Korg MS-2000

This was my first every synth to both play and own. I've learnt about synths because of this one. The layout - all the knobs (there's like 50!) make this totally awesome to perform with in an improvisatory way. I never get bored. Even if I have lines or chords I need to stick with, I can still make it sound different each performance because of all the knobs. I only give it a 9 because not EVERYTHING is accessible with the knobs, you have to use edit menu on the LCD screen for some options. But the possibilities of sounds you can make and ways you can vary them are seemingly endless and easy to do. The manual is great, it explains stuff really well.

So yeah, like everyone else, 4 note polyphony is a slight bummer, but this is a synth! not a keyboard! I don't find myself wishing for more than 5 notes anyway. Otherwise the texture would get too thick, in my opinion. Especially if you're trying to use this as if it were a real analogue synth. This thing has so many features that after 2 years of using it, I still find new things I can do, new ways to affect sounds.

I rate this at 10 - FOR A DIGITAL SYNTH. It gets sooo close to sounding analogue.
When I bought it, I was shown the ms2000 and a Roland synth. I was told the main difference between them was that the ms2000 had more retro sounds and the roland was quite modern. I play in a band that plays late 70s - early 80s synth slow disco tunes, and I have received so many compliments at my ability to just about exactly match the sounds in the original recordings, and how the ms2000, whilst digital, almost matches the warmth of analogue synths, much better than any other digital synth around today.
Being a pianist, I found I had to practise to adjust to the touch of the unweighted keys, but again, this is a synth, not a keyboard and I have gladly adjusted. It's perhaps even good for me, I think, to be able to play an unweighted keyboard. Helps my play my 70s Yamaha organ too, with its unweighted keys.

I do depend on it and I do use it at gigs without backup (though slightly paranoidly nervous about that). I did however spend a lot of cash to buy a really good case to protect it.

I would be devastated if I lost this. It's so versatile and I use it in two quite different bands. And I love it, it's pretty, and I love how it allows me to improvise in performance. You don't just program it and then use it, but I actually get to freak out on it. That's really my favourite thing. If i did lose it, I could only try to replace it with another ms2000 or buy an analogue synth. I really don't dislike much about it. I love it so much that I put up with it. Just like my boyfriend ;)

Pretty easy if you are used to synthesis. Doesn't take long to learn.

The major downfall as mentioned before is the 4 note poly. I wish they had made a seperate board to get more voices. I understand that Korg was trying to keep costs down, but I wish they offered an upgrade. That said, I love the delay and instant access to the knobs. The microkorg has the same synth engine, but for a little more money you get the access to almost every parameter of the board. I give this a 7 for the lack of poly

First off, I have owned many virtual synths(nord lead 2...not my thing..., roland jp8000...never cut through..., yamaha an1x...thin..., oberheim ob12...horrible..., creamware minimax..which is pretty authentic... etc). For the type of music I play(brit pop/indie/synth rock) this board cannot be replaced. There is something about the board. It can have a soft feeling to it, but can also be low and tough. I have even gotten good electric piano sounds out of the unit. The sound effects possible with the ms are amazing. Basses and leads are good. strings are usable, and the vocoder is a nice touch. Every time I try to find something else, I always come back to this one. It cuts through a mix like none of the others. I just tried out the r3 to see if I wanted to replace it, but it didn't have the same feeling. It was too techno for lack of a better term. Plus it lacked all the knobs. In my opinion, I can get good analog sounds out of the board as well as loads of other sounds I had never heard before. Maybe there is a better board for true sounding analog, but for me and the type of music I play, this board is amazing.

Never had any issues with it

never had to deal with them

For the price and features and sound, you cant go wrong, just wish it was 8 voices instead of 4. You can get a module to expand the voices, but I dont want to carry around 2 power packs and 2 modules, though I may not have a choice.

Easy as pie. The panel is laid out like a wannabe vintage analog with knobs and buttons. I'm sure it's not like the real thing but it feels comfortable. You can also opt to do your editing via the lcd menu, and some parameters can only be accessed this way.

I have the original blue version with the original patches.

Editing patches is a breeze. Sometimes all you have to do is tweak until you hear something you like. Really simple.

The vocoder is extremely easy to use. Many of the sounds can be set to vocoder. Tweaking them for optimal sound is usually merely a matter of adjusting the attack and decay to get a more biting sound.

The manual has all the information you need even if the layout of it is a little silly.

The 4 note polyphony is too limited for most. The keyboard action is typical plastic crap. At least they're not mini-keys (microKorg?) Velocity sensitive, no aftertouch. Why there are 44 keys instead of 49 I will never know. At least there are dedicated pitch bend and modulation wheels, a real plus in this day and age of 'alternative' panel designs. Still, must give it low marks for lack of some basic features like the aforementioned.

Vocoding and talk boxing is possible, you just have to know how to set it up. These two capabilities are really the only things keeping me from selling this thing, sadly.

The built-in reverb leaves much to be desired, but that's what dedicated outboard effects units are for anyway. With mindful tweaking the reverb is decent on some sounds, and there are always creative uses.

No on-board sequencer, and limited step-based arpeggiator. Tiny plastic knobs. The features are the downfall of this synth.

With little imagination, you can coax a host of atmospheric, slightly spooky, dreamy sound effects from this synth. That takes very little work. With more dedication, fat bass tones and exciting leads are within reach. Don't expect to be impressed by any of the presets. This is a synth for those who create their own sounds.

It sounds undeniably VA. If you want that classic polyphonic analog sound or fabulously lush sounding pads and strings, look elsewhere! Also, this does not emulate any instrument faithfully, this is not its purpose.

