Sequential Circuits Split-8

Very Easy to program,With no manual had patches saving within the first day!Fixing was easy also as nice on inside as it is on out.

No sequencer or expansion that i know of,Has some effects that sound nice got nice filters cutoff and resonance etc.(thats what it's all about!)

Could fit in well with any style music it is had a very pro sound.
Can build great bass,Brass,Rising electo synth sounds,endless I've made
trumpets,Pianos,Drums,pads very tweakable!Some say it's thin,I say it in!!

I wouldn't take it out the studio,Scared I might scratch it or break a key(I love This machine,So much I wouldn't let a tech work on it onless i was with it every second)But for reliability I can hold it own that for sure.

I've done all repairs myself and found It very easy,The people at wine country are super nice and have most parts to repair it keys etc.

I have a few keyboard synths & been maken music for over 10 years with a studio full of my favorite gear(This is not my best unit or even most used but is my ultimate favorite)if It were stolen It would be hunting season.I try to add in in eveything i make.I find it very original

The presets on this keyboard aren't the greatest in the world. Editing sounds isn't too difficult, you just need to consult the manual to understand the parameters and which ones to change in order to achieve the effect you want. The user manual is easy enough to understand. I was 13 or 14 when I got this keyboard and I was able to figure it out back then.

The action on this synth isn't to my liking, but that's a matter of personal opinion. Others may love it. This synth has MIDI in/out capabilities. Built in effects are available, but you have to read the manual to figure out what parameters to change.

The sounds on this keyboard are not the best. If you're looking for a realistic piano or organ sound, this is NOT the synth for you. This keyboard works best for sound-effects. The keyboard did not come with a printed soundbank, so you have to guess what the sounds are! Some are obvious (strings, flute, brass, etc.) But, some of them are a complete guess! This synth is not touch sensitive, so it does not react to your playing.

Realiability is very, very poor. It wasn't even a month after I got this synth that I started having problems with it. It would NEVER stay in tune! The amazing thing is that each individual note would go out of tune, not the whole keyboard!!! (What is this thing, a guitar??) You can automatically retune it, but you have to wait until it goes through its count (1, 2, 3.... 8). Supposedly it would retune the keyboard, but it never worked for me. Sometimes it made it even worse! This is the only keyboard I've ever owned that sporadically went out of tune ... and only individual notes?! I've never been able to figure that out! I gigged with it when I was a kid, but I'd never, ever use it on a gig now.

I never had it repaired (although I wanted to). I was a kid when I first got it and my parents didn't think much to have it repaired for me. I got this keyboard when I was 14. I'm now 31 and I have no idea why I still have it. It's been in its case in my garage for the past 11 years. I can't rate the customer support because I've never used it.

If this synth were lost or stolen, I'd wish the thief the best of luck. I never had any luckw ith it. Sequential Circuits has since closed its doors, but I can assure you I'd never purchase another item such as this again. I've been playing keyboards since I'm 5. I'm now 31. I now own an Alesis QS7 synth, a Casio WK1630, a Casio CZ3000, and a Casio CT6000. Never had a problem with any of them.

Very easy to program from the front panel. All the parameters are laid out on a 4x8 grid. IMO, this a good first synth for someone wanting to understand analog synthesis. A manual is absolutely required to figure out the MIDI implementation, polymod, splits, and doubles. At the time of this writing, I know of no patch editor/librarians made for this synth, and the MIDI data in the manual is sparse at best.

This synth has 8 oscillators, and can be used as an 8 note synth, two 4 note synths, a four note double synth, or an 8 ocsillator mono synth. HooFaa! If the synth still has the original battery, it will need to be replaced in order to save patch data. It has 61 keys, no velocity or aftertouch. Will respond to patch change data, but the patch numbers on the display are octal; no zero or 9, it goes 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 21 22, etc. So you will have to write that into your sequencer's instrument definition if you want to see the 'correct' numbers in your sequencer.

I've never heard the original patch set for this synth. Mine came with a dead battery, so all my patches are from scratch. It is not extremely versatile as far as the range of sounds, but the sounds it can make are awesome. Polymod, double mode, and mono mode offer some impressive sounds. The chorus effect is nice, but not adjustable. One LFO. These things can be had very cheap, and I think they are well worth it. It can make some big bass sounds, and the full octave, 8 oscillator momosynth portamento has to be heard to be believed.

Haven't had any problems with it. I'm not sure if I would gig with it, because it resets it's default MIDI sttings everytime you power it up. You have to put it into MIDI Mode 3 and enable patch change & wheel each time. Other than that, it's pretty rugged - steel case with wooden end panels.

Support is available from Wine Country, and I've found them to be good folks to deal with.

I would definately replace this synth if it were lost or stolen. At such a low price, it's hard to get these kind of big analog sounds. It's modulation capabilities are very basic, making it a cinch to program, but it doesn't offer the kind of flexibility you'd get with a modulation champ like a Matrix-6. The lack of a patch editor/librarian is a bummer, hopefully one will be added to SoundDiver, like tomorrow! I love this synth, and have enjoyed doing some simple cosmetic mods to it - cobalt blue curly maple end panels, and all blue LED's on the front panel. Now it looks as dangerous as it sounds.

All parameters accessed with a 4 by 8 grid, single parameter entry with a data knob. Pretty easy and intuitive. The manual is ok and is essential if you want to change MIDI settings, which require some confusing button pressing.

8-note polyphony. Double mode (two sounds layered, 4-voice polyphony), bitimbral keyboard split mode, or unison mode (all 8 oscillators stacked!) are all available. There is an on/off chorus built in. Two audio outputs with separate volume knobs, programmable footswitch input that can momentarily change one of several parameters, or simply act as a program change. No sustain footswitch. Keyboard is light and snappy, no velocity or aftertouch. MIDI implementation is not bad for a synth of this age - program change enable/disable, OMNI on/off, mod & pitchbend enable/disable, system-exclusive dumping (!).

Nice analogue sounds, particularly in double mode (two patches stacked) and mono mode (screaming 8-oscillator turbo leads!). Filters are convincingly analogue but not warm. Chorus is less noisy than you might expect. Overall nice analogue sound but a little thin - this is not a Prophet 5! Outputs can be a little noisy though.

The dumb thing forgets its patch memory when unplugged! Overall fairly well built although I wouldn't drop it! One of the rubber buttons on mine tends to pop out but that's about the extent of my problems with it.

Sequential is long gone. Try Wine Country for repairs and parts.

I love this synth and would try to replace it if lost (although I might go for a Six-Trak or Multi-Trak instead, for the extra multi-timbral sounds). This synth makes sounds that nestle nicely amongst sample-playback and FM sounds from my other gear. It's definitely worth the $100 I paid for it and I'd pay up to about $300 for another. Great analogue sound for hardly any money - a little quirky but pick one up if you see one! Email me (Richard Wintle; richard.wintle@utoronto.ca) for a FAQ about this glorious instrument.