Korg MS-20 Mini Monophonic Synthesiser

The Korg MS-20 monophonic synthesiser was first introduced in 1978 and is still a coveted synthesiser to this day due to the huge, robust sounds, powerful analogue filter, and flexible patching options. Now you can enjoy the original sounds of the MS-20 thanks to a compact remake of the critically-acclaimed instrument, the MS-20 Mini. The engineers that first created the MS-20 original have worked hard to reproduce the circuitry and have fitted it into a body that is 86% of the size original yet keeps the retro, distinctive look and intuitive layout, the MS-20 mini will amaze you with its beautiful authentic analogue sound.

The MS-20 Mini perfectly reproduces the distinctive sounds of the original unit thanks to the two oscillators with ring modulation and envelope generators with hold and decay. The synth comes with two voltage controlled oscillators, two voltage controlled filters, two voltage controlled amplifiers, two envelope generators, and a single low-frequency oscillator. This synthesiser also inherits the powerful filters from the original unit which provides you with both low-pass and high-pass filter options with a resonance control for both filters. Maximising the resonance causes the filter to self-oscillate which produces a dramatic tonal change and gives you a more radical sound.

An external signal processor provides you with an experimental, highly-creative way to control the synth. The ESP lets you use the pitch or volume of an external audio source to control the synthesiser, for example, you can input an electric guitar and use the MS-20 Mini as a guitar synthesiser, or you can input a microphone and use it as a vocal synth. The incredibly versatile patching system allows you to generate complex sounds by plugging in cables to alter the connections between the various functions.

Different combinations of modulation in/outputs, triggering options, sample and hold, and a noise generator can all be utilised to produce an enormous variety of sounds while a flow chart printed on the front panel lets you easily navigate the various functions and controls.

The new MS-20 Mini has been shrunk to 86% of the size of the original unit, despite its smaller size; this does not compromise sound quality, and meticulous care has been taken to accurately reproduce the knob design and printing of the original synthesiser. Even the patch cables have been changed from ¼-inch Jack plugs to 3.5mm Jack plugs and even the keyboard is 86% smaller than the original unit.

Korg MS-20 Mini Monophonic Synthesiser Key Features:

• Overseen by the engineers of the original MS-20; a complete replication of the original analog circuitry
• 2VCO / 2VCA / 2VCF / 2EG / 1LFO structure
• Self-oscillating high-pass/low-pass filters with distinctive distortion
• External signal processor (ESP) 
• Extremely flexible patching system
• Faithful recreation of the MS20 at 86% of the size
• MIDI IN and USB connector
• Replicates every detail of the original, down to the package binding and the included manual

Korg MS-20 Mini Monophonic Synthesiser Technical Specifications:

Input and Output

• Signal In: Amplifier Out, 
• Band pass filter Out, 
• CV Out (0 - +8.4V), 
• ENV Out (0 - +5V), 
• Trig Out (+5V-->GND), 
• Signal out: Signal output (mono 1/8" mini phone jack, 2Vp-p output impedance 3.5k Ω) 
• Headphones: Head phones output (Stereo 1/8" mini phone jack, 33 Ω 48mW), 
• USB: Type B, USB-MIDI Input/Output *Only note messages (velocity is not used) can be transmitted and received. 
• MIDI: MIDI Input *Only note messages (velocity is not used) can be transmitted and received.
  
  

