Vintage Synth Explorer

Sequential Circuits • Six-Trak

(click to enlarge)

The Six-Trak is Sequential's beginner synth. It has typical Sequential sounds in an analog six oscillator, six voice synth. It is not fun to program, there is only one knob and you need to assign the parameter you wish to adjust to this knob. The assignment settings for the various parameters are listed in the center of the front panel. It does however feature MIDI with controllers for its parameters to make editing easier using a computer program such as Unisyn or other external MIDI controller.

The Six-Trak features two operational modes: Polyphonic Mode and Unison Mode. In Unison mode, with all six oscillators, this baby gets fat, rich, creamy and wild making it an excellent stand-in for Moog-like sounds. Also, the Six-Trak is capable of interesting and complex sound effects, mostly thanks to useful cross modulation and the six oscillators. It also includes a simple 6-channel on-board sequencer (of little usefulness these days). Its biggest limitations were: shortest attack too slow for really percussive sounds, smallest vco frequency adjustment too big for Zawinul-style subtle frequency envelopes & LFO, and the lack of built-in chorus, which would have helped to thicken the rather thin sounds in Polyphonic mode. The SixTrak can be fun and cool but is overshadowed by its cousin - the Multi-Trak. It is used by Überzone and Cirrus.

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Posting Rules: Please keep your comments relevant! Do not post requests for help, do not use for sales, do not post unless you have something interesting to say about this instrument, or we may delete your post.

 

Les Blachut

Posted 175 days ago

I got this thing in 1989 from Daddy's Junkie Basement across from Berklee on Mass Ave. They said it was used by Zawinul. Don't believe it but maybe someone could verify? Serial number is 004002 the wood parts are black and there's additional print on the front panel under keys 33monobuzz 38monobass 44monoclicklead 47monoendless 54monoscratch 73bellflutie 81mousetorture 85rocketscience 97beatsme

sandman

Posted 245 days ago

I still have my original that I bought in 1984. This is a highly underrated keyboard. The stacks are massively fat, and when combined with a midi controller like the Evolution UC-33e, this thing becomes an analog monster. I still use it on tracks regularly. It's rock solid and with a little effort on the user's part it far exceeds it's modest price tag. It's the cheapest possible way to get an authentic Sequential sound.

george

Posted 340 days ago

I'm selling my six-trak right now on ebay for cheap.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie wItem&item=180313250893
HURRY!

Moe

Posted 343 days ago

There some PC editors out there too, to get a visual on all the parameters. Such as
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/2163/sixpa t.html

Niels

Posted 368 days ago

I sell my sixtrak !!!

http://cgi.ebay.nl/SCI-Six-Trak-Six-T rak-Sixtrak-NEAR-MINT-modded_W0QQitemZ27 0304852051QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultD omain_146?hash=item270304852051&_trk sid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1399 |66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318

On ebay!!
Item number: 270304852051

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