The Story of the Elka Synthex

video upload by Johnny Morgan Synth Dreams

"A mini-doc about the inception of the Elka Synthex. A legendary 1980's synthesizer designed by Italian synth pioneer Mario Maggi."

You can find additional synth documentaries by Johnny Morgan Synth Dreams here. See the Documentaries label below for others.

Revisiting the ELKA-X (LIVE) - VIRAL BEATS

video upload by VIRAL BEATS

"The Cherry Audio Elka-X synthesizer is based upon the legendary Synthex, a rare Italian analog synthesizer designed by Mario Maggi and manufactured by ELKA in the early eighties.

Elka-X replicates the extraordinary character of the original synth without compromising sound or functionality, thoughtfully expanding its feature set and delivering the authentic Synthex experience at a price anyone can afford."

Crumar Bit 01 White Face Rack Synth Unit

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

via this auction

"Excellent condition of the rare white face Crumar Bit 01 Rack. A very special synth that can have voices split or doubled (huge) across the keyboard. Has a very distinct character somewhere between analog and digital, a beautiful tone.

Was inspected/ serviced thoroughly in 2019 after it was bought from a professional studio where is was very well cared for. Has been performing perfectly since then. European 220 voltage, comes with power cable.

I was told that the same designer (or team?) that worked on the Elka Synthex designed this unit. Interesting to think about if true but I haven’t gotten that confirmed."

That would be Mario Maggi, as mentioned on Sound on Sound.

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Elka Synthex w/ MIDI

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

via this auction

"ELKA Synthex excellent condition. All original, with original rare stand and super-rare original Elka Synthex road case (wood/steel). Carefully kept at home, no-smoking, first owner, minor signs on wood, perfect panel. 100% working, some years ago was overhauled by Eng. Mario Maggi in person, who also replaced the battery and did an improvement in the final output stage! Local pick-up preferred, in Napoli (Italy). It has original MIDI."

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Elka-X by Cherry Audio - Part 2: Layers, Effects, Sequencer, Unison Mode

video upload by CatSynth TV

"Part 2 of our detailed look at the new Elka-X from Cherry Audio, a recreation of the legendary and elusive Elka Synthex polyphonic analog synthesizer. This second part focus on unison mode, effects, keyboard layers, and the sequencer.

If you haven't already seen Part 1, we recommend checking that out first: [posted here]

00:31 Poly, Mono, and Unison Modes
01:44 Effects
07:52 Layers
10:02 LFOs
13:59 Sequencer
18:25 More Factory Presets

To find out more about the Elka-X, please visit https://store.cherryaudio.com/bundles...

'The Cherry Audio Elka-X synthesizer is based upon the legendary Synthex, a rare Italian analog synthesizer designed by Mario Maggi and manufactured by ELKA in the early eighties. Elka-X replicates the extraordinary character of the original synth without compromising sound or functionality, thoughtfully expanding its feature set and delivering the authentic Synthex experience...'

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/catsynth
Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/catsynth"

Elka-X by Cherry Audio - Part 1: History, Oscillators, Filters, and Modulators

video upload by CatSynth TV

"Part 1 of our detailed look at the new Elka-X from Cherry Audio, a recreation of the legendary and elusive Elka Synthex polyphonic analog synthesizer. This first part focuses on history and the voice features (oscillators, filters, modulators).

00:27 History of the Elka Synthex
01:24 Overview of the Elka-X
02:21 Oscillators
07:24 Filter
10:02 LFOs
13:12. Oscillator 2 Hard Sync
15:51 Factory Preset examples

"The Cherry Audio Elka-X synthesizer is based upon the legendary Synthex, a rare Italian analog synthesizer designed by Mario Maggi and manufactured by ELKA in the early eighties. Elka-X replicates the extraordinary character of the original synth without compromising sound or functionality, thoughtfully expanding its feature set and delivering the authentic Synthex experience..."
____________
Please consider supporting this channel to help us bring you more synthesizer tutorials and other content.
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/catsynth
Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/catsynth"

Elka Synthex

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

via this auction

"Elka Synthex REVISIONED BY THE CREATOR MARIO MAGGI IN PERSON. It is in Rome, Italy, in person purchase is prefered, however insurance shipping can be arranged. This rare model is one of the first 50 Synthex ever produced. It has no MIDI attachment. If you want to a video call can be arranged to hear the instrument play."

