SOLTON KETRON PROGRAMMER 24S

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via this listing, also on Reverb

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32 VINTAGE DRUM KITS ON YOUR SOLTON PROGRAMMER 24

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video upload by

"We were asked to beta test a new modification for the Solton Programmer 24 - expanding the drum section from a single kit to 32 vintage drum machines.
It adds the classics like the three Linn Drum machines, the Roland TR-808, TR-909, Roland CR78, Korg Mini Pops 7 as well as lesser known machines like the Elka Drummer One, Elka Drum Star 80, EKO Ritmo 20, Siel MDP40, Wersimatic 24, CRB Computer drums and many more 🤩
The additional 31 drum kits will perform just like the original Solton Programmer 24 drum section.

This is a total game changer for more than the obvious reasons - the Solton Programmer 24 has a sequencer, 8 separate drum volume sliders and 8 audio outputs as well as trigger capabilities for the individual drum sounds. It also sends clock and has Midi in/out/thru so it can be easily incorporated to whatever you got cooking with other machines.

It’s a non-invasive modification and fully reversible - no soldering - no drilling holes anywhere - it's installed by simply removing the four original drums eproms inside and hooking up a small additional board in place of two of them.

The modificationis divided in 4 memory banks of 4 drum kits each - you program the banks to your preference - this way you can quickly switch between the drum kits you use the most - or you can of course toggle through all the 32 drum kits sequentially.
Programming the memory banks is easy and sll the instructions you need are provided on Reverb :

https://reverb.com/item/79089448-spec...

The Solton Programmers drum section can accomodate 13 drum sounds per kit.
Some of the drum machines included featured have considerably less sounds and in those cases Andrea, the inventor and seller of the drum chip, has added more drum sounds in the same realm as the drum machine in question.
Due to the architecture of the Solton Programmer 24 the sample rate is 8 bit PCM 22500 Hz which sounds low but is definitely sufficient to maintain character and punchiness - I think it sounds damn good.
This video was made a few months ago and features a trial version that's now been upgraded - clips and smaller issues sometimes heard in the video have been ironed out and fixed on the version that's available for purchase.

Here's the complete list of featured drum machines

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THE SOLTON DISCO 64

video upload by Vintage Audio Institute Italia

"On a sunny afternoon a few years ago we hooked up the Solton Disco 64 to make a co-hesive demonstration of its capabilities just to see the machine literally start smoking due to burned transistors.

The attempt was aborted and it's not until now that we've managed to get the machine fixed so we can give it a second try.

Boy this thing is as rare as it is cool - complete with SSM filters it's the predecessor to the more famous and common Solton Programmer 24.

This is not really a disco machine per se - it has 4 Disco rhythm patterns on board indeed but Waltz, Bossa Nova and all the standard rhythm patterns of most drum machines of the era.

Quite a few machines featured Disco in their names for no other reason than the hype and coolness of the genre at the time of production.

The Disco 64 has more features than most auto-accompaniment units: there's the chords section, a string machine, a monophonic bass synth with individual volumes for each section, mute options, 4 bass line variations, cut-off and resonance filter, different chord sounds and of course an analog drum machine with individual sound mute options. You can play the string machine and bass synth like a keyboard, independently from the auto comp section so it's a monophonic and polyphonic synth as well as an auto accompaniment unit.

Apart from separate outputs for the drums and auto comp section, this one came modded with a separate output for the string machine, very useful for running it through effects."

Additonal SOLTON DISCO 64 posts

Solton Disco 64 - SR 161/82

video upload by Vintage Audio Institute Italia

"A quick demo with the wonderful Solton Disco 64
Strings separate out through a phaser, some light compression on drums and main mix."

