Very Disappointed after owning M50 3 weeks.

kanthos · Post by **kanthos** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 3:00 pm

johnnypro wrote: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.

I think you and your bandmates are confusing 'good' with 'different'. The M50 is a different machine, and as it has a better engine and better specs, it's better in an objective sense. Take a string patch that attempts realistic-sounding strings, for example (as opposed to strings that intentionally have some synthesized characteristics). The M50 will be closer to a real string section played by human players than the Triton line will be. Fact. The M50 is a better machine, and better technology allows this to happen. That doesn't mean that you'll *like* the M50's strings more than the Triton's strings - rather, it means that what you really mean by 'better' is 'more to my tastes'.

Choosing sounds is all about opinion. If you prefer the sounds on the Triton line, then by all means stick to that and don't bother with the M line. But saying that the M line is *worse* isn't technically correct. It is *better*, you just like it less.

johnnypro · Post by **johnnypro** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 3:08 pm

ksounds wrote:
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.

They have in the past:
The N5 and N5ex have M1, T3, Trinity and 01W sounds. The Trinity Rack has M1, 01W and T3 sounds. The TR Rom has M1 and T1 sounds. The entire M1 synth was available for the Trinity V3 as a waveform loadin.
jp

ksounds · Post by **ksounds** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 3:21 pm

Point taken. And a number of the waveforms are already the same as found in the Triton line.

I agree that folks play better when they like how they sound (when they're inspired.) On that note, a couple more ideas come to mind:

- Use stereo monitoring if possible. Stereo is almost always more inspiring than mono.

- Carefully set the keyboard volume in the monitor(s). If it's too loud, you may play too softly to compensate. If it's too soft, the tendency is to play forcefully just to hear yourself, and then everything sounds like you're pounding the keys (no dynamics).

johnnypro · Post by **johnnypro** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 3:49 pm

ksounds wrote:Point taken. And a number of the waveforms are already the same as found in the Triton line.

I agree that folks play better when they like how they sound (when they're inspired.) On that note, a couple more ideas come to mind:

- Use stereo monitoring if possible. Stereo is almost always more inspiring than mono.

- Carefully set the keyboard volume in the monitor(s). If it's too loud, you may play too softly to compensate. If it's too soft, the tendency is to play forcefully just to hear yourself, and then everything sounds like you're pounding the keys (no dynamics).

I can't really change my monitoring setup. I use a Roland KC100 both as my Mixer and Monitor. I play in an 8 piece horn band and only get one input for keys and one input for my vocals. The KC100 is both my keyboard monitor and Band monitor, but I have been pretty happy with it.

I'm using the left/mono output on the M50. I WILL set up the M50 in my studio and listen to it thru headphones and my recording monitors. Hey, Maybe my mono output isn't working.

EvilDragon · Post by **EvilDragon** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 5:37 pm

Well, there's your problem. KC series are all but good amps. They suck. They suck bad. And no, I'm not the only one who thinks that way.

It's just that TR's suckiness didn't come through on it

No, really. M50 is a better workstation in every sense. More polyphony, more and better samples, more and better effects, more parts per combi. It's all there. You just need to work it.

And no, there will be no M50ex. If you want to load samples from older Korgs, you will need to have M3 at least, because it has a sampler onboard.

johnnypro · Post by **johnnypro** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 6:09 pm

evildragon wrote:Well, there's your problem. KC series are all but good amps. They suck. They suck bad. And no, I'm not the only one who thinks that way.

It's just that TR's suckiness didn't come through on it

No, really. M50 is a better workstation in every sense. More polyphony, more and better samples, more and better effects, more parts per combi. It's all there. You just need to work it.

And no, there will be no M50ex. If you want to load samples from older Korgs, you will need to have M3 at least, because it has a sampler onboard.

OK so my opinion sucks, my TR sucks and My Amp sucks. That says it all.

OK. It is My OPINION that the M50 does not sound as good as the TR series. So, let me ask you multi-keyboard guys to try something. Please try the C023 Perc CX3 patch on the TR and tell me, In Your Opinion, what organ patch on the M50 sounds as fat and natural. Thank You in advance.

As to an M50ex, there was an M1ex upgrade (dealer installable upgrade), there was an N5ex synth (upgraded from the factory). There has been a M3 upgrade (I believe). Let's meet back here in a year and see what's up.

JP

CfNorENa · Post by **CfNorENa** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 6:41 pm

johnnypro wrote:OK. It is My OPINION that the M50 does not sound as good as the TR series. Let me ask you multi-keyboard guys to try something. Please try the C023 Perc CX3 patch on the TR and tell me, In Your Opinion, what organ patch on the M50 sounds as fat and natural. Thank You in advance.

Really? You're going to pick out ONE preset from the TR and then declare that the M50 does not "sound as good" as the TR series? I think I would need just a bit more to be persuaded...

johnnypro · Post by **johnnypro** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 6:45 pm

CfNorENa wrote:
johnnypro wrote:OK. It is My OPINION that the M50 does not sound as good as the TR series. Let me ask you multi-keyboard guys to try something. Please try the C023 Perc CX3 patch on the TR and tell me, In Your Opinion, what organ patch on the M50 sounds as fat and natural. Thank You in advance.
Really? You're going to pick out ONE preset from the TR and then declare that the M50 does not "sound as good" as the TR series? I think I would need just a bit more to be persuaded...

