DK Synergy II+ Synthesizer with Kaypro II PC SN 01272

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"The listing is for a Digital Keyboards Synergy II+ synthesizer with Kaypro II PC in great condition! One of the first premium digital synthesizers manufactured in the US , The synth is based on Dr. Hal Alles from Bell Labs synthesizer architecture.This model is the programmable version and has the solid wood casing which only came out with the very early serial numbers. The wood was replaced by tolex to reduce cost in following years. Approx 700 total Synergy units were made of which about 300 were said to be the upgraded programmable version.It is estimated that only 100 or so units are still operational today of which about 20% are the higher end wooden case version. When the Synergy II + hit the market in the early 80s, they were going for upwards of $10K for the wooden programmable version with Kaypro PC. The DX7 came out with their FM synthesis in 83 for $2500 and changed the entire synth industry. After that DK was dumping their units for under $7K with Kaypro and eventually went under in 1985. I payed $5,450 (including shipping) for this unit 8 months ago so for a 30 year old rare synth , it is still holding it's value.

The Synergy II+ 's Kaypro II PC is in great shape as well with two functional drives and the 1980s style green light screen resolution is still very prominent. You can find Kaypro PCs for sale on eBay should you ever need a back up. The sale includes everything you see in the photos- Synergy synth, Kaypro PC and keyboard, null modem cable to RS232 port ,original operational manual for the synth( not a copy), instructions for understanding the Kaypro and the complete Synergy library.The library includes close to 500 patches. It includes the L1-L13 FDs, VCART1-VCART6 FDs and Wendy Carlos Library( WENDY 1-WENDY3 FDs). All library, diagnostic, software systems and boot disks have been backed up with multiple copies, anywhere between 4-6 sets of each. The sale also includes a 2 hour video made by the original owner who purchased this synth as a floor model in 1983. The video on DVD is well thought out as well as his written start up instructions to get a new owner going. You definitely want to review the video and documents to understand the nuances using the synth and PC software . Included are the original documents listing the names and categories of the library disks and patches/voices in alphabetical order and by instrument or sound type. Other documents include synth schematics, pin schematics if you want to make your own null modem cables and addendum released by DK.

This synthesizer is definitely not for the touring musician or quick knob turning gratification player. This synth is typically purchased as a collectors piece or a programmers synth who enjoys sound sculpting for personal pleasure or studio recording. This synth has unique architecture and very sophisticated envelope control . What makes the Synergy II+ unique even to this day is that you voice each oscillator twice for both frequency and amplitude and you have 16 different envelope points for each envelope. So you get to control how each voice changes in response to velocity. For example, you might choose to have a phase modulated envelope that rises very sharply at low velocities and dies off fast, but at high velocity(loud notes) it rises less sharply and dies off much more slowly. Or you could do the opposite with the carrier envelope scheme which means the loudness envelope of the timbre operates normally with a sharper attack the harder you press the key but a shorter decay at louder amplitudes. Since you can define two 16 point frequency envelopes for each oscillator and you are dealing with phase modulation, you can have sound going from strictly harmonic overtones to inharmonic partials and back again over time or set it up to go inharmonic to harmonic and back again. And this effect is with just two oscillators. Typical Synergy II+ patches use 3-6 oscillators so you can also detune them to get chorus effects. Another reason to set up multiple chains of oscillators for a patch is to have different sets of overtones moving in and out of harmony against one another which gives you very complex timbral effects like you would get with real instruments. Another reason to use multiple oscillators is so you can combine additive synthesis with phase modulation to create some very realistic percussive sounds like bells or chimes using subharmonics of the fundamental of a note to create that low hum that is not harmonically related to the timbre ,but present in real percussive instruments.There is a reason that Wendy Carlos still has two Synergy GDS units among her gear of only 5 remaining keyboards.