The vocoder is thin unless you find a really perfect setting for it. This involves finding the best OSC wave, filter, attack, decay, etc. I've heard others use a talk box with it and was surprised. Pretty decent talk boxing.

I would say the MS2000 is best used as a supplement to an existant synth setup. Wouldn't make a great MIDI controller. Certainly not a stand alone sound module or workstation by any means!

Korg has been churning out some less than fully-realized product in last decade, but aesthetically, the build quality is pretty decent. I haven't heard of anyone having to repair the chasis or inputs in the back or anything. You can almost always find a used one in top condition. However, the side wood panels, though cute, can chip easily.

You could gig it. It's very portable, light weight, and looks awesome.

Korg's website still has manuals and other ish for both the original MS2000 and MS2000B (black version), and the rackmount. Very professional website. Haven't had to deal with them directly so no comment on that.

Overall, I am rather unimpressed. I definately would have kept my luchi ($$$) and tracked down something else like an Oberheim OB-12 or Nord Lead 2, but that's due to my style of production and personal tastes. The MS2000 is a welcome addition in the studio's of producers of various forms of electronic music like ambient, lo-fi, and for psychedelic and/or trippy elements, sound effects, and the occasional cool arpeggiated effect. The vocoder is a welcome feature.

It's just not something I would desire to keep in my studio for long. You however, may find many uses for it.

pretty intuitive interface I think , having owned both the rack and keyboard.

4 note polyphony not that great, but not that much of a problem either I think.

If you're after thick and piercing sounds that sound closer to real analog, you're probably better off with an ion, virus or nord. At the same time this synth definitely has a very distinctive character, which a lot of people making more atmospheric and psychedelic music have always loved. The sound is best characterised as thin and interesting.

pretty good so far.

I've had both the rack and keyboard, and if it was lost would get another - it might not be the biggest sound, but its just too useful in too many situations to get rid if.

this is NOT an easy keyboard to program as a first synth, imo... in fact, any synth w. a modulaton matrix can be confusing. if you want a simple pad machine, pick up a juno, a one oscillator synth. it will sound much fatter than the ms... also, i think i listened to all of the presets available on the web, thru the yahoo groups, etc... and i never heard any user presets that were better than the factory presets... unless you like thin, whiny warbles or formless blobby basses... this reinforces my idea that it is not the easiest board to program... despite all the knobs.

4 voices, decent kybd action. good sequencer, i always loaded and saved patches thru sysex... their is a utility called "patch buddy" available thru the yahoo group which is very good for organizing your patches and banks.

midi timing is said to be suspect, but i didn't have much problem...

fx are ok, but again, it seems like it has a certain grainy harsh sound that i couldn't get beyond.

since its a 4 voice synth, this is designed for bass, leads, and fx... i personally didn't like the sound on leads (thin) or bass, but it is nice for cutting, squelchy sequences.

it might just be me, but there is a whole line of va type korg products, the ms2000, electribes, even the new radias, etc., that have a very characteristic sound that i don't really like; it is definitely not a warm sound... not saying it can't be used effectively in a mix, but don't expect lush pads here...

the connector for the power supply (on the back of the keyboard) can go out... when i took it to get repaired, the tech told me it was common for this to happen.

also, the knobs etc. are plastic and kind of cheepo feeling.

i sold it, but, for $350 or $400, it's not a bad piece, keeping in mind that it is really for special fx and cutting, biting sequences... i know some use it for bass, but i didn't like the tone, and i know some use it for leads, but i didn't like it for that either.

i don't think i'd pick another one up... for basses, i use an se-1, for pads, i have a juno60, and i'm waiting for a supernova 2 i just bought which has about 20 times the spec as the ms2k...

for that "ms2k" thing, those sequences, etc., there are alot of other synths / vsti's up to the job...

With all those knobs editing is just easy. Everything is spot-on : LFO, good waveforms (Except the "DWGS" - Waveforms, which sound rather thin and digital), the modsequencer is a cool feature, like a programmable LFO. However, most of the presets are just plain useless, but editing is so easy that it wasn't a point at all

Polyphony is the biggest complaint I hear, but I must say that this isn't a problem at all. This is not a Nord Lead 3 or a Acces Virus T1. This synth is for more retro style synthesis, especcialy psychedelic sounds and vintage sounding leads.

Overall, the features are exactly what you need for these sounds. the filter section is alright (which is the most important vor a good sound, ofcourse), and 4 patches for 2 LFO's is cool. It's got everything you'd expect from a decent symth

This is NOT for realistic sounds! As I stated this thing is really good in making:
Leads
Psychedelic sounds and noises
SFX/ Noise.

And that's it. It does these things perfectly. The effects are OK, and that's it. The chorus sounds a bit too digital for my taste, but the phaser is cool. My only complaint is the distortion, which really sounds awful. It sounds not at all like distortion or overdrive, it's just a button to make your patch sound shrill and ugly. Within 2 months I was so pissed about this that I slapped a EHX Big Muff between the MS2000 and my amp. This is highly recommendable, it sounds delecious.

Velocity curve is a bit strange sometimes, but its not a major problem,

As a stone, never had problems with it.