I'm picking one sound on the TR and saying I don't think any organ sound on the M50 sounds as good (to me).

Try the BariSax on the M50 and the Barisax on the TR's General Midi bank. JP

EvilDragon · Post by **EvilDragon** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 6:47 pm

johnnypro wrote:As to an M50ex, there was an M1ex upgrade (dealer installable upgrade), there was an N5ex synth (upgraded from the factory). There has been a M3 upgrade (I believe). Let's meet back here in a year and see what's up. JP

First of all, those were hardware upgrades. M3 purely had software upgrade and new loadable samples. Two different worlds.

M50 cannot load samples and it will not ever be able to, since the hardware is locked to its purpose. The same way it will never have aftertouch. The only thing it can get are newly programmed patches.

And judging the overall quality of a synthesizer on basis of one patch only is ridiculous and smallminded. And generally, all GM banks suck.

BTW, I have one synth only

johnnypro · Post by **johnnypro** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 7:12 pm

evildragon wrote:
johnnypro wrote:As to an M50ex, there was an M1ex upgrade (dealer installable upgrade), there was an N5ex synth (upgraded from the factory). There has been a M3 upgrade (I believe). Let's meet back here in a year and see what's up. JP
First of all, those were hardware upgrades. M3 purely had software upgrade and new loadable samples. Two different worlds.

M50 cannot load samples and it will not ever be able to, since the hardware is locked to its purpose. The same way it will never have aftertouch. The only thing it can get are newly programmed patches.

And judging the overall quality of a synthesizer on basis of one patch only is ridiculous and smallminded. And generally, all GM banks suck.

BTW, I have one synth only

OK, Let's calm down here. We're getting awfully personal.

I use organ sounds for 50% of my gig. I use the Barisax for a few sounds. The remainder of the songs use Strings, brass, clav, and synth sounds. I'm happy with most of the sounds of the M50, but I can't get the organs to sound the way I'd like. The factory organs, and everything I've come up with (and I'm no programmer), sound thin and un-natural to me when I'm playing with the band.

Once again. I say: I'm looking forward to an M50 download site to hear what you more experienced owner / programmers have been able to come up with. Show me the error of my ways!!!

PS: Why couldn't the M50ex be a hardware upgrade???

johnnypro · Post by **johnnypro** » Mon Dec 07, 2009 7:23 pm

I spoke too soon. M50 Download section is up.

Thanx!!!

http://www.korgforums.com/?show=1

McHale · Post by **McHale** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 12:01 am

just for clarification, we need to establish a fact.

Roland amps sound like crap. They ALL suck. Here's a quote on Harmony Central from a different member that several people have sig'd:

"The only thing that sounds good going through a Roland amp is a chainsaw."

And for the record, half of our set is organ and I'm pretty happy with the organs but use my Triton for quote a few...

-Mc

johnnypro · Post by **johnnypro** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 12:10 am

McHale wrote:just for clarification, we need to establish a fact.

Roland amps sound like crap. They ALL suck. Here's a quote on Harmony Central from a different member that several people have sig'd:

"The only thing that sounds good going through a Roland amp is a chainsaw."

And for the record, half of our set is organ and I'm pretty happy with the organs but use my Triton for quote a few...

-Mc

OK, What would you recommend for a stand type amp with a built in mixer that can double as a monitor??? The only other one I know of is the Behringer keyboard amps.

kikedeolivos · Post by **kikedeolivos** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 12:15 am

McHale wrote:just for clarification, we need to establish a fact.

Roland amps sound like crap. They ALL suck. Here's a quote on Harmony Central from a different member that several people have sig'd:

"The only thing that sounds good going through a Roland amp is a chainsaw."

-Mc

Again Mc, we won't agree.

I've had a KC350 and a KC550 and, with Roland keys, it sounded phenomenal, in rehearsal and on stage.(pristine, punchy, you name it)
It cut through the mix perfectly and never let me down, ever.

I had a Motion Sound Pro system (boutique keyboard amps) and it let me down in the very first gig, when the guitar player started to crank up his Fender Hotrod.(100W all tubes)

I've seen TONS of Roland KC's on Churches in the US, a lot.

kikedeolivos · Post by **kikedeolivos** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 12:21 am

johnnypro wrote:
McHale wrote:just for clarification, we need to establish a fact.

Roland amps sound like crap. They ALL suck. Here's a quote on Harmony Central from a different member that several people have sig'd:

"The only thing that sounds good going through a Roland amp is a chainsaw."

And for the record, half of our set is organ and I'm pretty happy with the organs but use my Triton for quote a few...

-Mc
OK, What would you recommend for a stand type amp with a built in mixer that can double as a monitor??? The only other one I know of is the Behringer keyboard amps.

JBL EON's are one of the favorites among keyboard players. (they are NOT cheap)