| Korg Prophecy Digital Synthesizer built 1995 / monophonic based on the first Oasys-concept the Prophecy is made for Performance, the ribbon-wheel combination is a very cool live performance control. the multi synthesis nature (MOSS) of the Prophecy provides combinations of: PM, VPM (FM), subtractive, waveshape and Comb filter-noise. PM: Brass, Reed, Pluck more.. |
| Modulus Monowave Hybrid Synthesizer built 2004 / monophonic Monophonic Wave-Synth slightly like the PPG Wave but reduced to the max by Paul Maddox who did a lot of nice Wavetable-related projects (like the Waveterm C on a PC). It has no wavetables but quite a lot of Waves. more.. |
| OSC OSCar Hybrid Synthesizer built 1983 / monophonic + simple sequencer Oxford Synthesiser Company OSCar. another fine synth (beside the WASP by EDP (electronic dream plant) from Chris Huggett (about his other project: EDP and his teaming up with EMS-David Cockerell) (imo he's the one who is also responsible for EDP) It had additive synthesized waveforms as waveforms, interesting very "british" sounding rough filters with separation and drive! (sep sets the BPF bandwidth) this is the first and last synth by OSC 1982. 2 ENVS (adsr) and 1 LFO. also nice PW control. but very cryptic interface and look.. 2 filters, routable to model a 24dB/oct filter, both filters are multimode: lpf,hpf,bpf the oscs are special digital ones thaat can hold up to 24 waveforms where 5 can be edited in a kind off additive way.. there is a sequencer in it ,too (24 sequences storable) later software versions made those editable, but see them as (almost) preset ones. "duophonic" via the sequencer, so this is what it has in common with the arp odyssey and the roland sh7, duo is not poly. btw: there is a software out emulating the OSCar from g media, but I don't own it.. only seen the demo. huggett later worked for akai (the s1000), strange, but .. the Advanced Sound Generator ASG was planned but imho it was never made, sort of rack version of an advanced OScar.. about 1000 Oscars have been made.. more.. |
| Wersi Stage Performer Mk 1SII, Stage Performer S2Mk 2 Digital Synthesizer built 1988 / monophonic additive Synthesizer with one SSM filter. more.. |
| Yamaha VL7 Digital Synthesizer built 1994 / monophonic like VL1 but monophonic. first synth simulating physical strings, wind and reed sounds, also simple synth sounds (since V2.0). special FX and controller table for controller adaption. more.. |
| Yamaha VL7m Digital Synthesizer built 1994 / monophonic Rack Version of the VL7. like VL1 but monophonic. first synth simulating physical strings, wind and reed sounds, also simple synth sounds (since V2.0). special FX and controller table for controller adaption. more.. |
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| Yamaha VL70m Digital Synthesizer built 1996 / monophonic a downsized Version of a V1.0 Vl7m in a 9.5" rack and 6 User Memories. second synth simulating physical strings, wind and reed sounds, also simple synth sounds (since V2.0). special FX and controller table for controller adaption. 2.0 is not available for vl70m. some Yamaha Synth allow PLG "hardware plugins" model "VL" to be installed! (identical to vl70m) more.. |
| Yamaha VL1 Digital Synthesizer built 1994 / 2x polyphonic first synth simulating physical strings, wind and reed sounds, also simple synth sounds (since V2.0). special FX and controller table for controller adaption. And the mega-expensive and ultra-rare VP1, which simulates Strings (any Kind) from morphing a guitar into a chinese Erthu and things like that with only a few parameters.. it's price should not be below 25000€, still since there are only 3 "sold" (I assume Peter Gabriel has one?) it's basic functionality is like the VL1 but it is rarely seen and I only know it from the fine Demo on the german keys mag-CD 94/12 (by Reinhold Heil)... more.. |
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| Yamaha VL1m Digital Synthesizer built 1994 / 2x polyphonic Rack Version of VL1 .first synth simulating physical strings, wind and reed sounds, also simple synth sounds (since V2.0). special FX and controller table for controller adaption. more.. |
| Airbourne AVS04 Modular Synthesizer built 2006 / 4x polyphonic Martin Hollinger who is running the swiss Synth Museum Synthorama showed his Airböurne AVS-04 on the swiss synthesizer meeting in oct. 2006, it's a modular system based on FPGAs, the filters are modelled after the moog filter modules.. more.. |
| Casio SK1 Sampler built 1987 / 4x polyphonic well, a real circuit bending victim - it's very lofi - so it got famous in the late 2005.. more.. |
| Clavia Nord Micromodular , Micro Modular Modular Synthesizer built 1999 / 4x polyphonic + TR sequencer one slot of the nord modular in a smaller case. A DSP Synth, also works without computer (even for parameter change), the only thing you need it for is to edit/create a new patch via a second MIDI port. The number of voices will be reduced depending on the patch complexity. max 4 voices, in fact it will be almost 1 or 2 voiced.. more.. |
| Korg MS2000, MS2000B Digital Synthesizer built 2000 / 4x polyphonic + modulation step sequencer Korgs first virtual analoge Synth started under the the name suspect to sound like the ms20, in fact it didn't but it replaced it's function it its time as a synthesizer for the folks/masses (we call that volkssynthesizer), in fact it has a vocoder and a very good modulations analog step sequencer on board and the DWGS Waveforms of the DW8000. more.. |
| Korg Microkorg Digital Synthesizer built 2002 / 4x polyphonic the microkorg is the same as the MS2000, but smaller, ok the sequencer was replaced by a step-arper - MS2000? Korgs first virtual analoge Synth started under the the name suspect to sound like the ms20, in fact it didn't but it replaced it's function it its time as a synthesizer for the folks/masses (we call that volkssynthesizer), in fact it has a vocoder and the DWGS Waveforms of the DW8000. more.. |
| LL Rozzbox Digital Synthesizer built 2005 / 5x polyphonic + simple sequencer once upon a time Kilian Leonhard and the german keyboards forum users desiced to make a synth, ok the forum was only for ideas, in fact Kilian did all the work and the aim was to make a synth for 250€, the frist bath was made and sold, Kilian exploited himself ,so V2 was made and the price wnet up to still very ok level and the voice number raised to 5 Voices.. more.. |
| LL Rozzbox One V2 Digital Synthesizer built 2008 / 5x polyphonic + simple sequencer once upon a time Kilian Leonhard and the german keyboards forum users desiced to make a synth, ok the forum was only for ideas, in fact Kilian did all the work and the aim was to make a synth for 250€, the frist bath was made and sold, Kilian exploited himself ,so V2 was made and the price wnet up to still very ok level and the voice number raised to 5 Voices.. more.. |
| Akai S612 Sampler built 1985 / 6x polyphonic Akais early samplers had almost no synthesis features, the S612 had even nice 2 sliders for sample start end end point. X: Keyboards, S: Racks more.. |
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| Akai S700, X7000, X3700 Sampler built 1985 / 6x polyphonic the first white series after the very first S612. Akais early samplers had almost no synthesis features, the S612 had even nice 2 sliders for sample start end end point. X: Keyboards, S: Racks more.. |
| Kawai K3, K3m Hybrid Synthesizer built 1986 / 6x polyphonic Kawais digital debut synth with digital Waveforms, did not sell very well but wasn''t a bad synth, possibly some fear of the "japanese" at that time? Has analogue filters more.. |
| Korg DW6000 Hybrid Synthesizer built 1985 / 6x polyphonic a cheaper version of the DW8000 unfortunately no dynamics on the DW6000 - kind of successor of the polysix "becoming more digital", the time of stepped parameters.. can be controlled by SysEX (surprise!)- cool unison mode (all voices at once) more.. |
| Roland VP9000 Digital Synthesizer built 2000 / 6x polyphonic Variphrase is the basic idea behind the VSynth that lets you play the sample independently: pitch, time (length) and formants, so 3 octaves higher: no mickey mouse effect, freezing and scanning through it like a wavetable and play at any pitch without changing its length (like any normal sampler). more.. |
| Akai S900, S950 Sampler built 1986 / 8x polyphonic Akais early samplers had almost no synthesis features, 750KB ram (s900, 2.2MB max S950), well one was happy to simply play samples. more.. |
| Alesis Ion Digital Synthesizer built 2003 / 8x polyphonic Alesis' anwer to their own product Andromeda A6? .. structure: yes, sound: no, completely different.. more.. |
| Alesis Micron Digital Synthesizer built 2003 / 8x polyphonic + step sequencer like Ion but with cute seuencer for performance and smaller.. more.. |
