Very Disappointed after owning M50 3 weeks.

johnnypro · Post by **johnnypro** » Sun Dec 06, 2009 7:29 pm

After 3 gigs and 8+ hours programming the M50, I'm almost ready to go back to the TR61 for gigging. My band says it sounds OK, but I can't get the sounds to sound "Organic" (no pun intended). The Organ FX sound artificial, the Bari Sax is nowhere as good as the TR sample. A lot of other sounds just don't sound as good to me no matter what I do. I use a lot of Organs with the band (wedding / party band) and I'm just not happy with what I can come up with myself. Anxiously waiting for the download area to see what more experienced owners / programmers have come up with.

I've had a bazillion Korgs in the past and never been dis-satisfied before.

Any thoughts?? JP

EvilDragon · Post by **EvilDragon** » Sun Dec 06, 2009 7:49 pm

Leslie sim is by far the best from Korg (OASYS notwithstanding), much better than in Triton range. Don't know what your gripe is. Korg has always been great with organs. After all, KORG stands for Keio ORGan company

I'm not using sax really so I can't say anything on that.

McHale · Post by **McHale** » Sun Dec 06, 2009 8:14 pm

The best Leslie sim Korg has is on the newer CX-3. I didn't know what Leslie really was supposed to sound like until I got it. However, if you can get your hands on a Korg G4, you can have Korg's 2nd best (IMO) Leslie sim on anything.

That being said, the Leslie sim on the M3 and M50 are much better than the Triton series. I found that the stock sounds from the Triton had some really awesome organs and the M3/M50 didn't have as many. That doesn't mean the M3 or M50 isn't capable of getting those sounds though. Most of the organs I used on the Triton I've been able to replicate the sound within 95% of what I had.

I wouldn't give up on it yet.

-Mc

CfNorENa · Post by **CfNorENa** » Sun Dec 06, 2009 8:46 pm

Well, I graduated to the M50 from the O1/W (early 90s technology), so to me, the upgrade in quality -- in every respect -- was dramatic. In general, I've been quite impressed with the M50. One thing I have noticed, though, is that the M50 presets don't sound quite as "forward," or "raw," or "bright" as earlier Korgs. I'm pretty sure this was by design (an attempt to give the whole machine a more "professional" sound palette, perhaps?).

That said, even minor tweaks on the Tone Adjust tab can really bring out the power of the EDS engine. So I'd have to agree with McHale: give it more time. 8+ hours probably isn't enough.

Best of luck with it.

BillW · Post by **BillW** » Sun Dec 06, 2009 8:55 pm

evildragon wrote:Leslie sim is by far the best from Korg (OASYS notwithstanding), much better than in Triton range. Don't know what your gripe is. Korg has always been great with organs. After all, KORG stands for Keio ORGan company

I'm not using sax really so I can't say anything on that.

Having owned 8 Tritons and 2 M3s, I believe the leslie sims on the Triton, M3 and M50 are identical. Not only are the parameters the same, but they sound alike as well. I don't think the problem is with the effects as much as the samples themselves.

If you rely that heavily on organ sounds, you should probably get a dedicated clone such as the CX-3.

johnnypro · Post by **johnnypro** » Sun Dec 06, 2009 9:01 pm

OK, I have to admit that using the same sounds for 7 years or so (Triton, Triton EX, TR61) they are ingrained in my head. But I can't come up with anything that sounds nearly as good as, for example, the Perc CX3 sound (C023) from the TR and Triton Le in my M50. I don't even use the Leslie FX on that one as it's so fat with chorus and vibrato. I've edited the factory presets in the M50 adding both Leslie and the Organ chorus FX, and also set up new patches using 2 waveforms and detuning plus using FX. They sound OK soloed out but with the band, they still sound "artificial" to me.

I had an M1ex and T3 for years, but when I went from that to a Triton, I had NO problems upgrading to the new sounds like I am now.

Can anyone out there hook up a touchscreen to my TR61??? <g> jp

johnnypro · Post by **johnnypro** » Sun Dec 06, 2009 9:08 pm

BillW wrote: If you rely that heavily on organ sounds, you should probably get a dedicated clone such as the CX-3.