Never had to deal with them

If you're looking for a synth for all music styles this isn't it. It does certain kinds of sounds, but perfectly, but I wouldn't recommend this for say, Industrial or techno. Use it as a vintage synth with edded feature and 3 bunos polyphony tones.

the presets are mainly meant to show the capabilities of the synth, but about half of them are absolutely useless. there are however really great presets. it's extremely easy to edit the presets, and also quite easy to create completely new sounds. i mean, with all these knobs...

the poly is 4, and this is bad. the unit has great pad sounds, but with a limited polyphony they aren't very useful.
the built in effects just do their job.

if you want realistic sounds, this instrument is not for you.
it is extremely good for leads, psychedelic sounds, noises. the only fault is that is very hard to obtain usable fat bass sounds, since we have a lack of bass frequencies no matter how we try to adjust the filters settings... on the expresiveness side: with all these knobs (four of them are assignable) you can be really expressive in a live performance; you can turn a melodic sound into pure noise in about 0.5 seconds only by turning a single knob... this is the greatest feature of this synth. if you plan to use this only in the studio, buy something else.

rock solid. in 3 years probably the only bad thing i didn't to it is throwing it out of the window... and it still works like the day i bought it

i would not buy it again, but only because i'd like to buy a true analog. if should buy a virtual analog with the same price of the ms2000, i'd buy the ms2000.

This machine is a pain to use if you don't like sub pages that are accessed through multiple sub-pages, enough said. This is made more difficult by displaying the pages on a 16*2 lcd display {easy to loose where you are in the process of making that sound you had in mind...). The manual is helpful but could have been made of a more robust material than paper, primarily because multiple references will have to be made to it....... Let's not forget, this is NOT! a hardware synth, it is software (no curtis chips here), and as such has bugs that have to be taken into account when using.. Unlike the McCoy of yester year.

The MS2000 is abundant with features. However,it is a pity that most are are unusable for one reason or another. For example, the arpeggiator, the reason why I bought mine, has difficulty in locking onto my system clock pulse (despite the claimed fix in O.S. 1.07}. Equally, the vocoder has a thin and weedy sound, no matter what the settings. Arguably, this can be resolved by taking the time too set it up (yep cost me a fortune in studio time). Equally, I have seen more action on a stylophone keyboard than my MS2000.... Why? because corners have been cut and carbonised rubber inserts are used instead{I'm sorry, but I grew up with keybords have that true contact feel..}.

There are sounds to be had out of this beast.Indeed, voices can be made to work with any style or grove. However, don't be fooled into thinking you have the be and end all. For example, the demo tunes hide the fact that the arp'tor doesn't lock on and that the setting of a numerous parameters (per voice)takes time.... Indeed, enough time for your other synths to be half way through a bar before the MS2000 realises what it is doing... Sonically though, if I could get it working faster, the MS2000 is ace...

This beast is reliable.. You can depend on it taking your time and money... Simple...

Having discovered the design faults very early on, I contacted Corg and was greeted by a snot-nosed git calling himself an engineer. My arguments that this was not a real synth as such, and that the processor was to slow, were unfounded in his eyes... However, too the point, customer support.... it is there but full of itself...

If it wer stolen GREAT! I could claim back what I paid for this PSUEDO-synth. I will never ever buy from Corg again... Enough said...

This is the first proper synthesizer I've ever owned. It took me one hour to really start getting into it and I've been getting better at using it ever since. A decent read of the manual and one trial-run edit should be all you need. The presets sound like shit, and that's why they're presets. The MS2000 gives you complete control(and very easy control at that)- you can make almost any sound you want(if you aren't the kind of sucker who buys a modelling synth and hopes for realism- get a piano, moron). The shitty presets give you the drive to do this. If you buy a synth, it's your job to make good sounds come out of it and I don't think Korg could have made it any easier without comprimising the degree of control. The manual in itself does a great job of explaining things, and even a novice like myself was understanding a whole lot more after reading that.

The polyphony is four notes. Keep in mind that the name "MS2000" and the general overall structure of the synth would suggest that it's based on the old Monosynths from Korg. In actual fact, this is a monosynth. It's a monosynth with an uncomprimised 4-voice polyphony option. That's a decent bonus in my opinion. If I can remember correctly, the effects are chrorus, phlange, delay, ensemble and distortion. There are also ways you can produce a Wah, but it's not an effect as such. The keys might be pressure-sensitive, but if they are it's so mild that I really am not sure. As for the on-board sequencer, it's there, but it's not the kind of thing I use. From what I can tell, if you're the kind of person who'd use a keyboard sequencer, it's decent enough. The ability to tune this synth is also a definite plus, as I have an air organ that's about half a semitone out(as are all of those, as well as a lot of Harmoniums etc). Have fun with the vocoder, that's what it's there for.

Realism isn't overrated- it's irrelevant. We're talking about an instrument that effectively allows you to design sounds to suit your wishes. I tried, on a whim, to see if it actually was possible to create a halfdecent piano sound, but the best you can do is a sort of cheap electric piano. Those sounds all drifted off course and became awesome atmospheric sounds in the end. One ended up sounding like a sitar that had been shoved through a multitude of effects, and each key produced a different level of bass, treble, feedback... it was so uncertain and weird. What that really says is that you're going to have to experiment. This is great for weird, atmospheric sounds. Try making it do something you've never heard before. Pianos don't have oscillators and pitch-bend wheels, that's supposed to be a clue.

Can I depend on it? Yes. Would I use it at a gig without a backup? Yes.

I've never dealt with Korg.

If it were lost or stolen I might consider a Microkorg, but only because I'd have had enough experience with the MS2000 to make the very most of it. I use a Boss RC-20XL loop station live, and this goes together with it gorgeously. The only thing I don't like about this synth is that it's big, and finding a suitable case is tricky. But that's something to get over. I don't really wish it had anything more, maybe a couple more notes of polyphony but that's needless really. This synth has improved my live act and my recorded work to a standard I hadn't appreciated yet.

