Vintage Synthesizer Museum synths: Elka Synthex, Yamaha CS-80, Yamaha CS70m & more!

video upload by Joseph Salazar

"These are just some clips from my first time at the Vintage Synthesizer Museum in LA. Thank you Daniela Dawson for filming some of these videos. It was my first time seeing or playing most of these rare synths, so I wasn't too familiar with how to program sounds with them, but it was still so much fun to see what sounds I got from them. Unfortunately most of the audio here is straight from an iPhone or camera mic.

If you want to know more, check out their website:
https://vintagesynthesizermuseum.com/"

'Dance Arp' the initial integral version of 'We are the fire' with Crumar Bit99 synth from the '80

video upload by Davide Micheli

With vocals further below.

"'Dance ARP' is a music song composed in 2024 by Davide Micheli. Some parts were extracted from it and later used to compose the song 'We are the Fire', released in July 2026 with the Sir Donkey band made by me and my friend Piero Pirani.

The song uses mainly vintage Italian electronic synthesizers from the 1980s

The track was strictly recorded with an analog mixer, similar to what was done in the 1980s, except for the digital conversion of the audio using a 24-bit audio interface and Cubase at 96 kHz.

In particular:
--A1985 Crumar Bit99 synthesizer was used for the Bass, Arpeggio, and Pad parts;
--An Elka Rapsody 610 and an Elka Twin 61 synthesizer from the 1980s were used for the string machine parts;
--A Crumar Multiman S from the 1980s were used for the string machine parts;
--A Elka Rapsody 610 synthesizer from the 1980s were adopted for the vintage '80 piano;
--A CRB Diamond 910 Gold vintage electronic organ of '80 was adopted for organ part on the initial part of music track
--A Korg Prologue was used for the synthetic sound effects.
--A Akai S5000 sampler for some for the strings in a central section of the song.

Finally, for the rhythm section, a Behringer RD-9 Drum Machine with a phaser and stereo modulation effects on some parts was used and you can hear drom going from left to right stereo channel. Hope you enjoy the music."

With vocals:

We are the fire (Sir Donkey band by Davide Micheli and Piero Pirani) recorded in Ankon Record studio

video upload by Davide Micheli Piero Pirani Sir Donkey

"This piece was conceived, composed, and then produced using almost exclusively vintage Italian electronic synthesizers from the 1980s at the private recording studio Ankon Records.

We appositely decided to make use of vintage Italian brand synthesizer to reproduce the music dance atmosphere, sonority and resonances of the Italo Disco dance of '80 era.

We are the fire is a dance music brand that harks back to 1980s music revisited with a contemporary twist. The song features my friend Piero Pirani and I who are the components of Sir Donkey band. A friend of ours, singer Maruzio, sang some parts in falsetto on some of the chorus parts.

The choruses and vocals sometimes have slight imperfections that we deliberately left on the recording without correcting."

They Fixed a SPACE ORGAN! (Elka X-705)

video upload by Simon The Magpie

Demo at the end.

Laser Harp on ELKA EK22 #electronicmusic #sounddesign #elka #synth #retro #analogsynths

video upload by VINTAGE MOTEL

Autocraft synthesizer 81 model CK-507 - what is it actually?

video upload by organfairy

"I test it with sound at 1:50

I bought this weird box many years ago, but I have never really found out what it is. I don't know why. It turned out to be an unpleasant noisemaker that is apparently build for use in cars. I don't know why anybody would want such a develish device, but on the other hand I don't understand the urge to have 'fuzzy dices' either.

The music is just me carbonaraing on my Elka X-1000 for little over 1½ minute."

Super Mario Bros. Theme — Reimagined on Vintage Synths

video upload by Anthony Marinelli Music

"In this 90-second performance, Anthony Marinelli recreates the legendary melody (originally composed by Koji Kondo) using his collection of rare vintage analog synthesizers in a one-of-a-kind orchestration. No computers, no plugins, just pure hardware (with a touch of bit-crushing) and hands-on performance.

