Strange Synthesizers of Japan by Hiromichi Oohashi - Synth Book w/ CD

Hiromichi Oohashi wrote in to let us know about his new synth book featuring rare and somewhat strange synthesizers from Japan. The book features synths from his collection along with a CD of audio/music. You can find the book via the publisher Rittor Music (Japan) (published Nov.2021), and on Amazon JP here.

You can find a list of the synths featured by chapter further below.

Details on the book from Hiromichi Oohashi follow.

"This art book introduces many of Japanese most rare and strange electronic musical instruments (1960s~1980s) from author's private collection for long years.

Contains over 130 synthesizers, rhythm machines, organs, toy instruments, speech synths, etc most of these rare instruments will be the first public release. All color pages, lot of beautiful photo of these unique instruments with simple and detailed text, all photos and book design by author himself.

Contribution from Mark Mothersbaugh (DEVO)

Foreword by Eric Schneider (author of TOY INSTRUMENTS/MBP)

Attached CD has original music using these strange instruments so you can hear what these synth sounds like.

CD's music made by author's band KINO-MODERNO (world-renowned electronic music duo)



Hiromichi Oohashi is an artist born in Tokyo 1961
after studied art & design at Kuwazawa Design School in Tokyo
works as an artist and producer for Art, Design and Music
also known as collector of rare electronic musical instruments
in 1990 released groundbreaking [ VIDEO DRUG2/Phuture ] and get noticed
member of electronic music duo KINO-MODERNO since 1984
president of DAT PLANET PRODUKT"

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Korg DW 8000. Hybryd digital analog synthesizer. a.d. 1985-1987. Programs no: 71 - 88

video upload by Old Korg MaCross

"Korg DW 8000. Programs no: 71 - 88
71: Key - Sfx, 72: Perkusion - Sfx, 73: Ocean - Wave -Sfx, 74: Pad - Sfx, 75: Keyboard Sfx, 76: Perkusion - Sfx, 77: Perkusion Wave - Sfx, 78: Perkusion - Tom Tom - Sfx, 81: Organ, 82: Organele, 83: Organ, 84: Organ, 85: Organ, 86. Organ old, 87. Koto, 88. Synthkey.
* Please visit the channel: Martin Cross - autor.
* I invite to the channel: Martin Cross podróże.
Korg DW 8000. Programy, barwy, brzmienia, dźwięki numery: 71 - 88
71: Key - Sfx, 72: Perkusion - Sfx, 73: Ocean - Wave -Sfx, 74: Pad - Sfx, 75: Keyboard Sfx, 76: Perkusion - Sfx, 77: Perkusion Wave - Sfx, 78: Perkusion - Tom Tom - Sfx, 81: Organ, 82: Organele, 83: Organ, 84: Organ, 85: Organ, 86. Organ old, 87. Koto, 88. Synthkey.
* Zapraszam na kanał: Martin Cross - autor.
* Zapraszam na kanał: Martin Cross - podróże."

Update:

Korg DW 8000. Programs. (No Talking!)

video upload by Old Korg MaCross

No thumbnail for whatever reason - hit play and the video should start.

"Korg DW 8000 .Polyphonic hybrid digital analog synthesizer a..d. 1985-1987Programs no: 51 - 68 51: , 52: , 53: , 54: , 55:, 56:, 57: , 58:, 61:, 62:, 63:, 64:, 65:, 66:, 67:, 68:,"

Secrets Vol 2 - Patches 25 to 48 - Arturia Polybrute

video upload by GEOSynths

"Out Soon...GEOSynths is back with another Soundset for the fantastic Arturia Polybrute. Vol 2 explores Tone and Texture in more detail with Emotive Pads, Textured Strings, Cutting Bass & Leads, Arp's, Poly's and so much more.

There are 96 Patches in the Bank with 25 to 48 being demonstrated in this Video (2 of 4) All Patches have an A+B State, some of which are slight variations, while others are very different, including Splits. Controllers are assigned where appropriate.

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Suiko ST-50 Koto Synthesizer 🇯🇵 | How Does it Sound?... Worth the Hype?

video upload by JAde Wii

Making LO-FI Hip-hop with a KOTO Synthesizer

video upload by Dawless Jammin'

Gargoyle | EMU XL7 and Prophet 12

video upload by MIDERA

"Messing around with the XL7 (yes, this is my third Command Station). Testing out new things and seeing what I think of it - and well, I still don't know.

EMU XL7: Drums and koto
Prophet 12: Bell-like sound
Eventide Blackhole VST for reverb"

Suiko ST-50 Multi-sound Koto Shakuhachi Synth Voice Trainer SN 310210

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

via this auction

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Suiko ST-20 & Strymon BigSky // Dreamy Japanese Sound (short sound demo + jam)

video upload by Dexba

"I am always been fascinated by Asian instruments, and in fact, I even own and play an original koto.
So, when I found out these Suiko things existed, I immediately felt the need of owning one.
It came from Japan, it's vintage (seems like they where produced in small number during the 80s) and it sounds kinda awful without reverb, to be honest.
The koto sound is quite harsh, and it doesn't really sound like a real koto, since it has no polyphony, no way to 'prepare' the pitch bend, no velocity sensitivity, and the overall sound is quite poor.
Then there is the flute, quite a nice one, and a very screaming organ that gets annoying pretty soon.
But, as soon as you add a reverb, possibly a good one, you get back some sort of polyphony, you iron out the roughness, and even the limitations can become useful tools!
Enjoy! ✨"

My First Koto Synthesizer // Akebono SK-10 [ Suiko ST-100 ]

video upload by Dawless Jammin'

"My name is JAde Wii and I like synthesizers and making beats.

Store : https://www.dawlessjammin.com/"

SUIKO ST-10 Japanese Traditional Scale Synthesizer SN 001315

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
Return Trip Effect - Introducing Suiko ST10video upload by

via this auction

"The rare ST-10 is the big brother to famous Suiko ST-50 and was designed to accompany poetry. It has only 3 traditional Japanese instrument sounds, shakuhachi, koto and pipe organ. The samples are clean and sound fantastic with some reverb or other effects. But while it lacks the many instrumental sounds of its younger siblings, it makes up for it with its retro wood-panel styling, integrated speaker and onboard cassette tape sequencer. The data cassette player is used to record and playback note data in sequence, and the instruments can be changed during playback. Tested and 100% functional, this ST-10 comes in the original tolex hard travel case with manual. Power is 100V, and while a stepdown converter is not needed, it is recommended."

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Koto "Visitors" - Recreation - (Friday Funk Jam)

video by Luke Million

"Another one of my favourite Italo Disco tracks is 'Visitors' by Koto. It's pure spacesynth disco. I've recreated it with an Oberheim DX and a bunch of my favourite synths 🚀🎹🕺

Drums - Oberheim DX
Bass - Roland SH2
Synths - Roland Jupiter 4, SCI Prophet 5, Roland Juno 6, Korg MS20 & Oberheim Ob8"

Suiko ST-10 KOTO for Shigin conductor Synthesizer Tokyo Japan SN 001315

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

via this auction

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Suzuki Waraku III TES-371 Electric Nagoya Harp Taishogoto Synthesizer

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

via this auction

You can find demos of one in previous posts here.

"The Waraku is a fully electronic Taishōgoto synthesizer. You can played as a keyboard or via 5 'electronic' strings to emulate Japanese instruments like the koto (harp), shamisen (lute) and shakuhachi (flute) among (30!) others. Also includes a pitch bend control, vibrato switch and four programmable drum pads with outputs for amplifier, headphones and MIDI.

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SUIKO ST20 Vintage Analog Japanese Koto Synthesizer SN 691192

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

via this auction

"SUIKO ST20 Vintage Analog Japanese Koto Synthesizer. Super rare. Condition is "Used", but super clean. The synth faceplate and speaker grill are mint. Free voltage transformer included."

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E-MU EMULATOR II - Crockett`s Theme - Miami Vice - 80s tv synthesizer soundtrack

RetroSound

Update: Moving this up as I initially had the wrong video. All fixed. Sorry about that.

"(c)2007-21 by RetroSound
supported by UVI: http://bit.ly/retrosound-uvi

all synthesizer sounds: E-MU Emulator II sampling synthesizer (1984)
drums: E-MU
recording: multi-track
fx: reverb and delay

I sampled my synths for this cover version and I used the EII factory library.
In the original track Jan Hammer used the Jupiter8 for random arpeggio bass, Fairlight voices, Linndrum, DX7 Koto...

RetroSound synthesizer demo videos since january 2007.
All is for free. If you like my work, so can you support me with a donation or a purchase of my synth shirts or music albums. Thank you!

RetroSound Merch Shop: https://teespring.com/de/stores/retro...
RetroSound Home: https://retrosound72.wixsite.com/home"

Suiko ST-100 Koto Multi-Sound Synthesizer Conductor for Shigin

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

via this auction

Check out this demo of one through a Roland Space Echo.

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Electric Koto Shakuhachi Conductor Multi-Sounds Synthesizer

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

via this auction

"This item has 6 kinds of sound. (organ, koto, chorus, shakuhachi, trumpet and vibraphone). It can tune volume, pitch and octave, and can play chords (max 4 notes)."

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Koto Shakuhachi SN 809309

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

via this auction

"This item has 5 jacks for power adapter, microphone, MIDI input, line out and headphones.

This item has 3 kinds of sound. (Original, Koto and Shakuhachi)

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First jam with Waraku III Suzuki TES-371S Koto Synth

Dj Puzzle Dj Puzzle

"All the sounds are from the Waraku III including drums. Just got this thing today and already having a bit of fun. It’ll take some practice playing the strings as they are a bit finicky."

Suzuki TES-371S (WARAKU III) Electronic Taishogoto / Koto Synthesizer

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

via this auction

"This instrument is beautiful, although it has some minor fine scratches on the instrument.

A photo-copy of user manual written in Japanese language will be provided.
An AC100V to DC 10V adapter with center negative will be provided.

Technical information:
Dimensions: 72 × 22 × 9 cm.
Weight: Instrument Wt : Approx. 2.716 kg, Case: 2.390 kg, Total : 5.106 kg.
Package Weight : 7 to 8 Kg.
Accessories: Pick, AC100V to DC10V power adaptor and a semi-hard case.

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