This software version is what came on it when I bought in in 2000-
Editing patches is a piece of cake- I'm used to old school vintage synths though, so it might be tougher for someone who's used to new synths-
Manual's fine, but I'd recommend the trial-and-error method so you don't rely on the book-

4 note polyphony- Better than what I'm used to, one note Moogs...
Built in effects are delay, phaser, flanger- They sound great and are easy to slap on whatever you're doing-
Best thing on here are the filter and oscillator mods available-
Haven't tried out the MIDI capabilities-
Sequencer is fairly easy to use, but I don't-

Really sounds very good- And its versatility keeps me coming back to it- I've been able to create great moog tones, and the surfy organ and rhodes piano presets are fantastic- Most of the other presets were a bit too techno sounding for me, so I erased them and made more old school synth sounds- It's nice to be able to concoct a nice thick moogy patch, and then name it/save it-

It's sturdier than I thought- I've played more gigs than I can count with this over the past 6 years and though it looks a bit rough now, it stills works as well as is did out of the box

I sold a Moog Prodigy on Ebay and bought this in 2000- I'm still happy with that decision- Oh yeah, the vocoder is awesome too- Great synth!

The presets ar just ok, but they give you rough guide for what it can do. I always tweak them before I use them. Overall I think its easy to edit the sound and I like the the modulation matrix which which is deadeasy to program and gives you plenty of ways to manipulate the sounds.

I use it mainly for bass, lead, vocoding and audio in. The more I use it the more I like it. The filters are a bit digital and hard. Thats not a problem though if you like that sound. I recommend you to play different sounds thru the vocoder and play with the knobs.

Fx is alright, mostly use the delay wich is alright.

Polyfony is not great if you compare. Not an issue for me. Would not have bought it if it was. As somebody stated, use it as a monosynth instead.
Midi covers my needs. Works nice in cubase anyway.
Havnt used the seqenser much. next area to discover.
The patchcord system is very easy to use and have given me lots of joy. Could have been more extensive though.

REalistic? I didnt buy this synth to play piano with so I cant comment.
For elctronica of all kinds its very good. Audion in is very nice feat, with vocoder.
FX: moderate.

Very realable, not a single problem in 24 month.
2000r.

Downloaded a patch without a problem

Dont know if I would buy another one, but I would like to get anotherone from the insurancecompany.
8 years producing. Have some softies and a sh-101 and emulator.
Love the vocoder audio in and tweakability.
Bought for the value.
Which it had an oppertunity to use the highpass filters and the lowpass at the same time as ms20.
It helps me to be creative.

Have a nice day.

Turn it on. Twiddle. Achieve enlightenment. Some of the things really require using the manual, but not many, and the manual is very helpful.

Many people have criticized the limited polyphony of this instrument. With respect, these people are missing the point -- rather than finding 4 notes limiting, one might think of this keyboard as a monosynth with three bonus voices. Making this instrument, say, 32-note poly would have destroyed the retro vibe completely. And does anyone complain that a trumpet or a flute is monophonic, or that a violin is no more than two or three-note at a stretch? No, they don't. If you want a polysynth, go away and buy a polysynth. In any case, the MS2000 is dramatically enhanced by the 3-track analog-style sequencer (instant wavestation!), fun arpeggio, distortion switch on the amp, powerful filter and extremely impressive vocoder.

The sounds are wonderful. Of course, the presets tend to cater for a dance audience which is a drag if you play rock and blues, but these things can be edited. Inside the silliness is an ancient minimoog trying to get out. Or at least a Pro-One. And the pad sounds brought tears of joy and recognition to my eyes. This was the crappy string-machine sound I'd always wanted, only without the crap. When I turned it on and played it I felt I hadn't had my hands on such a lovely machine in years. And I am a rather antique player.

Clearly you have to have the right mind-set to appreciate the MS2000 for what it is. Trying to get the sound of a decent monosynth win an easy and reliable package, I bought one of the first Korg Prophecy analog modelling synths in the UK. It sounded OK, but the limited interface was alienating rather than involving. Then I owned an old Sequential Pro-One, which sounded great but of course had no memories, making it difficult to use at a gig. The MS2000 has the advantages of both and the disadvantages of neither. It looks and feels like an old-style monosynth, but with extra polyphony, inbuilt analog sequencer, effects and all kinds of lovely stuff. It doesn't drift out of tune, has lots of memories and is readily tweakable on the fly. Really, what's not to like? And at a reasonable price, too. I bought this on eBay for just slightly more than a third what I paid for a new Prophecy, and somewhat less what I paid for a Pro-One. It also fits into my somewhat old-fashioned live all-Korg rock rig of M1, BX3, SP200, and DS8, none of which are MIDI'd together.

This synth is very easy to learn. If you read the manual from time to time you will master it. Dont judge this synth my the factory presets. Learn it first and you will be suprised of what this blue beast can do!

The features of this synth is limited but there are great features that make it unique. Mod sequencer is one example. The ability to route cutoff and other things through the mod wheel is another. Audio input a must on modeling synths. Use the filters on say a drum track and it gives your music flavor.

This synth has given me years of inspirational sounds. Just when I thought I heard everything this synth can do I create or download a patch that I thought was out of its range. The effects are pretty good. Delay is excelent. Flange is weak. The resonace isnt as good as say a roland Juno 106. The distortion is usable. You get what you put into this synth. If you dont take the time to experiment with it you wont get very good sounds. I repeat dont judge this synth my its factory presets!

This synth is reliable for the most part. I have had keys go out and mysteriously come back over time.

This is my second MS2000. I was on the waiting list before they were released. I scratched the hell out of my MS2000 just by lugging it around without a case. I found one in a pawn shop for dirt cheap so I sold the old one. To tell you how I feel about this synth when i reset the presets to factory I literally chocked up. I had patches that i worked on for years. I backed them up of course and I had another that was brand new waiting to load the patches but still I got emotional. This synth is my right hand in the studio. Dont get discouraged by these reviews that say its cheap sounding. Like I said you get what you put into it and i guarantee that they didnt give it much.

