Buying an M50

c_hammal · Post by **c_hammal** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 2:51 pm

Hi Guys,

Been a while since I've purchased a new board. I moved to the US now and left my beloved Pa1Xpro and TE61 back home. I may ship my TE here soon.

I saw the M50 last night at Guitar Center, I fell in love with it! I had tried the M3 before and enjoyed it but didn't like it that much (it had the same issue that bothered me in the Karma, which is a bit too much of effect in the combies). I like the new sets of combies in the M50 and the Drum Track On/off switch and the new layout of the keyboard buttons.

I just wanted to hear opinions about the M50 from owners. I'll buy it tomorrow and I'm very excited. Any M50 users here who had an Extreme???

CfNorENa · Post by **CfNorENa** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 2:57 pm

I love mine. Stunning sound quality (same sound engine as flagship M3, as you probably know) and tremendous price to features ratio. You'll still find a few people who prefer the Extreme, and even some who appear to prefer the X50

, but the overwhelming consensus is that the M3/M50 is not only a step up, but a MAJOR step up, from previous Korg synths. Unless you're dead set on one particular sound, and then decide that the M50 can't do that one particular sound perfectly, you'll be very, very happy with it. Enjoy!

Moonshine · Post by **Moonshine** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 3:04 pm

I think you won't be disappointed with the M50. I've had a totally new boost in my whole keyboard playing since I bought mine in February. Very inspiring and easy to use. Also the free sound sets you get from forums, like Karma-lab and this forum, are a nice add. And the fact that you can load the sounds also from M3 is awesome because they share the same ROM.

Xenomorph · Post by **Xenomorph** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 3:21 pm

You'll love the M50 and better yet, if you get the Extreme shipped to you here, you'll see the 2 boards seem to compliment one another. I have both and love them. From the eyes and ears of someone who owns both allow me to say I couldn't live without either one, simple as that. The M50 does inspire me quite a bit and the drum track feature and multitude of Arps is a huge plus. Add the massive library of sounds from the Extreme along with its sampling, tube and classic sounds that some people still like and you've got a killer combo.

If you ever want to sell your TREX, there are many on these boards that would add it to their collection without hesitation

kikedeolivos · Post by **kikedeolivos** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 4:54 pm

c_hammal wrote:Hi Guys,

Been a while since I've purchased a new board. I moved to the US now and left my beloved Pa1Xpro and TE61 back home. I may ship my TE here soon.

I saw the M50 last night at Guitar Center, I fell in love with it! I had tried the M3 before and enjoyed it but didn't like it that much (it had the same issue that bothered me in the Karma, which is a bit too much of effect in the combies). I like the new sets of combies in the M50 and the Drum Track On/off switch and the new layout of the keyboard buttons.

I just wanted to hear opinions about the M50 from owners. I'll buy it tomorrow and I'm very excited. Any M50 users here who had an Extreme???

What's your "kind of music" to play?

mocando · Post by **mocando** » Fri Aug 28, 2009 8:04 pm

Well, I'm not a former Triton user, but a PA50 user which uses the same engine. I can say is totally awesome. BUT, as with every board, please use a good set of monitors. I started with a Peavey PA small amp and it sounded very flat. It wasn't until I got a new set of M-Audio studio monitors that I realized the awesome sound this little beast can provide.

I'm sure you won't be disappointed, and I'm also sure you won't miss your TE too much

Awesome buy. Go for it

c_hammal · Post by **c_hammal** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 3:48 am

Wow! Thanks guys!

Happy to read all those positive inputs. I had the same feeling too when I played on it yesterday. Also, I didn't know I could load the M3 sounds on it, that's a huge plus. I do cherish my TE a lot. But I think that I could enjoy the M50 while my TE is back in Egypt. And maybe when I ship it later this year, they could complement each other indeed, along with a possible Pa500 instead of my heavy Pa1Xpro which is also back in Cairo.

