Elka Rhapsody 610

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via this auction

Different top than other models.

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Elka Wilgamat analog drum machine and accompaniment unit SN 1227

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via this auction

Note the listing is for only 1 unit.

"The Elka Wilgamat was an accompaniment unit intended as an add-on to some of Elka's organ line and also as a standalone unit with dedicated 2 octave keyboard. It consists of a rhythm unit, a bass section and a chord section. All sounds are of course fully analog. It is very similar in features and sound to theGodwin Drummaker, Wersi Wersimatic WM24, Elgam Carousel or Böhm Böhmat."

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Elka Synthex

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via this auction

"100% working! beautiful! recently restored with a lot of new parts. Complete with: original flightcase, original legs, original legs's bag, manual."

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ELKA EK-44 + Full Expansion Set (5 Cards)

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via this auction

"Superb ELKA EK-44 in near mint conditions. The synth comes with all the 5 expansion cartridge featuring 32 patches each, for a total of 224 sounds (including the 64 internal ones). Here you will get 5 ROM card (expansions 1->4) and 1 RAM card (expansion 5). The machine is in perfect working conditions and just looks great. Professional packing and UPS Express Saver shipping guarantee.

History

The 80s saw Yamaha dominate the synthesizer industry with its groundbreaking FM synthesis. The release of the DX7 in 1983 caused a deep crisis for manufacturers specialized in analog synthesizers. Yamaha not only patented the new synthesis model but also produced cost-effective and reliable chips for digital sound generation making these new keyboards more powerful and reliable, more cost-effective and easily industrialized. The blow to Italian companies was severe, even for those that had long invested and innovated by introducing digital systems into their projects. They faced significant challenges because the 'core' of their equipment remained anchored to traditional analog generation, which was no longer competitive.

Italian FM

But some companies, despite suffering a setback, managed to reorganize and respond with some interesting proposals after a few years of hardship. Specifically, ELKA, the company that designed and marketed the glorious ELKA SYNTEX just a few years earlier, successfully acquired a series of ICs capable of generating sounds and waveforms using FM technology. With these components, ELKA created a range of highly interesting products for that era. Although the chips used (the YM2203) were manufactured by Yamaha and primarily intended for the video game and arcade console sector, ELKA's creative engineers successfully integrated them into their musical instruments, creating a new FM product line.

EK-44 : The flagship FM Synth

The top-of-the-line synthesizer created with these new chips was the EK-44, a multi-timbral 4-OP FM synthesizer with 18 voices of polyphony and 8 oscillators. Inside, it houses two identical sound generators named DCG1 and DCG2, each employing 6 YM2203 chips (4 operators with 8 different FM algorithms), making it capable of generating multiple sounds simultaneously — a remarkable feat for its time. The 2 voice processors can be split, layered or played as 8 independent parts with own Midi channels and mix volume.

Usability

The EK-44 operates in a similar manner to the Yamaha DX7, except that the its LCD display is a little more informative, although some information (the equivalent of the DX7's algorithm charts) is hidden from the user so you don't have to worry about it. So, when we go through the basic parameters, keep in mind that most of them are represented in the LCD display by an eight-section bar chart. Whether we're talking about oscillator volumes, frequencies, envelope levels or whatever, eight little columns in the display give you a good visual indication of the current state of affairs, while the first eight of the sixteen Performance Registration buttons directly beneath the display allow you to choose which of the available levels you're editing.

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Fully Serviced Elka Drummer One / Analog Drum Machine

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Video previously posted here.

Pics of the inside below.

"Here is the Elka Drummer One, an analog rhythm unit from the late 60s. Unit was fully serviced. Every single electrolytic capacitors were replaced. You really HAVE to do it on those units, otherwise it doesn't sound like it should, and deserve. There is no way the bad quality capacitors italian manufacturers used in the 60s and 70s could still be in shape 50 years after. And it impacts the sound a lot in those analog drum machine, especially the attack and decay of the sounds."

