The desert island Groove box to rule them all : SOLTON POLYVOX

video upload by Vintage Audio Institute Italia

"Chapters
..................
00:00 video begins
00:27 introduction and specs
02:13 drum machine
05:25 musical interlude 1
06:51 auto accompaniment section
10:10 musical interlude 2
10:56 monophonic synthesizer
14:02 musical interlude 3
16:07 musical interlude 4
17:45 organ section
18:39 percussive effects (piano section)
19:45 brass / polyphonic synthesizer
20:29 musical interlude 5
21:14 outro

SOLTON POLYVOX K - 1983

This is the first comprehensive demonstration of the SOLTON POLYVOX ever made.
The reason this hasn't been done previously by anyone else is the insane rarity of the controller keyboard that unlocks all sections - SOLTON POLYVOX K.

We've only seen the controller keyboard in the wild twice and we managed to buy them both.
Are there any other ones out there?
Please light up the comment section if you have physically encountered another one - we'd love to hear about it.

Since this unicorn doesn't get captured very often we thought we owed the internet quality photos and an in-depth, technical video demonstration of its functions.

Before we start we'd like to say that one complete unit is up for sale - if you're interested please contact us via the email on our website - link below.

There are a lot of features here so we actually missed a few, so stay tuned for a Part II this fall or winter.

The video probably has the information you need but let's dive in to a basic rundown here just in case:

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Rare Solton Polyvox Keyboard Synth For Sale

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

via MATRIXSYNTH CLASSIFIEDS

"Up for sale is the ultra rare Solton Polyvox with Polyvox K and complete casing.
This very unique italian machine is basicaly an analog drumcomputer, string machine, mono bass synth, organ, programmable sequencer and mixer.
It also features a spring reverb and a chorus !
The cool thing about this unit is that you can even programm your own drumpatterns, bass sequences and chord lines. You can also use the standard on board patterns like “Disco A/B” and “Hard Rock” which instantly produce dark disco magic.

This synth is very unique and bizarre. There are probably only a handful of these in existence worldwide and it was quite amazing for us to find one of these units in very good and working condition.

The sound of this unit is very magical analog, bright and beautiful, you’ll instantly get something great out of this box.
Shiny and dark analog strings and choirs. Very italian sounding, with lot’s of charm.
The organ sounds very 60′s and it could perfectly produce a soundscape for an old Sci-Fi or Horror B movie.

We do not have any manuals or service notes to this unit.
Elektroakustik Wagner just replaced the old battery and did some contact service and cleaning inside.
The unit basically works and sound great."

VAI 40 : Solton Disco 64

video upload by Vintage Audio Institute Italia

"Another video of this rare bird - the Solton Disco 64.
This is one take and two overdubs if we remember correctly - it's really fun and easy to improvise on and then use the same machine to do overdubs - you can play the sections as monophonic / polyphonic synthesizers as well as having the auto-accompaniment generating the sounds.
The sounds themselves might not be the most interesting, but the complete sum of its parts makes for a fun instrument, and external effects do help as well.
This was the predecessor of the Solton Programmer 24 and some of the sounds and the drum machine is featured in the the first model Solton Polyvox as well."

You can find additional Solton Disco 64 posts here.

SOLTON POLYVOX & POLYVOX KEYBOARD

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

via this Reverb listing

Video in the listing previously posted here.

"Complete set including the uber-rare Polyvox K (keyboard), original manual, connector cable and foot switch (not in photo)

Just back from an extensive service by top technician - everything works and sounds fantastic - please have a look at the video of this very unit for sale.

Condition is Very Good - some general wear as seen in the photos.

The two case lids are included as well, the latches close tightly and they still get the job done."

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Solton RSC Polyvox K

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
via this auction

According to the listing this is analog. Anyone confirm?

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Finally a decent video on the GODWIN DRUMMAKER 32

video upload by Vintage Audio Institute Italia

""Many find it attractive" reads the gushing review in british music mag Muzines in February 1983 : https://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/go...
The reviewer makes the point that it sounds too good to be a typical auto-accompaniment section from an organ and damnit if that ain't right.
Punchy drums, futuristic synth arpeggios, separate audio outputs and individual volumes for most drum sounds.

We finally found a Godwin Drummaker 32 and its even rarer keyboard 32 K and we think the internet deserves a high quality video of its sounds and functions since the ones out there might leave more to be desired.

Most of the specific information and specs are in the video text so please have a look but a quick summary would go a little something like this :

The successor to the Drummaker 45 share all the original features but got an upgrade with completely new sounds in every section.
The new drums are snappier and fill-ins have been added while the arpeggio has an actual synth sound.

Used by OMBs - One Man Bands - all over Italy, this type of machine generate accompaniment to sing and play other instruments over when the budget and/or stage space is limited.
The keyboard on top indicates the chord and key to the unit below, generating bass lines, chord patterns and arpeggios.