Addtional Solton Disco 64 posts

Best of Solton Programmer 24 Synthesizer ~ RetroSound Demo

video upload by RetroSound

"(c)2007-23 by RetroSound
supported by UVI: http://bit.ly/retrosound-uvi

❤️ Support #RetroSound​ channel: https://retrosound.creator-spring.com

Best of Solton/ Ketron Programmer 24
all sounds: Solton Programmer 24 (1985)

Setlist
0:06 Nightshift
0:38 Mondaymood
1:09 Daydream
2:10 Sunday Afternoon
2:33 On The Way
3:04 Organ Strings Bass
4:10 Drums
4:22 Kalimba
4:36 Outro

Classic Analog Stringmachines from the 70s.
The full playlist:"

Solton Disco 64 - Serviced with Midi

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video posted here

"It comes with original foot pedals and the crazy-rare foot switch that unlock the drum-fills, as well as the lid for the main unit.

Since it doesn’t have the keyboard it’s been modified with Midi in.
An extra output for the string sound has been added for easy phase shifting routing.
This is a unique auto-accompaniment beast with a string machine, a monophonic bass synth with individual volumes for each section, mute options, 4 bass line variations, cut-off and resonance filter, 4 different chord sounds and of course an analog drum machine with mute option for individual drum sound and volumes for the 5 main drum sounds. You can play the string machine and bass synth like a keyboard, independently from the auto comp section so it's a monophonic synth and string machine as well!"

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FIVE SONGS ON THE SOLTON PROGRAMMER 24

video upload by Vintage Audio Institute Italia

"We compiled all our Solton Programmer 24 and Solton Project 100 songs in one convenient video. Italo Disco Machines?
Not false - but these two hotties offer a bit more than that.
Launched around the same time in the mid-80s, none of them caused much stir but at least the Programmer 24 was exported widely and they pop up on the market even in the US.
Overrun by sleeker Japanese machines, most Solton units probably seemed a bit dated at the moment of their release but re-adjusting the rearview mirror a bit we think they sound pretty great.
The Solton Programmer 24 is the obvious song writing tool:
It's a drum machine, bass line generator, chord generator and arpeggiator with an added string and organ section and a filter for the arpeggiator.
A very simple thing, almost a toy, but it's fun as hell and adding some effects to the sounds it gets interesting. For effects we're using the Schulte Compact Phasing, the low-budget, digital delay unit Vermona DEG-50 and the oddball, even lower-budget, mini-rack, multi-effect LEM FX22.

Vintage Audio Institute is a gear vendor and recording facility in Florence Italy."

Three Songs with the SOLTON DISCO 64

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"Auto accompaniment unicorn galore!
Boy this thing is as rare as it is cool - the predecessor of the Solton Programmer 24.

Not really a disco machine per se - quite a few machines featured Disco in their names for no other reason than the hype and coolness of the genre at the time (late 70s / early 80s).
But this is a unique auto-accompaniment beast with a string machine, a monophonic bass synth with individual volumes for each section, mute options, 4 bass line variations, cut-off and resonance filter, different chord sounds and of course an analog drum machine with individual sound mute options.
You can play the string machine and bass synth like a keyboard, independently from the auto comp section so it's a monophonic and polyphonic synth as well as an auto accompaniment unit.
Apart from separate outputs for the drums and auto comp section, this one came modded with a separate output for the string machine, quite useful for running it through effects.

Vintage Audio Institute Italia is a music studio and gear vendor in Florence, Italy."

Additional SOLTON DISCO 64 posts.

A QUICK TEST : SOLTON DISCO 64

video upload by Vintage Audio Institute Italia

"Before the Solton Programmer 24 - the by now fairly well-known Italo Disco machine - there was the Solton Disco 64.

After picking up this beautiful and mega rare species in Perugia not too long ago I filmed the first 10 minutes of trying it out and reacquainting myself with its perks.

I needed to touch up on how these work - which maybe isn’t as straight forward as it should be.

I already have another unit here but haven’t used it in a long time since it started emitting smoke a few years back. The machine has some minor scratchy pots but is otherwise working fairly well - every time something we buy isn't completely dead is kind of a miracle.

