"The Baldwin Discoverer is a home electric organ designed for beginners, featuring built-in rhythms, preset sounds, and onboard speakers. Fully analog with a mellow, vintage tone, it’s a fun and inspiring little machine that can even play chords, and looks right at home next to a classic chair with those beautiful retro colors. Includes original 2-prong power cable."
"Step into the iconic sound world of Depeche Mode and explore how their legendary tones were created.
In this demo, we recreate classic textures using the original E-mu Emulator II and the Emax SE vintage sampling synthesizer. From atmospheric pads to punchy, industrial sequences, deep bass sounds, this video showcases the authentic sound design techniques that defined an era.
The DM sound list:
0:06 The Things You Said
0:19 Get The Balance Right
0:30 Never Let Me Down Again (Aggro Mix)
0:41 Shake The Disease
0:52 Home
1:05 But Not Tonight
1:18 Halo
1:30 It`s Called A Heart
1:43 Stripped
1:58 People Are People
2:12 Behind The Wheel
2:26 Everything Counts
2:42 Waiting For The Night
2:56 Something To Do
3:08 In Your Room
3:21 A Question Of Time
3:33 Never Let Me Down Again
3:47 Black Celebration
4:03 Pipeline"
"IT HAS JUST BEEN FULLY INSPECTED/SERVICED AND IS READY FOR A NEW HOME! The following services were just done, which cost us over $650! IF you find another one for less than what ours is selling for, and since most of the used ones out there, that are supposed to be "fully functional", turn out NOT to be; you will then need to find someone who would work on these (which is very hard nowadays), and then who knows how much it would cost to make it fully functional??! CONDITION IS EVERYTHING!
SERVICES DONE: Full inspection Load tested for 2 hours Entire keybed completely taken apart, fully serviced, lubricate, and restored. So it triggers like a new one once more. Volume POT serviced Joystick serviced/restored Power switch serviced/restored All sliders fully serviced/restored All outputs serviced All knob switches serviced All switches fully serviced All contacts cleaned Cleaned inside and out Originally (in late 70s) it sold for $795, which in today’s money it mounts to over $3700!!! So, at this price, and in this condition; IT IS A BARGAIN!!!"
"Synavernissa 2026 was a great time. Thank you to everyone who came out to chat with us and check out Four Seas — a wonderful debut in home waters. 🌊
The legendary SID chip reimagined as an expandable modular synth voice: powerful synthesis engine, animated OLED display, and polyphony-expandable.
zetaSID is a powerful eurorack modular synthesizer voice packed into just 4 HP, expandable via the new midiphy phybus backplane link. Start with a single monophonic voice controlled via CV/gate and scale it to a full polyphonic MIDI synthesizer with up to six stereo voices with MIDI control. At its core lies the legendary MIDIbox SID synthesis engine, featuring six LFOs, dual envelopes, quad wave sequencers, eight modulation paths with dozens of sources, algorithmic operations, and an extensive trigger matrix.
It ships with 100 carefully crafted patches in its ROM bank, ready to use as-is or as inspiration for your own creations.
zetaSID is an expandable powerful SID voice covering a wide range of tones and textures, from classic chiptune staples to sounds you might not expect from a SID chip.
Disclaimer I have marked this video as Paid Promotion although I was not paid to make this or any video, I was sent these to test before release.
The zetaSID modules are based on the legendary Midibox Sid Synthesizer.
They contain the lead and drum engines from the Midibox Sid and use Hermits (creator of Sid Wizard tracker) Sid emulation.
