Sequential Fourm or Take 5: Which One Sounds Better?
Which synth sounds better: the Sequential Fourm or Take 5? This YouTuber went to great lengths to produce a detailed side-by-side comparison of the two Sequential synths.
Sequential Fourm or Take 5?
If you want that polyphonic Sequential sound but don’t want to splurge on a Prophet-6 or even Prophet-5, you now have a choice between two more budget-friendly synths: the Sequential Fourm or Take 5. At first glance, the two have a lot in common: both are analog, both have two oscillators per voice, and both have filters derived from the mighty Prophet-5. So what exactly are the differences, and which synth sounds better: the Sequential Fourm or Take 5?
The five-voice Take 5 – the last Sequential synth to be released during Dave Smith’s lifetime – is designed as a compact performance synth. Its dual oscillators have continuously variable waveforms. The filter was lifted directly from the reissued Prophet-5, as was the Vintage knob. The Take 5 also has a sequencer and more modulation options: it offers two envelope generators and two LFOs, as well as a flexible system for assigning modulations. The digital effects section, which is similar to the one found in many other modern-day Sequential synths, is another advantage of the Take 5.
The four-voice, even more affordable Fourm has mini keys – a first for Sequential. Quite remarkably, however, these are equipped with polyphonic aftertouch, which makes the Fourm stand out among all other current Sequential offerings. Here, too, you get two VCOs per voice, but their waveforms (sawtooth, pulse) are fixed. The low-pass filter and the two envelopes are derived from the Prophet-5, while the modulation system resembles that of the Pro One. Speaking of: the Fourm has inherited a lot of the raw spirit of the Pro One: true Sequential sound, but affordable, direct, and almost a little snotty – a real punk synthesizer.
If you have to choose between the Sequential Fourm or Take 5, you may be wondering how the two differ in detail. YouTuber Infested Alien has produced not one, but two videos comparing the oscillators, filters, and other sound-shaping features of the two synths. While the videos aren’t particularly exciting, they do a great job of highlighting the differences and, even more so, the similarities. Of course, there’s so much more to a synth than the sound of an isolated oscillator or filter. But if you’ve always wanted to know how the Sequential Fourm and the Take 5 sound in a direct comparison, here’s your answer!
The desktop and keyboard versions of the Sequential Take 5 and the Fourm are available from Thomann*.
More Information
- Sequential Fourm product page
- Sequential Take 5 product page
- The History Of Sequential: Celebrating 50 Years of Sequential
- Curtis Chip Off The Old Block – Why do synths sound different?
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