The Wah chord sound doesn’t sound right so that will be taken care of - it's in the shop for a check-up and a re-cap of the power supply and a few other minor interventions as we speak.

This is a nice, heavy chunk of a machine (main unit Is 16 kilos) in a brown faux leather suitcase with saloon style wood details, this is not really a disco machine per se - quite a few machines featured Disco in their names for no other reason than the hype and coolness of the genre at the time.

But this is a unique auto-accompaniment beast none the less - with a great sounding analog string machine, an analog, monophonic bass synth with filters, different chord sounds and of course a drum machine with individual sound mute options.

You can play the string machine and bass synth alone and independently from the auto comp section."

FilterAct - Solton Project100/Jen Synx-508/Gem Equinox/Gem S2 - Live Jam

video upload by VSMI - Vintage Synths Made in Italy

"Live Jam as is with Solton Project 100, Jen Synx-508, Gem Equinox & Gem S2 italian synthesizers"

SOLTON PROGRAMMER 24 / SOLTON PROJECT 100

video upload by Vintage Audio Institute Italia

"Italo Disco Machines?
Not false - but these two hotties offer a bit more than that.
Launched around the same time in the mid-80s, none of them caused much stir but at least the Programmer 24 was exported widely and they pop up on the market even in the US.
Overrun by sleeker Japanese machines, most Solton units probably seemed a bit dated at the moment of their release but re-adjusting the rearview mirror a bit we think they sound pretty great.
The Solton Programmer 24 is the obvious song writing tool:
It's a drum machine, bass line generator, chord generator and arpeggiator with an added string and organ section and a filter for the arpeggiator.
A very simple thing, almost a toy, but it's fun as hell and adding some effects to the sounds it gets interesting. For effects we're using the Schulte Compact Phasing, the low-budget, digital delay unit Vermona DEG-50 and the oddball, even lower-budget, mini-rack, multi-effect LEM FX22."

Solton SM100 (project 100) Demo

video upload by prankas

"Solton By Ketron Lab SM100 Demo. Sequenced via Ableton and controlled via SM100 software, no audio processing, outputs straight to my RME UCX.

Its the same synthesizer as more famous Project100, but in much smaller, more compact version.

6 voice polyphony, Same era as Korg's poly synths Poly61, Polysix, MonoPoly and u.ses same, legendary SSM 2045 and 2056 chips.

SM100 has very nice analog chorus based on BBD TDA 1022P chip, you can hear it from 3:07."

Solton SM 100 & Shik N32b Midi Controller

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via this auction

"- Incredible Rare synth with SSM filter, amazing condition
- comes with shik midi controller, to map all functions

Note: only one Sm100 is for Sale:)"

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SOLTON PROGRAMMER 24 / SOLTON PROJECT 100

video upload by Vintage Audio Institute Italia

"Can't get enough of that Programmer 24 arpeggiator!
The filter has a real sweet spot where it sounds a bit like a Juno 6 or Polysix to our ears.
The range of the sounds are of course much less wide but for a simple machine it really does the job.
All sections are actually programmable although we have yet to attempt that - we did download and load a few programs on to it and it worked perfectly. "

Solton TS4 (Italy, 1989) Italo Disco Machine Rack Synth Module

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via this auction

This one was spotted and sent in via M Me.

"Solton TS4 synth module with PCM drums and some analog sections like bass especially designed for real-time arranger performance.

Made in Italy in 1989! It’s the brother of the famous Solton Programmer 24!

SERIAL NUMBER: 1675/89

Derived from the same project of Solton Programmer 24, the TS4 has the same analog fat sounds and programmable patterns. There are several preset functions for live play!

