I bought one second hand for £100 in 2007 to use live in an 80s synthpop band. It did 8 years on the road and is still going strong in my studio. Love it.
@@AudioPilz I was very lucky - I bought it as 'not working' turned out to be a dry joint on the power socket. 10 seconds with a soldering iron and it was good as new!
For a long time this was one of the best bang-for-the-buck synth to learn the ropes on. Still have mine since ~2002. Even with walls of modular and many vintage bits I've added since, it's still good to just throw the MS in the back seat for an impromptu chillout jam, or to drop it into a writing session as something like a "poor-mans OB 2-voice".
I really wanted this when I was a kid. I mean, there weren’t that many options and despite the voice count being half, it sounded better than the JP8000. But I couldn’t afford it then and can’t justify the price now.
@@raistaparta The price nowadays ($500) isn’t that insane. Quite close to what it cost brand new. I only regret buying it just before MS2000B came out. But well before Microkorg. I like the bigger keys and didn’t feel Micro added anything I’d have wanted.
You gotta try it on bi-timbral mode with 2 mod sequencers going at the same time, it gets totally crazy! Everyone should check the incredible performances that Rene Hell was able to do with just this synth alone.
Great video, love your tunes. I had the rack mounted version of the MS2000 for a spell. On the "hate page" I noticed several were complaining that it sounded "thin & digital". Actually, I thought mine sounded pretty meaty and good. However, this synth came out in a period when Korg was cutting corners and costs by putting the cheapest pots, keyboards and switches they could find on many of their products. Cheap build quality, and the 4-voice limitation really kept this synth from being as good as it should have been.
An absolute classic (with the ER-1) of the millennial era. Check out Jexus' free patches for this for a nice variety or sounds. Incredibly fun to play and edit, even if it's only 4 voices. I only wish Korg had better production quality in the era as both my ER-1 and MS2000r have suffered from dead power inputs. Thanks for the vid!
I remember playing with this when it came out, as far as early 2000s VAs go, it impressed me, smooth and characterful with just enough tizzle on top without sounding plasticy or like a swarm of angry jpg bees - more so than some other big names of the time that have well, far more notorious records to their name. Mind, this was also the era well before plugins got gud'.
Great video 👍 If I spot one of these at a good price I'll buy! I find the MicroKORG sits nicely alongside real analogue gear (as does my Reface CS) but I can't say the same for some supposedly better emulations.
Is it bad I've always wanted to use a MS2000 over a MS20? I can't wait for the inevitable King Korg episode. We need to get you an Alesis D4 to do battle with the Jomox 😂
When I graduated high school, I bought a MS2000B for $699! I absolutely loved it. Though far from perfect, but the first real synth I ever had. Polyphony, dual LFO's, dual EG's, virtual patching, mod sequencing, vocoder, and more…for an 18 year old with zero synth experience, _it was tits!_ 😎 *NOTE:* I mistakenly confused the MS2000 with the MS2000B in my original comment so I edited it.
@@AudioPilz Indeed. I'm one of those types of musicians who rarely hangs onto equipment because I love trying new stuff. Also, I think I'm remembering it as a better synth than it was, heh!
@moore3236 It DEF isn't. I had the two confused. 👍_LOVED_ my MS2000B. It was my first proper synth. I was 18 and it began an obsession with electronic music. It has a good-feeling great quality keybed, the chassis is metal, its signal path is fairly easy to understand-and it's mapped out on the body which is cool-it has dual LFO's, dual envelope generators, a vocoder, virtual patching capabilities, a sixteen-step mod sequencer, and more. The things you can do with it are impressive-especially when you consider that its MSRP was $699. Were it available new today, they'd easily charge double that price. From my teens to my thirties now, I've bought and sold at least 100 instruments and bits of music equipment (amps, rack units, effects, etc), and there are only about 10 things I regret selling; my MS2000B is among them. 🤣
I've seen LCD Soundsystem live and they had this bad boy up on stage right in front so I was always curious about it :D, prices are quite good but I can't justify getting another synth, GAS is strong though 😅
Thats nostalgia for ya. There is absolutely nothing this thing brings to the table that many modern plugins couldn’t. But yea, the physical presence is nice to have.
@@christopherpederson1021 it's absolutely true - there's very little this synth could do that the Minilogue XD doesn't do way better. My only counterargument is that frankly, the MS2000 just looks so damn nice.
Love the MS2000 and microkorg. My favorite band has rocked one of these for a while, and I desperately want one, but I am satisfied with my Microkorg S for now! Was wondering if you'd ever be willing to cover the Roland AX-SYNTH keytar/ synthesizerIt's a cool and iconic synth, and I would love to see you delve into its synth engine!
Remove two zeros from the model and then you a Korg I am interested in. But that first jam was working well for me. Gave me a feel of the Super Meat Boy soundtrack for some reason.
@@AudioPilz Of course that's what I meant! Nah you've highlighted some real issues with this machine, I hate having to root for coins for the extra polyphony.
YES!! I'm so glad you finally covered this amazing and much-maligned synth. It doesn't get the hate today that it did when it was released though. People nowadays rightly recognize it for the classic it is. Not a perfect synth by any means, but it can do a few things especially well. A couple notes: 1. MIDI sync is improved a lot with the last firmware update. I don't think yours has it. 2. On the built-in delay, Korg annoyingly tied the delay level control to the delay feedback control. You can't have loud delay without lots of feedback. Annoying for me, as I often want a single 16th- or 8th-note slap at full volume, but you can't have a loud repeat without a long delay trail. 3. The presets are mostly quite good, and actually usable. 4. I wish you'd spent a bit more time showing off the mod sequencer. It is the MS2000's crown jewel. 5. Onboard distortion is generally awful, especially with lots of resonance. 6. This thing has BASS for days. It's one of my favorite bass synths. 7. The chorus is good. The phaser is great. Finally, the cat montage was so good I couldn't hear the music over my wife's laughing and swooning. Can we try and keep the visuals in check? j/k. Thanks, and see you next time.
nice one, thank you. i was recently up fur buying a ms2000 and then this show popped up. i read all the comments in the video and was in doubt, especially bc of the midi issues, but your comment saves it and i will definitely get one.
@@sudbenzer6603 Mine was my main stage axe until I got an OB-6. As I said it is far from perfect, and if you're not careful programming your sounds can turn to cardboard crap pretty quickly. But it is punchy, it does lovely bass stuff, and crazy/funky/evolving/grovy stuff comes out easy with the arpeggiator and mod sequencer. I hope you like it.
I think we have to mention the clicky clacky keys here, well, they are noisy on my MS2000B. I wasn't aware of the firmware update :o That is superb, thanks
@ghost mall I think it can be linked up and so have more, no? As you may know it comes from the MS-20 lineage, mono, but still I agree with 8, initially
Still one of my favorites synthesizers of all times. I don't care it can't sound "like an analog", it's simple a cool synth that looks like a lab instrument! I'm in.
I mean, to me that particular fat squelchy bass when resonance is turned up is far, far fatter than when you do it on a Minimoog/moog clone. They loose the bass bottom and volume a lot when turning up the resonance (, as all ladder filters (and lots of others do).. I am even going to be heretic and say that the Moog-filter is a bit overrated. But I prefer the non-ladder filters more. At least for thumpy fat resonant squelchy bass...
It may not sound like an analog now but in 2000 M1s and Tritons were all over the place. This sounded - and most importantly felt - way more analog than that.
I think that "sounds like analog" is a silly way to look at any synth. Analog vs Digital back in the day was as much about how you could edit the sounds by reaching out for a knob or slider and edit in real time instead of digging through menus to edit in jumpy intervals. All that said, I think it can sound sufficiently "analog". Though as a product of its time the qualifier "virtual" is probably more accurate.
The MS-2000R is a Bread n' Butter goto synth in my studio. I love twisting MS2K knobs and they're all MIDI CC readable for real-time recording and even assignable as a psudo MIDI controler if you want. My favorite trick is to use its MIDI OUT to duplicate sequences to another simple synth like a Behringer Crave, then loop-back that audio into the MS2k's Audio Input jack to blend the synth sequences together in interesting ways.
Seriously speaking…. This episode proved one thing in the end. It’s NEVER the synth, it’s THE USER. You’re demonstration brought the best out of this unit. Happy freaking FRIDAY!!!! 🍾🍾
@@aakash9058 because again, especially with a synthesizer’s physical design, it’s all about THE USER. also…… if you take away the millions of UA-cam critics and opinions about “every single fucking thing” (beetle juice voice) You take away the heard mentality of today that leads to people literally looking to someone else’s opinion before they can even begin to formulate an opinion of their own. You know…… when we feel justified about something based on the comment sections mass approval or Vice Versa
@@WVandellHarris Synths can have bugs, either usability or sound algorithm wise. Thst produce results that usually nobody would want. Or have user interface design flaws that make the users more often do the same mistakes over and over again or search from the wrong places. They can be used well, for sure, but they could have been done much better.
Florian - This came out at the same time as the JP-8000 and I was seriously considering the JP-8080 vs the MS-2000R (mostly because of polyphony). However, I grew to really love the raw nature of the engine in the MS-2000 (and so many others did via the MicroKorg). I finally saw my chance to acquire an MS-2000R when Korg released the Minilogue. Quite a few people dumped their MS-2000s in order to grab the new 4-voice all-analog Korg offering. I was able to get a near mint MS-2000R for $250 (shipping included). Sure, I'd love if it had eight voices instead of four, but I really do enjoy the engine. And, as you noted, it's outstanding for bass and lead sounds that don't require polyphony. Having said that, it's amazing how full the pads on this can sound with only four voices. Thanks for another great episode! Peace.
Funny thing is I have been looking for the MS2000B desperately for months on my local market, it's not like the synth is rare, plenty units were sold back in the day but fuck me is it hard to find any where I live...
@@AudioPilz literally had no idea. I personally loved how it sounded. Was one of the first hardware synthesizers I tried. Always wanted one and never got around to it. Now I'm googling it before its price goes up thanks to this video 😂
I remember when I played with one of these for the first time at Guitar Center in early 2000. I was amazed as it was the first time I got to play with a synth that had 'all the knobs'. For a short while, me and my friends (who were there) had replaced the world 'cool' with 'Korg'. I.e. Man, that movie was really Korg! Would I use the synth today? Probably not, but you know, you never forget your first synth crush. :)
I've always loved this machine for being a kind of Swiss Army synth. You can get raw analog-ish sounds or dip into the DWGS waves for digital or traditional instrument sounds. The layout is intuitive once you get it figured out. The patch matrix give you the feeling of a semi-modular that makes it worthy of the "MS" line. If you know what you're doing you can get a lot out of this one.
Wowww ! I really like the sound of this one ! Top notch demos, especially the final one ! I might need this gear, and the techno viking action figure 😂 ! Thank you Florian for this episode !
I bought an MS 2000 when it first came out and used it ad nauseam, then bought the microkorg when it first came out and it seemed a bit redundant so I sold the MS2000. Later I sold the microkorg and bought another microkorg XL. Now that I think about it, my favorite of these 3 synths is the MS2000, basically because of the mod sequencer, the size of the keys, and the interface, because the sound is similar in all three and it is not what makes the difference
I do synthpunk and everyone in synthpunk seems to use a Microkorg as their main synth. My VA needs are covered by the System-1 and the Reface CS (top synths the two of them!) but sometimes I consider saving up for an MS2000 or Microkorg just because everyone has one. And I guess that blatantly digital sound gives Dreamcast/Playstation vibes?
I had a bandmate who got an MS2000R as a lighter-weight replacement for various combo-organs he used to lug to gigs. It sounded great for leads and solos. The polyphony was a known limitation, but considering a lot of his smaller combo-organs did frequency folding, it wasn't a new restriction. The ease in programming was greatly appreciated. Seems like a good candidate synth for a VST version?
Thanks for the show! I like how Korg sells the same synth in different enclosures: MS2000, MicroKorg, MicroKorg-mk1, MicroKorg-mk1S, MicroKorg XL, MicroKorg XL+, R3, Radias, KingKorg, what else?
R3 und Radias haben eine komplett andere Synthesizer Engine als Microkorg oder MS2000, das Einzige was alle vereint, sie sind digital... selten so einen Blödsinn gelesen!
I got my blue MS2000R. and it is still my favourite... Not that i tried every synth out there, but for me this one is a gem... modulating stuff with that sequencer and virtual patch bay.. sooo much fun..
The jamz alone are worth watching your videos. Personally, I love the MS2000, I used to own the microKorg, I wish that I would’ve kept it. And if I could get a deal, I would get the microKorg
How the hell this synth made it to Bad Gear baffles me. This is literally one of the greatest synths of all time and and is one of my favorites and biggest "regret selling" synth. I've considered time and again in getting a Mint one from Japan just to have it again! The Microkorg is a lame parody of this thing! Waiting for you out back for that JP-8080 skit but you REALLY deserve an A$$ whooping for this video! :p
For a true vintage digital machine with virtual analog engine, it has a better sound than most recent Boutiques..... I often use my MS2000R (rack version) for basses (they are really big), noises, and DW style sounds (since DW6000/8000 waveforms are available). Globally it is not the best sounding synth ever, of course, but it has a very cool sound signature and a lot of capabilities, my only regret about this korg is the max 4 voice polyphony. An 8 voices version should have been perfect.
@@AudioPilz Unfortunately even the MicroKorg that is the most recent take over the MS2000 still has 4 note polyphony... Bi timbral but 4 notes. It's a shame...
MS2K is the reason analog and VA got stronger. When this synth dropped in '99, it was a total game changer, and it was relatively affordable. Still got one. Haven't played it in years, but won't sell.
This is by far the synth I regret selling the most. I only sold it cuz i needed rent money, and it's been a decade now but I still miss it. The modulation sequencer is what really made it a gem for me; i basically used it as a drum machine
Nooooo ... not another synth I own (well an MS2000R) I think I'm only one synth away from winning at Bad Gear Bingo now. I love the user interface on this although lining up the buttons and knobs for re-use as the sequencer somehow messes with your etched-in-stone analog workflow mind. The multi-timbral voice assignment seems designed for split keyboard use only as I never found a way to assign across multiple MIDI channels.
3.5 octaves of full-size keys turned out to be perfect for this synth, hence the size. The rack version's a lot smaller, and you can crudely play it from the buttons.
@@keybeardist I stuck a 9V power supply in mine and soldered it to the motherboard so I can travel with a normal power cord instead of a wall wart. And there’s still room to pack a couple sandwiches!
Oh, that's funny. I was like 2 min into the video and was thinking "What's the big deal, this sounds just like my Microkorg?" and then wham, you answered my question.
Sold my MS 2000R, always regretted it. Great show and very entertaining. Would love to see Novation Nova here and the A Station, both had great sounds, but the Nova froze constantly on me and the A Station packed so many features, nearly impossible to handle that cryptic LCD...
incredibly underrated synth because people were more concerned at the time with the virtual analogue aspect and sound rather than it's deep ass diving features. It's a unique combination of features... per-step value editing for any parameter on a 16 step seq, a vocoder with sampling, and 4note poly. It wasn't a MS20/10 clone... it was a VC10 and Mono/Poly mixed with some MS10 style routing. Most people don't get why that's sick AF even if the osc's are digital (which was never bad anyways... and the earlier takes on V/A tend to have more interesting quirks anyways). Feel like I should buy a MS2000B before the prices jump again... Where it's child, the microkorg, is for presets and ease... the MS2000 is experimental by nature.
Only time I felt like a synth genius was having a go on this as a MicroKorg owner, and magically knowing what everything did right away. Would love one now.
Never actually played one of these- thought about getting a radias but the2000 sort of passed me by . This sounds pretty good 😮& asidefrom the disappointing voice limitation...🤔🤔🤔🤔😊you’ve given me gas for one if these now.😅 (ps you might upset Korg fans, as I don’t think it’s “bad gear” but want to see you do a feature the radias now for comparison..)
