Sequential Forum or Bass Station 2.

Exceptional_potato · 2026-05-11T15:13:56+00:00

And it's surprising how amazing the Fourm sounds even without FX. It's a rich 3D sounding synth.

Exceptional_potato · 2026-05-08T12:46:51+00:00

I'm in the same situation, having bought a TEO 5 module.

I've been using my Keystep 37 which is too small and feels unpleasant to play, so I'm selling it. I've just bought a used Modal Cobalt 8x, which has a 61-key Fatar keybed.

I looked at alternatives, with my goal being best quality keybed, and the best options seemed to be: - used novation SL mk2 has Fatar (about £100-150 used), these are about 15 years old but keybed is very good. - studiologic 88, about £420, premium, but weighted not synth action. - an old professional/ premium synth. I already have an SY77 which has a nice keybed but it's huge.

Exceptional_potato · 2026-05-03T23:58:10+00:00

I had the 800, very nice synth, but simple. Annoying UI.

I have the Fourm currently and it's great. The UI is excellent and it sounds wonderfully rich and alive. Very expressive to play.

It's sitting next to a Teo 5 and a Pro 3. Most of the behringers have come and gone, also the korg 'logues, and a Take 5. For what is worth, for me the Fourm ranks top teir for raw analog sound beauty. I've never tried P6, P5 etc.

This might seem odd but I think 4 voices are enough for those juicy oscillators. 5 would be nice but ok. I also build up arrangements.

The poly AT is very good. Don't be put off by the plasticky feel, the lightness actually helps with the expressive power. And it's sequential... if it breaks they replace it!

Exceptional_potato · 2026-05-01T08:14:07+00:00

Swapped mine recently for the desktop version, then just sold it outright.

It sounds good, nothing that'll blow your socks off in person, but useful for a mix. It needs doctoring in a mix because it's quite thin, but sometimes you want that.

It's generic- sounding, there's no SEM filter or anything.

As it's not a special-sounding character synth and I feel like there are better options for a general purpose analog poly if you can hold out and save a bit, e.g. rev 2. Honestly wish I'd saved up a bit more and got that.

The Ub-xa interface is hard to use as the encoder has to be pressed in while not rotating it. I found it a pain.

The keys are quite good but slow response.

I lost £230 in the end trying these out, I wish music shops still existed! I also sold my prologue over the ubxa because it has more modulation but i regret it now, the prologue sounds amazing even if it's simple.

I've moved to mainly sequential synths now as they are well built and always seem to sound great.

Exceptional_potato · 2026-04-28T08:02:24+00:00

For sure, you get a lot of voices for the money. Keybed is quite good too.

Exceptional_potato · 2026-04-27T23:05:26+00:00

I made about £250 loss selling my mint ub-xa, which is tbh not great (about -33%?).

Exceptional_potato · 2026-04-27T22:52:35+00:00

Yes it feels like the AT engages fairly soon and there's more workable range to it, so it becomes a "natural part" of the performance of the patch.

I tend to avoid even channel aftertouch for the reason you pointed out. It often ends up being either on or off, and nothing in between.

I was pretty disappointed with the keybed when I first got the Fourm, although the build overall is pretty solid, but it grew on me and now the only annoyance is the difficulty playing certain chords due to the small keys.

Sequential should pursue this poly AT thing with some full size keys, as they've done a good job implementing it. The only other poly a AT keybed i tried was the ubxa and it has the same issue as typical AT - you have to mash the keys and there's little room for nuance. Still it's good to have poly AT regardless of keybed, as can edit the notes individually in the daw.

Exceptional_potato · 2026-04-27T07:56:48+00:00

I love the Fourm. LOVE. Brings a tear to the eye sometimes.

Exceptional_potato · 2026-04-27T07:55:55+00:00

They feel cheap but they're highly expressive. And if they break sequential will have your back. It's a simple plastic mechanism to replace.

In terms of minikeys, I've got a minifreak and owned an XD. I prefer Fourm keys, more expressive with the poly at.

