Korg MONOPOLY POLYSIX MS-20 Configuration guide

KORG MS-20
Owner's Manual Supplement
This supplement manual for the Korg MS-20 is for the synthesist using the External
Signal Processor (ESP)
.
Patch the MS-20 as shown on Diagram I. This is the simplist patch when using the ESP.
Since all musical instruments have different ranges in pitch, tone, dynamics and har-
monic (overtone) content, the setting of the controls on the ESP will vary accordingly.
Setting the Controls on the ESP ^
Preliminary -If your instrument has its own controls for tone and volume, setting
these is very important. For guitar, it has been found that these settings vary from
one instrument to another. All give the best response with volume on "10", but some
use the tone on "0", some on "10". Most use the front (rhythm) pickup, and some use
both front and rear (rhythm and lead) .Experiment with your instrument settings
along with the following settings for the ESP.
1. Signal Level: Set this so that at your loudest signal, the peak light goes on. (On
guitars where there is astrong attack and quick decay, the peak light should stay on
about two seconds on the loudest and longest sustaining note -usually the low E.)
For more sustain, set at ahigher level.
2.& 3. Low and High Cut Frequency: These controls filter the incoming signal to get rid of
unwanted noise and excess harmonics, which can falsely trigger the pitch to voltage
converter. Start with the fully open setting, (low cut "O", high cut "10") If the
high cut frequency is set too high, it lets unwanted harmonics through which can
falsely trigger the MS-20. Set it so your lower notes trigger on the correct pitch
and your upper notes still trigger the synthesizer. If the low cut frequency is set
too high, the fundamental pitch will be cut out and again the synthesizer will falsely
trigger. Set it so the lowest note triggers correctly. These controls must be set
properly for the ESP to work accurately. Experiment with them to find the best
setting for your instrument, (approximate settings for guitar; low cut 0, high cut 5-7),
4. CV Adjust: Set at 10 for unison pitch. By setting this control lower the control
voltage will be correspondingly lower along with the final pitch of the MS-20.
5. Threshold Level: For longest sustain, set at "10". This control sets the length of
the trigger. For certain effects, where you want to re-trigger often, it should be
set at less than "10".
Once these are set, you should get asound from the MS-20 corresponding to the settings
on Diagram I.
All controls on the MS-20 work with the ESP except portamento. You can now refer to
the owner's manual for help in using the controls, patching, and the different sounds
you can achieve on the MS-20.
For expanded effects, the synthesist using the ESP module can use our optional MS01
Voltage Pedal, instead of the "wheel"; and our FP1 Footswitch, instead of the push-
button.
Here are some more patches to work with!
Experiment, Create and Enjoyl

This patch is the NORMAL SETTING for the MS 20 synthesizer and creates a
basic unmodulated tone. This patch serves as abasis for further
experimentation and creativity. Instrument Amplifier
NORMAL SETTING
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to create your own synthesized sounds.
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