Control Section

• Keyboard: C – C: 37-notes (3 octaves), mini keyboard designed specifically for the MS-20 mini 
• Voltage Controlled Oscillator 1 (VCO 1): Scale (32', 16', 8', 4') (6 octaves, +cent, -cent) 
• Wave form (Triangle, Sawtooth, PW-Square, White Noise) (4 modes) 
• Voltage Controlled Oscillator 2 (VCO 2): Scale (16', 8', 4', 2') (6 octaves, +cent, -cent) 
• Wave form (Sawtooth, Square, Pulse, Ring modulator) (4 modes) Pitch (± 1 octave) 　 　 
• VCO Master control: Master tune (± 100cent) 
• Portamento (max. 10sec) Frequency modulation intensity by MG/T.EXT (-5V - +5V) Frequency modulation intensity by EG1/EXT (-5V - 0V) Pulse width adjust 1:1 - 1:infinity
• VCO Mixer: VCO 1 Level VCO 2 Level 
• Voltage Controlled High Pass Filter (VCF HPF): Cutoff frequency (50Hz - 15,000Hz) 
• Peak (flat - self OSC) Cutoff frequency modulation intensity by MG/T.EXT (-5V - +5V)Cutoff frequency modulation intensity by EG2/EXT (-5V - +5V)
• Voltage Controlled Low Pass Filter (VCF LPF): Cutoff frequency (50Hz - 15,000Hz) Peak (flat - self OSC) Cutoff frequency modulation intensity by MG/T.EXT (-5V - +5V) Cutoff frequency modulation intensity by EG2/EXT (-5V - +5V)
• Envelope Generator 1: Delay time (10sec) Attack time (10sec) Release time (10sec)
• Envelope Generator 2: Hold time (20sec) Attack time (10sec) Decay time (10sec) Sustain level (0V - 5V) Release time (10sec) 
• Modulation Generator (LFO): Wave form (Positive Sawtooth - Triangle - Negative Sawtooth, Wide Pulse - Square - Narrow Pulse) Frequency (0.1Hz ～ 20Hz)
• Manual controller: Cntrol wheel (center click) 
• Momentary switch -->GND 
• Power switch and Volume: Volume
• Indicator: LED (KBD trigger, Modulation Generator rate, Power ON)
  
  

External Signal Processor

• Control section: Input signal level, Low cut frequency (50Hz - 2,500Hz), High cut frequency (100Hz - 5,000Hz), CV adjust, Threshold level 
• Input and Output: Signal In, Amplifier Out, Band pass filter Out, CV Out (0 - +8.4V), ENV Out (0 - +5V), Trig Out (+5V-->GND)
• Indicator: (LED) Peak indicator, Trigger indicator
  
  

Patch Panel

• Keyboard: Keyboard control voltage output (Exponential) (0 - +8V), Keyboard trigger output (+5V-->GND), VCO-1 + VCO-2 control voltage input (Linear response) (0 - +8V), VCO-2 control voltage input (Linear response) (0 - +8V)
• VCO: VCO-1 + VCO-2 external frequency control input (OCT/V) (-5V - +5V) 
• VCF: External signal input (3Vp-p max.), External High pass filter cutoff frequency control input (2OCT/V) (-5V - +5V), External Low pass filter cutoff frequency control input (2OCT/V) (-5V - +5V)
• VCO + VCF: Total external modulation input (T.EXT) (-5V - +5V) 
• VCA: External initial gain control input (0 - +5V)
• EG: EG 1 envelope signal normal output (-5V - 0V), EG 1 envelope signal reverse output (+5V - 0V), EG 1 + EG 2 trigger input (-->GND), EG 1 trigger input (-->GND), EG 2 envelope signal reverse output (+5V - 0V) 
• MG: Triangle output (Positive Sawtooth - Triangle - Negative Sawtooth) (5Vp-p), Rectangle output (Wide Pulse - Square - Narrow Pulse)(0 - +5V)
• Noise Generator: Pink noise output (5Vp-p), White noise output (5Vp-p) 
• Sample and Hold: Clock trigger input (-->GND), Sample signal input (5Vp-p max.), S/H output (5Vp-p max.)
• Modulation VCA: Control voltage input (0 - +5V), Signal input (-5V - +5V), Signal output (-5V - +5V) 
• Manual controller: Control wheel output (-5V<--0V-->+5V), Momentary switch output (-->GND)
• Signal out: Signal output (mono 1/8" mini phone jack, 2Vp-p output impedance 3.5k Ω) 
• Headphones: Head phones output (Stereo 1/8" mini phone jack, 33 Ω 48mW) 
• USB: Type B, USB-MIDI Input/Output *Only note messages (velocity is not used) can be transmitted and received. 
• MIDI: MIDI Input *Only note messages (velocity is not used) can be transmitted and received.
  
  

Others

• Power Consumption: 9W 
• Power Supply: DC 9V 
• Dimensions (WxDxH mm): 493 ×257 × 208
• Weight: 4.8 kg
• Accessories: AC adaptor (9V/1.7A), Patch Cord x 10