| Casio CZ101, CZ1000 Digital Synthesizer built 1984 / 8x polyphonic Casios first pro-synth called "Cosmo Synthesizer", reminds a bit of analog synthesizers, first midi multi (mono) mode. most cool sounds need 2 DCOs - means: 4 voices then. more.. |
| Emu Emulator 1, Emulator I Digital Synthesizer built 1981 / 8x polyphonic + simple sequencer Emus Emulator was the proto of THE SAMPLER, a completely new thing for most people, Depeche Mode, Kraftwerk and even Stevie Wonder bought one.. more.. |
| Emu Emulator 2, Emulator II Hybrid Synthesizer built 1984 / 8x polyphonic + simple sequencer The Emulator II was THEEE Sampler, F242 and Depeche Mode used it on stage (the 80ies), most samplers were not much more than this, but more ram.. 3000 were made. quite a lot for that price at its time (in germany 28000 DM = 14000€) more.. |
| Emu Emax Hybrid Synthesizer built 1986 / 8x polyphonic + workstation sequencer the low profile Emulator? Well it had a lot of interesting features incl analog filters and digital waveform generation.. more.. |
| Ensoniq ESQ1, ESQm Hybrid Synthesizer built 1986 / 8x polyphonic + real time sequencer First Ensoniq Synth, who were envolved in the Commodore C64 SID chip (sound), the ESQ1 (or ESQ-M rack) is no way a Commodore, it is very much like a Workstation exept using hi-end Samples - it can sync the OSCs and has a nice sequencer and full multi mode. more.. |
| Ensoniq SQ80 Hybrid Synthesizer built 1988 / 8x polyphonic + real time sequencer updated ESQ1 ,ensoniq were envolved in the Commodore C64 SID chip (sound) on the ESQ1 (or ESQ-M rack) is no way a Commodore, it is very much like a Workstation exept using hi-end Samples - it can sync the OSCs and has a nice sequencer and full multi mode. the SQ80 added a polyphonic aftertouch keyboard, disc drive and more waves incl. drums more.. |
| Ensoniq Mirage DSK1, DSK8 Sampler built 1984 / 8x polyphonic + simple sequencer one of the first affordable samplers beside the akai S612 but with 8bit, so it is not a hi-end sampler, it has analog filters so it has a lot in common with the ESQ1 / SQ80, Skinny Puppy used it on Remisson/Bites.. "the world's a hell ..." more.. |
| Korg DW8000, EX8000 Hybrid Synthesizer built 1985 / 8x polyphonic kind of successor of the polysix "becoming more digital", the time of stepped parameters.. can be controlled by SysEX (surprise!) - cool unison mode (all voices at once) more.. |
| Korg DS8 Digital Synthesizer built 1987 / 8x polyphonic This is a special Synth since it has the look and feel of a subtractive synth but is in fact FM with "analog" surface under the hood. Assumably it was made for thos who wanted FM sounds but feel hard to learn FM..? more.. |
| Korg 707 Digital Synthesizer built 1987 / 8x polyphonic This is a special Synth since it has the look and feel of a subtractive synth but is in fact FM with "analog" surface under the hood. Assumably it was made for thos who wanted FM sounds but feel hard to learn FM..? more.. |
| Korg DSS1, DSM1 Sampler built 1986 / 8x polyphonic an analog Synthesizer but instead of OSCs with Samples, your Samples! plus digital delay. more.. |
| Korg r 3 Digital Synthesizer built 2007 / 8x polyphonic + modulation step sequencer Basically this is a Radias with 2 timbres, simplified user interface (less knobs) and better size (3 octaves!) but less sequencers.. the mod sequencer is still in.. One Mod Sequencer per Timbre (there are 2) plus Arper. same as MS2000 -> Microkorg more.. |
| Novation a Station , k Station Digital Synthesizer built 2002 / 8x polyphonic slimmed down versions of the nova series, voice number and size (keyboard) differ. K -Station not multitimbral!! K-Station: no multimode / a-station: no multimode/monophonic more.. |
| Novation x Station Digital Synthesizer built 2005 / 8x polyphonic it's a remote keyboard, audio interface and synth in one. quite like the a/k-station - with 8 voices monotimral. also works as a remote keyboard and audio interface more.. |
| PPG Wavecomputer 360 Digital Synthesizer built 1978 / 8x polyphonic The very first System that introduced Wolfang Palms Wavetable Synthesis. the basic idea is "drive" through a set of wave in a table that finally makes the sound and timbre. bt: even the 360 had very few and ultra rare forerunners called Wavecomputer 340 and 380, well they look very much like.. computers (the waveterm).. more.. |