Each zetaSID contains 3 voices and filter as you would expect from an Sid chip ( The Sid chip is the sound chip from the legendary Commodore 64 home computer from the 80's )
So each zetaSID is a like one commodore 64. If you have multiple zetaSID's they can be linked together with supplied ribbon cables internally to add them to the Phybus, midiphy's way of having all modules being able to talk to each other. They then can work in unison, as stereo pairs, monophonically or for polyphony so a lot of different ways to use them. Of course I wanted to test how I could use them multitimbrally, and in this example I have them unlinked (not physically you can do it from the menus)
The midi module is Nexus Midi by midiphy and allows you to control the zetaSID's via regular midi over the Phybus (they do support cv gate also)
zetaSID 1 is using the drum engine, here I have split, kick, snare and hats over different voices on a single zetaSID, so indeed you can play a kick, hat and snare at the time time if patched this way.
zetaSID 2 is the lead sound, it is going through some hall reverb in this example. It shows off legato bends and using the impressive wave sequencer to increase vibrato over time (like tables if you are familiar with trackers)
zetaSID 3 Uses the Arp to provide classic c64 Arp sounds, I am just sending chords to this module over midi and it is handling the arps itself. It actually has 3 arpeggiators, one per voice, so a stereo pair of zetasids can run SIX arps with completely different settings at the same time from a single patch, impressive.
zetaSID 4 Is using one of the factory presets Den of Saws, I've just high passed it a bit since we are using a lot harmonically rich voices in this song.
This was midi sequenced via a Dirtywave M8 Tracker.
I will show more of the zetaSID's, as they are very powerful and very deep, the amount of modulation they have is outstanding even has Logic Gates, you can literally XOR lfo's together and I need to say if you are seeing this video and thinking you want like to write songs on these that program change isn't currently implemented, but is a high priority on the roadmap.
If you like my music I have a bandcamp here https://avrilcadabra.bandcamp.com/
And you can find me on streaming services and socials also."
"Here I'm using DRONES MAX by @homebakeinstruments8214 , easy-to-use and well-thought wavetable synthesizer.
Bugbrands' are mainly playing drums sounds.
A pinch of noisebox with cocoquantus accompanied.
"Explore Phase8 at home with my multisamples on Patreon: ► / loopop"
TIMELINE:
0:00 Intro
1:45 Overview
3:15 Vel & env
3:55 Buttons
5:30 Air fader
6:00 Shift
6:20 Pluck
6:50 Drones
7:20 Drone jam
7:50 Build & IO
8:15 In the box
8:35 Mod left
8:55 Mod right
10:25 Mod center
10:50 Settings
11:25 Center #2
11:45 Step seq
12:35 Live seq
13:55 Automation
15:25 MIDI
15:45 Pros & cons
19:00 Three jams
The Phase8 has finally made it to market. Check with dealers on the right for availability.
Press release follows:
KORG Introduces phase8, an Eight-Voice Acoustic Synthesizer
MELVILLE, NY - KORG announces the phase8, an eight-voice acoustic synthesizer designed for musicians and creators who want sound that feels alive, immediate, and deeply responsive. Using Acoustic Synthesis technology developed at KORG, phase8 merges physically vibrating steel resonators with precise electronic control to deliver an instrument that behaves like an acoustic object while offering the creative flexibility of a synthesizer. It answers the need for a new kind of expressive electronic instrument by generating sound in the physical world, responding to touch and interaction, and integrating seamlessly into today’s creative setups through MIDI, USB-MIDI, Sync, and CV connectivity.
At the heart of phase8 are eight independent electromechanical voices driving steel resonators to produce genuinely acoustic vibration. KORG supplies 13 chromatically tuned resonators with the instrument, eight of which can be installed at a time, allowing players to customize the tuning, scale, and character of their setup. Through envelope control, these resonators can move from short, percussive hits to long, sustained tones, encouraging hands-on exploration and performance. The resonators are easily swappable and tunable, making the instrument adaptable to individual playing approaches and musical environments.
phase8 has been designed not only to sound organic, but to feel interactive in use. Players are invited to shape sound directly, touching, plucking, strumming, or tapping the resonators, or even experimenting with found objects to introduce new textures. An AIR slider lets users boost or quiet the acoustic response of what they bring into contact with the instrument, enhancing its tactile, haptic character and underscoring its role as a physical instrument as much as an electronic device.
