MFB Synth II

[-=AnatomiC=-]

What do you think about it?
It looks promising... 100% analog VCO mono synth.
3 Oscillators with Ring modulation, FM, 2 ADSR envelopes, 2 LFO, MIDI, memory, TB303 style sequencer, all knobs you will ever need.
I think it some kind of MiniMoog clone. From what I've heard it sounds more like Tb303 or virus. (very aggressive and hostile, rather than warm - but does sound vintage)

And it's damn cheap, for what it does! (450 euro)

http://www.unease.se/img/mfbsynth2mid.jpg

Yeah, I have been bitten by analog bug :frown: Still want Prophet, because it's polyphonic and I like it's character more (from demos I've heard)- but I think I'll add this one to my wish list. Has everything I wish Little Phatty had, except for cool looks, keyboard and real moog sound.
Still - it's hard to ignore this one!

[gylfih]

Ooh knobs, knobs, knobs, knobs, knobs........:biggrin:

I like knobs. OK, that could sound very wrong. Knobs are good. Erm this isn't going well.

I like synths with lots and lots of knobs. They're fun! This one looks rather like the Andromeda, just not as beasty. And relatively cheap. I'd get one if I had money:rolleyes:

[-=AnatomiC=-]

Yeah, at that price, you cannot possibly go wrong!

[gylfih]

True. But two ADSRs?! That's a bit of overkill, methinks.

[-=AnatomiC=-]

Why?

2 is just enough... for a decent synthesis you need at least 2 of them... 1 for amplifier, another for the filter.

Prophet has 3... not an overkill (but 2 is more than enough) - you could also use third envelope for let say frequency of oscillator 2, while syncing it to oscillator 1 < gives a nice, crunchy, heavy sync sound.
4 ADSRs would be an overkill...

Nothing overkill about this one... just the right amount of features, for some kick-ass mono analog sound design... or just plain fun making cool sounds with it :biggrin:

[Omega Monkey]

True. But two ADSRs?! That's a bit of overkill, methinks.

Not really. Having to have your filter tied to your amp is really limiting. That's how my JX3P is and while its a great little synth for the $120 I paid for it (including the PG200 programmer and a flight case:biggrin:) Im always running into walls trying to do things it just cant.

On the other hand, I think my ancient Korg EX800 (actually about the same vintage as the JX, early/mid 80s) has THREE ADSRs. And that's still not overkill. Basically, it's got 2 "sets" of oscillators with "feet" (like an organ, 16, 8, 4, 2) and you can set the wave, octave, and overall level for each, an interval and detune for #2, and then each one has it's own dedicated amp ADSR (except its actually more than that because its got a break point as well and maybe one more parameter).

Then on top of that theres another EG for filter and for modulation and the noise osc (or something like that). Actually, the thing is pretty full featured for a cheap 80s hybrid (DCOs and VCF/VCA). Damn, now I want to fool around with it but its 350 miles away in storage at the moment.

Anyway, this little MFB looks pretty cool. The blue face gives it a PPG/OB12 vibe. I cant tell from the picture, is that last wave setting on LFO2 a S&H? If so then this thing has just about everything you would need, minus a pitch envelope (which my JX does have, but unfortunately its tied to the same EG as everything else). I'm assuming it's mono? Even so, looks pretty sweet.

[-=AnatomiC=-]

Yes, you could always have more, everybody has different needs, but for me 2 is more than enough (3 maybe...)

As a matter of fact, it does have S/H wave on LFO 2. And you right - it has everything you would need... spec wise, it's almost similar to the Voyager.

[-=AnatomiC=-]

PS: now that I think of it, Synth II does has more envelope generators.
It has 2 dedicated ADSRs, but you could also use LFOs (2 of them), in 1 shot mode, providing mini-envelope (with saw: rise, or fall. With triangle: rise and fall).

You have to sacrifice LFO to do that... but you will still have 1 left and it is a cool feature...

I also see it has feedback routing option (VCO to VCF and then back to VCF, then back to VCF, then again, and again, and so forth)... yet another cool feature, for dirty sound... (done internally, no need to connect audio out to audio in, which is also available)

Yep - definitely will take this one, in the future! :cool:

[gylfih]

Well, I think an filter envelope is very necessary, but it looked on the photo like the ADSRs were unassignable, as though they were two amp envelopes, which I think is a bit pointless. I've never used more than one as an amp envelope. It just sounds weird to me having a different amp envelope for seperate oscillators. Oh well, maybe I'm just a bit of a simpleton in my synthesis...