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Elka Synthex MKII+ Midi IN/OUT+ Flight Case. *Serviced by Mario Maggi* (Almost Mint!) SN 1261

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

via this auction

"*Professionally SERVICED in FULL Working order*

Serviced by Mario Maggi Himself !!
+Midi IN/OUT
+Flight Case"

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MCS 70 Restoration Backstage

Badilevintage

"Hello everybody , my Hobby it's restore the old Combo organ and Synth.
In this video i show you the backstage during the restoration of ultra rare MCS70 made by Ing. Mario Maggi ."

See this post for more info on the MCS70.

ELKA Synthex - Italy's Answer to the Prophet 5.

Reuben Jones

"Listen to a Synthex and watch it fly across epic scenes of nature.

Synthex ➤ Molov Compressor ➤ Valhalla Vintage Verb

Learn about the Synthex on Mario Maggi's website: http://www.synthex.it/mario-maggi/

All sounds and music by Reuben Jones
Please visit my Instagram for more synth demos, especially Italian synths etc: reuben0jones

All video downloaded from pexels.com and free to use.
Video credits to the following videographers from pexel.com
James Wheeler
invisiblepower
Kelly Lacy
Pixabay
Jonathan Santos
Felix Mittermeier
Sean Johnston
Ruvim Miksanskiy
Michal Marek
Iggy Poptratz
Nomad Nation Video Produktion
James Cheney
Tom Fisk
Pressmaster
Stefano Rinaldo"

ELKA SYNTHEX - Sounds, Patches & Ambient Soundscapes | Synth Demo

synth4ever

"Elka Synthex analog synthesizer demo, featuring various sounds, patches and ambient soundscapes. This Elka Synthex synth demo showcases various Elka Synthex sounds including pads, leads, resonant sweeps, organs and more. Filmed at the Vintage Synthesizer Museum in Oakland, CA.

Manufactured from 1981-1984 in Italy, the Elka Synthex is a lush sounding classic 8-voice polyphonic analog synthesizer. It was conceived by independent Italian designer Mario Maggi and has 30 knobs, 6 sliders, 80 switches and a joystick, as well as a 4 track sequencer. Later versions implemented basic MIDI functions.

The Elka Synthex utilizes 2 DCOs per voice, each with multiple waveshapes: triangle, saw, square, pulse, PWM and ring mod. It also has a lovely multimode filter with frequency, envelope control, resonance and keyboard tracking, as well as lowpass, two bandpass options, and highpass filter modes.

The Elka Synthex also has 2 LFOs, multiple envelope generators, multiple chorus modes as well as oscillator cross-modulation and oscillator sync capabilities. LFOs can be routed to osc1, osc2, PW1, PW2, filter or amp and waveshapes include triangle, saw, ramp and square. Voices can be split, dual or layered, and it also supports footswitches for advance, glide, hold and release and direct onboard glide/portamento.

The Elka Synthex sequencer offers four different tracks which can have different length and sounds (Upper/Lower can be allocated to different tracks), and supports rests between notes as well as length of notes. In addition, 2 of its tracks can output MIDI data.

Instead of traditional pitchbend/modulation wheels, the Elka Synthex has a joystick which provides real-time control over the two LFOs, oscillator and filter modulation. The 6 sliders beside the joystick assign what (LFO, osc and filter) goes to the joystick.

Overall, the Elka Synthex is an extremely lush sounding synthesizer with many famous artists such as Tangerine Dream, Nick Rhodes (Duran Duran) and Jean Michel Jarre having used it. It is probably most famous for its "laser harp" sound.

The Elka Synthex is a beautiful machine, quite large in size, and can put out some amazing pads and timbres. The chorus and ensemble effects are particularly lovely, as they add an incredible shimmer to the sounds. The Elka Synthex is quite rare these days and commands hefty prices on the second-hand market, but if you have the opportunity to try one, do not hesitate as it is an experience like no other."

DOmilasiezento - Italian ARP2600 Clone by Mirco Trentin

Some pics and details in via SoundMiT who also brought us the one of a kind MCS70 by Elka's Mario Maggi.

via the creator Mirco Trentin:

"Two years of hard work, many hours spent for development and many hours for soldering, at the end domilasiezento is alive. Domilasiezento is a dialect Veneto word of 2600. I diced to build it 2 years ago, I'm searching for schematics, pcb, components equivalences, i redraw all pcb's with a CAD but I keep the original layout. Result is DOmilasiezento, Full size, same graphics 3rd generation with 4072 VCF, midi implementation with duophonic cv, case copper with modern tolex and of course a spring reverber.

