Sequential Circuits released the Split-8 in 1985 as one of their final analog synthesizers, built in Japan and distributed under the Pro-8 name in some markets. It arrived during a challenging period for the company, but represented a solid attempt to compete with instruments like the Roland Juno-106 using Curtis Electromusic's CEM3394 synthesizer-on-a-chip technology.
The Split-8 is an 8-voice polyphonic analog synthesizer with a 61-key unweighted keyboard and complete MIDI implementation. Each voice features one Curtis CEM3394 chip containing a voltage-controlled oscillator with sawtooth, triangle, pulse, and noise waveforms, plus a 24dB/octave resonant lowpass filter and voltage-controlled amplifier. You get two ADSR envelope generators per voice, a single LFO with square and sawtooth shapes, and pitch and modulation wheels for real-time control. The synth stores 64 patches and supports split and layer modes, letting you divide the keyboard or stack two different sounds across all eight voices. There's also a unison mode that stacks all oscillators for thick, aggressive leads and basses. A built-in chorus effect adds dimension to the sounds, and the wooden side panels give it that unmistakable 1980s aesthetic.
The Split-8 earned respect among users for its solid build and MIDI capabilities, though it developed a reputation for sounding thinner than comparable Roland instruments—a characteristic that actually became part of its charm for those seeking Sequential's particular sonic signature. The main limitation was the single data knob for parameter editing, which made live performance tweaking cumbersome compared to synths with dedicated controls, though this was less of an issue in studio settings. The ability to layer four oscillators per voice in certain modes delivered surprisingly fat results that justified keeping one around.
