Sequential Take 5 Synthesizer

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If you've been exploring the world of synthesizers for a while now, you've no doubt heard of Sequential and its founder, Dave Smith. Normally, the renowned synth-maker serves up high-end synthesizers slapped with price-tags to match but, with the Take 5, the focus is on producers and musicians with a little less purchasing power. Luckily, since it's still a genuine Sequential-made synth that we're talking about here, the Take 5 doesn't come with any trade-offs in terms of features, meaning that next to a surprisingly affordable price, this compact-yet-potent bit of kit boasts 44 FATAR keys, an imposing number of control elements and much, much more.

The Sequential Take 5

The only other similarly priced synth by the hand of Dave Smith is the Dave Smith Instruments Prophet Rev2 8-voice, which is outfitted with DCOs (digitally-driven analogue oscillators) instead of real, all-analogue oscillators like those found inside the Take 5. In addition to that pair of VCOs - which also combine to offer sync and FM synthesis - you're getting a noise generator, a sub-oscillator, a 4-pole filter for shaping warm sound bites, two LFOs, two envelopes and an extensive modulation matrix for routing.

Modern Tech, Vintage Style

Classic synthesizers are well-loved for their somewhat 'unstable' performance because that's exactly what sets them apart from their more static-sounding digital counterparts. Since the present-day revival of anything and everything retro is still going strong, Sequential have thoughtfully fitted a special Vintage control to the face of Take 5. Tweak it, and you get to add ultra-subtle fluctuations to the oscillators, filter and envelopes per voice for shaping old-school sounds.

Further Highlights

Effects are always welcome and essential for synth-based styles. As such, the Take 5 comes loaded with three: a reverb, a multi-effect (includes popular modulation effects) and an overdrive effect. If you already own one or more other synths, the Take 5 could easily serve as a solid lead-synth on the side and comes with a built-in arpeggiator and step sequencer while its link to the outside world is a DIN-MIDI and USB-MIDI interface. All in all, this hard-working synth offers a mass of sonic potential and is more than worthy of bearing the Sequential name.