Korg MS2000 - History and Features

History and Features

The synthesizer was offered as either a 44-key board or as a rack module, the latter being controlled by an external keyboard controller, hardware sequencer or a computer, making use of the system's very complete MIDI implementation. It was intended to bring the sound and basic functionality of the MS-10 and MS-20 back into the keyboard market, but with the updated technology of Virtual Analog Synthesis. The extensive number of onboard knobs and buttons (over 80) could be used to dynamically edit many of the parameters while playing, as well as be used as a control surface for other synthesizers and sound modules. This capability was the attraction of many analog synthesizers of the past and that real-time editability became the cornerstone of contemporary VA synthesizers.

At the time of the release of the MS2000, Korg was competing directly with synthesizers such as the Clavia Nord Lead and Roland's JP-8000 and JP-8080. While both of these VA machines were powerful in their own right, they were expensive. Korg had to make some sacrifices to be able to offer the much simpler MS2000 at a more reasonable price. The most prominent limitation was the synthesizer's polyphony of only 4 voices, but it also lacked expansion options, power was supplied by an AC adapter "wall wart", and there were only 128 patches available, many of which were already used by the onboard programs (though all 128 are overwritable). This type of limited polyphony is tied to Korg's history. Along with the Korg MS-20, stated influences in the design of the MS-2000 were the 4-voice Korg Mono/Poly and the 6-voice Korg Polysix.

One feature partially overcame the limited polyphony. If one connected the rack and keyboard together via the MIDI ports, the two devices could be set to produce notes offset to one another, this turning the combined system into an semi-8-voice synthesizer, completely controllable using either of the control surfaces, although it was likely that most players used the keyboard surface as the master control.