
Via Melissa's Blog.
Update via the comments:
"I remember seeing them when they first came out. What's interesting is it was also one of the first VAs in the sense that it used modelling technology [along with samples]. Check out this SOS review.
According to VSE, the 309 was produced in 1996. The Clavia Nord Lead, credited as the first VA, came out a year before in 1995 along with the Korg Prophecy also in 1995. The Roland JP8000 followed in 1996 with the 309, and the Yamaha AN1X and Access Virus A in 1997."