please help me decide! Korg Mono/Poly or Korg MS20

[eremitalf]

Hi,

I know they are different kind of machines but I am not sure which one to buy. I already own a Frostwave resonator (MS20 Filter section excellent clone) and a Clavia Nord lead 2x.

Please tell me which one would you chose! (The MS20 is a little more expensive)


Thanks very Much

Luis

[d1rtynyc]

What kid of stuff do you do?
Influences?
This may provide some insight to help.

[eremitalf]

I am not a virtuoso. I use synths in a indie/experimental context.. I use a lot of drones, simple chords and melodies, basses, rythmic exploration (arpeggiator stuff) and above all i look for a good and warm analog tone.

Basically I`m looking for an analog synth to complement my synth material:

- nord lead 2x
- roland tr 606
- frostwave resonator (MS20 filter clone)
- moogerfooger ring modulator

thanks!!
some sounds in MySpace.com - the astroboy - Braga, PT - Shoegaze / Experimental / Indie - www.myspace.com/iamtheastroboy

[tomazzzi]

Get them both !

If it was me i would grab the poly first but ..they really both rocks

Very hard choice, good luck

[RollrCoastr]

I used to own a Mono/Poly, i loved it.

[oudplayer]

Both are great, but they have quite a different sound and different potential applications. The patching on the MS20 is a great feature, but if you don't plan on taking advantage of it, you're basically just playing 'round with a simple 2-oscillator synth. The monopoly's 4 oscillators can create some wicked textures, but it's not so well suited to patching external instruments in. I once saw a Mono/Poly modded so that it could work as a patching synth...

I'm not totally certain, but I seem to remember that the MS20 has some parts inside which are much harder to find/replace than the components of the Mono/Poly. That also might be a consideration.

[Daddy No]

Here's what the A-Z of synths said about the rating of each

mono/poly
sounds 6/10
keyboard 3/10
controls 8/10
character 6/10
collectability 7/10

ms20
sounds 8/10
keyboard 3/10
controls 8/10
character 7/10
collectability 7/10

ie its pretty damn close

I'd regard the MS20 as an absolute classic
Especially for electronic music, it's 'the screaming synth sound'
(I have the MS50, its more modular older brother)

Whereas mono/poly used to have quite a bad press
Although i've noticed they seem to have got more popular
One thing to watch is their keyboard contacts tend to go, a tech told me
(make sure you get one that has good ones, then use the keys regularly)

The one other thing is you already have a clone of the MS20's filters
So you are going to get much more sonic variation/options from the mono/poly

All in all you need both, and a synthex, and a moog and...

:J

[eremitalf]

Hi guys,

thanks to everyone for the help! I have decided for the mono/poly, although I would be glad to have both. Maybe in the future!

Thanks for your kindness and for sharing information

regards
Luis

[Beermaster]

Hey I've had both and I sold the MS20

The Monopoly is one of the synths that as well as having a unique sound also has an UTTERLY unique feature set that no other mono can compete with.

Four VCOs ! - OK not hugely exciting until you see what can be done with them:

Don't think of the Monopoly as a Poly synth. Think of it as a Unique and complexed mono synth. It has a Osc Sync sound that will burn the Moog Prodigy ( which I think has one of the hardest Osc Sync potentials of any Mono analogue synth ).

The Joy and individuality of the monopoly is with the arpeggiator and the way it works with the flexibility of the VCOs and the 'EFFECTS' which are really mod and cross options . SO !: you can hold down a chord of you choice and get the arpeggiator cycling through the notes.... then you can set each VCO to a different octave range in the cyle ( which if the arpeggiator is running on 3 octave up and down then thats some crazy octatves jumps with each VCO at an additonal octave or two above or below this.

