Octave CAT SRM vintage analog synthesizer SN B4117

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"This auction is for an Octave CAT SRM, an authentic vintage analog keyboard synthesizer. The serial number and oscillator boards indicate that this particular example is one of the last to come out of Octave-Voyetra’s Long Island City, NY factory.

Functionally, it is an affordable alternative to the Minimoog or Arp Odyssey, but its sound is more similar to Dave Smith’s Sequential Circuits machines, thanks to its CEM filter/oscillator chips. It is considerably beefier than either the Moog or the Arp thanks to its beautiful, rich filter and its sub-oscillators, which can easily cause tinnitus when used at full volume with a bass or keyboard amp. It also features a duophonic mode for simple chords, a very versatile low-frequency oscillator with sample & hold (S&H) capability, and two independent envelope generators (one ADSR and one AR) for wacky sci-fi sound effects.

This instrument has provided me with years of pleasure, but my rock-star days are long gone and it’s time for it to move on to a new owner who will use it more than I can. It is a great upgrade for anyone looking for something more than what you’ll find at the local Guitar Center or Sam Ash.

Every feature, knob, switch, slider, key, and LED is working as it should. Because it is nearly 40 years old, some sliders and keys may be scratchy or jerky when you first turn the power on, but this goes away after a few minutes at the most. Cosmetic flaws include a few missing slider caps, some wear on the serial number, and a bit of fading on the right-hand wooden side panel. All of these flaws are clearly shown in the photos above."