PS-20

Name: PS-20
Price: 29 USD
Author: Cherry Audio

by Cherry Audio · Synth · Korg MS-20 style semi-modular synth

Not rated yet

PS-20 is Cherry Audio's take on the Korg MS-20, with dual highpass and lowpass filters, an expanded patch panel and 16-voice polyphony.

It adds a three-channel step sequencer, an external signal processor input and effects, with over 320 presets, for $29.

Best for: Keys & Synths, Bass, Sound Design. Genres: Electronic & EDM, Hip-Hop & Trap, Rock & Indie.

Keywords: polyphonic, sequencer, modular, hardware emulation, vintage, analog, MPE support, tempo-synced, 70s, aggressive, basses, chord generator, leads, modern, preset-driven, sidechain input, sound design, subtractive.

What it does

PS-20 is Cherry Audio's "hot-rodded tribute" to the Korg MS-20: it keeps the semi-modular layout and squelchy filters, then adds polyphony, a sequencer and modern effects.

Filters: modeled MS-style highpass and lowpass filters, including their sometimes unpredictable, screaming resonance.
Patch panel: an expanded, clearer patch panel with in and out points for all oscillators, filters and VCAs, using the cabling system from Voltage Modular.
Sequencer: three-channel, eight-step sequencer with a half-step quantizer and tempo sync, plus a tempo-syncable modulation generator.
Voices: up to 16-voice polyphony with random voice panning, unison detune, single-key chord memory and MPE support.
External Signal Processor: the MS-20's audio-in section, with a normalled sidechain input; an effect version of the plugin is included for running audio through it.
Effects: distortion, reverb and a tempo-synced mod echo.
Presets: over 320, with designers including Torley and The Sound of Merlin.

A free 30-day demo plays white noise periodically but is otherwise unlimited.

Source: Cherry Audio product page

When to use it

PS-20 is the cheap way into MS-20 sounds with more voices and more patching than the original. Compared with Arturia's KORG MS-20 V, the official emulation, it is unofficial but adds polyphony, MPE and a three-lane sequencer at a lower price. Compared with Diva or Pigments 7 it is cruder: fixed envelope shapes, no wavetables and one filter character, but that rawness is the point. Its effect version also makes it a filter box for drums and guitars, which most synths here can't do.

Best for: aggressive basses, screaming leads, patched experiments and filtering external audio.
Genres: electronic, industrial, techno, hip-hop and rock.
Look elsewhere if: you want the official Korg emulation (KORG MS-20 V) or modern envelopes and wavetables (Pigments 7, Vital).
Tip (Synth and Software): patching can't modulate the effects, so automate effect parameters from your DAW instead.

What producers say

Reviewers treat it as one of Cherry Audio's best vintage recreations, with complaints only about its old-school limits.

Synth and Software (Jim Aikin) called it "every MS-20 fan's dream come true" and his favorite of Cherry Audio's vintage synths, praising the rich sound, presets and patching.
Criticisms: Aikin noted fixed envelope curves, single-mode filters, a patch panel laid out for authenticity over ergonomics, and no patch modulation of the effects.

Synth and Software review

Where to buy

Tutorials and reviews

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