The performance-oriented operating system, 90 panel controls and bright 256x64 dot OLED display work together to provide a tightly integrated, non-stop workflow: record a drumbeat in real-time, switch to another drumbeat and use the lit pads to record it using step programming, switch to another drumbeat and record tuned keyboard parts, use the 2 touch controllers to record real-time note sound animations or perform beat-wide sound changes, use the generous sound controls to edit any of the drum sounds or add various effects, all without ever stopping play.

The six analog voices that Dave designed especially for Tempest are incredibly powerful. Each has two analog oscillators plus 2 digital oscillators (with a large bank of 400+ included samples and waveforms), Dave's classic analog lowpass filter (two or four pole) with audio-rate modulation, an additional highpass filter, analog VCA with feedback, five six-phase envelopes, two LFOs, eight additional analog modulation routing paths, and a stunning sonic quality, warmth and punch. Although optimized for drum sounds, Tempest excels at tuned sounds as well, and even doubles as a 6-voice analog keyboard synth.

16 pressure- and velocity-sensitive lit pads are arranged in a 2x8 configuration, providing easy access to all your fingers and an ideal compromise between the 4x4 arrangement (popular for real time programming ) and 1x16 arrangement (popular for step programming) because Tempest does both. The pads can be used to play drum sounds, mute/unmute sounds on playback, play and arrange 16 beats in real time, play one sound at 16 tunings or 16 velocities, or as 16 time steps for step programming. The ROLL button permits creating drum rolls or repeated groove patterns by varying pad pressure during record.

Two pressure- and position-sensitive Note FX slide controllers permit real-time recording of note or beat-wide sound parameter changes into the drumbeat as you play. For example, record simultaneous filter frequency, tuning, envelope decay and pan changes for each note. The Playback key permits using the slider to override these parameters on playback, which can be recorded back into the beat. Plus, they can be used in performance to alter beat-wide sound parameters like lowpass frequency or resonance, highpass frequency, envelope attack or decay and more.

A variety of unique effects are provided while maintaining a pure analog signal path: 1) Stereo analog compressor and distortion circuits affect the stereo output mix, 2) beat-synced delay is achieved by generating additional delayed note events within the sequencer, 3) the Roll key doubles as a "stutter" effect, looping short portions of the drumbeat on demand, 4) the Reverse key reverses the playback of either single sounds all sounds in the beat, and 5) the degree of swing timing can be finely adjusted in real time during playback, using Roger's entire bag of tricks to make the swing feel very human and natural.

Tempest is sold and supported by Sequential. Please visit them for more information, to purchase, or for support needs.