Back in 1978, this pioneering poly synth arrived just as the polyphonic revolution was kicking off, delivering four voices of genuine analog warmth at a price that didn't require selling your soul—unlike the hulking behemoths from Sequential or Oberheim.
Each of its four voices packs a single analog VCO with selectable ranges (16', 8', 4'), pulse width modulation (down to 10% with LFO depth), a sub-oscillator an octave down, and switchable noise generator, all feeding into the classic Roland IR3109 filter chip for that smooth, resonant bite: HPF from 40Hz-2kHz, LPF with self-oscillation, plus a shared envelope for VCF and VCA. You've got a slow-sweeping LFO, global modifier for VCF random modulation, and hands-on performance controls like a versatile pitchbend lever assignable to VCO (up to +1 octave), VCF (up to +2 octaves resonance), or VCA (+12dB gain), alongside unison/poly modes, portamento, and hold. The 49-key (4-octave C) keyboard feels solid and responsive, with 10 onboard presets like strings, brass, and synth leads, plus 8 battery-backed memories for your tweaks; fire up the arpeggiator in up, down, up/down, or random modes, and dial in the lush stereo Ensemble chorus for instant dimension. Connections include stereo outs with level switches (high/medium/low), headphones, EXP pedal for VCF, damper, and even ARP clock in.
Players have long cherished its organic, meaty tones—think fat leads, dreamy pads, and that iconic arp heard on Duran Duran's "Rio"—though some note the shared envelope limits per-voice envelope shaping compared to later Jupiters.
