I suppose this is going out to any lucky attendees of NAMM2013 that got to play with these bad-boys. What are your thoughts, comparisons and which would you purchase? Were there any other standout synths on the floor this year?

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@Jode_Steele
verbalvigilantemusic.com

Not that I need another synth or another Korg in my life, but I would like the MS20. I could probably do with some Moog in my life though.

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http://soundcloud.com/richie-royale
http://www.mixcrate.com/richieroyale

I'm a complete synth/hardware noob really. I think 2013 is my year of analog gear. I've a real hunger to get some synths in the studio

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@Jode_Steele
verbalvigilantemusic.com

It is a slippery slope

I started with a hardware black box in the 90s and yearned for a synth with knobs on, eventually getting a Nord Lead 2 (among others!), which I would heartily recommend. Try not to get sucked into the analogue/digital debate; what is important in any synth I think is its sound and programmability.

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http://soundcloud.com/richie-royale
http://www.mixcrate.com/richieroyale

Quote Jode Steele:

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Were there any other standout synths on the floor this year?

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Despite the silly name, the (fu)King Korg sounds pretty impressive. A friend of mine was there and was quite taken by it. Not analogue analogue but sounds good and with a good degree of knobbage.

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Website / Music Lab Machines / Blog

Quote Jode Steele:

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I'm a complete synth/hardware noob really. I think 2013 is my year of analog gear. I've a real hunger to get some synths in the studio

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I hope you have deep pockets - it gets to be an obsession!

I am so glad that I kept most of the original gear I had that I would now otherwise be lusting for. My one regret was not buying a Jupiter 8 when they were a relatively sensible price, but that's a hole I finally managed to plug last year.

It's great to see so much analogue hardware now making it back to the mainstream. I'm waiting for the first flame war arguing how the new synths do/don't sound anything like the old ones - people will hear what they want to hear, as ever.

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An Eagle for an Emperor, A Kestrel for a Knave.

Quote The Elf:

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I'm waiting for the first flame war arguing how the new synths do/don't sound anything like the old ones

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Yes, and a lot of them led by people who have played neither!

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Website / Music Lab Machines / Blog

Quote Richie Royale:

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It is a slippery slope

I started with a hardware black box in the 90s and yearned for a synth with knobs on, eventually getting a Nord Lead 2 (among others!), which I would heartily recommend. Try not to get sucked into the analogue/digital debate; what is important in any synth I think is its sound and programmability.

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Great stuff! I'll check out the Nord Lead 2. Yeah, I've been using virtual synths/plug-ins for some trailer projects recently and they're cool but have recently been hearing some lovely, grittier synth lines and they turned out to be hardware. Like you say if it sounds good, use it.

I also like the idea of getting deeper into synthesis and I think having an analogue unit will force a better understanding from my brain No presets to fall back on and 'cheat' a sound with.

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@Jode_Steele
verbalvigilantemusic.com

Despite the silly name, the (fu)King Korg sounds pretty impressive. A friend of mine was there and was quite taken by it. Not analogue analogue but sounds good and with a good degree of knobbage.

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Cheers man, diggin' the name. Will check it out! It's all about the knobbage

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@Jode_Steele
verbalvigilantemusic.com

Quote The Elf:

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I hope you have deep pockets - it gets to be an obsession!

I am so glad that I kept most of the original gear I had that I would now otherwise be lusting for. My one regret was not buying a Jupiter 8 when they were a relatively sensible price, but that's a hole I finally managed to plug last year.

It's great to see so much analogue hardware now making it back to the mainstream. I'm waiting for the first flame war arguing how the new synths do/don't sound anything like the old ones - people will hear what they want to hear, as ever.

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Ha ha! I can sense a stupendous buying spree coming once the April PRS Distribution!! Eek. There's sooo much cool stuff out there now. That's awesome you've got your hands on a Jupiter 8. That's on my perfect rig list for sure

I think your predictive skills regarding the reception of the 'new wave' of hardware is spot on. The orthodox-purists will have a thing or two to say I'm sure. I've not enough experience (yet) to be one of those guys.

Give it 6 months

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@Jode_Steele
verbalvigilantemusic.com

Quote hollowsun:

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Quote The Elf:

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I'm waiting for the first flame war arguing how the new synths do/don't sound anything like the old ones

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Yes, and a lot of them led by people who have played neither!

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I totally agree, and its pointless. I use a laptop / master keyboard setup (Windows XP based too!) and a couple of old analogues.
If I am going to record something meaningful and beautifully crafted (LOL!) I will set up the VST machine, spend half an hour finding/creating just the right sound and then start recording.
If I am jamming with my mates then its JX3P - ON, HH Amp - ON, and play...
Oh yes for whats its worth, I never saw eye to eye with the MS-20, at the time it didn't sound right to me, but I have never met a prophet synth I didn't love. But hey what do I know, my favourite synth is still probably my SH-101 (yes I am a Roland geek)
Buy my son, who is professional musician, is happy with just a real Steinway and MacAirbook...

Quote Zodiak:

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But hey what do I know, my favourite synth is still probably my SH-101

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Nowt wrong with that. Damned fine little monosynth. It was Tom Dolby's weapon of choice for solid basslines and other duties.

In fact, in light of the new MS20, I am curious to see if Roland decide to re-issue the SH101. It would be a real earner for them, I reckon. I'm not holding my breath though!

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Website / Music Lab Machines / Blog

Quote Jode Steele:

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also like the idea of getting deeper into synthesis and I think having an analogue unit will force a better understanding from my brain No presets to fall back on and 'cheat' a sound with.

