vintage synthesizer

This is an audio demo of the Yamaha SY77 Synthesizer.

The Yamaha SY77 is a 16 voice multitimbral music workstation, introduced in 1990.

At the SY77’s introduction, a Yamaha spokesman said:

“The SY77’s sound quality is one which allows the accuracy and realism of samples to be combined with the expression of FM. The sound is stunning and eminently playable,” states a Yamaha spokesman. “The interactive hybrid voicing technique produces voices that easily surpass those which are currently available, in terms of accuracy, nuance and expression. They are so musical, that one will never want to play purely sampled instruments again!”

The SY77 uses AFM (advanced frequency modulation) synthesis, AWM (advanced wave memory) ROM based sample synthesis, and Realtime Convolution and Modulation Synthesis (RC&M).

The AFM synthesis of the SY77 is effectively a superset of the 6 operator FM synthesis available on the Yamaha DX7 and DX7II series of synthesizers. With a few minor exceptions, it is capable of all of the sounds that can be produced by those earlier keyboards and more.

Among the advantages of AFM synthesis over FM synthesis are a larger choice of algorithms and the flexible routing of feedback paths. Additionally, the RC&M synthesis it offers is a form of FM synthesis where samples in ROM are used as modulators for FM operators instead of elementary signals like sine and sawtooth waves.

The SY77 is equipped with a 61-key keyboard with velocity and aftertouch, has a large backlit LCD display, expansion slots, floppy-drive, on-board effects, and a 16,000 note sequencer. Programming is performed through a keypad on the front panel. It can generate rich, layered, multi-timbral sounds and there are large libraries of patches available for it.

The SY77 and SY99 were the last Yamaha “flagship” workstations to be natively capable of full-fledged FM synthesis that had been introduced with the DX line.

If you’ve used the Yamaha SY77, leave a comment with your thoughts/ratings! Read more…

This is an audio demo of the Korg PE 1000 Vintage Analog Polyphonic Synth.

Once you get over the intro narration, it goes straight into some 80’s-tastic vintage analog sounds.

The Korg PE-1000 Polyphonic Ensemble was one of Korg’s first polyphonic synths, and was used by Jean Michel Jarre, Vangelis and others. It featured full polyphony, with an oscillator per key.

If you’ve used the Korg PE 1000 Analog Synthesizer, leave a comment with your thoughts!

via abertronic

This is a video demo of the very rare ETI 4600 international synthesizer.

The ETI 4600 synthesiser was the brainchild of Trevor Marshall.

Trevor Marshall’s intention was to make available to pop groups a synthesizer that would cost less than the average of around $1,400 (Australian Dollars). The magazine Electronics Today International approached Trevor and featured the design in a number of articles.

Barry Wilkinson of ETI was responsible for the packaging and kitting coordination. It was adapted for Europe by Maplin Electronic Supplies of Rayleigh, Essex who produced full construction details, and were able to supply all the components for the project including PCBs, printed panels and case.

If you’ve used a ETI 4600 International Synthesizer, leave a comment with your thoughts.

Read more about the #TI 4600 at ETI4600Synthesiser.org.uk. Read more…

The Yamaha CS-80 is considered by many to be one of the greatest analog synthesizers ever created.

The CS-80 is a polyphonic analog synthesizer released in 1977, and discontinued in 1980. It featured true 8-voice polyphony (with two independent synthesizer layers per voice), as well as a primitive (sound) settings memory based on a bank of micropotentiometers).

Just as important, though, are the CS80’s expression features, such as a splittable keyboard that was both velocity-sensitive (like a piano’s) and pressure-sensitive (”after-touch”). Unlike most modern keyboards, though, the aftertouch could be applied to individual voices rather than in common.

A ribbon controller also allowed for polyphonic pitch-bends and glissandos. This can be heard on the Blade Runner soundtrack by Vangelis, which is full of CS-80 goodness.

On the negative side for the Yamaha CS80, it’s one of the heaviest synthesizers ever made – weighing in at over 200lb (91kb). The CS80 is also known for its unstable tuning and difficulty in servicing.

Notable players include Vangelis, Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, Kate Bush, Toto and Peter Gabriel.

If you’ve used the Yamaha CS-80, leave a comment with your thoughts! Read more…

The E-mu Emulator II was E-mu’s second sampler, released in 1984. Like the Emulator I, it was an 8-bit sampler, however it had superior fidelity, and allowed more flexibility in editing sounds.

It was priced similarly to the Emulator I, at US $7,995 for a regular model, and $9,995 for a “plus” model featuring extra sample memory. Several upgrades, including extra disk drives and a 20 MB hard drive, were available as well.

Notable users include: Depeche Mode, Enya, badass keytar player Herbie Hancock, Jean Michel Jarre, Orbital, Paul n-n-nine-nine-nineteen Hardcastle, Tangerine Dream & Ferris Bueler.

If you’ve used the Emu Emulator II, leave a comment with your thoughts!

Specifications:

• 8 voice polyphony
• Sampler – 27kHz; 8-bits; 512 KB to 1 MB storage
• 8 parts (8 midi channels) multitimbral
• 8 sequencer tracks
• 61 keys w/ velocity & aftertouch sensitive keyboard
• 24 dB/oct 4-pole lowpass filter with resonance

Resources:

• Wikipedia entry for the Emu Emulator II
• Emu Emulator II at VintageSynth
• The Emulator Archive
• Video of the Emu Emulator II via JMPSynth