Michigan Synth Works MSW-820S Is a Dual-Oscillator Mono Synth With a TB-303 Sequencer
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Michigan Synth Works’s upcoming MSW-820S adds a TB-303 step sequencer to a Roland-style two-oscillator analog synth with 16-mode filter. Are you excited yet?
Michigan Synth Works MSW-820S
Michigan Synth Works does consistently amazing work. And yet the company seems to fly under the radar for many musicians. That could all be about to change, as it debuted its latest creation, the MSW-820S, at Knobcon this past weekend, and it’s a doozy.
If it looks familiar, it should. The new MSW-820S is actually a reboot of 2025’s MSW-820. The S on the end of the name indicates that the new synth has a sequencer. A TB-303-style sequencer to be exact.
Let’s take a closer look.
Roland-Style Analog Synthesis
Michigan Synth Works loves to do modern interpretations of classic instruments. In the case of the MSW-820 (and the new S model too), that’s a take on the fairly unknown Roland CMU-810, a 101-like monosynth from the early 1980s. The MSW-820S takes that idea and runs with it, doubling up the oscillators, each with sawtooth and pulse width modulation. Oscillator two gives you choice of control over the PWM, either manual, LFO or modulation envelope. You also get a sub oscillator and noise in the mixer section.
As with the original 820, the 820S provides that amazing 16-mode Caveman Totem filter. It’s based on the 3109 OTA chip used in the SH-101, MC-202 and Jupiter-8 (among others) and offers 16 different modes, including 24-, 18-, 12-, and 6dB/Oct lowpass, a 12dB/Oct notch, an 18dB allpass (phase), and various combinations.
In terms of modulation, filter mod includes a dedicated filter envelope, LFO, pitch, and external CV sources. There’s also an ADSR for the amp plus an LFO.
TB-303-Style Sequencer
Looking at the sequencer section of the MSW-820S, there’s no mistaking that this is a 303 jobby. This makes sense, as Michigan Synth Works sells the LRB-303, a 303 kit with the open-source OS-303 firmware inside.
This new sequencer expands on the original with nudge, scale locking, randomize, pattern editing functionality like undo and redo, plus advanced parameters including playback direction, triplet modes, and more.
Connectivity
Michigan Synth Works was kind enough to post some photos of the new MSW-820S on its Instagram page, including one of the rear of the unit. From this, we can see that the new synth will sport audio out and in, two external CV ports, MIDI in, clock and gate, a V/Oct jack, Sync 24 and a Run port.
Pricing and Availability
Pricing and availability on the new instrument have yet to be announced. The current MSW-820 sells for $549 in desktop format and $499 as a Eurorack module. It’s a good bet the MSW-820S will come in somewhere north of that, and will be available in both formats.
More Information
- Michigan Synth Works homepage
- More about Michigan Synth Works
- More about synthesizers
- Buy synthesizers at Thomann*
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