Back in 1978, this synth emerged as ARP's clever workaround to the polyphonic race, stitching together proven circuits from their Omni, Solus, and other hits into one bold package—essentially four voices in a single keyboard that punched above its weight for the era.
Its heart splits into Bass (monophonic with dual unison circuits, AR envelope, and single-pole lowpass filter on the bottom two octaves), Strings (Omni-style divide-down for lush polyphony with ADSR, ensemble chorus), Poly Synth (shared filter and VCA with hollow waveform button), and duophonic Lead (two VCOs akin to Solus, 24dB 4075 lowpass filter from 16Hz-16kHz, LFO, and pressure-sensitive aftertouch on the 61-key synth action board). Controls glow with orange-backlit sliders for hands-on tweaks, a built-in phaser, simple arpeggiator, portamento, and extensive CV/Gate for dual sequencers driving Bass and Lead independently. Outputs shine with four dedicated jacks (one per section), stereo pair, mono line, and XLR, plus hidden TRS for effects sends and an internal mixer/compressor—perfect for layering or live rigs, especially with optional foot pedals unlocking deeper expression.
Players have long cherished its warm analog growl and ensemble magic for pads and leads, though some note the Poly section's limitations compared to true polysynths of the time; still, its unique hybrid vibe keeps it a sought-after gem in vintage setups.
