Sequential Pro 3 from $1,400

Sequential’s Pro 3 may appear to be simply a beefy monosynth but, as Rob Redman discovers, it’s far more than that

- Rob Redman

In 2015, when Yamaha handed back the Sequential moniker to Dave Smith, there was much rejoicing from the community (and I expect similar feelings were expressed within the walls of the company) and a new era dawned, bringing with it a selection of hardware that crossed some boundaries, from the much praised Prophet Rev2, the vintage vibed OB-6 and Prophet 6, to the more recent re-issue of the wonderful Prophet 5.

This left a space in the lineup for something modern and mono that didn’t sit in the same area as the Prophet X but would provide players with a synth that had the familiarity we musicians yearn for yet an experience that was new and exciting. The curtains were pulled back to reveal the Pro 3. So, what is the Pro 3 and why would you buy it over any of the other Sequential products?

Comparisons have been made, whether rightly or not I’m unsure, to both Moog’s Sub 37 and Arturia’s MatrixBrute, both of which I have in my studio. It’s easy to see why these thoughts cross people’s minds, as there are some similarities: the Moog has a somewhat modern interface with vintage warmth and the Brute offers a similarly extensive modulation system; but in reality these three machines all differ with just small areas of crossover.

Excellent build