| PPG Wave 2.0 Hybrid Synthesizer built 1981 / 8x polyphonic + advanced sequencer the Wave 2.0 was very much ahead of its time, it had a full multi mode and you can record filter changes etc onto the sequencer! while the 2.0 had one OSC it had the better filters, the later models 2.2 and 2.3 had 2 OSCs and still good filters but not as good as the 2.0. The very first Wavetable-System with filters that introduced Wolfang Palms Wavetable Synthesis to a bigger market. the basic idea is "drive" through a set of wave in a table that finally makes the sound and timbre. bt: even the very first Wavetable synth Wavecomputer 360 had very few and ultra rare forerunners called Wavecomputer 340 and 380, well they look very much like.. computers (the waveterm).. analogue filter (SSM) more.. |
| PPG Wave 2.2, Wave 2.3 Hybrid Synthesizer built 1982 / 8x polyphonic + advanced sequencer the Wave 2.0 was very much ahead of its time, it had a full multi mode and you can record filter changes etc onto the sequencer! while the 2.0 had one OSC it had the better SSM filters, the later models 2.2 and 2.3 had 2 OSCs and a bit less good sounding (still SSM) filters. The very first Wavetable-System with filters that introduced Wolfang Palms Wavetable Synthesis to a bigger market. the basic idea is "drive" through a set of wave in a table that finally makes the sound and timbre. bt: even the very first Wavetable synth Wavecomputer 360 had very few and ultra rare forerunners called Wavecomputer 340 and 380, well they look very much like.. computers (the waveterm).. analogue filter (SSM), only late versions had midi, but can be retrofitted. more.. |
| Quasimidi Polymorph Digital Synthesizer built 1999 / 8x polyphonic + step sequencer the polymorph isn't the best sounding synthesizer in the world but very nice to access, same for the sequencer, that allows to work intuitive and fast.. so some sort of ambiguitiy. well the last spare parts of QM were sold in the 2000's for around 5kEuro at (insert monopolist auction site here) more.. |
| Red Sound Dark Star , XP2 Digital Synthesizer built 1999 / 8x polyphonic A digital british Synth in a Desktop Case which is based on an earlier FX Box with Sequencer called Federation. more.. |
| Roland JP8000 Digital Synthesizer built 1996 / 8x polyphonic Roland rediscovered the Jupiter needs to be re-invented on DSP basis. this one sounds a bit more plastic (not bad, more plastic!) it was the first synth with supersaw, a number of 7 detuned sawtooth waveforms. the 8 voice jp8000 is very well known for its super saw sounds often used on trance tracks. the same can be heard from the vsynth (V2.0 or higher), it's simple multiple saw waves slightly or not so slightly detuned on one OSC the jp is completely CC controlled and can even freely be set to other CCs, so this is a deluxe CC box, too it has 2 VCOs , plus some special waves like feedback osc and supersaw (same can be found in the vsynth, as said) the jp8080 adds 2 voices and a vocoder.. more.. |
| Roland S10, S220, MKS100 Sampler built 1986 / 8x polyphonic Rolands small "low end" Samplers and it's racks more.. |
| Seiko DS310, DS202, DS101 Digital Synthesizer built 1984 / 8x polyphonic + preset/accompainment sequencer The simple home keyboards DS202 and DS101 are needed to control the DS310 expander which is capable of additive synthesis. was used by J.M.Jarre on rendez-vous album. the DS310 came in 1985. 4 (four!) sounds can be saved. more.. |
| Sequential Circuits Prophet VS Hybrid Synthesizer built 1986 / 8x polyphonic 4 Oscillators can be animated by the Joystick and automated by Envelopes (recorded!). Thats how Vector Synthesis was created. there is some memory free for additive digital Waveforms more.. |
| Sequential Circuits Prophet 2000, Prophet 2002 Sampler built 1985 / 8x polyphonic + simple sequencer at that time a good sampler, a flexible one because it HAD filters, and.. they are analog. more.. |
| Sequential Circuits Prophet 3000 Sampler built 1987 / 8x polyphonic last Sequential Product, very new at that time with removable control unit/display more.. |
| Waldorf Microwave , Microwave 1, mw 1 Hybrid Synthesizer built 1988 / 8x polyphonic The idea of the Waldorf Microwave came, when us-musician Boddicker asked for a racked PPG Wave, so Wolfgang Düren took the liberty to make one, but newer and more modulation capabilities. The Masterpiece from Waldorf was the real successor of PPGs (Wolfgang Palm) Wavetable Synth "Wave 2.3". well, about 90% of the Wave sounds (with no use of its HPF) could be made with the Microwave, but not as easy since editing Waves on the Wave is possible and much faster with knobs. Access did a nice programmer to control the Microwaves most important parameters directly, because it was one of the first Midi-Synthesizers, that were able to be controlled by SysEx in realtime. btw: it has analogue Curtis Filters with Resonance. more.. |
