Dave Smith Instruments Tetra Synthesizer Review & Demo

Sonic State’s Nick Batt has put together another great review and demo, this time for the Dave Smith Instruments Tetra synthesizer, a new four-voice polyphonic analog synthesizer.

DSI Tetra Features:

  • Affordable, fully programmable poly synth with a 100% analog signal path
  • Classic, real analog sound—including legendary Curtis analog low-pass filter
  • Four-part multitimbral capability with four separate outputs
  • Combo Mode for huge unison patches, stacked sequences, and “modular-style” poly sounds
  • Expandable: poly chain with other Tetras, Prophet ‘08, and Mopho for expanded polyphony
  • Just 7.9? x 5? (20.07 cm x 12.7 cm)

Batt calls the Dave Smith Tetra synthesizer ” another cracking little synth from DSI.”

See his full review at the Sonic State site.

4 thoughts on “Dave Smith Instruments Tetra Synthesizer Review & Demo

  1. as much as the voice architecture and sound seems like a big win, the lack of discrete knobs or external patch ability weakens it, especially at this price point. For the money I would rather have the new Oberheim SEM for $900 or the Doepfer Dark Energy for $625 since both have knobs for every function and external patching for a tabletop analog synth. Dark Energy even has the same Curtis filter chip in it too, though not the double OSC with subOSC + 3 EGs that the Tetr4 has unfortunately. The thick polyphony of this unit is tempting still.

  2. The great thing is that we've got this choice, and great synths at different price points.

    Pair this up with a cheap MIDI control keyboard and you've got a powerful, expandable analog setup.

  3. The great thing is that we've got this choice, and great synths at different price points.

    Pair this up with a cheap MIDI control keyboard and you've got a powerful, expandable analog setup.

  4. I don't really see how the Oberheim SEM and the Doepfer Dark Energy are comparable to the tetra? They are both monophonic. Maybe compare them to the Mopho's. Tetra sounds great to me. The only worry I have is about the software editor.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *