Rare birds: Elka Wilgamat 1 / analog drum machine and accompaniment unit

video upload by ohm_studi_ohm

"Here is another "one man band" from the 70s I just serviced. Many dead CMOS chipsets, lots of bad connections on the motherboard daughterboards sockets (broken pins, bad solder joint) and a dying voltage regulator, among other things. Custom built keyboard to trigger the accompaniment unit, with jack socket input for pedal that introduce drum breaks. A different flavor than the Welson Ritmo I recently demoed but definitely in the same mood.
Recorded through a Teisco 120 to add some reverb."

This appears to be the first post to feature the Elka Wilgamat 1. Note the "1" on the right. The Elka Wilgamat minus the "1" has been featured on the site before in previous posts here. Which came first? :) You can find additional Elka Wilgamat models here.

Update: according to Ohm Studio: "Electronics are exactly the same. I think this one is later and was an add for some Elka organ, maybe Concorde or something. The black color is I think factory since it’s all over the case even inside. It’s clearly the same fake wood as the original but painted black, probably to better match the organ aesthetics. I definitely remember seeing auctions with Elka organ and this wilgamat unit bundle. Also the complete wilgamat electronics and controls are fitted in some Elka organ, spinet and combo. Don’t remember which model but I did scavenged à spinet one to retrieve all the pcbs."

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VAI 52 : Elka Wilgamat III

video by Vintage Audio Institute Italia

"The Elka Wilgamat III is an analog auto-accompaniment machine from 1982 It has four sections:
An analog Drum machine
A Bass sections
A piano / brass chord section
And an arpeggiator

Apart from the auto rhythm to each section, you can play the bass and piano/brass sounds just like a synth, no modulation capabilities."

VAI 53 : Elka Wilgamat III

"This is a 4 section analog auto- comp machine manufactured in Italy.

It was originally incorporated into organs but some stand-alone units we're made as well.

There's a predecessor was released in 1976 - the Elka Wilgamat - that has a quite similar layout and analog sound (if you'd like to know what sounds that one makes please search our channel for some videos we made previously) Elka, to our knowledge at least, never released a Wilgamat 2.

The machine might not have the coolest individual sounds or rhythm-patterns, but summing up its different parts it can be a pretty fun machine to play and a great tool for us non-keyboardists to get started on new tracks."

The ELKA Wilgamat 3

video by Vintage Audio Institute Italia

"Introducing the Elka Wilgamat 3

Probably from 1982 - if anyone has the exact production year - please get in touch :)

This is a 4 section analog auto- comp machine manufactured in Italy.
It was originally incorporated into organs but some stand-alone units we're made as well.
There's a predecessor was released in 1976 - the Elka Wilgamat - that has a quite similar layout and analog sound (if you'd like to know what sounds that one makes please search our channel for some videos we made previously)
Elka, to our knowledge at least, never released a Wilgamat 2.
The machine might not have the coolest individual sounds or rhythm-patterns, but summing up its different parts it can be a pretty fun machine to play and a great tool for us non-keyboardists to get started on new tracks.
It does not engage at all without the 2-octave keyboard, a compatible organ or foot pedal hooked up to it.
There are no MIDI or sync capabilities - although there is a "Clock Out" on the back - we're unsure if it actually works.
These have been known to be modified in a few different ways :
they have been MIDI-fied and clock synced - if you're interested in that please search the web."

Also see Two Modified Elka Wilgamat IIIs

Elka Wilgamat - Analog Auto-Comp Machine 1976

Published on Mar 14, 2019 Italian Vintage Stuff!

"Great sounding analog drum machine and auto comp unit.
It features three chord voices and two bass voices plus a range of great 70s Roland sounding drum sounds with a fill-in option that I of course forgot to use on this video.
The auto accompaniment section is a two octave bass and chord synth that can be controlled by either an external two-octave keyboard, an Elka organ or foot pedal via a 31-pin cable.
The bass and chord patterns change depending on the rhythm, Salsa, Rock, Bossa Nova...
In total 16 different rhythm presets with fill option, two bass patterns (auto and walking bass), two bass sounds, with a bass sustain option.
The accompaniment consists of three sounds that of course sounds nothing like what they're named after: Piano, Guitar and Brass.
There are individual volumes for the three sections, plus an overall master volume.
This one was modded with separate outputs.
These standalone units are rare, they were incorporated into the Elka X 705 Space Organ, apparently used by Jean Michel Jarre to make the Oxygen record."

Elka Wilgamat - Jamming with Envelope Filter and Space Echo

Published on Mar 14, 2019 Italian Vintage Stuff!

