Back in 1981, this synth kicked off the wavetable revolution with its divide-by-n oscillator tech, delivering pure, harmonically rich highs without the aliasing that plagued later models—think metallic tones replayed on fast-forward tape, raw and unfiltered.
It packs 8-voice polyphony across 8 multitimbral parts, driven by 16 digital oscillators pulling from up to 30 wavetables with 64 waveforms each for thousands of single-cycle options. A punchy CEM3320 analog low-pass filter with emphasis shapes those waves, paired with analog VCA and a single ADSR envelope, all controlled via an analog-style panel of 21 knobs, a digital section with keypad and LCD for wavetable editing, plus aftertouch on its 61-key keyboard. Hands-on sequencing shines with an 8-track recorder that captures real-time tweaks to pitch, filter, volume, and waveforms, alongside a built-in arpeggiator and 200-patch memory.
Players cherish its lo-fi hybrid grit and unique top-end clarity, hailing it as a Tangerine Dream staple for cinematic sweeps, though some note the single envelope per voice keeps things straightforward rather than lush. A true pioneer's tool that still inspires.