For those not familiar with the Synergy, there is a good website if you Google DIgital Keyboards Synergy Preservation Page.Also there are several YouTube videos on this unit. However, here are the basics:

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Roland Juno-106 SN 472814 with Custom Wood Sides

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abertronix (RSS)

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PPG Wave 2.2

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"PPG Wave 2.2 vintage synth in absolutely incredible condition plus original custom built flight case. Only 300 of these German built beasts were made in 1982/83 and this example has to be one of the best around. Fully serviced and tested prior to sale plus new battery fitted, the PPG 2.2 will come with original flight case and cassette lead (terminating in a 3.5mm standard jack plug so you can use any mp3 player)...."

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Clavia Nord Micro Modular Silver

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Clavia Nord Micro Modular stripped of it's red paint.  Almost looks like a MAM box meets Doepfer.

Sequential Circuits Model 64 Sequencer SN 0289

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"Still in original box WITH owner's manual! Requires a commodore 64 for operation. This was one of the world's first MIDI sequencers and from the same company that brought us the Prophet 5 keyboard! Add it to your collection or display it in your recording studio! This is MIDI history that you can own! Look what they did with it at the NAMM show! go to engadget.com and look for MIDI spans 30 years at NAMM with Commodore 64 and Animoog..."

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Moog Minimoog Model D Replacement Faceplate & Badges

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Perfect Circuit Audio (RSS)

"A replacement face panel and badge set for a vintage Minimoog Model D. Increase the value of your synth for resale or just make her sparkle again for your personal enjoyment!"

Roland System 100M - Sequencer 182 SN 060692

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"Up for sale is a (1) vintage and rare Roland System 182 sequencer, part of the big system 100M. It's in very good condition (except some minor scratches, see photo's) and comes with its 8-pin DIN cable to connect is with a cabinet. It's working perfectly! The serial number is: 060692..."

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Little deFormer and TB-303

Published on Jun 13, 2013 gotharman·48 videos

"Just had to deForm a TB303 a little :)
The 303 is modded with CV/gate and filter CV inputs. It is controlled by Little deFormers sequencer through the AnaX.
Drums, reverb and distortion: Little deFormer.
www.gotharman.dk"

Gotharman on eBay

A Patch A Day, No. 36

Published on Jun 13, 2013 Hamilton Ulmer·37 videos

"Ever inching toward combining basic harmony and fairly basic rhythms to produce dance-like music. Still not there with 6U x 84HP.

I wanted to attempt another fun experiment with combining a ramp with the Graphic Sequencer, which is what I got here. The Graphic Sequencer goes out to Maths, which sends its SUM (mixed with one of the cycling channels) to the Tame Machine. That signal is what's going into both VCO A and VCO B's 1V/Oct. I also have the /16 of the Clock Divider (clocked by Wogglebug) going out to an attenuated EXPO of one of the two VCOs. I output both a saw and a square from A and B to the Mixer.

The percussion is pretty standard. I have a kick made from a sine from the Dixie, and the RING OUT of the Wogglebug. Both of those are going into the Dual Index, with clock divisions opening and closing the VCA. One thing I noticed is that I tend not to output the OR 1+2 and the OR 3+4, which seems like a clear why to get more interesting rhythms. So this way I can actually attenuate the contributions of ENV2 and ENV3 and get slightly less basic rhythms. I should be doing this a lot more.

The mixer output goes right into the MMG, for delightful crunchy goodness."

Mutable Fun

Mutable fun from Equinoxoz music solutions on Vimeo.

"Just a bit of fun messing about with some of the Mutable Instruments modules, needed to unwind, this patch helped :)

Love those vocal sounds."


Grids overview with TTA Drums from Equinoxoz music solutions on Vimeo.

"This is an overview of the upcoming Mutable Instruments Grids module, a topographic drum sequencer.

Its operation is different to traditional drum machine style programming which often sets all steps out in front of you in rows that you can select and deselect.

Grids uses a different concept where by there is an algorithm that sets the various output patterns and you have options for CVable fills etc.

This makes for entirely different beat patterns and often I found quite a bit more complex than ones I could manually program, moreover it provides this in an intuitive and FUN way which is not to be underestimated.

the module has a tap tempo or can be synced to an external clock, the real fun with this would be combining it with other clocking modules to generate extremely complex arrangements.

Another killer module."