"Ella Wilgamat is an analog Drum/bass/chord machine from the 70s, originally part of the massive "Space Organ" 705X, used by Jean Michel Jarre on Oxygen.
This is just a quick jam with the Digitech Synth Wah-guitar pedal and some spring reverb and echo via the Roland Re-301."

You can find a few models of the Elka Wilgamat in the archives.

Elka Wilgamat, Oberheim DX and Powertran Transcendent 2000 in sync

video upload by ohm_studi_ohm

"Since I just finished adding DIN SYNC24 to my Elka Wilgamat I decided to hook it to the Arturia Keystep pro and further added an Oberheim DX and a Powertran Transcendent 2000 to the game.
Playing with the Wilgamat accompaniment part brought a known melody to my memory so temptation was high to follow this path...

The Transcendent can be seen in another video i made earlier this month. It was modded to add a sub oscillator and also to correct the peculiar CV/Gate it originally used in order to use it in a standard CV/gate environnment. It's now working fine when controlled externally as you can hear.

If you want to add sync to the Wilgamat there are 2 issues you need to adress:
- the unit needs 4ppq so unless you have a device capable of providing such a clock frequency you need to convert the more conventional 24ppq to 4ppq.
It's actually very easy to do by using a single 4018 chipset, which can divide by 6 the incoming frequency
- second issue is that the clock on the WIlgamat ask for negative pulses so you need to convert the positive pulses to negative ones. I used a single op amp to do that (TL071)"

ELKA WILGAMAT III

images via this auction
"RARE ELKA WILGAMAT III SYNTH ORGAN DRUM MACHINE"

Update via Chris Jenkins in the comments:
"I have one of these; it seems to be in working order, but you need an Elka organ with a compatible KEYBOARDS output socket to make the Wilgamat play. Mike Walters came up with an ingenious solution; he built his Wilgamat III into a cabinet with its own keyboard. See [link]"

V.A.I. 55 Elka Wilgamat / Multivox MX-3000

video upload by Vintage Audio Institute Italia

"Another spin with these twooddbalss: The Elka Wilgamat and Multivox MX-3000.
The Elka Wilgamat is probably a bit familiar to our viewers by now - an Italian auto-accompaniment machine with three sections:

1. Analog drum machine section
2. Bass section with 2 sounds and variations
3. Chord section with 3 sounds

Harmonically controlled by a two-octave keyboard with a fill-in bar on top, it has a great warm sound that's unmistakably mid-1970s to our ears, the drum machine alone sounds great.

The Multivox MX-3000 is a pretty rare Japanese string machine and monophonic synth combo.
A bit similar to the Farfisa Soundmaker or maybe Solina String Synthesizer (the BIG one - not the regular String Ensemble) or the Crumar Composer but with a more complex polyphonic - or rather Divide Down - section.
Lots bells and whistles here.

It basically has three separate sections:

1. A bass synth section with multiple preset sounds and attack, decay and tone controls.

2. A polyphonic section with preset sounds that are modifiable in quite a few ways with a very nice and aggressive filter section, attack/decay, two different choruses, two glide modes and more.

3. Single Oscillator monophonic section. No presets but a few different wave forms, a very nice filter, portamento and the usual mono stuff for great leads, basses and even some space effects.

The Polyphonic filter and choruses are very cool on these, maybe that's what we got it for initially but it's turning in to our desert island machine, there's really a lot going on here, it's a versatile instrument with quite a unique and somewhat rustic sound.

They're famously hard to service due to lack of a good set of schematics.
The build-quality is strangely bad for late 1970s Japanese keyboards so they somehow always break down.
Vintage Audio Institute is a studio and gear vendor in the hills of Florence, Italy."

Elka Wilgamat Vintage Analog Expander

via this auction

"This rare expanders can be connected to Elka Organ or played with a special keyboard. it can produce very unusual electronic sounds."

