MS6
Analog multi timbral synthesizer module

The MS6 is a late '80s, 6-voice polyphonic analog synthesizer module from British company Cheetah.

Similar to the Oberheim Matrix-1000, like its American counterpart the MS6 offers a huge amount of preset and user voices.  Sounds are broken down in five Preset and two User banks, and are grouped in categories such as Strings, Brass, Bass, Effects and so on.

This is a great-sounding, classic DCO analog synth; you won't find multi-sampled pianos in it, but plenty of warm strings/pads, acid basses, excellent synth brass, and all kinds of special effects.

Moreover, the MS6 is multi-timbral, and features a splendid aftertouch, very responsive - that makes it a very expressive instrument for leads.

  

The Curtis filter gives this synth a characteristic "hybrid" digital/analog flavor.  There are many parameters that can be changed from the front panel, but given the limited display, it's better to use an external computer editor.

 

   

Cheetah MS6 audio demos

I played the MS6 through a t.c. electronic M300 processor for a touch of reverb/delay.

Stream all audio demos below

 

 

Voice name with audio demo My comments
1 Strings 11 Beautiful, quintessential DCO synth strings - purely '80s
1 Strings 12 Very nice muted, soft strings.  The aftertouch opens the filter.
1 Strings 21 Nicely detuned syn-strings
1 Strings 24 Cool DCO osc attack, nice and powerful aftertouch effect.
1 Strings 28 Characteristic '80s synth-pop strings, with slow LFO
1 Strings 32 Powerful resonant filters in action
1 Strings 33 Deliciously detuned, very powerful!  Aftertouch closes the filter to great effect.
1 Strings 41 Gorgeous analog string synth!!! Reminds of Gary Numan's Moog sound.
1 Strings 42 Ravishing and melancholic synth strings
1 Strings 45 Nice filter action
1 Strings 55 Subtle, soft analog strings.  Beautiful.
1 Strings 65 Nice and wide
1 Strings 68 Gorgeously 1980s!!!
1 Strings 77 Nice filter LFO
1 Strings 85 Reminiscing of Joy Division's ARP Omni sound in "Decades"
1 Strings 88 Brian Eno-like
2 Brass 61 Classic, powerful '80s synth brass
2 Brass 64 Fat, precise
2 Brass 66 Nice 5th syn-brass
2 Brass 67 Typical Keith Emerson style sound
2 Brass 76 Cool tuba sound
2 Brass 78 Nice trombones
2 Brass 84 Liquid
2 Brass 87 Chorused
2 Clavinet 31 Classic analog Clavinet patch
2 Clavinet 37 '70s-style synth voice
2 Clavinet 38 Nice
2 Piano 11 Nice grand piano sound (for analog of course).
2 Piano 12 Wurlitzer variant
2 Piano 22 Beautiful and celestial sound
2 Piano 41 Nice and Rhodes'y
2 Piano 43 Percussive piano
2 Piano 53 Typical '80s Rhodes
3 Effect 41 Squiggly
3 Effect 44 Mega-fatness
3 Effect 57 Typical U.F.O. fx
3 Organ 13 Wobbly organ
3 Organ 14 Classic '60s lounge electric organ
3 Organ 37 Reminds me of Howard Jones' Roland Juno-60 sounds
3 Strings-Brass 61 Stylish combo
3 Strings-Brass 72 Great also for Techno!
3 Strings-Brass 81 Nice combo.
3 Vox 46 Superlative analog, shimmering syn vox
3 Vox 56 Sci-fi
4 Bass 11 Nice syn bass
4 Bass 12 Moog'ish
4 Bass 22 Very cool 303 acid-style bass.  Reminds of the Chemical Brothers' "Block Rockin' Beats"
4 Bass 31 Nice "rezzo"-bass
4 Bass 44 Squiggly good.
4 Bass 52 Superb analog synth bass
4 Bass 54 Typical syn bass
4 Bass 62 Good and dance'y bass
4 Lead 76 Powerful, expressive aftertouch lead synth.
4 Lead 88 Classic Minimoog style lead synth.
4 Sync 71 Classic oscillator sync
4 Sync 73 Variant
5 Effect 25 Nice fx
5 Effect 27 The Martians are coming
5 Harpsichord 66 Classical
5 Harpsichord 67 Variant
5 Percussion 32 Typical analog wood drum
5 Percussion 35 Variation
5 Percussion 41 Steel drums
5 Percussion 42 Simmons toms
5 Solo 45 Nice oboe
5 Solo 48 Superb harmonica, very expressive via the aftertouch
5 Solo 52 Cool clarinet
5 Solo 54 Incredible whistling sound
5 Synth Brass 71 Full analog brass
5 Wave Mix 11 Nice and percussive
5 Wave Mix 16 Mellow and nice
5 Wave Mix 22 Perfect Fusion lead!

 

Features at a glance
Year of release: 1989
Polyphony: 6
Sound generation method: digital/analog
Preset memories a lot!
MIDI: yes
Sound expansion capabilities: no
Sequencer no
Arpeggiator no
Effects no

 

Cheetah MS6 pictures (click on thumbnails to enlarge)

           

           

       

Cheetah MS6 manual

available at the fan site below

Features (from the manual):

Links

 

SITE Type of resource DESCRIPTION
http://www.maad.net/ms6/ Fan site Cheetah MS6 resource center