This is my creature.
have a fun
Mirco Trentin"

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The MCS70 by ELKA's Mario Maggi - Only One In Existence Might Come to Soundmit

Published on Feb 10, 2020 Badilevintage

Details on Soundmit with the pics further below.

"Hello everybody , my Hobby it's restore the old Combo organ and Synth.
In this video i show you the test after restored of ultra rare MCS70 made by Ing. Mario Maggi .
The only piece in the world!!"

[Side note: Mario Maggi was the man behind the ELKA Synthex. There was only one previous post that mentioned the MCS70 here on MATRIXSYNTH posted back in 2006. This had me wondering whether there are any other one-off synths, and what are some of the rarest synths out there? There was the ASE Modular also by Mario Maggi. There is only one S.W.A.N but it shares the same synth engine as the Syntar. There was also the ConBrio ADS, protoype Minimoogs if you want to count them, prototype Orchestron (not technically a synth, but...), the original Acxel Resynthesizer, clear Gleeman Pentaphonic (same engine as the solid black ones though), rare EMS synths, rare PPGs (here and here for example), and I'm sure others I forget at the moment. If you can think of any, leave a comment below! BTW, the New Old Label is a great resource for exploring vintage gear that never appeared on the site before. I highly recommend it and the exclusive labels for some of the more exclusive synths out there.] Also see the first synth to post.

via SoundMiT

"The rarest synthesizer on Earth comes back to life thanks to the patient restoration work of two passionate Italian technicians

Recently the Soundmit has been involved in an event of those that happen once in a lifetime.
Two longtime friends, passionate about synthesizers, musicians and technicians, have accomplished a feat deemed impossible.

They have completely restored the rarest Italian synthesizer, the MCS70 designed by Mario Maggi, just him ... the father of Elka Synthex.

The MCS70 is a monophonic synth with many surprises inside, perhaps the most evident in the presence of the presets! In an era in which microprocessors were not yet widespread, Maggi succeeded in the enterprise of creating the first analog, monophonic synthesizer with memories!

There is only one MCS70 in the world and has been owned, for almost 40 years, by Patrizio Fariselli, the famous keyboard player of the Progressive Rock band "AREA".

Recently two friends, one technician (Marco Molendi) and the other a musician (Andrea Manuelli), specializing in the restoration of Italian electronic musical instruments, have succeeded in the impossible task of bringing the instrument back to life.

According to the engineer Maggi, it is not possible to give technical details beyond what can be seen in the video.

Francesco Mulassano of Soundmit was invited by Marco and Andrea during the last phase, that of the toast for the goal reached and in fact is one of the very few people in the world who have seen tried and listened to the instrument that, after so many years, remains a jewel of technique and sound.

Special thanks go to engineer Mario Maggi for the work he has done (and continues to do) in our sector.

We hope to hear the MCS70 in new compositions soon and hope to see it at Soundmit in November 2020!"

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CRUMAR BIT99 | Analog Synthesizer 1985 | HD DEMO

Published on Nov 29, 2019 AnalogAudio1

"(c) 2019 by AnalogAudio1

Synthesizer demo of the analog synthesizer Crumar Bit99 from 1985.

For reverb effects, a Lexicon MPX 500 was used, along with a Korg SDD-3000 for delay effects. The sounds were programmed by me.

The Bit99 is a nice fully programmable polysynth with warm analog sounds made in Italy. It has been developed by Mario Maggi, the developer of the Elka Synthex! It has a velocity sensitive keyboard and MIDI. 2 DCOs, 2 LFOs, 24dB lowpass filters, 2 ADSR envelopes, noise, make many different sounds possible."

New Behringer Elka Synthex Cone in the Works

This one spotted and sent in via Soviet Space Child.

"Look what we just added to our synth collection?

The Elka Synthex was developed by independent Italian designer Mario Maggi. Only 1850 units were ever produced by Italian company Elka between 1981 and 1985. Famous artists who used it include Jean-Michel Jarre and Stevie Wonder etc.

