Korg MS-20 kit?!

[The Elf]

Korg MS-20 Kit

Mmm... No way would I have bought the re-issue with those hateful mini keys, but this is a different story. A bit pricey still, but my credit card is already trembling!

I just hope I'm not seeing a damned external PSU there!!!

[Andy Cobley]

Wait, $1,400 !!!!!

[muzines]

Yeah, I saw this a little while earlier.

It's a shame it's priced as high as it is (they are obviously expecting less sales than the Mini) because there's something quite attractive about building something like this, without requiring too much in the way of electronics skills... Very cool idea (you wouldn't get that from Roland... )

[muzines]

OMG! The RK100 is back too!

http://www.matrixsynth.com/2014/01/korg-rk-100s-reborn-to-achieve-100.html

Retro retro retro!

[Stephen Bennett]

Mmm... No way would I have bought the re-issue with those hateful mini keys, but this is a different story. A bit pricey still, but my credit card is already trembling!

As I use my Moog OS for soloing and the MS20 mini for textures/sequencing, I have no problems at all with the diminutive MS. I always found the original MS keyboard pretty useless anyhow (I like wheels) - but I can always control it from a MIDI keyboard if I need to..

But the sound is lovely! Just used it on a couple of albums - raw and aggressive.

Stephen

[Stephen Bennett]

OMG! The RK100 is back too!

http://www.matrixsynth.com/2014/01/korg-rk-100s-reborn-to-ac...

Retro retro retro!

Alesis beat them to it. With accelerometer!

Stephen

[muzines]

It seems like every company has a new range of USB controller keyboards too this Namm - Korg, M-Audio, Alesis, Akai etc etc...

[The Elf]

As I use my Moog OS for soloing and the MS20 mini for textures/sequencing, I have no problems at all with the diminutive MS. I always found the original MS keyboard pretty useless anyhow (I like wheels) - but I can always control it from a MIDI keyboard if I need to..

Yep, I hear what you're saying. I'm glad it works for you, and I know it sounds great, but for me that mini keyboard is a deal-breaker. Whether I'm prepared to fork out $1400 (and we'll be ripped off in the UK as usual, no doubt) for full-sized keys is another matter!

[DGL.]

OMG! The RK100 is back too!

http://www.matrixsynth.com/2014/01/korg-rk-100s-reborn-to-ac...

Retro retro retro!

Alesis beat them to it. With accelerometer!

Stephen

Plus alesis have got a new one at NAMM, black with built in wireless midi! for only $199!
Just after I spent £160 on my vortex to make it wireless (using CME WIDI)

[Hugh Robjohns]

... without requiring too much in the way of electronics skills...

Or none at all, in fact! This is a meccano kit. The boards are connected with plugs and sockets. No wiring or soldering. It's just a case of clipping the boards into the chassis, fit the knobs, plug the boards together and bolt the sides on.

It's a lot of money for something you have to bolt together yourself... But i keep looking at the full size keyboard and then the credit card...

And yes, it's an approved external line-lump universal power supply. It has to be to qualify for safe home assembly!

H

[muzines]

... without requiring too much in the way of electronics skills...

Or none at all, in fact! This is a meccano kit. The boards are connected with plugs and sockets. No wiring or soldering. It's just a case of clipping the boards into the chassis, fit the knobs, plug the boards together and bolt the sides on.

Yep, that's what I was referring to!

It's an interesting product and another way Korg are experimenting with different ways to market hardware - who knows whether it will work well for them, but you've got to hand it to them for trying something different...

[Scramble]

Plus alesis have got a new one at NAMM, black with built in wireless midi! for only DGL.99!
Just after I spent £160 on my vortex to make it wireless (using CME WIDI)

I don't see anything on the webpage Stephen linked that says this Alesis keytar has wireless MIDI. Are you talking about another new one?

Edit: Okay, it's this one!

[The Elf]

And yes, it's an approved external line-lump universal power supply. It has to be to qualify for safe home assembly!

Though I imagine there's nothing too drastic to adding an internal supply, or the lump being mounted inside the case and trailing the mains cable through a grommet to the outside.

I'm sure something could be done.

But it is VERY expensive for what it is (he said, trying to convince himself as much as anyone else!).

[Zukan]

Sorry guys, no matter how you colour it, it's a shite deal.

[Paul Nagle]

Expensive but quite fun to have 1/4" jacks and full-sized knobs and keys. I had a little one for a while and the hardest thing was getting fine tuning accuracy from VCO2 with its teensy knob. The kit also includes both types of filter although I think you'll need to rig your own switch if you want to swap between them.

[muzines]

Apparently it's noted by Korg as being an "Extremely Limited Edition" model...

[The Elf]

Apparently it's noted by Korg as being an "Extremely Limited Edition" model...

If that thing sells as I imagine it will (warm buns), then can we maybe expect a follow-up 'not so limited' edition that they screw together themselves? And would we see a more street-friendly price? And would that seriously pig off 1000 early adopters?

Ah, mental chewing gum - time for a long bath!

[Scramble]

Have to agree with Zuk. The price is ludicrous. Elf, forget it.

[fatbenelton]

I suppose it's a shite deal in light of the keen price of a mini MS20, however, rewind a couple of years….imagine Korg reissuing the MS20 in full size glory for £400-500 less than the going rate second hand….and throwing in USB and MIDI….shite deal then?

[hollowsun]

Sorry guys, no matter how you colour it, it's a shite deal.

Agreed - you could make a properly modular Doepfer for the same kind of price ... even put Doepfer's MS20 clone filter in there ... and with room for future expansion.

Or - if you feel compelled to own an MS20 - buy a Mini for almost a third of the price and use it with a full size keyboard.

[Scramble]

I suppose it's a shite deal in light of the keen price of a mini MS20, however, rewind a couple of years….imagine Korg reissuing the MS20 in full size glory for £400-500 less than the going rate second hand….and throwing in USB and MIDI….shite deal then?

Yes.

And even shiter in the actual world.

[The Elf]

Sorry guys, no matter how you colour it, it's a shite deal.

Agreed - you could make a properly modular Doepfer for the same kind of price ... even put Doepfer's MS20 clone filter in there ... and with room for future expansion.

Or - if you feel compelled to own an MS20 - buy a Mini for almost a third of the price and use it with a full size keyboard.

Call me irrational, but I refuse to buy a machine with mini keys and diddy jacks. But for Korg to add a grand to get the size back to normal does seem cynically excessive.

But yes, the price of this is silly, and I have been considering dipping my toes into the modular world for far too long. Hmmm...

[hollowsun]

I have been considering dipping my toes into the modular world for far too long. Hmmm...

You know it makes sense!

[fatbenelton]

Can't argue with any of the above and would probably buy a mini myself given the choice, but Andertons are showing the full size kit for £1079 so it's not a grand more expensive…….whether £580 extra is worth it for a full size MS20 is down to personal pref I guess - still cheaper than a vintage one and comes with both filters, MIDI and USB (and a warranty!)

[The Elf]

Andertons are showing the full size kit for £1079 so it's not a grand more expensive

Yes, that's much more like it!