Viscount UFO 61 Intercontinental Vintage 1970s Italian Electronic Combo Organ Synth Test & Demo

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video upload by riffers

This appears to be the first one featured on the site.

"Presets: Flute, Horn, Trumpet, Melodia, String,
Effects: Wha Wha, Vibrato
Drum Machine: Bossa Nova, Slow Rock, Tango, Swing, Beat, Waltz
Additional features: Octave switch, Key Start drum machine, Continued or Accented accompaniment & more

Recently serviced, extensively tested and fully functioning. No burnt or damaged components, sliders cleaned. Excellent cosmetic condition considering its age. Nice patina to the metal parts and teak has aged into a gorgeous amber.

Serial Nº: 42708/025
240 volts, 40 watts"

via this auction

"Recently serviced, extensively tested and fully functioning. No burnt or damaged components, sliders cleaned. Excellent cosmetic condition considering its age. Nice patina to the metal parts and teak has aged into a gorgeous amber."

SN 42708/025

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Paul McGowan of PS Audio Explains the Moog Synthesizer

video upload by Paul McGowan, PS Audio

"The classic Moog changed the world. Paul helps us understand what all the wires and modules actually do."

https://www.psaudio.com

Fascinating bit at 1:50. Paul McGowan actually created his own synthesizer, The Infinitizer. Curious if there are any images of it out there. He almost sold one to Wendy Carlos. It gets a mention in his book 99% True: Almost a National Bestseller which you can find on Amazon here (note this is an affiliate link - see the site's privacy policy for more info).

Update: I asked Paul if he had any pics of The Infinitizer. Unfortantely he didn't, and he no longer has any of the parts, but he did send over the following additional info:

"I don’t have any photos of the Infinitizer, unfortunately. I remember a very sad day back in 1995 or so when I was cleaning out my lab and had to own up to hauling it off to the dump (it was a mere skeleton of PCBs, a keyboard, and lots of wires and didn’t work)."

"The idea was to make 10 synthesizers into one unit that was easy to use. This meant it would be the world’s first polyphonic synth, since musicians only have 10 fingers.

I designed a complete analog chain of 10 modules (the usual: VC filters, oscillators, envelope generators, amplifiers, etc.). Then, I hired an engineer out of Vandenburg Air Force Base who was a whiz at this new thing called “digital”. He designed for me a multiplexed keyboard that constantly scanned all the keys looking for ones that were pressed. The keys were all internally numbered and when pressed, the multiplexer would find an available VC oscillator and assign that number to the oscillator. Because we know the number of the key, the appropriate voltage was sent to that oscillator and it produced the appropriate frequency for that key. In order to have the entire keyboard voltage move up and down (like if you wanted to bend the notes or modulate the frequency with a LF oscillator) the master voltage (that got divided by the individual keys assigned to it) could be accessed as one might normally do through the patch bay.

I also wanted to have the keys pressure sensitive so for that, I invented the use of conductive foam under each key (and that too could manipulate the master voltage to the oscillator banks) and could be assigned to modulate any of the other modifiers too. My patch bay was a switch matrix and pots kind of like ARP used to do.

It was a very cool device which I wrote about extensively in my memoirs, 99% True."

-------

As for the first non organ based poly synth, currently that honor likely goes to one of the following depending how you define it:

1975 - Buchla 502 - six voice polyphonic with minicomputer and ability to save patches to tape drive. Development on the 500 series began in 1969.

1975 - Oberheim FVS - four voice polyphonic with Polyphonic Synthesizer Programmer. Not sure if the 502 or FVS was released first.

1977 - Yamaha - CS50/CS60/CS80 - first single enclosure polyphonic keyboard synthesizers, with the CS80 to be the first synth with poly aftertouch

1978 - Sequential Circuits - microprocessor control the SCI prophet 10 (briefly) and the P-5 --- again based on existing E-mu tech stuff

via The First Synth to...

BABY TEST EQUIPMENT - A Cornucopia Of Noises - Feedback Devices Education Test Equipment.

video upload by LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER

"Feedback Devices Test Equipment Noise! #synthesizer #sound #experiment
See the mentioned videos and download the mentioned song and audio! here :-
https://www.patreon.com/lookmumnocomp...
Patreon is a massive enable to making videos, the larger DIY projects would be a lot more strung out without it! so i cant thank my supporters enough."

Keith Humble's Optronics Workstation

video upload by Robotussin Vintage Synths

"This is the Optronics Workstation, an Australian synth made for composer Keith Humble around 1970. It could be controlled by brainwaves…

The Optronics Workstation contains an EMS VCS1 – you can see the controls in the bottom right corner. Yes, a VCS1, not the VCS3 that EMS eventually marketed. The VCS1 was the first synth made by British company EMS. Three were created, the original, known as the Don Banks Music Box, can be seen above in the last image. It was made in 1968, predating the VCS3 by 12 months and many say it was the commission from Don Banks that led to the formation of EMS, so perhaps without it, there would be no other EMS synths.

Humble’s Optronics was built by an engineer called Graham Thirkell around the VCS1. It is perhaps the world’s first electronic workstation, containing a mixer, a synth and FX, all of which are inter-patchable.

In the centre is the 'Mindreader' or 'OmniVoila'. Players attach an electrode to their temples and this device read the signals and turned it into voltage to produce sound or modulation. On the left side is a three-channel mixer for three external line inputs, plus a send for a delay. Top right is a patch panel where voltages can be routed to create sound or modulation. Above that you can see two ring modulators. It also has an in-built spring reverb.

Humble was a huge early proponent of electronic music in Australia. He founded the Electronic Music Studio at Melbourne Universities’ Grainger Centre and the music school at La Trobe University, Melbourne.

The Optronics Workstation is now in the collection of MESS, the non-profit Melbourne Electronic Sound Studio. They are fantastic people who preserve and restore vintage instruments and encourage people to come in and play with them. Humble’s Optronics still works, so if you’re in Melbourne or near there, drop them a line and go say hello.

They were going to send me some video of it in action but I think they’re too slammed. I’ve included the only audio I could find that might be the Optronics in action. It might not be, though. But it was made by Keith Humble about a year after he started working with the Optronics and given that it was his only synth at the time, I think there's a good chance the audio was made with the Optronics."

Percy Grainger's Free Music Machine

video upload by Robotussin Vintage Synth

"A video from the Australian Broadcasting Company about a composer and inventor called Percy Grainger, who made electronic instruments in the 1950s that would follow a curving line to create pitch and music. He physically made the curving line out of thick sheets of card and fed them into the machine, controlling the pitch of an oscillator."

EMS SYNTHI 100 in the beginning.

Auld Lang Syne on a Yamaha L-20D

video upload by Benjamin Dehli

"Playing an excerpt from Auld Lang Syne on a Yamaha L-20D electric harmonium / reed organ 🎹"

https://www.dehlimusikk.no

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Happy New Year everyone!

The above video by Benjamin Dehli went up yesterday on the 31st, and I figured it would be an appropriate start to the New Year - something vintage that harkens back to the pre-synth age, but new to the site. This is actually the first post to feature the Yamaha L-20D. Aparently it's an electric harmonium as opposed to an electonics-based harmonium like the Telharmonium (click and scroll down for additional posts). If anyone knows more about the Yamaha L-20D and/or when it was released, feel free to leave a comment.

I found the following brief discripton from this forum:

"Yamaha harmonium - looks like it dates from the 60's or 70's in great condition. I've tried to find out info about these on the net for ages but there doesn't seem to be ANYTHING out there on it. This plugs into the mains and it sort of whirs up - like a mini leslie rotating speaker and when you play you can feel the wind coming out of it. It also has a sort of knee pedal that you can use to alter the volume. sometimes there's a bit of a buzz overall but it seems to depend on the day and the weather but a great vintage sound.No outputs on this but has built in speaker so would be great for micing up and recording."

