Rare POLYMOOG Road Kit with Original Box

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

via this auction

I've never scene one of these before. Interesting bit of synth history.

From the listing: "NEW OLD STOCK 1980 Moog Polymoog Road Kit parts case. It is complete, obviously untested and sold as is."

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Vintage Cretone Rhythm Maker

This one was spotted here and sent in via M Me.

"Cretone/Teisco Rhythm Maker, Very rare drum computer. This one has had a recap of all electrolytes, but the rhythms that come out are not correct and I think a transistor is no longer working properly, it starts to crack after a while. Amplifier section works well."

This is the first post to feature the Cretone brand and Rhythm Maker. If you know more about them, let us know!

Rare Dynacord ADS-K Keyboard Sampler

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

via this auction

This one was spotted and sent in via M Me.

This appears to be the first one to be featured on the site. Also see the Dynacord ADD-two.

From the listing:

"Here comes the rare keyboard version of the ADS, namely the ADS-K, under the hammer!

The ADS/ADS-K dates back to 1989 and raised the 16-bit bar a little higher with 20-bit converters. On the one hand, the ADS ties in with Dynacord's drum sampler history and, on the other hand, with their PA products (the well-known DRP-20 dates from the same time).

Extremely slick 80s design. Is - for my taste - only topped by the white version. But I've never seen them for sale. But the black version is also impressive. Who owns a Dynacord keyboard!?

Can also be used as a master keyboard due to the good synth keyboard and the large contact surface for computer keyboards or similar.

The features:
- 16bit with 20bit D/A converter
- Stereo sampling
- 16 votes
- 2MB, expandable to 8MB
- reads S-900 floppy disks (but I was never able to try it due to the lack of the sampler mentioned)
- Re-sampling (can sample itself)
- Additive synthesis with 64 harmonics
- Modulation matrix (see pictures; That's right, we also know it from another device, especially from the ramp generators. The software was said to have been programmed by the same gentlemen.)
- Internal mixer with loop-in path
- Individual outputs
- SCSI connection (I haven't been able to try that before, but it should still work)
- Good synth keyboard with effective dynamic conversion
- more features: see Internet

Unfortunately, the 33 years have left the following traces:

- The top two buttons are broken and beyond repair. I took them out of service and temporarily glued them on for cosmetic reasons. Didn't turn out that well - you can see a slight difference in height in the pictures. I hope the construction survives the transport.

- The upper right segment of the right 7-segment display is defective. You can see that in the pictures. "00" should be displayed. But that doesn't matter when playing, because you primarily look at the display and the button labels.

- The lower octave keys are slightly yellowed.

Scope of delivery:
- Dynacord ADS-K
- Original box
- Power cord
- Disks with sounds (unfortunately some of them are no longer readable)
- Leftovers/components of the two defective keys"

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Maccambell Rhythm-Selector RC-510

via this auction

"Rhythm device, analog, 12 preset rhythms 70s/80s"

This one was spotted and sent in via M Me.

This appears to be the first post to feature Maccambell on the site. If anyone knows more about them and/or the RC-510 let us know.

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NOS 1982 Octave Voyetra One Mylar Front Panel

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

via this auction

Note, this appears to be the first mention of the Voyetra One on the site.

"This mylar front panel was made in 1982 by Octave-Plateau for their Voyetra One synthesizer that was never manufactured. This is a rare collector's item for any fan of the Voyetra Eight synthesizer and would look great framed and displayed on the wall of a studio. The layout clearly shows the complex voice architecture of the Voyetra Eight, which is not obvious from looking at the Voyetra Eight front panel.

This item is New Old Stock (NOS) and is covered with a protective film as shipped from the factory. The back has an adhesive covered with a paper protector and the manufacturer's sticker shows it was made on March 22, 1982.

The Voyetra One was originally intended to be a programmer for the Voyetra Eight but it was abandoned when Octave-Plateau decided instead to make a software voice editor for the IBM PC. For more information on the Voyetra One and Voyetra Eight, Google 'Fandom Voyetra Eight Synthesizer'."

Rare BME Rattlesnare drummachine HQ direct sound!!

video upload by Remco Rones

"I had only 15 minutes with this rare drummachine, synced it to my SH-101 clone and recorded some quick stuff. The low end sounds really great."

This is the first post to feature the BME Rattlesnare.

Rare Novation MidiCon - The Prototype for the MM10! Which later turned into the Bass Station

video upload by Edward Jones

"This is the MidiCon -- a controller keyboard that 'never went into production'. However, I am here in Melbourne, and I have one.
This turned into the MM10, the controller for the Yamaha QY10 and QY20.
The same chassis turned into the Bass Station.

A very rare controller keyboard pre-dated the MM10, which begat the BassStation.
The main CPU has custom markings!

nov10xx
novation
324U 3E v2.0"

If anyone has any additional information feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of this post.

One was up for sale back in October, 2021. That's the only other Novation MidiCon post featured on the site.

