Sequential has introduced the Fourm, a new four-voice analog synth with polyphonic aftertouch.
It’s not only Sequential’s most affordable polyphonic synth, but the Fourm is the company’s most affordable synthesizer to date.
The Sequential Fourm is a compact, 100% analog instrument that features an “a uniquely responsive polyphonic aftertouch keyboard” It features four analog voices, derived from the iconic Prophet-5 – complete with dual oscillators, a classic 4-pole lowpass filter, and envelope curves modeled after the 1978 original. The result is classic Sequential warmth and punch, but now with overdriven feedback to expand your sound design options.
For the first time in 40 years, Sequential has returned to polyphonic aftertouch. The team developed the new Tactive slim-keys poly AT keybed to work in concert with Fourm’s analog synthesis engine. Every element was co-designed and calibrated to unlock new levels of expression.
“We’re so excited to bring this innovative all-analog keyboard into the world,” said David Gibbons, Sequential CEO. “At a price-point that most people expect to pay for a monophonic synth, we think this product will invite legions of musicians who have longed for the magic of polyphonic analog sounds to start their journey of discovery with Sequential.”
The top panel is inspired by the Pro~One, putting deep sound design at your fingertips, with no menu diving required. Modulation sources and destinations are clearly labeled, connections are made with a button press, and color-coded indicators make even complex routings easy to manage.
Pricing and Availability:
The Sequential Fourm is available now, priced at $999.99 USD.
poly aftertouch with mini keys? gtfo.
Slim keys are not the same thing as mini keys.
Oh god won’t someone please think of my massive unwieldy shovel-like hands
Slim does not equal mini, trust me, as someone with synthesizers that have both, it is a noticable difference…of course full size is better.
I think the ASM Hydrasynth Explorer has true mini keys and polyphonic aftertouch if that is what you are looking for.
A Sequential board that I don’t want- that’s a first!
I miss Dave.
Hmmm…as a mostly happy owner of a Dave Smith Mopho x4, I thought this might be a decent replacement until they mentioned the slim keys. Guess it depends on how slim is “slim”.
DS should be “rolling over in his grave” if he sees the abomination of this keybed for poly aftertouch!
Meh.
It’s bang average.
I hope it is still assembled by the original team and they kept their jobs, would be a shame if we got this price point by having it fully built in China.
The Pro2 + Vermona Perfourmer MkII at hand should do quite fine for me, thank you.
Another Prophet 5 based synth? It’s groundhog Day at Sequential HQ!
Old synth dude day
this advert was pretty horrible
synth sounds ok though
The testimonial clearly shows the DS team that he has 10 fingers, not just 4…
please, it’s for the accordion players
I haven’t actually heard the sound in person yet, but I can no longer sense the “Dave Smith touch.” I first experienced poly aftertouch with the ASM mini keyboard, and its form factor is excellent. Still, even though this synth is presented as analog, I can’t help but feel that it resembles the ASM mini more strongly. Lower prices are nice, of course, but rather than seeing the quality of a synth drop because of the price, I would prefer the price to rise if it means the quality goes up as well.
This suddently makes both the Dreadbox Artemis and the PWM Mantis seem like a bit of bargain. And thank god for the used market where you still find capable synths like the Novation Peak and the Korg Prologues.
This Sequential offering is definitely not for me!
Hard pass!
Basically a Pro-One with four voices and patch memory – which is exactly what I‘ve been hoping for. And it sounds excellent! As someone who makes music with sequencers, I couldn’t care less about the keys.
your sequencers will be very happy
Might be the first Sequential synth with polyphonic aftertouch since the era of the Prophet T8??
checks out since it came out in 1983
Hopefully that will be the next synth they revive! no that i’d be able to afford it lol…but T8 is such a beautiful instrument, just happy to know that it exists! I wish more synths felt like that.
The keybed is something else. Also used in the Synclavier.
I feel like the coolest thing about this synth is the FOURM logo.
come on now guys minikeys are not all that bad. it’s nicer for playing wide chords, frees up your other hand to work the control even on nice big unisons 13ths or riffs with big jumps etc., My peprsonal favourite sequential product from recent years was the pro3 tho, sound-wise. The price and minikeys polyAT is actually a big draw point too however heh.
Come on now…you’re going against the grumpy groupthink here with some practical insight….seriously though, it sounds and looks great and a good price
DCOs or VCOs?
VCO’s
VCOs
If i were to design a synth, I have 2 conflicting thoughts. 1. I don’t have anymore room. 2. I like the synth to have keys for when I just want to turn it on and play. So I need small w a keyboard. .
Slim keys, and not. Alot of them is the design choice id make.
PS -this sounds really fresh.ypu can hear the complexity given w the poly afterthought hearing modulation only on some notes. Very new. A good opportunity for an artist to create a new vision.
Might this mean that another Focusrite member (Novation?) will come out with a PolyAT controller based on the tech here? Not yet found the ideal PolyAT controller
Looks like FR is squeezing ever drop out of the acquisition of Sequential becoming a Roland reuse, recycle, recombine shop. Not the same DS/Sequential as before which had a clear differentiation between products. Does not look like there is going to be any real innovation anymore. Tried many keybeds but always came back to the one on the Rev2.