AELITA 3-VCO RARE VINTAGE SOVIET ANALOG SYNTHESIZER

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"AELITA is a 3-oscillator monophonic synthesizer with 44 keys, produced by the Murom radio plant in USSR in eighties. The device is housed in a strong aluminum body. Sound control is performed with handy faders and buttons. The synth has really impressive analog sound - it is convenient for modeling of fat analog basses, classic rock leads, hard razor waves, various space FX`s, noises, ambient textures and much more... It is able to form both hard and soft timbres. By activating the UNISON function, the number of simultaneously sounding voices may be 5 or 6. Because you can detune the three independent oscillators, it is possible to create "one finger chord hits".

The Aelita synthesizer consists of 5 basic synthesis sections, which are the following: TUNING, REGISTERS/TIMBRE (osc wave switch), UNISON/VOICE LEVEL, TIMBRES CONTROL (filter), VOLUME CONTROL (amplifier). A wide range of modulation functions are available, including RING MODULATION. The synthesizer provides a three oscillator voice, with the addition of unison function, which adds extra timbres to basic sound. Respectively, there are separate controls for all oscillators in all sections.

The TUNING section provides the "global tuning" and separate DETUNE 1/2/3 knob for each oscillator. Below the section, three parameter buttons are situated: RELEASE, UNISON/VOICE and STRINGS. By pressing RELEASE, the "preset released" mode is activated independently of the RELEASE slider in the AMPLIFIER section. Next the UNISON/VOICE ON/OFF button - having entered the mode UNISON ON you will get aggressive layered strings sound (see demo sample1). By pressing the STRINGS button, you actually activate the modulation function, which imitates stringed instruments vibrato; but in conjunction with the UNISON ON mode, it provides "strings" sound with a complex modulated timbre.

The REGISTERS/TIMBRES section contains the timbres range (octave registers) 2`, 4`, 8`, 16`, 32` buttons and the WAVEFORM SELECT buttons (square, triangle and saw). The MODULATION/LFO FREQ slider, also called VIBRATO/TREMOLO, is situated below; four LFO WAVEFORMS selection buttons are situated at the lowest.

Between the REGISTERS and VOLUME CONTROL sections, the MODULATION switch buttons for all oscillators (called VIBRATO 1/2/3) and the button MOD1*3 activating frequency modulation of the first voice with the third one; actually, this is the RING MODULATION mode. Combined activation of the buttons MOD1*3and UNISON/STRINGS makes it possible to get a uncommon compound timbre of sound. The section UNISON/VOICE LEVEL contains three sliders 1/2/3/ and three buttons for controlling the volume level and for switching the oscillators ON and OFF. One of the sliders is designed to control the UNISON level in the range 16í. With the button UNISON/VOICE at ON, the sliders 1/2/3 perform the function of controlling the UNISON level of the registers in the ranges 2í, 4í, 8í. Below the section, the MODULATION DEPTH (vibrato) slider is located.

The TIMBRES CONTROL section has two buttons in the left part: KEY TRACKING ON/OFF and LFO (tremolo on/off). Near the buttons, 6 filter control sliders are situated, those are the following: FILTER CUTOFF (called RANGE), RESONANCE (SHARPNESS), MOD DEPTH, ATTACK, SUSTAIN/RELEASE, DECAY (called LEVEL). Below the section is the TREMOLO DEPTH. The VOLUME CONTROL (AMPLIFIER) section provides the following functions: ATTACK, SUSTAIN / RELEASE, DECAY (called LEVEL), MAIN VOLUME LEVEL and controlled with the respective sliders. At the rear panel, a 5 din OUT is situated for connection of the volume control pedal or an external mixer/amplifier.

Some examples of how it really sounds you will find here:
http://ruskeys.net/eng/base/aelita.php#sn"

I spy a ghost cat.