10 undervalued 80s synths | Most bang for the buck

video upload by Espen Kraft

Top-10 undervalued vintage 80s synths. With a watchful eye on local ads and garage sales, all of these can be had for way less money compared to a lot of other 80s synths. Some can even be had for coffee money if you're lucky. I've seen it happen many times. Including some of my own buys.

1. Yamaha TX7
2. Casio VZ-10M
3. Elka EK22
4. Roland Alpha Juno 1/2/MKS-50
5. Kawai K1 (k1m/k1r)
6. Sequential Six-Trak
7. Siel Cruise
8. Yamaha SK20
9. Korg Poly-800
10. Commodore 64

https://www.patreon.com/espenkraft

Demos for each linked by Espen Kraft:

Playlist:
DX7 Original Patches TX7 (Yamaha TX7 - Zé Osório) - José Osório de Souza
Casio VZ-10M - Exploring the Synth and Sounds - ProckGnosis
Elka 22 analog synthesizer | Demo and review - Espen Kraft
Roland Alpha Juno 2 | The best Roland synth ever? - Espen Kraft
Kawai K1 | A Digital Lo-Fi Beauty! - Espen Kraft
Sequential Six-Trak | Fun as a Prophet! - Espen Kraft
SIEL CRUISE Analog Synthesizer 1979 | HD DEMO - AnalogAudio1
YAMAHA SK20 String Machine 1979 | HD DEMO - AnalogAudio1
Korg Poly-800 | Multitrack - Espen Kraft
Commodore 64 - Let's Make Some Music! - Espen Kraft

Hardware vs Software Synth Showdown with Woody & Espen Craft

Published on Apr 4, 2018 Espen Kraft

"Woody from the excellent channel "Woody Piano Shack" has thrown down the gauntlet! He's challenged me to make an original piece of music using my old hardware synths from the 80s which he will then try to recreate using software and emulations. In the box.

As I gladly accept these kinds of challenges, I've cooked up a track I think he'll enjoy recreating.
You can too as I've included the live stems for the track here:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1OjT...

For my version I've used the following gear:

Yamaha RX11 - Drums
Roland D-550 - Pads
Roland Juno 2 - Synth Guitar
Roland JX-8P - Poly synth
Roland Juno 6 - Bass (sampled in S-10 for MIDI sequencing)
Yamaha DX7 - Fairlight Flutes and Italo Poly synth
Yamaha TX802 - PPG Digital Guitar Bells
Elka EK22 - Synth bells

I play live on top of the sequenced synths controlled by the Roland MC50 sequencer."

Update:

Espen Kraft hardware vs software SYNTH SHOWDOWN!

Published on Apr 14, 2018 Woody Piano Shack

"Here's the result of the hardware versus software synthesizer showdown! in this video I'll share the track created using just free software VST plugins and Reaper DAW.

To recap, Espen Kraft composed and created a track on his vintage hardware synthesizers and drum machines .The challenge was for me to re-create it using just software."

Sequential Six-Trak | Fun as a Prophet!

Espen Kraft

The Sequential Six-Trak from 1984. A kind of mix between the Prophet 5 and the Pro-One in terms of sound. It has lots of other fun features too!

A 6-voice VCO, 3 full ADSRs, a powerful Unison mode, filter resonance (with self oscillation), poly glide and get this, fully Midi CC equipped. In 1984!
Two 6-track sequencers, the arpeggiator and 2 Stacks where you can stack up any combination of any patches to one super fat sound.
I mean, what more could you want?
You can even send the 6 tracks from the sequencer out as 6 separate midi channels.
Even if I have a controller for my Six-Trak, I prefer to work it without any controller, it's dead easy to use from the synth itself.

My Six-Trak demo song can be found here:"

Korg Wavestation A/D | Beautiful, Complex - Unbeatable.

Published on Jan 16, 2020 Espen Kraft

"With Korg announcing the new Wavestate Wave Sequencing Synthesizer, I only found it appropriate to show you that the old Wavestation A/D beats any newcomer by K.O. in the first round."

Korg Wavestation A/D - The Espen Kraft Demo Song

Published on Jan 16, 2020 Espen Kraft

The demo song can be downloaded (for free) here: https://bit.ly/3aiRu8z

Espen Kraft hardware vs software SYNTH SHOWDOWN!

Published on Apr 14, 2018 Woody Piano Shack

Comparison starts at 5:49. Look at the level meters on the right to see which is playing.

