Omnisphere HW

Setting up the MS-20ic

Setup

To control Omnisphere using the Korg MS-2Oic controller, you’ll need to do the following:

  • Download and install the Korg USB MIDI Driver from the Korg website. Note that Korg’s USB-MIDI Driver does not work in macOS Catalina or Big Sur. For more information refer to Korg’s website.

  • Connect the Korg MS-20ic to the computer via USB.

  • Make certain your MIDI interface is configured as the input in the host software you’re using (DAW, Standalone, etc.).

  • Activate the Korg MS-20ic Hardware Profile in Omnisphere 2.6 or higher.

USB DRIVER

NOTE: Korg’s USB-MIDI Driver is not compatible with macOS Catalina or later. If you are using an incompatible macOS, connect the Korg using the MIDI DIN connector and skip the driver altogether to connect to Omnisphere. Refer to Korg’s statement regarding Catalina/Big Sur compatibility on their website here .


HOST CONNECTION

Open your host (DAW, Standalone, etc.) and make sure the MIDI interface you’ve connected the MS20ic to is enabled as a MIDI input device.
Omnisphere Standalone Pro Tools

OMNISPHERE SETUP

Open Omnisphere and from the header, select the HW menu button:

From the drop-down menu, select “Korg>Korg MS-20IC” to activate that hardware profile.

Profile Notes

In addition to being a great controller in its own right, the MS-20ic makes it possible to interact with Omnisphere in a totally unique and exciting way – by using physical patch cables! In designing this hardware profile, we made decisions to achieve a balance between being faithful to the original design of the MS-20ic, and using its panel creatively to make the most of it for controlling Omnisphere. This means that some controls perform special functions that expand the capabilities of the hardware. Here’s a quick overview of how we set up this profile:

- Connecting a patch cable to KBD TRIG IN will turn off SOLO on the Omnisphere Main page, allowing you to play polyphonically.

- Connecting a patch cable to EG 1 TRIG IN will cause ENVELOPER GENERATOR 1 to loop.

- Connecting a patch cable to PHONES inserts a Stompbox effect in the Common Rack. You can change the Model of the Stompbox effect by patching PHONES to either TOTAL, FREQ, EXT SIGNAL IN, CUTOFF FREQ (HP FILTER), CUTOFF FREQ (LP FILTER), or INTIAL GAIN.

- Patching PINK NOISE to EXT SIGNAL IN will activate Layer D as a noise generator with the Shape parameter set to maximum.

- Patching WHITE NOISE to EXT SIGNAL IN will activate Layer D as a noise generator with the Shape parameter set to minimum.

- Patching WHITE NOISE to TOTAL, FREQ, CUTOFF FREQ (HP FILTER), CUTOFF FREQ (LP FILTER), or INITIAL GAIN will cause LFO 6 (set to Random with a high Rate) to modulate that input.

- Patching PINK NOISE to TOTAL, FREQ, CUTOFF FREQ (HP FILTER), CUTOFF FREQ (LP FILTER), or INITIAL GAIN will cause LFO 6 (set to Random at a slower Rate) to modulate that input.

- The SIGNAL LEVEL knob controls the Aux Send amount, applying Spring Reverb to the signal via the Aux Rack.

- The LOW CUT FREQ and HIGH CUT FREQ knobs attenuate the Bass and Treble of the Spring Reverb.

- The CV ADJUST knob adds distortion to the signal by engaging and adjusting a Brit-Vox effect in the Common Rack.

- The THRESHOLD LEVEL knob adds overall compression to the signal by adjusting multiple parameters on a Tape Slammer effect in the Common Rack.

Unassigned Controls

The following MS20ic patch points have no effect on Omnisphere:

  • TRIGGER OUT
  • SIGNAL OUT
  • S&H IN
  • CLOCK
  • EXTERNAL SIGNAL PROCESSOR

Troubleshooting

Not working? Here are some things to try:

  • Is your DAW receiving MIDI from the MS-20ic?
  • If you are using the Omnisphere standalone host, make sure the MIDI output channel of the MS-20ic matches the MIDI channel of the Omnisphere part you want to control.
  • Make sure your DAW is configured to correctly route the MIDI output of the MS-20ic to the MIDI channel assigned to the desired Part in Omnisphere.

SUPPORT

Still not working? More questions? 

Feel free to contact us directly and we can work with you: 

Tech Support 
888-870-4223 toll free 
818-955-8444 
Monday – Friday 10AM – 5PM Pacific Time 
email: info@spectrasonics.net