Norand Mono MK2

I have not yet had the Mono Mk2 long enough to dive too deeply into it. If anything changes along the way I will update this review.

I came across the Mono Mk2 by chance and was not really in the market for what might appear to be a modern 303 clone.

This synth is a great combination of a discrete analogue signal path (including distortion and through zero FM) and digitally generated /FPGA modulation.

Every parameter can be modulated with both, an envelope and LFO. The envelope can be used to affect LFO modulation depth.

Modulation is at audio rate and parameter changes can happen quickly enough so that individual steps can have a drastically different sound. Some preset patterns show this in the form of drum beats.

Built quality is excellent. The synth is very heavy for its size with the metal enclosure. Pots have a perfect level of resistance and a very good feel to them.

I really like the basic sound. It's deep with a good foundation in the low frequencies and the filter sounds great. FM sounds really good and increases the palette of available sounds.
There are so many neat little aspects to this synth that make the overall experience immediate and fun. After recording some manual parameter tweaks into the sequencer the control in question works as an offset or trim control. So you can still interact with the sound whilst it's playing back automation.

Another cool thing is the pattern morph where you can interpolate between two different patterns and sounds. There is a sequencer mode for it, too and if any of the mixed patterns are to your liking they can be separately saved into a new preset.

The developers have thought of (and already implemented) pretty much anything one could want from a synth like this and the few remaining things (high-res automation, MPE) are on the to do list I believe.

In my opinion the premium price is justified for the quality on offer. Included are three (!) MiniJack to DIN adapters, a Micro-SD card, PSU and a USB C cable as well as a quick start guide. The R and D that has gone into this box is outstanding and all the more impressive considering the young team that has developed this instrument.

To see such a mature instrument from a relatively young boutique manufacturer is an absolute rarity. The lead developer appears to be in his twenties and full of ideas with a great future ahead of him and his company colleagues.