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Elka/Gem WS2 (1991 Arranger Expander) - XyperCyclic Seq Xperiment LiveJam

video upload by VSMI - Vintage Synths Made in Italy

"a rare Gem/Generalmusic WS2 Arranger Expander branded Elka play e Minimal liveJam performance with XyperCyclic Sequencer"

https://vsmi.bandcamp.com

Krautrock Drum Machine - Elka Rhythm Machine - SAMPLE PACK -

video upload by THIS MUSEUM IS (NOT) OBSOLETE

"The Museum Is now going to offer sample packs of its machines,
a couple of sample packs a month to help fund improvement of the running of the museum to be open more often and offer more this coming year after the refurbishment we are doing over the next few months.
-------
Sample Pack Available here :- https://this-museum-is-not-obsolete.c...
--------
--------
We sampled Hainbach’s favourite Krautrock drum machine - The Elka Rhythm Machine - We ran it through our Rotating Speaker of Doom as well as some other choice effects.

Sample Pack Includes:

200+ Loops (DI, Mic’d up Roto Speaker & Effects)

All Samples are 48Khz 24bit
---------
It is also available on the look mum no computer patreon. :-
https://www.patreon.com/posts/9388936..."

"Gaudete! Christus est natus!" (16th century Christmas carol played on ELKA X705 organ)

video upload by adamstan84

Wesołych Świąt!
Merry Christmas!
メリークリスマス！
#christmas #ELKA #organ

Jean Michel Jarre - La derniere rumba - The last Rumba - Magnetic Fields 5 - ELKA X705 test drive

video upload by adamstan84

"Finally I finished repairs on this organ, and it's fully functional. So to test it out, I recorded this classic piece, which originally was also performed on this instrument.
I played the melody in the way that's closer to the live version from 'Concerts in China' than the album one. Hope you enjoy it :)"

1960s Elka Capri Panther 300 Combo Organ

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via SYNTH CITY Reverb

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"1960s Elka Capri Panther 200 organ, just serviced by our in-house technician. Includes original lid.

-Repaired several tone generator cards
-Cleaned all connectors cards plug into
-Cleaned key contacts and buss bars
-Installed IEC ac power input
-Recapped power supply
-Cleaned internally"

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rare birds: Elka Drummer One

video upload by ohm_studi_ohm

"Quick demo of an Elka Drummer One I just serviced. Every single electrolytic capacitors were replaced. You really HAVE to do it on those units, otherwise it doesn't sound like it should, and deserve. There is no way the bad quality capacitors italian manufacturers used in the 60s and 70s could still be in shape 50 years after. And it impacts the sound a lot in those analog drum machine, especially the attack and decay of the sounds.
Apart from that and trimmers that need attention it is a quite well built unit and easy to service.
I tuned the sound with quite long decay, I like when the sound, especially toms and congas, are bouncy. You could of course make them tighter if you like.
It's a pity the unit doesn't have more patterns that use the Cowbell and Conga sound. There is only one pattern using them each.
It is however easy to add MIDI or trigger input should you want to play the sounds as a regular drum expander.

Please note there is a slight distortion at some point in the video, it doesn't come from the Elka but from the Teisco Vocal 120 mixer it is plugged in, which has some very dirty gain attenuator switches i never manage to really clean, so eventually i'll replace them. Anyway, here is the Elka Drummer One.
Listen with headphones or decent speakers !"

Rare birds: Elka Wilgamat 1 / analog drum machine and accompaniment unit

video upload by ohm_studi_ohm

"Here is another 'one man band' from the 70s I just serviced. Many dead CMOS chipsets, lots of bad connections on the motherboard daughterboards sockets (broken pins, bad solder joint) and a dying voltage regulator, among other things. Custom built keyboard to trigger the accompaniment unit, with jack socket input for pedal that introduce drum breaks. A different flavor than the Welson Ritmo I recently demoed but definitely in the same mood.
Recorded through a Teisco 120 to add some reverb."

This appears to be the first post to feature the Elka Wilgamat 1. Note the "1" on the right. The Elka Wilgamat minus the "1" has been featured on the site before in previous posts here. Which came first? :) You can find additional Elka Wilgamat models here.

Update: according to Ohm Studio: "Electronics are exactly the same. I think this one is later and was an add for some Elka organ, maybe Concorde or something. The black color is I think factory since it’s all over the case even inside. It’s clearly the same fake wood as the original but painted black, probably to better match the organ aesthetics. I definitely remember seeing auctions with Elka organ and this wilgamat unit bundle. Also the complete wilgamat electronics and controls are fitted in some Elka organ, spinet and combo. Don’t remember which model but I did scavenged à spinet one to retrieve all the pcbs."

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Both Sides of the Knife - Elka Concorde 802 song

video upload by R.O.T. Studios

"Since it's working again, I of course had to make a song with it :)
Love my Elka~"

This is the first Elka Concorde 802 to be featured on the site. You can find other models in previous posts here.

