KORG MS-20 – 500 Original Patches | TSL Studio Patch Book | Digital PDF

KORG MS-20 PATCH BOOK - 500 ORIGINAL PATCHES

By TSL Studio | 537-Page Digital PDF | Made in Greece

UNLOCK THE FULL SONIC POTENTIAL OF YOUR KORG MS-20!

Explore the legendary sound-design capabilities of the KORG MS-20 monophonic semi-modular synthesizer with the MS-20 Patch Book by TSL Studio - a comprehensive digital guide featuring 500 original patches created specifically for the MS-20.

From deep analog basses and aggressive leads to metallic ring-modulated sounds, evolving pads, expressive brass tones, percussive textures, experimental sequences, sample-and-hold patterns and unusual feedback effects, this collection explores a wide range of sounds you can create with the MS-20.

Every patch is documented using detailed control settings and panel diagrams, with clear guidance for recreating the sound on your synthesizer. Patches that use the patch panel include illustrated cable connections, making it easier to understand how modulation sources, control voltages and audio signals interact.

This is more than a collection of knob settings. It is a practical sound-design reference that helps you recreate sounds, understand the MS-20's signal path and develop your own variations.

500 ORIGINAL PATCHES - 12 SOUND CATEGORIES

The collection is organized into 12 chapters, covering classic analog sounds and advanced semi-modular techniques.

1. Bass (001–050) - 50 patches

Deep sub-basses, sawtooth basses, pulse basses, high-resonance squelches, ring-modulated growls, filter wobbles, detuned tones and expressive pitch sweeps.

2. Lead (051–100) - 50 patches

Cutting analog leads, expressive solo sounds, resonant tones, modulation-driven melodies, glide effects and aggressive synthesizer voices.

3. Ring Mod & Metal (101–140) - 40 patches

Metallic textures, inharmonic tones, bell-like sounds, ring-modulated growls and experimental timbres created through oscillator interactions and resonance.

4. Pads & Strings (141–180) - 40 patches

Sustained analog textures, string-inspired sounds, evolving pads, atmospheric layers and expressive sustained tones.

5. Brass & Winds (181–210) - 30 patches

Bold synthesized brass, reedy tones, vocal-like timbres and expressive wind-inspired sounds.

6. Keys & Plucks (211–245) - 35 patches

Percussive keyboard sounds, plucked tones, short-decay patches and articulate sounds for melodic parts.

7. Percussion (246–290) - 45 patches

Electronic percussion, sharp attacks, tuned hits, noise-based sounds and experimental rhythmic textures.

8. Sound FX (291–340) - 50 patches

Futuristic effects, dramatic sweeps, unusual pitch movements, evolving textures and experimental sound design.

9. Sequences & S/H (341–380) - 40 patches

Sample-and-hold modulation, stepped random voltages, evolving sequences and experimental pitch or filter movement.

10. Drones & Ambient (381–410) - 30 patches

Sustained drones, atmospheric textures, evolving layers and experimental ambient sounds.

11. External Input & ESP (411–440) - 30 patches

Explore the MS-20's External Signal Processor (ESP), including external audio processing, envelope following, trigger detection and frequency-to-voltage conversion techniques.

12. Patchbay Lab (441–500) — 60 patches

Advanced cable-based sound design using the MS-20's modulation sources, envelopes, sample-and-hold, modulation VCA, keyboard control outputs, filters and external connections.

195 PATCHES USING THE PATCH PANEL

One of the most valuable features of this collection is its dedicated exploration of the MS-20's semi-modular patch panel.

195 of the 500 patches use patch cables, taking you beyond the synthesizer's normal internal signal routing.

The book illustrates the intended connections and explains how they affect the sound, helping you understand not only where to connect a cable, but also what the connection does.

Explore techniques such as:

• Delayed vibrato using the Modulation Generator and Modulation VCA.
• Envelope-controlled pitch and filter movement.
• Random-note generation with sample-and-hold.
• Reverse envelope modulation.
• Keyboard and control-wheel modulation.
• Filter cutoff modulation from external control signals.
• Triggering envelopes and creating repeating behavior.
• Ring modulation and complex oscillator interactions.
• External audio processing through the MS-20 filters.
• Experimental signal routing and feedback techniques.

The dedicated Patchbay Lab includes patches with multiple cable connections, while the Patch Panel Guide and Cable Cookbook explain the instrument's connections and show practical ways to combine modulation sources and destinations.

DETAILED SETTINGS FOR EVERY PATCH

Each patch page is designed to help you recreate the intended sound directly on your MS-20.

Every patch includes:

• Detailed panel diagrams with the intended knob positions clearly marked.
• Numerical knob settings, using the documented 0–10 scales where applicable.
• Oscillator settings, including waveform selection, footage and tuning guidance.
• VCO mixer settings for balancing the two oscillators.
• High-pass and low-pass filter settings, including cutoff, PEAK and modulation amounts.
• Envelope generator settings for controlling pitch, filter movement and amplifier behavior.
• Modulation Generator settings, including waveform and frequency.
• Patch panel cable diagrams and connection lists for patches that use cables.
• External Signal Processor settings where applicable.
• A sound description explaining the character and construction of the patch.
• Three practical playing tips for shaping, adjusting and exploring the sound.
• Visual reference sketches for relevant envelope and filter behavior.
• A dedicated notes area for recording your own adjustments and variations.

The tables make it easy to identify the controls that matter for each sound. Unused controls are also documented, helping you understand which parts of the synthesizer are active and which are not needed for a particular patch.