Ive used the ms2000 since they came out. Still have my first one. Though its getting pretty beat up now. Still really enjoy it. I use it more than my radias.
Audiopilz: *slaps roof of YT channel*
Full Tracks, Extended Jams, Sample Packs: www.patreon.com/audiopilz
yeah this would be something cool! but it didn't come with 15 meme packs and a stroke warning. how could i trust it
The final track slaps so hard.
I bought one second hand for £100 in 2007 to use live in an 80s synthpop band. It did 8 years on the road and is still going strong in my studio. Love it.
Nice find!!!
@@AudioPilz I was very lucky - I bought it as 'not working' turned out to be a dry joint on the power socket. 10 seconds with a soldering iron and it was good as new!
@@MagicMusicAdam - Wow!!!
A fair price
I also have one and I love it.
For a long time this was one of the best bang-for-the-buck synth to learn the ropes on.
Still have mine since ~2002. Even with walls of modular and many vintage bits I've added since, it's still good to just throw the MS in the back seat for an impromptu chillout jam, or to drop it into a writing session as something like a "poor-mans OB 2-voice".
Agreed!
I really wanted this when I was a kid. I mean, there weren’t that many options and despite the voice count being half, it sounded better than the JP8000. But I couldn’t afford it then and can’t justify the price now.
@@raistaparta The price nowadays ($500) isn’t that insane. Quite close to what it cost brand new. I only regret buying it just before MS2000B came out. But well before Microkorg. I like the bigger keys and didn’t feel Micro added anything I’d have wanted.
You gotta try it on bi-timbral mode with 2 mod sequencers going at the same time, it gets totally crazy! Everyone should check the incredible performances that Rene Hell was able to do with just this synth alone.
Going to check out Rene Hell thanks!
Thanks for posting!!!
Man you have the best memes, and the cat jam is an absolute banger. 10/10 would listen on repeat
Thank you so much!!!
Hands down one of the best VA synths ever made.
👍
Great video, love your tunes. I had the rack mounted version of the MS2000 for a spell. On the "hate page" I noticed several were complaining that it sounded "thin & digital". Actually, I thought mine sounded pretty meaty and good. However, this synth came out in a period when Korg was cutting corners and costs by putting the cheapest pots, keyboards and switches they could find on many of their products. Cheap build quality, and the 4-voice limitation really kept this synth from being as good as it should have been.
Thank you!!!
An absolute classic (with the ER-1) of the millennial era. Check out Jexus' free patches for this for a nice variety or sounds. Incredibly fun to play and edit, even if it's only 4 voices. I only wish Korg had better production quality in the era as both my ER-1 and MS2000r have suffered from dead power inputs. Thanks for the vid!
Thanks!!! Big ER-1 fan here!
I just realized: you haven’t done an episode on the Access Virus. That would be a winner!
Great suggestion, thanks!!!
My first synth
😍😍😍
I remember playing with this when it came out, as far as early 2000s VAs go, it impressed me, smooth and characterful with just enough tizzle on top without sounding plasticy or like a swarm of angry jpg bees - more so than some other big names of the time that have well, far more notorious records to their name. Mind, this was also the era well before plugins got gud'.
Yeah, plugins really sucked back then...
The proof is in the jam I really want one more now
😀
I legit loved mine. I wish I hadn’t sold it.
I feel you!
Whaaat!!! I fckn love my MS2000R !! Damn, you leave no survivors man
It's a dirty job but someone's gotta do it;)
00's. MS2000/R, JP8000/8080. Supernova2, Virus, Nord, Viscount OB-12...it was a popular time for VA.
Agreed!
Great video 👍 If I spot one of these at a good price I'll buy! I find the MicroKORG sits nicely alongside real analogue gear (as does my Reface CS) but I can't say the same for some supposedly better emulations.
Thank you!!!
as a professional genre genrer I have to add thats not liquid funk, thats atmospheric breaks ☝
I stand corrected!
Some unnecessary comment there was as korg ms2000 sound lib for the korg r3 on the US korg page
Interesting, I have to check it out!
Is it bad I've always wanted to use a MS2000 over a MS20? I can't wait for the inevitable King Korg episode. We need to get you an Alesis D4 to do battle with the Jomox 😂
Great ideas, thanks!!!
When I graduated high school, I bought a MS2000B for $699! I absolutely loved it. Though far from perfect, but the first real synth I ever had. Polyphony, dual LFO's, dual EG's, virtual patching, mod sequencing, vocoder, and more…for an 18 year old with zero synth experience, _it was tits!_ 😎
*NOTE:* I mistakenly confused the MS2000 with the MS2000B in my original comment so I edited it.
The way of the synth. They come and go...
@@AudioPilz Indeed. I'm one of those types of musicians who rarely hangs onto equipment because I love trying new stuff. Also, I think I'm remembering it as a better synth than it was, heh!
In what way is an MS2000 better than an MS2000B … ?!
The B is the superior model, all around
@moore3236 It DEF isn't. I had the two confused. 👍_LOVED_ my MS2000B. It was my first proper synth. I was 18 and it began an obsession with electronic music.
