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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New Elka Synthex 2 Digital Desktop Synth From Mario Maggi in the Works

This one is in via swissdoc and indirectly via Florian Anwander on the AH email list. This is not the new analog Elka Synthex clone from the new Finnish Generalmusic. This is however from the creator of the original Elka Synthex, Mario Maggi, and it is all digital. An interesting side note mentioned below is that Mario Maggi owns the Synthex name. Not sure what impact if any this might have on the upcoming Generalmusic Elka Synthex remake.


An Update: via swissdoc. It appears a filing for the name SYNTHEX was made on April 29, just three days ago. The filing is under category 15 which covers: "Electronic musical instruments; Electronic synthesizers; Electronic musical apparatus and instruments; Electric and electronic musical instruments; Mechanical, electric and electronic musical instruments; Electronic apparatus for synthesising music [musical instrument]."

"Hello to everyone,

my name is Enrico Cosimi, I'm the author of the text on ACM concerning the Synthex 2. I have been in touch, here in Rome/Italy, with Mario from the late Eigthies and, from the mid Nineties, I'm working with Mario on his "version two"; as you can imagine, Mario is a very very very busy kind of genius, who conceived and realized a lot of third party non-musical items (especially for telecommunications and health). I am not allowed to reveal all the data concerning the new Synthex 2 (b.t.w., it will be a digital equipment: would you dare to conceive an analog instrument with 128 LFOs and 64 EGs in the same box?), but - trust me - when it will be done, it will be a GREAT machine.

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Automat and the ASE MCS70

Another via Frederic. Automat is an old electronic album from 1978 that featured the ASE MCS70. You can read more about the album here where you will find a number of samples. You can find more on the MCS70 on Synthmuseum.com where the image below was pulled from.

via the Automat page:
"When I saw my incoming mail box in 2000/October/01 I had a great surprise. A message from Mario Maggi (the man who idealized and constructed the MCS70, the sinthesizer used to do "automat"). Once again, my thanks to Sergio A. Simões. He found the Mario Maggi´s e-mail, contacted him, and told him about my page. To receive a message from Mario Maggi and all creators of "automat" is one of my great objectives. Naturally, I had (and still have) thousands of questions. We change a few messages, and I´ll continue changing. Now you can see a few questions. The first message was from Mario Maggi to answer questions for Sergio. The main subject is about MCS70, but there is a lot of information regarding 'automat'." Thanks Frederic!

Rare Vintage ASE Modular Synthesizer

In the history of the site there has only been one other ASE post. That post from August of 2006 was on Automat and the ASE MCS70. The ASE MCS70 was a knob laden keyboard synthesizer. In the post you will find a link to Synthmuseum.com with some additional info.

This Monday, Patrick Hopewell posted the image to the left on The MATRIXSYNTH Lounge with the following: "Can you identify this machine? I believe this to be a kit from the early 70's." At first I didn't recognize it and I read "ASI" instead of "ASE" on the top right, so a search came up empty. After mentioning this to Patrick he said it looks like ASI in the pic, but is actually "ASE" and he received an offer to pick up the system. It was in a garage for 30 years before now. Patrick currently has it in possession. He put up some pics here including some of the inside. The following is what he had to say.

"I finally took the back off and documented every circuit. There are some issues with the synth but nothing that can't be resolved. I have been chatting with Norman Leete and he says that everything looks good but I still should go through and test every circuit before I try to power it up again. I have sent the guy I bought it from an email to see if he has the contact info for the guy who built this thing in the 70's. I will keep you posted as I find out anymore information. Feel free to post anything you find interesting. I would like to see if any of your readers recognize any of the circuits. I did find out from Norman that the pots are the same ones used in Moog modulars."

If anyone has any insight feel free to leave a comment here, on Facebook, or email me directly and I'll forward it along.

Update: some additional info from Florian Anwander on ASE (note per Update2 below this modular is not from the same ASE):

"As far as I remember ASE was a kind of 'one man show' company by Mario Maggi, later engineer for various Italy based musical instruments companies like Elka (the man behind the Synthex).

There is an interview with M. Maggi on http://www.synthesizer.at (german) [Googlish here], which says 'The world heared already around 1970 from Mario Maggi, when he built his first monophonic synthesizer. It was in the style of an ARP Odyssey and Minimoog [translaters remark: in opposite to modular synths]. This synth still works today. Musicians like Enrico Olivieri, Roberto Turbitosi, Mario Natali and others used it.'

I have seen in the early 80s an ASE in a studio in the outskirts of Frankfurt which looked similar (same black glossy panels, same kind of various knobs), but to my memory it was smaller than one of Patrick Hopewell."

Update2 (6/12/2014): I have confirmation this is not from Mario Maggi.  The designer remains unknown. If anyone has any insight to the maker of this system, feel free to contact me or leave a comment.

