Access Virus Polar TI: The Beautiful Rolls-Royce of VA Synths

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Curiously there is another listed as the "Rolls-Royce of VA Synths" from a different seller with different pics here. When did that start? For fun you can find posts referencing Rolls-Royce here.

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Hadj from Playfader w/ Caroline: myVolts Shameless Plug chat 002

video upload by myVolts

"In our latest 'Shameless Plug' ep, Hadj tells us how his Playfader CV Performance Looper came to be, and treats us to a demo. He calls our new modular CV to Pedal cable "the Rolls-Royce of cables". Fancy!

myVolts + Playfader will be demoing at Machina Bristronica synth festival in Bristol, UK, 12 / 13th October 2024, come say hi! Full lineup at https://machinabristronica.uk/

myVolts Modular CV Halo to Pedal (floating ring TRS to TS) cable, low profile large stereo jack to angled mini mono Halo jack, curly 65cm to 90cm: use CV to Expression control your Chase Bliss pedal, with a polarity-indicating LED - now on sale, we ship worldwide!

Get cable here, US: https://myvolts.com/product/88791/?ut...

Get cable here, UK: https://myvolts.co.uk/product/94762/?...

Get PlayFader here: https://goplayallday.com/playfader-stor"

Vintage Synth: the Minimoog Model D

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"'Modifiers', 'Frequency cutoff, 'emphasis' 'envelope', - a whole new vocabulary for musicians in 1970.

Designed by Robert Moog in 1970, the Minimoog Model D synthesizer is still regarded as the Rolls Royce equivalent of analog keyboard-based synthesizers. Specifically designed for touring musicians, the minimoog exported electronic music experiments from university labs out to the masses - and her deep farting bass-sounds (think of Kraftwerk's Autobahn), lead and space bleeps and sweeps have become HUGELY popular over the last 38 years.

There were originally 13,000 minimoogs produced between 1970 and 1981. After a brief hiatus during the digital-synth craze in the 1980s, the minimoog enjoyed a resurgence of interest among musicians since the 1990s...and yes, it's becoming harder to get a hold on one.

I obtained this Mini from a studio garage sale back in 1989 for US$ 150 (in prime condition - save the crackling external input knob). After lying dormant for 7 years now, it's time to bring life back into this 1973 model D mini. Tropical humidity heavily damaged the furnishing. It needs re-tuning of the oscillators, cleaning of the electronic board, new switches for filter modulation, and thinking about a new base panel."

Moog Minimoog Model D Synthesizer SN 8180

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Here it is before it was restored.

"This synth is in excellent condition, and was restored & serviced by Moog guru Gerry Dahl at Moog Repair! Straight from the era of Minimoogs that we all hear & love on our favorite records…. this is the one to own! Looks amazing in it’s original spec chassis built by Wes at Analogics. Comes complete with built-in power cord, copy of manual, 2 new replacement name badges, and two sets of Cinch Jones connectors with additional parts to make your own S-Trig cables ;) Here is a great way to get a "Rolls Royce" synthesizer into your arsenal that is a bonified classic"

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Oberheim Matrix-12 w/ Individual Outs

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"If you're looking for the Rolls Royce of synthesizers - you've found one. It functions perfectly and has been babied its whole life - hardly a scratch other than a few on the bottom. Original foot pedal and original manual included and will need to be shipped extremely carefully so please contact me for a shipping quote before purchase.

This is the model is the one with the 12 individual outputs.The synthesizer was recently cleaned and serviced for optimal performance.

Not for the faint of heart - this is a beast capable of taking you into endless musical creation. It's truly a work of art, and I've never seen one in this shape before."

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SEQUENTIAL CIRCUITS PROPHET T8 SYNTHESIZER

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"Serial number 230. Early model bought by the original owner in late 83. The Rolls Royce of polyphonics. A pleasure to play. Some say only 200-300 were ever made. Realistically over time the real number is probably 500-600."

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YAMAHA VP1 & VL1 Factory Sound Demos

video upload by Simon Le Grec

"YAMAHA VP 1 | 10.000,- USD Synthesizer | Factory Songs (HQ) The first model of synthesizer to feature VA (virtual acoustic) tone generation based on physical modeling, a complete departure from sampling and FM.
A VA tone generator creates sounds by simulating the physical mechanism by which wind, string and other instruments produce sound.
The virtual instruments simulate characteristics such as the shape and materials of music instruments, allowing the creation of tonal changes that respond to the breathing and playing methods used.
The VL1 was created with reed instruments and other wind instruments in mind, and thus is two-note polyphonic."



YAMAHA VL1 | Virtual Acoustic Synthesizer | Factory Songs (HQ)


"The VL-1 was a ground breaking synthesizer with new technology renowned for accurate reproductions of wind instruments. It is a 2-note polyphony instrument that is best used with a breath controller such as the BC-2 or BC-3.

The VL-1 cost around 4000 pounds in 1994, and was out of reach for most musicians. As such it sold in relatively small numbers and are hard to find. They do come onto the second hand market occasionally and demand between $3000 to $5000 (Aust) depending on condition.

There was a VL7 which was essentially half a VL1 though it looked very similar. Then there is the legendary VP1 which was a VL1 with more power, polyphony and keys. It was made in very limited numbers, perhaps less than a handful. That was due to its price tag, rumoured to have been around $25,000 (US). As such it has often been considered more of a prototype than a proper production model.

This instrument suggests quality of build and sound at first sight. It has real wood, which has not been seen since the DX1 (exactly one decade earlier). Then there are the Champaign gold end panels connected by a band across the top front end. A colour very similar to that used on Yamaha’s B500 in 1990. The gold however is flat with slightly rough texture to contrast against the smooth varnished wood and its semi-gloss finish.

Interestingly it only has 49 keys which to the uninformed will instantly cast doubt, especially with only 2-notes polyphony, and no on-board sequencer.

The screen is striking and very clear with its white back light. The front panel is very well organized with good spacing between all buttons. We particularly like the way the patch buttons are perfectly arranged in 3 rows.

The pitch and modulation wheels feel nice and was a successful design that continued to many future generations. The 3 wheels placed on a stage is an innovative design solution to integrate with a curvy end panel. There is also a disk drive discretely tucked under the left side edge

All controllers feel like they would on a Rolls Royce and command respect. This is not a toy or machine to be thrown around on stage or studio. This was built to look and feel like a digital cross between a violin and a saxophone."

Synthesizer von Gestern (Synths of the Past) Vol 2, Matthias Becker.

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"Beautifully-produced second volume of Matthias Becker's authoritative 'Synthesizers of the Past' book - in German, but with so many superb illustrations that it's hardly necessary to read the text. New, unused, still sealed. The photos were taken of another copy of the book.

Too many highlights to mention all, but the book covers such absolute classic synths as the Trautonium, ARP 2500, EMS Synthi 100, E-mu Modular, Steiner-Parker Synthacon, RMI Harmonic Synthesizer, Birotron, PPG 1002, Moog Taurus and Liberation, Roland System 700, Synlab Modular, Roland SH-7, Crumar DS-2, Korg Sigma, ARP Quadra, Roland RS-505 and VP-330, Fairlight CMI, Realton Variophon, Oberhaim OB-Xa, Xpander and OB-SX, Gleeman Pentaphonic, RSF Kobol, Emulator 1, Synergy, Roland SH-101, TB-303, TR-606, MC-202, Jupiter 6, Syntec Banana, SCI Prophet T8, OSCar......... an incredible roster which would (in the beautiful condition they are in the photos) probably now be worth over half a million US dollars.

All with superb photos by Dieter Stork. Hardback, beautifully printed on very high quality paper, bound to the highest standards. A coffee-table book which is also a superb source of information. The Rolls-Royce (OK, Mercedes) of synth literature. (I should know - I produced the Ford Fiestas of the genre.) ISBN 3927954012, printed in 1995."

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Yamaha DX1 Synthesizer

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"This is arguably the finest synthesizer keyboard ever made - with rosewood veneered cheeks, real wooden piano weighted action keyboard and all hand made by Yamaha as their ultimate flagship synthesizer for the megastar. Yamaha only produced 140 of these flagship keyboards...

It makes an excellent master keyboard as it has a great feeling wooden keyboard with velocity, after-touch AND polyphonic aftertouch!

This is the Rolls Royce of all synthesizer keyboards ever made. Since it has many more controls and displays than the other DX keyboards it makes programming the DX much easier. Its sound engine is that of two DX7s but with higher quality class A components - so that the DX1's sound is more dynamic and 'solid' than any other DX."

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Navs' Modular Lab

via Navs:
"just wanted to give you the heads up: there's two new sets of tests at Navs' Modular Lab.

Doepfer + Bananalogue Wave Multipliers - from inverse filtering and easy FM to outright destruction, go forth and multiply!

Swayed by Cwejman - VCA-2P, VCO-2RM + MMF-1. Modular basics from the Rolls Royce of Eurorack.

While you're there, be sure to check out Navs' Patch of the Day - diary of a week of wiring.

LINKS:
Modular Lab
PotD"

Synclavier 9600 Refurbished by Synclavier

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 "Described as 'The Rolls Royce of all musical instruments.' Built to the highest quality using military and aviation spec components (the red buttons in the keyboard are the ones designed and used in the B52 military aircraft!)... It comes complete with all the famous Synclavier user sounds... t also comes with the recent MegaMusic library for Synclavier included at no extra cost. (It cost £2,400 to buy new.) This contains almost 17,000 musical instruments and unique sounds created on the Synclavier for the Synclavier. You will be joining the most exclusive instrumental club in the world. The world's most expensive musical instrument coupled with the world's most exclusive sounds. When it was new the system cost 200,000 dollars. Yes, you did read that right. Two hundred big ones..." "Voices 16 x 100khz stereo voices - 16 left and 16 right making a total of 32 x 100khz DACs! (voices). These are the later DDV voices. Sampling: Full 9600 spec stereo sampling input module, with soft clip. (none of that digital harshness) Control Module Reduced size wheeled Synclavier 'Road Case' with original end covers. Keyboard: VPK keyboard fully overhauled and realigned and converted to 220V. Processor Model D processor. Capacity Full 5 minutes of dedicated sample RAM - this RAM stays intact even if the machine crashes. No lost edits! Output 8 x fully dynamically assignable balanced line XLR outputs, plus 2 x stereo composite balanced line outputs. External control: MIDI, SMPTE, Analogue Clock, click track (Tracks SMPTE in slow motion, and slews with tape variations - nothing else can do that!) -- Memory: 200 track sequencer, 2 million event recorder, microsecond accuracy. -- Including: Internal Superfloppy drive, Internal new SCSI drive, External MegaMusic library optical drive, MIDI interface, professional music printing software..."

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Sequential Circuits Prophet T8 SN 000282

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Two pics of the inside below.

"If you have been waiting to find the perfect T8, this is the one you have been waiting for.

Often described as the "Rolls Royce of Analog Synths," there is nothing quite like it and it is quite a rare find, especially in this condition.
There were only a few hundred made, estimates range from 350-600. This one is Serial Number 282.

The Prophet T8 had many groundbreaking features such as 76 full-size, weighted keys, with velocity and polyphonic aftertouch. It is regarded by many as the best keyboard ever used on an analog synth. It also has a full MIDI implementation, including transmission of the velocity and aftertouch data, so it makes for a wonderful-feeling MIDI controller. Dave Smith is said to still use one as his main controller.
The sound comes from an 8-voice synth with 16 analog oscillators.

The Prophet was bought new in 1983. Everything is clean and in perfect working order. I even made sure the inside was perfectly clean, and have just serviced the Mod/Pitch wheels. Usage has been very light throughout its lifetime. It has not been played since the mid-90s, except when I fired it up this month and spent a morning playing to make sure everything works (it does!)

Everything is bone stock; software is 3.3 as it came from the factory. All the factory programs are still in memory.

Includes the original pedals (hard to find!), 3-ring bound instruction manual in perfect condition, and I can throw in some original advertising materials for free if you're interested (see pics).

Again, all the keys work, I believe all the voices work. I spent a morning playing it recently and it sounded beautiful. You will not find another T8 in such excellent condition, complete, and one-owner kept."

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Bill Wolfer - Working with Stevie Wonder

video upload by Anthony Marinelli Music

Discover the enchanting tale of Bill Wolfer, a young dreamer from Cheyenne, Wyoming, whose ambition led him to create a master plan: relocating to Los Angeles, securing a job at Guitar Center, and orchestrating the perfect sequence of events that ultimately launched his thriving music career alongside two legendary icons - Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson.

In this captivating video, Bill not only marvels at the awe-inspiring genius of Stevie as a songwriter, singer, and keyboardist but also graciously opens up about the deep emotional connection and joyful camaraderie he shared with Stevie firsthand. It's a heartwarming journey that showcases not just musical prowess but also the power of friendship and passion in shaping a magical career.

00:00 Introduction
00:36 Stevie Wonder's Early Career
01:40 Berry Gordy Years
02:38 The Guitar Center Plan for a Music Career
04:14 The Star Parade at Guitar Center
05:26 Meeting Ronnie Foster
06:42 Discovering the ARP Sequencer
09:12 Stevie Wonder Hears Bill's Music and Calls Him
09:57 Working on Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants with Stevie
11:50 Touring with Stevie
13:20 Bill's Beautiful Friendship with Stevie
16:19 All-Nighter Recording Sessions with Stevie
17:20 Driving with Stevie...and the Rolls Royce
20:42 Stevie's Sense of Humor, Incredible Singing & Musicianship
23:52 Meeting Chick Corea
26:07 Stevie, Chick and Herbie Hancock
26:57 Logo (AMM theme music)

https://www.anthonymarinellimusic.com

Sequential Circuits Prophet T8 - 8-Voice Polyphonic Synthesizer SN 000024

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"Selling my beloved Prophet T8 after many years of great recordings and cared use. This was serviced a few years ago by one of the best western Canadian synth technicians. Its fully function and the keybed has felt replacement recently and it feels great. Lots of information on the net about this amazing synthesizer. Its midi functionality is great and I used this as my main controller for my DAW instruments and other synths with midi. The built in real-time sequencer is amazing! Poly After touch, 8 Voice, Velovity envelope control! Its been called the Rolls Royce of Synths in the book 'A to Z of Analogue Synths' by Peter Forrest.

Its in excellent shape, some little dings and scratches on the metal here and there. Was like that when I got it. Its lived in my studio since purchasing over 10 years ago." [posted here]

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Sequential Circuits T8 Rolls Royce of analog synths

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Yamaha DX1 SN 1176

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via the seller: "People will go on and on about how the engine of a DX1 is two DX7s. This does not ring true to me. There are so many components and circuit boards inside the DX1 compared to the bare bones set up of a DX7. They may say how a FS1R can do more. This maybe true and they are cool units but the output sounds buzzy and shrill comparatively, plus scrolling through menu after menu is not fun. There is something about the "Rolls Royce" quality of the DX1, plus the sound, plus the interface that makes it really special. This of course is all my opinion. I can say I have compared the sound of the Yamaha DX5 and Mk1 DX-7(sold one of each on ebay and received positive feedback for both) and while they both sound nice the DX1 blows them away in just the weight and warmth of the sound. Comparing a DX1 to other FM synths is like comparing a Fairlight CMI to an Akai sampler. The Akai wins on paper but you don't play paper. Again, all the machines I mentioned are great and have their place. I just think the DX1 is extra special.

They only made 140 of these. My guess is only 75-100 remain in good functioning condition. This one looks and functions excellently. As you can see from the pictures it looks sharp. It has NO smoky, musty, or unpleasant smell. It does have a few minor cosmetic flaws that I have shown in the photos keeping it from being "perfect". It has a few flaws in the wood that are not very noticeable because they blend in with the rustic grain and texture of the REAL Brazilian Rosewood, but they are there and you can see them if you look for them. Overall this is a well taken care of DX1 with a small amount of wear, it is in far better shape than many other DX1 instruments I have seen. It has always been stored in a climate controlled environment. You will not be disappointed..."

