Filter MS-20 by Arturia filter and distortion effect plugin interface

Filter MS-20: Analog-Style Filter and Distortion Effect by Arturia

Rated 4.6/5 on Plugin Boutique (1,038 ratings)

Filter MS-20 is a stereo effect plugin by Arturia that combines an emulated analog filter with a distortion circuit, modeled on the MS-20 synthesizer's filter and external signal processing module.

VST2AUAAXStandaloneWindowsmacOS64-bit

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01Overview

Arturia's Filter MS-20 takes the filter and distortion sections of the MS-20 synthesizer and rebuilds them as an effect for mixing and sound design. It processes any incoming audio, adding resonant sweeps, gritty distortion and stereo widening. Arturia says the plugin uses its TAE technology to model the original circuitry. The interface uses a knob-per-function layout, with macro controls for quick changes and deeper sound design controls available on demand.

Best for

Filter sweeps on drums
Bass distortion and crunch
Stereo widening effects
Resonant synth modulation
Sound design processing

Developer: Arturia
Category: Filters
Store: Plugin Boutique

02Key features

What you get

Emulated stereo analog filter and distortion effect
Circuit-accurate modeling using Arturia's TAE technology
Resonant low pass and high pass filter modes
Master Cutoff for band pass-style filtering
Stereo offset for widening filtered sounds
ESP distortion circuit with input filtering
Switchable distortion and filter routing
Envelope Follower, Function Generator and 16-step sequencer

03In depth

Filter and Distortion Character

Filter MS-20 offers resonant low pass and high pass modes, plus a master cutoff control for band pass-style results. A stereo offset widens filtered sounds, and the ESP distortion circuit includes input filtering to shape the grit.

Routing is switchable, so distortion can feed the filter or the filter can feed distortion. Output Mix and Level controls let you blend the processed signal with the dry sound and set the final level.

Modulation and Sequencing Tools

The plugin includes an Envelope Follower, a Function Generator and a 16-step sequencer for animating the filter over time. A Movement macro attenuates or boosts modulation amounts, so a single control can shape the overall motion.

An A/B comparison function lets you switch between two states to audition changes quickly while you tweak settings.

04Specs

Will it run?

Formats, systems and requirements as listed by Plugin Boutique. Missing details are left out, not guessed.

Developer	Arturia
Type	Plugin
Category	Filter
Formats	VST2, AU, AAX, Standalone
Operating systems	Windows, macOS
Architecture	64-bit

05FAQ

Questions, answered

What formats does Filter MS-20 support?

Filter MS-20 is available in VST2, AU, AAX and Standalone formats. It is a 64-bit plugin and runs on Windows and macOS.

What do I need to run Filter MS-20?

On Mac, it requires macOS 10.13 or later, 4 GB RAM, a 4-core CPU at 3.4 GHz or Apple Silicon, 1 GB of free disk space and an OpenGL 2.0 compatible GPU. On Windows, it requires Windows 10 (64-bit) or later, 4 GB RAM, a 4-core CPU at 3.4 GHz, 1 GB of free disk space and an OpenGL 2.0 compatible GPU. ARM processors are not supported on Windows.