| Yamaha DX100 Digital Synthesizer built 1985 / 8x polyphonic simpler and downsized Version of the DX7 with 4 OP (Oscillators) instead of 6 and simpler Envelopes. more.. |
| Yamaha DX27, DX27L Digital Synthesizer built 1985 / 8x polyphonic simpler and downsized Version of the DX7 with 4 OP (Oscillators) instead of 6 and simpler Envelopes. DX27L has speakers, exept that: same as DX27... more.. |
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| Yamaha DX21 Digital Synthesizer built 1985 / 8x polyphonic simpler and downsized Version of the DX7 with 4 OP (Oscillators) instead of 6 and simpler Envelopes. DX21 had a split and dual mode for sound doubling.. more.. |
| Yamaha DX11 Digital Synthesizer built 1988 / 8x polyphonic simpler and downsized Version of the DX7 with 4 OP (Oscillators) instead of 6 and simpler Envelopes. DX11 had full velocity and AT along with multimode and 8 waveforms. btw: quite hyped in YU / balkan for some ethnic sounds or something.. more.. |
| Yamaha TX81z Digital Synthesizer built 1987 / 8x polyphonic Rackversion of DX11 - simpler and downsized Version of the DX7 with 4 OP (Oscillators) instead of 6 and simpler Envelopes. DX11 had full velocity and AT along with multimode and 8 waveforms. more.. |
| Yamaha YS200, TQ5 Digital Synthesizer built 1988 / 8x polyphonic + simple sequencer Exotic Version of the DX27 with Sequencer. edit sounds only via computer. strange design. more.. |
| Yamaha FB01 Digital Synthesizer built 1986 / 8x polyphonic multitimbral but pitch-ENV-less version of the DX21 as a small module (9.5"). edits only via computer. more.. |
| Yamaha CX5M Digital Synthesizer built 1985 / 8x polyphonic + arranger sequencer an MSX Computer (thats BASIC quite enhanced!) with 4 OP FM Synth Module inside which is quite like the DX100 or FB01, Editor and Sequencer are extra cartridges - you can not reach the 4OP via BASIC directly.. more.. |
| Creamware Noah Digital Synthesizer built 2002 / 10x polyphonic + step sequencer this one did not sell well, in fact it is a standard rack with not-so-cool user interface containing B3 organ, 6string guitar emulation, Moog (mini), ARP Odyssey along with SCI ProOne and the Lightwave, which is a kind of Wavetable Synthesizer with Waldorf Wavetables OSCs. the keyboard was announced but never released for it's form (5 octaves) and bad sales.. first: there is a new synthesizer out: the prodessey, emulates the ARP odyssey as good as the minimoog (minimax) and SCI pro one.. let me say "as good" means: the noah redefined the quality of emulation software (and hardware).. most previous tries where simply a simulation of the structure but far from the sound of the original.. and: the originals are still analogue! so it may be a problem to compare the noah directly with ONE pro one or one mini!.. hmm, imo they cose the right vintage synthesizers.. I still hope for a virtual ms20! and even more I hope for creamware's polyphonic noah (yes! you can play all of these machines polyphonically) - that the company will survive. you can still add a knob box to really EDIT the machine or try the 80ies style interface.. which is good for a 2HE rack with only 4 knobs,but not enough for performing.. so: get a nice knob box and have a couple (!!) of vintage synths available anytime! and polyphonically. well this machine did not sell well at all.. no they offer each model as a separate simple synth.. the prodessey also shows: the standard parameters of the original synthesizers are all there, sometimes you CAN choose if you want to use AR or ADSR but there is no patch matrix or something like this.. this has an advantage: it's not hard to get the idea and to make a sound!! on the other hand it is quite as powerful as the original but you can't "mod" it like the originals.. imo the importance of this is up to you!!!.. I demoed the noah with a mini-style controller (not a joke!!) and of course it was as simple to use and play as the mini.. so if you find some universal interface covering all those models you might have found YOUR instrument!! since the lightwave,some kind of microwave type synth is also implemented it's worth to get one, if you find one cheap.. maybe they do a nicer controller-version of it?.. more.. |
