VAI 20 : Elka Wilgamat / Farfisa Syntorchestra 4

video upload by Vintage Audio Institute Italia

"A quick video we threw together some time ago, the Elka Wilgamat is a Drum machine, bass and chord generator from 1976 or so, originally part of the Elka X705 organ. We got this machine modded with separate outputs, sending the bass to the Maestro Sound System for woodwinds, a great 1960s filter/octave/fuzz effect, that stopped working during the making of this video.
The Syntorchestra 4 is of course the younger sibling of the Syntorchestra - a rather simple mono synth and divide down string / brass keyboard - it shares the controls of the older one, but sounds less characteristic.
We still really like it tho, the presets are great with some external boost."

Farfisa SYNTORCHESTRA 4

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via this auction

You can find demos of the Farfisa SYNTORCHESTRA 4 in previous posts here.

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Farfisa Sound Maker w/ Original Case

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via this auction

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VAI 35 : Wersimatic II / Farfisa Syntorchestra

video upload by Vintage Audio Institute Italia

"Another take with the Wersimatic II, the younger sister / brother of the Wersimatic 24 auto accompaniment machine. The sounds and controls are across the board identical as far as we can tell.

It was never made as a standalone unit but part of a large, double manual organ called Wersi Helios in the mid 70s.

This particular one has been transplanted from an organ into a smaller box with a twelve buttons acting as chord control instead of the bottom keys of the organ.

Special thanks to Organfairy for the rare schematics : dude you f-ing rock

The Wersimatic II has sections on board:
Bass
Drum machine
Various chord sounds

Melody played on the Farfisa Syntorchestra String machine and Mono synth."

The Forgotten Synthesizers Of Marche Region

video upload by HAINBACH

Update: you can find additional posts featuring The Museo Del Synth Marchigiano here.

"The Marche Region in Italy was home to a thriving industry of music instrument production from the 1950s to the mid-90s. Tens of thousands of people made organs, accordions and small runs of synthesizers that were like nothing else in the world. Much production closed in the 90s, leaving only a few companies around, and many people lost their jobs. The history of Marche synths was not talked about, too bitter were the memories. The Museo Del Synth Marchigiano aims to change that - a motley crew of synth lovers work together to get the story about this special time in music instrument history out.

I was invited to play a show at Acusmatic Festival in Ancona and visit the collection before. I was overwhelmed by the amazing sounds these machines made, so I captured them on tape and for use in my performance. I also just had to film every synth I could get my hand for you to enjoy. You will find instruments by Siel, Elka, Elgan, Farfisa, Crumar, CRB and more here.

https://www.museodelsynth.org"

Timeline:

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VAI 36 : Wersimatic II / Farfisa Syntorchestra

video upload by Vintage Audio Institute Italia

"Another take with the Wersimatic II, the younger sister / brother of the Wersimatic 24 auto accompaniment machine.
It was never made as a standalone unit but part of a large, double manual organ manufactured in Germany by Wersi in the mid 70s.
This particular one has been transplanted from an organ into a smaller box with a twelve buttons acting as chord control instead of the bottom keys of the organ.
The sounds are across the board identical to the Wersimatic 24 machines as far as we can tell."

Farfisa Syntorchestra 4 1980 Mono / Poly Italian String Machine w/ Original Gig Bag

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via this auction

"Very rare Italian keyboard from 1980 with original soft case made by Farfisa. It has been serviced a couple of months ago, it works great.

It consists of mainly two sections, polyfonic and monofonic, but there are really four.
Rather than it's simple predecessor Syntorchestra 1, the Syntorchestra 4 has a lot in common with the Farfisa Soundmaker.
It shares the same presets and basic specs.

Poly section:
Separate output, volume and tuning
6 polyfonic presets in 3 sections, with vibrato option:
Section 1: Piano, Honky tonk, harpsichord
Section 2: Strings - with separate decay control *
Section 3: Brass and Reed presets, great warm synth tones.

Separate vibrato for the poly section.
The poly section can be routed to the Mono section via the button Poly in Mono. LFO and attack / decay.

Mino section:
Separate output, volume and tuning.
Pitch bend.
8 monofonic synth presets, modifiable LFO: Speed, Vibrato, VCF, brilliance, emphasis (envelope).
Portamento.
Mono preference - when you play chords, you can choose if the mono section triggers the lowest or highest note.

The bag is in less great shape, zipper works but needs love, one shoulder strap had been replaced."

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Farfisa Clavioline, vintage monophonic tube synthesizer from 50s/60s

video upload by Vintage Echo Room

Vintage Echo Room on Reverb

"Forgive my way of playing...really i don't have any technique! The video was made quickly just to demonstrate the functionality of the Clavioline. Initially the sound is taken directly from its amplifier, then I used the auxiliary jack output with my amplifier and I tried some external effects.

After this video i fixed the switch number "3" (basically a filter), there was a contact that didn't touch very well."

Farfisa Soundmaker Vintage Analog Synth

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via this auction

"VERY rare vintage analog synth. Sounds awesome but also has a couple of issues! There are a few cracks and cosmetic things and also the Polyphonic synth section doesn't work, although the polyphonic strings section DOES work. The monophonic section also works fine. I've uploaded a video to YouTube (link below) showing what I mean and some of its other functions that do work fully. These very rarely come up and when they do they're expensive. Check the video out and you'll hear some of the great sounds it makes. It weighs nearly 30kg..."

