Product Reviews by KVR Members
All reviews by Jayman#9
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I gave this VSTi a 10 for interface because a 84% scale replica of the MS-20 comes with the package! Whats better than a "real" knob per function??? The controller is VERY responsive. It feels like a real analog synth. And yes, the patch cables actually work when using the modular section. Not to forget that it's made of mainly metal, so it's sturdy (heavier than I thought).
When I first saw the Korg Legacy bundle, I thought that the controller was a gimmic to make up for an average sounding vitage VSTi. I'm happy to report that it sounds very VERY analog! It is something to be heard. The filters are very thick sounding. You can't hear any MIDI steping as you sweep the filter freq knob. The result is smooth and round. The resonence is very aggressive at hi settings (not abrasive though) and warm at lower settings. I have not compaired the VSTi to the real thing (yet), but as is, the synth sounds amazing. They also give you the option to make it polyphonic as well as mono. The patches are endless.
As for features, a controller with a working patchbay and a knob per function... nuff said.
The manual is pretty thick but I was surprised to find that there wasn't any info about the patchbay section of the synth. In the manual it said to look on the cd-rom for more info, but none was found. I have experience with modular synthisis so it didn't take me long to get aroud it. But for a beginner it would be quite difficult.
The presets supplied are pretty good, but not many to go through. Mainly basslines and TB303 type sounds for electronic writers. I create more ambient sounds and pads for rock and pop music, so the presets wern't for me. It's hard to make this synth sound bad so I guess it's not a big deal.
I emailed support a question and they replied quickly. I'll give them a 10 for support :)
3 classic Korg synths and a dedicated MS-20 replica midi controller for 499USD!! I'd say that's a good deal.
Finally, stability. I've been tweeking all day and night for a week now. I use Protools 6.1.1 LE using the FXpansion VST to RTAS adapter version 1.03. For some reason the Legacy Cell plugin won't wrap properly and crashes the FXpansion wrapper. So I read that if you delete the Legacy Cell dll's from the vst folder, the MS-20 and the other synths wrap without a glitch. Sure enough they where right. No crashes and the controller works perfect as well with Protools.
I also have the Moog Modular V and have owned a Nord Modular. IMO the Korg takes the cake. I find the Moog Modular sounds ok, but a bit soft sounding. The nord is great, but it has it's own sound. The bottom line is that the MS-20 is the most realistic "virtual" analog synth I have ever used. You can acheve 1000's of sounds from mellow to hard lead sounds.Read Review
When I first saw the Korg Legacy bundle, I thought that the controller was a gimmic to make up for an average sounding vitage VSTi. I'm happy to report that it sounds very VERY analog! It is something to be heard. The filters are very thick sounding. You can't hear any MIDI steping as you sweep the filter freq knob. The result is smooth and round. The resonence is very aggressive at hi settings (not abrasive though) and warm at lower settings. I have not compaired the VSTi to the real thing (yet), but as is, the synth sounds amazing. They also give you the option to make it polyphonic as well as mono. The patches are endless.
As for features, a controller with a working patchbay and a knob per function... nuff said.
The manual is pretty thick but I was surprised to find that there wasn't any info about the patchbay section of the synth. In the manual it said to look on the cd-rom for more info, but none was found. I have experience with modular synthisis so it didn't take me long to get aroud it. But for a beginner it would be quite difficult.
The presets supplied are pretty good, but not many to go through. Mainly basslines and TB303 type sounds for electronic writers. I create more ambient sounds and pads for rock and pop music, so the presets wern't for me. It's hard to make this synth sound bad so I guess it's not a big deal.
I emailed support a question and they replied quickly. I'll give them a 10 for support :)
3 classic Korg synths and a dedicated MS-20 replica midi controller for 499USD!! I'd say that's a good deal.