There is no mention of it on Wikipedia as of this post. That said, it sounds like the electric portion powers the airflow, so it's likely closer to a classic wind based harmonium (click for additional posts) than an electronics based harmonium like the Telharmonium. Note via 120years.net, "The Telharmonium can be considered the first significant electronic musical instrument and was a method of electro-magnetically synthesising and distributing music over the new telephone networks of victorian America."

I also found the following video from four years ago.

Music for a Found Harmonium (Cover) on a Yamaha L-20D

video upload by Benjamin Dehli

"Music for a Found Harmonium by Penguin Cafe Orchestra played on a Yamaha L-20D electric harmonium / reed organ. All the sounds is created with the organ and recorded with a matched pair of AKG C451E."

--

Happy New Year!

Thank you to eveyone who enjoys the site, supporting members, and sponsors. You all keep me going each and every day.

Roger Nichols WENDEL JR Drum Sampler

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EPIC!!! '80s Drums 'n' Echo: Roger Nichols WENDEL/WENDELjr Sequential Drumtraks Lexicon 224XL/LARC video upload by Synclav com

via this auction

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This one was spotted and sent in via
M Me.

Note this is the first one to be featured on the site. There's mention of a Wendel Sampling Computer here. Roger Nichols, the creator, passed away in 2011.

"Note that there is only one (1) unit (s.n. 140) shown in the photos and seven (7) sound boards, and that is what you get for one money.
Serial number 140 is seen in the video "EPIC!!! '80s Drums 'n' Echo: Roger Nichols WENDEL/WENDELjr Sequential Drumtraks Lexicon 224XL/LARC", it is the unit that is not rack mounted but over on the right side, sitting on top of the two stacked Lexicon 224XLs with the two LARC remotes sitting on top of it, and it is heard to play the Tom-2, Crash cymbal (Crash Cym-1), Ride cymbal (Ride Cym-1), Heart snare, and Heart kick.

If you select quantity two (2), you will get the second identical unit (s.n. 230) and a second set of the same (7) sound boards. I promise you the second one not shown is in equal or better condition. This would be very powerful and convenient setup for a producer to have, then able to do kick and snare at the same time, for example, and also for live sound drum replacement applications.
Serial number 230 is seen in the video "EPIC!!! '80s Drums 'n' Echo: Roger Nichols WENDEL/WENDELjr Sequential Drumtraks Lexicon 224XL/LARC", it is the unit that is in the bottom of the rack, and it is heard to play the two alternating clap sounds (the clap sound is not included in this listing, but always available), which again shows what the WENDELjr can do but none of these drum machines can (alternate claps, they just go clap-clap, same sound, machine-like).

Also if someone wants me to list just the sound kit for some other WENDELjr they bought from a chump and have no sounds for it, it's $799.00 for the seven sounds on seven boards."

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Long-lost Moog synthesizer finally makes it to the stage

video upload by Cornell University

"A piece of synthesizer history has been given an unexpected second life and is now a part of Cornell’s instrument collection, after eight months of meticulous and often confounding work by a group of synthesizer builders.

The rebuilt and rewired instrument, designed by theorist David Rothenberg and built by renowned synthesizer pioneer Robert Moog, Ph.D. ’65, is housed in Lincoln Hall and graduate student composers will begin experimenting with its unique tonal range next semester."

Hohner PK150

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via this auction

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"Early arranger keyboard from Germany in the 80s. 61 keys and features a speaker"

This is the first one to be featured on the site.

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Model 162-8 Mystery Sequencer

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via this auction

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GARLAN ELECTRONICS CO?

From East Lansing Michigan.

Looks DIY from the pics of the inside.

If anyone knows more about this one, feeel free to leave a comment.

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Never Released Korg MU-5000 (Japan, 1985) Vintage Music Synthesizer PC Prototype

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via this auction

SN ES 850111

"In 1985 Korg decided to challenge the personal computer market creating a competitor for the legendary Commodore 64 (which was born three years earlier, in 1982).