Hey But thats boring ! so hit the 'Effects' Button and the four VCOs go into unison and track the arpeggiator. But now you can select a whole world of weird and wonderful Cross modded, osc synced, Freq Shiffted mods from the various sources and destinations..... Get it sounding fruity.... THEN hit the 'Poly' Button..... Each individual VCO now is assigned to a separate note of the sequence with its Mod settings and cross modded sounds whch if you've added portamento gives you a bit of really ****ed up 303 glide sound in between each note but also with independed tuning and wave shapes for etc for each of the FOUR VCOS... MAD ! and brilliant..

Will post some demos

Beer

[eremitalf]

wow!! Now I´m anxious about receiving the synth!!! I can´t wait to see/hear that!! If possible post some videos/demos so everybody can see.

Thanks very much!
Luis

[pyvnd]

On the Korg Legacy software mono/poly is my favorite. lol. I love the sound.

[eremitalf]

Hi everyone,

the mono/poly has arrived and it sounds awesome! It is very powerful and versatile.
The arpeggiator in poly mode is really fantastic and the creative possibilities are endless.

I just didn`t succeed in synchronizing the arpeggiator with the TR606 drum machine.. Can anyone help me with this issue? I have tried to connect the LT trigger out of the TR606 to the Arpeggiator Trigger In of the Mono/poly..

Thanks everyone!
Luis

[Don Solaris]

Originally Posted by eremitalf

Hi,

I know they are different kind of machines but I am not sure which one to buy.

Both.

[alexp]

Originally Posted by eremitalf

Hi everyone,

the mono/poly has arrived and it sounds awesome! It is very powerful and versatile.
The arpeggiator in poly mode is really fantastic and the creative possibilities are endless.

I just didn`t succeed in synchronizing the arpeggiator with the TR606 drum machine.. Can anyone help me with this issue? I have tried to connect the LT trigger out of the TR606 to the Arpeggiator Trigger In of the Mono/poly..

Thanks everyone!
Luis

Hey!!

First of all congrats on the Monopoly! They are absolutely fantastic machines and you are an uber lucky guy to have it!

Secondly about the sync issue, Take the LT sync out of the 606 to the arp in on the Korg, and then get the low tom to do 16th notes.... Then just keep the volume of the toms down, press play on the 606 and it should trigger! Hope that helps.

alexP

[Acid Hazard]

The unfortunate part is that the M/P's Arp is looking for a - trigger, and the Rolands send out a + trigger.

[rachel]

Originally Posted by Acid Hazard

The unfortunate part is that the M/P's Arp is looking for a - trigger, and the Rolands send out a + trigger.

I posted this before. I got this made up for me as a little box I just plug a gate into,
with S/trig going out to the polysix arpeggiator. Instant sync!






rachel

[oudplayer]

Originally Posted by Daddy No

Whereas mono/poly used to have quite a bad press
Although i've noticed they seem to have got more popular
One thing to watch is their keyboard contacts tend to go, a tech told me
(make sure you get one that has good ones, then use the keys regularly)

:J

The mono/poly I got didn't have a single working key.

Took it a part, cleaned the contacts with a gum eraser.

Works great now...

[lesterdiamond]

korg ms-20

[r_afa_el]

I ´ve seen you have a korg monopoly i have one also, I need a little help i can´t seem to do a correct configuration with Cv _ midi converter Kenton Pro solo. Do you use midi on yours ??

I really need help

[Batchainpuller78]

Mono/Poly

Very Very nice machine as for plugging it still has CV/Gate In & Out, Arpeggio Trigger in, VCO Fm In / VCF Fm in and Portamento so you can still create very interesting patches with other synths.
To bad no audio in but I have others for that.

ZEN MONO/POLY

[Oli]

Originally Posted by r_afa_el

I ´ve seen you have a korg monopoly i have one also, I need a little help i can´t seem to do a correct configuration with Cv _ midi converter Kenton Pro solo. Do you use midi on yours ??

I really need help

Hi, this is somewhat off topic for this old thread. Maybe you should start a new thread, asking for help on your Pro Solo w/ Mono/Poly?