Gear

Sequential Trigon-6: 6-voice Analog Polysynth, Dave Smith’s Final Synthesizer

Since the passing of its creator, Dave Smith, Sequential has now unveiled its first new synthesiser. The Sequential Trigon-6. A polysynth with six voices and 49 keys and it combines the best features of the OB-6 and Prophet-6, two extremely popular synthesizers made by Sequential, and includes a legendary c core component.

Under the Hood

Three freshly created VCOs with a simultaneous selection of triangle saw, and pulse waves are featured. Oscillators 1 and 2 can be firmly synced, and each oscillator features pulse width modulation (PWM). After that, the signal passes through a switchable 12/24 dB resonant ladder filter (2/4 pole) with settings for cutoff and resonance as well as drive and feedback, which release more power.

On the modulation side, there are two ADSR envelopes and a 5-waveform syncable LFO. The filter envelope and oscillator 3—both with bi-polar control—are sources of modulation. This allows you to convert oscillator 3 into a second LFO. Destinations include ‘Osc1/2/3’ frequency values, ‘Osc1/2/3’ pulse width, filter cutoff, and feedback.

It also contains Sequential’s most well-known Poly Mod, which you may use to generate frequency modulation. A creative 64-step polyphonic sequencer and arpeggiator are also included in Trigon-6, and both can be used from the front panel.

Dual 24bt/48kHz FX sections are loaded with a variety of algorithms, including chorus, flanger, phaser, reverb (both regular and BBD delays), flanger, and “studio-grade” ring modulation. All of them have a genuine bypass that keeps an entirely analogue signal path active when digital effects are turned off. Additionally, you receive a stereo analogue Distortion that is excellent for giving the character of your sounds.

The Trigon-6 can be played as a classic 6-voice polysynth but also has a unison mode with a configurable voice count. There s also a chord memory and different key modes.

A USB port for two-way MIDI communication, 5-pole MIDI In, Out, and Thru ports, left/mono and right audio outputs (1/4′′ jacks), and a stereo headphone output are all located on the back of the device. Additionally, there are inputs for the expression (volume) and filter cutoff pedals, sustain pedals, and sequencer start/stop.

On the reverse, there are left/mono and right audio outputs (1/4′′ jacks), a USB port for bi-directional MIDI connection, 5-pole MIDI In, Out, and Thru connectors, and a stereo headphone output. Additionally, inputs for sustain pedals, filter cutoff and expression (volume) pedals, and sequencer start/stop are present.

The four-octave semi-weighted keyboard on Trigon-6 has channel aftertouch and velocity response. Along with polyphonic scope portamento, it incorporates lighted pitch and modulation wheels.

Will it measure up to the other six voice polys? Will this compete with companies like Arturia and their amazing Polybrute? We’ll have to wait and see, but Sequential have a devoted fan base.

Specs

OSCILLATORS

Three discrete VCOs per voice
Simultaneously selectable wave shapes: triangle, sawtooth, reverse sawtooth, and variable-width pulse
Pulse width per oscillator
Hard sync: oscillator 1 syncs to oscillator 2
Keyboard tracking on/off (oscillator 3)
Oscillator feedback and drive controls for increased signal saturation
White Noise source
Keyboard pitch tracking on/off

LOW-PASS FILTER

Switchable two/four-pole, discrete, resonant, low-pass, ladder filter per voice
The filter can be driven into self-oscillation with the Resonance control
Bi-polar filter envelope amount
Velocity modulation of envelope amount
Keyboard tracking: off, half, full

FILTER ENVELOPE

Four-stage (ADSR) envelope generator
Velocity modulation of envelope amount

AMPLIFIER ENVELOPE

Four-stage (ADSR) envelope generator
Velocity modulation of envelope amount

LOW-FREQUENCY OSCILLATOR

Five wave shapes: sine, sawtooth, reverse sawtooth, square, and random (sample and hold)
LFO sync
Initial amount
Mod destinations: oscillator 1 frequency, oscillator 2 frequency, oscillator 3 frequency, oscillator 1 pulse width, oscillator 2 pulse width, oscillator 3 pulse width, filter cutoff, amp (VCA)

POLY MOD

Sources: oscillator 3 (bi-polar) and filter envelope (bi-polar)
Destinations: oscillator 1 frequency, oscillator 2 frequency, oscillator 3 frequency, oscillator 1 pulse width, oscillator 2 pulse width, filter cutoff, feedback amount

VINTAGE KNOB

Recreates vintage synth characteristics by adding voice-to-voice variations in component behaviour

AFTERTOUCH

Source: channel (mono) aftertouch with the bi-polar amount
Destinations: Destinations: oscillator 1 frequency, oscillator 2 frequency, oscillator 3 frequency, LFO amount, amplifier envelope amount, filter envelope amount, FX mix A, FX mix B

CLOCK

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

ARPEGGIATOR

Selectable note value: 16th note, 8th note triplet, 8th note, dotted 8th note, quarter note
One, two, or three octave range
Up, down, up/down, random, and assign modes

SEQUENCER

Polyphonic step sequencer with up to 64 steps and rests

EFFECTS

Stereo analog distortion
Dual, 24-bit, 48 kHz digital effects, including reverb (room, hall, plate, spring), delay (full bandwidth digital delay and emulated bucket brigade), chorus, flanger, phase shifter, and ring modulator
Delay sync
True bypass maintains a fully analog signal path when digital effects are off

PERFORMANCE CONTROLS

Full-sized, semi-weighted, 4-octave keyboard with velocity and aftertouch
Backlit pitch and mod wheels
Spring-loaded pitch wheel with a selectable range per program (1 to 12 semitones up and down)
Transpose controls for an 8-octave range
Hold switch latches held notes on
Polyphonic portamento
Unison (monophonic) mode with configurable voice count, from one to all six voices, chord memory, and key modes
Preset switch: when on, the front panel is live — what you see is what you hear

PATCH MEMORY

500 user and 500 factory programs in 10 banks of 100 programs each
Direct program access, including single-button access to the current set of 10 programs

IN/OUT

Left/mono and right audio outputs (2 x 1/4” phone jack)
Headphone output (stereo, 1/4” phone jack)
MIDI in, out, and thru ports
USB for bidirectional MIDI communication
Filter cutoff expression pedal input
Volume expression pedal input
Sustain footswitch input
Sequencer start/stop footswitch input

POWER

IEC AC power inlet for internal power supply
Operates worldwide on voltages between 100 and 240 volts at 50 to 60 Hz; 30 watts maximum power consumption