"Cordovox Freeman String Symphonizer For Sale. Professionally serviced. This magical string synth sounds like heaven. Built in spring reverb. A rare gorgeous alternative to the popular and overused ARP String Ensemble / Solina. If you're into string synths, this one's a must have. We aren’t normally into string synths here but this one sounds so good that, if it doesn’t sell soon, we’ll probably keep it and use it in our studio."
"The first string machine. 25 oscillators, non BBD ensemble effect and onboard spring reverb give this unit a rich, lush sound unlike any of the later ones. And full polyphany! Just amazing. Some cosmetic wear and tear, but this one got a round of TLC in our shop and is working perfectly. With lid and music stand."
"This is a brief demonstration of a recently serviced Freeman String Symphonizer, one of the first "string machine" keyboards from the 1970's.
I probably could've explained the "animation" better. Basically it's six non-sync'ed low frequency oscillators, mapped chromatically on one rank and non-harmonically on the other, such that you're not likely to hit two notes next to each other with the same LFO, and making each note wobble ever-so-slightly differently.
Folks will gripe about the microphone audio; if you've got a solution for how to make Pro Tools-created WAV files sync to iPhone video within iMovie (it always drifts on me right out of the gate), please let me know."
"The OG string machine. Very rare. This machine was the progenitor of the whole 1970s string synth sound.
If you want something as lush as an ARP Solina or equivalent but totally unique this is it. 25 oscillators (!), absolutely huge sounding with a very useful 5 octave keyboard. Fully polyphonic.
Onboard spring reverb, animation (which introduces 6 LFOs) and onboard EQ can do a lot for shaping. Even has a cable out for a leslie.
Selection buttons for Octaves are a bit finicky but do function (one light is out), keybed is clacky and uneven but functions.
Comes with unique Cordovox volume pedal with built in pitch bend switch.
Functions completely but has not been serviced in the entire time I've owned it.
It may need a recap and general once-over for adequate future-proofing."
"The stringer that started it all! A set of master oscillators slightly detuned from each other gives a lush ensemble effect. Coupled with full polyphony and a spring reverb tank, it's no wonder the Freeman String Symphonizer spawned a string machine revolution.
This unit shows some slight wear typical for an instrument of its age. It has been gone over and had electrolytic capacitors replaced where necessary. Due to the unit's size, it is for local pickup only. Power cord not included, but it uses a regular extension cord."
"The Synth Wizards chase down and compare a crazy number of string machines, including the groundbreaking Freeman String Symphonizer and an extremely rare Elkatwin 61, and take a look at the fascinating history of these instruments. But, the Freeman needs some restoration work before it can be delivered to an interesting buyer in Los Angeles.
00:00 - Introduction 03:03 - Atlanta String Machine trip 06:35 - The Chamberlin 08:25 - The History of the Mellotron 13:00 - Mellotron M400 demo 13:58 - The Freeman String Symphonizer 15:28 - Differences between Synths and String Machines 19:24 - Freeman String Symphonizer demo 20:05 - The History of the Arp Solina 21:50 - Dennis DeYoung (Styx) Interview 23:38 - Crumar Orchestrator 24:30 - Crumar Performer 27:24 - Arp Omni 28:04 - Elka Rhapsody 28:42 - Elkatwin 61 29:55 - Roland RS-101 & 202 30:15 - Multivox MX-202 30:32 - Roland RS-505 33:03 - Roland RS-09 33:12 - Roland VP-330 Vocoder 33:36 - Korg Poly Ensemble S 34:28 - Korg Delta 34:56 - Yamaha SK20 35:49 - Korg EPS-1 37:01 - Refurbishing the Freeman 41:55 - Delivering String Machines to Jason Schwartzman"
Synthesizer Test Drive: Solina String Ensemble
video upload by Syntaur
"Syntaur's Sam Mims takes the iconic Solina String Ensemble out for a test drive. (This is a revised version of our original Solina video, where several sharp-eared listeners pointed out that the chorus effect wasn't quite right. They were correct! The LFO circuit in the original version was not working correctly. Now, here it is in its full glory.)"
