Back in 1989, this synth shook things up by bringing PPG-style Transwave wavetable synthesis to a more accessible price point, letting you scan through strings of related waveforms for sounds that twist and evolve in ways most digital keyboards couldn't touch at the time.
It packs 21 voices of polyphony, with each patch layering up to six wavetable oscillators drawn from a ROM library of 109 waves—everything from brass swells and guitars to breathy flutes and tuned percussion. Dual multimode digital filters (high/low-pass at 12/24 dB, plus bandpass), three multi-stage envelopes, a single LFO, and a deep mod matrix give you analog-like control over morphing tones, all polished by a standout 24-bit dual effects processor handling reverb, chorus, flanging, and delay. The 61-note velocity-sensitive keyboard with polyphonic aftertouch feels expressive under your fingers, paired with pitch/mod wheels, four patch-select buttons for instant variations, and practical I/O like four individual 1/4" outs, full MIDI (in/out/thru), CV/gate, pedals, and a PCMCIA card slot for storage. At around 40 pounds, it's a sturdy stage beast with 120 patches and 12 performances in memory, plus multitimbral chops across 12 MIDI channels.
Players loved its hi-fi clarity and live performance tricks, like stacking voices with key splits and poly aftertouch for dynamic chord work—used by folks from Bad English to Oscar Peterson. Sure, the later SD models added sequencers and drums, but the original's pure synthesis engine still holds up as a creative powerhouse today.
