Casio FZ-10M | The Sound of 1987

Published on Mar 13, 2020 Espen Kraft

"Part 1 of my Casio FZ-10M experiences. The sound. Part 2 will put focus on features and operation.

The Casio FZ-1/10M/20M is capable of both sampling, subtractive synthesis, additive synthesis and you can even hand draw waveforms. It can do it all.
In this pt.1 you hear only sampled sounds, mostly DX and Emulator sounds."

Casio FZ-10M | Pt.2 - The System | Tutorial/Workflow

Published on Mar 19, 2020 Espen Kraft

"In Pt.2 I go through sampling, harmonic additive synthesis, how to draw waveforms, the 8 stage envelopes and more. This system can do so much and it's a true powerhouse and the sound is SO late 80s, Wonderful!

Find my music here:
iTunes Apple music: https://apple.co/35ZTdfR
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/38aoWMB
Bandcamp: https://espenkraft.bandcamp.com/
Google Play: https://bit.ly/2NrgXD9"

One cheap sampler is all it takes | Roland S-10, just can't sell it

video upload by Espen Kraft

"Roland S-10 | There is something about it that makes it impossible for me to sell it. The sound, the ease of operation, the short sampling time. Great for capturing ideas quickly.
This video is taken from my original 2017 Roland S-10 video tutorial which is now gone.

Find the song here:
https://espenkraft.bandcamp.com/track..."

Ensoniq ESQ-1 new patch bank out now!

video upload by Espen Kraft

"Compatible with Ensoniq ESQ-1 / ESQ-M /SQ-80 and all emulations that can import original ESQ sysex patches. This pack has 40 brand new patches.

Get it here:
https://thepatchbay.io/product/ensoni...
https://sound7.co.uk/products/ensoniq...

Brass, strings, pads, keys, synths, bass and bells. All ready to go into your own music. These are sounds tailored for pop, synthwave, Italo Disco and Soundtracks. These are not particularly tailored for industrial- or darker experimental electronic music.

The download files is in sysex format and must be imported to your own hardware synth from a computer with a sysex transfer program, through your midi interface, and into your synth.
On an emulation you can just load the sysex file internally in your computer.

These patches uses the factory waveforms. Not any hidden or custom waveforms.
In the demo I use a lot of external reverb and delay. Some chorus as well. Necessary on these old synths. I've never been fan of showing off neither patches, nor waveforms dry. Except for maybe bass sounds.

The Ensoniq ESQ-1 from 1986 is on of those classic hybrid synths from the 80s. It has digitally stored waveforms and analog filters.
The ESQ-1 was the first synth of many aspiring synth people and it still holds a strong nostalgic grip on most of us. And it's still very much alive. It has a certain sound that many likes.

The patches are the copyright of Espen Kraft and can be used in any commercial production without limitations. The patches cannot be resold or assembled into any other collection- or distribution online, or otherwise."

Mystery Gear Pickups with Espen Kraft

Published on Aug 21, 2018 Espen Kraft

Playlist:
Mystery 80s drum machine pickup Gothenburg
Mystery 80s gear pickup and unboxing - AGAIN

Keyboard Mag. Nov'84 | What Was In It?

Published on Mar 31, 2020 Espen Kraft

"Plenty of cool colorful ads of now classic vintage gear. In-depth features on Tony Banks, Genesis and Berlin. Great issue!"

Espen Kraft Mag posts

Oberheim Matrix-1000 analog synth module | Demo Song by Espen Kraft

video upload by Espen Kraft

"The Oberheim Matrix 1000 analog synth module from the 80s.
#shorts #short #oberheim #matrix1000 #analog #power"

Keyboard Mag. Aug '83 | What Was In It?

Published on Feb 17, 2020 Espen Kraft

"One of my favorite issues of Keyboard Magazine ever. Colorful ads of many synths and drum machines we now consider classics.
In-depth interviews with Thomas Dolby and Lee Curreri (Fame) as well as clinics on different topics."

Note 8:12 on the Jupiter-6 being marketed as a 6 voice Jupiter-8 by Roland.

Espen Kraft Magazine posts

Roland JX-3P & Kiwi mod | Stay away from this?

video upload by Espen Kraft

An interesting take from Espen Kraft. I always assumed these mods kept the original sounds and functionality, and simply expanded on them. Feel free to leave a comment if you know more. Key point: do your research before modding.

"After using a Kiwi modded JX-3P for quite some time I can honestly say I really dislike this mod. Way too many features, hard to access, bugs, but most of all; they changed things that makes the modded 3P sound inferior to the original synth. Especially the envelopes. With a Kiwi modded 3P you get envelopes that sounds more clinical and less musical than on the original synth.

Admittedly the new controller from Retroaktiv, the PG-2K makes it a lot faster and easier to access the parameters, but even that can't take away that the mod is a bad choice for any 3P lovers. I highly advice to stay away from these mods.

The above rant is of course my highly biased opinion I admit to that. ;-)"

Keyboard Mag. Oct. '86 | What Was In It?

video by Espen Kraft

"Keyboard Magazine October 1986 - Cool ads, tech tips, keyboard reviews and interesting interviews... What Was In It? Let the time travel begin!"

