Blue Mondayish ELKA OMB5 with Custom Drum Kit

video upload by ohm_studi_ohm

"I just finished servicing an Elka OMB5 and building a custom drum kit for it so I had some fun with it.
All sounds are from the OMB5, no fx used."

ELKA OMB 5 with custom drum kit

video upload by ohm_studi_ohm

"herre is a demo of an Elka One Man Band with custom drum sounds.

The OMB5 is a nice 4 part arranger with rhythm channel, bass channel and 2 accompaniment tracks. Sounds are FM (from the elka ER/EK/EM 44) and the drums are PCM sampled from the Drumstar 80. It has MIDI in and out so you can either control and play the different part from the keyboard or from MIDI, it syncs and transmits clock as well as single input notes or sequenced notes. I like using it with external midi controller so I can play the 3 different melodic part separately (when playing from the keyboard notes always trigger the 3 part together).

Though the drum samples are actually quite good if you like 80s sounds (especialy percussion and cymbal sounds), I decided to replace some of them with some I favor more, using sounds from LinnDrum, Oberheim DX, Roland TR808, CR8000 and TR707. I also adjusted level by using compression on some other stock sounds.

The audio format used in the OMB5 (and the Drumstar 80 which drum part is derived) is the same as in those classic 80s PCM drum machines, ie 8 bit µ-Law unsigned sample. Sample rate is 25000 hz (or so) in that one.

Replacing sound is not as straightforward as in those drum machines because instead of using 1x eprom per sound there are several samples per eprom (7x 256 kbyte eproms are used in the OMB5 to accomode for 32 sounds) so you need to edit the audio file and replace the existing sample with your own but it needs to start at the exact same adress as the original one and it should have the same length or be shorter.

So basically what you do is:
read the eprom bin
convert to uncompressed audio
edit that file and edit/replace the sound you want making sure you dont change file size nor start adress of the sound
convert the uncompressed audio to µ-law 8 bit
burn the new bin file

if you're interested in getting those sound I can sell you a full 7x eproms kit ready to use. I can be fitted in the DrumStar 80 too.

here is a list of the 32 sounds, with original and replacement when there is:

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Elka EK 22 Demos

video upload by M80

"Vintage analog synthesizer from the 80s, made in Italy.
All presets and sounds made by me, using only Vallhalla Room reverb and sometimes the synths internal chorus."


Timestamps
00:00 Intro
00:04 Preset 1
01:49 Preset 2
03:06 Preset 3
04:21 Preset 4
05:57 Preset 5
07:31 End

Elka EK 22 demo_1 - Part II

video upload by M80

Timestamps
00:00 Intro
00:04 Preset 6
02:37 Preset 7
03:46 Preset 8
05:07 Preset 9
06:19 Preset 10
07:44 Preset 11
09:57 Preset 12
11:25 Preset 13
14:13 Preset 14
15:09 Preset 15
16:02 End

Elka EK 22 - Vintage Analog Synthesizer (1986) HD

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

SN 023338 via this auction

Free Improvisations on this rare beauty
the Elka EK 22!

00:00 Lunaria
00:35 Tribalism
00:50 Dystopian Love
01:07 Corea
01:18 Confort Zone
01:28 Smurfs Lullaby
01:41 Laser Rush
01:52 Arpeggi
02:19 Ascension
02:38 Rubber Jazz
02:53 Circle Strings
03:05 Elettroshock
03:13 A Quiet Place
03:34 Nemesis
03:51 Prophet Brass
03:59 Preludio & Figa
04:09 Incazzato
04:16 Poly Sings Juno
04:29 After the Fallout
05:11 Funk U Clavinet
05:24 Crystals
05:41 80's Radio
05:51 Cats and Brass
06:07 Jazzy Glue
06:20 Tell me a Story
06:32 Cyborg's Fanfare
06:47 OUTRO (Say Goodbye)

Fx used on some patches:
OTO Bam reverb
OTO Bim delay

via this auction

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Elka EM 22 Vintage 1986 Italian Synthesizer Module

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via this auction

According to this 2008 post, the EM 22 used the same Curtis CEM3396 uP Controllable Dual Waveform Converter / Processor used in the the Oberheim Matrix 1000 and Cheetah MS6. The videos in this post apparently feature one but I'm not sure if you can see it.

