Back in 1982, Sequential Circuits dropped this compact powerhouse made in Italy, essentially a rebadged Siel Orchestra 2 that brought full 49-note polyphony to orchestral synth duties when most rigs were still chasing basic poly voices.
It's built around four dedicated sections—organ, piano, string, and brass—that you can layer up to two at once across the 49-key velocity-sensitive keyboard for lush ensembles. Analog under the hood with separate VCO, VCF, and VCA envelope generators per section, plus an LFO that modulates any of them, it delivers those thick '80s strings as its standout alongside tweakable trumpet/trombone brass, cello/violin options, and percussive attacks. Controls are straightforward with toggle switches for section selection, a 7-band EQ for sculpting, onboard chorus/flanger effects, and even two real-time 6-track sequencers that capture up to 500 notes—though no internal memory means you'll reload via CV from external gear. The stereo output and sturdy build make it a stage-ready beast in a relatively slim footprint.
Vintage players love its authentic orchestral warmth and reliability, especially the strings that cut through mixes like nothing else from the era, though some note the preset-heavy editing as a limitation compared to deeper programmers. If you're chasing that Prophet-era Sequential vibe with a twist, this one's a gem for retro ensemble magic.