The following are some pics of an 802 off of Reverb

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Modded Elka Twin 61 SN 2078

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via this auction

Demo posted here.

"Comes with the rare MOD which let you use and mix both A&B sections without the unfindable Swell pedal."

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Thief (1981) complete "Igneous" scene (music by TD)

video upload by kovalmoog

"The whole scene of Thief (1981) with TD's re-edition of 'Thru Metamorphic Rocks' theme, renamed as 'Igneous' in the OST release.
The film version is by far more extensive than Thief CD version.
Enjoy that sequence !"

TD = Tangerine Dream.

Curious what they were using back then. According to this thread, they used the following on tour during that time period:

Live in East Berlin, 31st Jan 1980

Chris Franke:
Custom modular synthesizer (comprising of about 50% Moog and 50%
Projekt Electronik):
Moog Oscx2/R.M./VCF/VCAs
Projekt Elektronik VcEnvx2 & Proj. Elek. 2VCO/W.Noise/R.M./Waves (for Drums)
Digital sequencer & trigger selector
Programmer for above (SCI model 700 programmer)
Synth sound bank (for above)
Moog 960 sequential controller x2
Projekt elektronik sequence controller x2
Moog 3-band parametric
Moog 12 stage phaser
Moog 920 programmer
Moog 16-channel vocoder
Rhythm robot sequencer
Emu Oddity voice card
12 analogue drum sounds
Drum envelope unit
Drum EPROM sampled sounds
and more...

Oberheim OB-1
Prophet 5 (rev 2)
Minimoog
Korg PE-2000 polyphonic Ensemble
Elka Rhapsody 610 string machine.

Edgar Froese:
custom Moog modular synthesizer (3 box units comprising Moog modules and sequencers plus sequence controllers from Projekt Electronic)
Prophet 5 rev 2
PPG Sonic Carrier 1003 programmable duophonic DCO/DCF/DCA based synthesizer
PPG Wavecomputer 360 polyphonic digital synthesizer
PPG 350 keyboard sequencer
Arp Pro-DGX monophonic preset synthesizer
Korg PE-2000 polyphonic ensemble
Roland MC-8 microcomposer
Roland VC-10 vocoder
Arp/Solina string ensemble
Mellotron mk V

Johannes Schmoelling:
- Minimoog
- Yamaha CP-80 electric grand
- Oberheim 4-voice
- Elka Rhapsody 610
- Polymoog
- Korg PS-3100
- Synthanorma sequencer

-----------

European tours (Nov-Dec 1980 & Jan-Feb 1981):

Equipment used:

Chris Franke:
Moog/PE modular tower as above
Minimoog
Arp Odyssey mk III
Elka Rhapsody 610
Prophet 5 rev 2

Edgar Froese:
Projekt Elektronik modular synthesizer & sequencers (used by Peter Baumann during '76 and '77)
PPG 340 A Generator Unit, PPG340 B Processor Unit, PPG380 Event Generator, PPG x 2 Terminals, PPG x 2 Computer Keyboards,
Oberheim OB-X

He may have used some more keyboards during these tours but I'm not sure which ones (possibly the Arp pro-DGX, the PPG Sonic carrier or the PPG
360 wavecomputer?)

Johannes Schmoelling:
Moog modular synthesizer (usually handled by Edgar Froese on stage)
Minimoog
Polymoog
Prophet 5 rev 2
Yamaha CP-80 electric grand

-----------

British Isles tour (Oct-Nov 1981):

Equipment used:

Chris Franke:
Moog/PE modular tower as above
Minimoog
Arp Odyssey mk III
Elka Rhapsody 610
Prophet 5 rev 2

Edgar Froese:
PPG 360 wavecomputer
PPG Wave 2
Arp Pro-DGX
Korg PE-2000 poly-ensemble
PPG 5-octave keyboard controller
Custom sequencer (by Helmut Groethe)

Johannes Schmoelling:
Minimoog
Oberheim OB-X (handled by Froese on previous tours)
Custom sequencer (like Edgar's)

The Story of the Elka Synthex

video upload by Johnny Morgan Synth Dreams

"A mini-doc about the inception of the Elka Synthex. A legendary 1980's synthesizer designed by Italian synth pioneer Mario Maggi."

You can find additional synth documentaries by Johnny Morgan Synth Dreams here. See the Documentaries label below for others.

