Description

Sequential Pro 3 SE is a version with a tilting control panel and wooden finishes of the hybrid, monophonic, duophonic, paraphonic synth. A real HUB for your modular synth set-up with its 4 CV inputs and 4 outputs, plus GATE. An audio input for processing external sources. 2 VCOs and a wavetable oscillator, three vintage-style analog filters, three LFOs, four envelopes with loop mode, a rich 32-slot modulation matrix with 46 sources and as many as 171 destinations.

All the features of the PRO 3, in an aesthetically appealing and ergonomic Special Edition version, which stands out for the presence of the tilting control panel and the fine walnut wood finishes.

Sound synthesis in the Sequential Pro 3 SE

A hybrid instrument: pure analog synthesis produced by 2 VCOs coupled with the versatile digital technology of a Wavetable oscillator. The two continuously variable analog oscillators generate triangle, saw, and pulse waves, which you can adjust by varying the width of the generated waveform as desired with the Shape Mod potentiometer. The third digital oscillator generates sine, saw, triangle, super saw, pulse, and as many as 32 wavetables, each with 16 different waves. Using the Shape Mod potentiometer, we can continuously navigate between the waveforms of each individual wavetable. In addition, by assigning an LFO or any other modulation source to the Shape Mods, you can generate continuously evolving sounds.

Wavetables are permanently stored in slots numbered from 1 to 32. Since firmware update 1.1, memory slots have been doubled, and you can import your own waveforms into slots 33 to 64. Within the Oscillators section, we find the Sync button on oscillators 1 and 2. The Glide of the Pro 3 SE can be individually configured on each oscillator to creatively modulate pitch when moving from one note to another via the keyboard. In the mixer section, in addition to the ability to adjust the individual volumes of the three oscillators, we will find the volume control for White Noise and that of the Audio input located on the rear panel. The latter allows for integrating a signal from an external source into the synthesis path's routing. Have fun processing a guitar, another synth, or your console through the Pro 3's filter, distorter, and effects.

Three filters designed from Vintage projects

An important element for creating the massive sound generated by the Sequential Pro 3 SE is the filtering section. Three buttons located just below the Cut-Off knob allow you to select which of the three filters to use. Filter 1 is a 4-pole low-pass based on the Prophet 6 filter. The second is a 4-pole Ladder with optional resonance compensation to preserve punch in the low frequencies. Filter 3 is a classic 2-pole in full OB-6 style, continuously variable from low-pass to notch and high-pass; an optional band-pass mode is also present. With the Drive control, you can saturate the signal entering the filter.

Modulations in the Sequential Pro 3 SE

Modulations in sound synthesis play a more than important role. They allow us to sculpt sound as we imagine or transport us to unexpected landscapes, giving us inspiration. Sequential knows well the importance of having no limits in sound design, which is why the Pro 3 SE offers a very rich and articulated Modulation Matrix where every idea can be "connected." There are 32 programmable slots with 46 modulation sources and as many as 171 destinations.

There are four five-stage envelope generators (D-ADSR) with a loop function. Two of these are already connected to the amplifier and filter, respectively, while the other two are auxiliary and can be used for any of the programmable destinations. There are 3 LFOs that can be synchronized, with slew and phase offsets applicable to the selected waveform from one of the 5 available: saw and saw rev, square, triangle, and Sample&Hold. To assign an LFO to a destination, simply hold down the Destination button in the LFO section and then move the desired potentiometer. Among the many modulation sources, we also find the 16 sequencer tracks.

The effects of the Pro 3 SE

The Effects section of the Pro 3 provides programmable digital effects and an analog distorter, also applicable to an external audio source, such as a modular synth or a guitar. There are 2 digital effects, both offering one of the following algorithms: stereo delay, BBD delay, chorus/phaser/flanger, 1 high-pass filter, ring mod, vintage rotating speaker. Within effect 2, there is also a Super Plate Reverb. All effect parameters can be modulated. For example: delay quantization times controlled by LFOs, Flanger Feedback linked to an envelope. And so on... This is just a small taste of the infinite sound programming possibilities in the Sequential Pro 3.

