GODWIN CD2 - 1980s - The First Ever Demo Of Rare Apparatus

video upload by Vintage Audio Institute Italia

Note this appears to be the first post to feature the GODWIN CD2.

00:00 Setting Up
00:41 Introduction
01:28 UPPER MANUAL : organ tabs and polyphonic presets
04:13 Solo Synth
05:07 Debunking the Mystery
06:19 Drum Machine
08:26 Three Quick Improvisations
09:47 Lower Manual : organ tabs, solo synth routing and arpeggiator
11:18 Musical Interlude
12:42 Bonus Musical Interlude

"A fresh video entry in the category 'Rare as a unicorn on stilts' - this mystifying auto-accompaniment machine organ and synth from Italys' Godwin is the only one we've ever encountered.

These type of sound generators were controlled by foot pedals and electronic accordions, generally in the hands of one-man-bands providing light entertainment in places where people congregated, imbibed alcoholic liquids and sometimes even got up and danced.
Remember those?
Ski resorts, beach clubs, dance halls, restaurants and hotels, for drinks or dinner.

The CD2 (we're not sure what the abbreviation actually stands for but we're guessing Computer Drums) is actually more than sequenced bass lines and chords though.
It's equipped with 2 separate preset- and organ sections and even a monophonic preset synth and the whole Shebang, unlike on many keyboards at the time, can be engaged simultaneously for massively wide and deep soundscapes.
All those sounds need lots of circuitry safely housed in a military grade flight case.
The GODWIN CD2 is well chunky, clocking in at a whopping 24 kilos.

The video explains most its specifications and includes a bit of history too but a summarisation would go something like this :

1. Sample Based Drum Machine with 16 Rhythms and 16 Drum Fills
2. Auto-Comp section with bass, chords and arpeggiator with 2 sounds
3. 2 x Organ Sections with 15 tabs total
4. 7 Polyphonic Preset Sounds
5. 7 Monophonic Synth Sounds
6. Various Chorus and Reverb Effects

If you're into rare Italian synths and drum machines you can subscribe to our channel and please check out our other videos of rare gems, but you might also enjoy the V.A.I. website, a photo book and encyclopedia Italian Vintage Synths and Drum Machines:

https://www.vintageaudioinstitute.com/"