Michigan Synth Works MSW-820: Classic Roland Analog Synthesis With a 16-Mode Filter?!
Classic Roland-style subtractive synthesis with a deep filter circuit.
Michigan Synth Works’ upcoming MSW-820 will combine two Roland-style oscillators with the Caveman Totem 16-mode filter.
Michigan Synth Works MSW-820
Michigan Synth Works is a cool little company. It offers a variety of recreations of some of the lesser-appreciated instruments from synth history, such as the EDP Gnat and Roland MSW-810, a monophonic expander meant to work with the 1983 CMU-800 computer music production system. Today, MSW has announced a new synth based on the 810, the MSW-820, with two oscillators and a particularly flexible 16-mode filter.
Goodbye 830, Hello 820
Faithful readers of this site may remember the news about Michigan Synth Works’ MSW-830, a three-oscillator take on the 810. That project is apparently on hold (sad), but, on the other hand, we’ve now got the 820 to look forward to (glad).
Essentially the analog section from the 830 in a more manageable (and Eurorack-ready) size, the MSW-820 starts with two oscillators based on the Roland MC-202 sound generator (the same as the 810). It gives you sawtooth and square waveforms, with a slider to possibly morph between them. Additionally, you have PWM modulatable by LFO, envelope or manually (as on the 202), pitch mod via the envelope (oscillator one) and LFO (oscillator two), and sync. In the mixer section, you’ll find a sub-oscillator with two settings and a noise generator.
16 Filter Modes
Here’s where things get really interesting. Along with desktop synths, MSW also makes Eurorack modules, some in collaboration with Neutron Sound under the name Caveman. The Totem Pole Mixing Multimode VCF is the source for the filter section in the new 820, and it’s a real monster. Based on the 3109 OTA chip used in the SH-101, MC-202, and Jupiter-8 (among others), it offers 16 different modes, including 24-, 18-, 12-, and 6dB/Oct lowpass, a 12dB/Oct notch, an 18dB allpass (phase), and various combinations.
Filter modulation includes dedicated filter envelope, LFO, Pitch, and external CV sources.
Modulation and Connects
Rounding out the subtractive synthesis sections on the MSW-820 is a modulation envelope, plus a syncable LFO with adjustable Shape and Fade knobs.
In terms of connects, nothing is labeled in the photo, but based on the quoted stats and images, we can guess that it has external ins and outs, CV and MIDI, plus a USB-C port.
Pricing and Availability
It’s a bummer that the 830 is on hold, but the 820 looks to be a lovely little synth. I’m especially excited about that filter section.
Michigan Synth Works is promising that the MSW-820 is coming “real soon.” Price to be determined.
More Information
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