Espen Kraft Keyboard Magazine posts

Espen Kraft Studio Tour 2022 | 80s Vintage Synthesizers and Gear

video upload by Espen Kraft

"My 2022 studio tour where I go through what I have in the studio. As I often have change things out and/or get stuff coming and going, not all things are set up in a permanent order. Some are not even hooked up unless I need it for a particular job.
At the time of shooting I was unaware that I could only use 5 cards in a video so I couldn't link to as many videos as I had hoped."

Keyboard Mag. Aug. '85 | What Was In It?

Published on May 19, 2020 Espen Kraft

"Support this channel on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/espenkraft

A very intersting issue where the focus is on Japanese (now) synth pioneers, the manufacturers of synths and keyboards and more."

Espen Kraft What Was In It? posts

New Additions to Espen Kraft's Upcoming Prophet X Sample Pack

video upload by Espen Kraft

"I've added samples from the Roland JX-3P, PPG2.2 and Sequential Six-Trak lately. These are all samples I've recorded personally out of these 3 synths, like every sample in this pack. Totally original sounds/samples.

Find my patches and sample packs through these links:
https://thepatchbay.co.uk/product/tal...
https://sound7.co.uk/products/italo-d..."

Keyboard Mag. March '86 | What Was In It?

Espen Kraft

"A great interview with Jean Michel Jarre right after his release of the Zoolook album. OMD, Mr.Mister and lots of colorful ads of now classic gear!"

Espen Kraft What Was In It? posts

VHS taped Studio Tour 2021 Espen Kraft

video by Espen Kraft

"This is my VHS-taped edition of my 2021 Studio Tour. For HD long in-depth version, check here:" [posted here]

Two 80's Inspired Hardware Synth Tracks

Song: "Weather" - 125 BPM synth pop on ARQ-96, PEAK, Digitone, EX5 Published on Aug 16, 2019 Floyd Steinberg

"This song is called 'Weather'. It's my entry for the "808 sound challenge". I tried to to something in the style of 80s synth pop (OMD, Aztec Camera...). The whole thing was sequenced on the ARQ-96, which plays the 808 samples and some synth tracks, and also controls the PEAK and the Digitone. The song is made up from 12 different patterns of 2 - 8 bars length, which were arranged in song mode. I played that song back and did the filter & synth expression stuff on the fly, recording the whole thing on my Zoom R24, and added vocals, the EWI and the metallophone and that "Da" voice on top. I hope the lyrics are kind of humorous and I didn't mess up the pronounciation too much. It's a story about someone I met every morning until I didn't."


The Longest Summer - Digital/Analog Vintage Heartbreak Published on Aug 15, 2019 Espen Kraft

"The Longest Summer by Espen Kraft

Find the song here:
https://open.spotify.com/track/1yevgk...
https://music.apple.com/mz/album/the-...
https://espenkraft.bandcamp.com/track...

When your girlfriend dumps you because you don't have any food in the fridge, or at least not the type of food she likes, then the only thing left is to write a up-tempo cheerful happysad song about it. This tells a true story btw."

KORG DW-8000, Yamaha DX7S, & E-Mu EMAX II

Roland Alpha Juno 2 | The best Roland Synth Ever for Espen Kraft

Published on Feb 22, 2019 Espen Kraft

"In 1985 Roland released the last of their analog synths, the Alpha Juno 1 and 2.
Excellent synths that failed to impress the world at the time where everyone wanted digital synths and samplers.
The 5 octave Alpha Juno 2 with velocity and after touch is still my fav master keyboard and I love it dearly.

Sound examples start at 16:57

The lush pads/strings, warm basses perfect for synth-pop, solo leads smooth as butter and a very slow LFO all contributes to my addiction to this synth."

10 ICONIC Synth Bass Lines

Published on Feb 6, 2020 Espen Kraft

"10 iconic synth bass lines - cover by Espen Kraft

00:30 Eurythmics | Sweet Dreams (are made of this)
01:18 Giorgio Moroder | Chase
02:47 Madonna | Into The Groove
03:55 Depeche Mode | World in My Eyes
04:44 Phil Collins | Sussudio
05:54 Michael Jackson | Bad
06:45 New Order | Blue Monday
08:30 Kraftwerk | The Robots
09:21 Pet Shop Boys | West End Girls
10:41 Jean Michel Jarre | Oxygene (pt.4)"

Espen Kraft on the ISLA S2400 - Why he got one

video upload by Espen Kraft

"The ISLA S2400 sampling drum machine. I wanted a modern vintage sounding, old school drum machine to replace some of my vintage ones, also for live use."

Keyboard Mag. March '82 | What Was In It?

Espen Kraft

"Keyboard Magazine March 1982 - Kraftwerk, Jan Hammer, lots of beautiful ads and gear reviews."

Espen Kraft Magazine posts

Kawai K3m | Outstanding hybrid synth!

video upload by Espen Kraft

"This is a truly great hybrid synth. Together with the Korg DW-8000, Ensoniq ESQ1, Waldorf Microwave and the Prophet VS, this has digitally stored waveforms, and analog filters. Not just any filters, the K3 and K3m has the SSM 2044 filter chips inside. Arguably the most lovely filter of them all.

The song in the beginning can be found on my Bandcamp here: [embedded below]

32 different digital waveforms AND additive synthesis where you can make your own waveform from adding harmonics, and a spectacular dense and firm bottom end, this is basically a dream synth in my opinion. Instant Tangerine Dream and Stranger Things rolled into one."