First built in 1978, this synth helped define the sound of '80s pop and electronic music, powering hits from The Cars to Radiohead with its raw analog bite and Poly-Mod magic.
Rev4 faithfully recreates that legacy using two Curtis CEM 3340 VCOs per voice—offering sawtooth, square, and triangle waves with PWM, hard sync, and Osc B doubling as an LFO. Switchable filters emulate the original Rev1/2 (Dave Rossum 2140) or Rev3 (CEM 3320) low-pass designs, both resonant and self-oscillating, paired with dual ADSR envelopes for filter and amp. A global multi-waveform LFO, Poly-Mod routing (filter env and Osc B to Osc A freq/PWM or filter cutoff), and enhanced Unison (1-5 voices with detune and chord memory) unlock everything from thick pads to searing leads. The Vintage knob dials in Rev1-style instability for drift and randomness, while a 61-note semi-weighted Fatar keyboard adds velocity and aftertouch for expressive filter sweeps and volume control. Hands-on controls include pitch/mod wheels, global Glide, and expression pedal inputs, all on a sturdy wood-sided panel measuring 37.5 x 16.4 x 4.9 inches.
Players love its authentic, organic tone that modern polysynths chase but rarely match—warm oscillators and filters that evolve in mixes. The front-panel program selector and 400 presets (200 factory, 200 user) make it instantly playable, though some wish for a deeper menu display. MIDI, USB, CV/Gate, and mono/stereo outs keep it studio-ready.
