RECORDING October 2022 - 62

REVIEW
Sequential
Take 5
A compact poly-synth
from one of the most
respected names in
analog synthesizers
Connections
REVIEW BY PAUL VNUK JR.
T
he Sequential Take 5
represents the most compact,
portable and affordable
entry into the Sequential universe
of sounds. Its five-voice architecture
is beautifully analog, coupled
with a full complement of digitally
controlled modulation and effects.
Dave Smith (1950-2022)
Instrument designer Dave Smith sadly
passed away earlier this year on May
31. After founding Sequential Circuits
(1974-1989), Dave was at the forefront
of synthesizer, sequencer and drum
machine technology for almost five decades.
Notable accomplishments include
the Prophet-5, the development of MIDI
and the world's first soft-synth. In 2002
he launched Dave Smith Instruments (DSI)
before regaining the Sequential name in
2018. Last year Sequential was acquired
by the Focusrite group, and the first release
under this partnership is the Take 5.
Let's Take 5
The Take 5 measures 25.5 " x 12.75 "
x 3.75 " . It features an all-metal chassis
with plastic molded end caps. The
3.5-octave keybed is made by Fatar and
features 44 full-size keys. On top are 36
pots, 10 rotary encoders, a large filter
knob, 50 backlit push buttons, a small
alphanumeric display screen, and top
located pitch and mod wheels.
62 RECORDING October 2022
On the back, you will find 1
/4
" jacks
for headphones, stereo output, sustain
pedal and a footswitch. You also get
traditional MIDI I/O and USB. Power
is supplied with a conventional IEC
main connector.
Zen and the Art of the Take 5
The Take 5 five-voice architecture
sports two analog VCOs. The VCF is an
analog four-pole, resonant low-pass filter
based upon Dave's classic Prophet-5
Rev 4 filter. From there, it's all digital.
The Take 5 is a Zen-like balance of features
and economy. Most controls are
single function with minimal menu diving
or internal features. What you get
is well chosen and smartly implemented.
Analog
The analog oscillators are continuously
variable from sine and sawtooth
to various pulse width options. You also
get hard sync, a sub-oscillator (on Osc.
1), independent keyboard tracking for
each oscillator and Frequency Modulation
(FM) options.
While very similar to past Sequential
offerings, the analog filter is a tad more
rounded and less biting in the extreme
high-end than most of the Prophet family.
I
may actually like its smoothness
and warmth better. To my ears, smooth,
warm and rich define the overall sound
of the Take 5.
I also like the large, super smooth filter
knob, which makes it a joy to play and
tweak with musical precision.
Digital
Diving into the digital side, you get two
LFOs, two envelopes, two effects processors,
a mixer with pink and white noise, an
arpeggiator, 64-step sequencer, overdrive,
glide, vintage mode, unison and clock/
tempo control. There is also well-implemented
aftertouch and velocity sensitivity.
LFOs and Envelopes
LFO 1 is global, and LFO 2 can be used
per voice. While traditionally Envelope 1
controls the filter and Envelope 2 is the
amp, you can set Envelope 2 to control
both. This frees up Envelope 1 as an auxiliary
modulation source. Also, both offer a
delay option to the onset of the envelope.
ARPs, Sequences and Unison
The arpeggiator offers multiple classic
modes, a cool note repeat option and a
three-octave range.
The sequencer is fantastically simple.
Each step/note is solely played from the
keyboard, with the option of rests and
ties. There is no control of velocity or level,
nor muting and tweaking as it plays.
Unison mode is quite lovely on the
Take 5 with the option to add up to five
voices with seven detune options, as
well as a single-finger chord mode.
Effected
There are two digital effects sections,
three if you count the standalone overdrive
knob-great for
roughing
this
synth up. The first section can be set
to chorus, flanger, phaser, digital highpass
filter, ring mod, a choice of four

RECORDING October 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of RECORDING October 2022

