When Red Sound released this 8-voice desktop synth in 1999, they packed it into a box smaller than most people expected, then gave it a joystick for real-time filter control that still feels refreshingly tactile decades later. It's become something of a cult classic precisely because early internet skepticism completely missed what the machine could actually do.
The synthesis engine uses virtual analog physical modeling to generate eight voices across five independent MIDI parts, making it genuinely multitimbral for layered patches. You get two oscillators per voice with pulse width modulation, a three-mode resonant filter that can work as highpass, bandpass, or lowpass, two LFOs with seven waveform options including a smooth random interpolation mode, and dual ADSR envelopes. The joystick controls oscillator mix and ring modulation in real time, while the front panel offers hands-on knobs for nearly every parameter. Built-in effects include auto-panning, tremolo, portamento, and fixed-frequency ring modulation. The unit stores 64 patches across eight banks and communicates via full MIDI implementation with In, Out, and Thru connectors.
The compact chassis measures 340 by 230 by 50 millimeters and runs on 9-volt DC power, with stereo RCA outputs and external audio inputs that let you process outside signals through the synthesis engine. The 4-digit LED display handles navigation and editing, while eight large red buttons provide quick program access. Community feedback over the years has revealed that many criticisms stem from misunderstanding the machine's dynamic character rather than actual limitations. The low output levels people complained about respond well to careful envelope velocity sensitivity adjustments, and the filter is perfectly capable of producing thick, resonant bass when the lowpass mode is engaged. The RCA connectors became a common complaint, though they work fine with quality cables. What endures is the joystick immediacy and the fact that this little box genuinely sounds like nothing else from that era.