Some pics:

Lost ARP Tapes Channel 5, 1974

video upload by Alan R. Pearlman Foundation

"A rare glimpse of Alan R Pearlman in the ARP Instruments plant in Newton Highlands, Massachusetts, June 9, 1074. With David Friend, and images of the ARP production team making the legendary synthesizers!"

https://alanrpearlmanfoundation.org/

Alan R. Pearlman Foundation Tom Piggott Lost ARP Tapes

video upload by Alan R. Pearlman Foundation

"After finding a box of Umatic Tapes, d'ARP set out to restore what turned into a treasure trove of vintage footage from television stations as well as workshops given at various colleges and universities demonstrating the ARP synthesizers when they were brand new.

This video features ARPostle Tom Piggott, demonstrating the ARP 2600 and ARP Odysssey.

Tom Piggott is an educator, musician and co-author of several books."

https://alanrpearlmanfoundation.org/

Bill Wolfer: It's the 50th Anniversary of my Minimoog!

video upload by Bill Wolfer

"I bought this Minimoog Model D in 1972, and have had it ever since. It was recently restored, so I made a video to celebrate it and its birthday!

All the sounds are straight from the Mini plugged direct into a Focusrite interface connected to an iPad, with reverb and echo provided by the iPad.

Thanks to David Rogoff for the excellent restoration work."

P.S. "It was my first synth--I bought it in 1972! Serial number 1407, clear wheels and all. Still has the original oscillators."

P.P.S. Bill Wolfer played in Michael Jackson's Thriller. You can find his self title releases and a short bio on discogs here.

Morenz-Perkes 1200, Synth Keyboard Brochure

via this auction

This appears to be the first post to feature Morenz-Perkes.

"Morenz Perkes 1200 keyboard brochure. Black and white, 4 pages with specs on back page."

Details ffrom the brochure:

- All Digital Electronic Synthesizer

- 8 Voice Polyphonic Live Performance Instrument

- 61 Instruments Stored As Presets, Plus Unlimited Tape Storage of Additional Instruments

- Always In Tune

- Innovative, Computer Controlled Patching Provides Totally New Dimensions in Sound

- Unprecedented Flexibility in Control of: Timbre, Envelope, Pitch, Pedal Function and Keyboard Modes

- Make Chords, Echos, Arpeggios, Drones, Glides, Sequences, Glissando, All in Great Variety

- Very Large Scale Integration for Maximum Flexibility

---

Specs on back of brochure below.

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Visite au studio Mos-Lab 2022 [w/ RSF Program Select]

video upload by Nr Synth

"Le studio Mos-Lab a la particularité de ne présenter que des instruments rares voire même rarissimes. Une caverne d'Ali baba qui a de quoi faire tourner la tête à tous les passionnés de synthés analos vintage. Sébastien nous parle de ces 2 dernières acquisitions: le matrix 12 et le Sonic 5."

"The Mos-Lab studio has the particularity of presenting only rare or even extremely rare instruments. An Ali Baba's cave which is enough to turn the heads of all lovers of vintage analog synths. Sébastien tells us about these 2 latest acquisitions: the Matrix 12 and the Sonic 5."

Starts with a walkthrough featuring an RMI Harmonic Synthesizer, Waldorf Wave, RSF Program Select unit, PPG 350 Computer Sequencer, Wave 2.3 & 360A Wave Computer.

This might be the first post to feature the RSF Program Select. Rare RSF Series 11 mouldar towards the end as well.

A Visit the Italian Synth Museum

video upload by Alex Ball

You can find additional posts featuring the museum here.

"Whilst taking a holiday in Italy we stopped off at Museo del Synth Marchigiano for a couple of days and this is the account of what I experienced there.

Enormous thanks to everyone at the museum, particularly Riccardo and Paolo.

https://www.museodelsynth.org/

0:00 Intro
1:19 Synket
4:40 EKO Computerhythm
8:01 Chilton Talentmaker
12:07 Crumar Compac Synth
13:41 Crumar DP-50
15:07 Elkatwin 61
16:29 Elka Synthex
19:38 CRB Oberon
21:29 CRB Voco Strings
22:53 CRB Uranus 2.0
24:34 Farfisa Polychrome
25:24 Logan Piano Strings Synthesizer
27:10 Welson Syntex
28:28 Keytek CTS-2000
29:47 Baleani Solista"

The Fairlight Story

video upload by The Age & Sydney Morning Herald

"It is one of the greatest innovations in music history, and it came from Sydney, Australia.

The story of the Fairlight CMI's creation, its cultural impact and ultimate demise is told via exclusive interviews with both Fairlight co-founders Kim Ryrie and Peter Vogel as well as Fairlight engineer Peter Wielk and Professor Samantha Bennett of the ANU School of Music.

This video was produced by Tom Compagnoni for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.

Subscribe: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/"

Syn-Ket: Portable and Powerful In 1963

video upload by HAINBACH

See the Synket label for more.

"In 1963, when synthesizers were wall-sized, Paolo Ketoff designed a portable yet sonically rich electronic instrument, the Syn-Ket. Created for film scoring and experimental musicians, the Syn-Ket became a classic of Italian film scoring, with Ennio Morricone being one of the early adopters. Only 8 or 9 where made, and I got to play the only one that is known to work @Museo del Synth Marchigiano .