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Farfisa Syntorchestra (Vintage Synthesizer From 70s)

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video upload by Vintage Echo Room

"Forgive my way of playing...really i don't have any technique! The video was made quickly just to demonstrate the functionality of the Syntorchestra. Until about minute 5 the sound is taken directly from the amplifier (through a d.i.), then I tried some external effects."

via this auction

"Overhauled in 2020: all old electrolytic and tantalum (more than 100 in total) capacitors have been replaced. Only the output impedance selector (on the back of the instrument) doesn't work so it has been bypassed by opting for a common use impedance."

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FARFISA syntorchestra 4 demo

video by Vykaar Tones

"Demo of the sounds available from the very rare Farfisa syntorchestra 4.
The output volume is quite low and the gain was turned up on my Mackie mixer, flat EQ and no FX. The output is mono but there is the option to have the mono synth out of one jack and the poly sounds out of another."

Farfisa Organ Test After 20+ Years Storage

video by michael nervOus

"This Farfisa VIP 400 has been in storage for 20+ Years. I used the Gopro max attached to my head and used the max editing software to have my vantage point hands free.

I intended to clean this up and sell it or add to my studio.

After warming up for about 10 minutes it worked great. I also don't know that the warmup time was needed as I tried headphones first with no sound but everything worked after the 10 minutes. Using a small bike speaker the JBL Clip2 plugged into the line out 1/4" stereo adapter to 3.5mm speaker cable.

****** I am still learning the GoPro MAx and the software*****"

VAI 24 : Farfisa Syntorchestra 4 / EKO Rhythmaker

video by Vintage Audio Institute Italia

"Another sad space ballad - this time performed on the poly/mono machine Farfisa Syntorchestra 4 (what happened to 2 and 3?!) and analog drum machine Eko Rhythmaker - simple but lovely machines - both extremely Italian :)

Vintage Audio Institute is a studio and vintage gear shop, we make these videos just for fun in between tasks, we're not professional keyboard players so please have patience with the sloppy finger work."

VAI 27. Godwin Drummaker 45 / Farfisa Syntorchestra & Syntorchestra 4

video by Vintage Audio Institute Italia

"Another go at odd bars with the lovely combo of Italian underdogs: Farfisa Syntorchestra 4 and the Godwin Drummaker 45 - Computer System.
These machines can be tinny and a bit dull on their own but with some help from external effects we think they sound unique, to say the least.

We've previously made a video demo-ing all the functions of the Drummaker 45, you'll find it here". You can find additional demos here.

VAI 26. Godwin Drummaker 45 / Farfisa Syntorchestra 4


"Introducing the Godwin Drummaker 45 Computer System.
A stand-alone auto-accompaniment machine with four instrument groups:
A drum machine, a bass section, a chord section and arpeggiator.
The Vermona DEG 500 is in use in the break for wobble effect, otherwise it's the Space Echo spring reverb and Chorus in action."

Farfisa TK80 demo track

video by ikworgek

"All sounds from the Farfisa, some delay added.
The farfisa TK80 is a cheap digital 80's keyboard, with midi.
very limited and noisy, but some nice sounds."

VAI 49 Elgam Carousel - Farfisa Syntorchestra

video by Vintage Audio Institute Italia

"Great fun with the classic Italian Auto-comp machine and mono/poly keyboard.
With some external help from a Binson Echorec 2, a Schulte Compact Phasing A, the mysterious Emthree Pulsatron multi-effect and some delay."

FARFISA SYNTORCHESTRA (1975)

video by Synthesizer Home

"This is a little demo of my Farfisa Syntorchestra. The monophonic section is out of tune, sorry..."

VAI 48 Elgam Carousel / Farfisa Syntorchestra

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
video by Vintage Audio Institute Italia

"We wanted to make a song with unadulterated sounds from the Elgam Carousel, plug and play as you say these days. This is one take with the Carousel, mono out, with some Farfisa Syntorchestra flourishes.
Just a little compression and spring reverb on The Carousel and some Roland Re-301 on the Syntorchestra.
None of the instruments are properly tuned when we recorded this so don’t look to close on the fingerwork ;)

Headphones are highly recommended since the bass line generator on these is fantastic.

We then of course turned around and made a heavily adulterated track, lots of effects, will post next week.
This one is for sale, it's in amazing condition, see earlier post for price and shipping.

We’re a tracking studio and as gear vendor in the hills of Florence.
We make these videos for fun when there’s not that much to do in the studio, sloppy playing and mixing aside - it will def sound better with headphones on."

via this auction

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VAI 38 - Two Farfisa Syntorchestras

Vintage Audio Institute Italia

"While we had two of the Farfisa Syntorchestras in the studio we thought it would make sense to make track using both of them.
We're using the transcribe/pitch knob to create the monphonic lead melody harmonies, a surprisingly effective little trick for us amateur players to come off as skilled :).
The Vermona ER9 is an East Germany-made drum machine with individual volumes for each sound.
Here we ran it through a phaser and spring reverb.

We make these videos as a showcase for our studio, for other curious vintage heads - and for fun.
We don't dilly-dally too much with production and mixing but it can sound pretty good with headphones on."

Farfisa Syntorchestra SN SN 6365 / 64

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