"Rare Multivox "String & Brass" MX-202 String Synthesizer. I purchased this about 6 years ago and have used only a few times in the safety of my home studio. It's basically a copy of a Roland RS-202, but with it's own distinct sound. This particular model has been re-branded as "MX-440," though the card on the back still says "MX-202." Keys have yellowed a bit over the years. Still has original cover/lid and music stand attachment. It's a very cool synthesizer and is in great shape, all functions work - but due to it's age and the nature of these old synthesizers I have to say it's sold as/is and all sales are final."
"Multivox MX-202 String & Brass synthesizer Made in japan total copy of Roland RS-202 there's a cool article in Sound on Sound about the 2 : '' Opening up my RS202 produced a second surprise. The boards in the Roland may be laid out differently from those in the MX202, but apart from a bit of point-to-point cabling in the Multivox where the Roland uses connectors, you could pull a board out of one of these synths, and stick it in the other. I'm not talking just about geometry here. Other than the keyboard mechanism and the details of which screw goes where, these boards are the same, right down to component level. In other words, the MX202 and the RS202 are the same instrument. '' Everything works, got that great analog sound, and you turn on those chorus options and bam ahhhh here it is, that Classic Roland vintage sound."
"Here is an incredibly rare Multivox MX-202. Many people say it is a copy of the ROland RS-202 and others say it sounds somewhere in between that and the arp solo a string ensemble. Either way it is this synth is super rare and sounds incredible. You simply cannot reproduce these lush sounds on modern synths. This one is in good condition but is missing one push button (which you could probably find easily if you wanted as they are standard) I never felt a need since the blue button underneath is just as easy to push. The synth is in good working condition and all functions work perfectly including the amazing ensemble chorus and vibrato. There is a bit of static when moving some of the sliders as the unit has not been used in many years. Otherwise it sounds great."
Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
via this auction
"This is the extremely hard to find 1977 Multivox MX-202 which is very similar in layout and sound to the Roland RS-202 but much rarer!..." You can find an extensive write-up on Sound on Sound here.
"A sort of trivia regarding the RS-202: It was virtually cloned by an small American company called Multivox. they released the MX-202 which not only looked almost totally identical to the RS-202, but also featured copied hardware - component for component! Despite only a few minor differences between the two, the MX-202 still didn't sound as nice as the Roland."
See here for previous posts on the MX-202 including video.
"Multivox Vintage Keyboard MX-202 Strings & Brass Synthesizer (70s era). Two strings settings, one brass setting, ensemble effects and vibrato - very similar in almost all respects to the Roland RS-202. Has rich warm swirling analog string and brass sounds. Very rare - Good working /cosmetic condition."
YouTube Uploaded by Coolbreeze431 on Apr 26, 2011
via tspit74 in the comments of the video:
"This was also available as the Multivox MX-202, which is a copy of the Roland RS-202 as used by Tony Banks. I have an MX-202 and love it. This is one of the great analogue string machines. It fills the same sonic territory as the great ARP Solina, but sounds just unique enough to justify owning on it's own, or side by side with an ARP. Think, "All in a Mouse's Night" by Genesis. Awesome."
"Here's a simple audio clip of the Multivox MX-202 string synthesizer we're about to put up for sale. This is quite a rich sounding synth, thanks to the onboard ensemble effect. We feel it's a nice alternative to the ARP String Ensemble IV / Solina keyboard. Enjoy! Email us anytime at minime123@onebox.com"
"This is the Multivox MX-440, which is essentially a rebranded MX-202, which is essentially a Roland RS202. It has seen a good bit of use, but it functions properly and sounds great. Two chorus keycaps are missing, but the switches still work.
A little history on the MX440/MX202:
The Multivox MX202 seems to be a component-for-component copy of the RS202. If you compare the two panels, the physical similarities will be obvious. Like the Roland, the MX202/MX440 uses divide-down organ technology to generate a polyphonic sawtooth wave which is passed through a stereo chorus unit.
The MX202 also has a similar sound set - two string footages and a 'brass' sound (i.e. the sawtooth through a simple filter) and the two chorus settings added various degrees of lushness to both. Like the RS202, it has simple control of amplitude envelope with two switched attack rates and a variable release control. Further comparisons with the RS202 can be found in the MX202's keyboard split options that allowed different sounds to be played simultaneously in the low and upper halves of the keyboard."
Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
via this auction
"Vintage Multivox MX-440 analog string and brass synthesizer. This is the less-than-reputible clone of the Roland RS-202 although it's debatable which came first. Works 100% and sound great. The MX-440 keyboard is splittable and the bass and treble have identical independent controls. Also includes an adjustable vibrato with adjustable delay, bass and treble "tone" sliders, separate sustain adjustments for the bass and treble sections and two very nice sounding ensemble settings. Overall in very good cosmetic condition with some nicks and wear from being about 35 years old. Includes the lid and the original music stand! Bonus feature: the keys have uniformly yellowed with age!
More pictures can be seen here (there are two MX-440's in this set, one is this one and the other belongs to a customer)"
"there's a cool article in Sound on sound about the 2 :
Opening up my RS202 produced a second surprise. The boards in the Roland may be laid out differently from those in the MX202, but apart from a bit of point-to-point cabling in the Multivox where the Roland uses connectors, you could pull a board out of one of these synths, and stick it in the other. I'm not talking just about geometry here. Other than the keyboard mechanism and the details of which screw goes where, these boards are the same, right down to component level. In other words, the MX202 and the RS202 are the same instrument
Everything works, got that great analog sound, and you turn on those chorus options and bam ahhhh here it is, that Classic Roland vintage sound.
These are getting rare and will go up in value with the price of good analog vintage Roland synths going up by the week.
*Vintagesynth website gives the RS-202 a 4 stars/excellent"
"Great Multivox string and brass machine. Basically a spec for spec copy of the Roland RS-202 string and brass instrument only that it goes C to C instead of F to F.
This is a simple but unique instrument - there are brass, strings 1 and 2, with the ability to blend them. There's vibrato, a little bit of envelope control and the most epic feature of them all... the ensemble (Chorus) effect, which has 2 modes. There's something really magical about these effects - they turn a relatively simple synth sound into a beautiful warm swirling analog string / brass patch.
I mostly used this with a stereo reverb pedal which gave me really awesome Solina-type sounds."
"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.)"
"Quite extensive demonstration of the Dr. Böhm Phasing Rotor effect, a great triple chorus effect from the 70s. Turns anything into a great string machine.
On the video I test it with a Multivox MX-202 (a Roland RS-202 clone), a Crumar Stringman and an cheap old cheazy analog synth.
I built several of these as strandalone units and I currently have 2 to sell if you are interested."
"String and Brass synth. Dead copy of the Roland RS-202 only real difference being C to C instead of F to F. Sounds wonderful and lush. Completely recapped and everything works. Best example I’ve ever seen."
"This is one of the most desirable string and brass synths out there. When you hear how lush it sounds you will know why. The ensemble buttons really give the keyboard extra depth that others in the same field do not have.
Everything works great on this particular model. All sliders and buttons function as they should. As you can see the keys have yellowed nicely, which is very common with the 202's. The tolex on the case is a bit scraped up, but overall in excellent condition considering the age."
EBRJvpQEzo!~~60_57.JPG)
