Michigan Synth WorksXena Hybrid Desktop Synthesizer (SVF)

Michigan Synth Works Xena

Michigan Synth Works has revived the Mutable Instruments Ambika with the Xena, a six-voice polyphonic digital desktop synth. This version includes the SVF 2-pole multimode filter card and Michigan Synthworks offers additional cards that can be easily swapped out. This synth features six voices with individual outputs for each one, two digital oscillators for each voice with 36 different wavetables and algorithms for crafting the perfect sound. There's also an available sub-osc that can be configured as a transient generator. The aforementioned filter cards are all analog, balancing the digital sound generation with a bit of warmth and with the pre-filter overdrive/bit-crusher, you can really push the filter.

Using the LCD screen, you can very capably adjust parameters for all six voices and use the modulation matrix for easy virtual patching. Modulation sources include: three ADSR envelopes, three LFOS, and one audio-rate LFO. Since these six voices can act independently, you can configure them as six mono voices, 2x three-voice polyphony, 1x six-voice polyphony or any other option you can think of. Xena is a wonderful desktop synth that has classic Mutable Instruments sounds, well-organized UI, and Michigan Synth Works build quality.

Xena Features

• Rework of MI Ambika desktop synth
• 6-voice configurable polyphonic synth
• 2x Digital oscillators with 1x Sub-osc and 36 wavetables/algorithms
• Pre-filter overdrive and bit-crusher
• SVF 2-Pole multimode filter
• 3x ADSR envelopes, 3x modulation LFOs, 1x voice-level LFO
• Mod matrix with 14 modulation slots
• 1x Arpeggiator, 1x note sequencer and 2x step sequencers per part
• 6x Individual outputs
• 1x Mix output
• 5-Pin MIDI I/O