Farfisa Syntorchestra (1975) - famoused used by Klaus Schulze, Manuel Göttsching & Vangelis

video upload by 3L3C7RON1C MU51C

"Effects from the Roland RSP-550 (1990)"

FARFISA SYNTORCHESTRA - Handmade Miniature 1/6 scale.

video upload by Ronaldo Lopes Teixeira ROLT

FARFISA SYNTORCHESTRA vintage analog mono & poly brass and string synth

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

via this listing

Demo video previously posted here.

"A classic 70s kraut rock instrument, the very unique sounding Syntorchestra is a truly inspiring keyboard, with its polyphonic and monophonic sections.

This particular unit was serviced and most of the electrolytic caps were replaced, as well as cleaned and calibrated. It plays and sounds as it should, just check the video for a comprehensive demo and tips about this instrument.

Cosmetic is overall good, with some signs of wear here and there, mostly on the side cheeks, see pictures. Considering its age and build quality it still looks nice."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Elka Twin 61 + Alesis Quadraverb

video upload by melodikakofoniko

"The Elka Twin 61 is a rare Italian string/organ/bass keyboard, built in the early 1980s. Fully polyphonic strings, organ, and other sounds, with monophonic bass section. It has 2 separate sections (A and B) with identical features. The sections can be combined and mixed together to create a huge wall of sound. It sounds super lush and early 80s – unlike typical 70s string machines. It has a great CEM3320 based phaser built in.

In this video both A and B sections are used – Organ for the part A and full strings for part B."

Elka Twin 61 (1981) + Farfisa Syntorchestra (1975) Quick demo

video upload by melodikakofoniko

"Lovely Italian vintage synthesizers.

FX used: Alesis Quadraverb plate 2"

Farfisa Syntorchestra Demo With an EMT 252 and Lexicon 200

video upload by foleytronics fx repair

"Here is a Farfisa Syntorchestra from the early 70s; this synth is a classic Italian string machine with some really nice sounding presets - my favorite is piccolo. We ran it with Murray’s Lexicon 200 and Brett’s EMT 252, both of which are some of the finest digital reverbs the 80s had to offer."

Farfisa Syntorchestra demo and tech tips

video upload by ohm_studi_ohm

"i've serviced several Syntorchestra and I found out that because of the age, build quality and design limitation of the synth, owners can sometimes wonder if their unit is working and sounding how it should.
So here you have an example of a properly working unit, with its strength and weakness. These instrument are quite unique. Before I laid my hands on one I was not really convinced by the demos I heard. Sure is sounded nice but nothing to rave about. But I must admit that when you have the chance to play with one you get quite quickly drowned in its sound. There is something very unique about that instrument, nothing I can really compare it too. Especially when you play both sections together, something magical happens.
First part of the video is a quick performance using a Welson S12 drum machine and Vermona VRS23 for reverb. Second part is recorded dry from the synth with no production. I go over every sound and parameter of the synth in that section so you can compare to your unit.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Trans Formanta Express

video upload by Carambolage

"This is a take on Kraftwerk's =TEE= using the Soviet monster drum module Formanta UDS (for all percussion and fx). All other sounds were made with - Farfisa Syntorchestra - Roland VP-550 - Behringer VC-340 - Roland SH-101"

SAX or SUX? Farfisa Syntorchestra 4: Saxophone Preset

video upload by Reuben Jones

"Tell Farfisa in the comments if you think the saxophone preset on their Syntochestra 4 sounds like a sax, or if it sux! Bear in mind it's an analogue design from 1975-80!

This is a solo in an upcoming track.

Novation Supernova: chords and bass
Mario Maggi Synthex: background textures
Roland CR78 (VST): drums/perc

#synthsolo #vintagesynthesizer #electronicmusic #acidjazz #farfisasyntorchestra #synthex #novation"

Farfisa Syntorchestra first contact

video upload by Faustola

"This Syntorchestra was in really bad condition, but luckily it could be revived. It still needs some work, but I´m already loving the sound (As a huge krautrock fan, I really can´t help it) The polysection oscillator was completely dead, luckily I found a working substitute here: http://www.flatkeys.co.uk/

Also a huge shout-out to Verde for helping me in repairs: https://www.verdeaudio.com/"

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.

Farfisa 111221 Stereo Syntorchestra SN 6395 / 453

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

via this auction

"Here is a rare and incredible machine. The Farfisa Syntorchestra is a polysynth and a mono synth in one. Check out the video. These things go where no others do. The tone is holy analog wholeness, that warm organic purity often spoken of but never landed anywhere near in today's mass lies. This is the best of those raw strange Farfisa organs that go right through the subconscious-- but add to that an epic super expressible mono voice. Check out the video. [previously posted here

This was just looked over by my super synth tech-- Chris at Electronic Innovations. It needed the vibrato button to the poly section put right. It was put right plus the power supply section worked for health and longevity.

This supremely rare legend is ready to make you the same."

CLICK FOR MORE »

V.A.I. 37 : Farfisa Syntorchestra / Vermona ER9

video upload by Vintage Audio Institute Italia

VAI 20 : Elka Wilgamat / Farfisa Syntorchestra 4

video upload by Vintage Audio Institute Italia

"A quick video we threw together some time ago, the Elka Wilgamat is a Drum machine, bass and chord generator from 1976 or so, originally part of the Elka X705 organ. We got this machine modded with separate outputs, sending the bass to the Maestro Sound System for woodwinds, a great 1960s filter/octave/fuzz effect, that stopped working during the making of this video.
The Syntorchestra 4 is of course the younger sibling of the Syntorchestra - a rather simple mono synth and divide down string / brass keyboard - it shares the controls of the older one, but sounds less characteristic.
We still really like it tho, the presets are great with some external boost."

