Sequential music logo

Sequential Take 5 Five-Voice Poly Synthesizer

Rating average

Photos

Featured Video

Description

This innovative analog instrument from Sequential, the company founded by synthesizer pioneer Dave Smith, offers five voices of analog polyphony in a compact, roadworthy package. Packed with features tailored to the needs of professional synthesists, composers, and performers, the Take 5 delivers massive analog sound in an intuitive interface.

Powerful VCOs Provide Rich Sonic Foundation

At the heart of the Take 5 are five voltage-controlled oscillators, each with a variety of waveforms to shape your sound. Sawtooth, triangle, and variable-width pulse waves are available on each VCO, allowing for the creation of harmonically rich timbres. With the Take 5’s analog signal path, each waveform has a distinctive character, allowing for sounds with depth and dimension.

Flexible Modulation Fuels Creativity

To help you craft distinctive sounds, the Take 5 offers a variety of modulation options. Each voice features an LFO with five waveforms, allowing you to create animated effects. A multi-stage envelope generator offers control over the amplitude and filter for sculpting percussive and evolving sounds.

Classic Analog Filters Shape Your Tone

At the core of any great analog synth are its filters, and the Take 5 does not disappoint. It features two resonant low-pass filters per voice that can be configured in series or parallel. Cutoff frequency, resonance, and filter routing are all under your control. From smooth sweeps to squelchy acid lines, the Take 5’s filters excel at crafting professional analog tones.

Perform and Sequence

The Take 5 is designed for live performance as well as studio use. The arpeggiator features a variety of rhythm presets as well as the ability to create your own rhythmic patterns. For sequencing, the Take 5 has a built-in 64-step polyphonic sequencer with parameter lock per step. The sequencer syncs to external MIDI clock and analog clock to integrate into any setup.

Specifications

Oscillators

  • Two analog VCOs per voice
  • Continuously variable wave shape (sine, sawtooth, variable-width pulse) per oscillator
  • Hard sync: oscillator 1 syncs to oscillator 2
  • Square wave sub-octave generator (oscillator 1) per voice
  • Keyboard tracking on/off for each oscillator
  • Front-panel FM (frequency modulation)

Mixer

  • Oscillator 1 amount
  • Oscillator 1 sub-octave amount
  • Oscillator 2 amount
  • White noise amount

Low-pass filter

  • Four-pole, resonant, analog low-pass filter per voice, based on Prophet 5 Rev 4 design
  • Filter can be driven into self-oscillation with the Resonance control
  • Bi-polar filter envelope amount

Envelopes

  • Two 5-stage envelope generators (ADSR + delay) with variable routing (filter, amplifier, gate)
  • Velocity modulation of each envelope amount
  • Envelopes freely assignable to multiple modulation destinations

Low frequency oscillator

  • Five wave shapes: triangle, sawtooth, reverse sawtooth, square, and random (sample and hold)
  • Clock sync (internal or external MIDI clock)
  • Freely assignable to multiple modulation destinations

Digital effects

  • One dedicated reverb with damping, pre-delay, decay and tone
  • One multi-effect with stereo delay, BBD delay, tape delay, chorus, flanger, phaser, ring mod, vintage rotating speaker, distortion, high-pass filter
  • Dedicated Overdrive effect

Vintage knob

  • Recreates the characteristics of vintage synthesizers by introducing micro-fluctuations in oscillators, filter, and envelopes per voice.

Aftertouch

  • Source: channel (mono) aftertouch with bi-polar amount
  • Aftertouch freely assignable to multiple modulation destinations

Clock

  • Master clock with tap tempo
  • BPM control and display
  • MIDI clock sync

Arpeggiator

  • Up, down, up+down, random, assign modes
  • Syncs to MIDI clock
  • Re-latching arpeggiation

Sequencer

  • Polyphonic step sequencer with up to 64 steps with ties and rests

Performance controls

  • Full-sized, semi-weighted, 3.5-octave premium Fatar keyboard with velocity and aftertouch
  • Spring-loaded pitch wheel with selectable range per program with independently adjustable upper and lower pitch wheel range transpose controls
  • Low-split mode creates two independent performance zones with different octave ranges
  • Hold switch latches held notes on
  • Polyphonic glide (portamento)
  • Unison (monophonic) mode with configurable voice count, from one to all five voices, and key modes
  • Factory switch: when off, the front panel is live; what you see is what you hear

Patch memory

  • 128 user and 128 factory

IN/OUT

  • 1 MIDI In, 1 MIDI Out, and 1 MIDI Thru port
  • USB port for bidirectional MIDI communication
  • 1 Sustain/footswitch input
  • 1 Expression pedal input
  • Main stereo output (2 x 1/4″ phone jack)
  • Headphone out (stereo 1/4″ phone jack)

Power

  • IEC AC power inlet for internal power supply
  • Operates worldwide on voltages between 100 and 240 volts at 50 to 60 Hz; 14 watts maximum power consumption

Physical specs

  • Premium, 3.5-octave, semi-weighted Fatar keyboard
  • Dimensions: 25″ L x 12.75″ W x 4.4″ H (63.5 cm x 32.4 cm x 11.2 cm)
  • Weight: 17 lbs (7.7