Update via Matthew in the comments: "wilgaplainboss.mp3)

From the looks and sounds of this the Wilgamat is the auto-accompaniment and drum box from the Elka X-705 (possibly the most fantastic keyboard in existence). Given that Wilgamats regularly clear £100, and Elka Rhapsodies & Elka Soloists make £200 each, the X-705 with two Rhapsodies, one Soloist, one Wilgamat, two drawbar organs, a dedicated preset analogue bass synth and a spring reverb represents something of a colossal bargain as they rarely raise over £300. Unfortunately they're also colossally heavy so look for one in your area. Berliners, get your money out - ;)"

VAI 50 : Elka Wilgamat III / Elka Solist 505

video by Vintage Audio Institute Italia

"The Elka Wilgamat III is an analog auto-accompaniment machine from 1982 It has four sections:
An analog Drum machine
A Bass sections
A piano / brass chord section
And an arpeggiator

Apart from the auto rhythm to each section, you can play the bass and piano/brass sounds just like a synth, no modulation capabilities.
The Elka Solist 505 is a monophonic preset synthesizer from 1976 with a unique / quirky timbre, great filter on this one. And a great look :)"

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 51 Elka Wilgamat III / Elka Solist 505

video by Vintage Audio Institute Italia

"More Elka Wilgamat III - this time with some external help from the Schulte Compact Phasing and Roland RE-301 for rooms.
We also like to use the Roland Space Echo as a tape machine : a round on tape, wet only echo with one bounce, does magic for drum compression."

Vintage Audio Institute Italia posts

Little love for the ELKA WILGAMAT III

YouTube Uploaded by joyoussound on Jun 25, 2011

"A disco try-out on my own song "Why must I still keep dreaming?" played on Elka Wilgamat III when I still had one. I didn't give it any effort yet it still manages to sound so good.

Somebody please bring back my ELKA! :)"

Elka Wilgamat analog drum machine and accompaniment unit SN 1227

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

via this auction

Note the listing is for only 1 unit.

"The Elka Wilgamat was an accompaniment unit intended as an add-on to some of Elka's organ line and also as a standalone unit with dedicated 2 octave keyboard. It consists of a rhythm unit, a bass section and a chord section. All sounds are of course fully analog. It is very similar in features and sound to theGodwin Drummaker, Wersi Wersimatic WM24, Elgam Carousel or Böhm Böhmat."

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ELKA Wilgamat III Chapter 2 - WE FOUND THE PEDAL

video by Vintage Audio Institute Italia

"We got so excited when we managed to score the Fill-In pedal for the Elka Wilgamat III that we needed to make a video.
Please do not watch this unless you're a serious vintage gear freak.
We mean that.
The machines rhythm section has 3 'break' options that can only be engaged by a unique foot pedal.
This pedal is very rare.
It is also HUGE.

Keep watching :)"

VAI 59 : Solina String Synthesizer / Elka Wilgamat 3

video by Vintage Audio Institute Italia

"Heavy on monophonic modulation this time: the monophonic filter is really chopping up the polyphonic section to pieces.

Check out our earlier posts on the Solina String Synthesizer if you're interested in hearing or knowing more.

The Elka Wilgamat 3 has been featured before, we have a special video dedicated to that one, but in short it's an auto-accompaniment machine with four sections: drums, bass, chords and an arpeggiator."

Elka Wilgamat III - Serviced with modifications

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

via this auction

Note auction links are affiliate links. See the site's privacy policy for more info.

video posted here

"Elka Wilgamat III with custom controller keyboard modified with foot switch control access.
Just back from service and sounding heavenly.
The 4 buttons on top of the keyboard substitute the rare foot-switch - giving access to the drum fills (3 different fills for every rhythm pattern!) start/stop, minor and 7th chords - If you check my video on YouTube you’ll get it.
The original main unit is in good condition with signs of wear of some areas.
The keyboard looks almost like new.

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Elka Wilgamat - 1976 - Auto Accompaniment Unit SN 1376

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

Update: moving this one back on top as I had the wrong auction link. Sorry about that. It is now fixed.

via this auction

You can find demos of the Wilgamat in previous posts here.

"This is the first model, complete with the controller keyboard, attachments for music sheet stand and leg attachment pieces on the sides.

The legs and music sheet stand are not included.

The Wilgamat is in good condition but close to very good condition - with a few lighter scuffs and some smaller areas missing the wood finish - quite typical for these machines.

It’s had little use - the front panel looks almost new and the buttons and sliders work great. Fully functional and sounds amazing - please watch the video of this very unit for sale - no effects added.

Some general info:

It features three chord voices and two bass voices plus a range of great drum sounds, with a fill-in option engaged by pressing the wooden bar on top of the controller keyboard.
The auto accompaniment section is a two octave bass and chord synth that can be controlled by either an external two-octave keyboard, an Elka organ or foot pedal via a 31-pin cable.
The bass and chord patterns change depending on the rhythm, Salsa, Rock, Bossa Nova...
In total 16 different rhythm presets with fill-in option, two bass patterns (auto and walking bass), two bass sounds, with a bass sustain option.
The accompaniment consists of three sounds that of course sounds nothing like what they're named after: Piano, Guitar and Brass.
There are individual volume for each of the three sections, plus an overall master volume.
These standalone units are very rare to find complete with the original controller keyboard.

220 volt with EU plug Items ship from Italy."

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Exploring the Wersimatic WM 24

video upload by Vintage Audio Institute Italia

"We thought there wasn't really anything decent info out there on this rarity so here's a video that sheds some light on the Wersi Wersimatic 24 A & B units.

Wersimatic 24 is an analog drum machine, bass / chord arpeggiator generator similar to the Elgam Carousel, Elka Wilgamat, Godwin Drummaker 45 and Böhm Solist units, The Wersimatic 24 was manufactured in Germany in the early 1970s.
These were also part of various model Wersi organs of the era, such as the Helios that featured the "Wersimatic II" auto-comp section and they seem to be identical in controls and sounds.
The Wersimatic 24 is a bit different than your regular auto-accompaniment machine since the keyboard is a separate instrument: it holds the circuit boards and sound generators for the melodic section and sports its own volume slider and audio jack output.
The keyboard is powered by the drum machine unit via a DIN cable though, and the tempo is regulated on the drum machine as well.

24 drum patterns with 8 mutable sounds
12 rhythmic chord/bass/arpeggiator patterns
Bass section with one sound
3 chord sounds
2 arpeggiator sounds (the second arpeggiator sound is not functioning at the moment)

The bass covers two octaves, which is rare for this type of machine (the Elgam Carousel, Elka Wilgamat has a one octave bass section only) and can generate almost synth like arpeggiator patterns.

We like this machine a lot, especially the bass section and the drum sounds are really raw and industrial sounding.

Sorry for dirty fingernails, it's black paint residue - not dirt - promise.

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

Wersimatic posts

V.A.I. 54 Elka Wilgamat / Multivox MX-3000

video upload by Vintage Audio Institute Italia

"These two machines match up quite well to our ears so we made a bunch of videos - more coming soon.
The Elka Wilgamat is probably a bit familiar to our viewers by now - an Italian auto-accompaniment machine with three sections:

1. Analog drum machine section
2. Bass section with 2 sounds and variations
3. Chord section with 3 sounds

Harmonically controlled by a two-octave keyboard with a fill-in bar on top, it has a great warm sound that's unmistakably mid-1970s to our ears, the drum machine alone sounds great.

The Multivox MX-3000 is a pretty rare Japanese string machine and monophonic synth combo.
A bit similar to the Farfisa Soundmaker or maybe Solina String Synthesizer (the BIG one - not the regular String Ensemble) or the Crumar Composer but with a more complex polyphonic - or rather Divide Down - section.
Lots bells and whistles here.

It basically has three separate sections:

1. A bass synth section with multiple preset sounds and attack, decay and tone controls.

2. A polyphonic section with preset sounds that are modifiable in quite a few ways with a very nice and aggressive filter section, attack/decay, two different choruses, two glide modes and more.

3. Single Oscillator monophonic section. No presets but a few different wave forms, a very nice filter, portamento and the usual mono stuff for great leads, basses and even some space effects.

The Polyphonic filter and choruses are very cool on these, maybe that's what we got it for initially but it's turning in to our desert island machine, there's really a lot going on here, it's a versatile instrument with quite a unique and somewhat rustic sound.

They're famously hard to service due to lack of a good set of schematics.
The build-quality is strangely bad for late 1970s Japanese keyboards so they somehow always break down.

Enjoy, more coming."

The Forgotten Synthesizers Of Marche Region

video upload by HAINBACH

Update: you can find additional posts featuring The Museo Del Synth Marchigiano here.

"The Marche Region in Italy was home to a thriving industry of music instrument production from the 1950s to the mid-90s. Tens of thousands of people made organs, accordions and small runs of synthesizers that were like nothing else in the world. Much production closed in the 90s, leaving only a few companies around, and many people lost their jobs. The history of Marche synths was not talked about, too bitter were the memories. The Museo Del Synth Marchigiano aims to change that - a motley crew of synth lovers work together to get the story about this special time in music instrument history out.

I was invited to play a show at Acusmatic Festival in Ancona and visit the collection before. I was overwhelmed by the amazing sounds these machines made, so I captured them on tape and for use in my performance. I also just had to film every synth I could get my hand for you to enjoy. You will find instruments by Siel, Elka, Elgan, Farfisa, Crumar, CRB and more here.

https://www.museodelsynth.org"

Timeline:

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