"Rare little Italian beauty, The Solist 505. The Elka Solist 505 was a monophonic lead synthesizer, preset based with variations for added performance. It provided a nice alternative to the Moog Satellite ARP Pro Soloist. It had 11 presets, all which could be changed with freq/res, attack/release, vibrato and portamento. Notably, it contained the famous Moog ladder filter.
A feature of the Soloist 505 is that it has the famous Moog Ladder Filter onboard. Manufacturers installed the components to make the Ladder Filter before Moog Music imposed a patent on it's use in non Moog instruments."
"I dithered a lot before buying the Elka Solist 505: I had no idea if it would sound any good. It looked odd and rather cool because it has accordion-style buttons instead of a piano keyboard, which made it interesting enough for me to try. When it arrived in my studio, I was in for a surprise."
"This very rare analog synthesizer features both presets and free control of key parameters sort of like an Italian SH1000 or Arp Pro Soloist (hmm, that name rings a bell), or Moog Satellite. According to the site 'encyclotronic':
'A feature of the Soloist 505 is that it has the famous Moog Ladder Filter onboard. Manufacturers installed the components to make the Ladder Filter before Moog Music imposed a patent on it's use in non Moog instruments.'
Some cosmetic damage(you can see on photos). Original Elka case included."
"More Elka Wilgamat III - this time with some external help from the Schulte Compact Phasing and Roland RE-301 for rooms.
We also like to use the Roland Space Echo as a tape machine : a round on tape, wet only echo with one bounce, does magic for drum compression."
"The Elka Wilgamat III is an analog auto-accompaniment machine from 1982 It has four sections:
An analog Drum machine
A Bass sections
A piano / brass chord section
And an arpeggiator
Apart from the auto rhythm to each section, you can play the bass and piano/brass sounds just like a synth, no modulation capabilities.
The Elka Solist 505 is a monophonic preset synthesizer from 1976 with a unique / quirky timbre, great filter on this one. And a great look :)"
Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
via this auction
"Vintage Siel Solist 505 preset synthesizer in good working condition. It has a pretty good playable keyboard and sounds much better when you add some reverb and delay. The cool thing is that it has a Moog ladder filter inside.
Cosmetically it’s in very good condition too with only some minor signs of use on the case and knobs (see photos). Inside there’s some rust on the metal parts."
One pic of the inside below. You can find demos of one in previous posts here.
"Making good use of the Crumar Multiman S/2 string separate outputs: string section are going through the Mu-Tron phaser, brass and bass sections are going through the Maestro Rhythm Kings' modulation effect : an input in the back of the drum machine will chop up the input signal like a rhythmic tremolo.
From there is goes to the Maestro Universal Synthesizer (?) System, possibly the first multi-effect ever put on the market, triggering the envelope filter and adding some phaser there as well...
The Maestro Kings' drums are processed through the Roland RE-301 for crunch and echo.
The Elka Solist 505 monophonic synthesizer is playing the lead.
We make these videos as a showcase for our studio and for curious vintage heads - and for fun.
We don't dilly-dally too much with production and mixing but it can sound pretty good with headphones on."
"Crumar Multiman string machine with separate outputs: strings are going through the Mu-Tron phaser, brass is going through the Maestro Rhythm Kings' modulation effect, an input in the back of the drum machine will chop up the input signal like a rhythmic tremolo.
From there is goes to the Maestro Universal Synthesizer (?) System, possibly the first multi-effect ever put on the market, triggering the envelope filter and possibly adding some phaser there as well...
The Maestro Kings' drums are processed through the Roland RE-301 for crunch and echo.
The Elka Solist 505 monophonic synthesizer is playing the lead.
We make these videos as a showcase for our studio and for curious vintage heads - and for fun.
We don't dilly-dally too much with production and mixing but it can sound pretty good with headphones on."
"The Roland TR77 Drum machine is going through the Emthree Pulsatron Mixer for crunch.
The Dr. Böhm Solist 78 is playing through a mysterious no-brand phaser "Rotor Monster" (that could be some kind of Vermona product) while the seconds short decay chords go through the Roland RE-301 Space Echo.
The short drum fills comes from the Dr. Böhm Solist 78 as well, with Telefunken Echo Mixer spring reverb.
The Elka Solist 505 is a house favorite, an underdog, monophonic synth with a unique timbre.
The drum machines are not midi-or clock synced, just synced manually.
We make these videos as a showcase for our studio and for curious vintage heads - and for fun.
We don't dilly-dally too much with production and mixing but it can sound pretty good with headphones on."
"Very warm and fat sounding vintage synth from the 70's with a Moog style ladder filter. It has 11 presets that can be modified. Great for a variety of sounds – from bubbly basses to sci fi laser guns."
"This very rare analog synthesizer features both presets and free control of key parameters sort of like an Italian SH1000 or Arp Pro Soloist (hmm, that name rings a bell), or Moog Satellite. According to the site "encyclotronic":
"A feature of the Soloist 505 is that it has the famous Moog Ladder Filter onboard. Manufacturers installed the components to make the Ladder Filter before Moog Music imposed a patent on it's use in non Moog instruments."
It's virtually identical to the synthesizer built into Elka's big double manual organ the X705 and has the same porn-tastic vibe ;)"
"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).
"This is a combination preset/variable synth. It has 11 preset sounds with a wide mix of tones but when you switch on the 'Variations' button you can alter the preset sound with a variety of sound modifiers, including...
Octave Down
Bend
Vibrato
Filter
VCF
VCA
This combination of differing preset tones and modifer controls provides a surprisingly wide array of sounds. Of course, this synth is aimed squarely at melody duties and is not particularly good for fx or weird synth noises. However, as a melodic synth it has character and real power. This is probably largely due to the Moog type ladder filter in this synth, copied from the one used in the Minimoog (later Elka keyboards did not feature this filter as Moog served notice on Elka to cease and desist copying their tech!)"
Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
ELKA solist 505 synth monofonico
Published on Dec 4, 2012 nuovafesta
"The Soloist 505 is a very simple monophonic synth. Its look reminds one of a Roland SH-1000, but with its controls on the front. The sound is very clear and clean like many Italian cousins (Siel). There is a preset section but the waveforms can also be modified in 'free' mode. Funny sounds, lysergic and ancestral. But the keyboard is good and there are some presets such as the sax, trombone, cosmic, flute e telstar which have some power worth exploring. It's cute and slightly rare. No MIDI or CV here."
"Great analog preset monosynth, unique sounding - one of a kind!
There are two Moog ladder filters in this thing, which makes it sound nice and fat.
Check out the video for a run through of the presets and filters, great for library / afro funk type sounds, real greasy!"
Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
via this auction
"The Elka Solist 505 is a monophonic lead synthesizer, preset based with variations for added performance.
It provided a nice alternative to the Moog Satellite ARP Pro Soloist.
It has 11 presets, all which could be changed with freq/res, attack/release, vibrato and portamento.
Notably, it contained the famous Moog ladder filter.
Although basic in function – no CV, no MIDI – it could produce some lovely tones, and the keyboard action is very nice indeed – something you’d expect from a renowned Italian organ manufacturer!"
This one is in via swissdoc who spotted on listed here. It's essentially a preset accordion style synthesizer with limited controls. You can find a handful of posts featuring the Elka Solist 505 here.
There's a Synth Magic software emulation of one you can find here.
"Late 70s solo mono synth in working condition one end is damaged (see picture) doesn't effect the synth in any way. apart from that it is in good condition."
"AMBIENT Psychedelic HALLOWEEN SPECIAL with additional video from Horror Nights (with our girlfriends under zombie & chainsaw attack :)
ROLAND JUNO 60 with Tubbutec Juno 66 Mod (Portamento, Duophonic/Unison, Supersaw/square, Detune, MIDI, Chord Memory, ...),
Space Organ ELKA x705, Korg Volca Bass, Elektron Octatrack & Guitar.
Tubbutec Mod is a must have for experimental Juno 6/60/106 owners turning the amazing Juno into a more flexible & more VCO-sounding REAL BOUTIQUE synth (greetz to all Ju-6 owners :-) The developer did a great job! Unbelievable that you get a new firmware upgrade for a synth from 1982!
Horror Nights is an amazing event at Europapark Rust/Germany . It's like being in your own horror movie. 6 big houses with different topics and lots of zombie , mummy and monster action on the whole outdoor area. additional video also contains some modern and vintage ghost trains and fantasy worlds @ Europapark Rust.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN MY FRIENDS, hope you enjoy my music video :-)
Instruments used:
ROLAND JUNO 60 (1982) (with Tubbutec Mod & Peavey Studio Mix controller) String FX: Vermona PH-16 phaser
ELKA X705 (1978) space organ with two Rhapsody 610 string machines & Solist 505 synth (string FX EHX small stone)
Korg Volca Bass
Elektron Octattrack (drum& percussion loops, guitar post FX, vocal samples)
Godin LGX-SA guitar
All instruments have been filmed while recording!"
