Future Retro XS

Introduced in 2007, this semi-modular analog synth captured hearts with its raw, aggressive edge, blending the punch of a Pro-One, the wildness of an ARP 2600, and the squelch of a TB-303 into one compact powerhouse.

At its core sit two ultra-stable VCOs spanning 0.5 Hz to 100 kHz—Osc A with saw, square, noise, and external input; Osc B adding sine, triangle, PWM, and sync to A, plus a utility Wave C for subs, ring mod, or more external audio processing. A single LFO and velocity-sensitive ADSR envelope (with extra attack/decay for accents) feed a versatile 12dB/oct multimode filter—lowpass, highpass, bandpass, or notch—that self-oscillates and overdrives beautifully for unique tones. Hands-on bliss comes from 46 knobs across its lightweight metal chassis, configurable as desktop or 1U rackmount, with 7 patch inputs and 11 outputs for overriding pre-wired paths, MIDI/CV/Gate/USB interfacing, and even CV-to-MIDI conversion. Monophonic by design, it excels at bass, leads, drones, percussion, and effects, with multiples linkable for poly vibes.

Owners still geek out over its snappy envelopes, infinitely tweakable analog precision (no digital steps or memory), and that killer filter everyone calls the most flexible around—though some note its niche size demands rack ears for stability. A true purist's delight if you snag one on the vintage market.