MSW Bella

Analog voice, digital brain, generative drums.

Bella is a monophonic synthesizer with an all-analog signal path, paired with a lo-fi digital drum synthesizer, both driven by an on-board sequencer and arpeggiator with generative drum patterns. It is Michigan Synth Works' machine-assembled take on the Mutable Instruments Anushri, designed by Émilie Gillet.

The audio chain is analog from end to end. The main sound source is a VCO with sawtooth and pulse-width waveforms, coupled with a sub-oscillator, into a multimode 12dB/octave filter with low-pass, band-pass and high-pass modes. A switchable fuzz circuit sits between the filter and VCA for a heavy dose of distortion. Alongside runs an auxiliary digital oscillator, usable as an FM source, a sync signal generator, or an extra detuned voice for fattening the VCO.

Sequencer and arpeggiator

The built-in arpeggiator turns chords into complex basslines and acid patterns with accent and slides. The sequencer keeps things refreshingly simple: press rec, play notes on a MIDI keyboard or tap the rest and tie buttons, press rec again, then start. Sequences can be transposed straight from the keyboard.

Generative drum machine

Bella's rhythm section is original in both sound and interface: 8-bit analog-style synthesis with an integrated bit-crusher, sculpted with knobs rather than x0x-style switches and LEDs. Two knobs morph through different drum pattern structures, and three knobs control how sparse or dense the pattern is for the bass drum, snare and hi-hat.