| Novation Xiosynth 25, Xiosynth 49 Digital Synthesizer built 2006 / 10x polyphonic slimmed down versions of the nova series, voice number and size (keyboard) differ. K -Station not multitimbral!! K-Station: no multimode / a-station: no multimode/monophonic It's a synth, an audio interface and a controller box / remote keyboard in one box at very low cost. more.. |
| Roland JP8080 Digital Synthesizer built 1998 / 10x polyphonic Roland rediscovered the Jupiter needs to be re-invented on DSP basis as a rack. this one sounds a bit more plastic (not bad, more plastic!) it was the first synth with supersaw, a number of 7 detuned sawtooth waveforms. more.. |
| Roland SH201 Digital Synthesizer built 2006 / 10x polyphonic + simple sequencer 2 VCOs , structure is 2 tones per patch (Roland slang is upper and lower), AD env for pitchmod, USB for audio + midi, edit software, strange: 32 ram patches only. d-beam it's a VA version of the Vsynths VA engine. more.. |
| Waldorf Microwave PC Digital Synthesizer built 1996 / 10x polyphonic Identical to Microwave 2, but for the PC to be installed onto a Terratec Soundcard.. no mac version. more.. |
| Yamaha AN1x Digital Synthesizer built 1997 / 10x polyphonic + step sequencer quite underrated virtual analogue Synth. Mrophing between 2 "scenes". more.. |
| Access Virus , Virus A Digital Synthesizer built 1997 / 12x polyphonic the first virus, do I have to say something here? after making the access programmers for Microwave and Matrix 1000 Mr. Kemper and Mr. Kirsch did this groundbreaking sounding Synth for a digital Synth. The second after the Nord Lead "virtual analogue" synth. more.. |
| Clavia Nord Lead Digital Synthesizer built 1995 / 12x polyphonic the first virtual analogue synth, with 4 voices expandable to 12. The Jupiter 8/MKS80 and the SCI Prophet 5 were "modeled" after the idea of these 2 classic synths (of course this does not mean it sounds identical). more.. |
| Creamware Minimax , ASB Digital Synthesizer built 2005 / 12x polyphonic looks like a Minimoog? Yes, it's digital and it has 12 voices. btw: its the same as pulsar "minimax". ASB stands for authentic sound box. and it is one of the better emulations you can find. more.. |
| Creamware Prodyssey , ASB Digital Synthesizer built 2006 / 12x polyphonic this is new for Musikmesse 2006 - Emulation of the ARP Odyssey (II, the black one with golden lettering - the 24 dB/Oct. Filter modell - so they chose the best sounding model), all ASB (authentic sound box) series synths are usb controlled (software). but it also works standalone. alternatively minimax (minimoog) filter mode and 12 voices. more see tech. the pic was given to me exclusively as the first pic internationally.. more.. |
| Creamware Pro 12, ASB Digital Synthesizer built 2005 / 12x polyphonic classic synth clone with 12voices and polymod section also FX. ASB = authentic sound box. (also known as Profit5 / Pro5) more.. |
| Creamware Klangbox , Minimax , ASB Digital Synthesizer built 2006 / 12x polyphonic The Rack Version of the Minimax ASB stands for authentic sound box. and it is one of the better emulations you can find. more.. |
| Creamware Klangbox , Pro 12, ASB Digital Synthesizer built 2006 / 12x polyphonic Rack Version of the Pro-12 ASB. classic synth clone with 12voices and polymod section also FX. ASB = authentic sound box. (also known as Profit5 / Pro5) more.. |
| Creamware Klangbox , Prodyssey , ASB Digital Synthesizer built 2006 / 12x polyphonic Rack Version of the Prodyssey - Emulation of the ARP Odyssey (II, the black one with golden lettering - the 24 dB/Oct. Filter modell - so they chose the best sounding model), all ASB (authentic sound box) series synths are usb controlled (software). but it also works standalone. alternatively minimax (minimoog) filter mode and 12 voices. more see tech. the pic was given to me exclusively as the first pic internationally.. more.. |
| Korg Z1 Digital Synthesizer built 1997 / 12x polyphonic based on the first Oasys-concept the Z1 is made for Performance, the XY-Pad is a very cool live performance control. the multi synthesis nature (MOSS) of the "polyphonic Prophecy" (not patch compatible) provides combinations of: PM, ringmod, Xmod, Reso-filter-OSC,VPM (FM), subtractive, waveshape and Comb filter-noise. PM: Brass, Reed, Pluck, E-Piano, Bowed String more.. |
