MATRIXSYNTH

Kawai SX-210

via this auction

"General Description :
The Kawai SX-210 (also manufactured under the brand name of Teisco) is probably one of the most underrated analog synths ever. Being a true analog machine and holding a set of features which many other single oscillator synths are missing, it is still a mystery why such a great instrument like the SX-210 has never been through the popularity of other equivalent synths like the Juno 60/106 and Polysix for example. Still it is quite rare as not many have been made.

The Kawai/Teisco SX-210 is basically an 8 voice single DCO synth based on the SSM2044 filter chips. It is generally very stable (as you might expect from it, being a DCO synth). The overall sound is very warm, yet not as fat as either the Junos or the poly Korgs.

On the other hand, it does feature an envelope for its filters, which you won't find on "basic" synths like the Juno 60/106. And it sounds like nothing else actually. I was able to nail that VCS3 "Welcome to the Machine" leads quite easily !

The SX-210 is also one of the first to feature an alpha dial, but not like most alpha dial based synths, you won't find any cumbersome menus to hate to deal with ;)

Instead, there is a switch for every function, and a small indicator to present the value for the switch selected. This is a great approach to implement, as you are still able to check into every parameter of a particular preset and read its current value !

The SX-210 is also 8 voice polyphonic, and can be used at 8 single voice, 4 dual voice and 1 eight voice configurations, which means you can stack all 8 oscillators into a one fat lead sound or a mega power chord lead ! Can you do that with your Juno ?! ;)

The LFO can oscillate the DCO section, VCF and VCA, all at the same time ! (use a Polysix and you'll have to decide which of the section you'd like to modulateן¿½ no simultaneous LFO action !) It is quite versatile and features a Reverse mode and 3 different waveforms plus a Trigger, as well as an LFO Delay and a Bender. Quite impressive for a single DCO synth, huh ?!

The single DCO section can do PW, PWM, SAW and Sub, and noise as well (non for the Polysixן¿½) The SX-210 also has a built in stereo Ensemble effect which is very rich sounding and will "widen up" just about any pad or a string preset very nicely, but I must admit it is not as warm as our well known Polysix Ensemble effect, and generally, far from being versatile as the Chorus/Phaser/Ensample Polysix section. The instrument could do wonders has it had the Polysix effect board ;)

Using the VCF modulation section (KCV / LFO / EG) it is possible to create some really interesting sounds. My SX-210 had two bad 4066 chips at the same place on two different voices, making the EG section going bad, only a few months separating between each incident. So this is where you should first look at when you're starting to experience strange EG behavior !"

Note: see this post for a rare one with extra buttons under the keys.

Kawai K5000s

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"The K5000 was Kawai's top of the line music workstation digital synthesizer when it was released back in 1996. It's a bold and elegantly designed synth with a large LCD display, realtime controls and incredible sounds! The look and functionality is rivals the competition from the time...the Korg Trinity and Kurzweil K2500.
Programming sounds with the K5000 can be a breeze (once you learn how) although it has over 1,000 parameters per patch! That's plenty to play with. It combines additive synthesis and PCM sampled waveforms for you to layer and combine to design a whole range of sounds. Plenty of LFO modulation, filters and envelope controls allow you to shape and morph your sounds further. On-board multi-effects add the final touch of life to your sounds.
Once you've created some sounds, there's the on-board sequencer (K5000W only) for creating songs or loading Standard Midi File sequences (via disk-drive). It has a 40,000 note capacity and 40 tracks. Real-time record and step-edit modes are available and the sequencer is pretty straight forward.
The K5000S (this auction item) adds 12 dedicated knobs for hands-on control of filter, LFO and envelope parameters. There are 4 user-definable knobs and 2 assignable switches. The K5000S also has a 40-pattern arpeggiator on-board with 8 user-definable patterns too!

Features
# Polyphony - 32 voices
# Oscillators - Digital Additive Synthesis plus PCM samples; Harmonics: 64 per source; Waveforms: 689 (123 synth, 341 GM, 225 drums)
# Effects - 4 effects algorithms with 32 different effects
# Filter - 128-band formant filter, 24dB/oct low-pass and high-pass
# LFO - 2 (one for formant filter, one can be freely routed to other destinations)
# VCA - 1 ASDR per part, with key scale and velocity
# Sequencer/Arpeg - Sequencer: 40 tracks, 40,000 note capacity
# Arpeggiator: 40 patterns, 8 user
# Keyboard - 61 Keys with velocity and aftertouch
# Memory - 200 patches, 64 performances"

KORG M500 micro-preset

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"M500 is a single oscillator preset monophonic analog synthesizer with some basic sound editing parameters including the famous Korg Traveler Filter. The circuitry includes two of the same filter chips as used in the Korg MS series (MS-10, MS-20, etc) so it sounds quite good."