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ELKA EK 22 PURE ITALIAN ANALOG SYNTH 5

Published on Dec 10, 2018 synths colors

Nessun Effetto Esterno Aggiunto, Come Al Solito...
No External Effect Added, As Usual...
外部効果はいつものように添加していません...

E-mu Emulator II ELKA EK 22 LUSH SAW PAD & BASS

Published on Nov 28, 2018 synths colors

"No External Effect Added, As Usual..."

ELKA Synthex 1981-1985 SN 1239

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via this auction

"The Synthex was conceived and developed by independent Italian designer Mario Maggi, who then gained the financial backing of the company of Italy, who produced the synthesizer from 1981 to 1985. Elka, a company more noted for its organs, had previously introduced their Rhapsody 490, 610 string machine, the monophonic Solist 505 and the big combo organ/synth X-705. A total of 1850 units were produced. Today is a highly sought-after instrument which recently reached quotations around 8.000 UKP. It was succeeded by the Elka EK-22 (based on the CEM3396 chip which was also featured in e.g. Oberheim's Matrix line of synthesizers) and the Elka EK-44 (based on Yamaha's 4-OP FM).

Elka SynthexGeneralmusic (GEM,LEM,ELKA)Dates1981-1985
Technical specifications842 memory40+40 locationsChorus, Ring ModulationInput/output61-keyLeft-hand controlJoystickExternal controlCustom interface / MIDI (late models)
Foot switches (Advance, Glide, Hold, Release)"

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ELKA EK 22 KOTO & KEYTEK CTS 2000 ANABASS

synths colors
Published on Aug 10, 2017

E-mu Emulator II ELKA EK 22 LUSH KEYS

Published on Jul 26, 2017 synths colors

"No External Effect Added, As Usual..."

ELKA EK 22 PURE ITALIAN ANALOG SYNTH 4

Published on Jun 10, 2017 synths colors

More ELKA EK 22 here.

ELKA EK 22 SYNTHETIC KOTO

Published on Jun 5, 2017 synths colors

ELKA EK 22 DEEP ROUND SAW PAD

Published on May 18, 2017 synths colors

synths colors ELKA

ELKA EK 22 PURE ITALIAN ANALOG SYNTH 3

Published on May 14, 2017 synths colors

More Elka EK 22 here.

ELKA EK 22 ITALO DANCE MELODY

Published on May 10, 2017 synths colors

ELKA EK 22 DREAMING KEYS

Published on Apr 29, 2017 synths colors

ELKA EK 22 ANALOGUE SYNTHESIZER SN 027645

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

via this auction

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ELKA EK-22 Analog Synthesizer 1986 Demo

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Published on Feb 18, 2015 AnalogNoiseLab

"A couple of sounds with reverb"

And some pics of one via this auction.

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Elka EK 22

Published on Sep 27, 2014 SSM Curtis

Elka EK 22 demo video.

Elka EK22 Analogue Polyphonic Programmable Synthesizer SN 027578

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via this auction

"The item you are viewing is a lovely and very rare Elka EK 22 Analogue Polyphonic Programmable Synthesizer. It is Italian made in 1986 and features a lot of great 80s synth sounds.

It is now also extremely programmable thanks to this excellent (Free!) Editor which you can control form your Mac or PC.

This enables you to create and save some amazing sounds from your computer, and really opens up the possibilities and enjoyment of this synth.

The Elka brand has produced perhaps only one famous synth and that is the Synthex. The EK- 22 is sometimes called 'Son of Synthex' - To be clear, it is nowhere near as powerful as the Synthex, but it is a curious and interesting find for any enthusiast."

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1987 ELKA EK 44 & EK 22 SYNTHESIZER KEYBOARD PINUP AD

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via this auction