Polivoks FAEMI-M Soviet Vintage Analog Polyphonic Synthesizer

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Update: The listing has the FAEMI-M as being from 1968. It seemed a little early to me so I checked my copy of Peter Forest's The A-Z of Analogue Synthesisers. It's listed but without a production date. Right before the entry for the FAEMI-M is the FAEMI children's keyboard which was released in 1972. I then checked http://www.ruskeys.net, but no date is given either. Previous posts refer to the FAEMI-M being from the 1970s. Sound on Sound's article on the Polivoks mentions the FAEMI-M but w/o a date. If anyone defininitively knows, feel free to leave a comment. A couple of interesting comments from that Sound on Sound article:

"The Polivoks is a duophonic synthesizer designed by Vladimir Kuzmin, an electronics engineer who had been the bass player and sound engineer in his student band. Having graduated in 1976, he was inspired to apply for work at the Urals Vector Company by the inventor of the FAEMI, the first commercially successful Russian electronic keyboard. That man was Vladimir Lugovetz, the Director of the bureau that controlled development of electronic instruments at the Vector company, and the father of Kuzmin's future wife."

Followed by "Interviewed by Polish synthesizer enthusiast and supplier Maciej Polak, in 2003, Kuzmin explained: "My first task was to design the spring reverberator, but I also tried to improve the design of FAEMI‑M in order to obtain some modern effects such as portamento and filtering."

Auction details:

"So, the good news: All four oscillator generators are working; I have cleaned the potentiometers, and only one couldn't be fixed, and just one is slightly crackling on movement. I replaced the output jacks with the standard 1/4" jack.

Things I couldn't fix: The vibrato section is not working. Several keys are not working at all, and some of them work when pressed harder.

The external original power supply is unusual – it is combined with the scale pedal in one housing. The pedal works, but it also has a slight crackle on movement.

To see and understand the objective condition, I recorded a video. Please watch below, where I aim to show the specific condition of the device. Despite the problems, it is still alive, and I believe you can either repair, sample, or simply enjoy the time with such an old and unusual synthesizer, even in its current state. Of course, due to these reasons, I have also objectively reduced the price.

The package is fully loaded: synthesizer, original power supply/volume pedal, original 5-Din cable to connect the pedal to the synth, power cable for the power supply, original wooden hard case

Here is some official spoecifications:

Specifications:

Keyboard volume - 4 octaves.

Full sound range (all the registers are switched on) - from F in the controctave to E in the fifth octave.

Output voltage at the load of 100 kOhm - not less than 0.1 V.

Power supply:
-from an external DC source - 12 V +10\-20 %;

Power consumption from AC mains - not more than 15 W.

Current consumed from the battery of dry elements - 350 mA.

Overall dimensions - 610*280*110 mm.

Weight - not more than 10 kg."

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The Untold Story of the Formanta Faemi 1-M: A Soviet Synthesizer Legend

video upload by DB Studios

Clacky keys.

"Welcome to the enchanting world of vintage synthesizers! Join us on an extraordinary journey through time as we unveil the captivating history of the Formanta Faemi 1-M, a rare gem of Soviet engineering.

In this video, we delve into the rich tapestry of the Soviet Union's musical landscape during the 1980s, where cutting-edge electronic instruments were a marvel to behold. We take a deep dive into the history and sound of this synthesizer.

The Formanta Faemi 1-M, known for it's polyphonic prowess, emerges as the centerpiece of this captivating tale. Explore its unique features, from the three oscillators with diverse waveforms to the enchanting filter section with its myriad sound-shaping possibilities.

While navigating the challenges of creating musical instruments under a planned economy, the Formanta Faemi 1-M triumphs as a true testament to ingenuity and creativity. Unveil its raw, bold, and characterful sound, and understand why it has earned its place in the hearts of musicians and collectors worldwide.

Join us for insightful interviews with individuals who share their firsthand experiences with this iconic synth. Discover the allure of the Faemi 1-M through their stories and see how its scarcity has transformed it into a coveted collector's item.

So, if you're a music enthusiast, history buff, or just someone seeking unique sonic adventures, hit that play button and immerse yourself in the compelling world of the Formanta Faemi 1-M."

Soviet Formanta Faemi 1M

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This one is listed for sale in Armenia.

"Used item, some scratches, marks. Missing 1x knob. I'm mostly guitar guy, so don't know much about synths. I plugged this thing up, light was on. But because it has Soviet jacks + needs and amp to be tested, I was unable to test further. So Im listing it AS-IS, UNTESTED. All parts in place, check the last photos. Working with 220v. Dimensions aprox. 71x12x33. Weight 8.6kg."

Couple of pics of the inside below.