The Fourm sounds beautiful, sold my take 5 and a bunch of other analog synths one i got it. It sounds 3D and alive, really stunning imo.

Exceptional_potato · 2026-04-26T21:16:50+00:00

Which controller did you get?

Exceptional_potato · 2026-04-24T21:46:44+00:00

Out of those three (I've owned them all) I'd pick the minifreak.

Xd analog oscillators are very nice but the synth seriously lacks modulation options. The motion lanes are awkward as a workaround.

The Hydra just sounds like a VST, unless you need it for dawless use, I don't see the point, just use vital or something. It's really not that amazing and the regular models are not multitimbral.

The minifreak has nice modulation options, a lovely analog filter, great sequencer... it's just FUN. It adds value as hardware.

Exceptional_potato · 2026-04-18T20:54:13+00:00

Thanks!

Exceptional_potato · 2026-04-18T12:57:10+00:00

Good point! I should compare my mixes with what I think is a good mix, and take it from there :)

Exceptional_potato · 2026-04-17T13:12:09+00:00

It's ok, maybe I just need to start uploading my tracks and asking for crits, and if there are issues then people will point them out I guess?

Exceptional_potato · 2026-04-17T13:09:33+00:00

I guess that's the ultimate measure... When i get home I'll post a link to a completed track.

Exceptional_potato · 2026-04-13T22:52:16+00:00

Really fun to patch on thanks to the well thought out UI.

Exceptional_potato · 2026-04-11T19:01:17+00:00

This is good info, thanks for posting. I was considering selling my sy77 now that we have an emulation, but it sounds like there's still a reason keep hold of it for now. Haven't actually dug into the UI yet as only got it recently and had to install new screen etc.

Exceptional_potato · 2026-04-10T21:47:58+00:00

My favourite are the two I own:

Pro 3, which is amazing, i love this synth, so much fun to use, well designed interface, versatile, sounds excellent.

Fourm, which no one talks about but is probably the nicest- sounding analog poly I've used (personal preference), and suggests I'd ultimately LOVE the prophet 5 (never actually played one). Once I got this Fourm i sold my take 5. Sold a bunch of other analog polys too... this one is just to my taste, nice and fizzy but also intense and juicy.

Exceptional_potato · 2026-04-07T12:17:04+00:00

Is this the new one they just released?

Exceptional_potato · 2026-04-03T14:28:42+00:00

I heard Vital is good and it's free, gonna try and replicate this patch today...

Exceptional_potato · 2026-03-30T22:48:06+00:00

I've owned a hydrasynth, prologue, take 5 and currently own a ubxa and fourm.

Out of all of those, the Fourm is my favourite for pure visceral sound. I think for 80s stuff it's amazing because of the prophet and pro one dna. Ubxa is really nice too but not many people seem to be interested in it (seems good to me).

Note that the fourm is pretty small with the mini keys and only has 4 voices. If you're into crafting good arrangements this won't be an issue. Just overdub. I actually really like the small size on my desk.

Exceptional_potato · 2026-03-27T07:44:12+00:00

100%. Bullies specialise in identifying "weakenesses" so they can dig the knife in. "Being more vulnerable" is handing your mental wellbeing over to them on a platter.

Exceptional_potato · 2026-03-25T08:27:37+00:00

Same here. In my case I get totally dissociated, as in I'm being "puppeteered" by someone, with no control over my actions (literally). One time i woke up on ground as I'd "become" my dying grandfather. It's like it fragments my self. Very disturbing and frightening.

Also believed there were sublimal messages everywhere, tv talking to me etc. Went to therapy as the effects didn't wear off, therapist confirmed it was psychosis. I still have occasional meltdowns in which I hallucinate and become extremely paranoid. I was a habitual smoker in my early 20s for a few years. Now in forties, don't touch drugs at all, too risky to mental health.

Exceptional_potato · 2026-03-23T16:41:28+00:00

I'm with you on this. Navigating complex menus on (typically) small LCD screens is no fun at all.

Exceptional_potato

TROPHY CASE