Synth: ARP Axxe
Review by:  (hplace@tiac.net)
Summary: Mono VCO-VCF-VCA synth.	
Years Made: ?

Polyphony: monophonic
Multitimbrality: hmmmm. . ., no
MIDI:

    Note on/off: ---
    MIDI controllers (aftertouch, CC, etc): ---
    Sysex patch storage: ---
    Sysex parameter control: ---


Other inputs/external control:

    CV/gate: Yes
    Clock: no
    Other CV: pedal (0 <-> +5v), trigger 
    Audio: yes
    Proprietary (DCB, etc): no
    Programmer: no


Outputs: high/low
Patch storage: no
Patch dumping (MIDI, tape, etc): no

Voice architecture: VCO (SAW, PW/PWM, and noise in any combination/levels)
VCF (LPF, resonance, keyboard tracking)
1 LFO (sine wave mod of VCF cutoff, PW, sine or square wave mod of pitch)
1 envelope (ADSR; mod of pitch, PW, VCF cutoff, and VCA)
random S/H can control pitch and VCF cutoff
CV pedal can control VCF cutoff
transpose switch (+/- 2 oct.)
portamento
envelope reapeat (when key is being held or automatic)



Interface: Everything has a slider (23 in all), as you must suspect.  Pitch bending and vibrato performed with the PPC (Proportional Pitch Control) which is thought of by many as being, well, kind of crappy.  It consists of three pressure-sensitive rubber buttons, each about 2x2.5 cm.
Sequencer/arpeggiator: nope
Keyboard/rack: keyboard, 37 keys C-C  
Known problems: 
Accessories: 

Related synths/gear: ARP Odyssey (more stuff), ARP 2600 (lots more stuff).  ARP Sequencer.

Price range: low
Availability: pretty rare. . .?

Strengths: Pretty darn fat for one VCO synth.  Nice and mellow filter, good bass.  I kind of like the PPC as well, although I'm certainly in the minority.  PWM really makes it warm.  Tuning is very stable. 
Weaknesses: Envelope attack not "punchy."  While I like the mellow filter, if you're looking for a bright lead synth, this probably isn't it.  Certainly not as bright as the Moogs or even the Korgs (MS-10 and such).  Noisy output (at least mine is, and I've used Odysseys and 2600s that are much less noisy, so maybe its just mine).
Other comments: There were at least two different ones, the first having a pitch bend knob instead of the PPC.  The second version (with PPC) is black and orange.  If you want a warm big bass and mellowness, I think this is a good guy.