Amazing Singing ALTAIR 231, russian minimoog, analog formant vowel synthesis - **Must hear!!**

Published on Dec 16, 2014 NoiselabCH

"The ALTAIR 231, a minimoog copy built in former sovietunion is a real 3-OSC synthesizer beast if not a monster! While trying out some extreme settings I found this formant vowel like sound. I thought a bandpass filter is necessary, but there's none on the ALTAIR 231 or ESTRADIN 230 (exactly same schematics) !

It's combination of OSC crossmodulation and high filter resonance. And it's just one crazy sound this great vintage analog monophonic synthesizer can produce.

No external effects or dynamics added, just pure analog synthesis!

One third of the vid is the singing ALTAIR 231, then the Abyss follows periodically, mostly squeezing, crunching, bubbling, rumbling, haunting, crashing, 1000-saws-try-to-break-the-safe-like, splashing interrupted by somewhat smoother intermezzos. Be aware of the angry bees...

Here's a vid I made a while ago using the midi-retrofit in our ALTAIR 231:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ex78F... [below]

A vid with our ALISA 1387 (another amazing russian synth):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlP5h... [posted here]

Darth NoiseLab and Darth Digital Playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-leTV... [below]

Be the synthforce with you..."

Altair 231 - Soviet Synthesizer in action - Russian Mini Moog! Amazing Estradin Synth!

Published on Mar 9, 2013

"Just a short vid, badly recorded, about the ALTAIR 231 Synthesizer (Estradin factory, Zhitomir). This one is from 1986 (maybe radioactive ;-) and has a retrofit Midi in !!
Midi-Arpeggio from Yamaha AN1X, first test with midi. This Synthesizer has similar options as the minimoog model D, it's a kind of soviet copy, however it's not a moog (I never had one, so I can't compare), but it sounds really amazing.
Same circuits as the Estradin 230, but in a more moog-like look.

Don't argue with me cause of dirty fingers, bad tweeking, shitty vid and sound-qualitiy. I don't see a lot af vid of the Altair 231 here, so a cheap one won't hurt ;-)"

And the Darth Digital Playlist:

ALTAIR 231 - SOVIET ANALOG SYNTHESIZER with MIDI ussr russian minimoog (AUDIO DEMO)

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Published on Jun 25, 2018 VintageShopVideo

via this auction

"It is a 3-OSC monophonic precise equivalent of infamous western MINIMOOG MODEL D, produced in the USSR in 1986 by Elektroizmeritel military factory in Zhitomir. Altair-231 is a refined version of another well-known soviet analog synthesizer Estradin-230. Both synths has identical electronic architecture, functionality and rich sound palette. Estradin-230 was manufactured from early to middle eighties and then Estradin factory changed synth`s design (new casing) and labelled it as "Altair-231". So Estradin-230 & Altair-231 are the same machines only in different bodies.

Synth has 4-octave keyboard (F-C) with velocity (sensitivity assign to vibrato effect). For live performance there is a wheel which provides pitch shift. ALTAIR-231 is based on 3-VCO (OSC-3 can work as the modulator), 1 VCF (lowpass 24dB/oct) with ADSR, 1 VCA, 3 LFO, noise generator (white/pink), glide, memory. It has an EXTERNAL INPUT allowing to use FILTER and GENERATORS with OTHER INSTRUMENTS such as guitars, synths, etc! ALTAIR-231 consists of 5 main sections - OSC, MIXER, MODULATION, FILTER and AMP."

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ALTAIR 231 - SOVIET ANALOG SYNTHESIZER with MIDI

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via this auction

"It is a 3-OSC monophonic precise equivalent of infamous western MINIMOOG MODEL D, produced in the USSR in 1986 by Elektroizmeritel military factory in Zhitomir. Altair-231 is a refined version of another well-known soviet analog synthesizer Estradin-230. Both synths has identical electronic architecture, functionality and rich sound palette. Estradin-230 was manufactured from early to middle eighties and then Estradin factory changed synth`s design (new casing) and labelled it as "Altair-231". So Estradin-230 & Altair-231 are the same machines only in different bodies.

Synth has 4-octave keyboard (F-C) with velocity (sensitivity assign to vibrato effect). For live performance there is a wheel which provides pitch shift. ALTAIR-231 is based on 3-VCO (OSC-3 can work as the modulator), 1 VCF (lowpass 24dB/oct) with ADSR, 1 VCA, 3 LFO, noise generator (white/pink), glide, memory. It has an EXTERNAL INPUT allowing to use FILTER and GENERATORS with OTHER INSTRUMENTS such as guitars, synths, etc! ALTAIR-231 consists of 5 main sections - OSC, MIXER, MODULATION, FILTER and AMP."

