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MS-20 Mini it is!

Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2017 8:26 am
by UglyCasanova
Yeah, I know they are very different beasts, but after watching a ton of demos, these are the two I like the sound of the most despite sounding so different.

So...I've got an analog synth itch that I need to scratch. I've made a pros and cons list because I'm a little girly girl:


MicroBrute
Pros:
- Easier to learn for a noob like myself and easier to utilize live
- Cheaper (can buy right away)
- Smaller (I already carry a ton of shit around with me when I play)
- Built-in sequencer
Cons:
- Not as deep. Might get boring after a while(?)


MS-20
Pros:
- Will probably teach me more about synthesis
- DAT filter
- More diverse
Cons:
- Big
- Flimsy knobs
- Too complex (I already have like 30 pedals on two boards to deal with when playing live)

What are your thoughts? Owned/played any of them? What's your pros and cons? :snax:

Re: MS-20 Mini or MicroBrute?

Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2017 8:34 am
by friendship
i have no experience with either but

get the microbrute since you are new to synths, play it until the Thirst takes hold

then get the ms-20 too

plug the microbrute into the ms-20's audio input, start making the two synths swap CV tarter sauce

Re: MS-20 Mini or MicroBrute?

Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2017 8:36 am
by UglyCasanova
Classic ILF answer :lol: :thumb:

Re: MS-20 Mini or MicroBrute?

Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2017 9:10 am
by Inconuucl
Microbrute interfaces with modular, ms-20 doesn't. Also, the microbrute filter is amazing too, so don't knock that.

Re: MS-20 Mini or MicroBrute?

Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2017 9:12 am
by coldbrightsunlight
I vote brute. Sequencer is all sorts of fun, filter sounds great, it's a great little box

Re: MS-20 Mini or MicroBrute?

Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2017 10:31 am
by raj007
I got a Microbrute last week :) First ever Synth ...I debated getting something "bigger" like the MS 20, but ultimately thought the Brute was simpler for me to learn on. The manual is pretty good in walking you through the machine. I'm taking my time understanding it all but I did make a first attempt yesterday at a track....Echo Degrader and Particle along w it.

https://soundcloud.com/user-399112754/m ... he-sunrise

And I spent $215 for a demo model on Reverb....crazy cheap considering what it can do.

Re: MS-20 Mini or MicroBrute?

Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2017 10:53 am
by lordgalvar
Ms-20. The basic prepatched sound is just as easy as the microbrute. Plus you can use the CV outs with pedals down the road. Can be paraphonic kinda too.

Microbrute is pretty mediocre. It's ok, Ive tried and tried to like it, but I don't really like the envelope or the osc section (I've also.lost interest in normal filter usage on synth....That is boring to me). It gets boring fast. The build quality ain't all that hot either.

Re: MS-20 Mini or MicroBrute?

Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2017 10:57 am
by blakestree
Yep, between the two, MS-20 Mini every time.

But, as lg had said, for that kinda money, I'd get a 0-Coast. (Almost pulled the trigger on one a few days ago...)

Re: MS-20 Mini or MicroBrute?

Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2017 11:06 am
by lordgalvar
Yea, I pulled the 0-coast rec (even though I think it would fit better in his setup) because he was just asking about those two.

But 0-coast is something special and I love it. Does everything I've wanted out of a synth. It has a ton of midi stuff I haven't even messed with. It has a lower noise floor than the microbrute too.

The slope generator alone makes it more versitile than the microbrute to me....Plus CV wave shaping and an actually nice sounding non resonant filter for dynamics.

Re: MS-20 Mini or MicroBrute?

Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2017 11:25 am
by UglyCasanova
Read first few posts: okay, so Microbrute it is!

Read a few more posts: The MS-20 Mini does look like fun though!

Read last couple of posts: Guess I've gotta read about this 0-Coast now!

:facepalm:

Re: MS-20 Mini or MicroBrute?

Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2017 11:29 am
by chrisdermo
MS-20 every time. Like LG I found the microbrute real mediocre, I was bored of it within an hour of playing. MS-20 has much more shit going on.

O-Coast is high on my radar.

Re: MS-20 Mini or MicroBrute?

Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2017 11:38 am
by UglyCasanova
0-Coast looks cool, but it sort of has that OP-1 vibe to me. Real unconventional and convoluted (to me, at least).

Re: MS-20 Mini or MicroBrute?

Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2017 11:41 am
by lordgalvar
The basic patch (no cables) is super fun and useful (gold lines show you the path). It gets way more deep and they actually have good videos about it (unlike op-1). It's honestly just as easy as the stock ms-20 patch...But slightly bigger than a moogerfooger.

Re: MS-20 Mini or MicroBrute?

Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2017 11:47 am
by blakestree
lordgalvar wrote:It's honestly just as easy as the stock ms-20 patch.
I agree. And, while the 0-Coast rather unconventional, that makes it all the more interesting to me. If you want just a basic mono-synth, the Microbrute is fine.

Re: MS-20 Mini or MicroBrute?

Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2017 11:54 am
by UglyCasanova
I want to learn basic, traditional synthesis. I sort of get the MS-20 and I definitely get the MicroBrute. I'm already dealing with a lot of stuff in the band. A bunch of pedals, bass, drones, drum machine, noise makers, Pocket Piano, iPad with QuNexus. I don't want anything I would find too complex/unconventional and need to get more shit for ( such as another midi-keyboard and sequencer for the 0-coast).