Pretty easy to edit, all the standard features of an analog synth are there. There are dozens of usable presets, the manual is pretty straightforward. The component patching system is fairly good but needs more than just 4 patches to be really powerful.

The polyphony being 4 voice is a bit limiting, especially when taken into consideration with the rather limited quality of sound. Why are there not quite 4 octaves on the keyboard? The onboard sequencer is passable but needs twice as many steps. The built in vocoder is very usable and the presets sound great. There are a lot of waveforms to choose from but none of them sound particularly great. Its response to standard MIDI messages is adequate but there are some quirks around setting the volume by remote.

This is where the thing falls down. For the most part it's difficult to get a clear expressive sound out of it - take all the effects and filters off and listen to a plain saw wave - it sounds more like a whine than a growl. The filters in particular are HORRIBLE - grainy and distorted, and turning up the resonance just makes things worse. I use this mainly for a vocoder and the occasional pad layer. Before calling me an elitist, fans of this keyboard should try playing a REAL analog synth, or a Nord, or a Noah, etc. MS2000 sounds often get lost in a mix because of their lack of clarity. If they had put another $500 of quality components into this synth it might actually be very usable - but it's more glitz than actual quality.

Never had a problem with it, but the dials dont look like they'd take much abuse. Other than that, works reliably for me.

Never need any support, the manual is pretty straightforward.

I was disappointed with this piece of gear, overall. I wish I had spent twice the money and got a real usable keyboard. If it was lost, I'd just try find another unit that could do vocoding.

Most things have knobs or buttons, basic setup for midi etc is done through a lcd paging system thats perfectly fine in my book.

I put an 8 in this category, the polyphony is a bit low, but I use this machine for bass and lead sounds.. I have other gear for pads

This unit has a sound of it's own. I have a load of other gear and the "tonal" quality of this baby is very different from them(for example roland jp-8080). If it's good or bad is up to you really. I tend to get more aggressive sounds out of the MS2000 then from other gear. Also trance leads are really strong in this unit.

The whole Mod/Sequeence feature is really cool, but I hardly use it. I tend to sequence the same type of stuff with Logic Audio anyways, I just prefer to work that way.

The Vocoder is really good compared to the vocoder in Roland JP-8080

had it since they started selling them, I even had a beta os in mine. No problems whatsoever. Funny thing about the beta os is that it couldn't dump sysex. But Korg released upgrades so when I finally installed those everything worked fine.

never delt with korg

I have a love/hate kind of relation with my MS2000, it's such a fine piece of equipment. But musicaly it doesn't do it for me. I purly stick to it for a couple of sounds I can't get from any of my other gear, but I want to get rid of it.

However, I would still recommend the ms2000 to anyone, it's not bad, it just isn't for me

this synth is great

poly is 4 which i dont care becuase im mainley a industrial keyboardist that play on the synths not on computers like most people do and not pushing one button and hold to create a song learn to play piano synths are ment to be played not a gay dj unit with no talent.

the sounds are great ive been playing for ten years and when i first tried this unit out i was impressed you just have to know how to program to get good sound they dont come to you.......

depeche mode and other bands cant be wrong there pros and been doing alot longer than most people buy the way they use this synth if you want a good industrial and electro and are not lazy about programming this beast and thsi is the synth for you ............grave

i m using 1.7 version-seems fine. it is very easy to work with,i am very impressed with it! manual is well written...

i wish it had more polifony koz those strings and pads are awesome! its built in effects are pretty good but they dont give enough bite to sounds( chorus is simple but very nice sounding!).midi thing is ok but sometimes slow(my nordrack 2 is quicker than this)it is flexible and its vocoder is nice

this is not synth for acustic instruments but for creating your own new sounds! for me it is better than nord and the rest and i created some trully mad sounds with it! basses are excellent and pads,strings...dwgs and motion seq gives you wavestation style sounds!!!

no problem

ok

if it were lost or stolen i will maybe buy it koz i would like to have wavestation a/d!

I am still a beginner at analogue synthesis. I find this keyboard ideal for people like me as it's fairly easy to get into even if you're not exactly sure what your doing as you can tweak the knobs and listen to the results with your ears without getting too lost (esp. if you use one of the presets as a starting point).

Bad Points
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The 4-note polyphony and fairly poor keyboard are a minus (the action on my old, very cheap Studiologic SL-161 is better). I have a Roland A-37 in my set up and it picks up the MS200 when I select the midi channel from Cubase so I have another option if I want.

Good Points
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There are plenty of knobs and buttons to tweak/press which is one of the main reasons for buying this keyboard - very hands on which I like. Great step sequencer - can be used to create some interesting results.

The sounds are great and they work really well when I play it on songs using my array of real instruments (accoustic guitar/bass, dulcimer, greek bouzouki etc.). With the lack of polyphony I use the MS2000 to create some inspiring atmospheric sounds (think waves and wind for example). I listen to lots of industrial and electronica and this keyboard works well for the sounds I need.

I've owned mine for over 2 years and it's still going strong. I would gig with it no problems.

The only contact I've had with Korg was to get my Kaoss Pad repaired. I sent it off recorded delivery and was about to phone them a 13 days later to find out what was going on when the postman arrived at my door with a parcel. Korg had repaired it and delivered it back free of charge! I've had no need to contact Korg about my MS200 as it's been behaving itself.

I love the usability of the MS 2000 loads of tweakable knobs, easy to use, not a mindfield as its laid out well and I rarely get lost in amongst buttons, knobs and l.e.d's like I've done on other synths.

It's not an up front keyboard as it works best within a mix and adds a suitable balance of electronic synth to accompany my live accoustic sound.