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ALTAIR-231 3-VCO RAREST ANALOG SOVIET USSR SYNTHESIZER

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mechanical animals

"INCLUDES: ALTAIR-231 (s/n 1666), PEDAL, POWER CABLE AND ORIGINAL CASE

ALTAIR-231 is powerful monophonic 3-OSC synthesizer produced by Elektroizmeritel, millitary radio plant in Zhitomir, USSR, 1986. Synth has 4-octave keyboard (F-C) with velocity (sensitivity assign to vibrato effect). For live performance there is a wheel which provides pitch shift. ALTAIR-231 is based on 3-VCO (OSC-3 can work as the modulator), 1 VCF (lowpass 24dB/oct) with ADSR, 1 VCA, 3 LFO, noise generator (white/pink), glide, memory. It has an EXTERNAL INPUT allowing to use FILTER and GENERATORS with OTHER INSTRUMENTS such as guitars, synths, etc! ALTAIR-231 consists of 5 main sections - OSC, MIXER, MODULATION, FILTER and AMP..."

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ALTAIR-231 3-VCO 3-OSC RAREST ANALOG SOVIET USSR SYNTHESIZER SN 3849

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"If you are familiar with Soviet synths you might know that ESTRADIN-230 has absolutely identical schematics (all 6 PCBs) with ALTAIR-231.

ALTAIR-231 is powerful monophonic 3-OSC synthesizer produced by Elektroizmeritel, millitary radio plant in Zhitomir, USSR, 1986. Synth has 4-octave keyboard (F-C) with velocity (sensitivity assign to vibrato effect). For live performance there is a wheel which provides pitch shift. ALTAIR-231 is based on 3-VCO (OSC-3 can work as the modulator), 1 VCF (lowpass 24dB/oct) with ADSR, 1 VCA, 3 LFO, noise generator (white/pink), glide, memory. It has an EXTERNAL INPUT allowing to use FILTER and GENERATORS with OTHER INSTRUMENTS such as guitars, synths, etc! ALTAIR-231 consists of 5 main sections - OSC, MIXER, MODULATION, FILTER and AMP."

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Altair 231 Russian MOOG MODEL D w/ MIDI Case

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via this auction

"legendary, very rare & powerful soviet analog synthesizer "ALTAIR-231". It is a 3-OSC monophonic precise equivalent of infamous western MINIMOOG MODEL D.

Synth has 4-octave keyboard (F-C) with velocity (sensitivity assign to vibrato effect). For live performance there is a wheel which provides pitch shift. ALTAIR-231 is based on 3-VCO (OSC-3 can work as the modulator), 1 VCF (lowpass 24dB/oct) with ADSR, 1 VCA, 3 LFO, noise generator (white/pink), glide, memory. It has an EXTERNAL INPUT allowing to use FILTER and GENERATORS with OTHER INSTRUMENTS such as guitars, synths, etc! ALTAIR-231 consists of 5 main sections - OSC, MIXER, MODULATION, FILTER and AMP.
(for all technical specifications check the "Features" section below).

The inclined desk is divided into the following functional sections: Modulator, Generator #1, Generator #2 or #3, Mixer and Amplifier. They give one a possibility to synthesize a broad spectrum of sounds and to change sounding at any time.
There are 3 internal audible signal sources in the instrument: to broad-ranged of the Generators with changed form of oscillations and a noise generator for creating a non-musical sounds such as wind, surf, whine, etc.

Possibility to connect an external audible signal sources to the synthesizer is provided for (e.g. guitars, electro pianos and electro organs). Sounds of different external sources are combined separately in the mixer in any ratio. There is a filter in the synthesizer with cutoff frequency control to change color of timbre of audilble signal over a wide range.

Both Estradin synths have fat and rich vintage analog sound with it`s own character and can be compared to Minimoog model D synthesizer.

ALTAIR-231 is one of the most impressive vintage Soviet synthesizers. It has inimitable peculiar sound and very powerful filters. A fat, lush and very analogue sound with the unique architecture of the Soviet-era components; in addition, highly reliable military technologies were applied in the process of production. The synthesizer is universal & may be used for hard electronic music, or for soft ambient/old school projects and for modeling various effects as well...endless possibilities"

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Estradin Altair 231 w/ MIDI

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via this auction

"Legendary, very rare & powerful soviet analog synthesizer "ALTAIR-231". It is a 3-OSC monophonic precise equivalent of infamous western MINIMOOG MODEL D.