I'm pretty excited to hear all those comments. I will surely let u know as soon as I get it tomorrow.

What's your "kind of music" to play?

Well, all sorts of electronic/chillout moods. Sometimes a bit of Piano and beats which I used to do with the TE and the Pa1Xpro. I noticed some of the M50 combies and the M3 had that.

And the fact that you can load the sounds also from M3 is awesome because they share the same ROM.

I actually didn't know this was an option. Would they sound similar?

McHale · Post by **McHale** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 4:13 am

c_hammal wrote: I actually didn't know this was an option. Would they sound similar?

exactly the same with the exception of those sounds that use Karma.

My M50 is my gigging keyboard and my M3 is my "never leaves the house no matter what" keyboard. I often times leave my M50 places due to our gigging schedule so I'll program my sounds on the M3 and just take the data card to the gig and transfer the patches.

None of the stuff I do uses Karma so the sounds are exactly the same. The fact that Korg allows the M50 to load M3 data is killer. It was the make/break deciding factor for me.

And I LOVE my M50 and often go to it instead of the M3 when working out song ideas. NO idea why, but I do.

-Mc

kimu · Post by **kimu** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 9:11 am

McHale wrote:
c_hammal wrote: My M50 is my gigging keyboard and my M3 is my "never leaves the house no matter what" keyboard. I often times leave my M50 places due to our gigging schedule so I'll program my sounds on the M3 and just take the data card to the gig and transfer the patches.
the same for me. have a m3 and m50 and use the latter for gigging but at home often do all the programming on the m3 and move all the sound and songs to SDCArd and load them in m50.

anyway i thing you could be satisifed with m50, even if imo having Karma stuff could be a plus for your kind of music.

c_hammal · Post by **c_hammal** » Sat Aug 29, 2009 1:01 pm

Wow! What a great feature!!

Now I'm really excited about getting my M50. Can't wait to get it home, open the box and play! I haven't touched a board since I moved to the US a week ago, now that my TE and Pa1XPro are back in Cairo.

I'm happy I made the decision of buying the M50. Didn't realize it was gaining such popularity! Thanks guys

Will keep u posted when I get it

c_hammal · Post by **c_hammal** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 7:16 pm

Ok guys, so I just got it last night! BOY!!!!!

What a beautiful board! I really really like it a lot. Great combies and sounds, plus the drum track option and the great effects under the programs section and finally good plucking and strumming guitars! Oh My!!!

I'm really glad I wasn't disappointed. Thanks for everyone who's shared his insight on this. I really appreciate it

Also, is there a way to playback my TE songs and to load the TE preset combies on the M50?

CfNorENa · Post by **CfNorENa** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 7:31 pm

c_hammal wrote:Also, is there a way to playback my TE songs and to load the TE preset combies on the M50?

Can't be done, I'm afraid (different synth engines).

kimu · Post by **kimu** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 7:43 am

CfNorENa wrote:
c_hammal wrote:Also, is there a way to playback my TE songs and to load the TE preset combies on the M50?
Can't be done, I'm afraid (different synth engines).

you can anyway save your song in MIDI format and load them in m50 sequencer, then just assign to each track new M50's sounds.

c_hammal · Post by **c_hammal** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 12:00 pm

Yup that's probably what I'll end-up doing.

Also, I can't find an M50 section in the KF downloads. Do I use the M3 section??

Moonshine · Post by **Moonshine** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 6:15 pm

c_hammal wrote:Also, I can't find an M50 section in the KF downloads. Do I use the M3 section??

Yeah, probably you'll have to do that but I'm not sure if the M3 files work. If the Programs contain Radias sounds, they will not work. M50 doesn't support Karma either if that's included.
You can try the PCG files and tell us how it works out!

Unfortunately I can't test them right now. Other file type won't work because you can't load samples to the M50.
Also if you want to load the M3 Combis, you'll have to make sure that the desired Programs are there where they should.. hmm.. that may require some work.

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