SIEL DK 70 - 80's Italian Polysynth

video upload by The Free Radikal

"Similar to a Korg Poly 800 but accepts midi CC's for most parameters and midi velocity"

SIEL DK-80 Vintage Analog Synthesizer Keyboard with Original PSU

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

via this auction

"SIEL DK-80 rare vintage keyboard synthesizer, produced in Italy in 1985.

It's a cool analog synth with digital controls. It is also bi-timbral with a split keyboard mode giving you 2 polysynths in one keyboard! 2x six point envelope generators, 2x 24 dB/octave low pass VCFs, 2 LFOs, 12 voices - 2 DCO's (sine, sqr, tri), 1 pink noise generator.

Another great feature is a 2-track realtime sequencer, MIDI In/Out/Thru and a NICE built in Chorus."

CLICK FOR MORE »

KIWI by Siel: 15 sounds (Ex Opera 6/DK-600)

video upload by Valmont

"I made one demo here but I could just go on more, it sounds too great!
The KIWI, more often branded Opera 6, or DK-600, is a super rare super great italian synth.
Sometimes reminds me of the Jupiter 8 and the Oberheim OB-8, if we put appart the abscence of crossmod. The EG are hella tight, the DCOs are damn bright and full, the filter so mellow...... The epitome of the analog polysynth, far away from the cliché of italian synths.
Also an expensive instrument in the 80's as it cost 50% more than a Korg Poly 61, a Juno 60, a SX-210 or Yamaha DX9... Nowadays it would be about 4.400€ if we adjust the inflation, so definitely not an amateur synth! It was just about the level of a Prophet 600, which funny thing is that they are absolutely opposite in sound characters (and in components, 100% CEM for P600, 100% SSM for KIWI), but they go so well together! They are probably my 2 fav synths in my room :)

Thinking about installing the voicepanning on this one too tho :D

0:00 - mild minds
0:19 - dahlias
0:34 - rbmk
0:59 - 42
1:16 - kujenga
1:29 - gris
1:50 - forbidden
1:56 - model
2:14 - jupiteresque
2:35 - windy beacon
3:01 - deluxe cream
3:25 - hermes
3:42 - sputnikzer
3:53 - blue weekend
4:12 - humble"

Siel DK 80 SN 001326

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

via this auction

"Gorgeous sounding vintage analog polysynth.

In perfect working condition and looking super good as well !

The original (double !) power supply (PSU) is included.

Memory back-up battery is brand new."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Keytek CTS2000 Cross Table Sampled Synthesizer SN 0279

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

via this auction

You can find a couple of videos featuring the CTS2000 in previous posts here.

"THE GIBSON Synthesizer. The only.

Its name: The Keytek CTS 2000
Analog True vintage : CURTIS CHIPS // CEM 5530 / 8 CEM 3389
Released in 1987.

RARE COLLECTOR Early Model number 279

This will be supplied with :

1 COMPLETE IN ENGLISH !! Instruction Manual ! 64 pages
1 EXTERNAL ORIGINAL MEMORY CARD of this KEYTEK CTS 2000 model to store even more of your sounds.
1 CASE
1 OLD ORIGINAL ADVERTISEMENT

Fender has also released one on its side: The Chroma Polaris.

Story : Gibson had bought the Italian brand SIEL (Societa Industrie Elettroniche)
and worked in collaboration with its engineers who had already released
a lot of synthesizers including ( Cruise, Orchestra, Orchestra 2, Dk-70,
Ex-80, Dk-80 , Expander , Opera 6 , Dk-600 , Dk-700 , Kiwi ) and worked
themselves with suzuki and knew how to draw inspiration from analogs
from Korg .Moreover it would have been produced in Japan.

Gibson's synth, the Keytek CTS 2000 is a 330 plus wavetable based
synthesizer. But it is above all one of the last analog synths of this era. For
this it was equipped with Curtis chips, the same used in the little brother
of the Waldorf Wave, the Microwave .... as well as the Prophet 2000 which
is a Sequencial Audio / Dave Smith sampler ...

It has 6 voices with 2 oscillators per voice.
7 levels of envelope settings...
A Total MIDI Implementation....
An internal memory to save 48 sounds.
Finally its specialty of Cross Table Sample allows to mix for a sound of the
wavetables between them to obtain a combination of 330 X 329 so 9000 !