[jeebustrain]

True. But two ADSRs?! That's a bit of overkill, methinks.

Most of your more expansive VA synths have at least that. My virus has two (5 stage) envelopes, and the Fusion has the capability to add a lot more (I'm sure there's a practical limit, but I've never used more than 3-4). If you have a synth that's at least semi-modular (or at least re-routable), you can really do a lot with the extra envelopes.

[-=AnatomiC=-]

2 envelopes for Amp would be useless indeed...

I think every VA has at least 2...
But the budget analogs have often only 1 envelope, and not even ADSR.... my Rogue has only 1 AR envelope with full sustain on/off for 3 destinations: amp, filter and frequency of osc 2 while in sync. Makes it very limited synth... still fun to play/have (I use it mostly for fun anyway)

[Grey Loki]

2 envelopes for Amp would be useless indeed...

No way - I once designed a patch with my Fusion that would play an entire song while I held down one note for a minute, using a great many envelopes starting at different times - this used at least ten amplitude envelopes, if not more.

Obviously two envelopes operating at the same time on a mono source wouldn't have much effect (or even be possible, I think), but you could always have one after the other to create a 'double tap' style effect.

[-=AnatomiC=-]

Yes, it would not make much sense in mono synth.
For retriggering sounds you could always use an 1 shot arpgeggiator.

Btw - I while I was doing some research about this synth, I've found there is also a semi-modular version of it... "an old school" version, if you will.

http://maxwaves.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/mfb-kraftzwerg.jpg

It lacks memory, but it has patches, allowing complex modulation routes.
This one is cooler... but less practical.

It will be more useful, if you already have other modular synths....

[Gianni]

Analog fever has really gotten you, Anatomic! But suddenly this all turned into envelope talk. :biggrin:


However, that synth looks nice, I've heard about SynthII before [always as another Minimoog clone], but never heard any demos, do you have any links?

[-=AnatomiC=-]

Well, I consider myself a gear freak, so I rather have a permanent analog disease. I wonder why... not even from an older generation! Yet I'm fascinated by tube amps, analog tape recorders, vinyl, and last but not least of course, analog synthesizers! I think it all begun when I worked with Nagra III, then bought Rogue. Final step was playing on Little Phatty (notice that I was very skeptical at first) - literally, I just could not hold my tears... sweet sweet sound, even when completely dry! :redface: it never happed before.

Sure it is a Mini clone... the Synth I was an exact replica of Mini D (spec wise).

But.... have I already told how cheap it is? :cool: and it's not some kind of virtual emulation... it is analog! Besides, I don't want it because it is something like Minimoog - I want it because it is an analog with an exceptional price/performance ratio.

I was rather disappointed in demos... but I can hear potential in it. (it has heaviness and fatness, lacks warmth)... I'll guess I will have to buy it first (I could always return it for refund in 30 days).
I don't expect the warm Moog sound, that made me cry, but I'm sure it's dirty, ballsy and fat.

Anyway: demo's I've found:

unease (http://www.unease.se/mfb-synth2test.htm)
modular square (http://www.modularsquare.com/MFB-Synth-II,29.html)

There are some more, but they all are kinda bad demos...

[el mae de las teclas]

Where can these be bought? Only in Europe? And on which websites? I made some Google research but Im not familiar with any of the sites.

[-=AnatomiC=-]

Yes, it's pretty hard to find...

But I was just browsing in MusicStore, and I accidentally came across it - was curios what it was, then begun to do some research etc...

Music Store ships worldwide, and they can be trusted. (not free shipment though)

[orphe]

I'll go see that store, but are the price good compared to other stores

[Omega Monkey]

Some of you guys must not be very adventurous in your programming. The ONLY reason not to have multiple ADSRs for amp is if you have a single osc synth. But as soon as you have 2 or more oscillators, not having as many EGs is just limiting a whole huge segment of possibilities.

The most basic example would be to have one osc with more of a "gate" type EG, and then have the other with a fast decay and no sustain or release to give some kind of attack sound.

Or you could set up the EG's so that the sound morphs over time, crossfading between a saw and a square or something like that.

[-=AnatomiC=-]

Now you are talking about 1 envelope for the whole machine...

Or course you need at least 1 envelope per voice for the amp, and an other for the filter! :mad: