8x10

8x10

MFB Nanozwerg Manual

General

NANOZWERG is a monophonic, analogue synthesizer in desktop format that can be controlled by MIDI as well as analogue CV and Gate voltages.

It includes all typical elements of subtractive synthesis and is suited for:

  • Classic bass sounds
  • Lead sounds
  • Effect sounds

In addition, NANOZWERG can be used as a filter box for external line-level audio sources.

Set-up and Connections

  1. Connect the external power supply to the Power jack.
  2. Use AudioOut to connect NANOZWERG to:
    • A mixing desk
    • An audio interface
    • An amplifier
  3. Use AudioIn to feed an external audio signal (line level) into the unit (e.g., a drum machine).
  4. Control NANOZWERG via:
    • MIDI In (from keyboard or MIDI interface), or
    • CV In and Gate In (from analogue sequencer or CV/Gate keyboard)
  5. Press On/Off to power the unit.

Attention:
NANOZWERG uses analogue components. For stable tuning, switch the unit on 5–10 minutes before performance.

Oscillators (VCO & Sub OSC)

VCO (Voltage Controlled Oscillator)

Waveforms (selected via Wave button):

  • Triangle
  • Saw tooth
  • Rectangle
  • Impulse

Controls:

  • Octave: 16’, 8’, 4’, 2’
  • Tune: ±1 octave continuous range

Sub Oscillator

  • Rectangle wave one or two octaves below VCO
  • Settings via Sub OSC:
    • 1/2
    • 1/4
    • Mix (1/2 + 1/4 + 5/8 simultaneously)
    • Noise (replaces rectangle)
    • Off (deactivates sub oscillator)

Mixer adjusts balance between VCO and Sub OSC.

When Sub OSC is off and Mixer is set fully to Sub OSC, the unit processes external audio exclusively.

Modulation (Mod2)

  • Turn left from center → Modulates pitch of VCO & Sub OSC
  • Turn right from center → Modulates pulse width (impulse waveform symmetry)
  • Center → No modulation

Glide

Glide trim control sets portamento time between adjacent notes.

Filter (VCF)

12 dB multimode filter affecting:

  • VCO
  • Sub OSC
  • External audio input

Modes (via Select):

  • Lowpass (LP)
  • Bandpass (BP)
  • Band Reject (Notch)
  • Highpass (HP)

Controls

  • Cutoff: Sets cutoff frequency
  • Key Follow: Sets dependency between cutoff and incoming MIDI/CV notes
  • Contour: Controls ADSR influence on cutoff
    • Right from center → Positive envelope
    • Left from center → Inverted envelope
    • Center → No envelope modulation
  • Mod1:
    • Left → VCO → Filter FM
    • Right → LFO modulation
    • Center → No modulation
  • VCF In: External CV control (e.g., step sequencer)
  • MIDI CC #1 (mod wheel) → Controls cutoff
  • Resonance: Emphasis (Q factor); maximum allows self-oscillation

Amplifier (VCA)

Final stage in signal path.

Modes (via VCA Select):

Gate Mode

  • VCA LED lit during note
  • Fully open amplifier
  • Minimal release time to prevent clicks

Envelope Mode

  • Volume follows ADSR envelope

External control possible via VCA In (CV source).

Envelope (ADSR)

Controls:

  • Attack

  • Decay

  • Sustain

  • Release

  • Attack, Decay, Sustain active during note

  • Release starts when note/gate ends

Modulation Oscillator (LFO)

Waveforms:

  • Triangle
  • Saw tooth
  • Rectangle
  • Sample & Hold (S/H)

Rate: ~10 seconds to 100 Hz

OneShot Mode:

  • Plays waveform once per note trigger

Sequencer

Four short internal sequences:

  • Sequence 4 = continuous note (VCA permanently open)
    → Ideal for filter box operation without MIDI/gate input

Starting a Sequence

  1. Press and hold OneShot (LFO)
  2. Press one of:
    • VCA Select
    • Octave
    • Wave
    • Sub OSC

Controls

  • Speed → LFO Rate (while holding OneShot)
  • Transpose → MIDI or CV keyboard
  • Stop → Hold OneShot + corresponding sequence button

MIDI

  • Receives notes C1–C6 (5 octaves)
  • Pitch wheel: ±2 semitones
  • Mod wheel (CC #1):
    • Controls filter cutoff
    • Controls LFO speed

MIDI Channel Setup

  1. Press and hold Wave (LFO) for ~1 second
  2. While holding, set channel using Rate control
  3. LEDs indicate channel (add the values shown)

Examples:

  • 1 + 4 = Channel 5
  • 1 + 2 + 8 = Channel 11
  • No LED lit = Channel 16

MIDI Multi-Trigger

You can deactivate/activate the Multi-Trigger Mode by holding down the VCA Select knob while pressing the OneShot button. With the Multi-Trigger Mode turned off, when playing legato, the envelope is triggered only on the first note.

However, it isn’t possible for it to be triggered on every Note‑On command but not on the Note‑Off commands.

Accent

Activate by pressing:

  • VCA Select
  • Select (VCF section)

Velocity-activated function affects:

  • Filter cutoff
  • LFO speed (including OneShot envelope mode)
  • VCA

Connections

Top Panel

  • Audio In
  • Audio Out

Rear Panel

  • MIDI In
  • CV In
  • Gate In
  • VCF In
  • VCA In
  • LFO In
  • LFO Out

Special Feature: LFO In

Connecting an external source to LFO In:

  • Modulates LFO speed
  • Expands range significantly
  • With up to 10V CV → up to approx. 3 kHz (audio range)

Using LFO as Second Oscillator

  1. Control LFO via analogue sequencer
  2. Patch LFO Out → AudioIn
  3. Signal joins VCO & Sub OSC before filter