Is this what you hoped for next?

[jok3r]

Hi,

just read about this thing. That's exactly not what I hoped for as next new Sequential synth....

37 Slim Keys? Really?

Would you buy this just for the polyphonic aftertouch? I think especially this feature is wasted on a synth with such a small keyboard...

Your opinions?

[Jonah66]

Love my Pro3 and this Fourm is not what I was expecting from the big S. Not my thing but that’s my problem lol PASS!!

[Quatschmacher]

Not for me; with even fewer voices and octaves than the already-too-small Take5 and TEO5, it’s a hard pass for me. Really hope the next thing is something with VCOs and 5 (or 6) octaves, PAT, 12-16 voice with bitimbrality. All the elements are there across their lines to make something truly wonderful.

[YellowJacket]

I wouldn’t consider buying a synth with slim keys, poly aftertouch or not. Release a module version or a version with real keys — poly aftertouch or not — and I’d consider it. With slim keys, it’s a hard no.

DSI Prophet Rev2-8, Prophet 5 Rev 4, DSI Mopho X4, DSI TETR4, Prophet 600

[LPF83]

I think for some of us that already have some of Sequential's best synths, the lower priced ones probably aren't aimed at us as much as the more entry-level market.

And I think it's understandable to see them pursue this market segment, when you see what "the B company" has done to the product landscape.... and now of course Moog seems to be acknowledging that $5k-10k synths are a difficult thing to move these days and seem to be targeting a market demographic with a tighter budget.

I can't judge the Fourm yet, I need to watch some demos to hear the tone before any opinions will emerge.  It claims a 100% analog signal path, which of course is different than the digital VCA of the Take5, TEO5, Pro3, etc., and I think that might be why my ears tend to gravitate toward 100% analog synths.

My initial hunch is that it's probably not for me and wasn't designed to be, but it seems to have at least a couple of compelling features (Prophet 5 filters, polyphonic aftertouch) which might bring something that doesn't yet exist.  How many VCO based synth with poly AT key bed are out there at all, much less at the $1k price point?

So I'll keep an eye on it to see if it adds something compelling to my lineup.  I'm not under any impressions that every Sequential or Oberheim product must necessarily be on my wish list -- I can't make room for everything after all.

[LoboLives]

I know Sequential keep claiming this is "Affordable" but I also think it's a bit tone deaf to what people expect as affordable these days given the competition. This feels like it has too many compromises to be considered a viable option for anyone. Every single "selling point" is negated. Poly after touch keybed....with less keys and also slim keys. It's an affordable synth minus onboard effects, stereo outs etc. For a couple hundred more most people are going to get a TEO 5 or Take 5, even a module form of those over this.

Even the guy in the launch video would rather rub his fingers through the air than play the instrument. That says it all right there.

In all seriousness, it feels like after Dave passed away Sequential is treading water when it comes to innovation. Before they were leading the market and starting new trends in regards to things like the Evolver, Tempest, Prophet 12, Prophet 6, Pro 3, Prophet X etc but now it feels like they are sort of meandering since the Fousrite sale. Just rehashing the same thing over and over again.

Maybe it's because of the economy and especially global economy (It's absolutely brutal here in Canada to the point where even a Forum is beyond the reach of 90% of the country. 90,000 jobs were lost in my city alone this year and I've been out of work for 10 months).

Personally I think a better idea would have been a new take on the Tetra. A four voice, four part multitimbral analog synth in a module format. In fact even under the Oberheim banner with the "SonOf4Voice" name on it. I think something like that would have been more attainable to tighter budget musicians and also peaked the interest of established musicians as a nice new "supporting compositional tool" to have alongside their poly synths or drum machines.

This is sort of the modern version of Sequential's Siel instruments but even less interesting.

[jok3r]

Even the guy in the launch video would rather rub his fingers through the air than play the instrument. That says it all right there.

I didn‘t want to talk about this in the first place, but this is the most disturbing synth demo I‘ve ever seen. Reminds me of this Jaguar bulls*** some time ago…

[Elric]

Uh, what the heck? Nope, not at all I hoped for.