It has a good-feeling great quality keybed, the chassis is metal, its signal path is fairly easy to understand-and it's mapped out on the body which is cool-it has dual LFO's, dual envelope generators, a vocoder, virtual patching capabilities, a sixteen-step mod sequencer, and more. The things you can do with it are impressive-especially when you consider that its MSRP was $699. Were it available new today, they'd easily charge double that price.
From my teens to my thirties now, I've bought and sold at least 100 instruments and bits of music equipment (amps, rack units, effects, etc), and there are only about 10 things I regret selling; my MS2000B is among them.
🤣
I've seen LCD Soundsystem live and they had this bad boy up on stage right in front so I was always curious about it :D, prices are quite good but I can't justify getting another synth, GAS is strong though 😅
Nice!
MiniFreak ancester ?
good vid :)
Thank you!!! That hits the nail on the head;)
Goddammit I was genuinely considering saving for one of these and now the price is probably going to fucking double on Reverb lmao
I'm sorry😔😔😔
Thats nostalgia for ya. There is absolutely nothing this thing brings to the table that many modern plugins couldn’t. But yea, the physical presence is nice to have.
@@christopherpederson1021 it's absolutely true - there's very little this synth could do that the Minilogue XD doesn't do way better. My only counterargument is that frankly, the MS2000 just looks so damn nice.
MS2k and the XD are SOOOOOOO different! lol
Love the MS2000 and microkorg. My favorite band has rocked one of these for a while, and I desperately want one, but I am satisfied with my Microkorg S for now!
Was wondering if you'd ever be willing to cover the Roland AX-SYNTH keytar/ synthesizerIt's a cool and iconic synth, and I would love to see you delve into its synth engine!
Great suggestion, thanks!!!
Beasties and mathematics symbols - perfect together.
😻😻😻
Would you do the Roland SH 32?
Great suggestion, thanks!!! I'm trying to find an affordable one for quite some time now!
Cat and bass was neato
😻😻😻
Scrapping the barrel
If there's an MS2000 at the bottom of the barrel I'm willing to scrape;)
Remove two zeros from the model and then you a Korg I am interested in. But that first jam was working well for me. Gave me a feel of the Super Meat Boy soundtrack for some reason.
MS20 4 life!!!
How F*@~ing dare you!? Send me your coordinates, I'm coming to Österreich to settle this the Irish way. 🤜☘🤛
Can't we just sort that out the universal "Sláinte" - way?;)
@@AudioPilz Of course that's what I meant! Nah you've highlighted some real issues with this machine, I hate having to root for coins for the extra polyphony.
Do Deepmind next please!
Great suggestion, thank you!!!
I did consider one, but I think I'd get more fun out of the mk, apparently I read that if you are after the legacy ms2000 the rack version is better?
Haven't tried the rack version but the keybed of the original is nothing to call home about...
A How to drink gif, nice!
❤️❤️❤️Greg❤️❤️❤️
I think, after the Evolver Episode and now the MS2000, its time for the MFB Synth2 or Synth Lite...
Great suggestions, thanks!!!
I can say it perfectly synchronized: Welcome to bad gear. The show about the woooorld's most hated audio tools.
I think there's an "o" missing;)
@@AudioPilz I agree
@@AudioPilz I concur!
It's somewhere between 2 and 3 syllables 😉
I went back last week to determine if woooooorld was always that way. Glad I'm not alone.
YES!! I'm so glad you finally covered this amazing and much-maligned synth. It doesn't get the hate today that it did when it was released though. People nowadays rightly recognize it for the classic it is. Not a perfect synth by any means, but it can do a few things especially well. A couple notes:
1. MIDI sync is improved a lot with the last firmware update. I don't think yours has it.
2. On the built-in delay, Korg annoyingly tied the delay level control to the delay feedback control. You can't have loud delay without lots of feedback. Annoying for me, as I often want a single 16th- or 8th-note slap at full volume, but you can't have a loud repeat without a long delay trail.
3. The presets are mostly quite good, and actually usable.
4. I wish you'd spent a bit more time showing off the mod sequencer. It is the MS2000's crown jewel.
5. Onboard distortion is generally awful, especially with lots of resonance.
6. This thing has BASS for days. It's one of my favorite bass synths.
7. The chorus is good. The phaser is great.
Finally, the cat montage was so good I couldn't hear the music over my wife's laughing and swooning. Can we try and keep the visuals in check?
j/k. Thanks, and see you next time.
Thank you, that sums it up nicely!!!
nice one, thank you. i was recently up fur buying a ms2000 and then this show popped up. i read all the comments in the video and was in doubt, especially bc of the midi issues, but your comment saves it and i will definitely get one.
@@sudbenzer6603 Mine was my main stage axe until I got an OB-6. As I said it is far from perfect, and if you're not careful programming your sounds can turn to cardboard crap pretty quickly. But it is punchy, it does lovely bass stuff, and crazy/funky/evolving/grovy stuff comes out easy with the arpeggiator and mod sequencer. I hope you like it.
I think we have to mention the clicky clacky keys here, well, they are noisy on my MS2000B. I wasn't aware of the firmware update :o That is superb, thanks
@ghost mall I think it can be linked up and so have more, no? As you may know it comes from the MS-20 lineage, mono, but still I agree with 8, initially
Jam 2 is easily the best one I've heard on the show so far! Bad Gear really highlights you can make magic with anything if you lean into its quirks.
Thank you so much!!! Yeah, I think I hit the sweet spot here
@@AudioPilz You regularly hit sweet spots, your music is truly ace, even with bad gear!