Watch as layers of classic synths bring new life to one of the most recognizable themes in video game history, with quick cuts showcasing the instruments behind the sound.

🎹 100% vintage synths
🎮 Music only, no talking
⏱️ 1 minute 30 seconds of pure analog nostalgia
If you love retro games, classic sound design, or analog gear, this one’s for you!"\

🎛️ Think Like a Synth Learn the exact method I've used for decades on hit records & films
👉 https://anthonymarinellimusic.com/pro..."

NE555 Counterless sequencer - 3: Radio buttons, transpose function, final assembly, and a demo video

video upload by organfairy

"The demo is in 3 parts: Manual mode 4:15, Sync mode 9:46, and external mode 14:07

'Radio buttons' is an expression used for a row of buttons where a button stays down when you press it. You press another button and the first one will pop up again while the other button stays down.
It is possible to make such a device with simple pushbutttons and a few logic gates instead of the complicated (and expensive) mechanical locking switches. This is what I explore in the beginning of this video - and it is actually exploring since I haven't used the concept before so I didn't know if it would actually work. I do know that the old Moog Taurus bass synthesizer used a similar idea for its preset buttons.

The music is also a kind of exploration project since I decided for the first time to (over)use the portamento function on my Elka X-30 organ in an arrangement. Apart from the organ I also use my Roland JV-35 for some of the parts"

"Elkatwin 61" Vintage Italian string/organ/bass keyboard - only play-

video upload by Davide Micheli

"Elkatwin 61 is a bass-string-organ keyboard built by the Elka Italian synth company in the 80'.
In my opinion is the queen of string machines of that era.
Video consists of two different parts. In the first, I played bass and organ and also some parts with the Crumar Bit99 synthesizer, midi connected to a Solton Programmer 24 synth adopted only as a master keyboard. In the second part, only full strings are played. Video camera recorded the audio by its microphone.
Hope you enjoy the video."

Modified Elka Wilgamat III v4 Demo + Individual Outs 2025

video upload by mysterycircuits

"Quick demo of modified Elka Wilgamat III - 2025 Mystery Circuits, LLC"

He Hates This Synth Because…

video upload by Anthony Marinelli Music

"In this video, I pick one thing I think I hate about 12 classic synthesizers—and then follow that feeling wherever it leads.
We’re talking about legendary instruments:
Minimoog, MS-20, Prophet-5, Jupiter-8, ARP 2600, Moog IIIc ('Plantasia'), Oberheim 4-Voice, Oberheim OB-X, Synclavier III, Elka Synthex, and Yamaha CS-30.
What starts as frustration with a workflow choice, a knob, or a design limitation slowly turns into something else entirely.
Along the way, I realize this video isn’t really about hating synths at all. It’s about relationships.
Every one of these instruments has limitations—and so do we. In any good relationship, not everything is perfect. But when you stop fighting what something isn’t and start understanding what it is, those limitations can become the very thing that leads you somewhere creative and unexpected.
Instead of endless options, boundaries create focus.
Instead of frustration, they create identity.
And in learning to understand these instruments more deeply, I ended up learning something about myself.
This is a video about synthesizers—but it’s also a small morality tale about creativity, acceptance, and finding freedom inside constraints.
Let me know in the comments:
Which synth do you love… even though it drives you crazy? 🎛️"

https://anthonymarinellimusic.com/pages/about

ELKA The Sidekick 32 - Rare Analog Drum Machine + Case & Accessories SN 905

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this eBay listing, also on Reverb

Video in the listing previously posted here.

"A Rare Vintage Analog Drum Machine: the ELKA “The Sidekick 32”!

Fully SERVICED by Pro Tecnician

Comes with its Case and Accessories

100% working conditions

perfect Aestetics conditions (the front panel), some rust on the back panel (check pics)

SERIAL N.905"

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ELKA EK 22 Vintage Synthesizer

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this Reverb listing

You can find demos in previous posts here.

