i tried updating the os but there is something messed up with the program, keeps on giving me a comm port error... those bastards, i hear that this adds alot to the sound of this and updates the filters soo... eh? korg write a decent program eh?

could be a hell of alot better for the price, deserves to be around 500$ for the kb and 300$ for the module... i know i am being picky about the lack of an ability to create a decent pad, but what this really has to do with is its polyphony, and for what its worth the only thing i think they could improve is the filter, and more mod seq. points... like pitch:)

the inclusion of the dw8000 sound rom is great... and this is a serious synth for a live setting, great for gigging and for jamming!

so my overall ratting is 3 GREAT for bass sounds, and amazing for drones, and good for leads... if you plan on buying this synth know what your getting into... and definatly play one... personally if you ask me, if your looking for a cheap VA deffinatly check out the astaion by novation half the price double the polyphony, still get a vocoder... once the kstation comes out ill probably sell the ms and buy the Kstation, as long as its not built like a bass station keyboard(cheap plastic)... cheers

My buddy was excited about the Nord, and I knew that for $2300 it would be a cool synth. But I wanted to see how hard an $800 VA could hit the pavement. Let me tell you.....within 4 minutes crew from the warehouse were coming over to see what the hell was going on. The Nord at very low frequencies WAS able to "fill in the cracks" better than the MS2000, and it overall had a smoother, rounder sound. We were able to dial in triangles that were pure subsonic energy. Something only a PA with real air-moving power can reveal.

But the MS, oh the MS. Were talking pant-shaking, ceiling-tile dropping, low-end here folks. Talk about techstep heaven. This thing will eat 18's for breakfast, and shit smoked voice coils for dinner. No it can't always give you a really ROUND tone, but it will give you low throbbing subbass with lots of top-end character. Many people think the filters are lame. Personally I felt like I had the power to take-out the sub cabinets one minute, then whip the cut-off around, so I could bury the horns the next. "Crappy Presets"?. I'm not sure what it is. Maybe people just come from different backgrounds, but man the presets I was using sounded pretty fucking great to me. Adjusting the envelpes and filter CO was usually all we were doing. There's a big issue about the low polyphony, but that never seems to be mentioned with other synths. Maybe the standard for VA's in peoples' minds is at least 8 or 16 notes poly. What I need right now is a bass synth with character, and if you can't get that out of an MS 2000, especially if you're making harder forms of techno, you need to put a little more effort in. yes it is a little light-weight, but then again so is a Pro-One, and people love them. An MS won't break on you every week either. Personally, I'd be confident enough to tour with an MS, and that's tough enough for me.

many people might read this and say "everything sounds good loud." But I'd argue by saying "everything sounds better full-frequency" which is a definite plus especially if your tryout on an MS included a set of those tiny powered Yamaha's the music stores seem to love.

In the end, I got kicked off the MS2000 by my friend, and the Nord was left to sit the rest of the evening. I'm converted. I was one of those that used to say an MS was "essensially two Electribes bolted together." but now after my recent enlightenment, I'm on the brink of buying one. With a little luck maybe I'll be happier with it a year from now than some people have.

With the audio in I can directly input audio from any scource(Another Keyboard or external sequencer)and either tweek the sound or save it in a patch,,It also has an audio thru.. real supper handy as far as spending 30 minuits trying to duplicate patch sounds or scanning the internet for more compatable sound patches.Rite there is a good reason to own one,,its like haveing a thousand keyboards in one.Real Time sound editing is as classic analog as it gets.The built in sequencer I find is easy to use.I have had my MS2000 for about 8 months now and it is defenitly a keeper. I would write more about its capabilitles, but that can go on and on and on so Ill keep it short.

If any one says that the unit is limited as far as creating sounds,Sequencing,editing,MIDI controlling/slaveing or its other capabilities,, well chances are they have not gone thru the operations manuelto well and are most likely missing out one it's very usefull features.

No I do not use the unit as my primary choice of boards as far as overall composing but I do use it as my primary MIDI controller due to the highly visible as well as accessable back lit patches that are on the fron panel,Great if you are performing. As far as creative use I mainly use it to create sound patches,Rhythmic sequences, Ambient back ground sounds,I also use it to enhance and add sounds(timbres)to existing sound patches from other various keyboards that I own.

With the audio in I can directly input audio from any scource(Another Keyboard or external sequencer)and either tweek the sound or save it in a patch,,It also has an audio thru.. real supper handy as far as spending 30 minuits trying to duplicate patch sounds or scanning the internet for more compatable sound patches.Rite there is a good reason to own one,,its like haveing a thousand keyboards in one.Real Time sound editing is as classic analog as it gets.The built in sequencer I find is easy to use.I have had my MS2000 for about 8 months now and it is defenitly a keeper. I would write more about its capabilitles, but that can go on and on and on so Ill keep it short. Buy one

Lack of polyphony makes this a solo synth and probably isnt your best bet for a first VA, but compliments a mix very well and can sound very thick and aggresive. New OS addresses MIDI timing issues so it won't hang up at arpeggiator anymore(i hope!).

Just remember, as with anything, a bit more money buys you more synth. Research and play it before you buy it, because a few hundred more can buy you a synth with more poly and multitimbral, and more features. (ie:Virus Rack, Novation A-Station(cheaper than MS2k), Waldorf Micro Q) IMO MS2k sounds fatter in a mix than any of those do but is limited by lack of poly. (our A-Station demo is awesome)...

If you like the sound then thats all that really matters right? I love it, wish we had bought the MS2000R though, i find the keyboard ver. isnt worth the studio space for what it does.