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Kurzweil K2500XS Audio Elite Keyboard - $19,995.00 New

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"The K2500 Audio Elite System (AES, pictured above) is a Rolls Royce version of the K2500 masterpiece. It comes with every single option available to the K2500 and is fully expanded with ROM and RAM to the max! It also includes extra peripherals such as 2 DMTIs and a CD-ROM drive. And finally it has the most elegant and classiest look of any synthesizer ever! This is truly the World's most powerful and amazing Synthesizer ever...it list's for $19,995.00! The K2600 series is virtually identical to the K2500. With all the same and compatible options and features, the K2600 adds increased preset V.A.S.T wave memory with a standard 12MB expandable to 44MB as opposed to the K2500's 8MB expandable to 28MB."
via Ryan

MOOG MEMORYMOOG PLUS Polyphonic Analogue Synth SN 2872

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"'The Rolls Royce of polyphonic synths' - JM Jarre.

For sale in superb working order and excellent condition. Our tech has just recapped the power supply and recalibrated the synth, but no further work was necessary.

This is a monster of a synth - like six Minimoogs in one with separate filters for each voice, VCO sync, sample and hold... The unison mode can stack up to 18 oscillators for thunderous monophonic bass and lead sounds. Our engineer's favourite synth also. More info from the net below.

The previous owner had maintained this synth very well - all necessary internal upgrades and service work had been carried out to a high standard and the synth auto-tunes every time on start up. We have recapped the power supply and given it a thorough check over and it is working extremely well.

There are a few dings and marks to the wooden parts and a couple of dents/bumps to the aluminium case - at some point it appears to have had impact damage to the wooden corners - but otherwise this synth is in exceptional condition for its age.

The Midi on these is very basic and many people choose to upgrade the Midi capabilities."

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Moog Memorymoog Plus with dbm MIDI and Sequencer OS Upgrades SN 3132

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"Museum Curator / Collector Alert !

Described by synth guru and composer extrodinarre Jean-Michel Jarre as 'The Rolls Royce of Polysynths'... we proudly present the Moog Memorymoog plus with the rare dbm MIDI, sequencer, and OS upgrades !

Our experts date this instrument, which is serial# 3132, to 1984/5. Our technicians have fully tested, restored to full functionality, calibrated, and tuned this instrument. Note from the pictures that all 6 voices tune properly and that the dbm upgrades are present (see 'dbm tech' displayed on startup). Must be one of the finest examples of this iconic instrument left."

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New iConnectivity mio™ Advanced MIDI Interfaces

via iConnectivity

"Give your MIDI a big upgrade!

New line of ultra-versatile MIDI problem solvers offering support for 0 to 2 computers simultaneously, plus built-in MIDI merging, filtering, remapping, and routing

The mio™ Advanced MIDI interfaces are here! It’s a new line of MIDI problem-solvers from iConnectivity. Just plug in to connect and collaborate, in the studio or on stage. These are reinvented MIDI interfaces that work standalone or with up to six Macs/PCs at the same time.

They all feature built-in MIDI merging, filtering, remapping, and routing functions so you don’t need extra hardware units. mio10 has 10x10 5-pin MIDI, the mio4 has 4x4, and both support everything: USB MIDI, Ethernet MIDI, and more.

The affordable mio2 (2x2 5-pin MIDI) supports two Macs/PCs at the same time.

iConnectivity now has a comprehensive line of innovative MIDI and audio interfaces to handle modern setups of all sizes.

The mio™ line handles everything from essential up to extreme MIDI setups, in the studio and on stage. They're all USB MIDI Class-Compliant, so they plug-'n-play - no drivers become outdated, and other musicians only have to plug in to collaborate.

Famed musician/sound designer/MIDI wizard Richard Devine has been working with a pre-production unit: "iConnectivity's new mio10 is the dream MIDI system I've been waiting for! Its routing system is very flexible, and it's a breeze to use. Absolute class all the way. The Rolls Royce of MIDI interfaces!"

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