Xerxes Mk II

Imagine dialing in the exact sync phase on oscillator two for those razor-sharp leads that defined '80s Italo disco—the kind the original Elka Synthex made famous, but now with eight voices of polyphonic power.

This Mk II builds on that legacy with two discrete logic DCOs per voice, serving up triangle, saw, square, and pulse waves, plus octave switching, transpose, PWM, PAM, ring mod, hard sync, and even white/pink noise for grit. A multimode analog filter handles lowpass, highpass, bandpass, and more, shaped by two ADSR envelopes and dual syncable LFOs that reach up to 100Hz, all routed via intuitive button matrices. Controls are hands-on with precise switches and pots on a darker steel front panel, framed by sturdy wooden side panels for desktop vibes or rackmount flexibility (440 x 180 x 70 mm), including poly aftertouch, velocity, full MPE, global portamento, tuning drift, and a lush analog BBD stereo chorus. Balanced TRS stereo outs, headphone jack, DIN/USB MIDI, audio-over-USB, and 10 banks of 128 presets (512 total) round out the modern hybrid design.

Players call it a workhorse for pads, basses, and soundscapes, praising the stable DCO warmth, expressive dynamics, and creative depth that goes beyond cloning—though some note the pots could feel more premium at this level. It's a fresh take that slots perfectly into Black Corporation's replicant lineup, blending vintage spice with today's control.