For oscillator intervals, the book provides semitone guidance where applicable. Since exact tuning positions can vary, some settings require tuning by ear.

EXPLORE THE MS-20'S TWO FILTERS

The MS-20's distinctive filter architecture is an important part of its sound. Its high-pass and low-pass filters operate in series, allowing you to shape the frequency content in different ways.

The book explores:

• Dark, rounded low-pass basses.
• Aggressive resonance and squelchy filter sounds.
• Bright, thin tones created with high-pass filtering.
• Sweeping filter textures.
• Self-oscillating resonance as a sound-design source.
• Envelope-controlled filter movement.
• Modulation-driven filter wobbles and evolving timbres.

The two PEAK controls can emphasize the cutoff frequencies, and at high settings the filters can enter self-oscillation. The patches use these characteristics to create a broad range of analog sounds.

RING MODULATION, SAMPLE & HOLD AND RANDOMNESS

The MS-20's second oscillator includes a ring-modulator waveform, opening up additional possibilities for metallic and inharmonic sounds.

The collection also explores the built-in sample-and-hold section, which can produce stepped control voltages and unpredictable movement. Combined with the Modulation Generator, these techniques can create random pitch changes, unusual filter patterns and evolving textures.

The Sequences & S/H and Patchbay Lab chapters provide practical starting points for experimenting with these techniques using the instrument's own controls and patch connections.

EXTERNAL AUDIO & THE EXTERNAL SIGNAL PROCESSOR

The MS-20 can process external sound sources through its audio path, allowing incoming audio to be shaped by its filters and other circuitry.

The External Input & ESP chapter explores this capability, while the reference section explains the External Signal Processor's main functions:

• Signal amplification.
• Band-pass filtering with low-cut and high-cut controls.
• Frequency-to-voltage conversion.
• Envelope following.
• Trigger detection.

These techniques open up additional possibilities for processing instruments such as guitars and microphones, subject to the MS-20's documented input levels and connection requirements.

A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO THE KORG MS-20

Alongside the 500 patches, the PDF contains reference chapters to help you understand the instrument and work more confidently with it.

The Normal Setting

Start from the basic, unmodulated setting described in the MS-20 Owner's Manual before building a new sound.

Know Your MS-20

An overview of the oscillators, mixer, filters, envelopes, Modulation Generator, sample-and-hold, Modulation VCA, keyboard connections and External Signal Processor.

How to Read a Patch Page

Learn how to interpret the control diagrams, numerical values, stepped selectors, semitone intervals and colour-coded patch cables.

The Signal Path

Understand how audio passes through the oscillator mixer, high-pass filter, low-pass filter, VCA and output, and how patch connections can replace internal modulation sources.

Setup and Playing Notes

Practical information about audio connections, keyboard control, pitch tuning, control-wheel use and external signal processing.

Quick Tweaking Guide

Learn how to make sounds brighter or darker, add resonance, thicken oscillators, adjust note length, introduce vibrato and explore random modulation.

Patch Panel Guide

A reference to the panel's modulation sources, envelope outputs, keyboard CV and trigger signals, filter inputs, VCA connections and ESP outputs.

Cable Cookbook

Practical connection examples covering delayed vibrato, random notes, reverse envelopes, keyboard control and trigger techniques.

A–Z Patch Index

Find patches quickly through the alphabetical index.

Blank Custom Patch Pages

Dedicated templates for recording your own patch settings, cable connections and sound-design notes.

CREATE YOUR OWN SIGNATURE SOUNDS

Whether you produce electronic music, techno, industrial music, cinematic soundtracks or experimental compositions, the MS-20 Patch Book provides a broad collection of sounds and practical techniques to inspire your workflow.

Recreate the patches, adjust the controls, experiment with the patch panel and develop your own variations.

All 500 patch names, descriptions and playing tips were created for this book. You are free to use the sounds you create from these patches in your own music.

PRODUCT DETAILS

Product: KORG MS-20 Patch Book
Creator: TSL Studio
Collection: 500 original patches
Organization: 12 sound categories
Patch panel content: 195 patches using patch cables
Instrument: KORG MS-20 monophonic semi-modular synthesizer
Length: 537 PDF pages
Format: Digital PDF book
Designed in: Greece

IMPORTANT — DIGITAL PDF ONLY

This listing is for the digital PDF book only.

No physical book, synthesizer, patch cables, hardware, audio samples or installable preset files are included.

This is a patch reference and sound-design guide. The sounds must be recreated manually by following the documented settings and connection instructions on a compatible KORG MS-20.

The PDF is delivered digitally after payment.

Please note that the patches are intended as starting points and have not been verified on every individual synthesizer unit. Analog oscillator tuning, filter response and envelope timing may vary between units and with temperature. Some settings require fine-tuning by ear. Modern MS-20 reissues may also respond differently from the original instrument.

For safety, lower the volume before connecting or removing patch cables. High filter resonance and feedback patches can produce loud or unpredictable sounds. Do not adjust the semi-fixed controls under the small panel covers; these are factory-adjusted according to the manufacturer's manual.

UNOFFICIAL INDEPENDENT PUBLICATION

The MS-20 Patch Book is an independent publication. It is not affiliated with, authorized by or endorsed by KORG Inc. KORG and MS-20 are trademarks of their respective owners and are used solely to identify the synthesizer for which this book was created.

The publication is protected by copyright. Copying, sharing or redistributing the book in print or digital form requires the publisher's written permission.

Designed by TSL Studio. Made in Greece.

Thank you for supporting independent sound design and TSL Studio!