"The EK-22 is an analog polyphonic programmable synthesizer from Elka. Its cousin, the EK-44 is a digital and expanded version of the EK-22. Although the EK-22 is analog, the oscillators are digitally controlled (DCOs) for better stability and programmability. The keyboard can be split and there are 16 performance patches to store any split, tuning and patch settings. There are 64 preset and 32 user sound patches of purely Italian style analog synth sounds.

Oscillators are very programmable with syncing, individual tuning, level and modulations. There are two six-stage envelope generators for total control of dynamics. The EK-22 is a capable synth similar to the Prophet 600 in programmability but more like the Matrix 6 in its look and push button style programming interface. The EM-22 is a keyboard-less desktop module version of the EK-22.

It has a very similar sound to the Oberheim Matrix 6 (and Matrix 1000) and the Prophet 600 Sequential, as it features the famous Cem3386 filter.

The synthesizer is in excellent condition; everything works properly buttons, sliders,Chorus (Juno 60 style) volume, audio output, and headphones, including the pedal inputs on the rear panel.

Aftertouch is also active, although it's a bit harsh; you have to press the keys quite hard to hear its effect, most likely because it hasn't been used in the last 30 years!
A small strip of foam has been inserted inside the front control panel to dampen the plastic noise, but this does not affect its functional or aesthetic behavior."

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Vintage ELKA OMB5 + Original Bag, RAM Card & Manual

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this Reverb listing

"A vintage Elka OMB 5, the programmable arranger / rhythm unit specifically designed for Italo Disco, in perfect working condition and in mint cosmetic shape. The deal includes its ultra-cool original bag, owner’s manual, and a Song RAM cartridge. UPS fast delivery and professional packing guaranteed.

Released in the mid-'80s by the Italian manufacturer Elka, the OMB-5 (One Man Band) is a powerful yet easy-to-program arranger featuring a rhythm unit, a bass channel, and two accompaniment tracks.

RHYTHM UNIT

The OMB-5 comes with 20 preset rhythms (Disco, Funk..), each with four variations, one of which is fully programmable by the user — for a total of 20 storable custom drum sequences. Each preset rhythm also includes two fill-ins, an intro/ending, and a dedicated break.

The 32 drum sounds are the same as those found in the iconic Elka Drumstar 80: a cool selection 8-bit PCM drum samples, a perfect mirror of that unmistakable '80s aesthetic. The rhythm section is extremely easy and intuitive to program, and the ability to edit individual drum sounds within a recorded sequence using a single 'cancel' button is simply brilliant. A true example of vintage Italian clever design.

SOUND SECTION

The Elka OMB-5 features a powerful and flexible sound section totally based on FM synthesis and divided into three blocks:

Bass (6 voices)
Presets 1 (12 voices, 5-note polyphony)
Presets 2 (12 voices, 5-note polyphony)
Each block supports 6 arrangements per preset rhythm, with Arrangement 6 fully programmable, allowing up to 20 custom sequences to be stored per block (Bass, Presets 1, Presets 2).

Bass sounds : STRING BASS, BASS FLUTE, BASS GUITAR, ELECTRIC BASS, FUNK BASS, TUBA

Presets 1 sounds : STRINGS, BRASS, ELECTRIC GUITAR, BANJO, JAZZ GUITAR, MARIMBA, VIBRAPHONE, CLAVINET, ORGAN 1, PIANO 1, SYNTH 1, SYNTH 2

Presets 1 sounds : STRINGS 2, STRINGS 3, BRASS 2, PIANO 2, HARPSICHORD, ELECTRIC PIANO, ORGAN 2, CLASSIC GUITAR, CELESTE, HARP, SYNTH 3, SYNTH 4

COMMON FEATURES (All Sections)

Volume and sustain length adjustable via dedicated sliders
Usable in manual play or as part of the automatic accompaniment
Custom sequences storable in Arrangement 6 for each preset rhythm"

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Vintage Synths Doing Classic Horror Movie Themes | Top 8

video upload by Espen Kraft

"8 horror movie theme covers performed with a variety of classic 80s and 90s synths, samplers and drum machines.

