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Product information "Michigan Synth Works - Xena (3109 Version)"
The Michigan Synth Works Xena is a six-voice desktop polysynth based on the Mutable Instruments Ambika.
3109 4-Pole LPF Version
Ambika enjoys almost legendary status among DIY synths, so let's raise the curtain for Xena on a true sound, modulation and synthesis monster,based on Ambika, which in turn is based on the Mutable Instruments Shruthi-1.
The compact housing has a display (2x40 characters) on which the 2x4 knobs arranged above and below it can be seen and touched. At the bottom of the device housing, nine push buttons invite you to dive deeper into editing the parameter groups (e.g. OSC Mixer, VCF, Env/LFO, Mod Matrix).
The sound generation can boast 2 digital oscillators, which provide a total of 36(!) algorithms and wavetables. In addition to sine, saw and triangle (each with waveshaper or clipping) or square (with PWM), these also include waveforms that cover fields such as phase distortion (a la Casio CZ), 2-OP FM, noise, 8-bit, lo-fi or wavetables (17 wavetables a la PPG or MicroWave).There is also a sub-oscillator, which can also function as a transient generator. Before the signal reaches the filter, overdrive and bitcrusher can be added.
The filter can be played with (at the moment) three different characteristics, which are determined by the easily interchangeable voicecards (each containing a filter variation with the same synthesis engine): There is the SMR-4 voice card (variation of the Shruthi-1 SMR-4MK2 4-pole filter board), the SVF voice card (2-pole state variable filter based on the SSM switchable between HP/BP/LP) and the 4P voice card (4-pole SVF filter based on the Shruthi-1 filter board). This version on sale is the 4 pole lowpass 3109 variety, based on the 3109 IC reissue. This IC design was used in (late) Jupiter 4, 6, 8, SH-101, Boss PH-2 and more.
There are 3 ADSR envelopes per voice (ranging from 1 ms to 12 seconds) plus 4 LFOs, 3 of which can be used per part and one per voice. Each LFO has 20(!) waveforms. There are three step sequencers per part (group of voices) (2x modulation/1x note pattern) with up to 32 steps, as well as an arpeggiator. The really powerful modulation matrix has 14 slots (25 modulation sources with a refresh rate of 980Hz, 19 destinations and 4 modifiers).
A special highlight is the flexible mapping of the individual voices to the six individual outputs, as known from the six-voice Oberheim Xpander or the Clavia synthesizers. This allows you to create, for example, a single patch with six voices, six mono instances or two three-voice layered patches. Of course, the sounds can also be sent to the outside world via the rear main out (mixer), right next to which there is a MIDI I/O in five-pin format. The results of your creative sound journeys can be saved on the supplied, pre-formatted SD card.
Check out the video below. All sounds from Ambika SVF version.
Features:
Six-voice polysynth with individual outputs
2 digital oscillators per voice (36 oscillator algorithms/wavetables in total)
Sub-oscillator (configurable as a transient generator)
