Korg M50: An ugly board that can really modulate
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- čas přidán 9. 10. 2021
- The M50 has an awkward, industrial look - a bit like a prop from "Aliens". The ergonomics are similar: Buttons that aren't nice to press, a touchscreen that needs a solid poke to work. But the sounds are versatile and it seems from looking at these basic patches that you could achieve just about anything you wanted on this strange looking instrument.
- Hudba
It's taken me almost 15 years to appreciate how much the m50 can do. It was a bit overwhelming as my first keyboard purchase.
I can totally understand that, I’m still a bit overwhelmed by it .
Ugly? I LOVE this 2000's synth design. Sleek and simple for the time
Agree. Not ungly. I do not have it but I really like it .
Bought the 88 key version brand new in 2012. Ten years and I still love it. And besides, it looks awesome.
I'd love to try the 88 :)
I buyed it in 2009. Sold it in 2018. A pretty good keyboard but it became old quickly. The touch pannel felt dated by 2015. I still find it beautiful.
True, those hard little buttons are very 90's looking.
I own this board, it was my first bought workstation and one of my favourites
I am absolutely in love with this keyboard. After playing Yamaha and Casio home keyboards for the first half of my life. I was able to grab one of these for 250 US$ in very good condition. It had the typical 'freeze' caused by corrupted installation of the OS, which I corrected by finding some Brazilian guys tutorial, which by the way is spot on.
This keyboard got me into the world of synths. It's a rabbit hole... I went so deep that I stopped playing it for a while and was thinking of buying a more modern one. And had been playing with my small controller and VSTs and just today I played it again, and fell in love with it again, one more time. And here I am, watching this video as I programme some of the sounds here too. It is really awesome. Lovely sounds. The sounds of my youth. I had always dreamt of having a Korg, it's very hard and expensive to get one here, I am so lucky.
I am from Peru, by the way. Regards!
This was a very nice comment to read - thanks Pedro :)
Same here. I could not have afforded it in communist times. Loved AHA, Pet Shop Boys, Kayagoogo and so on. Now I am 47. Bought this one second hand and love it. Regards from Poland
I personally love the look.
Yeah i thought that was mean
I bought this used from a guy in NYC - who never played it! It's a BEAST! - In every way, including weight...but I LOVE the sounds it makes - including some very nice "Tape - Instruments", i.e. Chamberlain and Mellotron!
Yep I've still got mine, waiting for repairs. Good project for the holidays :) More M50 videos to come.
if the weight seems much to you, wait until you handle a Motif XF 8 or S90XS.
Still have mine
Hi Gearfacts. I still have mine i bought in 2014. this demo video shows the powerful sounds. I do have it on offer up planning to sell it due to financtal stuff and will buy a psr e keyboard again. I was thinking about recording some if the sounds as a wave file to use on my Yamaha psr s770 it has the feature to install expansion packs which i will use to load in Korg M50 Samples. I enjoyed this Demo video and review. Bottom line the sounds are the Best. and features.
Yep, I’m going to go back and do another M50 video I think, it’s so nice 👍
Kinda interesting and along the korg lines of lush and evolving tone I would play it
I have had mine for several years. I use it both as my main/home and gigging keyboard and also as a midi controller. I did get mine secondhand but it was in pretty much mint condition when I acquired it. Mine is the 88 version. Which I have read several people say that they are built much better than the 61 or the 73 note version. I guess I wasn’t really put off by not having the sample function from the M3 because I am one of those people that if I want a certain scent sound, I just have the scent. Like for example, if I want a DX seven sound, I have the module version of a DX seven. I also like that the inbuilt controllers in this board are pretty much backward compatible with both the Trinity and Triton modules that I have. So I can control the different parameters of those modules remotely for the most part using my M 50. I know mine has not suffered any of the capacitor issues. The only intermittent issue that mine suffers is occasionally upon boot up after it has been setting a while, sometimes the screen doesn’t light up for a little over a minute or so. But other than that there are no issues. The screen is completely responsive, I love how bright and clean the sounds are as well. It should also be noted here that this was a big deal when it was released having 16 part combinations instead of eight part combinations like the previous triton, Trinity, and others since that came before them. I believe the M3 had this as well which was released a year prior.
By the way I will also say, at one point I had considered upgrading from this to a Krome. However, there was one big detail that kept me from that. That would be the keyboard itself. This uses the RH3 board versus the NH on the newer model. I much prefer the prior over the latter of these options. I think the natural Hammer board is a bit light for my taste, it should be said though that this only applies to the 88 note versions. If I upgrade to anything, I have actually been considering the Nautilis. It again has the same type of keyboard, but it is way more functional than a Krome
I agree. Not worth the large investment :)
@@gearfacts Isn’t that 61 note version plastic?
Yeah the m50 has the same keybed as Kronos, rh3. Me personally, the Kronos with the wooden sides is built like m50 in a sense. It’s them getting it right but with the slim chassis and the tilted panel, m50 88 did it first. Krome doesn’t hit like m50 neither. That’s like a kross with a touchscreen. M50 is basically a flagship like x50 to the TR.
@@daeone1514 I do still have the M 50. I have since added an 88 key Nautilus to my set up. So I actually am a worship leader so I have the M 50 stays at my church now and then Nautilus is now my main keyboard at home and gigging.
Definitely not ugly
The 2 buttons beside the pitch bender reminds me the Ensoniq EPS 16+ wish it could sound as dirty as the Ensoniq, anyway its a good synth with cheap keys ( means very bad! ) the Eminent organ patches from the analogue collection is a must for it.
Nice 👍
The korg m50 is great. There does appear to be a hardware issue with capacitors. It seems only with the 61 key version. Ours keeps locking up or tries to update for no reason. Checked it out online and there are many MANY people who have similar issues. Also; the switchable power supply over heated. So even though it's a great keyboard, these things are something to keep in mind before buying a used one.
Wise advice, good to know about these kinds of potential problems.
Is the vst that came with it and overall computer integration, still available in 2023? Im thinking to buy one used
Everything's still available somewhere, my friend. It's just finding it...
What do you think about recording the sounds of this synth through its headphone jack? Thanks.
Everything in this demo was recorded through the headphone jack. It sounds pretty clear to me. It's easy to get too uptight about clarity, it's the music that's important.
I had a korg karma. korg triton and m50 in our home setup.. The m50 was the one my son kept going back to. His main reason? The joy stick.
I have to say I agree with him!
Have had the 88 key version over ten years. Love it except cannot get the midi driver to install properly so can't use the plugin editor, vst. This is a common problem, all over the internet. Have tried many different solutions, none have worked.
That’s a shame. Good information to know though. Thanks for posting about this.
I kinda like the form factor on the m50
I’m intrigued by it too. There’s a lot of empty space inside it and I’m thinking of installing a set of speakers. If I ever do, there’ll be a video about it :)
@@gearfacts that’s neat, do you know if you can load samples onto it?
Like almost like an electribe deal?
I hate menu surfing for sample stuff but i would be very curious to see if that’s possible. Load up some vintage drum machine samples
@@gearfacts though, I’m considering trading my m50 to someone for a behringer Deepmind12! I think that’s a decent deal
@@ageshero you can't
What do you do with all these keyboards you review Gears? Do you actually buy them or do you know someone who owns a second hand music store to review them? Just curious.. cheers!
Think he owns a music store🎵🎶🎵🎶
@@doggerproductions makes sense! I know it's all trivial nonsense but was curious how he managed to store all this gear! Lol
Hey Guys - Nope, no music store. I just buy things, review them, and then re-sell them and try not to make a loss. I'm motivated by the idea that old gear is just fine and we can save heaps by using it. I've also seen lots of people accidentally lose sight of musical creativity in their quest for the newest gear. So here I am, doing Gearfacts :)
@@gearfacts YES, I wasted so much time pursuing gear when I would’ve been better served saving money, learning to mix better & use what I already had. Now I just have an iPad & cheap apps and I make more music than I did with tons of flashy equipment. Love your channel for its reviews of inexpensive stuff that gets overlooked.
@@ShakaCthulu it's funny before I got into synths I was strictly using trackers to make mod music using samples.. I had more fun back then compared to now.. simpler times brought out much more creativity. Too much gear is a burden
I bought it FOR the look! Kept it for the sound. We really gave you a hard time over your difference of opinion I see ha 😂
haha yeah it's definitely a matter of taste! I'd say it's the nicest-sounding digital synth I've ever tried, I think. The Modwave (a much more recent Korg) really impressed me too but it's just not the same 'fun factor' as the M50 :)
@Gearfacts The M50's dope, along with the, Krome and Oasis. Thanks for sharing man.
@@TRUE-LION A pleasure, see you same time next week :)
Thank you so much! Best Wishes From Berlin! Stefan
Thanks Stefan, best wishes from Gearfacts in Australia :)
Is the screen difficult to look at or nah?
Initially a bit of a shock on the eyes, but generally it's fine.