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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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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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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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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"

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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CRUMAR BIT-99 SYNTHESIZER SN 00811

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

Googlish translation from German:

"Aka Crumar BIT ONE BIT 99/01 or fall into this category.

Crumar Bit-99 Synthesizer

Perhaps brightens the mind of some ne "Oh, do not Crumar !!!"- thinkers on something, when the name Mario Maggi. All well known as a highly respected "father" of the Elka Synthex has Maggi also Crumar BIT-designed series. So it's no wonder if some ingenious features such as the (random) Stereo mode can be found in the BITs to. Other things - such as for example the high standard of customer Synthex hardware - it looks around the BITs, however vainly, too, is correct.

Crumar BIT aka ...
wanted the MIDI era begin in a new guise. Although the Crumar Spirit had track record dating from 1983 has a MIDI-bore labels including, but even for MIDI, it has not served there. Thus, there is no Crumar synth, the (factory-equipped) via said interface. With the introduction of the first MIDI keyboard Crumar changed his (official) name in BIT (probably to get away to the professional musicians from the camp Orgel-/Multikeyboard-Image). Hence ONE BIT, BIT 01 BIT 99; Sometimes these instruments may also carry other designations such as "Unique", or LEM, but everything "would be clear and simple," would not be so Italian. The unique instruments were sold under the said name in the U.S. ... e.g. Unique DBE (E for expander) = BIT 01 And after Crumar in the late 80s, first bought by LEM (and later by the same alias General Music has taken over GEM), produced one still on for some months, the BIT instruments under LEM name. Thus, there are so many name-names for one and the same instruments. Has begun the story with the ...

ONE BIT
The first device in the series corresponds in principle in terms of sound architecture all other BIT variations. In a row - alongside key MIDI enhancements and a few other details - sound not changed much. ONE of the BIT is a 6-voice analog synthesizer based on DCO. In 1984, placed on the market instrument is voice 2 DCOs per track record, 2 LFO, 1 VCF, 1 VCA and 2 ENVS. Thus, the BIT ONE (and, since as I said hardly any structural changes, including the entire family BIT) in about a Juno-60/-106 Roland, Roland JX-8P, Matrix-6, Siel Opera-6 / kiwi Korg DW-6000/-8000 equivalent. Of course, only "roughly". Of the extensive modulation possibilities for the Oberheim Matrix starting, we just want to venture no comparison, and the 16 wave forms of a DW-8000 can not be here "to be thrown into one package." But enforcing it is true about the direction, which is now in that environment, Crumar BIT alias in the mid-80s to be out in the market against similar "hybrid" or "late-analog" synthesizers had.

With the ONE BIT was originally a race win. The coward was called "MIDI" and was the first BIT to a severe test. The instrument worked ausschließich the Omni-on mode (there are note-to receive all incoming data - MIDI channels, there was, as far as my memory is still not ...) and comprehensive MIDI-hangers and other childhood diseases were not uncommon. Just one year later - 1985 - came ...

BIT 99
on the market. The instrument had better MIDI capabilities (and in general: more reliable MIDI), provided a sound chain function and other small changes. TWO ONE BIT of good things, however, were left out: The placed on the front panel fader to the detuning (de-tuning) of DCO 2 and the noise had the fader knob to set the soft-velocity sensitivity."

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ELKA SYNTHEX MIDI - 3rd series - mint control panel extra +Maggi sounds & manual

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

via this auction, via MATRIXSYNTH CLASSIFIEDS.

"ELKA SYNTHEX, third generation series, with factory onboard MIDI sockets, fully working, excellent cosmetic condition. This model has a mint control panel. The wood parts are in excellent condition. It works perfectly and smoothly. Included is also the original manual in english and a very rare handwritten manual. Also included are Mario Maggi's own memory presets, in wav format for you to load."

Worldwide shipping on this one. Details in the listing.

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Elka Synthex Prototype

via synthorama
"hi this is a photo of an elka synthex i just bought. it is a very special one. it is the prototype with no elka logo, no computer interface or midi (this section at the back is not there not even the graphics, no holes in the wood for the leg attachments and it has a mix output next to the on/off switch. also it is a bit different inside for example the boards have only one led not two on each board and the eproms have stickers that say 25-8-82. i had another synthex which i sold and this one sounds better. its more fat sounding and the bp1 and bp2 filters do much more than the previous i had. you do get much more than a fizzzzzz. also on the filter when you do a sweep you can hear at some point the filter like scaling , like you can here the individual clicks you similar to the oberheim 4voice filter. i talked to a tech who has seen a lot of synthex and he told me he had never come across anything like that in a synthex. he told me maybe it has to do with my software ! being very early and has something different to do with the filters. this one was made as a prototype by mario maggi for maestro Mazza(Gianni Mazza) a very famous italian composer who i think did a lot of work for italian channel RAI."
Inside an Elka Synthex

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."

