AMSynths AM1026 (2024–)

Not a synth, not a module you patch first - a quiet upgrade for the Behringer 1027

Overview

The AM1026 has no blinking lights, no sweeping filters and no wild modulation. It is 20HP of plain function, and it turns a Behringer 1027 sequencer into something closer to ARP's original modular vision. It adds two columns of variable control voltages, each with a dedicated knob per step, and it connects to the 1027 with a ribbon cable. The 1027 has two rows of step controls, and this is for the player who has hit the wall with them and wants more voltage flexibility.

AMSynths has built its reputation on the "lost modules" of the ARP 2500, the gaps in the original system that only a handful of users ever saw. The AM1026 follows that lineage and conceptually recreates ARP's Preset Voltages module, with modern refinements. It adds active step indication, XOR logic for step enable/disable, and dual 2V and 10V CV outputs, so you can drive anything from pitch to filter cutoff without attenuation. It doesn't try to be a standalone sequencer. Connect the ribbon and the 1027 can shape timbre, modulate amplitude and evolve textures across 16 steps.

It's designed as a companion to the Behringer 1027, but it isn't locked to it. You can run it standalone, feed it clock from elsewhere, or use it as a manual voltage source for morphing patches in real time. The front panel is clean, almost austere: two rows of 16 precision potentiometers, each with a white LED to show the active step, plus global controls for sequencer enable and voltage output selection. No touchscreens and no menus. Just knobs, lights and voltages.

Specifications

Key Features

Seamless 1027 Integration with Physical Precision

The included 12-way ribbon cable plugs directly into the 1027's expansion header and syncs clock, step position and direction without a single patch cable. No MIDI-to-CV, no clock dividers. Each of the two added voltage columns gives you 16 precision-matched potentiometers, so you can set per-step values for filter sweeps, LFO depths, panning or FM index with absolute repeatability. The white LEDs above each step mirror the 1027's step indicator, so your eye tracks the sequence across both modules like a single unit. AMSynths does this in hardware rather than software.

Flexible Output Scaling and Logic Control

Many preset modules assume you want 5V or 10V and leave you hunting for attenuverters. The AM1026 gives you switchable 2V and 10V outputs per column, so you can send subtle modulation like vibrato depth at the lower voltage and drive pitch or resonance at full scale. The XOR function enables or skips steps conditionally, which gives rhythmic variations or breaks without reprogramming. Pair it with a trigger source and you get generative sequencing.

Standalone Utility Beyond the 1027

Though built as a sidecar, the AM1026 works on its own. Feed it an external clock and it becomes a dual-row manual CV sequencer, useful for evolving ambient textures or controlling effects parameters in a live set. The knobs are smooth, detented just enough to feel precise without being sticky, and the panel layout makes it easy to "draw" voltage curves by hand. You can store and recall complex modulation states, or patch one row into a VCA's CV input and the other into a filter's FM jack for timbral sweeps. It isn't a full sequencer.

Historical Context

The ARP 2500 system was never standardized. Its modules were mixed, matched and customized per user, which left gaps in the official lineup that only schematics or photos hinted at. One of them was the Preset Voltages module, rumored to give players more hands-on control over sequenced modulation. Decades later, Behringer's 1027 brought that sequencer back, but with only two control rows it felt like a sketch of the original vision. The AM1026 isn't a clone. It takes ARP's intent and extends it with modern reliability and expanded utility. It's a tool for people who already know what they're doing.

It also reflects a shift in the modular world from standalone modules toward ecosystems. Moog's reissue line now supports deep interconnectivity, and the AM1026 treats the 1027 as part of a family rather than a solo performer.

Collectibility & Value

As a current-production module, the AM1026 isn't "vintage" yet. It's part of a finite series of ten modules AMSynths has pledged to release as part of their "lost ARP 2500" project, and once production ends, replacements will be scarce. New units sell for around £160 directly from AMSynths, with no signs of third-party scalping so far. Given the demand for 1027 expansions, that could change. Used units, if they appear, should hold value as long as the Behringer ecosystem remains popular.

Failures are unlikely but not impossible. The ribbon cable connection is sturdy, but repeated plugging and unplugging could stress the header over time. Owners report ensuring a snug fit and avoiding flexing the cable. The potentiometers are standard Alps-style, serviceable but not sealed. Dust or wear could cause crackling in high-gain CV paths, so occasional contact cleaner is wise. There is no firmware, no hidden processor and no SD card to fail. When buying, check that all LEDs illuminate and that the XOR logic responds cleanly to external triggers. If it powers up and tracks the 1027 without glitching, it's likely solid for years.

The real value isn’t in resale, though—it’s in utility. If you own a 1027 and find yourself wishing for more modulation rows, the AM1026 isn’t an indulgence. It’s the missing half of your sequencer. And unlike boutique modules that do one flashy thing, this one fades into the background—exactly where it should be.

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