video upload by kotoelectro
The MIZUNO SuperSizerμ featured in Hiromichi Oohashi's Strange Synthesizers of Japan by Hiromichi Oohashi - Synth Book w/ CD
According to Hiromichi Oohashi:
'It's one of the most mysterious synth in Japan.
made by MIZUNO (famous sportswear manufacturer)
I don't know why MIZUNO made such a futuristic noise synthesizer...
MIZUNO Supersizer-μ is introduced in my synth book."
Update: I asked Hiromichi Oohashi if he knew of any other gear they made and he said it was the only musical instrumeht they made. He reached out to MIZUNO and they said based on the logo it was likely manufacturered in the late 1970s to 1980s. They didn't mention any other useful information.
Update2: TenTen in the comments noted the fonts used in the logo appear to be either Twobit or Bitwise which "were invented in 2011 and 1999, respectfully." However, according to https://www.dafont.com/twobit.font, "This familiar typeface is based on the ‘retro-futuristic’ of computer and technology advertising of the 1960s and early 1970s. Includes full alphabet, punctuation, euro. Includes regular, bold, italic, and bold-italic versions. (Version 1.10)". And Bitwise, "A typeface based on machine readable characters from the 1960s."
Update3: and one spotted for sale by TenTen captured here.
And the YouTube descripton:
"Supersizer-μ (1970s) made by MIZUNO(famous sports company)
Exclusive video of most mysterious synth of Japan.
from 「Strange Synthesizers of Japan」book
「珍電子楽器LOVE」（リットーミュージック刊）"
Update3: and one spotted for sale by TenTen captured here.
And the YouTube descripton:
"Supersizer-μ (1970s) made by MIZUNO(famous sports company)
Exclusive video of most mysterious synth of Japan.
from 「Strange Synthesizers of Japan」book
「珍電子楽器LOVE」（リットーミュージック刊）"
Update3: An image of the oribinal box via Hiromichi Oohashi:
I think this might be a hoax. The logo looks like it was made with either the Twobit or Bitwise fonts -- the stylization of the "U" and the "E" set them apart from similar fonts -- and they were invented in 2011 and 1999, respectfully.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. Thanks for commenting. I was just updating this post with some additional info . Rather than reply here, see the two updates.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the updates, it seems I may have jumped the gun. I decided to snoop around online ahd managed to find an eBay auction with more pictures, including the PCB (maybe it was a kit?) and the original box:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.ebay.com/itm/MIZUNO-SUPER-SIZER-U-ANALOG-SYNTHESIZER-VINTAGE-moog-roland-korg-moogerfooger/154984620162
Thanks! That one deserves a new post: https://www.matrixsynth.com/2022/07/vintage-rare-japanese-mizuno-super.html
DeleteAnd no worries on jumping the gun. It always surprises me when something new but old pops up and there was the Lumavox: https://www.matrixsynth.com/search/label/Loumavox.
Shame there is no video of SuperSizer-μ being operated for different sounds. It may have at least given a clue to its construction.
ReplyDelete