For structured creativity, phase8 features an intuitive sequencer that supports both step programming and unquantized live recording, with step skip available per voice to enable complex polymetric rhythms. Sequences can be stored and recalled across eight memory slots, while all front-panel parameters can be automated using the record function, allowing evolving passages and detailed motion to be captured directly into performance. Three modulation modes are available, including tremolo and two pitch-dependent audio-rate modulation types, with the final mode offering optional harmonic quantization. A trigger delay, controllable via the instrument’s shift knob, allows delayed resonator triggers relative to the selected or synchronized tempo, further expanding rhythmic expression.
phase8 is designed to integrate effortlessly into modern creative workflows. External MIDI devices can trigger the Acoustic Synth, while the phase8 sequencer can, in turn, trigger external MIDI instruments over MIDI or USB-MIDI. Tempo synchronization is available over MIDI, USB-MIDI, and Sync, and CV input (±5V) allows parameter control from compatible analogue hardware. The instrument provides MIDI TRS-A In/Out, USB-C for USB-MIDI and firmware, Sync In/Out, a ¼-inch line audio output, and a 3.5mm headphone output.
Practical considerations match the innovation inside. phase8 runs on a 12V AC adaptor and consumes 4.8W of power. It measures 231 x 236.5 x 46 mm, weighs 1.71 kg, and ships with an AC adaptor, hex key, Quick Start Guide, Precautions Sheet, and five more resonators alongside the included chromatically tuned set.
phase8 is a new chapter in expressive instrument design, bringing together acoustic behavior, electronic precision, real-time interaction, and deep sequencing control in a compact, performance-ready form.
For more information, please visit NAMM Booth #6802 or online at www.korg.com.
Andrew McGowan, pictured here with Tom Oberheim, wrote in to let us know today is the 10th Anniversary of the Sequential OB-6. Andrew was a product designer at DSI/Sequential and worked with Tom Oberheim on the OB-6.
You can find a write-up on some the development of the OB-6 as well as the Prophet-6 on his website, https://www.smartbombdesign.com.
A couple of excerpts:
"I was sitting in my office at Seer Systems one day in 1997 or thereabouts when the phone on my desk rang. It was Dave Smith calling from his home. 'I’ve been talking to Tom Oberheim. He’s between jobs and wants to learn about software synths, so I asked him if he wanted to write the Reality operation manual. Can you get him set up and manage that?' I knew who Tom was, of course, but I had never met him, and now Dave was asking me to be his manager. I had no reason to believe that Tom was anything other than the warm, bright, and kind person that I now know he is, but the idea that I would be managing him made me deeply uncomfortable.
Seer Systems was in the process of developing Reality, which is generally considered to be the first 'professional' software synthesizer, though I’m not certain what makes one synthesizer professional and another not."
[Side note: Propellerheads Rebirth was also released in 1997, however the demo version was released in October 1996. A bit like The Damned vs. Sex Pistols for those in the know!]
And [thought this was funny]:
"Those Fucking Lines
Tom and I had talked about synths over the years and, on several occasions, he remarked how often people asked him to remake the OB-X, perhaps because not many were made. Or maybe Rush/Tom Sawyer? I don’t know. What little I did know about the OB-X was that it had a (low-pass only) SEM filter, and we had already made a synth with an SEM filter in it. And our hardware engineer Tony Karavidas had worked at Oberheim and owned multiple Oberheim synths. I also felt very strongly that if we were going to make two poly synths that were essentially the same except for the filter, the 2-pole, SEM state-variable filter would be complementary to the Prophet-6’s 4-pole, OTA low-pass filter.
Tom’s wish list was short. He didn’t want the Prophet-6’s analog distortion. And he wanted the OB-Xa’s blue lines."
[P.S. I still own an OB-6 desktop and it's one of my most cherished synths. There is something organic about it. The demos I've heard of Sequential's new FOURM have that about them. I have enough synths as it is but the FOURM is very, very tempting for this particular reason.]
