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Raven

KeyboardDigitalPolyphonic

Back in 1996, this German powerhouse hit the scene as a dance music specialist, packing 6MB of samples into its MASS synthesis engine for those pulsating techno basslines and sweeping pads that defined the era.

Its 61-key velocity-sensitive keyboard with aftertouch sits atop a sturdy 1025mm-wide frame weighing 12.5kg, with real-time knobs for filter cutoff, resonance, envelopes, and LFOs—letting you twist parameters on the fly while the 8-track sequencer and arpeggiator build grooves step-by-step. Three oscillators per voice draw from ROM samples for subtractive synthesis, filtered through selectable 12dB or 24dB low-pass/high-pass options, all layered up to 24-voice polyphony across 16 parts. Dual effects—reverb/delay on FX1, modulation like chorus and phasing on FX2—can chain in series, and 512 single sounds plus 100 performances (expandable via RavenMAX card to 14MB) cover everything from Moog-like basses to TR-909 drums.

Players still geek out over its intuitive workflow for live techno sets, though some wish for more sequencer tracks or deeper editing depth—it's a cult favorite that rewards hands-on tweaking.

Released

1996

Status

Discontinued

Synthesizer
Format
Keyboard
Type
Sample-based, FM, Additive, Subtractive, Virtual Analog
Internal Battery
No
Voice
A/D
Digital
Polyphony
Polyphonic
Oscillators
3
Oscillator Type
-
Voices
24
Filter
Yes
Envelopes
1
LFO
1
Effects
2 effects units including reverb
Expression
Aftertouch
-
Velocity
Yes
MPE
No
Additional
-
Software
-
I/O
Audio In
-
Audio Out
-
Headphone
-
MIDI
In, Out, Thru
MIDI Type
DIN (5-pin)
Ports
-
Wi-Fi
No
Workflow
Arpeggiator
Yes
Sequencer
Yes
Mod Matrix
-
Memory
512 patches, 100 performances
Measurements
Dimensions
-
Weight
-
Last updated Mar 19, 2026