Sequential Unveils Take 5 Synthesizer v2.0 Software Update

San Francisco, CA - Sequential, a leading manufacturer of synthesizers and electronic musical instruments,

has announced the release of the Take 5 v2.0 software update, bringing a host of new features and

enhancements that further extend the capabilities of this portable polyphonic analog synthesizer.

This free software update includes an additional 128 Preset and 128 User memory locations, doubling the

previous sound bank size. The Factory bank expansion is filled with imaginative new sounds created by some

of the world’s leading sound designers and synthesists. These sounds range from classic analog-style patches

to modern, cinematic soundscapes that will give artists a competitive edge in modern music production.

Take 5 v2.0 also provides new synthesis features that dramatically expand the creative possibilities for sound

design. This includes capabilities like Envelope Repeat, which allows users to create evolving and complex

sounds by looping sections of the synth’s envelopes, and LFO Slew, which smooths over wave shapes to

enable more organic and musical modulations. These are especially useful for creating ambient, drone, and

experimental sounds, adding new dimensions to any performance.

One of the most exciting new features is the addition of a Lo-Fi effect emulating the sound of time-worn analog

tape machines. Featuring controls for wow and flutter, playback head azimuth, and tape drive amount, the Lo-

Fi effect can be used to add anything from a gritty character, through to a full-blown “busted tape deck” vibe,

imparting a new level of vintage flavor to any of Take 5’s sounds.

“In the 18 months since we introduced it, thousands of Take 5 synths have gone around the world and

introduced many musicians to the feeling of Sequential for the first time,” said David Gibbons, CEO. “We hope

these new sounds excite and inspire existing owners and new Take 5 players alike.”

The Take 5 v2.0 software update includes numerous new features and several bug fixes and is available now

as a free download for all Take 5 owners at the Sequential website. For more information about the Take 5

synthesizer and its v2.0 software update, visit us at:

https://www.sequential.com/take-5-v2-update

About Sequential:

Sequential was founded in 1974 by legendary synth designer Dave Smith and has been at the forefront

of electronic music technology ever since. From the groundbreaking Prophet-5 synthesizer to the modern

Trigon-6, Sequential has consistently pushed the boundaries of what is possible with electronic instruments,

and has become a go-to choice for musicians, producers, and sound designers around the world.

The Take 5 v2.0 update launch video can be found here:

https://youtu.be/JlZRga0PxCs

Sequential Take 5

Something new from Sequential is always a cause for excitement and this one could have a wide appeal. It reports to combine the sound of the Prophet-5 Rev4 including the Vintage knob for dialing in the authenticity with reverb and other digital effects. The form factor reflects a bit of the Pro-3 in being neat and accessible while pushing the mod and pitchbend wheels into the main synth area. The price that was listed on the Aptmusic.eu site before it was pulled was €1074 making it the most affordable Sequential synth yet.

In the details, we find it’s a 5-voice polysynth like the Prophet-5 with two oscillators per voice and continuously variable waveshapes. There’s a sub-oscillator, hard sync, noise, and FM available on the front panel. The filter is based on the Prophet-5 Rev4 design with a 4-pole resonant architecture, self-oscillation, and bi-polar envelope response. There are two assignable envelopes and a single LFO with multiple waveshapes. On the effects side, there’s a dedicated reverb and a dedicated distortion plus a multi-effects slot with delay, chorus, phasing, and other modulation effects. It has an Arp and sequencer with 3 and a half octaves of full-sized keys with velocity and aftertouch.

Features (preliminary):

• 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)