Six-Traq

Name: Six-Traq
Author: Full Bucket Music

by Full Bucket Music · Synth · Sequential Six-Trak emulation

Not rated yet

Six-Traq is a free emulation of the 1984 Sequential Circuits Six-Trak, with one oscillator plus noise, a self-resonating four-pole lowpass filter and separate envelopes.

It extends the original with poly/multi modes up to 96 voices and keeps the onboard sequencer and arpeggiator; it is free.

Best for: Keys & Synths, Sound Design. Genres: Electronic & EDM, Pop.

Keywords: free, sequencer, 80s, CPU-light, arpeggiator, hardware emulation, polyphonic, simple, analog, basses, beta, classic, leads, resizable UI, sound design, subtractive.

What it does

Six-Traq is the developer's "close simulation" of the Sequential Circuits Six-Trak from 1984, a six-voice multitimbral analog synth with a built-in sequencer. It keeps the original's sound but replaces its slow parameter-and-value programming with dedicated controls for each section.

Oscillator: one oscillator with three waveforms plus a white noise generator, with its own envelope.
Filter: a classic self-resonating four-pole lowpass filter with a dedicated envelope.
Amplifier: a separate amp envelope, so oscillator, filter and amp each have their own.
Multi-Track Controller: Stack Mode, the onboard sequencer and the arpeggiator of the original, plus new Click and Sync buttons.
Poly and Multi modes: extended from six voices to up to 96 voices of polyphony.
Data and tuning: SysEx import/export and MTS-ESP dynamic micro-tuning.
Control and UI: MIDI Learn for every parameter via CC and a resizable interface.

The current version is 1.0.4 (12 Oct 2024). It is a free download with no price listed; the developer accepts donations. It is written in native C++ for low CPU use.

Source: Full Bucket Music product page

When to use it

Six-Traq is the pick for a simple, punchy Sequential voice with its own sequencer and arpeggiator, at no cost. Compared with Diva and Hive 2 it is far more limited: one oscillator per voice and no modulation matrix, but it is quicker to learn and light on CPU. Compared with Sylenth1, it trades layered oscillators and built-in effects for a period-correct mono-oscillator sound and a multitimbral setup where parts can be sequenced inside the plugin. It has no built-in delay or other effects, so plan to add your own.

Best for: basses, leads and sequenced multitimbral parts in an early-80s style.
Genres: synth-pop, electronic, synthwave and retro styles.
Look elsewhere if: you need several oscillators, rich modulation or onboard effects; Diva or Hive 2 go much further.

What producers say

Users treat Six-Traq as another strong free release from the developer, with praise for its sound, workflow and low CPU use.

KVR users rate it 5 out of 5 from 3 reviews; one called the range "some of the best free vintage synth plugins out there".
Beta tester review (KVR): praised the intuitive interface, the modern sequencer editing, the assertive sound and the low CPU load.
Bedroom Producers Blog liked that it keeps the vintage sound "without the tedious bits" of the original's programming.
Criticisms: the missing delay effect is the one complaint raised.

Where to buy

Full Bucket Music: Free

Tutorials and reviews

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