"Very cool old 70's keyboard. Could use a little tlc with leveling the keys and what not, but they all work as well as all the voices and faders. Sounds incredible!"
"GForce's Dave Spiers talks about the making of the B-Side of Bright Sparks which focusses on the British contributions including Mellotronics, EMS, Electronic Dream Plant & Freeman.
Sadly, since this was filmed, our good friend, and a truly iconic British synth designer, Chris Huggett, died."
"These are rare. Only a few hundred made I believe. Disputes in how much the engineer Ken Freeman would be paid I believe drove back production to where other competition hit the market first (the Solina and Crumar Stringman). But the Freeman has a unique place in that it uses 25 oscillators to produce a more vibrant sound than the other string machines
Freeman used low frequency oscillators (6 of them) patched to note groups not usually hit together. (diminished 5ths) The Freeman is big to house all the circuitry and they didn't exactly use the lightest materials.
The volume pedal DOES come with this one. The volume pedal is rather specific to this instrument. It has a feature that allows a 1/2 step bend to the pitch. It works fine. I never had the music stand.
Works great. No power cord, but you can use a regular electrical extension cord as long as it has an outlet on the top, not the side."
"Amazing sounding vintage string synthesizer. Very rare. It has 25 oscillators with organ style divider circuits to create a full and enveloping symphonic sound, especially with the Ensemble effect engaged and the internal spring reverb cranked up. Very clean inside/out and fully functional. Some of the keys need to be leveled, but they do work. No lid"
"Fully serviced and 100% working with 60 day warranty for USA buyers. Everything pictured is included.
This is for sure the best sounding string machine I have heard or owned. I have owned A LOT of gear in my life. I sold a Freeman from my collection in 2011 and got positive feedback. I have been an admirer of these machines for a long time. After 25+ years of monkeying around with synths this is the best sounding string machine of all time in my opinion.
This guy works 100%. I recently had it serviced. All controls were cleaned and the keyboard rebuilt. Every aspect of the machine was gone over by a trusted tech and anything that needed to be done to make it perfect was done. One thing to note with these is the highest/last octave of the keyboard does not function in the low voice but that is by design.
The original pedal is included, (you almost never find them) the entire machine can be pitched down a major 2nd by pressing the edge of the pedal just like an organ. You can also control the volume. The original detachable lid and clear smoked lucite music easel are included.
The touch vibrato works, the spring reverb works, ensemble mode works, both high and low voices work and can of course be combined. The animation feature works, the sustainer works, the volume, treble, and bass all work.
At some point in this guy's life, someone cleverly placed smoked opaque heavy duty covering on the wood veneer particle board parts of the casing. This was smart because that is the most fragile part of the instrument and if you want to tour with one of these it will for sure get chipped.
The original fully removable keyboard cover is included as well as the smoked opaque music easel. This and the key-cover/lid completely detaches and is often lost (but are included). One clasp on one side doesn't completely line up..."
"The Freeman String Symphonizer was a 5-octave of the 1970s. (The first prototype being shown prior to 1970, but the most well known shown in 1970, the second according to the Sound on Sound article) It was finally manufactured by the and was also known as the Cordovox CSS. Its sound was related to that of the - cool glassy sounding strings. Eventually Ken Freeman tried to strike a deal with the company Ling but they abandoned their interest in it. Lowrey a division of CMI finally struck a deal after some deliberation.
The delay in getting the Freeman to market limited its sales. Some users were fairly famous, but its release was overshadowed by both the Eminent Solina and Crumar Stringman, both of which had only one oscillator and were cheaper to make.
"RE-STRINGS is our Rack Extension version of the award winning VSM and contains a selection of its most popular and iconic String Ensembles including: ARP Quadra, Crumar Multiman, Elka Rhapsody, Eminent 310, Freeman String Symphonizer, Godwin String Orchestra, Hohner K4, Junost 21, Korg Lambda, Korg PE2000, Logan String Melody II, Mellotron Violins, Moog Opus III, Roland VP330, ARP Solina, Technics KN200, Yamaha CE-25 & Yamaha SS-30.