"(c)2007-25 by RetroSound
supported by UVI: http://bit.ly/retrosound-uvi
One of my favorite tracks from the late 70s.
Fool (If You Think It`s Over) by Chris Rea from the album Whatever Happened to Benny Santini? (1978)
I’m saddened...😞
His music has been the soundtrack of my life. I loved his melodies, I loved his lyrics, and I loved his voice.
Driving Home for Christmas, On the Beach, and Josephine are timeless classics that I always turn up loud whenever I hear them on the radio.
I was fortunate enough to get an Amiga license record in 1988 after queuing for hours at the music shop. Holding one of the few records in my hands brought me so much joy, especially since Western music was only available under the counter in the GDR.
Rest in Peace, Chris. Your music will live on forever. Thank you.ðŸŒ
RetroSound synthesizer demo videos since january 2007.
Everything is free. If you like my work, you can also support me with the purchase of my merchandise stuff or my music.
Shop: https://retrosound.creator-spring.com/
Bandcamp: https://retrosound.bandcamp.com/"
I like the sound of the K1. It's got some cool samples and nice choirs, strings, bells, flutes and experimental sounds. It's a bit flat and lifeless, and not very dynamic. Maybe a poor man's Roland JD-800, but with a joystick which increases its cool factor.
On the display you can see all the patches used in each track.
00:00 Brass Troops 00:54 Digital Jungle 01:30 Last Seen: Asia 02:45 Home At Last 04:00 Aguirre's Flute (from the film 'Aguirre, Wrath of God').
"Unleash your inner sonic architect with the Roland Reon Driftbox R, a compact yet mighty tabletop synthesizer that packs a punch. Originally designed to showcase the SBX-1 Sync Box, this synthesizer has evolved into a standout piece of DJ gear on its own. The Driftbox R is built around two versatile VCOs and boasts a remarkable filter, allowing you to craft everything from lush soundscapes to gritty bass lines. Its true strength lies in its semi-modular design, featuring CV/gate I/O that invites you to expand and explore.
Whether you're weaving intricate melodies or laying down earth-shaking bass, this synthesizer adapts to your creative needs. Use it solo with the onboard momentary button for instant envelope triggering, or pair it with a CV-equipped keyboard or sequencer for even more musical possibilities. Its compact form factor makes it a perfect fit for any setup, whether you're performing on stage or experimenting in your home studio. Limited in availability, the Driftbox R offers a unique chance to own a piece of analog innovation.
Key Features:
Updated version of the original Reon DriftBox
Two VCOs with a great-sounding filter and envelope generator
CV/gate I/O for semi-modular flexibility
Use standalone with onboard momentary button or integrate with other hardware
Compact desktop design for versatile use in different environments"
Here it is, we can hardly believe it but it's finally happened!
We found a STEELPHON MAGO - well, actually we found two - this was Italys first consumer synthesizer - in a sense that it was manufactured in a factory to be sold to consumers rather than invented at home by an enthusiast or sold as an oscillator assembly kit.
Made in Turin in the modest production run of about 50 way back in 1971, this is a small but extremely powerful monophonic single oscillator synth.
This unit is currently for sale - contact us for info and price via the website linked below.
Most of the technical specifications are featured in the video already as text - but a quick introduction and recap would go something like this:
This is the predecessor to the Steelphon S900 but a single oscillator monophonic synth with a bit different sound : organic, raw and expressive. The snappy envelopes in combination with the Moog ladder filter makes it an amazing sound effect maker but it as well produces great bass lines and delicate leads.
