Back in 1974, this beast emerged from a collaboration between ARP and the Dutch makers at Eminent, rebranded for the US as the ultimate string machine of the disco and prog era—its shimmering chorus effect defined tracks from Pink Floyd to The Cure.
At its heart, it's a fully polyphonic analog subtractive synth using organ-style divide-down technology for a 49-key keyboard spanning violin, viola, trumpet, horn, plus monophonic cello and contrabass on the lower 20 keys, all toggled via simple on/off switches. A standout analog BBD chorus—switchable on later models—thickens everything into lush ensembles, paired with crescendo attack, sustain decay sliders, individual volume controls, and a global tuning knob. Housed in a hefty wooden cabinet weighing around 55 pounds, it offers a single stereo out, gate and trigger outputs, and a clean, no-frills layout that's all about dialing in orchestral warmth.
Players have long cherished its raw, imperfect string tones that layer into something magical and irreplaceable, though its weight and lack of MIDI make it a studio anchor rather than a road warrior—common gripes amid endless praise for that classic shimmer.