Rumors then began to circulate about a new musical personal computer signed by Korg, called KORG MC-4000.

Along with the Korg MC-4000, Korg had designed 2 units which were extra and integral parts of the personal computer: a music synth expander called Korg MU-5000 and a microdisk unit called Korg MF-1000.

The incredible fact is that the personal computer project signed by Korg (the first “musical” personal computer in history) has remained for many years as a fake, since none of these products has ever been marketed in the western world.

The only historical artifact related to this project is a Japanese advertisement, a printed ad by Ishibashi Gakki released in the April 1985 issue of “Keyboard Magazine”.

In this ad (please, see the original photos), there were showed 3 products: KORG MC-4000, KORG MU-5000 and KORG MF-1000. The KORG MC-4000 music computer was then presented as a "compact computer containing its own music system".

Korg MC-4000, Korg MU-5000 and Korg MF-1000, according to historical information, have never been marketed because then Korg decided not to challenge the personal computer market. We don't know why!

Today, after years of research, we at Re Seller are pleased to present you the only survivor in the world of that super cool project: the original KORG MU-5000 expander synth!

This find of ours is of fundamental importance as it demonstrates that the Korg music personal computer project would have been really close to being commercialized!

This impossible to find Korg MU-5000 has been tested and is still in working order! Cosmetically there are minor signs of wear due to age, but nothing serious. The power supply is compatible and is included in the sale (this unit works with any 9V power supply and center negative polarity).

This small desktop synth contains beautiful sounds at its core! It is a 16-channel midi expander capable of generating some mighty impressive sounds courtesy of the same Digital Waveform Generator System used in the DW6000 and in the best Korg sounds of the 80s!

What we were able to test is very easy: we connected a midi keyboard to the Korg MU-5000 and listened to 128 sounds preset via program change (we changed the program change directly on the MIDI keyboard).

There are probably many more features to discover, but we don't have the capabilities to test it 100%!

An incredible piece of history, for the most demanding collectors in the world. Impossible to find another in all of history!"

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Rare birds: Elka Wilgamat 1 / analog drum machine and accompaniment unit

video upload by ohm_studi_ohm

"Here is another "one man band" from the 70s I just serviced. Many dead CMOS chipsets, lots of bad connections on the motherboard daughterboards sockets (broken pins, bad solder joint) and a dying voltage regulator, among other things. Custom built keyboard to trigger the accompaniment unit, with jack socket input for pedal that introduce drum breaks. A different flavor than the Welson Ritmo I recently demoed but definitely in the same mood.
Recorded through a Teisco 120 to add some reverb."

This appears to be the first post to feature the Elka Wilgamat 1. Note the "1" on the right. The Elka Wilgamat minus the "1" has been featured on the site before in previous posts here. Which came first? :) You can find additional Elka Wilgamat models here.

Update: according to Ohm Studio: "Electronics are exactly the same. I think this one is later and was an add for some Elka organ, maybe Concorde or something. The black color is I think factory since it’s all over the case even inside. It’s clearly the same fake wood as the original but painted black, probably to better match the organ aesthetics. I definitely remember seeing auctions with Elka organ and this wilgamat unit bundle. Also the complete wilgamat electronics and controls are fitted in some Elka organ, spinet and combo. Don’t remember which model but I did scavenged à spinet one to retrieve all the pcbs."

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Both Sides of the Knife - Elka Concorde 802 song

video upload by R.O.T. Studios

"Since it's working again, I of course had to make a song with it :)
Love my Elka~"

This is the first Elka Concorde 802 to be featured on the site. You can find other models in previous posts here.

The following are some pics of an 802 off of Reverb

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Pulser LIVE BEATS M-35 Rhythm Box

video upload by Rec Gear Demos

aka Telly's Gear Depot On Reverb
The is the first one to be featured on the site.

AMTRON UK 262 Amplified Rhythm Control Drum Machine

via this auction

"Vintage Drum Machine

RARE bird.