  Too bad. Sequential apparently died with Dave. But I guess this one wasn't made for me. Thank goodness for Tom O.!
If you consider it a Pro-1 with 4 voices maybe it doesn't look so bad, but make it multitimbral or give it 6 voices.

  Of course, without the tariffs it would probably be $799, but the mini keys definitely eliminate it from my consideration.
And yea, that launch video hand dance thing is really dumb.

Bummer.

[Soundquest]

Clearly trying to compete out there...but getting too generic.    I'm sure the instrument will sound fine.  Probably even might sell well too.   But  I'm bummed.   I always viewed DSI/Sequential as being more boutique -like and innovators.  This is neither, and I'm afraid only delays any substantial new instrument that would fufill that historic precedent.     Interesting this was one of the complaints that Sacred Synthesis made when leaving the forum...that Sequential was moving in a direction too focused on small boards.   

[RadekPilich]

It seems really good to me design wise. Clearly a nothing-burger for long time synth heads, but it's exactly something I could recommend to those friends, that don't have any synths yet and might want to get something rather solid but not overwhelming / overkill to play with.

[Manbird]

Despite the name, I'm not sure this one is aimed at most of us here on the forum... we're already deep in the world of our own Sequential making. This new synth looks more an introductory model. I mean, if someone is starting out and needs a handy synth and it just happens to have solid Prophet 5 vibe, how can that be a bad thing?

I never have a wish list... the rev 4 P5 was a dream come true. That it added a few swell features was fab, but I'm grateful that it's still "just" a Prophet 5. No need for stereo, fx etc. When the Trigon came along, I cursed the company for creating a want I didn't need, and have been a proud owner ever since.

I ain't gonna grumble that Sequential is still with us, still producing synths in the face of an ever-changing, and seemingly ever-growing, market. I'm gonna guess they're working on all sorts, including a this or that that will hit some of us in the "breaking news... you won't believe what happened next" box...

[Jason]

At least it is nice to see them moving in the direction of polyphonic aftertouch. I would love to be able to replace the keybed of my Prophet Rev2 with a better keybed with PAT like the Hydrasynth or the new Montage.

[darkestyugo]

I think it looks and sounds amazing. Ever since I sold my Prophet 5 desktop I've regretted it and ended up with a Take 5 module to try and compensate.
It gets most of the way there and in some cases further beyond it but I found the core tone of it slightly short of the Prophet. I'm beginning to wonder if this might get me closer to the sound I'm after but with a few extra interesting additions.
I am quite torn now and to make matters worse, it's already in the shops!
There's definitely a market for it as the Minilogues and Minifreak showed. 

[lewisfrancis]

As an owner of two Pro-Ones -- bought my first one when they were first released -- I would def pick this up had I not already a Take 5. The layout would make me right feel at home.

I think Sequential has a winner here, am surprised, though, that there's no row of patch buttons.

[Manbird]

As an owner of two Pro-Ones -- bought my first one when they were first released -- I would def pick this up had I not already a Take 5. The layout would make me right feel at home.

I think Sequential has a winner here, am surprised, though, that there's no row of patch buttons.

The Pro One vibe is truly a thing, right? Pro One was my first-ever synth, so I sorta bonded with Sequential (Circuits Inc) at the very beginning of this synth life.

[LPF83]

As an owner of two Pro-Ones -- bought my first one when they were first released -- I would def pick this up had I not already a Take 5. The layout would make me right feel at home.

I think Sequential has a winner here, am surprised, though, that there's no row of patch buttons.

The Pro One vibe is truly a thing, right? Pro One was my first-ever synth, so I sorta bonded with Sequential (Circuits Inc) at the very beginning of this synth life.

It is definitely a thing, and a faithful re-issue of the Pro One has been very high on my wish-list from Sequential.... A reissue that was faithful to the original to  the extent that the P5/10 Rev4 was, preserving what was good while adding newer must-haves like MIDI, better build quality, etc.  but most importantly capturing that original tone, snappiness of the envelopes and overall sound.