Would I buy it again? Only if it breaks

The Korg ms2000 setup is great. Virtually every available adjustment is available on the panel as a knob or button. There are a few things you need to use the lcd to access but this are broad settings and are where they are expected.

This synth is amazing to use and the user interface is rather intuitive and provides a nice flow. VERY easy to come up with sounds.. I highly reccomend it - especially for a beginner.

The presets are ok... editing is a breeze and you can pull some great fat basses and leads.

The manual is laid out greatly.. anyone with synth experience will find it easy to use.. likewise the onboard notes on the right side of the panel are great for quick reference.

I don't know of a ynth that is EASIER to use as far as editing goes... which speaks volumes.

The Korg has 2 huge cons in my opinion.. which are offset by the positives:

The worst part about the korg is that it only has 4 voice polyphony. 4 voices just covers leads and basses (and sometimes does not). Despite this weakness.. the strength of the korg is it's easy sound editing... and with that in mind I can live with the weak polyphony.

The second worse part is that there are no strict user banks or initial sounds. This is not a huge deal as you can simply overwrite the presents.... or store your data on the computer via midi dump. Additional memory would be nice.. but again it is a shortcoming I can live with because of the ease of use and easy sound creation capabilities.

The onboard sequencer is quite nice as well and very easy to use.

The onboard fx are so so.. but it is wonderful to have them there on board.

This rating is low because of the polyphony.

The best features are that virtually every parameter is controlled by a knob.. or button directly in front of you.. no hunting through menus.

The instruments are not realistic which is the beauty. Is very capable of fat synth leads and basses. The polyphony leaves pads lacking a bit but they are certainly possible.

It is amazingly easy to create sounds with this... and sounds that are great sounding at that. This is the easiest to use synth I have ever worked with.. Pulling out leads, basses or whatever is in your head is easy AND it sounds great.

I have no problems with the smaller unweighted keyboard - in fact I quite like it.

Works great for ebm, industrial, and electronica of any kind.

I just got this used several days ago and although it is not the sturdiest thing it looks like it will hold together fine, even for gigging.. It is built sturdy enough that if you take good care of it you should have no problems.

I would buy this again if it was lost or stolen... you can find some pretty decent deals on these used - on ebay or craig's list.

THe beauty of the korg ms2000 is its amazing sound capabilities and th best thing of all how easy it is to unleash these great sound capabilities.

I also own an e-mu e synth and Waldorf Q... oh which I love both... and although the q especailly has many more features, and is altogether a much better board.. the korg certainly has it's place... it is amazing easy to use... I never get lost within it's parameters like I am apt to sometimes within the q.

I highly reccomend the ms2000 if you want great sound capabilities that are rather easy to access. For example I have duplicated sounds on skinny puppy records, made morse code and the like within minutes... Granted additional features would be nice.. but I also believe that these additional features would hinder the strength of the ms 2000 - great sound easily editable... and bescause oif this it helps song composition tremendously - if i get a sound in my head I can quickly pull it out of the ms2000.

This would eb THE ideal synth for beginners... if you want to get into syntheis i would highly encourage you to strongly consider this as your first synth.

Only thing that would make this synth tremendously better would be increased polyphony. because i relaly do hate the 4...

My version is the 1.07. If you want to edit the presets, it's easy. If you want to make a sound from scracth it's not so easy. You must be at least an average user to do this. But the manual of course says that, try first to edit the presets. This is normal, analog synthesis(any synthesis) want some time.

Okey, as far as the polyphony i have no problem. It's the kind of music you play that this element becames major or minor. If you are into electronic music, no problem. This kind does not requare big polyphony.If you are into more traditional kinds, you must have .
All the other elements generally is good.

Amazing.This is how the MS is sounding. This is the most powerful analog modeling synth in the market. I play music of Jean Michel Jarre, Vangelis, Tangerine Dream etc, and this is the right synth for that kind of music. nuff said!

I have it almost a month and i have no problem.

I have not dealt yet with the customer support.

Well, i love my MS. The only synth that i think is superior, is the ANDROMEDA but i didn't bought it because of the ridiculus price tag. If you want to have a versatile studio, you must have also a general purpose synth like the MOTIF or the TRITON.
AND YES, IF IT WAS STOLEN, I WILL BOUGHT IT AGAIN!

As far as ease of use.hmmm If your gonna use presets and plug in and adjust presets with knobs then its fine. But if your a person who likes to create your own sounds you might get lost with the whole concept of all the knobs and then stuff that doesnt have knobs. User manual you would have to work for korg to understand it. I wonder if they even understand whta they wrote. I've had one for about a year and a half and still dont completely understand the manual. When making your own sounds it gets frustrating. Youll have a good sound coming along from scratch and then youll turn one knob and loose control over the sound.

Okay heres where i bash ms2000. 4 note polyphony??!!! Are we in the stone age? I understand its analog but i mean couldnt it be a little higher? I mean you can make great sounds but sometimes you make a great sound and still have to use another board to add into it because you start loosing notes so you gotta take another board and try and match the sound which is why im buying a motif 6. Midi doesnt respond as fast as i would like it to. Due to the fact of barely any polyphony you cant do what lets say a motif or a kurzweil would be able to do. Where you can use the sequencer to use more then one voice and trigger it off with another sequencer. So you can use only one bank at a time. And when you do trigger it to switch a bank you get a lag. So for example you use an akai like i do and are slaving the ms2000. One beat your using bank H8 and then the next seqence uses bank H9 you would have the beat playing for like a measure and hten it would finally kick in. Thus the need for another board to work with the MS2000.