Plus I got extra feels since my cat just died 👍
Im still waiting for the audiopilz live gig :P
@@joemurray2523 Maybe we could crowdfund airfare for him to come to the States for a few weeks :D
Still one of my favorites synthesizers of all times. I don't care it can't sound "like an analog", it's simple a cool synth that looks like a lab instrument! I'm in.
I really like the squelchy timbre too!
Analog is overrated, listen to the music from the Metroid Prime games.
MS2000 is everywhere.
I mean, to me that particular fat squelchy bass when resonance is turned up is far, far fatter than when you do it on a Minimoog/moog clone. They loose the bass bottom and volume a lot when turning up the resonance (, as all ladder filters (and lots of others do)..
I am even going to be heretic and say that the Moog-filter is a bit overrated.
But I prefer the non-ladder filters more. At least for thumpy fat resonant squelchy bass...
It may not sound like an analog now but in 2000 M1s and Tritons were all over the place. This sounded - and most importantly felt - way more analog than that.
I think that "sounds like analog" is a silly way to look at any synth. Analog vs Digital back in the day was as much about how you could edit the sounds by reaching out for a knob or slider and edit in real time instead of digging through menus to edit in jumpy intervals.
All that said, I think it can sound sufficiently "analog". Though as a product of its time the qualifier "virtual" is probably more accurate.
Something about these 90s and noughties VA synths tickles my "flawed, quirky, but full of soul" bone. Please do more of those
Agreed, will do!
That day has come! Now all my gear is a bad gear
Congratulations!!! Bingo!!!
Time to buy some new gear I guess
congrats! 🥂
🍻
The MS-2000R is a Bread n' Butter goto synth in my studio. I love twisting MS2K knobs and they're all MIDI CC readable for real-time recording and even assignable as a psudo MIDI controler if you want. My favorite trick is to use its MIDI OUT to duplicate sequences to another simple synth like a Behringer Crave, then loop-back that audio into the MS2k's Audio Input jack to blend the synth sequences together in interesting ways.
Nice technique!!!
I loved my MS2000. Great sounds from it and so many things to modulate.
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Same. i have an MS2000BR, this video is a shit show
I love my korg ms2000 too....for me is the best ..love it
You're dead to me now lol
💀
Seriously speaking…. This episode proved one thing in the end. It’s NEVER the synth, it’s THE USER. You’re demonstration brought the best out of this unit.
Happy freaking FRIDAY!!!! 🍾🍾
Sure. But synths can have bad design
@@aakash9058 physically speaking?
@@aakash9058 because again, especially with a synthesizer’s physical design, it’s all about THE USER.
also…… if you take away the millions of UA-cam critics and opinions about “every single fucking thing” (beetle juice voice)
You take away the heard mentality of today that leads to people literally looking to someone else’s opinion before they can even begin to formulate an opinion of their own. You know…… when we feel justified about something based on the comment sections mass approval or Vice Versa
@@WVandellHarris Synths can have bugs, either usability or sound algorithm wise. Thst produce results that usually nobody would want. Or have user interface design flaws that make the users more often do the same mistakes over and over again or search from the wrong places. They can be used well, for sure, but they could have been done much better.
Thanks!!!
I would appreciate a BONUS 10 hr video loop of the last cat jam.
😻😻😻
Metroid Prime gets remastered
Bad Gear does an episode on the MS-2000
Coincidence? I think not
Came looking for this comment! Just played through it again and the MS-2000 is EVERYWHERE
Yeah, I should definitely have mentioned that.
Florian - This came out at the same time as the JP-8000 and I was seriously considering the JP-8080 vs the MS-2000R (mostly because of polyphony). However, I grew to really love the raw nature of the engine in the MS-2000 (and so many others did via the MicroKorg). I finally saw my chance to acquire an MS-2000R when Korg released the Minilogue. Quite a few people dumped their MS-2000s in order to grab the new 4-voice all-analog Korg offering. I was able to get a near mint MS-2000R for $250 (shipping included). Sure, I'd love if it had eight voices instead of four, but I really do enjoy the engine. And, as you noted, it's outstanding for bass and lead sounds that don't require polyphony. Having said that, it's amazing how full the pads on this can sound with only four voices.
Thanks for another great episode!
Peace.
Great find, thanks!!!
Wonder if it’s possible to polychain a 2nd MS-2000 rack module to double to 8 voices?
@@thedeepblueskys
Yes. You can polychain twoMS-2000's to get 8-voice polyphony.
I had this, and sold it, and then bought the used B version with premium price. no regret. it's simply the best synth i've owned.
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Funny thing is I have been looking for the MS2000B desperately for months on my local market, it's not like the synth is rare, plenty units were sold back in the day but fuck me is it hard to find any where I live...
Lots of them in Japan!
Huh??? How the hell does the Korg MS2000 qualify as Bad Gear??
Let's say it can be considered controversial;)
@@AudioPilz literally had no idea. I personally loved how it sounded. Was one of the first hardware synthesizers I tried. Always wanted one and never got around to it. Now I'm googling it before its price goes up thanks to this video 😂
I am always down for some soothing cat content 😸
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I remember when I played with one of these for the first time at Guitar Center in early 2000. I was amazed as it was the first time I got to play with a synth that had 'all the knobs'. For a short while, me and my friends (who were there) had replaced the world 'cool' with 'Korg'. I.e. Man, that movie was really Korg! Would I use the synth today? Probably not, but you know, you never forget your first synth crush. :)
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I have the MS2000R - it's a keeper! Thank-you for this review
Thanks for watching!!!