Synth has 4-octave keyboard (F-C) with velocity (sensitivity assign to vibrato effect). For live performance there is a wheel which provides pitch shift. ALTAIR-231 is based on 3-VCO (OSC-3 can work as the modulator), 1 VCF (lowpass 24dB/oct) with ADSR, 1 VCA, 3 LFO, noise generator (white/pink), glide, memory. It has an EXTERNAL INPUT allowing to use FILTER and GENERATORS with OTHER INSTRUMENTS such as guitars, synths, etc! ALTAIR-231 consists of 5 main sections - OSC, MIXER, MODULATION, FILTER and AMP."

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ALTAIR-231 SN 2863 3-OSC ANALOG SOVIET SYNTHESIZER

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via this auction

"Monophonic synthesizer Altair 231 (Estradin factory, Zhitomir city) is intended to play different sounds from the imitation of natural instruments to complicated synthesized electronic timbres, sound effects, percussion sounds & so on. There are a four-octave keyboard & a wheel to pitch control. There are also controls for parameters on the front panel, an output for phones, an input for a pedal. The instrument consists of four main blocks of sound synthesis - Generator, Mixer, Filter and Contour.

Synthesis is based on 3 master oscillators (each of them with different parameters of registers) waveform, frequency modulation. There is also a generator of white & pink noise. Low-pass filter with main parameters gives the possibility for keyboard tracking. Portamento adjustment knob is provided. To tune a pitch the tone signal is used (440Hz) It provides a linear input to connct an external sound source to Altair. Output and input sockets are 1/4" jacks

Altair 231 is an almost identical copy of the famous Moog Minimoog, made in the former Soviet Union. Biggest difference in sound is caused by different brand of components: Russian equivalents are used everywhere.

The oscillator board is based on the older version. However, the Russians were clever and used multi-turn potentiometers for the scaling controls. Result: Synth stays in tune better. The Russians didn't seem to have reverse log pots. Because of that, the resonance control was wired backwards and a regular logarithmic pot was used instead. Other than that, the synth seems to be very robust and easy to service - the real Mini schematics come for good help when comparing the component numbers etc. It sounds like a Mini! I heard a Mini with the newer oscillator board and I think that's the reason for minor differences in sound between it and the Altair.

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Altair 231 demo tracks

Published on Nov 8, 2015 Guseyn G

"The entire EP was recorded exclusively with Altair 231 including drums and percussion.
Altair 231 is a direct Soviet copy of the original Minimoog Model D first revision. It is known to be more stable than the original Mini.

Altavox - Mooncheese EP
Tracklist:
1 - Module 110
2 - Lunokhod 147
3 - 9.8 m/s (2)
4 - 6.022*10 (23)
5 - Altered signal

In case anyone is interested I am currently selling this exact Altair which was used for recording this EP and which is on the cover.
It comes fully maintained with the midi mod for controlling VCF via DAW/sequencer and most of the original knobs have been replaced with a more smooth moog type ones which allow for a much better control than the original ones."

ALTAIR 231 - Vintage Soviet Analog 3VCO Synthesizer

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"Altair 231 is an almost identical copy of the famous Moog`s Minimoog model D synthesizer made in the Soviet Union.

It was manufacture on "Estradin" military radio plant in Zhitomir city in January 1987. The serial number of the unit -3700.

Condition

This auction synthesizer after full professional service and in really excellent working condition.

All electronics was checked and tuned. All old soviet capacitors was changed on good quality new. All potentiometers and switches was cleaned and works without any noise on mooving. Old soviet In/Out connectors was changed on good quality Amphenols. 3 Oscillators was fine tuned. Cheap original plastic sides was changed on great wooden. In two words the old machine reincarnated in new spaceship...

Altair has the same architecture as Minimoog model D and the sound is also very similar. But due to original soviet electronic parts it has it`s own unique character.

It has very fat and impressive analog sound with wide sound palette. It can produce fat analog basses, classic rock leads, hard razor waves, various space fx`s , noises, ambient textures etc... The filter is really extreme and sounds fantastic.

The set include >>> Altair 231 synthesizer + original volume pedal + set of main rare soviet chips used in the synth, that you can see on the last picture..."  Like little robots ready to explore.

