MSW-810 Desktop Analog Synthesizer

Ever wonder what it would sound like to resurrect the raw, punchy voice of a 1980s Roland CMU-810 or MC-202 in a compact desktop form? This analog monosynth nails that classic vibe with modern build quality, delivering the thick basses and squelchy leads those vintage machines were famous for.

At its heart is an AS3340-based VCO pumping out sawtooth and pulse waves across 16'/8'/4'/2' ranges, with PWM controllable by envelope, manual, or LFO, plus a sub-oscillator offering one- or two-octave-down options or PWM mode. Mix in white noise via sliders for the sound source, then shape it through an AS3109 lowpass filter with cutoff from 10Hz to 20kHz, resonance up to self-oscillation, and full CV tracking. The ADSR envelope spans attack 1.5ms-2s, decay/release 2ms-10s, and sustain 0-100%, feeding a versatile VCA with lin/exp response, bypass switch, and separate sliders for synth, two 1/4" audio inputs (one pre-VCA), and master out. LFO runs 0.1Hz-20kHz with delay up to 0.7s; CV/Gate inputs handle 1V/oct pitch/gate/VCA plus accent—all on 3.5mm jacks—while outputs include 1/4" synth/mix and headphone. Housed in a sturdy 13" x 2.5" x 8" chassis, it powers via included 9VDC supply.

Synth enthusiasts love its dead-on emulation of those Roland tones in a no-fuss CV-only package, praising the solid construction and immediate playability in Eurorack rigs or sequencer setups, though some note the lack of MIDI as a deliberate purist choice.