Elka Wilgamat III - Serviced with modifications

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via this auction

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video posted here

"Elka Wilgamat III with custom controller keyboard modified with foot switch control access.
Just back from service and sounding heavenly.
The 4 buttons on top of the keyboard substitute the rare foot-switch - giving access to the drum fills (3 different fills for every rhythm pattern!) start/stop, minor and 7th chords - If you check my video on YouTube you’ll get it.
The original main unit is in good condition with signs of wear of some areas.
The keyboard looks almost like new.

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Synthex Syntar Syntex - The Euclidean Sequences

video upload by VSMI - Vintage Synths Made in Italy

"Elka Synthex - Jen Syntar - Welson Syntex and Davoli Drum Synth plays with Music Pattern Generator
MPG is a fantastic Euclidean online Midi Pattern Generator plays on Chrome
Elka Synthex is a Midi retrofit official version
Welson Syntex and Jen Syntar are custom retrofit handmade by Mirko Trentin
Davoli Drum Synth play with a Midi to Trigger module by Elby Designs - Laurie Biddulph (Australia)

#onedrumcomputeraday Drum Synth Videos

video uploads by #onedrumcomputeraday

Playlist:
1. toyo gakki ult sound ds-2

quirky little 70's drum synth made in japan

2. pollard syndrum twin

the pollard syndrum was one of the first commercially available electronic drums. this is the syndrum twin, sometimes called the twindrum - a beautiful drum synthesizer (brain) from 1976 which was part of an electronic drum kit. joe pollard was a session drummer working for the beach boys and other bands.

3. honky tonk music klone kit

sound demo of the quirky klone kit control module. made in the uk 1983 it was a cheap 5 voice alternative to other popular but expensive e-drum solutions of that time. all channels are identical except the snare channel which offers noise. the sound is very limited - followed up by the more flexible klone kit 2. since there's no demo of version 1 I decided to shoot a quick video with proper audio. retail was 299 ukp.

4. elka drumstar 64 (no talking hq audio)

quick demo of all preset patterns from this funky little Italian 80s drum machine.

5. electro harmonix rhythm 12

a short video about the lovely little electro harmonix rhythm 12 vintage analog drum machine from 1976. made in the uk by soundtech and licensed to electro harmonix.

6. rsf sd140 sampling drum machine

I finally managed to shoot a quick video on this super rare french sampling drum machine from 1986 - one of my absolute favorite drum machine of all times :)

7. böhm digital drums m. "digi-rocky" drummachine (no talking hq audio)

audio demo (hq) of all preset patterns (+fills) on this tiny forgotten digital 80s böhm drumbox.

8. electro harmonix drm16 drummachine (no talking hq audio)

short (hq) audio demo of this funky little drumbox from the late 70's

9. soundmaster sd-3 "disco beat" drummachine (no talking hq audio)

quick audio demo of this funky little japanese "stomp box" style disco drum machine from the late 70s.

10. pearl dr-x1

from time to time i have to sell something to make a little room for new stuff ;) so I decided to let this beautiful pearl dr-x 1 go and had to do a quick video before it left my dungeon - I hope you like it, had fun to re-listen and doing a few samples - best, steve

11. lel psr and radel electronic tabla

#onedrumcomputeraday is having a look at the worst digital drum machine ever (?) the russian lel psr in a double feature with the odd indian radel electronic tabla - also featured in a little deconstruction of the arctic sunrise song "forever yours".

12. uno drum - anthology drum libraries

very first & early look at the new & fresh libraries for the ik multimedia uno drum

13. icon design dsm200

last look at my the super rare 80‘s drum synth of icon design ... this one unfortunately had to go 😪 so I decided to create some footage for the world wide web before it's gone ...

14. twisted electrons deton8

checking out the little french 8bit drum machine from twisted electrons

15. dynacord percuter s

a little rough demo of the dynacord percuter s drum module (ca.1985) - including audio demos

16. bme rattlesnake

little jam on the rare bme rattlesnake analog drummachine (ca. 1982)

17. viscount r64s

ELKA SYNTHEX - 2nd Series

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via this auction

"In very good condition despite its 43 years, just a few small marks here and there, nothing ugly or noticeable. everything works and I can do video or video chat if you want!

the psu is just recapped with high grade capacitors.

it is ready for midi, but I don't supply the external box and the internal card. I can supply both the external module and the external box with an addition of 500 euros."

Pics of the inside below.

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