Back in 2002, this compact powerhouse redefined what a portable polyphonic synth could do, squeezing rack-level sound design into a featherweight keyboard that fit anywhere from stage to studio desk.
At its heart, three versatile oscillators deliver sawtooth, triangle, sine, and pulse waves with unison, sync, and FM modes, plus ring mod and noise for extra bite—routed through a resonant low-pass filter with 12dB or 24dB/octave slopes. Two LFOs with delay and syncable waveforms join mod and amp envelopes (plus a two-stage FM envelope) to shape sounds across eight voices of analog modeling goodness. Hands-on control shines with 25 knobs and sliders for oscillators, filter, envelopes, mixer, and more, all MIDI-transmitting, alongside a two-octave velocity-sensitive keyboard, pitch/mod wheels, and a backlit LCD that ditches cryptic displays for clear parameter readouts. Effects cover reverb, distortion, tempo-locked chorus/phaser/delay/panner, EQ, enveloped filter, and a standout 12-band vocoder for robot vocals or processing external audio via the input—all outputting in stereo with headphones jack. Measuring just 52.5 x 29.5 x 9.4cm and 4kg, it's powered by a 9V adapter for easy travel.
Players loved its intuitive layout and phat basses, punchy leads, and expressive pads that felt genuinely analog, often praising the arpeggiator's six patterns and how external signals integrated seamlessly. Sure, no aftertouch or battery power drew some gripes, but its tactile joy and 400-patch memory (200 factory) made it a hands-on favorite that still inspires tinkering today.