What an amazing sounding synth and master piece of engineering - we can't stop playing it :-)"

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ELKA Synthex 1981-1985 SN 1239

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

via this auction

"The Synthex was conceived and developed by independent Italian designer Mario Maggi, who then gained the financial backing of the company of Italy, who produced the synthesizer from 1981 to 1985. Elka, a company more noted for its organs, had previously introduced their Rhapsody 490, 610 string machine, the monophonic Solist 505 and the big combo organ/synth X-705. A total of 1850 units were produced. Today is a highly sought-after instrument which recently reached quotations around 8.000 UKP. It was succeeded by the Elka EK-22 (based on the CEM3396 chip which was also featured in e.g. Oberheim's Matrix line of synthesizers) and the Elka EK-44 (based on Yamaha's 4-OP FM).

Elka SynthexGeneralmusic (GEM,LEM,ELKA)Dates1981-1985
Technical specifications842 memory40+40 locationsChorus, Ring ModulationInput/output61-keyLeft-hand controlJoystickExternal controlCustom interface / MIDI (late models)
Foot switches (Advance, Glide, Hold, Release)"

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CRUMAR BIT99 RARE ITALIAN POLYPHONIC SYNTH

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

via this auction

"This is a superb synth. She plays beautifully, incredible condition. The weighted keyboard is the best I have ever used. It feels like a Fatar keyboard.

The sounds are out of this world, if you're looking at this auction, it's because you already know how amazing these old synths are. It was designed famously by Mario Maggi who also designed the Elka Synthex."

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The MCS 70 - Memory Controlled Synthesizer From Elka's Mario Maggi

via Francesco Mulassano

"Ultra rare italian synthesizers, made by Mario Maggi (the man who invented the Elka Synthex). This unit belongs to Patrizio Fariselli from Area!"

Apparently only three were made. It is monophonic.

The following are some details via synthmuseum.com from the MCS 70 brochure:

"FEATURES:

Memorizes all parameters of all user-defined control panel settings

Groups of up to 64 memorized settings available at any one time

Instantaneous change time from one memorized sound to any other

Non-volatile integrated circuit memory modules, no tape, nothing mechanical

No loss of user's memorized sounds, even unplugged or with module removed, until user himself memorizes a new sound.

It's called Integrated Memory Control. The result is the first completely programmable electronic music synthesizer. The programs are the user's own sounds set up with the front panel parameter controls.

The MCS 70 Memory Controlled Synthesizer represents a new concept in total integration of analog and digital operating systems allowing complete digital memorization of all parameters of the signal generating and processing modules.

Operating in the Panel mode, the audio result is determined directly by the variable panel controls. In the Memory mode the audio is determined by the previously defined and memorized panel settings.

A sound is memorized simply by pushing a button which cuases a digital code corresponding to the parameter control positions to be stored at the selected address (one of 64) of the memory modules.

Any sound may be instantaneously (5 milliseconds) recalled, even years later, after memorization, by pushing the corresponding memory address button.

Two memory modules each with a capacity of 32 programmable settings, are inserted in the rear of the instrument. Removing the module or unplugging the instrument has no effect on the contents of the memory. No setting is ever lost until the user decides to change the program at a given address. There is virtually no limit to the number of times the same address may be re-programmed.

Each module can be quickly removed and substituted by another containing 32 entirely different programs. Several sets of programs can be used, for example, during a concert. Each song can have its own characteristic sounds. There is no set-up time delay, and the performer can even change sound instantly in mid-phrase.

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Happy New Year From MATRIXSYNTH! - A Look Back at 2015

Happy New Year everyone!  I want to thank you all for a great 2015 and I wish you all the best in 2016!

The following is my yearly round up for the year.  Feel free to dig into this post as much you like, or skip it and leave a comment at the bottom of the post. I'd be curious to hear what stood out for you in 2015. Do you like the direction the synthesizer world is headed in, or would you rather see more or less of any type of product?

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New ELKA SYNTHEX 2 Website Launched

In case you missed it, see this post back on May 3, announcing the new ELKA SYNTHEX 2 from original SYNTHEX creator, Mario Maggi. Not to be confused with the recently cancelled SYNTHEX re-issue, the SYNTHEX 2 is all digital and has Mario Maggi backing the project. Below are the "preliminary and partial specifications". You'll find the new website here: http://www.synthex.it. Be sure to check out the ELKA SYNTHEX page for some great history.

"Preliminary and partial specifications

Polyphony
16 Voices
Versions
61-note-keyboard
Keyboard-less tabletop
1 Rack Unit expander
Portable expander
Keyboard

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