The sequencer and arpeggiator of the Pro 3 SE

Unleash your creativity using the Pro 3's sequencer. It features 4 sequences (A, B, C, and D) each composed of 16 steps. By chaining the 4 sequences, we can compose melodies with a maximum length of 64 steps. A fully programmable sequencer that allows us to record notes and/or 3-note chords in paraphonic mode. We can store a note by selecting the desired step or play freely in live mode while the sequencer is recording. In addition to notes, we can write, record/store automation parameters on the 16 tracks and use them as a Mod source to assign to the many destinations. Of the 16 tracks, the first 3 are dedicated to note-related parameters, the remaining (4-16) are freely assignable.

The Pro 3 arpeggiator is programmable to develop rhythmic-melodic patterns in up, down, up/down, random, or as-played sequences. We can decide the octave range and repeat: how many times, from one to three, each note within the arpeggio should repeat. Effects can synchronize with the arpeggiator, and the notes it plays are transmitted to the MIDI Out.

The sequencer and arpeggiator synchronize with the MIDI clock, external audio input, or alternatively, with the CV inputs.

CV/GATE & MIDI Interface

The flexible architecture of the Sequential Pro 3 opens the doors not only to external audio processing but also to interfacing with modular synthesizers through its 4 CV inputs/4 outputs and 1 GATE output. Control voltages are assignable and addressable via the modulation matrix to control hardware synthesizers — for example, modular ones — compatible with this control standard. That's not all, because through the two DIN or USB outputs, we can drive external MIDI instruments not only with the Pro 3's modulations but also with the Sequencer and Arpeggiator. Among the numerous parameters transmitted to the CV outputs, we highlight LFOs, envelopes, sequencer tracks, and many, many others. Given its enormous flexibility, the Pro 3 represents a true HUB in your modular setup or synth setup.

Monophonic, Duophonic and Paraphonic modes

Designed to be a monophonic synth, the Pro 3 is actually a versatile paraphonic synthesizer capable of reproducing up to 3 voices simultaneously. To create "ordinary" sounds, we need to set each oscillator to the same waveform and with the same pitch. If, on the other hand, we are looking for something that cannot be defined as "ordinary," we can try choosing different waveforms and pitches between the oscillators to obtain something extraordinary and unpredictable. Since update 1.1, we have the duophonic mode in which the 2 VCOs will distribute cyclically between the notes played, while the third oscillator will enter LFO mode. Once in Paraphonic mode, to activate the duophonic mode, press the Low Freq button located in the oscillators section.

Keyboard, controls and display of the Sequential Pro 3 SE

The keyboard is a 3-octave Fatar Premium, with full-size keys sensitive to velocity and aftertouch. It also features Pitch and Modulation control wheels (both backlit) and a programmable touch-sensitive Touch Slider with position LEDs and a Latch function. With 59 rotary potentiometers and more than 70 buttons, the Pro 3 allows you to quickly program your sounds without constantly resorting to menus and submenus. The parameters and their respective values shown on the OLED display will be extremely intelligible from any angle.

Features of the Sequential Pro 3 SE

• Tilting panel and finishes in fine walnut wood
• Hybrid monophonic/paraphonic 3-voice synthesizer
• Fatar Premium 3-octave keyboard (37 keys)
• Semi-weighted, with velocity and aftertouch
• 512 user memories and 512 factory memories
• 2 VCOs per voice
• Triangle, saw, pulse: continuously variable waves
• 1 digital wavetable oscillator
• Sine, triangle, saw, pulse with variable width
• 32 factory wavetables of 16 waves each
• 32 user wavetables
• Hard Sync
• Glide settable for each oscillator
• 3 selectable analog filters
• Filter 1: 4-pole low-pass
• Filter 2: 4-pole low-pass ladder
• Filter 3: 2-pole variable state
• 3 LFOs, 4 D-ADSR envelopes
• 32-slot modulation matrix
• 46 sources, 171 destinations
• 16-track sequencer, 4x16 steps
• 2 digital multi-effects, analog distortion
• Clock: Master, external MIDI
• MIDI: In, 2 Out and Thru DIN, USB type B
• Main stereo output (2 x 1/4’’ TS jack)
• Headphone output (1/4’’ TRS stereo jack)
• 1 mono audio input (1/4 jack)
• 1 1/4’’ TS jack input for Sustain pedal
• 1 1/4’’ TRS jack input for expression pedal
• 4 CV in, 4 CV out, 1 GATE out
• Dimensions and weight: 68.6x37x12.8cm; 12.25KG
• IEC connector for power supply
• Consumption: max 30W