Oh yeah, is a keep it on a box hiding in a closet 😅
I've always loved this machine for being a kind of Swiss Army synth. You can get raw analog-ish sounds or dip into the DWGS waves for digital or traditional instrument sounds. The layout is intuitive once you get it figured out. The patch matrix give you the feeling of a semi-modular that makes it worthy of the "MS" line. If you know what you're doing you can get a lot out of this one.
Doesn't MS stand for "Mono Synth"?
@@AudioPilz Modular-Semi ;)
Wowww ! I really like the sound of this one ! Top notch demos, especially the final one ! I might need this gear, and the techno viking action figure 😂 ! Thank you Florian for this episode !
Thank you!!! Techno Viking action figures for everyone!!!
@@AudioPilz Unfortunately Techno Viking has blocked all Techno Viking merchandise sales with cease and desist lawsuit, google it up!
Cat Viking might be available though…
I bought an MS 2000 when it first came out and used it ad nauseam, then bought the microkorg when it first came out and it seemed a bit redundant so I sold the MS2000. Later I sold the microkorg and bought another microkorg XL. Now that I think about it, my favorite of these 3 synths is the MS2000, basically because of the mod sequencer, the size of the keys, and the interface, because the sound is similar in all three and it is not what makes the difference
That sequencer is rad!
But can you combine 2 MicroKorgs for double the polyphony!
Good question!
I do synthpunk and everyone in synthpunk seems to use a Microkorg as their main synth. My VA needs are covered by the System-1 and the Reface CS (top synths the two of them!) but sometimes I consider saving up for an MS2000 or Microkorg just because everyone has one. And I guess that blatantly digital sound gives Dreamcast/Playstation vibes?
The Microkorg IS synthpunk;)
I had a bandmate who got an MS2000R as a lighter-weight replacement for various combo-organs he used to lug to gigs. It sounded great for leads and solos. The polyphony was a known limitation, but considering a lot of his smaller combo-organs did frequency folding, it wasn't a new restriction. The ease in programming was greatly appreciated.
Seems like a good candidate synth for a VST version?
Wouldn't that be the current Korg VST collection with the added Microkorg plugin?
@@AudioPilz seems like it should be, but your A/B of the MS2000 with Microkorg sounded like siblings more than twins.
Thanks for the show! I like how Korg sells the same synth in different enclosures: MS2000, MicroKorg, MicroKorg-mk1, MicroKorg-mk1S, MicroKorg XL, MicroKorg XL+, R3, Radias, KingKorg, what else?
Thanks for watching!!! AFAIK the MK XL and RADIAS have the same engine which is not identical with the original MK
R3 und Radias haben eine komplett andere Synthesizer Engine als Microkorg oder MS2000, das Einzige was alle vereint, sie sind digital... selten so einen Blödsinn gelesen!
@@maninblack9000 Any proves to read please?
isn't this thing in some of the electribe boxes as well?
It seems Korg Prophecy is in the same row as a predecessor.
I got my blue MS2000R. and it is still my favourite... Not that i tried every synth out there, but for me this one is a gem... modulating stuff with that sequencer and virtual patch bay.. sooo much fun..
Nice!
I love this little beast. It's my main digital synth and I don't think I'll ever get rid of it.
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The jamz alone are worth watching your videos. Personally, I love the MS2000, I used to own the microKorg, I wish that I would’ve kept it. And if I could get a deal, I would get the microKorg
Thanks!!!
How the hell this synth made it to Bad Gear baffles me. This is literally one of the greatest synths of all time and and is one of my favorites and biggest "regret selling" synth. I've considered time and again in getting a Mint one from Japan just to have it again! The Microkorg is a lame parody of this thing!
Waiting for you out back for that JP-8080 skit but you REALLY deserve an A$$ whooping for this video! :p
Forgive me Father for I have synthed;)
Historically MS stood for Mono Synth and PS for Poly Synth. So the MS-2000 should have been called PS-2000...
I know, it's false marketing;)
For a true vintage digital machine with virtual analog engine, it has a better sound than most recent Boutiques..... I often use my MS2000R (rack version) for basses (they are really big), noises, and DW style sounds (since DW6000/8000 waveforms are available). Globally it is not the best sounding synth ever, of course, but it has a very cool sound signature and a lot of capabilities, my only regret about this korg is the max 4 voice polyphony. An 8 voices version should have been perfect.
I'd love to have 8 voices on this one!
@@AudioPilz Unfortunately even the MicroKorg that is the most recent take over the MS2000 still has 4 note polyphony... Bi timbral but 4 notes. It's a shame...
Ahhh!! A bad gear episode with a piece of gear I actually have! I've never experienced this feeling before...
Congratulations and welcome to Bad Gear Bingo!!!
Same here :)
Et moi! 😀 Un seul correspondre, avec celui-ci!
MS2K is the reason analog and VA got stronger. When this synth dropped in '99, it was a total game changer, and it was relatively affordable. Still got one. Haven't played it in years, but won't sell.
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this was one of the best synths I ever owned, sounds amazing, intuitive interface, the matrix is fantastic, insta classic.