Fade In
Fast Forward
Warm Audio WA-47F & WA-CX12X
The Nostalgic, Futurist Piano Man: Daniel Lanois Player, Piano
Focusrite Clarett+ OctoPre
Session Log: Ribbon Microphones
ADK Microphones: Munich-7-T T-FET
Moog Music Mavis
Inside The Studio With Mark Hornsby: Cool Mics by Non-Mic Companies
Heiserman Audio H251
Plugin Outlet: sonible smart:comp 2
AEA TRP500
Inside The Box with Joe Albano: Virtual Preamps
Pearlman Microphones TM-12A
MasterWriter
Sequential Take 5
Mojave MA-D
TIERRA Audio New Twenties
RECORDING October 2022 - Intro
RECORDING October 2022 - Cover1
RECORDING October 2022 - Cover2
RECORDING October 2022 - 1
RECORDING October 2022 - 2
RECORDING October 2022 - 3
RECORDING October 2022 - Fade In
RECORDING October 2022 - 5
RECORDING October 2022 - 6
RECORDING October 2022 - 7
RECORDING October 2022 - Fast Forward
RECORDING October 2022 - 9
RECORDING October 2022 - Warm Audio WA-47F & WA-CX12X
RECORDING October 2022 - 11
RECORDING October 2022 - 12
RECORDING October 2022 - 13
RECORDING October 2022 - 14
RECORDING October 2022 - 15
RECORDING October 2022 - The Nostalgic, Futurist Piano Man: Daniel Lanois Player, Piano
RECORDING October 2022 - 17
RECORDING October 2022 - 18
RECORDING October 2022 - 19
RECORDING October 2022 - 20
RECORDING October 2022 - 21
RECORDING October 2022 - 22
RECORDING October 2022 - 23
RECORDING October 2022 - 24
RECORDING October 2022 - 25
RECORDING October 2022 - Focusrite Clarett+ OctoPre
RECORDING October 2022 - 27
RECORDING October 2022 - 28
RECORDING October 2022 - 29
RECORDING October 2022 - Session Log: Ribbon Microphones
RECORDING October 2022 - 31
RECORDING October 2022 - 32
RECORDING October 2022 - 33
RECORDING October 2022 - 34
RECORDING October 2022 - 35
RECORDING October 2022 - 36
RECORDING October 2022 - 37
RECORDING October 2022 - 38
RECORDING October 2022 - 39
RECORDING October 2022 - ADK Microphones: Munich-7-T T-FET
RECORDING October 2022 - 41
RECORDING October 2022 - Moog Music Mavis
RECORDING October 2022 - 43
RECORDING October 2022 - Inside The Studio With Mark Hornsby: Cool Mics by Non-Mic Companies
RECORDING October 2022 - 45
RECORDING October 2022 - 46
RECORDING October 2022 - 47
RECORDING October 2022 - Heiserman Audio H251
RECORDING October 2022 - 49
RECORDING October 2022 - Plugin Outlet: sonible smart:comp 2
RECORDING October 2022 - 51
RECORDING October 2022 - AEA TRP500
RECORDING October 2022 - 53
RECORDING October 2022 - Inside The Box with Joe Albano: Virtual Preamps
RECORDING October 2022 - 55
RECORDING October 2022 - 56
RECORDING October 2022 - 57
RECORDING October 2022 - Pearlman Microphones TM-12A
RECORDING October 2022 - 59
RECORDING October 2022 - MasterWriter
RECORDING October 2022 - 61
RECORDING October 2022 - Sequential Take 5
RECORDING October 2022 - 63
RECORDING October 2022 - Mojave MA-D
RECORDING October 2022 - 65
RECORDING October 2022 - 66
RECORDING October 2022 - 67
RECORDING October 2022 - 68
RECORDING October 2022 - 69
RECORDING October 2022 - 70
RECORDING October 2022 - 71
RECORDING October 2022 - TIERRA Audio New Twenties
RECORDING October 2022 - Cover3
RECORDING October 2022 - Cover4
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