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Electro Harmonix Electronic Crash Drum

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"Knobs for Sweep Start, Sweep Stop, Sweep Time, Decay Time & Resonance. Back has On/Switch with Power light, External Trigger Input, Aux In, Output and Sens Hi Switch"

KORG ES-50 LAMBDA

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"This is an excellent sounding 3 oscillator string, brass, piano and organ synth. Each of the two oscillators can be de-tuned against the master osc for a very rich sound. In addition, vibrato, tremolo and chorus can be added and in stereo it sounds really nice. It is surprisingly good sounding and versatile, yet under-rated keyboard."

Wexler ROCKMATE Vintage Analog Drum Synthesizer

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"It is a "Rockmate", distributed by David Wexler & Co. of Chicago, IL, and manufactured in Japan... There is a central knob for selecting pitch (A, B, C, D, E or F), a tempo control to the left, and a SW-VOL knob to the right. At far right, there's a START/STOP button and a "SOLO" button. Apparently the latter has three settings, it shows quarter notes, eighth notes and sixteenth notes. On top, there are two inputs (START-STOP and SOLO) and one audio output (AMP-SW), all are 1/4" standard jack. There's also a port for an AC adapter; however it appears to run on a 9-volt battery as well... Measures 7.5" x 7.5", by 1-1/4" deep (excluding the rubber feet), it is housed in a bright red enameled-steel case and is quite heavy for its size. The face is gold-toned brushed aluminum." Anyone know more about this one? BTW, click on the multi-shot for a larger image.

Update via the world of next tuesday in the comments: "Never saw a Wexler before. It's a rebadged Keio Donca Matic Rock Mate, which I think is fair to say is the first portable drum machine, 1966. Keio Guutsu Kenkyujo became Korg based on Keio Organs later. I've seen a West German(?) rebadged version called a Checkmate too. Oddly the Europeans re-oriented the unit 90 degrees from the Keio and the similar Wexler. So the knobs are on the right rather than top, but is the same hardware as far as I can tell."

Minimoog with Big Briar MIDI and Separate Keyboard

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"Description: This early 1970s, vintage synth is rather unique, in that it has been outfitted w/ a MIDI interface, at the Moog factory and under the direct supervision of Bob Moog only a few years ago. At the same time, the latest, rock-stable oscillator cards were installed and the instrument is in PERFECT working condition. None of the keys stick, and all of the pots and switches work as well as the day I bought it. I am the original and sole owner. The keyboard was split from the body, again at the Moog factory circa 1974 and under the supervision of Bob Moog. Because the instrument was only a year or two off the production line at that point, and the factory was still creating these instruments for market, the wooden framing that the factory carpenters custom made after the split "surgery" was complete match the rest of the body just perfectly. The two halves are connected by a twenty foot, pliable snake, with “Jones Plug” connectors on each end. Unusual, now, but these were relatively common connectors of that period – and they work perfectly. Why the split? In the mid 70s, I heard and saw The Mahavishnu Orchestra perform on many occasions, and the keyboard player, Jan Hammer, wore a split Mini Moog keyboard around his neck and played it in guitar-like fashion. A “first” at the time, and I had to have it done, by the same technicians, at the same factory, and under Bob Moog’s personal supervision. The lugs for a guitar strap remain on the keyboard box to this day.

I had the pleasure of both meeting and performing for Bob on multiple occasions, as I had been asked to join the Moog touring electronic music ensemble in the mid 70s by the then Moog V.P. of Marketing, Herb Deutsch. He is the man who co-invented the instrument in the summer of 1964 with Bob, and who was/is, an excellent snyth player as well.

The ensemble performed periodically for the next couple of years, so as a “road instrument,” it sustained multiple “car-door dings” if you will, but all of these were finished-over by a professional paint/stain restoration artist, and are now nearly imperceptible."