That is more than 9000 waveforms more than the sinusoid, the triangle,
the square, the sawtooth ! And this for a single voice ....
Each oscillator can be tuned differently for Fat sound .
An Lfo is also present to modulate these.
Dcf
Dca
Cut-off
Resonance
ADSR on 7 levels
All this in many combinations

One cannot simply overcome its possibilities.

It produces a unique sound. With it your instrumentations won't sound too much today.
He will add a personal color. It can produce percussive sounds, particular pads...

Another thing that differentiates the KEYTEK CTS 2000 is that very few copies
were produced in the world.
There are 2 other Keytek models but they are only weakly trimmed compared
to this one.

The model on sale was released in the very First GIBSON-SIEL workshops.

Number 279."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Siel DK-80 Vintage Analog Synthesizer SN 000745 w/ Foot Pedals & Cart

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

via this auction

CLICK FOR MORE »

*SERVICED* 1985 Siel DK-80

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

via this auction

Demo video in the listing previously posted here.

"Selling this 12 voices, SSM2045 Italian synth from 1985!

The following points were just serviced on 10th September 2020:

- Keyboard contacts cleaned
- Divide-Down circuits rebuilt
- Power supply rebuilt
- Some chips were mounted on sockets for easy later repairs
- 6 VCA circuits serviced and many TL084 OP-Amp changed
- Buttons contacts cleaned

About the synth:
Sort of Italian Korg Poly-800, with great SSM 2045 filters (4 poles LP)
DCOs are M-112 B1, square wave generators that can be combined for a 'sawtooth-ish' waveform.
In square wave mode, the DCO can stack harmonies with variable levels, just like an organ. There's an additional pink noise generator.
The keyboard can be split in 6 voices / 6 voices, 1 D.C.O per voice.
There's also a simple BBD-chorus to change the tone color. (Same as Synthex)
The envelope generators are weirdo 6-stages ADBSSR.
There's 2 LFOs that go from 0.25 Hz to 10Hz.

40 Presets, 10 Users."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Siel DK-80: 17 Nice patches quick demo

Published on Oct 29, 2018 [ጠσσǥǥሃ]

"Analog, MIDI, 12 voices with SSM Filters (Like early Prophet 5, PolySix, Fairlight, E-Mu Emulator II!)
The difference is that it costs 10 times less, because it didn't become famous. The workflow is absolutely horrible xD

Ah well I got exportation problems, so the video quality is lower than usual.
I did't know what to play so I played idiot chords, still this video was made to show you the diversity of sounds this rare machine can do!

0:19 Filters In Action
0:29 Brass + Strings
0:37 Juicy Brass
0:55 Soft Pad
1:07 Jup' Organ
1:18 Pulse Synth
1:30 Volume Velocity
1:33 Filter Velocity
1:39 Strings Machine
1:45 Analog Bass
1:53 Bass + Brass
2:02 LFO Synth
2:16 Another Bass
2:23 Dat Lead
2:31 Accordion
2:40 Realistic Flute
2:51 Synth Split"

SIEL DK 80 Rare Vintage Analogic 12 Voices + Ram & Rom + BCR2000 Full Pack

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

via this auction

"Hello Music Lovers, this is the full pack for the wonderfull,rare,unknown,cool design & underated Italian Synth from the mid 80's (1985).
SIEL DK 80 Dynamic Bitimbric Synthesizer
12 Voices Analog Polyphonic
CEM Filters,Sequencer & full Midi implementation.
Suzuki Ram Pack in the box with Ram stickers included
Siel Rom Pack Set n°1 included
Power supply PS-80 included
Original Owner Manual included
BCR2000 Behringer with customised SIEL DK 80 Overlays included."

