There is probably already a thread about this synth. But I didn't find one when doing a search.
Regardless, the Michigan Synth Works "Xena" is a reissue of sorts of the cult classic Mutable Instruments "Ambika" 6-voice analog/digital hybrid synth. The Ambika was a polyphonic version of the perhaps even more cult classic "Shruthi" analog/digital monosynth.
The Shruthi is awesome, IMO. I actually own two of them, each with a different analog filter board and both in nice metal cases. The digital oscillator models, in particular, sound fantastic, versions of which are used in the Arturia Minifreak and previously in the Mutable Instruments Eurorack modules.
I always wanted an Ambika and was absolutely delighted to recently discover that Michigan Synth Works have been making versions of the Ambika in nice metal cases with various filter board options.
The Ambika is maybe one of the most unique-sounding hybrid synths of all time. And the fact that Michigan Synth Works sells a fully-assembled version of the Ambika called the "Xena" in an all-metal case for the low, low price of $435 is amazing!
Michigan Synth Works have even created a new 3109 filter board that is supposedly based on (or at least "inspired by") the classic analog filter in the Roland SH-101 and other Roland synths from that era. This filter sounds incredible.
Given the insanely low price of $435, I'm planning to pick up two Xena synths, one with the Roland-inspired 3109 filter and the other with the State Variable Filter. The Xena doesn't take up much desktop space so these two units will be terrific additions to my hardware synth setup which is once again getting out of control after selling off a ton of rackmounts analog and analog/hybrid synths over the past few years.
Regardless, the Michigan Synth Works "Xena" is a reissue of sorts of the cult classic Mutable Instruments "Ambika" 6-voice analog/digital hybrid synth. The Ambika was a polyphonic version of the perhaps even more cult classic "Shruthi" analog/digital monosynth.
The Shruthi is awesome, IMO. I actually own two of them, each with a different analog filter board and both in nice metal cases. The digital oscillator models, in particular, sound fantastic, versions of which are used in the Arturia Minifreak and previously in the Mutable Instruments Eurorack modules.
I always wanted an Ambika and was absolutely delighted to recently discover that Michigan Synth Works have been making versions of the Ambika in nice metal cases with various filter board options.
The Ambika is maybe one of the most unique-sounding hybrid synths of all time. And the fact that Michigan Synth Works sells a fully-assembled version of the Ambika called the "Xena" in an all-metal case for the low, low price of $435 is amazing!
Michigan Synth Works have even created a new 3109 filter board that is supposedly based on (or at least "inspired by") the classic analog filter in the Roland SH-101 and other Roland synths from that era. This filter sounds incredible.
Given the insanely low price of $435, I'm planning to pick up two Xena synths, one with the Roland-inspired 3109 filter and the other with the State Variable Filter. The Xena doesn't take up much desktop space so these two units will be terrific additions to my hardware synth setup which is once again getting out of control after selling off a ton of rackmounts analog and analog/hybrid synths over the past few years.
Statistics: Posted by Supercollider — Sun May 26, 2024 3:43 pm — Replies 5 — Views 96