"Here's the result of the hardware versus software synthesizer showdown! in this video I'll share the track created using just free software VST plugins and Reaper DAW.

To recap, Espen Kraft composed and created a track on his vintage hardware synthesizers and drum machines .The challenge was for me to re-create it using just software."

Follow-up to this post where you'll find Espen Kraft's original video with hardware.

Roland JX-3P or JX-8P? Smoothness Wars!

Espen Kraft

"For years these two synthesizers have divided opinions. Which one is the one to get?
The 3P with its sequencer and stylish casing or the 8P with unison and mono modes?
Do they sound the same or is it best to have them both?

Be aware that an original JX-3P has very limited MIDI functionality, it's in constant Omni-mode, and therefor cannot be in a MIDI sequencer chain without problems. It cannot receive or send MIDI sysex either.
The 8P is not 8-voice polyphonic even if the "8" should indicate that. It's 6 voices like the 3P. The 8P also have a custom fluorescent display that can be tricky to upgrade and the transformer can often become very noisy (acoustically).

The demo track that starts the video can be found here:"

The Terminator "Love Theme" | Cover by Espen Kraft

video upload by Espen Kraft

"The Terminator theme reworked as a love theme by Espen Kraft. Original music by Brad Fiedel.
I made this with two synths from the 80s, the Korg DSS-1 and Korg MS-10. Everything is played live in 4 different passes (multi tracked). No sequencers used.
This was originally part of a longer Korg DSS-1 video which is no longer available on my channel.

Find my music here:
Bandcamp: https://espenkraft.bandcamp.com/"

Brand new patch bank for the Roland Cloud Jupiter-8 | By Espen Kraft

video upload by Espen Kraft

"A brand new patch bank for the Roland Cloud Jupiter-8, by Espen Kraft.
64 new patches for synthwave, pop, ambient, soundtrack music etc.

Roland hired me to do the patch bank for them and as such it's a part of Roland Cloud and I cannot sell this bank on my own.

Check it out here:
https://www.rolandcloud.com/news/new-..."

Old-School Synth-Pop Tutorial/workflow Videos by Espen Kraft

Espen Kraft
Published on Mar 27, 2017

Note: this completes the current run of Espen Kraft posts on the site. If you are coming in on the main site you can just scroll down for previous posts in order. If you are coming in directly to this post, click here for all Espen Kraft posts in reverse order. There have been a couple of updates, so be sure you haven't missed anything. These are some great synth videos with that classic 80s feel.

http://www.espenkraft.com
https://soundcloud.com/espenkraft
https://open.spotify.com/artist/1dMWi...

Playlist:
1. Old-school synth-pop tutorial/workflow - Retrowave/synthwave - Free patches Roland JX-8P download
2. Italo Disco - Old-school synth-pop tutorial/workflow - Free patches DX7
3. The Golden Boy - Old-school synth-pop Synthwave tutorial/workflow breakdown & multi track
4. 80s MIDI synthesizer setup explained - tutorial/workflow 2017

Details for each:

CLICK FOR MORE »

Studio recording - Roland JX-8P synthesizer & Juno 6 / 2

Espen Kraft
Published on Jan 3, 2017

"A studio recording in session. Preparing the last track for my forthcoming synth-pop album due february 2017.
I'm auditioning sounds for the track while multitracking as well. Tonight I was going through the sweet Roland classics JX-8P, Roland Alpha Juno 2 and the Roland Juno 6 for sounds. All analog classics.

This album will be a homage to all my childhood synth heros, bands and artists that've inspired me throughout the years.

Some of the tracks will be instrumental, but most of them will have vocals in various degree.

Listen to more of my music on:

http://www.espenkraft.com
https://soundcloud.com/espenkraft

My tracks pay homage to all synth.pop acts of the 80'ies like Howard Jones, Depeche Mode, Pet Shop Boys, New Order, Thompson Twins, Tears for Fears, Ultravox, OMD, Euryhmics, Duran Duran, Giorgio Moroder, Jean Michel Jarre, Jan Hammer, A-ha and many more.

A use mostly old gear on my tracks and among them Roland Juno 6, Alpha Juno 2, D550 and JX-8P. Korg DW-8000. Roland TR-626 drum machine. Yamaha DX7 and TX802 and drum machine RX11. I use the Novation Mininova as a vocoder on all my tracks. Effects are usually handled by Strymon and TC electronics. Sampling is done on my E-MU ESI-4000 and I mostly use that for drums."