CLICK FOR MORE »

SIEL DK-80 SN 474

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

via this auction

"Siel DK-80 'Dynamic Bitimbric Synthesizer'

-analog 12 voice polyphonic
-rich SSM sound
-built in BBD chorus
-bi-timbral: layered or split keyboard
-onboard 2-track sequencer with trigger input
-midi CC control (see photo)
-lightweight, quality keys
-comes with original power adapter & styrofoam packing (damaged)
-printed manual included
-Made in Italy"

CLICK FOR MORE »

Analog Renaissance Tests Out the New Sound Semiconductor SSI2164

You might recall Sound Semiconductor announced the availability of the SSI2164 QUAD VCA chip back in March of 2018 (data sheet here). The SSI2154 is technically an updated design of the classic SSM2164 found in the Octave Voyetra Eight, Siel DK 600, Opera 6 & Kiwi, and the full blown Waldorf Wave. Analog Renaissance was commissioned by Sound Semiconductor to write an application note on the chip in practical use. The following are some of his findings including a couple of demos and a cool oscilloscope synth cat. :)

via Analog Renaissance:

"Sound Semiconductor (basically SSM risen from its ashes) hired me a few months back to write an application note AN701: 'Designing Voltage Controlled Filters for Synthesizers with the SSI2164' for them.

This job quickly escalated because while analyzing this IC's design, it became apparent that it is far more capable, due to its advanced design over its predecessor the SSM2164 (and its cheap knockoffs), than what I expected from reading the datasheet.

Its exceptional THD and noise specs allow building ultra clean filters that are virtually distortion and noise free, its excellent channel tracking means that it is very suitable for multi-mode filters which rely on precision and inherent in its design is the same type of asymmetric distortion responsible for the legendary SSM2040’s sound and more.

The 32-page manuscript is now being reviewed and edited to match their house-style, and should be made public soon. Imho it's quite extensive and covers next to SSI2164 specific content quite a bit of VCF design in general, circuit history and some novel stuff.

As there are already more than enough datasheets, application notes and books filled with non-working (read: tested in spice) nonsense, I accepted this job on one condition: build, test and since it's about synthesizers, hear everything before writing about it.

The small building blocks were breadboarded, but as this type of construction quickly becomes impractical for larger designs, certainly when they need multiple sources and control voltages, and impossible to do meaningful measurements on beyond a certain level, due to coupling and EMC issues, I built 3 filters in eurorack format, which also allows for quick connection to other synth and audio equipment.


SSI2164 - 2040 VCF Published on May 5, 2019 dnaab136

The first one, on the left, is an ultra-clean 4-pole VCF with a SNR better than 107dB (A-weighted) and THD is less than 0.0066%. Both these numbers are the limit of my current test equipment.

The second one, in the middle, is a VCF that employs the SSI2164's SSM2040-like non-linearities and for the first time since the early 80's done monolithically.

The 3rd one, on the right, expresses my contempt for what can and can't be done by ignoring a few mathematical constraints and is a self-oscillating 6dB/oct (1-pole slope) VCF.


SSI2164 - Mathematically impossible self-oscillating 6dB/oct VCF Published on May 6, 2019 dnaab136

Math wasn't happy with this, so it sounds a bit angry and, one of its main features is its capability of transforming sine waves into cats.
one of its main features is its capability of transforming sine waves into cats.

All 3 modules borrow 2 things from power electronics: A FET-bridge that allows plugging in the power cable in any orientation, without the voltage drop associated with diode bridges, and an S-Curve dimmer, originally intended for incandescent lamps but here used for a reversing attenuator with a dead zone in the middle.

The first 2 are multi-mode and have next to the standard 4-pole output a few extra outputs: 2 & 4-pole band-pass and a 2-pole low-pass. All outputs have the exact same phase response and can be mixed to obtain variable slope filters.

I'll bring these to Superbooth in one of these waldorf KB37 keyboards, with some basic VCO, LFO, ADSR and mixer modules for you to play with along with a printout of my manuscript and what is already edited (about 2/3rd) for publication."

SIEL DK80 with Expander in Original Box

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

via this auction

"A RARE SYNTH FROM THE '80'S NEW IN BOX....

JUST UNPACKED FOR PHOTO.

COMPLETE WITH PS80 POWER SUPPLY AND EXPANDER!

ALSO, DK-70 STAGE SET, WHICH CAN BE USED WITH THE DK-80.

ALL NEW IN BOX EXCEPT THE POWER SUPPLY, WHICH IS LIKE NEW!

RARE OPPORTUNITY!!!

You are bidding on a rare and complete DK desktop system by SIEL from 1985! It includes the DK 80, Expander 80, power supply and ultra rare and hard to find RAM Cartridge! This thing sounds unique and incredible. Nice Italo Brass and synth sounds. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity!!

