Back in the early '90s, this synth stood out for packing AWM2 tech into a sleek, affordable package that let players layer up to four waveform elements with real-time filter sweeps mimicking analog warmth—all without breaking the bank.
At its core is a 16-bit Advanced Wave Memory 2 engine with 74 onboard waveforms sampled at 32 or 48 kHz, feeding into 16-voice polyphony and 8-part multitimbrality. Each of the four elements gets dual digital filters—one low-pass, the other switchable low/high-pass—with 6- and 7-stage envelopes, resonance, plus dedicated amplitude, pitch, and a versatile LFO offering saw, sine, square, triangle, and random shapes. Controls include a 61-key velocity- and aftertouch-sensitive keyboard, pitch/mod wheels, data slider, breath controller input, foot volume, and sustain pedal jack, all on a compact panel with 16x2 LCD and 39 buttons. It weighs just 9.7kg across 911x325x90mm dimensions, with stereo outs, MIDI I/O/T, card slots for extra waves/voices, and 34 editable DSP effects like reverb, delay, early reflections, and distortion. An 8-track sequencer holds 8 songs up to 8,000 notes, with tempo sync from 30-260 BPM.
Players have long praised its rich, CD-quality tones and deep editing for everything from pads to leads, though some note the sequencer feels basic next to beefier siblings like the SY77. It's a hidden gem for anyone chasing '90s digital versatility on a budget.