Finally, stability. I've been tweeking all day and night for a week now. I use Protools 6.1.1 LE using the FXpansion VST to RTAS adapter version 1.03. For some reason the Legacy Cell plugin won't wrap properly and crashes the FXpansion wrapper. So I read that if you delete the Legacy Cell dll's from the vst folder, the MS-20 and the other synths wrap without a glitch. Sure enough they where right. No crashes and the controller works perfect as well with Protools.
I also have the Moog Modular V and have owned a Nord Modular. IMO the Korg takes the cake. I find the Moog Modular sounds ok, but a bit soft sounding. The nord is great, but it has it's own sound. The bottom line is that the MS-20 is the most realistic "virtual" analog synth I have ever used. You can acheve 1000's of sounds from mellow to hard lead sounds.Read Review
Mello Zone
Reviewed By Jayman#9 [all]
December 11th, 2002
Version reviewed: RTAS1.19 on Windows
I've always wanted a Mellotron and didn't even reallize it. I've always loved the chior sounds from Radiohead's Exit Music (OK Computer), the strings from various Yes tunes and of coarse the flute from The Beatles (Magical Mystery Tour). When I figured out that those were Mellotron sounds, I had to have it.
OK, to start, instalation is not fun. Sampletank (an LE version comes with the Mello Zone Pack) requires a painful online auth process that is not user friendly. I hade no problems but if I didn't have so much computer experience, I'd have a hard time setting this puppy up. I just like to install a product and use it right away (not dink around on the net for 30min!). Also note the I had to download the RTAS version So I could use it in Protools (5.3.1). The packaged install CD only had the VST and MAS version. But it's worth it!
The sounds are top notch. I patched in Windows media player into Protools and played along with Stawberry Fields. WOW... SPOT ON!!!! The sounds have all the wow, flutter, hiss and pops of the original tape banks and the sounds cut out after 7 or 8 secs (again, like the original). Even the sounds I'm not familiar with are very usable. Like the organ and the brass sounds. The overall vibe of the sounds are VERY analog. The only thing I don't like is that the original tape banks had 25-35 notes, the Mello Zone plays all of the original notes (1 sample per note) as well as the extended notes by pitching down (and up) the bottom and top sample to extend the full range of your keyboard. To most, this is a bonus. But I like to keep it real.
Now I love the Sampletank interface. I gave it a 10 for simplicity. Most people hate it though. I can't stand it when plugins have that cheesy futuristic look. Sampletank keeps it simple.
I gave an 8 for features becauase the internal FX are quite good. And I really like the search feature. Each patch has EQ, attack, release and filter knobs as well.
I'm overall impressed (well worth the $$$).Read Review
OK, to start, instalation is not fun. Sampletank (an LE version comes with the Mello Zone Pack) requires a painful online auth process that is not user friendly. I hade no problems but if I didn't have so much computer experience, I'd have a hard time setting this puppy up. I just like to install a product and use it right away (not dink around on the net for 30min!). Also note the I had to download the RTAS version So I could use it in Protools (5.3.1). The packaged install CD only had the VST and MAS version. But it's worth it!
The sounds are top notch. I patched in Windows media player into Protools and played along with Stawberry Fields. WOW... SPOT ON!!!! The sounds have all the wow, flutter, hiss and pops of the original tape banks and the sounds cut out after 7 or 8 secs (again, like the original). Even the sounds I'm not familiar with are very usable. Like the organ and the brass sounds. The overall vibe of the sounds are VERY analog. The only thing I don't like is that the original tape banks had 25-35 notes, the Mello Zone plays all of the original notes (1 sample per note) as well as the extended notes by pitching down (and up) the bottom and top sample to extend the full range of your keyboard. To most, this is a bonus. But I like to keep it real.
Now I love the Sampletank interface. I gave it a 10 for simplicity. Most people hate it though. I can't stand it when plugins have that cheesy futuristic look. Sampletank keeps it simple.
I gave an 8 for features becauase the internal FX are quite good. And I really like the search feature. Each patch has EQ, attack, release and filter knobs as well.
I'm overall impressed (well worth the $$$).Read Review
