With the TEO 5, old master Tom Oberheim presents a polyphonic analog synthesizer with the assertive oscillators of his poly classics and the popular SEM filter. The five-voice instrument is equipped with a pleasantly playable, velocity-sensitive 44-key Fatar keyboard and also features channel aftertouch. The visual proximity to the Sequential Take 5 is no coincidence, as Oberheim synthesizers have been manufactured under the umbrella of Sequential since the OB-6. Of course, the TEO 5 also features the elegant black and blue pinstripe look and looks very 80s Oberheim. A nice detail is the vintage control, which shifts the accurate and precise circuits (oscillator drift, filter, envelope behavior...) towards the component-related inaccuracies of old synthesizers. In this way, the best possible vintage sound is achieved. Since the TEO 5 has all sound-relevant parameters on the control panel, it is easy to operate after a short familiarization period. The easy-to-follow menu only needs to be used for a few actions.
Proven Oberheim components in a new guise
Two analog oscillators with the waveforms triangle, sawtooth and square with PWM form the basic framework from which the TEO 5 creates its sounds. Hardsync can be switched between the two tone generators and cross-modulation (Thru-Zero FM) can be controlled from VCO 2 to 1. In the mixer, the sound generation is supplemented by a sub-oscillator with a square waveform that follows the pitch of oscillator 1 and a noise generator. In the tradition of old or poly synths, the signal sources can be switched on and fine-tuned via the menu. The beautiful basic sound is processed with one of the most popular filters since synthesizers were invented: the SEM filter, also known as the 12db state variable filter. In addition to the creamy sound, this filter is characterized by the ability to fade continuously from lowpass to notch to highpass characteristics or to work with the switchable Bandpass. Some intermediate stages around the notch position are simply a dream and come across particularly organically.
Modulations for lively sounds
At first glance, the two LFOs appear to be identical, but they have different ranges of action. The global LFO can be applied to the entire Patch, the voice LFO is active per voice. It is conceivable, for example, that the Global-LFO is used for vibrato effects and the second one modulates the filter at a slow frequency and Wave-Reset. Two ADSR envelopes are hardwired to the filter and VCA, but can also be assigned to other destinations. The control times of the envelopes range from crisp and percussive to floating and ambient. Additional sources and destinations are linked together in the modulation matrix. This allows you to create far more complex sounds than the control panel would suggest. Modulate the pulse width of oscillator 2 with aftertouch, vary the Filter-Decay per note with a random parameter or dose the cross modulation with the pitch played - this and more is hidden under "MOD".
Effects
The sounds are given the finishing touches by the two digital effect blocks. The first can be configured with Stereo Delay, BBD Delay, Tape Delay, Chorus, Flanger, Phaser, Ring Modulator, Rotary Speaker or Highpass Filter, among others, while the second effect block is designed purely as a reverb. The final link in the signal path is an equally analog distortion unit, which transforms even the most subtle of tones into a real riot.
Playing aids & memory
As a classic playing aid, the extensively editable arpeggiator is of course a must and a polyphonic step sequencer with up to 64 steps per Patch is also on board. 256 user and factory sounds each provide access to a sea of sounds and are also inspiration for new sounds. Panel mode is available as an option for the stored sounds; when this is activated, the TEO 5 sounds as it is set at the time. Thanks to keysplit, a second sound can be played in the lower keyboard range within the five-voice polyphony. The dub techno faction and 1-finger chord fans will be delighted by the option to save their own chord pattern for each Patch.
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