Marion MSR2 synth module User reviews -Page 1

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Average rating: 4.4 out of 5

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J a hobbyist user from USA writes:

I've had 2 of these and the fact that I don't have one anymore should speak volumes. It's a nice synth, but IMO - and that of a friend who's got tons of gear - the MSR-2 is nothing more than a glorified Matrix 6R. I liked the 'cold' thin strings it could make, but for bass go elsewhere. There's no real reason to have one of these other than the novelty factor that there aren't a zillion of these floating around. If I found one cheap enough I might buy one again, but I wouldn't go gaga over it and I wouldn't pay much more than you would for a matrix 6r to get one either. There is no way you can emulate a 303 on this or make a convincing 909 kick. I tried the kick thing and didn't bother to waste my time with the 303 emulation - the envelopes are not tight enough for that. Besides, if you buy this to make 909 kicks or to emulate a 303 you need to get your head examined. There's more suitable stuff for that.

Rating: 3 out of 5 posted Monday-Aug-18-2003 at 17:47

Sumerki a professional user from Estonia writes:

Recieved my Marion MSR-2 yesterday, bought it for 600 Euros from Ebay. The synth is built like a tank (so many bolts, it even scares a bit), the physical design is very good indeed(looks much better in real life, than on the photos) and the large writing on the top, saying "MARION SYSTEMS MODULAR SYNTHESIZER" is very handsome too. The software is also very nicely designed - I've discovered and learned how to use most of the functions in one day. The ability of upgrade seemed promising, too bad Marion Systems went bankrupt, before making the sampling and fm cartridges, that they've promised to do. The sound is not very fat, but very lush and bright in a good way. The extended envelopes(DAHDSR) open very interesting possibilites. so does the modulation matrix(though, it would be really nice if there would be more modulation destinations). The layering function is also a plus, you can come to really rich and deep sounds combinations with it. The only serious disadvantages, I've encountered are: 1. Very low output, which leads to some noise interferance). 2. When changing the parameters of some functions there is a very noticable stepping(but it's only can be heard when turning the knobs, not when modulating them with LFOs and Ramps). 3. The portamento is very lifeless, so it's nearly impossible to make a decent vintage type of lead. But overall it's a great synthesizer. Worth all the cash I've paid for it and even more.

Rating: 4 out of 5 posted Saturday-Oct-26-2002 at 06:57

jinwan kim a professional user from korea writes:

ultimate analogue synth-rack,though have HRO.(=DCO) the sound is very Oberheim-strings,organ,sweep,sci... only bad thing is users are few.(msr2 is very rare synth.) is anybody send me SyExe data?

Rating: 5 out of 5 posted Friday-May-31-2002 at 14:59

Markku immonen a hobbyist user from Finland, Helsinki writes:

I've owned ProSynth for 5 years or so. The price was then 200€ (2nd hand, this synth was never imported in Finland, so I was more than pleased to find it wandering about...)

The overall sonic quality is very pleasing indeed, true analogue thru and thru, the absence of fx is no issue! Earthshaking asskicking low-end rumbles appear here with every authority, (just stack your voices, please...) as well very interesting oddities close to Aphex Twin or any modular synth, thanks to very nice modmatrix. And the oscs are rocksteady with very precise user tunings, just try your meantone scales for those in-tune thirds.

The wish list: The ProSynth is not a finished product, although a highly usable one; attack times could be more aggressive, some sweepings(both LFOs and other mods) suffer from staircasing(software!!), (Be admitted, the settings here were a bit on the extreme side at times...)the filter introduces some odd noises at times (software?), which on many cases, though, add character to this little beast, CCs or mod destinations could use wider scalings, from zero to the full effect. The manual sucks, positively, some functions are very hard to detect/predict! Any editor could help lot with programming, as would a full easy access to all parameters.

Many of the modern beasts, despite some lacking features of the ProSynth, will have a hard time competing with this synth. A very nice extra to any synth stack!