The thumbnail image is not AI generated."

Roland JX-3P, Yamaha KX88, Roland Juno-106, Roland JX-8P, Elka OMB 5, Bit01, Roland Jupiter-8, John Bowen Solaris, Oberheim Matrix-12, Sequential Six-Trak, & Prophet-VS.

24 December 2025

video upload by Vintage Audio Institute Italia

Logan Piano Strings Synthesizer, CRB Oberon, Farfisa Polychrome, Elka Drummer One

Tower Of Power #1 - Elka Solist 505 MIDI RACK conversion

video upload by R.O.T. Studios

"I'm going to hell for my sins, but first I'm converting this vintage Italian synth into a rack module, with MIDI control!"

Tower Of Power #2 - the Yamaha E-70 rack conversion

video upload by R.O.T. Studios

"This took 3 full days and was a LOT of work for the both of us... But I'm incredibly happy with the result!"

Die Mensch Machine Tribute - Italian Vintage Synths Kraftwerk’s Cover

video upload by VSMI - Vintage Synths Made in Italy

"Full Vintage Synths Made in Italy 1978 Kraftwerk’s cover
Midi file variation on “Die Mensch Machine” song and LiveJam

Crumar Bit01 - Bass line
Orla DSE24 - seq lines
Solton M150 - chord part
Elka Synthex - LFO pad & Lyrics part
Viscount Super InterContinental - live Strings pad & Piano/Spinet clips
Siel DK-80 - live pad solo
Gem WS2 - Drum

Montarbo DREV 128 - delay
Viscount EFX 1000 - reverb
Alesis Alex - reverb
Rocktron WD700 - delay

thx you to Midiworld for Kraftwerk midi file"

Anthony Marinelli Music Synth Studio Revealed | Studio Tour 2025

video upload by Anthony Marinelli Music

"I finally agreed to make a video showing my synthesizer studio. I'm NOT a collector, so you'll see the instruments I've used for over four decades to do my work. It's also my space for composing. In this deep dive studio tour, I walk you through every corner of my space, showing how everything’s connected for performing, recording, and creative flow.

You’ll see icons like the 'Plantasia' Moog Modular IIIc, Synclavier II, Rhodes Chroma with Expander & Enabler, Oberheim Four Voice, Elka Synthex, Roland Jupiter 8, Sequential Circuits Prophet-5, ARP 2600s, Korg MS modular synths, some classic Minimoog — plus a few modern synths I’ve added as I look to the future. Alongside the synths are vintage drum machines, string machines, and rare electric keyboards including a 1973 Fender Rhodes Suitcase and Hohner Clavinet/Pianet Duo.

We'll also explore racks of outboard gear, vocoder units, tape echoes, and a vast array of my custom guitar pedal options, efx pedal boards and studio effects racks that make this room endlessly inspiring. I'll also reveal how my entire studio is designed for instant creativity, featuring 48 channels of synth drivers and stage boxes, so any synth can be patched and recorded on the fly."

https://anthonymarinellimusic.com/pages/about

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Wind Beneath My Wings - cover played on ELKA X705 organ

video upload by adamstan84

"Wind Beneath My Wings"
music: Jeff Silbar
lyrics: Larry Henley

"Today I finally recorded a song that I've been lately playing a lot on my ELKA. Actually I heard this song for the first time in the Sonata Arctica version, and my version is kind of mix between that and Bette Midler's most popular version. I hope you enjoy it despite some technical flaws - mostly the noise and distortion - caused partially by the tape echo, and partially by the instrument itself still having some minor issues."

Elka Synthex (w/Midi Kit, Sliders, and Case) 1982 SN 1270

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this Reverb listing

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