Cheetah Master Series 5V (mid-80s)

At 61 keys and built like a tank, this Italian-keybed MIDI commander ruled the rack era from the shadows

Overview

The Cheetah Master Series 5V wasn't flashy. It showed up in professional MIDI rigs because it worked, hard and reliably, and the keyboard felt like it could outlast the studio. Cheetah marketed it in the mid-80s as a "mother keyboard." It served as the central MIDI controller in an era when musicians were chaining together racks of sound modules and needed a solid command post.

The Master Series 5V earned quiet respect. According to mu:zines, it and the 7-P were “far and away the best buys on the mother keyboard market.” That was a crowded segment, full of budget options that often sacrificed feel for function. The keyboard assembly, reportedly made in Italy, is compared directly to the keybed on the Sequential Six-Trak, a benchmark for responsive, playable action in mid-tier gear of the time. Players who refused to compromise on touch took notice, even though the keys weren't generating any sound themselves.

The all-metal case gives it a no-nonsense durability, and its weight is universally described as heavy. This was a tool, not a showpiece. It has no display and no complex programming interface. Its job was to route MIDI data across multiple devices, change patches on the fly, and do it without glitches. MIDI implementation varied wildly in those years, and the Master Series 5V reportedly handled 16 channels and 128 patch changes, which made it a flexible hub for expanding setups.

Specifications

Key Features

61-Key Velocity-Sensitive Keyboard with Italian Build

The keybed is the heart of the Master Series 5V. It has full-size keys across five octaves, and collectors note it feels substantial and responsive. Sources suggest the keyboard mechanism was manufactured in Italy and shares its lineage with the Sequential Six-Trak, a respected synth of the era known for its reliable, playable action. Plenty of keyboards on the market then had spongy or unweighted keys. The Cheetah offered a tactile surface that favored performance over programming.

All-Metal Case for Studio Durability

There's no plastic shell here. The Master Series 5V is housed in a tough, all-metal case that looks rugged on any stand or desk. The metal enclosure likely helped with noise reduction and structural integrity, which matters for a unit sitting at the center of a complex MIDI chain. Add the heavy weight and you get build quality first, portability second. It was designed to live on a stand, not get tossed in a gig bag.

Four MIDI Out Ports for Modular Control

This let users address multiple sound modules - say, a drum machine, a string machine, a bass synth, and a lead - without daisy-chaining or external mergers. Paired with 16-channel MIDI capability, it gave players true multi-timbral control long before that became standard on keyboards. The MIDI Thru port added routing flexibility, making the 5V a genuine hub in expanding setups.

Velocity Sensitivity and Full Polyphony

The Master Series 5V is a controller, but it didn't skimp on expressiveness. The velocity-sensitive keyboard preserved dynamics across connected instruments, which is critical for realistic phrasing. With full polyphony, players could hold chords or play rapid passages without dropouts, a limitation that plagued some budget MIDI controllers of the era. That made it suitable for live performance where responsiveness mattered, as well as for sequencing.

128 Patch Changes Across 16 MIDI Channels

The unit has no display and no deep editing, so handling 128 MIDI patch changes across 16 channels was significant. Users could store and recall presets for multiple modules from a single unit, which streamlined complex arrangements. Programming likely required external tools or front-panel button sequences. The underlying implementation was solid, and that helped when switching sounds mid-song.

Historical Context

The Master Series 5V emerged in the mid-1980s, when MIDI was transforming music production and performers were building modular setups around rack-mounted gear. As a dedicated MIDI controller, it filled a growing need for centralized control. It shared the market with the Master Series 7-P and earlier models like the MK5, all positioned as cost-effective yet reliable. The 5V and 7-P were specifically called out in mu:zines as top value picks, which suggests Cheetah carved a niche by balancing performance and price during MIDI's formative years.

Collectibility & Value

Today the Master Series 5V is considered ultra-rare, and MATRIXSYNTH labels it “ULTRA RARE,” backed by how few units show up on the market. When they do surface, prices vary widely. One historical listing showed a “New Price” of $423.17, a used unit sold for £70.00 on PicClick UK, and another was listed at $150 on MATRIXSYNTH. Condition is a major factor. One seller noted a replacement power supply and new backup battery, which points to the age-related maintenance these units now need. No widespread failure patterns are documented, but battery replacement and potential power supply issues are expected for gear of this vintage.

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