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Get yourself a modular - that'll be a real baptism by fire!!!

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Website / Music Lab Machines / Blog

If memory serves, the SH-101 was a girly plastic version of its very similar but better-built predecessor, the SH-09, which came in a more robust and less transistor-radio-looking case.

You want retro ? I'll give you retro.

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Instant gratification is actually pretty good. It's fast as well.

I'm not a huge synth head, but I was struck at the show by how nice-sounding, versatile and configurable the Dave Smith one was. But then I didn't really play with the Moog and Korg offerings to be able to compare.

The wildcard entry would have to be the Dubreq Stylophone 2. Yes, it's still based around the stylophone interface and sounds, but it can do rather a lot more and has CV connectivity too. Lots of fun to play with, that one.

If you want to be forced to program things every time, you can't go far wrong with a Juno 6 (no MIDI/CV unless retrofitted, no recall except via the manual's suggested settings etc...) And despite the stupid prices of old analogue synths, that's still pretty affordable and still sounds pretty good to my ears.

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SOS Reviews Editor

Quote SecretSam:

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If memory serves, the SH-101 was a girly plastic version of its very similar but better-built predecessor, the SH-09, which came in a more robust and less transistor-radio-looking case.

You want retro ? I'll give you retro.

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Yes it is a direct descendant but it used a CEM VCO and different filter circuit. At the time I thought it sounded a bit more "moogy", plus it had the advantage that you could wear it round your neck with a diddy little left hand control handle, which I never had.
Not much good for pelvic thrusts, it looked as if you had your zip cause in the battery compartment lid, but I could never play it standing up, move and breath all at the same time, let alone sing!
I think I tried to play it once live, standing up, during a cover of "Boogie Wonderland" but I felt such a prat I never tried it again.. (Wouldn't normally play Boogie Wonderland, it was amates wedding and his missus wanted it)

Quote hollowsun:

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Quote Jode Steele:

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also like the idea of getting deeper into synthesis and I think having an analogue unit will force a better understanding from my brain No presets to fall back on and 'cheat' a sound with.

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Get yourself a modular - that'll be a real baptism by fire!!!

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I bet you can get tangled up in those things for hours! Literally. All those pretty wires!!

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@Jode_Steele
verbalvigilantemusic.com

Awesome lads! Thanks for your time and analogy advice

Wish I could of gone to NAMM... maybe next year? I just watched the Dave Smith NAMM video and the Prophet 12 looks and sounds fully loaded! It's a monster

Will definitely be checking out all the other recommendations too. Are there any decent fairs/trade-shows to hit in the UK coming up?

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@Jode_Steele
verbalvigilantemusic.com

I'll take one of each please thanks, bye.

Quote Jode Steele:

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Wish I could of gone to NAMM...

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Wish I COULD'VE ... as in 'could have' abbreviated!!

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Website / Music Lab Machines / Blog

Quote Jode Steele:

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I hope you have deep pockets - it gets to be an obsession!

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ill second that! im constantly going hungry because im spending all my money on gear hah!

honestly i think saving up to go on a trip to NAMM might be my next goal..

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www.soundcloud.com/skerrick


Edited by Skerrick (02/02/13 05:27 AM)

Can anyone explain to me why Korg have chosen to make the new MS-20 86% the size of the original?

Wha?!

For me this is another of those face-palm moments. I was actually beginning to get interested in this instrument... and then I discover it has mini keys.

Sigh...

Well, at least that's another synth off my shopping list. I'm saving myself a fortune this month!

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An Eagle for an Emperor, A Kestrel for a Knave.

Quote The Elf:

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Can anyone explain to me why Korg have chosen to make the new MS-20 86% the size of the original?

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Um... the Japanese like things small and cute?

Quote The Elf:

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I was actually beginning to get interested in this instrument... and then I discover it has mini keys.

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It doesn't have "mini-keys" of the type of the small home-keyboards etc, it has slightly smaller than full size keys. And if my memory serves, didn't the original MS20 have shrunk keys in the first place? They were iirc full width but weren't as deep (front to back) as a regular full size synth/piano keyboard...

Maybe wait until you can play with one in the flesh and see - you might actually quite like it...

Quote hollowsun:

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Quote Jode Steele:

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Wish I could of gone to NAMM...

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Wish I COULD'VE ... as in 'could have' abbreviated!!

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Oh yeah, well spotted. I really should of noticed that grammatical error.

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@Jode_Steele
verbalvigilantemusic.com

Quote Jode Steele:

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I really should of noticed that grammatical error.

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Website / Music Lab Machines / Blog

So....now that the MS20 is being reissued, what's the betting that lots of secondhand original MS20s turn up on ebay in the next few weeks, as folk try to sell them before the secondhand value drops ?

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Minke - Home Taping album :<a href="" target="_blank">http://minke.bandcamp.com/album/home-taping</a>

...or that the secondhand price goes up as owners of the old machine tell us the new one doesn't sound as good? For an example, look at the price of old Neumann U87s over the new U87Ai!

Or those of us unhappy about the smaller keys push the prices up as we look for originals as a preferred alternative!

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An Eagle for an Emperor, A Kestrel for a Knave.

Personally, I'm OK with mini keys, in spite of my fat fingers.

With that in mind, I shall probably buy a Mini MS20, and then control it from the Legacy MS20 controller via MIDI

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Minke - Home Taping album :<a href="" target="_blank">http://minke.bandcamp.com/album/home-taping</a>