Korg MS-20 mini

Back in 1978, this synth helped define the raw edge of electronic music, delivering aggressive analog tones that cut through mixes like nothing else—and now it's reborn at 86% of the original size, crafted by the same engineers for that unbeatable vintage punch.

At its core sits a 2VCO/2VCF/2VCA/2EG/1LFO signal path with ring modulation between the two voltage-controlled oscillators—one offering triangle, sawtooth, PW square, or white noise across six octaves, the other noise or pulse waveforms. Those legendary self-oscillating high-pass and low-pass filters (both 12dB/oct) add their signature distortion and bite, while dual envelopes include hold and delay functions for evolving sounds. The semi-modular patchbay with 1/8" mini jacks lets you reroute modulation, triggers, sample & hold, noise, and even external signals via the ESP section—plug in a guitar or mic to morph it into a wild processor. A fat 37-note mini keyboard, control wheel, LFO with versatile waveforms (0.1-20Hz), CV/Gate, MIDI In/USB, and mono 1/8" I/O keep it connected, all in a sturdy 19.4 x 10.1 x 8.2-inch white-panel chassis weighing 10.6 lbs.

Over a decade on the scene, it's earned a devoted following for its thick basses, searing leads, and endless patching experiments—players love the authentic grit with modern tweaks like quieter VCAs, though some note the external power supply as a minor trade-off for portability.