| Oberheim OB12 Digital Synthesizer built 2000 / 12x polyphonic + simple sequencer first: this is no real oberheim! it is a Viscount, .. Gibson gave them the permission to make some weird Organs, Masterkeyboards and this VA. It looks cool but it is no way analog (sonically).. but better than most ppl speak about it.. after os 1.5 it works and that makes it a nice tools for non-percussive sounds.. more.. |
| Use Audio Plugiator Digital Synthesizer built 2008 / 12x polyphonic ASB Prodyssey (ARP Odyssey), Minimax (Moog Minimoog) and Pro12 (SCI Prophet 5), the B4000 Organ (Hammond), the Lightwave (Wavetable-Synthesizer) and the Vocodizer (Vocoder). 2 more synths are written on the machine (2008): FMagia (very simple FM Synth) and Drums'n'Bass (Drummachine).. more.. |
| Akai S1000, S1100 Sampler built 1988 / 16x polyphonic Akais most successful time began with the S1000/S1100, a weak 12dB filter was the only feature along with timestretching, unfortunately the S1000 became standard (for no reason!) for a long time of the 90ies.. warning: also playback only versions were available. S1100 with FX section. more.. |
| Casio CZ5000, CZ3000 Digital Synthesizer built 1986 / 16x polyphonic Casios second pro-synth called "Cosmo Synthesizer", reminds a bit of analog synthesizers, first midi multi (mono) mode. most cool sounds need 2 DCOs - means: 8 voices then. No Sequencer in the CZ3000. more.. |
| Casio CZ1 Digital Synthesizer built 1986 / 16x polyphonic Casios second pro-synth called "Cosmo Synthesizer", reminds a bit of analog synthesizers, first midi multi (mono) mode. most cool sounds need 2 DCOs - means: 8 voices then. Like CZ3000 but with Dynamic Keyboard. more.. |
| Casio VZ1, VZ10m , VZ8m Digital Synthesizer built 1986 / 16x polyphonic Quite like FM Synthesis but with 8 Oscillators where one pair can phase- or ring modulate! Rack Version is the VZ10m, half voice number (8voices) on the VZ8m. more.. |
| Casio FZ1, HS1, Fz 1m , Hs 1m Sampler built 1987 / 16x polyphonic the Casio Sampler was quite ahead in its time: it was cheap and it had 16bit. the FZ1 (same as Hohners only sampler HS1 in germany) was the first reasonable 16bit-stereo sampler. some additive synthesis on board, quite nice.. and cheap those days.. the cheapst samplers - more toys were the SK keyboards (sk1, sk7) more.. |
| Clavia Nord Modular G2, g 2x , G2engine Modular Synthesizer built 2004 / 16x polyphonic + TR sequencer Successor of the Nord Modular. A DSP Synth, also works without computer (even for parameter change), the only thing you need it for is to edit/create a new patch via USB. The number of voices will be reduced depending on the patch complexity. 32 voices is the expanded G2, standard: 16. more.. |
| Clavia Nord Modular , Nord Modular Rack Modular Synthesizer built 1998 / 16x polyphonic + TR sequencer Predecessor of the Nord Modular G2. A DSP Synth, also works without computer (even for parameter change), the only thing you need it for is to edit/create a new patch via a second MIDI port. The number of voices will be reduced depending on the patch complexity. 32 voices is the expanded G2, standard: 16. more.. |
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| Dynacord Add One , Add Two , ADS Sampler built 1987 / 16x polyphonic quite beloved by drummers at its time, but nevertheless there was a keyboard version of the ADS, too more.. |
| Emu Emulator 3, Emulator III, e III Hybrid Synthesizer built 1987 / 16x polyphonic + workstation sequencer big upgrade to 16bit at that time for the well knows EIII , also rack versions and play only versions were made.. added transform multiplication, an offline morphing tool (2 samples). Depeche Mode made it famous, again.. more.. |
| Emu Emax 2, Emax II Digital Synthesizer built 1988 / 16x polyphonic + workstation sequencer Emax successor with more ram (quite expansive to upgrade it to 8MB, btw.. normal EmaxII had 512KB to 2MB.. new on the Emax II and very adorable: the transform multiplication to mix/morph 2 samples to one (offline of course) more.. |
| Evolution EVS1 Digital Synthesizer built 1991 / 16x polyphonic little cheap but not simple rack with multiple synthesis power.. more.. |
| Fairlight Fairlight CMIseries Hybrid Synthesizer built 1979 / 16x polyphonic + midi sequencer There are more than one Fairlight System: Serie 1 to 3, the first one is 8bit, the last was 16it by the australian company. Fast Fourier Transform, Waveform edits / drawing more.. |