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ALTAIR 231 SOVIET SYNTH

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"I SELL SUPER LEGENDARY AND VERY RARE SOVIET ANALOG SYNTHESIZER, MADE IN CCCP BY "ESTRADIN" MILITARY PLANT AT 1985 YEAR - CALLED
ALTAIR-231

You can NOT find this synthesizer even in Russia now! It is a "Russian Minimoog", no comments! However this synth is better than classical Minimoog or Oberheim, it has a more aggressived Russian devil filters!!! Plus the additional unique synthesis architecture include the best of USSR synth's era quality military engineering! Throw out yours Polivoks or any famous keys and enjoy this mega synth!

ALTAIR-231 is a monophonic 3'osc synth, it has 4-oct keyboard (F-C) with velocity sensitivity assign to vibrato effect. Sound control is performed with round knobs and switchers. For live performance there is a wheel which provides pitch shift (called glissando).

Synthesizer is based on 3 VCO (any can work as the modulator), 1 VCF (lowpass 24dB/oct) with ADSR, 1 VCA, 3 LFO, noise generator (white/pink), portamento. Consist of 5 main sections - MODULATION, OSC'S, MIXER, FILTER and AMP (called Contour).

MOD section:
- portamento on/off, rate;
- mod mixer knob: balance between modulated by OSC3 and noise, depth amount;
- vibrato on/off, octave shift to 1/2
- pitch wheel (glissando)

OSCILLATORS section:
- osc 1,2,3 registers - 2", 4", 8", 16", 32", LF
- osc 1,2,3 waveshape select - triangle, saw, square, pulse, sine
- osc frequency - freq 1..3, freq 2, freq 3 -linked to keyboard pitch on/off
- modulation on/off switch

MIXER:
- osc 1,2,3 on/off, level
- ext input level, on/off
- noise generator level, on/off
- noise mode switch: white/pink

FILTER:
- mod on/off
- cutoff, resonance, brightness
- attack, decay, sustain
- keytrack on/off

AMPLIFIER:
- attack, decay, sustain
- key hold memory on/off

Next - global section: main volume, phones volume, phones out (5din), A-440Hz tone on/off, power.

Connection 1/4 jacks: input, output, pedal input (5din), ground.
Power supply: 220V/50Hz, fuze 0,125A"

You can find audio demos on Ruskeys.

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ESTRADIN 230 SOVIET ANALOG SYNTHESIZER with MIDI

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via this auction

"Up for sale is legendary, very rare & powerful soviet analog synthesizer "ESTRADIN-230".
It is a 3-OSC monophonic precise equivalent of infamous western MINIMOOG, produced in the USSR in 1985 by Elektroizmeritel military factory in Zhitomir. Estradin-230 is a predecessor of another well-known soviet analog synthesizer Altair-231. Both synths has identical electronic architecture, functionality and rich sound palette. The Estradin-230 was manufactured from early to middle eighties and then Estradin factory changed synth`s design (new casing) and labelled it as "Altair-231". So Estradin-230 & Altair-231 are the same machines only in different bodies.

Synth has 4-octave keyboard (F-C) with velocity (sensitivity assign to vibrato effect). For live performance there is a wheel which provides pitch shift. ESTRADIN 230 is based on 3-VCO (OSC-3 can work as the modulator), 1 VCF (lowpass 24dB/oct) with ADSR, 1 VCA, 3 LFO, noise generator (white/pink), glide, memory. It has an EXTERNAL INPUT allowing to use FILTER and GENERATORS with OTHER INSTRUMENTS such as guitars, synths, etc! ESTRADIN-230 consists of 5 main sections - OSC, MIXER, MODULATION, FILTER and AMP. All knobs and controls are marked in English!"

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ESTRADIN 230 - 3VCO Vintage Soviet Analog Synthesizer

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See the seller's other items for more.

"Estradin-230 is a predecessor of another well-known soviet analog synthesizer Altair-231. Both synths has identical electronic architecture and the same rich sound palette. The Estradin-230 was manufactured from early to middle eighties and then Estradin factory changed synth`s design and start produce from middle eghties Altair-231 synthesizer. But actually it`s the same machine in the new body. [note this 230 has an angled front panel]

Estradin 230 and Altair-231 most identical copies of the famous Minimoog synthesizer that was made in the Soviet Union.

