Korg Forums

How would you rate the acoustic sounds of the M50 in each category?

- Piano
- Acoustic guitar
- Brass (trumpet, trombone, saxophone)
- Strings (violin, cello)
- Bass (guitar, contrabass)
- Woodwind

Are they all realistic?

rating 1 (worst) to 10 (best) my personal rate is:

- Piano 6/7
- Acoustic guitar 7
- Brass (trumpet, trombone, saxophone) 6
- Strings (violin, cello) 8/9
- Bass (guitar, contrabass) 8/9
- Woodwind : never seriously used...

You also have to take into account a good set of monitors. Sometimes we judge sound on maybe a guitar amp or a set of computer speakers, and they simply won't do credit to the quality of sounds the M50 can give.

My ratings (following Kimu's system):

Piano: 8
Acoustic guitar: 6
Brass: solo: 7, ensemble: 4
strings: solo: 5, ensemble: 7
bass: 9
woodwinds: 7

It's a pretty decent acoustic soundset, I think (weakest link being, in my view, ensemble brass, the only category that doesn't reach "realistic" level, as OP asked about). Like most users, I find the strengths of the board in the synth and amplified sounds (so for EPs, organs, synth bass, synth pads, synth leads, etc., most of my numbers would be 9s and 10s). Drums, too, are very good, in my view (9).

I suspect that several prospective buyers (including the OP?) are considering either an M50 or an older or lower-end Yamaha (ES or MM, etc.). In general, I would agree with the near-consensus view that the Yamahas are a bit better on acoustic sounds, and the Korgs a bit better on the electric/electronic sounds. That said, I think Korg is closer to Yamaha on acoustic emulations than Yamaha is to Korg on the synth stuff. Not sure many people would agree with that.

Finally, it is always worth bearing in mind that when it comes to acoustic emulations in particular, the differences between the various synths will be largely lost in the context of a complete mix (with the exception, I suppose, of piano sounds).

i compeltely agree with CfNorEna, M50 (and korg in general) is superb regarding synth / pad / electronic sounds and imo also on strings soundset. it' s a little bit less competitive on other acoustic instrument such as piano, guitar and brass (even if M3 and M50 have greatly improved these soundset with respecy to Trinity or Triton series)

Well, we did a gig this weekend, and this AWESOME keyboard player (Very respected one armed player)was there. We do a song by Pink (Just like a Pill), we start the song with a guitar and me on Piano (my M50). At break, the guy commented on how real-full the piano sounded.

MESS WITH YOUR COMBIs more until you have a mix that sounds better than good thru a set of decent reference monitors, then on any system it will sound decent.

Piano: Mix multiple pianos, mix in a light horn/flute sound down 15dbs, you will be shocked how full& real it will sound live (in the lower octaves). In the studio, just use samples, MUCH farther ahead and more productive on time!

Mike

I did the same (minus the horn/flute). I mixed a couple pianos and it sounds phenomenal live.

-Mc

For the most part, the M50 Acoustic sounds are "Meh". Especially next to my Motif XS.

However, the Spanish solo trumpet is OUTSTANDING and even makes the Motif Green(er) with envy!

Other than that, nothing to write home about.

"Meh" and "nothing to write home about" -- seems a bit too critical. Very few will argue that the strengths of the M50 (or Korg in general) are in the acoustic sounds, and most would agree that the Motif series is superior in that area. But the acoustic sounds are perfectly serviceable (and a gigantic step up from what was available, say, a decade ago), and in the context of a complete mix, it would be difficult to distinguish most acoustic sounds produced by either an M50/M3 or Motif XS.

KORGS are notorious for kick ass lead synths though, and if you tweek them a little more they are excellent! IMHO of course...LOL

Check out what a little tweeking can do:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uY6lo8ENQTY

- Piano:8
- Acoustic guitar:6
- Brass (trumpet, trombone, saxophone):6
- Strings (violin, cello):7
- Bass (guitar, contrabass):7
- Woodwind :6

Good enough for me.

Now, organs? 5 (not enough samples)
Leslie sim: 3 (the rotor has no punch at all and the horn sounds very unrealistic)