Sequential Circuits Six Trak: multi-timbral synth for multi-talents

The Sequential Circuits Six Trak is a synthesizer that can be played as a standard, full programmable 6-voice synthesizer, featuring any one of 100 custom programs using thef ull, bold sound of six real VCO's and six 4-pole filters like all Prophet synthesizers. Or you can use its powerful, built-in six track digital recorder to build your songs one track at a time, with each track playing a different instrument sound and melody line. Reserve tracks and play a live solo with the playback! Or you can call on Six-trak's ''stack mode'' which allows you to stack 6 different instruments on top of each other. Could a synthesizer possibly get any cooler?
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[@avace917]

I remember seeing this advertised in Keyboard Magazine when I a kid.

[@danielpirone8028]

My first synth! Got it new in 84 ish. Still have it. Definitely a gem.

[@danielpirone8028]

Stack mode is like a 6 osc mini Moog- super fat. Sequencer can use one 1 voice for a bass line, 4 voices for chords on a different patch, and one more for live soloing. Sadly it is mono output.

[@fuzzcityrecords432]

@@danielpirone8028 aw man that sounds so cool, I would totally get sucked into stack mode for days

[@donnoone9665]

@@danielpirone8028 I always put it through my effects chain of distortion, and stereo delay, then sometimes chorus and reverb in my DAW. It just brings it alive.

[@donnoone9665]

I got mine around then too and it still works perfectly. Thinking about updating the firmware to allow midi sync. I have thought about selling it many times but then I plug it in and layer it in to my jam and I love the warm sound!

[@jameswells_as_staticer]

Same. Bought mine new in '84 (trading in a guitar and using some college loan money) and I still have it. To my ears, being polyphonic with mono output helps give the sound a certain character. I loved using the sequencer as a compositional tool, creating rich Ambient pieces, since it actually has a lot of memory for the time. I keep thinking about getting the Stereoping controller kit, since changing parameters on the fly is a pain in the ass. Just keep getting pushed away by the price of it.

[@cat-ej2pn]

Love this teck is coming back. I worked at sequential circuits building t8 keyboard s, six tracks and the drum tracks. Me and Randy were the t8 wood keyboard specialists. 1983-1985

[@fuzzcityrecords432]

Nice, that must've been the coolest time to work there! I have a few more Sequential vids coming up soon! 🎶🎹

[@blimolhm2790]

did you ever work on MAX? 🤓 I have one and it's fascinating considering its context today

[@cat-ej2pn]

@@blimolhm2790 I remember the Max but didn't get to work on that. Glad you enjoy it! 🙂

[@NoName-zi9qs]

You represent a sliver of synth history!

[@AbsurdTV1]

I had/have a 6track. I dont think it is velocity sensitive if I remember correctly. The best feature is the growl of the resonant filters. Mine is in the shop for repairs as the midi in was not working anymore.

[@PhilBennett3D]

The guts of the SixTrak and MultiTrak were also used in a bunch of arcade games during the mid 80s, which is pretty rad: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jXa4nqOqjr2ka6s

[@vidjenko8349]

Woah that's awesome, it's like a sound card haha. Does that mean the arcade game has midi?

[@PhilBennett3D]

@@vidjenko8349 Yep, there's a separate sound board which is driven serially using what appears to be MIDI commands.

[@vidjenko8349]

@@PhilBennett3D Wow That’s super ahead of it’s time. Apparently these bally sente arcade games were thought up by Nolan Bushnell himself to be modular and easily changed.

[@lordmetroid1]

As someone that plays guitar, and a gamer, I find this fascinating.

[@fuzzcityrecords432]

Thank you!!

[@baneverything5580]

Love your accent and personality.

[@fuzzcityrecords432]

❤❤ thank you ❤❤

[@lairdhenn4875]

I have a Prophet 6 but at times still miss the Six Trak I once had. Its sound is a dark soft kinda sad sound imo. Really cool old tones that the brighter Prophets have to work hard to match. A little thin sounding but just eq it and drown it in reverb and it’s golden.

[@tenlittleindians]

I still got one. I love how you can pick a sound and record it and then pick another sound and play over the first sound. Stack them until you got a six voice melody playing back. While it's playing back you can adjust the individual voice volumes like a mixing board. It was like having a multi track tape recorder long before they became affordable. Another feature I like is the glide. I used it live to play the siren sound that's heard on the beginning of REO Speedwagon's Riding The Storm Out. It was close enough that the dance floors would start to fill up as I kicked the song off with that siren intro.

[@fuzzcityrecords432]

Riding the storm out rules! We seriously need a poly synth ASAP, strongly considering the Sequential Circuits six trak

[@blimolhm2790]

I have a SCI MAX which is 99% the same circuitry but has no knob for changing parameters. My favourite feature about this synth is the multitimbrality. I like to slightly change the sound of each voice so as you play a melody or hit chords each note has a sort of semi-random texture applied to it

[@jamesortiz6312]

Great video on the Six-Trak. I'm actually really curious what synth the two sequences in the video were recorded with though. I'd greatly appreciate any info, really lovely stuff. Thank you

[@Mark_Williams300]

Do you follow Alex Ball's channel? I bet he's done an extensive video on the Six Trak

[@westbethkid]

I bought one of these like 25 years ago for around $100. I love everything about it, the design, the sound, it's just beautiful.

[@fuzzcityrecords432]

Wow! I'm jealous, currently looking for one for the new album and man are they asking a lot of dough for em

[@westbethkid]

​@@fuzzcityrecords432 Yeah-- they are totally overpriced for what it actually does. It IS kind of unique though. Good luck in finding one!

[@MarkLAsche]

I'm a proud owner. I found a neat little box called the Six-Tweak which can be connected via midi. The box has many assignable knobs which eliminate the slow, single parameter process of programming and editing. It greatly speeds up the process of, well, tweaking sounds. It isn't cheap, but is very useful. Yeah, the Six-Trak rocks.

[@donnoone9665]

Someday I will get around to mapping the parameters to a controller for mine, another project on my list...

[@blimolhm2790]

@@donnoone9665 look at something like the ElectraOne. It's a touchscreen with knobs and you can design your own interface for all of your synths and VSTs in one unit

[@nullfusion]

nice description!