Korg Lambda ES-50 Ensemble Synth

via this auction

" The Lambda has 48 note polyphony and the Ensemble section runs off of 3 high frequency analogue VCOs(Percussion sections runs off 2 VCOs) that can all be detuned to achieve excellent lush layered string sounds. This board does not have a lot of patches by design(Brass,Organ, Chorus, Strings I, Strings II, Piano, Electric Piano, Clavi, &Harmonics) but what it does(STRINGS!!!), it does extremely well. The piano patches from the Percussive sides are a bit bland, but Clavs are OK, and the Harmonics preset from the Percussive section is excellent and layered with the String , Organ, Brass, and Chorus presets of the Ensemble section, sound phenominal, especially if you set a bit of delayed release.

The Chorus Phase setting for each section is particularly cool in building the layered sounds into your mix via pulse waves .This board can layer any combination of these voices up to 9 to create some exceptionally thick sounds.For the time period, this was one of the top three sounding string machines available. I have also owned an ARP Solina and side by side, the Korg's strings are as lush and wide if not wider(especially when you detune Osc 2&3) The ES 50 has a unique sound and is very analogue(and loud!!!). What makes this vintage string machine stand out from the others like the Solina and Omni is that each key triggers 2 separate VCAs(thats 96 envelopes and VCAs in total!) .The ensemble section also has an adjustable attack ,release,& vibrato control. The percussive section has an adjustable delay, a sustain setting , and a tremolo whose speed can be controlled. This keyboard also has an octave transpose up setting and separate volume controls for the percussive and ensemble sections which have separate audio outputs for real stereo effect- not too common on 1970s analogue equipment. The best feature I have enjoyed is the two Chorus buttons above the pitch bender(one for the Ensemble section, the other for the Percussive section) that when activated, send your layered sounds through separate BBD(bucket brigade) analogue delays that really augment the fullness of all the layers sounds. Also has a brass cutoff for it's low pass filter and a Gate Trigger out. And its big wooden backside is useful for holding all your effects pedals or stacking other synths, but at 33 lbs, it is still very portable for gigs..."