My newest toy is the Korg MS2000R, the rackmount version of the Korg MS2000 synthesiser, and I’m already buzzing with excitement. Finding it was a stroke of local luck. I picked it up from LoFi Music in Gosford—if you’re on the Central Coast and looking for excellent vintage gear, seriously check them out. It’s always satisfying to support a local supplier who understands quality hardware.

I already love working with Korg gear, especially my Korg Kronos 2, and I know the MS-20 heritage well from messing around with the software version in the Korg Legacy Collection. But nothing beats the real thing, especially when you need true, hands-on, tactile control.

That’s what this MS2000R delivers in spades! For those tech heads out there, this beauty is a virtual analogue synth known for its huge sound. It typically features four-voice polyphony and combines powerful analogue modelling oscillators with Korg’s classic filter types, including the self-oscillating filters found in the original MS-20. It boasts 16 step-sequence patterns, a deep modulation matrix, and, crucially, a dedicated knob for virtually every major parameter. This level of physical interface is exactly what you need when you’re laying down sounds in Cubase.

After spending so much time tweaking parameters digitally, having all those analogue knobs right there is a dream come true. The joy of sweeping a filter or adjusting the LFO rate on the fly, without staring at a screen, brings back the raw, creative energy of early production work. This thing is going to be perfect for cranking out those high N-R-G tracks for a rave set.

Expect some seriously huge sounds coming out of the studio soon, folks. This is going to be stella!