The keybed looks cheap. Is It?
It's about average imho.
So ugly that makes me want it more!!! When are you sending it to me??? XD
haha I actually tried the 88 key version recently (slightly less ugly) and I now regret selling both. They sound so good :)
i think speaker not good idea... i heard a local keyboardist prefer this than KROME.... i think the free space more suitable to put an i pad or microsoft surface tablet....
Yeah maybe you're right. I'll still go in and fix that stiff key though, it was really annoying
I'm looking for one no matter 61 76 or 88 dont matter im getting one
If you're in Australia there's a 73 key one going cheap here
Gear facts i wish I were there
That’s not ugly. It’s just different from the traditional designs. Kinda retro like. For me it’s made to be that main board with the tilted panel. M3 is even crazy it the panel being able to tilt and come off completely.
Cool, I didn't know that about the M1
I owned a Korg M50 I keep it about two months and returned it to music store ,,,why I dont know Just felt like it ...
Fair enough :) You have to go with what makes you smile, that's what I always say.
Un clavier que je possède en 88 notes. Je trouve que ce clavier est le grand synthétiseur oublié de chez Korg. Loin d'être mauvais mais très méconnu hélas.
Je suis d'accord. Je ferai une vidéo plus détaillée à ce sujet cette année :)
Hi Gear facts another this is i wanted to ask have you ever tried the organ patches on the M50 with a Neo Ventilator 2? You will be amazed.. I tried it with both of my Neo 1 and Neo 2 and the Neo 2 is the Real B3 sound. You will be pleased with it..
Never heard of Neo2 to be honest!
The M50 is a little Shame they were plagued by faulty capacitors all around!
I'll have to keep an eye on that, I've still got one here...
@@gearfacts Repair is easy, the repair guy saw the M50 and said: “say nothing, it’s a busted cap”. I keep my little M50, even after I got the Kronos.
@ ah cool. Mine has a bad key, and I want to add internal speakers…I’m goin’ in!
Thanks for the warning, I picked one up in the spring and have been loving it. The front panel is much nicer and more convenient than what the Nautilus gets. Makes you wonder if the Korg devs hit their heads pretty hard.
I can service my M50 myself easily when the time cones.
Ugly??? Lol u dot knwo what ur talking about! It’s so unique like the m3
sigh...It was just a slight joke man. Why is everybody getting uptight about this?
"ugly"
no, u 😝
Gear facts, I absolutely love this keyboard. the Hammond stock sounds are out off the chain mang! I play can reggae with Hammond organ sounds that you can tweak on the fly with this kind of my MM6 yamaha and MO6 also my Yamaha MX49. I use 10 brands in my home studio. I got a house full of gear that I use. I dont use computer DAW VSTs nona that stuff bc I find analog sounds keeps me 60s,70,80,90s that's with a few digital stuff. from A to Z here are the names of products Keyboards and romplers Midi modules included in my arsenal of sounds Alesis,Casio,EM-U, Ensoniq, Farfisa, Hammonds of course,Korg of course,Kawai,KURTZWEIL, KORG, OBRIUM,ROLAND,VOX,VOCE,WULTZER,YAMAHA,AND PEAVY DPM....keyboards I have DPM3 DPM2 and the DPM1. MOTIF,M50,N1 M1 ETC.... I own them all thats including non daw track recorder s from 4,6,8,16,24, and 32 track recorders over 12k well spent.....all still in my possessions. never ever getting rid of them... guitars too Jacksons ,Fender Gibson LesPaul Ibanez Vinci Montaya Les Laura Jackson Dinky guitars etc.
Amazing collection!
Gear facts my musical linages comes from Ernest Ranglin. Sir he is my grandfather and I learned 4 instruments from Him my dad David Ranglin his son and my uncle Micheal Ranglin. I LEARNED ABOUT ROLAND ,BOSS ,KORG,YAMAHA, ALESIS,CASIO KURTZWEIL, PEAVY,JACKSON,GIBSON KRAMER ETC EMU AND MAINLY HAMMOND ORGANS. I STARTED OFF PLAYING A B3 CONVERTED TO A MINI SIZE BUILT COMBO ORGAN GERMAN PAID AND MADE DRAWBARS THE WHOLE DEAL BY HX3 keyboard and partner... and I loved music from age of 3 my that b3 was the the world's only organ that weighed in at 30lbs small and light drawbars and all.... cost me 2300 USD to make that I still have it from 1993 the shell of a Hammond XB5 dual manual remember those? From 1992? I got it and it rocks