I tried that a few years back with (forgive me) a Roland Clonewheel organ (VK7?? I worked for a Roland Dealer and got a deal) and it didn't work out. I need the extra sounds (brass, accordian, clav, strings, etc) and the "real" Hammond sounds often didn't work as well as something that was 1/2 way between a Hammond and a combo organ. (hard to explain). JP

McHale · Post by **McHale** » Sun Dec 06, 2009 9:22 pm

lets revisit your first post. Your bandmates say it sounds OK. If they say it sounded like ass, you'd have a more dire issue.

BillW · Post by **BillW** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 1:45 pm

johnnypro wrote:
BillW wrote: If you rely that heavily on organ sounds, you should probably get a dedicated clone such as the CX-3.
I tried that a few years back with (forgive me) a Roland Clonewheel organ (VK7?? I worked for a Roland Dealer and got a deal) and it didn't work out. I need the extra sounds (brass, accordian, clav, strings, etc) and the "real" Hammond sounds often didn't work as well as something that was 1/2 way between a Hammond and a combo organ. (hard to explain). JP

I wasn't suggesting that you try gigging with just the clonewheel. One option is to buy a Roland VK-8M. It's a 3 pound, MIDI controlled organ module that sounds fantastic. It also has stereo audio inputs that come in handy if you want to run your M50 through it at a gig and still have one pair of stereo outs for the mixer...the VK-8M doesn't process those inputs, just acts as a mixer for itself and one external device. I hate lugging gear to gigs so this is what I do.

EvilDragon · Post by **EvilDragon** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 2:06 pm

McHale wrote:lets revisit your first post. Your bandmates say it sounds OK. If they say it sounded like ass, you'd have a more dire issue.

This. If the sounds fit in the band context, then that's all there is to it.

ksounds · Post by **ksounds** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 2:38 pm

You mention that you've had the M50 only 3 weeks, which is still within the typical return period for a new keyboard. If you have the option of upgrading to an M3, Organimation elevates M3 organs to a level that's comparable to dedicated clonewheels.

kikedeolivos · Post by **kikedeolivos** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 2:45 pm

evildragon wrote:
McHale wrote:lets revisit your first post. Your bandmates say it sounds OK. If they say it sounded like ass, you'd have a more dire issue.
This. If the sounds fit in the band context, then that's all there is to it.

Allow me to disagree with you; the sounds you are getting from your board should inspire you as well while you are playing. The sounds cutting though the mix are important, but are IMHO, only 50% of the equation.

johnnypro · Post by **johnnypro** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 2:46 pm

evildragon wrote:
McHale wrote:lets revisit your first post. Your bandmates say it sounds OK. If they say it sounded like ass, you'd have a more dire issue.
This. If the sounds fit in the band context, then that's all there is to it.

I respectfully dis-agree with the comments quoted above. I think that when you upgrade or update your synth with a newer model from the same manufacturer, you should expect the sounds to be AT LEAST AS GOOD as the old sounds. Yeah my band members didn't notice the new synth except for the bigger readout, so it doesn't stand out as BAD sounding. I never said it sounded terrible, just not as good as the TR (Triton, Triton le, etc). I didn't spend $1000+ to get something that doesn't sound as good.

Again, I'm not a master programmer, so I eagerly await an M50 download area to see what I've been missing.

But, I do believe there will be an M50ex out in another year with Triton sounds. JP

johnnypro · Post by **johnnypro** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 2:54 pm

[quote="kikedeolivos
Allow me to disagree with you; the sounds you are getting from your board should inspire you as well while you are playing. The sounds cutting though the mix are important, but are IMHO, only 50% of the equation. [/quote]

EXACTLY!!! Playing with the M50 last w/e was like playing with a broken pedal. I can make it work, but it certainly wasn't enjoyable. jp

ksounds · Post by **ksounds** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 2:56 pm

johnnypro wrote:But, I do believe there will be an M50ex out in another year with Triton sounds.

I doubt this will be the case. I don't think Korg would revert back to the sounds of a discontinued product in a future keyboard.