The Marion MSR-2 was designed by Tom Oberheim and so it is known for having the 'Oberheim sound' packaged inside a compact single-space rackmount module with modern digital reliability and MIDI implementation. Despite its rather harmless and simple appearance, the MSR-2 allows for some fairly complex but intuitive programming. The filters, envelopes, LFOs and other parameters are very analog-like in their sound and editing methods. The module is also 16-part multitimbral. And external inputs route a signal through the envelope and filter sections. The MSR-2 is rare but definitely worth checking out.

Davros

May 7, 2013 @ 11:12 pm

I just picked one of these up - where the hell do I find another ASM to expand it out to 16 voices? If anyone has a spare ASM, please let me know.

brandon

February 20, 2013 @ 1:35 pm

Very nice analog rack mount. Can create very complex sounds with its large modulation routing table. Waveshaping oscillators, Filter FM, 3x DAHDSR envelopes, 2x Ramps, mono/poly voice assignment modes, 16 parts multi-timbral. I got 16 voice a couple years ago for quite a bargain. I like to create a Unison2 patch on both voice boards, making an 8x oscillator four voice synth. Or create a Unison4 patch on both, making a 16x oscillator two voice. I made an ipad lemur programmer that can be downloaded for free from the lemur website.

jerry

January 21, 2013 @ 3:01 pm

Amazing analogue masterpiece.
Blows the matrix 1000 out the water - I think this is up there with the xpander and can easily create those xpander sounds.
You don't really see them for sale which tells a story.
I won't be selling mine.

f.a.

June 17, 2012 @ 10:32 pm

I have the Prosynth. I've owned a Matrix 1000 several times. Though not a bad synth, I didn't really like the sound that much to warrant keeping it. I picked up a Prosynth and what a difference! Sounds way better than the matrix 1000. Will definitely hold on to this and not because it's rare (at least on ebay)!

Section Three

March 9, 2011 @ 8:00 am

Marion Systems didn't have much success with the MSR-2, and never produced another module apart from the analogue synth one. They eventually repackaged the synth module as the Prosynth, without the modular aspects of the MSR-2. I own one of each, and they are excellent, fat sounding analogues. The only downside is the slow response to MIDI note on messages, which means you have to offset bass parts to get them dead on time. You can also get them at bargain prices - I got my MSR cheap as it seemed to be broken, but a simple battery change fixed it!

<321>

 

Post Comment!

Your Name: (Required.)

Email Address: (Required, not published.)

Image verification: (required)

Message:

 

Posting Rules:
Please keep your comments relevant! Do not post requests for help, do not use for sales, do not post unless you have something interesting to say about this instrument, or we may delete your post.

I have read and understand the posting rules.