And one more minus the synth spotting:

CLICK FOR MORE »

TAL sampler | Digital Collection Vol.1 by Espen Kraft DOWNLOAD

video by Espen Kraft

"128 synth patches taken directly from my collection of vintage hardware. Now and before. Sampled by me personally and taken at the output of each synthesizer. I've spent a lot of time honing each patch to sound like it's coming off one of the old samplers I love so much. In addition you get 8 performance patches you can play or edit. You can of course edit all the patches too if you want to.

Get the patches here:
https://thepatchbay.co.uk/product/tal... https://sound7.co.uk/products/espen-k..."

Korg Poly-61 | A Raw and Beautiful Synth | 64 NEW PATCHES BY ESPEN KRAFT

Published on Nov 1, 2019 Espen Kraft

"The Korg Poly-61, released in 1982 as the follow-up to the PolySix. Many consider the Poly-61 inferior to the PolySix, because it sounds so basic, but that is also its strenght. Sounds from this just blend in so well with other sounds and especially for Italo Disco and early, more raw type of synthpop.
I love this synth just for its raw and unpolished sound.

I've created 64 new patches that can be loaded into this synth to get that raw feeling going. These sounds can be bought and downloaded here:

https://thepatchbay.co.uk/product/kor..."

Keyboard Mag. March '96 | The X-Files

video upload by Espen Kraft

"Keyboard Magazine issue March 1996 with its main article/feature about the X-Files. Maybe the most detailed feature in any issue. Interviews with Mark Snow and all the other people involved. I go through this entire issue in today's episode. Lots of ads as well."

Espen Kraft Keyboard Magazine posts

Resonant filters on 80s Akai samplers | How to do it

video upload by Espen Kraft

"The early S-samplers from Akai did not have resonant filters, but by hooking them up to Akai synths at the time you could still achieve it. The individual voices from the sampler goes out a special connector at the back called "Voice out". All the 80s Akai samplers features this connector. With the appropriate cable you took the output here and connected it to the "Sampler In" on one of the Akai synths of the time.
The Akai AX60, AX73, VX90 and VX600 has these "Sampler In" ports at the back. The AX80 does not, just so you're aware. The AX80 was Akai's first synth and it preceded their first sampler, the S612 and is in many ways the odd one in their catalogue."

Espen Kraft S700 videos

TAL-U-NO-LX Patch Bank by Espen Kraft | Download now

video upload by Espen Kraft

64 New Patches! Perfect for Pop, Synthpop, Italo Disco, Synthwave etc.

Find the pack here:
https://thepatchbay.io/product/tal-u-...
https://sound7.co.uk/products/tal-u-n...

The drums in the demo can be checked out in the link below. They're part of my "ultimate synthpop/Italo disco" sample pack:"

Italo Disco/SynthPop Sample Pack | Get it NOW!

"I've spent a long time recording, sampling and processing the sounds in this pack, with focus on quality and usability. Each drum sample is taken directly out of the hardware.
Many of the sounds has been made by layering different samples and effects.

This is not a free pack, but I hope you'll see it's priced quite reasonably considering the quality and quantity of the sounds. :)

Get the pack here:
https://sound7.co.uk/products/italo-d...
https://thepatchbay.co.uk/product/the..."

"WELCOME TO THE 80S - A SAMPLE PACK DRIPPING WITH AUTHENTICITY.

Looking for some truly unique samples? Don't want to settle for lesser grade sound-a-likes? This is the the 80's sample pack for you and it's simply oozing retro nostalgia.

With weeks spent recording, sampling and processing the sounds in this pack, there's an unparalleled commitment to quality and usability.

Each drum sample is taken directly out of hardware and many of the sounds have been made by careful layering of different samples and effects to give you the sound that's just ..'perfect'.

With over 600mb of construction kits, on-shots, melody loops, bass-lines and vox shots the hardware kit list in this sample packs creation includes:

Korg Poly-61
Korg DSS-1
Roland Alpha Juno 2
Roland Juno 6
Roland JX-8P
Roland R8
Roland TR-808
Roland TR-909
Roland S-10
Yamaha DX7
Behringer Model D
Sequential TOM drum machine w/EPROM binary Linndrum, DMX and Emulator chips.
E-MU Drumulator

Dr.Böhm "The German Linndrum" drum machine
Elka OMB-5 and Drumstar 80 drum machine
Simmons SDS800 drum machine/brain
BOSS DR-55
BOSS DR-110
Akai S1000
Akai S612
Akai S700
Casio SK-1
Kurzweil K2000"

Sample Format: 44khz / 24 bit

Roland JD-990 | The Best Roland Module Ever?

