The Toraiz AS-1 is a monophonic analog synthesizer and sequencer that is designed in collaboration with Dave Smith. The synth’s architecture is based on the DSI Prophet-6 synthesizer and features two voltage-controlled oscillators (VCO) with continuously variable waveforms including saw, triangle, and pulse wave shapes. There are two voltage controlled filters (VCF), a 24 dB/per octave low-pass filter that is capable of self-oscillation, and a 12 dB/per octave resonant high-pass filter. Additionally, the instrument offers two ADSR envelopes, an LFO, and a voltage-controlled amplifier (VCA). The dual effects engine is inherited from the Prophet-6, as well, and includes ring-modulation, chorus, phaser, digital distortion, and a bucket-brigade delay.
The AS-1 offers a mini-keyboard with a built-in scale mode, which allows you to play and record sequences that play in perfect harmony. Add in the onboard arpeggiator and you’ve got a powerhouse of quick and easy synth lines that play in time and in key. You can also add dynamic changes to your performance by using the slider to manipulate seven different parameters, change the pitch of the oscillators, or adjust the amount of effect and more. A 64-step sequencer allows step record patterns, changing the musical key, and editing the sounds without editing the pattern. There are 495 preset programs available and each program has its own 64-step sequence that can be individually edited. There’s also an optional sound editor available from Soundtower, which provides all the details of your programs in a single graphical interface and allows you to create, transfer, and store patches from your Mac or PC.
Use the Toraiz AS-1 as part of a larger DJ performance setup within the Pioneer DJ ecosystem. Connect the Toraiz SP-16 live sampler to your DJ setup via Pioneer’s Pro-DJ Link to add loops and one-shots to tracks being played from a CDJ, while the AS-1, sync’d via MIDI to the SP-16, generates unique analog leads.