Rating: 4 out of 5 posted Friday-May-17-2002 at 06:04

Folco Peroni from Italy writes:

I bought yesterday a Prosynth for only 100 Euros!!!!!!!This synth deserves much much more than 100 Euros and much much more interest from every synth user/lover...trust me.I spent last night hearing, learning the machine and gathering info on the net (I NEED A FUCKING MANUAL PLEASE...somebody kindly email me if they know where I can find that bloody manual!!).This is what I came up to: the Marion systems Co. has no website, no address, no email, no nothing...it looks like Marion is a sideproject of Tom Oberheim so you must refer directly to him for any support..and of course I don't know how to contact him..The Prosynth is one of the most underrated synth I have come accross the net and the old magazines issues...Here are some usefull info after an in depht search on specs on the net: the Prosynth has 2 HRO's (High Resolution Osc).What I understood is that they are not completely analogue(more on the DCO side),but with a much higher resolution than a matrix 6/1000. They are very stable,people complain that maybe even too much, I dont think this bothers the overall sound too much. Talking about pure sound of the waveforms it is true that the saw waveform is not "that fat" but it does the job for me and I like the possibility to mix it with a tri wave,I really like the pure tri wave sound + there is noise source.The filter is a real VCF 12/24 db oct 2/4 poles. It selfoscillates in 4 pole mode only.It is based on a Curtis chip and I really like it's sweet and refined character (remember that this thing was designed by Tom Oberheim and that the guy does know how to do his job).The VCA is fast enough for most cases (I was easily able to geat meaty kiks in X-Dream, The Delta style)even thow people where complaining that Marion machines has envelopes on the slow side. I think this is true for the Marion MSR2 first series (Oberheim team can fix this),while the Prosynth is a later machine and those with OS vers. 2.0 have the problem fixed (mine is...yesss!).The great part of this synth is the extensive mod matrix: 10 routings with lots of sources and destinations.In addition you get many(at least 20) "hard wired" mod routings of very easy and rapid access...i.e. VCF to VCA, LFO1 to freq, LFO2 to pan...Not everybody knows how powerfull can get a synth with a well implemented mod matrix simply because not everybody use it. Plus it has variable portamento, a flexible voice mode that has an odd Unison 2 or 4 mode that delivers a huge power and some strage parameters like VCF delay and VCF hold.I also heard that Marion machines are the only analogues that can tune notes indipendently? the interface is clear and the editing is simple and fast if you think of 1u rackspace.Only 2 knobs,1 for scroll between the pages that are neatly ordered following the sound process(first HRO's,VCF,VCA,LFO's and then modulations)and another knob for data entry...simple isn't it?Another couple of switches for Saving,Compare and System all following the above principle. In conclusion it took me less than 1 hour without the manual to understand and master pretty well this nice little beast. I don't dislike either the factory presets even if I got to take a better look at this ones. As I said I bought it just yesterday...so I need time...but this little machine gave me instant gratification in hearing the warm and expressive characther I was looking for...It may not be the real rappresentation of the classic and pricy old Oberheim sound but it defenetly has Oberheim DNA despite what people say about it's envelopes or HRO's.Do not forget that it has midi in and outs, it has 8voice polyphony (16 part multitimb.),300 memory locations and it is defenetly in the "analog synth category".My first contact with it is completely positive and thinking that I paid 100 Euros for it means it is the best buy I ever made. There are not many around but prices are low (maybe not as much as 100 Euros)so check it out because it is perfect for warm analogeu pads and sweeps,but performs really well in the lower and upper range too. It is much more powerfull than most of the people on the net think. Just spend 30 fucking minutes pressing the 3 switches Marion kindly provided and scroll around the parameters menus...if you have a decent experience with synth then the whole thing makes pretty much sense...or maybe you prefer the JV X080 interface??????By the way my Prosynth has a silver signature that is clearly of Tom Oberheim but it really looks like it was made by hand because it has blurs all the way...does any body have the same thing or knows about this fact? PROS: Very sweet analogue sound in 1 U rack Stable tuning Nice VCF 8 voice polyphony Midi Rare (so few have that sound)and low cost I like the halo this machine has also because of the scarse reperebility,info included. This is a shady synth (in a good sense) and I like that. Great mod routings so programming complex analogue sounds is possible and easy if you use your brain. Sounddiver editor for Mac available on the net. CONS: No VCF input (I know you can't have everything) I heard it crashes when dealing with sysex but handles well Cc's.

Think allways what you want a synth to do for you, the Prosynth does really well what I want (warm pads,textures and synthefx) but I will try it out on bass and drums and I'm shure it will perform well. Respect... Folco

Rating: 5 out of 5 posted Wednesday-Mar-13-2002 at 08:51

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