VAI 35 : Wersimatic II / Farfisa Syntorchestra

video upload by Vintage Audio Institute Italia

"Another take with the Wersimatic II, the younger sister / brother of the Wersimatic 24 auto accompaniment machine. The sounds and controls are across the board identical as far as we can tell.

It was never made as a standalone unit but part of a large, double manual organ called Wersi Helios in the mid 70s.

This particular one has been transplanted from an organ into a smaller box with a twelve buttons acting as chord control instead of the bottom keys of the organ.

Special thanks to Organfairy for the rare schematics : dude you f-ing rock

The Wersimatic II has sections on board:
Bass
Drum machine
Various chord sounds

Melody played on the Farfisa Syntorchestra String machine and Mono synth."

VAI 36 : Wersimatic II / Farfisa Syntorchestra

video upload by Vintage Audio Institute Italia

"Another take with the Wersimatic II, the younger sister / brother of the Wersimatic 24 auto accompaniment machine.
It was never made as a standalone unit but part of a large, double manual organ manufactured in Germany by Wersi in the mid 70s.
This particular one has been transplanted from an organ into a smaller box with a twelve buttons acting as chord control instead of the bottom keys of the organ.
The sounds are across the board identical to the Wersimatic 24 machines as far as we can tell."

VAI 34 Wersimatic II / Farfisa Syntorchestra

video upload by Vintage Audio Institute Italia

"Analog auto-accompaniment machine produced by the German organ manufacturer Wersi sometime in the mid-70s. Originally part of a big, dual manual organ called Helios, this auto-comp section was probably removed from the organ and squeezed into a Teak cabinet, crammed with circuit boards, all beautifully snug inside - a very good job by whoever built it.

You control the harmony and key with the black 12 buttons on the front replacing the one octave that was probably at the bottom 12 keys of the organ.

The Wersimatic II has sections on board: Bass
Drum machine
Various chord sounds

Melody played on the Farfisa Syntorchestra String machine and Mono synth.

Big thanks to Organfairy who helped us find the right schematics to repair it.

Vintage Audio Institute Italia is a gear vendor and recording studio in the hills of Florence."

You can find additional posts featuring the Wersimatic II here, and additional Vintage Audio Institute Italia posts here.

Farfisa Syntorchestra (Vintage Synthesizer From 70s)

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
video upload by Vintage Echo Room

"Forgive my way of playing...really i don't have any technique! The video was made quickly just to demonstrate the functionality of the Syntorchestra. Until about minute 5 the sound is taken directly from the amplifier (through a d.i.), then I tried some external effects."

via this auction

"Overhauled in 2020: all old electrolytic and tantalum (more than 100 in total) capacitors have been replaced. Only the output impedance selector (on the back of the instrument) doesn't work so it has been bypassed by opting for a common use impedance."

CLICK FOR MORE »

FARFISA syntorchestra 4 demo

video by Vykaar Tones

"Demo of the sounds available from the very rare Farfisa syntorchestra 4.
The output volume is quite low and the gain was turned up on my Mackie mixer, flat EQ and no FX. The output is mono but there is the option to have the mono synth out of one jack and the poly sounds out of another."

VAI 18 :Solina String Synthesizer

video by Vintage Audio Institute Italia

"One take just playing some chords on the Solina String Synthesizer - no over dubs.
Binson Echorec 2 is the effect source.

It looks like an inflated Solina String Ensemble.
Story goes that American ARP sent a bunch of keyboard-less monophonic ARP Explorers to Eminent in Holland in the mid 70's.
Eminent incorporated most of these synths in to a huge double manual living room-furniture organ that also included the Solina String Ensemble.
A small batch of ARP Explorers were left over and Eminent decided to make a limited, "lightweight" edition : A Solina String Ensemble combined with the ARP Explorer synthesizer.
Both fairly limited instruments on their own, the combination of a mono-synth and string machine make them become more than the sum of their parts.

Here in Italy there were many similar combos and the earliest one, The Farfisa Syntorchestra was released the same year, 1975.
Which one came first? We don't know, please use the comment section if you know the answer.

The possibility of routing the String Ensemble section into the ARP Explorer filter section is a great tool, the filter of the Explorer is great, adding the mono section vibrato to the string section as well.

There are some bewildering flaws with the Solina String Synthesizer, which makes us think that the production schedule was rather tight when these were made:
The ARP Explorer Section seems to emit a ticking noise in certain filter modes (we've confirmed this with other owners of this instrument)
There are no separate outputs for the String and Mono section (WHY?!)
The mono synth always engages the highest note when you play a chord, whereas on many of the Italian counterparts you can 'prioritise': choose if the Mono section will engage the highest or the lowest note in a chord."

VAI 24 : Farfisa Syntorchestra 4 / EKO Rhythmaker

video by Vintage Audio Institute Italia

"Another sad space ballad - this time performed on the poly/mono machine Farfisa Syntorchestra 4 (what happened to 2 and 3?!) and analog drum machine Eko Rhythmaker - simple but lovely machines - both extremely Italian :)

Vintage Audio Institute is a studio and vintage gear shop, we make these videos just for fun in between tasks, we're not professional keyboard players so please have patience with the sloppy finger work."