Harsh tape loops and brittle noise sets feel very different once they’re swimming through a classic Japanese filter core on a 9V battery-powered goth console. The MS-420 Kit takes that iconic MS-20 character and drops it into a compact, DIY-friendly box built for experimental performance.
This analog effects unit is a single-supply adaptation of the Korg MS-20 filter in CCTV’s Atari Goth Console format, running from a standard 9V source for true portable use. You get a mono line-level input and output, plus a dedicated cutoff CV jack compatible with Eurorack and other low-level control voltages, so it slots easily into modular or tabletop setups. The DRIVE control acts as an input attenuator, letting you tame or push signals of almost any amplitude, while the resonant lowpass filter can be cranked into self-oscillation for gritty, singing tones that double as a makeshift oscillator.
Designed as a low-cost kit, MS-420 is intentionally easy to solder, with step-by-step documentation to support builders at any experience level. Once assembled, it becomes a mellowing station for tape, noise, and musique concrète, smoothing out the edges without losing the attitude. Battery not included, but the chill factor definitely is.
