Jean Michel Jarre Explains Why The Elka Synthex Reissue Matters

Musikmesse 2015: In this video, Jean Michel Jarre shares his thoughts on the importance of the Elka Synthex and why the Synthex reissue matters. 

The Elka Synthex is an 8-voice polysynth, manufactured from 1981-1984. It offers 2 oscillators per voice, multimode filter and a 4-track sequencer.

Details on the planned Elka Synthex reissue are still to be announced.

15 thoughts on “Jean Michel Jarre Explains Why The Elka Synthex Reissue Matters

  1. Poor old Jean Michel looks like he’s has a night out on the town what with the indoor dark glasses and hair out of place. He probably woke up with a Jupiter 8 in his bed and regretted the night before 😉

    1. WTF are you talking about? He looks fine to me. Are you some special plasticine beautiful ageless person? Stop running people down.

  2. This man is a timeless master, and nails it on the head; This is a one of a kind design, that may finally get the kind of wide spread use, and respect that it always deserved. Bravo. I can only hope that this happens, and SOON.

  3. Nice to see him showing respect to Joy Division. I don’t think Jarre gets the respect he deserves regards his influence. He opened my ears to electronic noise and sequences with Oxygene and Equinox. next thing I was hearing Hamburger Lady by Throbbing Gristle and Frankie Tear drop by Wire. Nag Nag Nag, Cabaret Voltaire and Reality Asylum by Crass.
    Good on ya Jean Michel , saw you a few times , Limoges and Toulouse , good gigs and great back projection.
    PS No sign of the hamburger lady at Limoges.

  4. The Synthex is my favorite of the old analog polys. I hope that they reissue it. And I hope that I win a reissued Synthex in a contest (because I couldn’t afford it).

  5. Love Rendez-Vous and love the Synthex which is one of JMJ’s trademarks. I made some very close lazerharp patches on the AN1x which has the SPX symphonic chorus that can sound very like the thick analogue chorus on the Synthex, I think it’s in a yahoo group somewhere.

  6. 1) Thumbs-up for his speaking of the “dialogue” you should have with a synth. I think of that kind of engagement in piano-like terms, but its also true of synths. If you play it for a bit and feel drawn into it in some way, its a keeper. Specs always take a back seat to how the FEEL works for you personally. Don’t let the tools define you; make your sound define you.

    2) I disagree with him about softsynths not being able to compete with hardware, even analog polys. I don’t see it as a competition at all. Its about contrasts and good blends. I once owned a Wurlitzer EP (what a sweetheart ‘board), but the one in Logic is extremely accurate. Sure, Logic can’t impart exactly the same subtle distortion or the feel of the actual metal, but honestly, its way more than good enough for showtime. Don’t let some limiting prejudice hamper you. Its The Modern Age; you can have it both ways now! 😀

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