MFB packed an impressive amount of synthesis firepower into a compact desktop module when they released the Synth II in 2004, and it remains one of the more feature-rich budget analog synths from that era. For the price point, the combination of three VCOs, dual LFOs, and an integrated 32-step sequencer was genuinely ambitious.
The sound engine is built on classic subtractive synthesis with three voltage-controlled oscillators offering sawtooth, square, and triangle waveforms. VCO3 adds pulse width modulation with both manual control and LFO-driven automation. The signal path runs through a 24dB per octave lowpass filter with resonance that can self-oscillate, and a mixer lets you blend all three oscillators plus a noise generator and external audio input. Two ADSR envelope generators handle amplitude and filter modulation, while the dual LFOs provide modulation sources with triangle, sawtooth, square, and random waveforms. Both LFOs can operate in one-shot mode to function as additional envelope shapers. The sequencer holds up to 25 sequences with 32 steps each, and the whole thing responds to MIDI velocity, pitch bend, and mod wheel data. Connectivity includes MIDI in and out, CV and gate inputs, audio in and out, and clock sync for synchronizing with other gear.
The Synth II earned respect in the community for delivering surprisingly big, fat sounds from such a compact footprint, and the straightforward interface made it approachable for live tweaking. Some users noted that the cramped layout took getting used to, and build quality reflected its budget positioning, but for the money it offered genuine analog character and enough modulation options to keep things interesting. The sequencer was solid if not revolutionary, and the inclusion of ring modulation and filter feedback gave you extra sonic texture beyond basic subtractive synthesis.
