Korg MS-10

MS-10
Korg MS-10
Manufacturer	Korg
Dates	1978–1983
Price	US$450
Technical specifications
Polyphony	Monophonic
Timbrality	Monotimbral
Oscillator	1 VCO per voice
Synthesis type	Analog subtractive
Filter	1 low-pass
Aftertouch expression	no
Velocity expression	no
Storage memory	none
Effects	none
Input/output
Keyboard	32 keys
External control	CV/Gate

Korg MS-10 is an analogue synthesizer created by Korg in 1978. Unlike its bigger brother, the MS-20, the MS-10 only has one VCO. It is monophonic and has 32 keys.

The MS-10 is well known for its huge sounding electro bass sounds.

Architecture

Audio path

Oscillator

The MS-10 has one VCO with 4 waveforms: triangle, sawtooth, pulse, and white noise.

Filter

The MS-10 has the same "KORG35" low pass filter as the original MS-20.

Output

There is a simple single transistor VCA. The amplitude of the VCA can be controlled by the envelope generator.

Modulation

Modulation generator

The MS-10 has one LFO, labelled "modulation generator". It has two controls (rate and shape) and two outputs (pulse and sloped).

The shape control affects the pulse width and the shape of the sloped output. At midway, the pulse width is 50% and the output is a triangle wave. Both outputs are available through the patch panel and can be used for triggering the envelope generators – the pulse wave with a key held down, and the sloped without. The depth of LFO modulation of the VCO frequency and the filter cut-off can be controlled from knobs in the respective sections of the control panel.

Envelope

There is one envelope generator with controls for Hold, Attack, Decay, Sustain and Release.

Patching

Although the MS-10 has normalized connections, they can be modified with patch cables. This allows the LFO to modulate the pulse width (which is called pulse width modulation, or PWM) of the VCO or the amplitude of the VCA. It also has a noise generator with white and pink noise outputs, CV in and out, and an external signal input (not to be confused with the "External Signal Processor" of the MS-20).

Compatibility With Other Synths and Modules

The MS-10's VCO uses linear voltage control (Hz/Volt) but note that oct/V scaling (−5V to +5V) is available via judicious use of the "freq" CV input socket. A CV converter can also be used.

Notable users

Major artists known to use the MS-10 include: The Orb, SkyLab, the Chemical Brothers, Astral Projection, Autechre, Juan Atkins, Underworld, Sneaker Pimps, Luke Vibert, Junkie XL, and Add N to (X).