6 footages with individual Saw or Square Wave for each footage Moog ladder filter LFO section with filter or oscillator routing ADSR controls Glide
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/"
This one was spotted and sent in via Ivan Trajkovic aka deejayiwan. Note the video is from 11 years ago so not AI. Could be a render for a soft synth or other though. Could be DIY, but note the touch panel or screen. According to the YouTube comments "Picture is only for cover. Not sure which synth it is. Will try to find out." There was no follow-up that I could find after that aside from mention the album itself mainly features Arturia. You can find a list of hardware synths and some harware synth spotting in this previous post featuring Dreamland. If you know what that blue synth above is, feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of this post, or send email to matrixsynth at gmail.com and I'll update the post with anything definitive. BTW, you can find additonal Mystery Synths via the Mystery Synths label here. There have only been 23 including this one, to date, since 2005. Update: answer in the comments of this post below. That was quick.
Video in the listing previously posted here.
"If you know, you know. These almost never show up, and there’s next to no info online. It’s one of the hardest Hohner keyboards to track down.
This unit is in excellent condition, both technically and cosmetically. The real-wood casing is beautifully preserved with only light signs of use. Keys, switches, sliders—all exceptionally clean.
Everything functions perfectly.
All sound registers can be switched or blended freely Built-in vibrato + sustain Dedicated bass voice for the lowest octave (individually switchable) Individual volume controls for each section Key contacts are flawless—no dead notes or crackle Accompaniment System: The auto-accompaniment can run silently if you want only the bass sequencing. Changing rhythms reshapes the bass pattern, making for surprisingly interesting and musical sequences. The onboard memory hold lets you tap a bass key once and have it sustained automatically—works even without the rhythm section active.
Sound Output:
Built-in speaker underneath (clean, zero distortion) Line-out on the rear for external amps Pedal input (pedal not included) Dimensions: approx. 82cm W × 19cm H × 40cm D Weight: approx. 12.7kg
A seriously rare piece—clean, fully working, and ready for a new home."
"ARP Quadra synthesizer. Currently in parts and needs to be reassembled. Includes new illuminated sliders and touch sensor strip from Synth Chaser.
This is a project synth that I am just not getting around to rebuilding. Time to find a new home and give someone else a chance to bring this amazing vintage synthesizer back to life."
"'Synthesizing with Moog' invites you on an enlightening journey that answers a complex question: how exactly do synthesizers work?
In the seventh and final episode of Synthesizing with Moog, we zoom out from the discreet moment of the note and look at how the synthesizer creates patterns and musical phrases. The sequencer was initially created by Don Buchla as a rudimentary preset storage system, sending preset voltage values to various parameters of the synthesizer. When a square wave oscillator (or clock) signal is used to address the stages of the sequencer, melodies begin to emerge, bringing us back to the fluidity of time.
Written, hosted, filmed, and produced by our team of electronic musical instrument experts, this new seven-part educational video series makes learning the fundamentals of synthesis accessible, engaging, and inspiring for anyone curious about science, music, and how the two worlds converge. We set out to create a series that brings you as much technical knowledge as it does entertainment and joy as you watch each episode!
We invite you to follow along with us at home with a printable worksheet corresponding to the contents of each weekly episode. https://inmusic.to/bdhnff3m
Creator, writer, and host: Chris Miller
Director and editor: Paul Shaver
Producers: Max Ravitz and Chris Miller
Director of Photography: Paul Shaver
Music: Max Ravitz and Gunnar Haslam
Graphics and Animations: Ryan Ford
Special thanks to Ana Rome
Filmed on location at Schneidersladen Apotheke, Berlin"
WE'RE BACK!
We are thrilled to announce that Synthesizers.com is returning to full operation — under new management and with a renewed commitment to excellence in all things 5U/MU!
Thank you for your patience as we finished our big transition: relocating the company from Texas to our new home in the Boston area, rebuilding production lines, organizing inventory, and preparing to craft the same world-class instruments you’ve always known us for.
We’re reaffirming our dedication to founder Roger Arrick’s vision while entering a new era for Synthesizers.com. Our path forward is guided by three core commitments:
Commitment One
We will continue to hand-build the highest-quality modular synthesizer instruments here in the USA — crafted with care, precision, and in the spirit of the modular community that has supported us for decades, designed and built for musicians, artists, engineers, performers and hobbyists around the world.
