The Doepfer MS-404 is basically a TB-303 emulator. It's analog, monophonic, has a nice 24dB/oct VCF (filter), a simple envelope and the bonus of two LFOs. As with any 303 emulator, the MS-404 has the typical 303 controls you would expect for the filter and envelope. However the two added LFOs add a whole new dimension to the 303 sound. This is because they can modulate the VCOs! Other common 303 emulator features also found on the MS-404 include an external filter input, CV/GATE interfacing, MIDI implementation and a glide effect. All parameters are MIDI controllable. The slide and accent effects from the 303 are possible on the MS-404 from the glide control and MIDI velocity for accent. The MS-404 ranks high among the 303 emulators under $500, and it sounds pretty darn good too. It has been used by Hardfloor and Josh Wink.

Stefan

May 9, 2013 @ 7:48 pm

1 VCO but BEAST! If you are looking for that pure analog feeling, 404 IS a choice. What seems like a normal mono-synth comes out as perfectly designed, self-fertalizing ultra-potent machine. And what you experience is a kind of introduction to doepfer-style.

I own 2 of them. Doepfer has given schematics to connect both, to create ONE synth out of them. Has anyone experience with doing that "hand-job"?

thestatueofdavid

June 22, 2012 @ 7:39 am

Actually, it's not a true emulator of the 303. It's based on some schematics and designs of the 303, but it doesn't sound like the 303. A big part of the 303 is the timing and internal clock (or when it's slaved to an 808, etc). The two are completely different, but great in their own regard...

Loopy

April 1, 2012 @ 11:11 am

Sounds pretty much nothing like a 303. But it is a very nice analogue monosynth in it's own right.

lightman

January 22, 2012 @ 3:06 pm

Ah yes, the tired old 303 emu cliché... the name of the 404 alone tells us that Doepfer also jumped on this bandwagon, despite the fact that the machine can do much more than just acid-ish basslines.

Here's an excellent YouTube example for what the 404 is capable of: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UImUf6zj1_w .

Try that with a 303... ;-)

Anyway, I never got this 303 emu hype. If you want authentic 303 sound, buy a 303 and be done with it, there is no other way. The x0xb0x comes very, very close but still is not the real deal.

Lindsay

December 4, 2011 @ 5:27 pm

There is a serious lack of Doepfer gear on this sit. Dark Energy anyone???

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