GET THE ALBUM 'SYN-KET STUDIEN': http://hainbach.bandcamp.com

Soundpacks, Music and Love: http://patreon.com/hainbach"

1975: KRAFTWERK - Music of the FUTURE? | Tomorrow's World | Classic BBC Music | BBC Archive

video upload by BBC Archive

Click the BBC Archive link above for more.

"Derek Cooper reports on Kraftwerk, a German pop group who are pioneers of a new kind of electronic music. Ralf Hütter, Florian Schneider, Wolfgang Flür and Klaus Röder create and programme sounds at their Dusseldorf laboratory and recreate them on stage using a variety of synthesisers and bespoke electronic instruments.

Here, they perform an excerpt from their most popular track to date, 'Autobahn'.

Originally broadcast 25 September, 1975."

EEHs Natural Sound Store Unit Zaunkönig Brochure - The FIRST Sampler w/ Realtime Time Stretching

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

This one was spotted and sent in via M Me. I beleive this to be the first post to feature the Zaunkönig/Zaunkoenig. EEH also made the Banana and the DS 500. I just like saying they made the banana. See the EEH label for more. Why it wasn't yellow or even yellowish green, we will never know...

via this auction

"Original brochure, allegedly only 2 devices were built. FIRST sampler with realtime time stretching. Was bought by Akai and in a stripped down version, without realtime, for the S 1000. So the wren is the father of the Akai S 1000"

Update: you can find an article in German on the Zaunkonig here.

Update2: scan of the brochure added below along with a close-up pic of the front of the Zaunkönig, in via an anonymous reader. Also some interesting background added.

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MIZUNO Supersizer-μ (1970s)

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: An image of the oribinal box via Hiromichi Oohashi:

Strange Synthesizers of Japan by Hiromichi Oohashi - Synth Book w/ CD

Hiromichi Oohashi wrote in to let us know about his new synth book featuring rare and somewhat strange synthesizers from Japan. The book features synths from his collection along with a CD of audio/music. You can find the book via the publisher Rittor Music (Japan) (published Nov.2021), and on Amazon JP here.

You can find a list of the synths featured by chapter further below.

Details on the book from Hiromichi Oohashi follow.

"This art book introduces many of Japanese most rare and strange electronic musical instruments (1960s~1980s) from author's private collection for long years.

Contains over 130 synthesizers, rhythm machines, organs, toy instruments, speech synths, etc most of these rare instruments will be the first public release. All color pages, lot of beautiful photo of these unique instruments with simple and detailed text, all photos and book design by author himself.

Contribution from Mark Mothersbaugh (DEVO)

Foreword by Eric Schneider (author of TOY INSTRUMENTS/MBP)

Attached CD has original music using these strange instruments so you can hear what these synth sounds like.

CD's music made by author's band KINO-MODERNO (world-renowned electronic music duo)



Hiromichi Oohashi is an artist born in Tokyo 1961
after studied art & design at Kuwazawa Design School in Tokyo
works as an artist and producer for Art, Design and Music
also known as collector of rare electronic musical instruments
in 1990 released groundbreaking [ VIDEO DRUG2/Phuture ] and get noticed
member of electronic music duo KINO-MODERNO since 1984
president of DAT PLANET PRODUKT"

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TMP-04 Vintage Synth TV Series from Benge

video upload by zack dagoba

Additional Vintage Synth TV episodes by Benge

"The Memetune Programme Episode 04

00:00 Opening Titles
00:35 Introduction/Coming Up Today
01:16 Switched On - Digital Synths Part One
23:47 Commercial Break
25:08 Synthesiser Club - Moog Modular
27:20 Patching Today - Roland 100M
41:40 Video Lab - Video/Audio sync
46:14 Outro/Coming Up Next Time

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Fourth episode in the new six part series of programmes from Benge made at his Memetune Electronic Music Studio

The series explores his passion for vintage synthesiser instruments and studio gear and how he uses it on his productions and collaborations

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

It is divided into the following sections:

SWITCHED ON - Featuring in-depth discussions about the history and development of the synthesiser over the years, including demonstrations and feature guides of many classic and iconic instruments

SYNTHESISER CLUB - A short musical demonstration of a synthesiser classic or three

PATCHING TODAY - A deep-dive into vintage modular systems and how to set up a patch on them, starting from scratch

VIDEO LAB - A look at old video equipment and how to create experimental visuals

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

In THIS episode:

SWITCHED ON DIGITAL SYNTHS (PART ONE) - a brief history of digital synthesis featuring some classic vintage instruments such as the Korg DW6000, Yamaha DX5, Emulator II and DK Synergy II+

SYNTHESISER CLUB - Moog Modular 3C

PATCHING TODAY - on a vintage Roland 100M

VIDEO LAB - the syncing of video to audio

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

LINKS:
Benge's Studio Blog: http://myblogitsfullofstars.blogspot.com
Memetune Studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/memetunestudio
Benge on Bandcamp: https://zackdagoba.bandcamp.com

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

The MemeTune Programme Credits:
Everything in this video was created by B D Edwards (Benge)
All music, design, writing, filming, editing and production completed at Memetune Studios, UK, 2022"