Oberheim Xpander

Title link takes you to shots via this auction.

Seiko DS-250

via this auction

"Very rare synthesizer made by Seiko in 1985. This is a very, very rare synthesizer and don't let the Casio like toy exterior fool you it is capable of making both digital and additive sounds not to mention it was used by famous French synth musician Jean-Michel Jarre on the album Rendez-vous.

This synthesizer is early digital and additive together. It can make PPG like clear sounds with a bit of grit as well as Juno like pads. Yes you read it, its capable of making some nice analog style pads. It has basic editing features on the front panel of the synth.

Now heres what makes this already synth even rarer. It has a SRC-10 voice expander cartridge installed for additional patches. I cannot find anything on the net pertaining to this upgrade. It is a Seiko upgrade as you can see in the picture but nothing is available about it. I can say it is does add additional patches.

The DS-250 has stereo outputs, midi in,out and thru, RCA outputs(stereo), phones and level controls for both channels, You can split the synthesizer for two tones at once making it bi-timbral. Quite alot for a rare synthesizer from 1985."

If you know more about this one, feel free to comment.

Update via Dave in the comments: "I had one of these for a few months... it was suprisingly not 100% horrible. Even came with an external sequencer. Here's my little page on it, with a sound sample."

Update via the comments: "I see a lot of scammers on Ebay trying to sell Seiko 250's, claiming that the power cord has been "lost" like it isn't a big deal.

1-First of all, this keyboard needs a power supply, not just a "power cord".
2-Without the power supply, the keyboard is useless. Why? because the power supply is impossible to find. The power supply has a dual voltage design and the connector is non-standard, which means if you buy a unit without a power supply, you are going to have to pay someone to design and make one from scratch. This is not hard if you know what you are doing, but if you were to pay someone to do it, expect to pay at least a couple of hundred bucks or more.. which is more money than what the keyboard is worth."

Wavemakers Site Updated

via John Loffink on AH:

"Some more Wavemakers Modular Systems photos, and photo of a Table Top 658 Digital Sequencer after clean up and repairs.

Start here

And here

John Loffink
The Microtonal Synthesis Web Site
The Wavemakers Synthesizer Web Site"

Tenori-On Video Overview PT1

Title link takes you to the overview on Sonic State. This is a good one, so don't miss it. via Sonic State in the comments of this post. I captured this shot to show how the surface actually consists of physical "buttons." Part of the appeal (or not) is that it does have this tactile interface rather than a flat screen with leds.

Eminent 310 Unique in Jean Michel Jarre songs

YouTube via RadekTymecki. If you know more about this synth organ, please comment.

Update via hugo in the comments:
"Here there are some resources:
http://www.perkristian.net/Eminent_310_Unique.htm
http://www.xs4all.nl/~jschurer/eminent/index.html
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/may07/articles/eminent310.htm
http://www.jarrography.free.fr/details_equipement_audio.php?id_equip=9

As a teaser:) I'm working (it's been 4 months now!) on an Eminent 310 emulation in NI Reaktor 5 with the help of Radek himself. No samples yet because I don't have a website (what a shame!)

But be sure to check NI Reaktor user's library for it. I did a ARP Solina emulation and this is sort the same league. I hope to finish it by the end of the year :-)"

Jean Michel Jarre - AKS demonstration

YouTube via Kekerz. Note this would be the Synthi A minus the KS (keyboard sequencer) that would be in the other half of the case of the Synthi AKS. skkatter caught this in the comments.

jean michel jarre digisequencer

YouTube via sergecoda.
via Patrick in the comments of this post.
Update: there's a funny moment at about 3 minute left in the video where JMJ realizes he needs to turn the keyboard on. He plays with the EMS Synthi and Putney towards the end of the video as well as with the Rolan dDJ70 which actually featured a scratch wheel.

Navs Vintage Classifieds Take 2

In case you missed it, title link takes you to the original post. I just updated it with the correct link. These vintage ads are an amazing look back at what vintage analog was being dumped for when digital was all the craze.

TENORI-ON Launch Shots and Vids

Title link takes you to the set.


Tenori-On solo performance by its inventor Toshio Iwai
YouTube via garykibler

Also check out CDM and Music Thing for more.

Update via the comments:
"We have some more footage from an interview we shot with Yu Nishibori (producer for the project) Here." Don't miss this on. I also put up a new post so you don't miss this here.

More Bluesynths 2007 Shots on Sequencer.de

Title link takes you there. Be sure to track back to the root of sequencer.de for more.

Yamaha DX-1