The presets sound great. Not to fond of the way the sequencer works as you can only do modulation with this seqencer you can actually user other presets or user presets together. Unless you put them in a dual mode but then again the polyphony program kicks in if there is too many voices. They really give you nothing to work with for polyphony. And i find alot of the time i come out with the same PWM wave sound alot of them time no matter what i move or adjust. So getting new sounds is hard unless you know analog synths very well. Which i dont. But if your gonna just adjust presets then youll have alot of new sounds. But building from scratch i have alot of trouble. But then again this is casue korg cant speak english in their manuals. Arpagiator is good. Distortion is either on or off doesnt give you different types to use and youll find yourself adding a pedal or effect rack to add more effects. Dual or split programs certain things work off each other. So if you change the chorus one on program and your using two programs together you just changed both chrouses. So as far as doing what a motif would do for effects,sequencing,and midi you might wanna buy a digital board and put a good analog exapansion on it.

Oh this is where the fun kicks in. I got a good sound going on im sequencing with the akai mpc2000. So i start using the akai to record my midi information on my knob modulations. And guess what the ms2000 wasnt the strongest piece of equpiment made. So the knobs are the cheapest flimsyiest pieces of shit youll find on the market. Almost all my knobs are loose from making modluations during sequence recording and i do not abuse my equipment. Go to a store and turn a ms2000 filter knob a few times and see how it wiggles. Then go to say a motif and turn those sturdy non cheap knobs. Keys are cheap and not even semi weighted. And another factor is the female connector in the back of the keyboard burns out. And you have to call korg and order one and wait like a week for it to come in if they have it in stock. But dont worry if you have access to one of those shit groove boxes that korg made you can rip that out open the board and solder it in and itll work again. Thats what i did. And be ready for either bench time or learn how to open this board and tighten all the knobs before they break youll be doing this at least once every 2 months depending on the abusing the knobs get. With this board not much takes the knobs to the limit.

Never called korg. Other then to ask a question on the karma and triton serious before i noticed the motif. And to order that plug which was a joke. Cause i live in NYC the warehouse that had it was in long island NY. A hour drive for me to get my board up and running asap. But im not allowed to go and pick it up myself or buy it direct from there. So i gotta wait two weeks to get a piece. So they gotta wait in chicago to get it from long island, then it goes to chicago then back to NY? What if i had a show hte next day? No help on that part. Thanks Korg

Okay right now it at $749 at GC. Affordable. Good sounding voices for certain styles and has the warm phat analog voice that alot of people love. Sequencer kinda sucks but if your using it wiht another digital synth its a decent combo. But i would suggest looking into a more european synth thats more expensive such as waldorf,moog if you want analog. But I think its better to buy digital with a good expansion analog board.

Most current software version as of 40-20-2003
Who uses the presets anyways but they sound great.
This thing is amazingly easy to play with... and lots of fun.

You can get the statistics from Korgs Website but if you want to hear what this thing sounds like click on the link under the expressiveness/sound field.

If you want to hear what it sounds like click the link below.

All of the synth sounds in all of the tracks were made with an MS2000.
http://www.mp3.com/Ultra86

its been very reliable for almost a year for me :)

I have dealt with customer support (due to my ignorance) and it was relatively fast and easy.

http://www.mp3.com/Ultra86
just listen... this is a pretty wicked synth for beginners and pros alike.

It's as easy as synths of this nature come. Very straightforward layout and the LCD helps with some paramaters that are not knob or button driven. I use the 1.05 software rev and heavnt had any problems.

There are plenty of feature on the MS2000. For one it has a great modulation sequencer that can modulate pitch amongst many many other things as well as a very usefull virtual patch section where you can virtually make routings between different components on the synth (ie LFO 1 to modulate pitch, cutoff, amplitude....) There is velocity for both amplitude and filter cutoff but through the virtual patch can also be set to modulate all kidns of other sections like pitch or LFO 2 frequency (very cool). Also the mod sequencer is a 3x16 (or fever steps) sequencer per timber. Also there is a vocoder.

Do not listen to the analogue elitists like JKM. This synth has its own sound. It is not as in your face as some synths can be but when I use it, it sounds wonderfull in my set up. The range of sounds is great. It CAN do basses. It CAN do pads. I find it's best at really strange fucked up monosynth sounds and percussive arpeggio/sequence lines. Also washes and digital sounds are wonderfull. Wether run through effects or not it sounds good. For the kind of music I do (which is minimal industrial very much in the vein of DAF or early Front 242) I can get some great sounds. Do not listen to the presets unless the words "phat" and "tight" are in your everyday vocabulary. In other words if you produce shit...excuse me generic trance music or some form of hip hop there aren't too many presets that will captivate. I found a couple that sounded good though. The Donna Summer "I feel love" sequence was cool as well as some of the Jean M. Jarre "Oxygen" sounding stuff was very cool. Finally, this is a digital synth. End of story. It has wonderfull sounds and it has its place. I would not limit myself to just VA or just RA. Program the synth and you will find out the kind of stuff it exels at and then begin to appreciate it. It's really good for basic synth sounds as well and can be used as an only synth if you are making very simple music.

Also the vocoder is superb. Great rich and warm but at the same time very recognizible tone.

Velocity went out on one of my keys. I actually went through three MS2000 units. First was floormodel to take home while I waited for my new MS2000 to get in. When I got the new model the middle D key went out and then got my third and final ms2000. The reliability is pretty good. This thing doesn't crash almost at all. Have had ONE incident when it crashed and hasnt happened since then. I would most definetly gig (and actually will soon) without a back up.

Heavn't had to deal with KORG quiet yet.

It is an integral part of my set up. I love the way it sounds with my Korg Polysix and love the sounds I get out of it. For all the strangeness and basic sounds as well as wonderfull washes I would most definetly pick up another one. I must say as an audio processor for vocals (which I use it a lot for as well) I would be hard pressed to find another synth which offered similar features with such user friendly control. Definetly a keeper.