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FAEMI M Polivoks VINTAGE ANALOG Polyphonic SYNTHESIZER Soviet USSR

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Published on Sep 22, 2019 GLvintageSHOP

Some pics via this auction

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FAEMI-M first test

Published on Dec 28, 2015 V. Kulla

"First test of a rare soviet faemi-m synth from the 70´s...tremolo, vibrato from synth. Starting with a dry sound and when i start sweeping the eq i also start adding some reverb and distortion. Sound is recorded through a soundcraft mixer into a focusrite scarlett interface."

FAEMI-M SN 984218 Soviet Synth

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mechanical animals

"Manual is a transistor portable polyphonic electromusic instrument produced by Katchkanar radio equipment factory "Formanta", which is the manufacturer of such well-known makes of synthesizers as Polivoks, Formanta, Manual, Maestro etc. Faemi-M is a "young brother" of a very popular synthesizer Polivoks. It bears the same logo on the package and retains some of its most impressive capabilities.

Manual is the polyphonic organ with the 4 octave's keyboard, rhythm section and the speaker. It has 4 base and sound registers, tremolo mode and vibrato.

Control on the front panel:
— registers: 16', 8', 4', 2'
— timbre level: low, high
— post sounding - duration, volume.
— vibrato - depth, frequency
— main volume
— rhythm, ON, A, B
— tremolo: 4', 2', frequency
— rhythm, volume, tempo.

Connectors on the lateral desk:
— mains, ON
— mains' connector, safety device
— output switch (outward/inward)
— headphones
— pedal
— output.

Engineer: Vladimir Lugovets, designer: Olympiada Kuzmina (the one who designed the legendary Polivoks), produced by Urals Vector Company."

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FAEMI-M RARE VINTAGE SOVIET USSR ANALOG SYNTHESIZER

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mechanical animals

"FAEMI-M (s/n 0385349), ORIGINAL CASE, PEDAL (s/n 0385349), CABLE FOR PEDAL AND POWER CABLE"

Note this one needs to be repaired.

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Final Set of A-Z of Analogue Synthesisers

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The listing is from the author Peter Forrest who states this is likely the last set.  These are great books and imo the most comprehensive.  Click on the pics to get an idea of what they are like.  Peter also has other items listed including The Museum of Synthesizer Technology and Synthesizer von Gestern II.

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Soviet FAEMI M SN 1183218

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"FAEMI M Rare Analog Organ Synthesizer from Polivoks Factory"

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FAEMI-M RAREST VINTAGE SOVIET USSR ANALOG SYNTHESIZER

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mechanical animals

"::: INCLUDES: FAEMI-M (s/n 0585183), ORIGINAL CASE, PEDAL, CABLE FOR PEDAL AND POWER CABLE :::

FAEMI-M is a transistor portable polyphonic electromusic instrument produced by Katchkanar radio equipment factory "Formanta", which is the manufacturer of such well-known makes of synthesizers as Polivoks, Formanta, Manual, Maestro etc. Faemi-M is a "young brother" of a very popular synthesizer Polivoks. It bears the same logo on the package and retains some of its most impressive capabilities.

A performer can change the timbre using knobs and the switchers of sound synthesis control. It is possible to mix the sounds of one or several octaves, which enables a performer to change the timbre smoothly and to obtain sounds characteristic for various genres, such as folk, pop, and classical music, and for organ works. Faemi-M provides the possibility of the rapid change of the sound character with the help of such effects as frequency vibrato, tremolo, and release.

Faemi-M can be used both at home and in music ensembles. It can be used as an accompanying or a solo instrument, depending on the will of a performer. The power can be applied from the mains or from the internal battery of dry elements. The volume control is carried out with the help of a pedal and the respective knob on the case of the device. The case is made of light alloys and covered with artificial leather. The upper panel is covered with a coat of enamel.

In the lower part of the case, there are 12 openings, providing the access to oscillator frequency adjustment controls. On the rear panel of the case, there are plug-and-sockets for the following connections:
— of the device to an external amplifier and for recording without a microphone;
— of an external loudspeaker or telephones;
— of a pedal;
— of an external power source.

In the pedal, there is a built-in rectifier, which makes it possible to use AC mains as a power source."

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Soviet Vintage Russian rare Synthesizer FAEMI-M

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Soviet Vintage Russian rare Synthesizer FAEMI-M

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Faemi-M Soviet Electric Organ

YouTube via freddiebotham. via this auction
"Just a clip of the weird sound this thing makes." Reminds me of The Cure.

FAEMI-M

Title link takes you to shots pulled via this auction. Russian analog synth. You can find more info at Ruskeys.net, specifically here.

Details:
"FAEMI-M HAS ACCORDEON TYPE 4 OCT KEYBOARD, INTERNAL LOUDSPEAKER, 2", 4", 8", 16' REGISTERS WITH VOL LEVELS, VIBRATO DEPTH AND SPEED, SUSTAIN LEVEL AND TIME, TREMOLO ON AND SPEED, TIMBRE CORRECTION (EQ HIGH-LOW), MAIN VOLUME, PEDAL ON, SPEAKER ON, POWER ON, OSC'S TUNING."