ELKA Synthex

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
images via this auction

"elka synthex prototype. as you can see in the pictures it has no metal ears for the legs on the side of the wood like ordinary synthex also it has the early voice boards with one led lamp on each voice board the software on the rom chips is the first version and it has the earliest dates on the stickers two synthex experts i talked to. it also has an extra mix output not just the normal upper and lower.this synthex was the first one ever made by mario maggi for maestro gianni mazza a very famous italian composer. the synth was bought by maestro mazza a few months ago.it was owned by mazza all these years and i am the second owner. the synth comes with original hard case. this is not just a synth. its a piece of history.the band pass filters on this particular synthex are much more powerful than the ones on a normal synthex. i had a normal synthex for ten years and i can tell you that this one sounds much more fat than the normal one. the only reason i am selling it is that i am restoring a modular synthesizer and i need the money."

inside an ELKA Synthex

via synthorama.com

"ASE" Vintage DIY Modular Remains a Mystery

Back in 2011 this post went up on  a custom DIY modular synth with the letters ASE on the upper right of the main cabinet. It was questioned whether this could have been an early modular creation from Mario Maggi, the man behind the ASE MCS-70 (see here and here), and later, the Elka Synthex.

It turns out this system is not his.  If anyone out there has more info on the system let me know.  You'll find more pics and info in the original post here.

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.

XILS-lab Releases miniSyn’X

"XILS-lab launches low-cost luscious soft synth emulation of Eighties polysynth par excellence!

'I’ve just got miniSyn’X and am so excited, because the Synthex is a fantastic rarity. Thanks to XILS-lab for giving everyone the opportunity to play with it.'

- Jean-Michel Jarre (April 2015)

GRENOBLE, FRANCE: music software company XILS-lab is proud to announce availability of miniSyn’X — an authentic, cost-conscious soft synth emulation of a much-loved Eighties-vintage analogue polysynth of Italian origin that helped define the sound of an era — as of April 8...

miniSyn’X is a multi-format (AAX, AU, RTAS, VST), 32- and 64-bit polyphonic, duo-timbral virtual analogue synthesizer plug-in for Mac (OS X 10.5 and later) Windows (XP, Vista, and 7/8) that faithfully emulates the still-sought-after sound of the Synthex, a luscious, 1982-vintage, eight-voice programmable analogue polysynth independently designed by Mario Maggi and built by Italian home organ manufacturer Elka. Indeed, it was much loved by synth luminaries of the day — not least French synth wizard Jean-Michel Jarre, whose well-known Laser Harp performances still emanate exclusively from an amazing-sounding Synthex patch produced by one-time UK demonstrator/ programmer Paul Wiffen and audible in isolation in ‘Second Rendez-Vous’ on Jarre’s multi-million-copy-selling Rendez-Vouz album of 1986. Pity, then, that the Synthex did not sell in such Jarre-like quantities during a four-year, three-stage (50-, 800-, and 1,000-unit) production run, with one last post-production unit being built especially for Stevie Wonder, such was the legendary American singer-songwriter/multi- instrumentalist/record producer’s love for the future-classic instrument that initially failed to fly in the face of the-then ‘art nouveau’ digital age of dominating desirable FM synthesis from Yamaha’s considerably cheaper, MIDI-equipped DX7, and subsequent super-selling, all- singing, all-dancing digital designs from the likes of Roland (D50) and Korg (M1).

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New Elka Synthex Cancelled Due to Lack of Funding

"THE ELKA SYNTHEX CAMPAIGN ON INDIEGOGO HAS NOW ENDED. WE'RE SADDENED THAT WE DID NOT REACH THE FUNDING TARGET.

THIS UNFORTUNATELY MEANS THAT ELKA SYNTHEX WILL NOT BE COMING BACK AFTER ALL. WE THANK EVERYONE WHO CONTRIBUTED AND SUPPORTED US.

ALL CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE BEEN REFUNDED. CONTRIBUTORS WILL RECEIVE THESE REFUNDS IN THEIR PAYPAL ACCOUNT, OR ISSUING CREDIT CARD (WITHIN 5 DAYS). IF YOU HAVE ANY FUTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE REFUND PROCESS PLEASE CONTACT INDIEGOGO.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN COOL TO BRING ELKA SYNTHEX BACK."

The campaign goal was $414,000. It is currently closed and at $0. Curious what it got up to before closing. If you know, let us know. Also curious what will happen to http://bringelkaback.com.

Update: There is still the digital Synthex 2 from original Synthex creator, Mario Maggi, in the works.

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."

ELKA SYNTHEX MIDI - 3rd series - mint control panel extra sounds & manual

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

via this auction

"ELKA SYNTHEX, third generation series, with factory onboard MIDI sockets, fully working, excellent cosmetic condition.
This model has a mint control panel. The wood parts are in very good condition.
It works perfectly and smoothly, but one slider needs servicing or replacing.
This model has never been touched inside! All electronics are immaculate.
Also included are Mario Maggi's own memory presets, in wav format for you to load through the cassette interface."

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