O.S. 1.07 I am a new synth user and so this review is from the perspective of a relative newbie. The presets are hot and cold for me, but I honestly don't pay too much attention to them other than to learn more about the parameters used to make them. Editing the presets is a breeze, and can easily and quickly transform them into something altogether different. The manual is decent, but due to its sterile approach it is better used as a reference than a guide. The MS2000 is intuitive enough at any rate, even for a beginner.

While I would like more polyphony and more than 2 timbres per sound, for the price and other features, not to mention the sound quality of this synth, it is more than acceptable. The mod sequncer and virtual patches are the real standouts here, and together they can produce nearly anything you can dream up. The keyboard itself is a little weak, with toylike keys and a very plasticy feel overall, but they are servicable and velocity registers accurately. Add the vocoder, full MIDI capabilities, and simple but decent arpeggiator, and you have a fairly versatile package. It doesn't have everything, but what it DOES have is great.

Here is where the MS2000 shines. Very agressive and fat, it makes you work a bit to restrain it at times. Like most people say, the basses and leads are top-notch, but I also love the pads. Seriously, they might not be the biggest ever, but with a little virtual patch manipulation and maybe some ensemble effect, they CAN sound very nice. Speaking of virtual patches, they can summon forth shimmering sheets of harmonic overtones or twist basslines into hammering rhythms easily. The synchable, assignable LFOs can modulate various parameters for awesome effects. Very versatile. As for odd sounds, this thing is arguably more absurd than you will ever need it to be in that regard. A great synth for icing, though as some have said, you will want some cake to smear it on. (Another reminder to those seeking nice pads: utilize your virt. patches and don't forget the osc 2 semitone/ensemble double-whammy!) I DO wish there was a midrange EQ to compliment the high/low EQs, but I'll live.

So far every knob and button remains firm and true, though the power supply a cheapo external affair. That and the weak keys are my only real worries. The small plastic knobs are fine with me, and you gotta love a steel exterior :) I fear for it not a bit in live situations.

Haven't had to deal with customer support. My online warranty extension was responded to immediately, but that's all I have had to deal with since. The latest OS was already installed at the factory.

I would buy another, but only after I got my hands on something with a bit more multimbral muscle and polyphony. I bought mine new and it's worth every penny to me. I am a new synth player, and am using the MS2000 to learn synthesis, but I can already tell I will be keeping it around as my collection grows. My only other gear is guitar stuff, but I am eager to run my guitar through the korg filters :) I chose the MS2000 since it was the only thing in my price range that had the features and sound I wanted. It enhances my creative process a lot and generally does what I want it to thanks to an intuitive, hands on interface and flexible sound-generation. The only synth I've ever dug into, but not the only one I have heard, and I will say I would not trade my MS2000 for most of the latter :) (Ok I would trade it and my firstborn for a supernova II, but hey....). Bravo, Korg!

I have an ex demo product from Korg direct. Borrowed it initially for a tour last year and have since bought it from Korg. The presets were usable from the start, but tweaking produces best results, obviously. I did attempt to sit down with the manual a couple of times, but found that trial and error worked best. I like that you can return to the preset after tweaking if you want to start again.

As for polyphony, lately I have actually been saving alot of my patches as monosynths, so I didn't even notice lack of polyphony. get another keyboard/module/sampler for that. effects good and easy to use. have had fun with the arpeggiator. managed to create an omnichord effect, which I really like. alot! in fact, it's quite a weak sound (deliberately), so maybe that's turning a negative into a positive. haven't used much midi, as it is part of my live set up.

like is said above, i think some of the weaknesses of the sounds, when used in conjunction with other sounds, in the right context can become strengths. some of the nasty tinkly bell sounds are quite cool with stupid amounts of delay. i really use this alot of the time for "special effects". i.e. non-musical sounds. don't really like the keyboard. doesn't make me feel confident when playing fast lead lines. i have used the ms2000 live for various styles. 80's synthpop, 70's funk, 90's loop/improvisation. definitely wouldn't rely on it as a main keyboard. it is good as an addition to an existing set-up for extra colours.

have used it gigging/touring. no glitches so far (touch wood!). my only problem is having to dial in patches and bank numbers live. can anyone tell me a way of arranging all my live sounds into one bank without losing the original sounds on those patches? thanks!

i bought this direct from korg after they loaned it to me for a tour. agreed a price over the phone and gave them my credit card number. subsequently received an invoice/receipt for this transaction. BUT they had added an extra #125 to the agreed price and charged that to my credit card as well. when i phoned to find out why, they said that they would never have agreed to the original price, as it was below the list price. but they DID agree to the price when i gave them my credit card details. so technically, we had a verbal agreement and they reneged on it. not to mention, in my opinion, possible credit card fraud and theft. thier suggestion was to send back the keyboard, but i didn't want to have to reprogram another keyboard from scratch, and i was in the middle of a tour with it. i suggested they refund the money that they owed me. so far, nothing. that was four months ago. i still have the keyboard, and i still think it's a good product, but korg as a company have really p*ssed me off.

overall, this is a useful product. but only as an addition to what i already use. and yes, it's probably not as powerful or cutting as some other synths out there, but it does a lot of different things fairly well, so is good to have. for live work i also use a fender rhodes 73 mark I, an akai S6000 for strings, mellotron, and odd synths that the MS won't provide, a roland VK-7, and a Korg SP200. i'm thinking of getting a roland XP-30 or VK-88. looking more at roland now mainly because i feel sick when i look at korg stuff now. but i'm sure that will pass!