ALM Busy Circuits MCO (mkII)

Compact Multi-Synth Voice

• A highly versatile digital VCO and synthetic voice in just 6HP, inspired by digital synths from the ’90s and 2000s
• 8 completely different voice synthesis engines: wavetable, additive, virtual-analog, vocoder, and much more
• Each voice supports chords of up to 4 notes, dual audio outputs, and audio-rate modulation
• Multiple LFOs, externally triggerable envelopes, and extensively customizable parameters
• High-resolution color display with a rich and intuitive user interface
• USB-C for firmware updates, loading user wavetables, and backing up the configuration
• Expandable with Axon-1 and Axon-2 for a total of 8 assignable CV inputs

ALM Busy Circuits MCO (MK2) is an extremely versatile digital VCO and synth voice, inspired by digital synths from the ’90s and 2000s, packed into just 6HP. It offers a wide collection of unique, high-quality synthetic voices, each with extensively customizable parameters that can be controlled directly or modulated via assignable internal and external sources.

8 synthesis engines in a single module: from wavetable to vocoder

The MCO MK2 contains 8 different, fully developed voice synthesis engines, covering a wide variety of digital synthesis techniques. DigiWave is a wavetable-based voice capable of producing two simultaneous morphing waveforms, with pulse width modulation available on all waveforms and a sub-oscillator an octave below. ToneSum utilizes additive synthesis by combining twelve sine waves to create organic and physical timbres, ranging from bright, glassy sounds to woody plucks and eerie inharmonic sweeps.

BC8000, Sylon, and Virtana: Textures Inspired by Digital Classics

The BC8000 is a multimode voice inspired by the special oscillators of the legendary JP8000, featuring Supersaw, Triangle Mod, Noise, and Feedback modes, complemented by a resonant multimode filter and a dedicated pitch-mod LFO. Sylon is an FFT-based vocoder and reconstruction engine that generates robotic and harmonic sounds from any source routed to the MCO’s external input. Virtana, on the other hand, features a dual 90s-style virtual-analog oscillator, with a resonant low-pass filter and a Drift control for vintage-style pitch instability.

Oomph, SID GUTS, and AEIOU: Percussion, Chip Synth, and Vocals

Oomph is a voice specialized in kick drums and bass, capable of functioning both as a free-running bass oscillator and as a percussive voice with a dedicated pitch envelope and Click, Thump, and Sub settings. SID GUTS emulates the legendary SID chip from the Commodore 64, featuring aliased waveforms, pitched noise, and ring modulation for that signature lo-fi charm typical of ’80s video game music. Finally, AEIOU is a voice synthesis engine that uses bandpass filters to mimic the formants of the human voice, capable of generating textures ranging from robotic whispers to clearly enunciated words.

4-voice chords, modulation, and expansion with Axon

Each voice of the MCO MK2 supports chords of up to 4 notes controllable via CV and features dual audio outputs, built-in LFOs, and externally triggerable envelopes for a comprehensive sonic performance comparable to a true desktop synth. There are 4 freely assignable CV inputs, expandable up to 8 thanks to support for the Axon-1 and Axon-2 expanders. The user interface, featuring a high-resolution color display, makes the MCO MK2 intuitive, fast, and easy to use, while the USB-C connection allows for firmware updates, loading custom wavetables, and backing up/restoring configurations with a simple drag-and-drop.

Technical Specifications

• Power Supply: +12V 70mA / -12V 30mA
• Format: 6HP
• Depth: 32mm
• 8 synthesis engines: DigiWave, ToneSum, BC8000, Sylon, Virtana, Oomph, SID GUTS, AEIOU
• Chords with up to 4 voices controllable via CV on all synthesis engines
• Dual audio outputs per voice
• Built-in LFOs and envelopes, externally triggerable
• 4 assignable CV inputs, expandable to 8 with Axon-1 and Axon-2
• Audio-rate input for FM, sync, and other modulations
• Factory and user presets for each voice, with settings preserved across power cycles
• High-resolution color display
• USB-C for firmware updates, wavetable uploads, and backup/restore
• Also available as a virtualized software module for VCV Rack
• Skiff-friendly with reverse polarity protection
• 2-year warranty, manufactured in England