Made by Amtron

Selectable input Voltage (Currently set for 110V)"

This appears to be the first one featured on the site. There was a model 263 mentioned in this previous post on RHYTHM MACHINES The Rise and Fall of the Presets book & demos.

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Alesis 6461 QS6 Prototype?

This one is in via Mike who just picked it up. I'll see if I can get some better pics when he has it. Until then, if anyone is familiar with it, leave a comment. I search for Alesis 6461 only brings up this blurry image.

Update: new pics here.

Concord R-3000 Automatic Rhythm Machine

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

This one is in via M Me, spotted on Marktplaats.

This is the first one to be featured on the site. It appears to be a preset based rhythm machine. Note "Automatic Rhythm" in the badge on back. Also note the Universal Consilidators Inc.

via the listing:

"Analoge Japanse drummachine uit de jaren 60. Komt niet vaak voor. In zeer goede staat, werkt prima.
Low imp. Out
High imp. Out
Foot Switch In
230V"

Googlish:

"Analog Japanese drum machine from the 1960s. Not common. In very good condition, works fine.
Low imp. Out
High imp. Out
Foot Switch In
230V"

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CBS MASTERWORKS Electronic Percussion 1970

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video upload by fritz5139

Vintage Electronic Drums (Percussion/Congas)

video upload by celtusfergus

via this auction

"This exceptionally rare analogue percussion synthesizer was made in Japan in the very early 1970's. It has been most notably used by Anne Peebles in the rare groove song 'I Can't Stand The Rain' which was sampled and used in the 1997 Hiphop track 'The Rain' by Missy Elliot. I have replaced the disintegrated foam which sits under the pads with brand new longer lasting foam. The pads are "velocity sensitive," using a magnetic pickup inside each pad that runs on a 9V battery which powers all voices. The mute switches all work, which essentially control the decay for each instrument by varying degrees based on the circuit design. There's a circuit diagram pasted to the base of the case beneath the top of the synth.

There are trimmers on the circuit board of the synth which I'm assuming control either overall tuning or deacy. I haven't touched these in order to maintain the originality of this instrument. The synth is in amazing original condition despite its age and the fact that it needs to be hit in order to work. :)"

Note this is the first one to be featured on the site.

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Roland MT-80s Music MIDI Player Boombox SN ZI10963

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
video upload by Danimal Cannon

via this auction

Never seen one of these before. Note the video above is not for the listing. I found it searching Youtube for a demo of one. Roland also made the MT-300. The MT300 has MIDI out while the MT80s does not, which means the MT80s is solely a MIDI player and cannot be used to sequence external gear.

Check out additional boombox synths here.

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Dianzi Qin (电子琴) Chinese synth from 1978

video upload by Robotussin Vintage Synths

"Look at these strange synths produced by Cold War-era China. This is a Dianzi Qin (电子琴).

The synth came about following a cultural exchange in the early 1970s when composer Bernie Krause visited China to demonstrate a Moog modular system. It was part of Richard Nixon’s attempt to build up relations with China to counterbalance Soviet influence in the region – a program known as “Ping-pong diplomacy”.

Krause demo’ed his Moog to Communist officials who were apparently very impressed, after which the Party declared that electronic music 'had no cultural bias', meaning it was not intrinsically Western and decadent, and so there was no problem for Chinese people to explore it and incorporate it into their compositions.

This led inventor Tian Jin Qin to develop this instrument, as a modern, electronic synthesizer with Chinese characteristics – it’s loosely based on traditional Chinese string instruments such as the Erhu.

The Dian Zi Qin is controlled with four ribbons, which power an additive synth engine. There seem to have been two versions, one that looks like an upright stringed instrument, the other that looks more like a desktop synth but with a vertical neck sticking out of it with the ribbon controls to finger. The second type has additional touch controls on the main unit that have some ability to bend and accent the note.

I’ve read that very few were made and it didn’t get out of the prototype stage, but in this video I see at least three playing in concert, as well as what looks like a more conventional organs. I’ve uploaded the full film to my YouTube channel as it was not available anywhere on the Western internet."