Commitment Two
We will honor the legacy of our existing modules while exploring the boundaries of what’s next. A few legacy modules will retire, and in their place we will design and introduce an exciting new generation of analog and digital modules to expand the Synthesizers.com catalog.
Commitment Three
We will remain dedicated champions for the entire 5U/MU community. That means expanding options for 5U/MU cases, power systems, and accessories — and actively supporting the broader ecosystem of 5U makers, builders, and designers who continue to grow this format.
In the coming weeks, you’ll see updated inventories, new product announcements, and a stronger customer-service focus. Under the leadership of Dan Snazelle of SnazzyFX fame, our team is here for you — by phone, email, social channels, or on the ModWiggler Synthesizers.com forum.
Here are a few words from Dan about the Synthesizers.com journey.
"As someone who has spent the last 30 years involved with synthesizers I am extremely excited to be stepping into the role of leading Synthesizers.com. We have put together a great team so we can continue the tradition of making synthesizers by hand, while also working to bring new modules to our customers. I can't wait to meet people who own our systems and I am also going to be putting a lot of thought into bringing new musicians to large format synthesis"
Thank you for welcoming us back. We can’t wait to show you what’s coming.
Click the auction link on top when you get there for additional listings.
"One of very many items from Calum Hunter's superb home studio. Beautiful Cwejman S1 Mk2 semi-modular analogue synthesizer. Rare and sought-after, of course. This gorgeous near-mint cream / eggshell coloured version is serial number 291.
Thorough checking shows that the PWM range of one oscillator is much lower than the other, but otherwise everything seems exactly as it should be. Packing 12GBP to include a UK or Euro IEC mains lead."
"IT HAS JUST BEEN FULLY INSPECTED/SERVICED AND IS READY FOR A NEW HOME! 
MELVILLE, NY - KORG announces the phase8, an eight-voice acoustic synthesizer designed for musicians and creators who want sound that feels alive, immediate, and deeply responsive. Using Acoustic Synthesis technology developed at KORG, phase8 merges physically vibrating steel resonators with precise electronic control to deliver an instrument that behaves like an acoustic object while offering the creative flexibility of a synthesizer. It answers the need for a new kind of expressive electronic instrument by generating sound in the physical world, responding to touch and interaction, and integrating seamlessly into today’s creative setups through MIDI, USB-MIDI, Sync, and CV connectivity.
"I was sitting in my office at Seer Systems one day in 1997 or thereabouts when the phone on my desk rang. It was Dave Smith calling from his home. 'I’ve been talking to Tom Oberheim. He’s between jobs and wants to learn about software synths, so I asked him if he wanted to write the Reality operation manual. Can you get him set up and manage that?' I knew who Tom was, of course, but I had never met him, and now Dave was asking me to be his manager. I had no reason to believe that Tom was anything other than the warm, bright, and kind person that I now know he is, but the idea that I would be managing him made me deeply uncomfortable.
"Unleash your inner sonic architect with the Roland Reon Driftbox R, a compact yet mighty tabletop synthesizer that packs a punch. Originally designed to showcase the SBX-1 Sync Box, this synthesizer has evolved into a standout piece of DJ gear on its own. The Driftbox R is built around two versatile VCOs and boasts a remarkable filter, allowing you to craft everything from lush soundscapes to gritty bass lines. Its true strength lies in its semi-modular design, featuring CV/gate I/O that invites you to expand and explore.
"If you know, you know. These almost never show up, and there’s next to no info online. It’s one of the hardest Hohner keyboards to track down.
"One of very many items from Calum Hunter's superb home studio. Beautiful Cwejman S1 Mk2 semi-modular analogue synthesizer. Rare and sought-after, of course. This gorgeous near-mint cream / eggshell coloured version is serial number 291.