Both Estradin synths have fat and rich vintage analog sound with it`s own character and can be compared to Minimoog model D synthesizer.

This auction Estradin-230 synth was produced in 1984. The serial number of the unit - 2957."

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Vintage ANALOG Soviet synth ALTAIR-231

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"Monophonic synthesizer Altair-231(plant Estradin Zhitomir) is designed for playback of sounds of various character - from simulation of natural sounds of the instruments to achieve complex synthesized electronic voices, effects, percussioni of sounds and so the Synthesizer has a 4 octave keyboard, wheel pitch, controls front panel settings, exit to the phones, the entrance to the pedals. Consists of four main blocks of synthesizing sound Generators, a Mixer Filter Circuit.

Synthesizing part is based on 3-setpoint generators, each with an independent parameters registers, waveform, frequency modulation. There is a generator of white and pink noise. The filter of low frequencies from main parameters allows tracking keyboard. Synth includes a feature portamento with speed adjustment. To configure the operation of the instrument is the inclusion of a 440Hz tone. Provides a line-in input for external audio source through the Altair-231. Inputs and outputs are 1/4 of the Jack."

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ALTAIR-231 Russian Analog Synthesizer with Footpedal

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"Up for auction is an amazing vintage soviet 3VCO analog synthesizer - ALTAIR 231. Altair 231 is an almost identical copy of the famous Moog`s Minimoog model D synthesizer made in the Soviet Union. It was manufactured on "Estradin" military radio plant in Zhitomir city in January 1987. It has very fat and impressive analog sound with wide sound palette. It can produce fat analog basses, classic rock leads, hard razor waves, various space fx`s , noises, ambient textures etc... The filter is really extreme and sounds fantastic."

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ALTAIR 231 - 3VCO Soviet Analog Synthesizer with MIDI

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"Altair 231 is an almost identical copy of the famous Moog Minimoog, made in the former Soviet Union.

It was manufacture on "Estradin" military radio plant in Zhitomir city where was produced power synths, drums, signal processors in eighties.

Altair 231 has very fat and impressive analog sound, it can produce fat analog basses, classic rock leads, hard razor waves, various space FX`s , noises, ambient textures etc. The filter is really extreme and sounds fantastic."

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Estradin Altair 231

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Jim Hokins

via this auction

"Rare Soviet synt for sale . WITH MiDi OUT ! Synt looks good and with own case . Fully functional . ALTAIR-231 is one of the most impressive vintage Soviet synthesizers. It has inimitable peculiar sound and very powerful filters. A fat, lush and very analogue sound with the unique architecture of the Soviet-era components; in addition, highly reliable military technologies were applied in the process of production. The synthesizer is universal & may be used for hard electronic music, or for soft ambient/old school projects and for modeling various effects as well...endless possibilities. ALTAIR-231 synth has fat and rich vintage analog sound with it`s own character and can be compared to 'MINIMOOG MODEL D' synthesizer."

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ALTAIR 231 - MOD-MIDI

Published on Apr 25, 2015 Alexey Taber

"Альтаир 231, после ремонта,играет через boss be5 и Toa echo mixer, по аудио от него запускается самопальный драм модуль"

ALTAIR 231 - MOD-MIDI -ii

mechanical.animals CUSTOM WOODEN SIDE PANELS for the ALTAIR-231

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" Dear owners of the awesome ALTAIR-231 synth, now you can mod it with very nice looking panels, made of plywood, paint BLACK.

Package includes:
— 2x side panels ESTRADIN-231 engraved;
— 10x mount bolts;"

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RARE ANALOG SOVIET SYNTHESIZER ALTAIR 231 with MIDI

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via this auction

"Monophonic synthesizer Altair 231 (Estradin factory, Zhitomir city) is intended to play different sounds from the imitation of natural instruments to complicated synthesized electronic timbres, sound effects, percussion sounds & so on. There are a four-octave keyboard & a wheel to pitch control. There are also controls for parameters on the front panel, an output for phones, an input for a pedal. The instrument consists of four main blocks of sound synthesis - Generator, Mixer, Filter and Contour.

Synthesis is based on 3 master oscillators (each of them with different parameters of registers) waveform, frequency modulation. There is also a generator of white & pink noise. Low-pass filter with main parameters gives the possibility for keyboard tracking. Portamento adjustment knob is provided. To tune a pitch the tone signal is used (440Hz) It provides a linear input to connect an external sound source to Altair. Output and input sockets are 1/4" jacks"

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