Raven

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.