FUNCTIONS:

• Auto Bass
• Custom Arranger
• Patch Change
• Manual Drums (triggers with notes)
• Odd Bass 16/8 feet
• Tempo Change
• Memory Save
• Custom Variation
• Intro Fill in-End

SOUNDS:

• BASS: features 16 different presets e.g slap, picked, sixties, fingered. With BASS BRILLANCE which is a kind of filter EQ.
• CHORD 1: there are 32 patches e.g strings, EP, grand piano, fiddle, organ, choir, brass, pads... You can filter it with CHORD BRILLANCE function.
• CHORD 2: another wave of 32 patches: marimba, piano, funky, mellow, clarinet, flute, harmonica, guitar, bell.

You can mix sounds between bass, chord 1 and chord 2 to create incredible new sounds!

• DRUMS: 7 channels with individual gain and outs for a total of 43 percussions sounds samples. Some drum functions like ROLL and FLAME. Drums includes: kick, snare, hit hat, ride, tambourine, toms, shaker-maracas."

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SOLTON PROGRAMMER 24 / SOLTON PROJECT 100

video upload by Vintage Audio Institute Italia

"Italo Disco Machines?
Not false - but these two hotties offer a bit more than that.
Launched around the same time in the mid-80s, none of them caused much stir but at least the Programmer 24 was exported widely and they pop up on the market even in the US.
Overrun by sleeker Japanese machines, most Solton units probably seemed a bit dated at the moment of their release but re-adjusting the rearview mirror a bit we think they sound pretty great.
The Solton Programmer 24 is the obvious song writing tool while the Project 100 adds the depth and richness in sound that the former machine lacks.
For effects we're using the Schulte Compact Phasing, the digital delay unit Vermona DEG-50 and the mini rack multi-effect LEM FX22.
We'll be exploring the Solton Programmer 24 and Solton Project 100 further so stick around.

Vintage Audio Institute is a gear vendor and recording facility in Florence Italy."

SOLTON PROGRAMMER 24 / SOLTON PROJECT 100

video upload by Vintage Audio Institute Italia

"Another go with this amazingly entertaining device from the golden era of Italian synthesizer production. The Solton Programmer 24 is a programmable auto-accompaniment unit with 12-bit drum samples and analog and digital hybrid synth and string sounds."

Vintage Analog Solton Ts4k synth keyboard and the MS40 Expander with PSU and foot controller

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via this auction

Use this code on checkout for $30 off orders of $100 or more from now until December 31: MATRIX30

"Included in this listing is the TS4K flagship keyboard and their flagship MS40 multimedia music station. The MS4 was the little brother of the MS 40. The MS 40 is the flagship expander just like the TS4K was the flagship keyboard. Both are the best Solton had to offer at the time, to my knowledge."

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Solton Programmer 24 / Solton Project 100

video upload by Vintage Audio Institute Italia

"Italo Disco Machines?
Not false - but these two offer so much more.
In the next videos we'll be exploring the sound capabilities of the Solton Programmer 24 and Solton Project 100.
These were both launched around the same time in 1984 and didn't cause many ripples in the synthesizer sea.
Overrun by sleeker Japanese machines they seemed painfully dated already at the moment of their release.
But adjusting the rearview mirror to seek a more timeless, or rather the slightly more dated, vibe of a few years prior, we think they stand the test of time well and sound pretty awesome.
The Solton Programmer 24 is the obvious song writing tool while the Project 100 adds the depth and richness in sound that the former machine lacks.
In our opinion these two form a dream team ;)"

Solton Arranger Plus (1987) Italo Disco Synth w/ Extras

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via this auction

"SOLTON ARRANGER PLUS, fabolous Italo Disco Arranger from 1987 with all the 4 eproms bank!

It’s the little brother of the Solton Programmer 24: fully analog with the same PCM of the Programmer 24. We have also a rare copy of instruction manual and schematic diagram in PDF!

The Solton Arranger Plus is very similar to the Solton Programmer 24. Analog sound generation and digital PCM samples for drums! It was produced in Italy by SOLTON Ketron in 1987.

It has single outputs for bass and drums. You could also play all sounds via MIDI, MIDI-sync to other drum machines possible as well."

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