Published on Apr 9, 2020 Espen Kraft

"Support this channel on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/espenkraft

In 1993 Roland released the JD-990, a synth module that has grown into a cult phenomenon. Many hail this as the greatest Roland synth module ever.
As with the JD-800, the 990 was forgotten at first. Few people saw the potential as it came between the popular JV-80 (and module 880) in 1992 and the mega popular Super JV-1080 that came in 1994.

Compared to the JD-800 this enhances pretty much everything. Some key differences are:

- More waveforms, 195 vs 108 on the 800
- The ability to pan each TONE individually, essential to make it so wide and lush
- A matrixed modulation setup
- Oscillator sync
- Effect structures
- Filter can self-oscillate
- Delays can be tempo synced to MIDI
- You can add a random modulation to a sound, sort of emulate drifting oscillators
- One slot for adding a SR-JV expansion card (the famous SR-JV80-04 vintage card comes to mind)

Download the demo song here:"

Espen Kraft: Can I make a retro game tribute track? The Kung Fu Arcade

Published on Nov 30, 2018 Espen Kraft

Roland Alpha Juno-2, S-10 sampling keyboard, Casio SK-1, and three E-Mu Emax sampling keyboards (Emax I & 2 Emax II).

"I had this track released some time ago, 'The Kung Fu Arcade', but I was never quite happy with the sound or production so I've cleaned it up and the catalysator for getting the mood to do so was playing this little Galaga MyCabinet retro game I picked up at the local game shop.
This put me right back on track as playing it stirred up memories I'd forgotten and I got inspired to finish the track.

Track available here: https://open.spotify.com/album/2yrw8g..."

80s Vintage Studio Tour 2021 Espen Kraft | I am the 80s!

video by Espen Kraft

"I wrongly refer to the Yamaha TX816 as TX116, that would only be true if you have ONE TF-1 module within the frame, this has all eight of them, thus a TX816.

If you're wondering why I have no acoustic treatment in this room, my answer is... I don't need it in here. I never mix loud, I have the one side roof at a steep angle and I have a semi-thick carpet on the floor. When I record my vocals I usually but have some thick fabric behind ME, not behind the mic. I did run a commercial studio once where I actually HAD acoustic treatment in both the studio itself and the control room. I can't say my OWN music sounded any better back then really and I do the same music now. ;-)"

How to make 80s thriller/slasher/giallo music | Tutorial and breakdown

video upload by Espen Kraft

"How to make a thriller/slasher track with both old and new synths, samplers and drum machines. Put together and mixed as it would have sounded coming out an 80s movie.
I've always been a huge fan of the "giallo" thriller/slasher movie subgenre championed by Italian directors like Dario Argento, Mario Bava, Sergie Martino and more.
These movies often had absolutely mind-blowing violence topped with fantastic music.
One of these composers, Claudio Simonetti did many awesome tracks for Dario Argento, and among them the themes from 'Tenebre' (Tenebrae) a thriller in the giallo style, from 1982.
Another composer I draw a lot from is Fabio Frizzi. His work with Lucio Fulci has always been a great source of inspiration to me.

Midnight Drive 5 is my go at making a similar styled track. I've gone overboard with the intro which is supposed to be from a film, but these are all sound effects I've put together for this.

Find the track here:



00:00 Intro
01:25 Bass (Prophet VS)
03:00 Strings (Juno-106)
05:24 Synthbrass in the intro of the song (Prophet X)
07:16 Main Synth Theme
08:26 Counterpoint to the synth theme
09:23 Intro synth part to signal violence
10:22 Putting it all together and adding on
15:13 Making it sound like movie violence (sound effects)
18:12 The importance of reverb or NOT reverb
21:14 Drums
22:40 Bass
23:00 Strings
24:14 Vocal effects (chopped up)
26:07 Vocal choir
27:37 Counterpoint brass (Fabio Frizzi tribute)
28:37 Ending
29:59 Closing thoughs"

Golden Boy C64 edition| Espen Kraft Music

video upload by Espen Kraft

"This is done with an original Commodore 64G. Drums are sampled with the C64 and the synth sounds are done with the analog SID chip. I've multi-tracked the C64 of course.

Find the track here:
https://espenkraft.bandcamp.com/album...

How to video previously posted here.