👍
This is by far the synth I regret selling the most. I only sold it cuz i needed rent money, and it's been a decade now but I still miss it. The modulation sequencer is what really made it a gem for me; i basically used it as a drum machine
Really liked the sequencer too!
Hello sir. You should make an episode about the KORG RADIAS, as it too was a wonky exception.
Please thanks cheers!
Great suggestion, thanks!!!
Nooooo ... not another synth I own (well an MS2000R) I think I'm only one synth away from winning at Bad Gear Bingo now. I love the user interface on this although lining up the buttons and knobs for re-use as the sequencer somehow messes with your etched-in-stone analog workflow mind. The multi-timbral voice assignment seems designed for split keyboard use only as I never found a way to assign across multiple MIDI channels.
Yeah, I messed up a few patches because of this too
Very Loved synth in the G-Funk community :)
I literally just took a break from setting up my MS2000B and I see this 😭😭🤣
Nothing personal;)
Sold my cherished MS200R 3 days ago and now have a miserable 5U sized hole in the rack. You make me unhappy!
I feel you🥺🥺🥺
It's the Microkorg Prequel episode :D I was always surprised at the sheer size of the MS2K, it has no business being that size.
It's a substantial piece of gear but surprisingly light
3.5 octaves of full-size keys turned out to be perfect for this synth, hence the size. The rack version's a lot smaller, and you can crudely play it from the buttons.
If you open it up, it is literally 99% empty space. I considered hiding an Axoloti or two in mine for some extra FX processing.
@@keybeardist I stuck a 9V power supply in mine and soldered it to the motherboard so I can travel with a normal power cord instead of a wall wart. And there’s still room to pack a couple sandwiches!
Oh, that's funny. I was like 2 min into the video and was thinking "What's the big deal, this sounds just like my Microkorg?" and then wham, you answered my question.
😀😀😀
This synth squonks like no Microkorg has squonked before
Squonk for DAYS!
I bought it new in 2000 or 2001 , Have it still for epic effect in a rock metal-rock band, I'll will never sell it ! 😉
Nice!!!
i have to say, I fall under "analog purist" but this has to be one of the best sounding VA synths ever.
👍
Sold my MS 2000R, always regretted it. Great show and very entertaining.
Would love to see Novation Nova here and the A Station, both had great sounds, but the Nova froze constantly on me and the A Station packed so many features, nearly impossible to handle that cryptic LCD...
Thank you! Great suggestion!
Seldom has the title "Bad Gear" been so misleading as with MS2000. It is a superb instrument.
You know, one person's Bad Gear...;)
Good timing! Metroid Prime Remastered recently came out and its soundtrack makes heavy use of the synth.
True that!!! I should have put that in the episode!
incredibly underrated synth because people were more concerned at the time with the virtual analogue aspect and sound rather than it's deep ass diving features. It's a unique combination of features... per-step value editing for any parameter on a 16 step seq, a vocoder with sampling, and 4note poly. It wasn't a MS20/10 clone... it was a VC10 and Mono/Poly mixed with some MS10 style routing. Most people don't get why that's sick AF even if the osc's are digital (which was never bad anyways... and the earlier takes on V/A tend to have more interesting quirks anyways). Feel like I should buy a MS2000B before the prices jump again...
Where it's child, the microkorg, is for presets and ease... the MS2000 is experimental by nature.
Word!
Another one well done my friend!
How about the Korg Radius.??
Thanks!!! Great suggestion!
You make me feel better about never being able to afford any of this stuff
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With all hate and limitation aside i see this being used in dnb or in a Detroit techno genre. Ms2000 goes great with super saws
Classic DnB synth!!!
Microkorg sounds all userped with a B.O.C sound pack download from yt turns the synth into a vintage beast.
Only time I felt like a synth genius was having a go on this as a MicroKorg owner, and magically knowing what everything did right away. Would love one now.
Yeah, I had the exact same experience!!!
everything sounds great so far. Whats the problem?
I'd say: the internet
MS2000 not quite my cup of tea, still a great episode as per usual. The cat segment stole the show for me 🐈💨
Thank you!!!
MmmMMmMMmMMmmmm!!!! That last tune was lush af! I wish I never sold mine.
Thank you!!!
Dude, you make the perfect content for me. Exploring classic synths and explaining their history, then making tasteful jams... heaven!
Thank you so much!!!
as a bass player, i appreciate you throwing davie in there :) sauber ! :D
Checkmate!!!
I bought one, didn't like it, lent it to someone and then got it back and loved it.
😀
We just got one in at Sam Ash. It’s $539. Should I get it?
Nice!!! If that kind of instrument is for you, go for it. Not that much more expensive than the Microkorg
This thing is my secret weapon. In terms of synths that are just plain fun to PLAY, this guy takes the cake imo
Agreed, very playable indeed
Never actually played one of these- thought about getting a radias but the2000 sort of passed me by . This sounds pretty good 😮& asidefrom the disappointing voice limitation...🤔🤔🤔🤔😊you’ve given me gas for one if these now.😅 (ps you might upset Korg fans, as I don’t think it’s “bad gear” but want to see you do a feature the radias now for comparison..)
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Dude you're literally tearing my studio apart haha. My MS2000 sits directly next to my DSI Evolver Desktop.
Nothing personal;)
Ive used the ms2000 since they came out. Still have my first one. Though its getting pretty beat up now. Still really enjoy it. I use it more than my radias.
r3 and radias are way more powerful though
Nice!