MFB's Berlin-based approach to synthesis has always favored compact, purposeful instruments, and the Dominion X represents the moment the company decided to make something that looked as good as it sounded. Released in 2012, it arrived as a desktop synthesizer that borrowed from the DNA of classic monosynths—three oscillators like a Minimoog, the modulation possibilities of an ARP-2600, and the multimode filter sophistication of an OSCar—but packaged it all into a metal chassis with wooden sides that actually felt like a finished product rather than a utilitarian box.
The Dominion X is a monophonic analog synthesizer with three voltage-controlled oscillators that produce triangle, sawtooth, and pulse waveforms, each capable of pulse-width modulation. Ring modulation is available across the oscillators, and you can modulate pitch via two LFOs or an ADSR envelope. The filter section is where things get interesting: six modes including four lowpass types ranging from 6dB to 24dB per octave, plus highpass, bandpass, and notch filters. Two ADSR envelopes handle the filter and amplifier, while three LFOs provide modulation sources—the third one synced to your modulation wheel for real-time expression. The keyboard responds to velocity, which can be routed to seven different parameters with individual intensity control. You get 128 memory locations across four banks, MIDI input, and a comprehensive patchbay with CV and gate inputs for integrating external modular gear. The whole thing measures 330 by 170 millimeters, making it genuinely portable for a three-oscillator synth.
The Dominion X earned respect in the community for delivering serious analog character at a price point that didn't require selling a kidney. Players appreciated the hands-on control layout and the fact that it could hold its own sonically against instruments costing twice as much. The main trade-off was that it lacked aftertouch and the sequencing capabilities some competitors offered, but for those focused on sound design and live performance, those omissions rarely mattered. It's been discontinued for years now, but used examples still circulate because people tend to hold onto gear that actually sounds this good.