With it's dual layer capability, it's possible to load the classic string ensemble sounds from years gone by or create your own hybrid ensembles.
Legal Notice
All musical instrument manufacturer and product names are trademarks of their respective owners and in no way associated or affiliated with GForce Software Ltd. The trademarks of other manufacturers are used solely to identify the products of those manufacturers whose sounds and technical data were studied for this instrument. All names of instrument inventors have been included for illustrative and educational purposes only and do not suggest any affiliation or endorsement of GForce Software Ltd."
Billy Currie talks String Synths, VSM & RE-STRINGS
Published on Apr 11, 2017 GForce Software
"During the process of creating patches for RE-STRINGS Rack Extension, we talked with Billy Currie about his use of String Ensemble keyboards over the years and how the Elka Rhapsody and Yamaha SS-30 contributed to some of Ultravox's classic tracks.
Billy also talks about how valuable the VSM and RE-STRINGS libraries are to him and how they've been used in his latest album, Doppel."
Freeman String Symphonizer
Published on Apr 11, 2017 GForce Software
"A brief walkthrough of the Freeman String Symphonizer, invented by Ken Freeman, sounds from which are in both VSM and RE-STRINGS.
The Further Adventures of K.FREEMAN and his Incredible Machine of a Thousand Strings courtesy of I Monster - BRIGHT SPARKS album. www.imonstermusic.com
Ken Freeman footage courtesy of BRIGHT SPARKS Documentary
http://brightsparks.movie"
The modern, polyphonic string synthesiser was invented in 1970 by Ken Freeman, a British keyboard player and engineer who discovered that if you layered two notes then detuned and slightly modulated one a pleasant ‘chorused’ sound resulted. Over the next 10+ years Ken’s initial discovery spawned an industry that saw the manufacture of more than one hundred ‘string machines’ and multi-keyboards.
Although viewed by some as a one-trick-pony or a poor man’s polysynth, string machines had so much character they’ve graced tracks by artists as diverse as; Lonnie Liston Smith, Air, Pink Floyd, The Cure, Parliament, Herbie Hancock, Camel, Joy Division, Jean-Michel Jarre, Thomas Dolby, Tonto’s Expanding Head Band, Genesis, Toni Tone Tony and countless others.
Product details
Based on our award winning Virtual String Machine (VSM), RE-STRINGS comprises 67 individual sample sets from a plethora of classic analogue string ensembles including the ultra rare (and first) Freeman String Symphonizer, the highly coveted Solina, the eminently desirable Eminent 310, the highly-lauded Logan String Ensemble, plus several other classic (and not so classic) string machines.
Each sample set spans 49 notes (4 octaves), each individually sampled and looped, plus RE-STRINGS contains a 700+ patch library created by respected patch designers including legendary string machine user and keyboard maestro, Billy Currie.
With Dual Layer capabilities - each layer comprising of a Lowpass, Bandpass & Highpass Resonant Filter Section, Two Envelope Generators, Pitch or Filter LFO, Dynamic control including filter aftertouch - if you want to create your own hitherto unrealised hybrid combinations of classic and evocative string ensembles, it’s a cinch. Finally, global vintage style Ensemble & Phaser effects are provided, allowing you to hone your sound to evocative, retro, string ensemble perfection.
RE-STRINGS includes string tones from the following classic instruments ARP Quadra (1978) Crumar Multiman (1975) Elka Rhapsody (1975) Eminent 310 (1972) Freeman String Symphonizer (1973) Godwin Model 749 String Concert (1980) Hohner K4 (1977) Junost 21 (c 1986) Korg Lambda (1979) Korg PE2000 (1976) Logan String Melody II (1977) Mellotron (1963) Moog Opus III (1980) Roland VP330 (1979) Solina String Ensemble (1974) Technics KN200 (1982) Yamaha CE-25 (1983) Yamaha SS30 (1977)"
"recently serviced Freeman String Symphonizer. as for string synthesizers, this is the one to get! all functions, keys and oscillators work. Very rare, only a few hundred were produced."
