Adding automation to something typically equals adding another layer of electronics to control the signal .
This alters the sound as a side effect... minor but noticeable.
Example would be difference between a Prophet 5 and Pro1.
Aside from the fact the Pro1 is a mono / P5 Rev 3 is poly , the voice architecture is the same except the P5 have voice recall.
The Pro1 doesn’t.
The Pro 1 uses a pot to control the signal.
The P5 uses a pot to control the CPU that controls a VCA (or CV etc) to control the signal.
The difference in sound ? Pro 1 is raw and bitey as F.
The P5 is a classic synth but a tamer character.
I always thought this was about the difference in gain settings between monos and polys, where several voices at the same time, like chords or unison mode, would cause distortion in the poly synth if its voices each had the same level as the mono can have without causing distortion.
Shame I never got a chance to grab one. Had one opportunity from sx pro a couple years back but didn’t bite.
I’m assuming this most recent run is the last..?
There will be another run next year, I think 100 (or was it 200 - info is further back in this thread), but then it will be done, as there are some components that's not available anymore.