Sequential Pro 3 Synthesizer Now Shipping & Interview With Dave Smith

February 4, 2020 Synth Anatomy Hardware, News, Synthesizers 0

Sequential showed the Pro 3 at NAMM 2020, a new hybrid Synthesizer that is now shipping and in a new interview, Dave Smith gives an insight into the Pro Synth world.

Looking back at this year’s NAMM, the new Sequential Pro 3 was one of the highlights of the synthesizer. No wonder, it combines the latest analog and digital technology in a new deep hardware Synthesizer. The Pro 3 features two VCOs, one digital wavetable oscillator and three vintage-style analog filters from the iconic synth designers: Prophet-6 (Dave Smith, OB-6 (Tom Oberheim) & Ladder (Bob Moog).

All this is supported by a big selection of super flexible routable modulators (3 LFOs, 4 loopable ADSR + delay envelopes), a performance-oriented sequencer and many effects including an all-analog distortion unit. It is also compatible with modular synthesizers and other gear via its four rear-panel control voltage inputs and outputs.

Shipping Now

Feature Highlights

2 analog oscillators + 1 DSP-based digital wavetable oscillator (32 wavetables)
white noise generator + hard sync, per-oscillator glide, oscillator slop
3-voice paraphonic
3 classic analog filters (Prophet 6, transistor ladder filter & state-variable filter)
3 sync-able LFOs with 5 waveshapes, phase offset and slew per LFO
4 envelopes (filter, VCA and two auxiliary envelopes, all can repeat/loop
32-slot modulation matrix that runs at audio rates with over 46 mod sources and over 171 mod destinations
analog distortion
dual digital effects (stereo delay, BBD delay, chorus, flanger, phaser, ring mod, vintage rotating speaker, distortion, high-pass filter, super plate reverb)
16-track advanced sequencer with three modes:
normal, gated and trigger, 16 tracks and 4 linkable 16-step phrases
per-step ratcheting, duration, and velocity. Sequences freely assignable to any modulation destination
sophisticated arpeggiator with up, down, up+down, random, assign modes including re-latching arpeggiation
over 60 knobs and 70 buttons enable deep, comprehensive editing with minimal menu diving
full-sized, three-octave, semi-weighted keyboard with velocity and aftertouch
512 user and 512 factory programs
4 control voltages ins & outs and gate out
MIDI In, MIDI Out, MIDI Thru/Out 2 port, USB for bidirectional MIDI communication
external audio input, main stereo output & headphone out.

Interview Dave Smith, Founder Of Sequential & Developer Of The Pro 3 Synthesizer

I had the opportunity to interview Dave Smith in his Zen Synthesizer suite near the convention center. We discuss where the Synthesizer market should go, what he thinks of Pro-1 clones (Behringer) and of course, I got an in-depth look at the new Pro 3 Synthesizer including some answers to deeper feature questions.