If you're into rare Italian synths and drum machines you should check out our website which is basically an encyclopedia of them : https://www.vintageaudioinstitute.com/

And don't miss our next video of the almost equally rare GODWIN CD1 so subscribe here on Youtube or better still follow us on Instagram where we also post vintage gear for sale : / vintage_audio_institute_italia

Elgam carousel elka wilgamat solton disco 64 solton polyvox wersimatic cx1 cx2"

You can find addtional posts featuring the GODWIN DRUMMAKER 32 here.

Solton Polyvox

Click here for shots via this auction

Details:

"This is an odd stereo analog synth from Italy, looks like early to mid 80's. On the back tag it says Ketron Anacona Italy. Polyvox by Ketron Lab., and serial # 12xx/85. It is polyphonic, and all keys can play at once.

It has two sections, a large controller with voice banks, a footpedal with two switches, hookup wires,and a keyboard that has it's own voice banks. The keyboard has a 120 bass for the left hand. Before you roll your eyes (like I did ten years ago when I took this in trade!), the 120 bass controls a complex string, choir , organ, and bass guitar with a cool sequencer ! The strings/choir/organ sound is very lush and reminded me a lot of my K*rg Polysix when you had the effects switched to ensemble. The amazing thing about the voices is that there is a lot of flexibility and adjustments.

When I first started playing with this last year ( I had hoped to list it here before thanksgiving), I got lost in the mesmerizing grooves you could quickly make with the left hand (and I can't play accordian!) . Now it is 6 months later and I feel that I have explored this enough to describe it! I wrote 2 songs with it just this week! The phrase I keep thinking of is "This is not a cookie cutter instrument". Although similar in many ways to the basic concepts of the cheap Yam*ha's and Cas*o's (on board rhythym, drums, basic song arrangement, ala one man band), this has different arrangements, more dark new wave, kind of reminding me of the english new wave of '79-'82 . No polka madness here! And none of the aforementioned cheapies can lay down lush strings like this.

As for the right hand, you get the basic analog imitations of instruments, plus 3 mo*g-like synth sounds. The only adjustments are brilliance and modulation, and you do get a decent 'mo*g sound. Analog does make a difference, as I did not feel that I had to alter any of the instruments, like I usually do when recording the cheapie digital synths.

There's more. There is a stereo section that has the instrument moving in(or is it out?) when a key is hit. It does not continue to move if you hold the key down.. There are many adjustments for the strings, choir, organ brass, piano, percussion. Plus there are many ways to make up the sequencer for the arranger. As far as I can tell from playing it the last 6 months, you can not alter the arrangement/sequencer, but you can adjust what is in the mix.

The drums are decent sounding, and you can switch off the individual instruments. There is a tone slide that was pretty effective.

All works good, sliders work clean, leds light up, things go on and off as they should (at least as I think I should, I had no luck finding a manual online) except for two things.For some reason each time you hit one of the sequencer programs (pre-set) the drum tempo goes to the top speed 90, and you have to adjust it down to a more normal speed (40) and I could not figure out the bass program with 2 stops and a sustain (like an organ pedal). The bass guitar and double bass work fine, so I am not sure why I can't bring that section up.

This is not for everyone looking fo an analog synth, and I understand the desire to create your own voice (I'll be listing my mini-mo*g in a couple of days). But as a former synth freak, that had over 50 analog synths (and the same number of digtal ones!), I have found that the voice you spend a lot of time creating is similar enough to presets, that you could have saved a lot of time using a preset and simply modify it with outboard gear!

Anyway the point I want to make here is that this is not for someone that will be building a patch from a sawtooth oscillator , the strength of this unit is in it's songwriting/one-man band arranging. If you like your music on the odd and dark side (Resid*nts?), you will love this unit. If you think Abba and the Eagles are where it's at, do not bid! If I wasn't retired from the biz, I would keep this over the Mo*g, even though this is worth less. I have yet to find another one through go*gle searches. If you do end up getting this, and writing a hit song with it, only you and I would know how you did it!"

SOLTON SUPER POLYVOX VINTAGE SYNTH BY KETRON

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

via this auction

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A visit to the Marche Synth Museum

video upload by Guido Scognamiglio

"A visit to the Marche Synth Museum
Museo Del Synth Marchigiano (e Italiano)
July 2023
https://www.museodelsynth.org/"

Some of the synths featured on their site:

Eko Computerrythm
Elka Synthex
CRB Oberon
Crumar Spirit
Farfisa Compact Duo
Welson Symphony
Crumar Compac Synth
CRB Uranus 2
Elka Rhapsody
Farfisa Syntorchestra
Milton Gemichord
Logan String Melody

I also spotted a Welson Syntex recently featured in Hainbach's Blast of Sirens promo video. Solton RSC Polyvox at 1:59.

Vintage Italian synths.

You can find additional posts mentioning Marche Synth Museum here.