo, even if they're the SuperDrums. 😉
@@AlexBallMusic TBH the Super Drums are cool in that "so bad they're good" way. Perfect for a certain type of retro kitschy vibe.
Alex, you should once come and see the Synthorama in Luterbach, Switzerland. Mr Hollinger has a wonderful and huge collection of vintage Korgs, Moogs, Arps and many, many more.... all wired and ready to play.
Yes please.
@@AlexBallMusic Synthorama Museum für Synthesizer, Martin Hollinger,
Hauptstrasse 15, 4542 Luterbach,
7° 35' 15.3" E, 47° 12' 55.7" N
wow that thing sounds so good!
dopest! crushing tones g
You should make a full version of demo 3. Super good!