CLICK FOR MORE »

Siel DK70

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

via this auction

As for the DK70, an interesting side note according to the description is that it was released in Brazil as the Giannini GS 7010 polyphonic synthesizer. You can find demos of it in the archives here.

"It is very similar to a Korg Poly-800, in that it operates like an analog synth, but its oscillators, LFO and envelope generators are all digital. Like the Poly-800, the DK-70 has eight oscillators/voices, but all the voices are mixed together through a single "monophonic" analog lowpass filter which was shared for all voices. Like a monophonic synthesizer, the filter was switchable between single or multiple modes. In single mode, the first key pressed triggers the filter envelope, and unless all keys are released, the filter does not re-trigger. In multi mode, each key pressed in turn triggers the filter envelope, even if other keys are still pressed down.

The oscillators are called "DCOs", and the envelope generated called a DEG (for Digital Envelope Generator). Digital components were much cheaper at the time and this allowed the DK70 to approximate the sound of an analog synth, but have 8 note polyphony without being cost prohibitive to the average user.

An unusual feature of the DK70 is that, while it appears to have the form factor of a standard synth, it has guitar strap pegs and can be used as a keytar. (The Poly-800 also had this feature.) An accessory called the "Stage Set" can be attached to the left side to provide a grip (similar to that of the SH-101), where the player may manipulate a ribbon-style pitch bender, as well as have access to buttons that change patches, change octaves and engage the LFO modulation.

It stores 50 patches, 10 of which are user assignable. A cartridge port accepted a cartridge which could store an additional 50 patches. All programming is done via pushbuttons, somewhat limiting its "tweakability" for live performances.

It also has an onboard two-track sequencer, which can be programmed by setting the tempo and recording a performance (unlike a step sequencer, where notes were entered in sequential order and played back at fixed durations). The performance would then loop when played back.

The synth engine was also available as a keyboardless, rack-mount or table top version called the Expander-80, similar to the Korg EX-800. Released in Brazil as Giannini GS 7010 polyphonic synthesizer"

Siel DK80 1985 Polyfonic Analog Synth SN 001594

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

via this auction

The listing features this demo video from 2014.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Some vibraphone music on the Siel DK-80

Published on Oct 2, 2017 organfairy

"It has been a while since I used my Siel DK-80 synthesizer. But now I have made this little MIDI piece featuring a vibraphone-like sound.

The rhytm comes from my Roland JV-35."

Roland JX-8P repair

Published on Jan 9, 2017 organfairy

"My Roland JX-8P synthesizer had developed a problem in the left channel: Sometimes the sound would disappear but I could bring it back by moving the plugs on the back side back and forth. So I knew that it was probably a bad connection somewhere.

The music in this video is 'Remember the nights' by The Motels which I play in a somewhat understated fashion. In addition to the Roland JX-8P I also used Roland CR-68 for the rhythm, Siel DK-80 for the bass, Korg Poly-800 for the strings, and Elka EM-44 and Casio CZ-101 for the rest."

"Hold me tight tonight" - on Roland SH-2000

Published on Sep 19, 2016 organfairy

"... and Roland JX-8P (bass), Korg Poly-800 (pads), Roland D-20 (harmonies), Elka EM44 (guitar), Siel DK-80 (arpeggios), and Yamaha RX-11 (rhythm).

Someone suggested to me that I should do some Italo-disco and at the same time I wanted to use my synthesizers more so I killed two birds with one stone and made this version of the 1980s song "Hold me tight tonight" by Night Society."

Giannini GK 6110 ST Demo Video

Published on Jan 6, 2016 fernando Costa Tecladista

Thought this was kind of interesting. The buttons and style remind me of the Siel DK-80. There have only been two previous posts to feature Giannini on the site. One was a brochure for the GK 6110. Note the brochure lacks the extra markings for "Electronic Keyboard Sweep Test GT". Also someone in the comments of that post stated that Giannini was a Brazilian company. Siel was Italian. The second post was for the DS1000 which appears to have been a fully programmable synthesizer, while the GK 6110 as you can see was a preset keyboard.

SIEL Expander 80 - Vintage Analog Hybrid Synthesizer

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

via this auction

"This synthesizer is derived from the SIEL DK-80 and is an analog/digital hybrid synth like others from the same period."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Track Made using SIEL DK-80

Published on Jul 7, 2015 SPFXsynthesisers

"All sounds except drums and vocals are from the Siel DK80"