I'm very much a "tone" snob.  I know what I like when I hear it, and it is usually the primary reason I buy a hardware synth (or even a guitar for that matter) except for rare specific use cases.  So I've been keeping an eye on this one, because of all the references to it being like a 4 voice Pro One.  In many of the videos, I just haven't heard anything that resembles Pro One territory...  in most of the videos it sounds more like it has "integrated chipset artifacts" like I hear in the Take5, TEO5, Pro3, etc. demos...

... But then I remind myself, I had a similar reaction to the OB-6 for quite some time after it's release.  I just didn't hear demos that inspired me to pull the trigger on the purchase.  But then I heard a demo (I don't know where), maybe it was recorded better or whatever.  And I was like "there it is, I can sign up for that"....   So I got an OB-6 and never regretted it, it's a keeper and still one of my favorites.

So today I ran across the video below.  And I'm starting to hear something in the tone and envelopes that I like (skip to the sound clips at the end).  I already know I like the P5 filter, I have it on other synths.  So for me to be interested in this it can't be for my regular polysynth use case (4 voices isn't really enough for that)....  if it's going to do the Pro One thing it needs to do it right (most poly synths don't fully fulfill the need mono synths do, as odd as that might sound, but some still do it quite well, the P6 being an example).

So, I dunno, maybe one of these is in my future.  INHALT seems to really like it and I know he's definitely a Pro One guy.

I do like the ergonomics of it.  So it's just a matter of keeping an eye on it and deciding about the tone.  Yeah I get it about the slim keys, but after the tiny keys of the Keystep Pro I'm okay with small keys for certain things.

Some of the Internet scuttlebutt has been a bit hard on it for now but I'm still keeping an open mind.  Folks have to remember, the original Pro One was not a well-built piece of gear and a lot of great musicians got their start with budget or downmarket products and made their best music with cheap stuff.  Not every instrument needs to be top of the line.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPwovHgGFgE

[darkestyugo]

I was really surprised after watching the initial release video followed by the Andertons and Sweetwater videos, that it was already in stock and available to order. The usual timeline has it that there is a "leak" of a new synth in the week or so before a big trade show followed by everyone posting youtube videos to really hype the new synth and then the long months of debate about when it's actually hitting the shops.
Seeing it available straight away was really refreshing and prompted me to instantly purchase one!

[LPF83]

I was really surprised after watching the initial release video followed by the Andertons and Sweetwater videos, that it was already in stock and available to order. The usual timeline has it that there is a "leak" of a new synth in the week or so before a big trade show followed by everyone posting youtube videos to really hype the new synth and then the long months of debate about when it's actually hitting the shops.
Seeing it available straight away was really refreshing and prompted me to instantly purchase one!

Sequential has always been good in this regard... no long running hype train by marketing people floating ideas to use consumers as guinea pigs, checking for idea validation before deciding where to spend, and then maybe developing and releasing 5 years later...  You learn about it when it's here 

[jok3r]

Just touched this thing at Thomann. I didn‘t even turn it on… the feel of the keybed is even worse than I imagined. The lightest plastic keys I ever touched.

I have a 30 year old Bontempi children‘s keyboard. The keys on that feel premium compared to the Fourm.

I have no need of poly AT in a keybed that is otherwise untouchable…

[darkestyugo]

The "slim keys" were presumably a conscious design choice and a little exploration into an untapped market. The fact that a large number of youtube videos showing off modular gear or desktop synths will have an Arturia Keystep 37 shows there is certainly a place for slim keys.
They make sense where space is limited and there just isn't room for large 5-octave plus full-sized keyboards. Additionally,  not everyone is a classically trained pianist who can only use full size keys and don't have any issue using them.
These aren't mini keys like on the original Microkorg. In fact, they are bigger than the keystep 37 keys and feel nicer than those on the minilogue series which have also sold rather well.
I personally think they feel really nice for what they are and certainly don't detract from the experience of using it. I'm even enjoying it more than the Prophet 5 desktop/keystep 37 combination I'd been using previously.
It's definitely worth turning one on, hearing it in the flesh and actually feeling how expressive the poly aftertouch is.