| Hohner HS1, Hs 1e Sampler built 1987 / 16x polyphonic Hohner cloned the FZ1 and FZm rack as HS1 because Casio hat no real name for pro-synths, so they teamed up with Hohner in germany since they were well known for everything else, but not really for synths - possibly not the best political decision in life and Casio does no Professional Synth for years. the Casio Sampler was quite ahead in its time: it was cheap and it had 16bit. the FZ1 (same as Hohners only sampler HS1 in germany) was the first reasonable 16bit-stereo sampler. some additive synthesis on board, quite nice.. and cheap those days.. the cheapst samplers - more toys were the SK keyboards (sk1, sk7) more.. |
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| Hohner HS2, HS2e Digital Synthesizer built 1986 / 16x polyphonic same as Casio VZ10 and VZ10m, respectively VZ8 and VZ8m but in white Quite like FM Synthesis but with 8 Oscillators where one pair can phase- or ring modulate! Rack Version is the VZ10m, half voice number (8voices) on the VZ8m. more.. |
| Hohner ADAM Digital Synthesizer built 1994 / 16x polyphonic + preset/accompainment sequencer the most interesting part of this synth may be the design by Axel Hartmann who also did Waldorf and the Alesis Andromeda, well it's a Standard Rompler. A.D.A.M. is for Advanced Digital/Analog Musical-Instrument more.. |
| Kawai K5, K5m Digital Synthesizer built 1987 / 16x polyphonic first affordable synth that had four envelopes that control a set of additive generators. keyboard has release velocity more.. |
| Kawai K4, K4r Digital Synthesizer built 1989 / 16x polyphonic Kawais "mass production" synth, today some EBM bands still like it for it's "rough" sound.. like K1 but with filters.. more.. |
| Kawai K1, K1m , K1r Digital Synthesizer built 1988 / 16x polyphonic Kawais "mass production" synth, today some EBM bands still like it for it's "rough" sound.. like K4 but without filters.. more.. |
| Korg M1, M1R, M3R Digital Synthesizer built 1988 / 16x polyphonic + workstation sequencer the first real Workstation triggered a lot of other coming Workstations to be released, a synth that has enough voices, FX and a sequencer to make a complete demo plus sampled airy voices that were very new and fascinating at that time. T-series was the same but different key number and ROM size more.. |
| Korg T1, T2, T3 Digital Synthesizer built 1990 / 16x polyphonic + workstation sequencer the first real Workstation (successor of M1) triggered a lot of other coming Workstations to be released, a synth that has enough voices, FX and a sequencer to make a complete demo plus sampled airy voices that were very new and fascinating at that time. T-series was the same but different key number and ROM size more.. |
| Novation Nova , Nova 2 Digital Synthesizer built 1999 / 16x polyphonic smaller version of the Supernova, also as rack "laptop". Nova expandable -> more voices.. dual ringmod. more.. |
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| Novation KS4, KS5, KSR Digital Synthesizer built 2002 / 16x polyphonic slimmed down versions of the nova series, voice number and size (keyboard) differ. K -Station not multitimbral!! K-Station: no multimode / a-station: no multimode/monophonic more.. |
| Roland D50, D550 Digital Synthesizer built 1987 / 16x polyphonic the LA-Synthesis was introduced and the D50 sold well after the big DX7 success (yamaha). it had some samples like the shakuhachi along with 2 OSCs and upper + lower structure, there was a 3rd party multimode expansion available (when using it all the D50 was 8 voice polyphonic. samples could not be filtered. more.. |
| Roland W30 Digital Synthesizer built 1989 / 16x polyphonic + workstation sequencer a sampler with RAM and ROM samples, along with the S50 sampler it was the wirst sampling workstation from roland, also the monitor edit was very special (internal edit mode on the S50 sampler.. using a TV), 12 Bit.. Also a Sequencer in there .. often used by prodigy (live I saw 2 of them..) - strange - got rare these days. want it stereo: 8 voices. Hack Mode (at your own risk) Press "user" twice - enter "user setting" mode. while keeping tempo pressed, trigger F1 twice quickly. more.. |
| Roland S50, S550 Sampler built 1986 / 16x polyphonic Rolands first "big" Samplers and it's rack variants with Monitor and integrated edit-Software. more.. |
| Roland S330 Sampler built 1986 / 16x polyphonic Rolands first "big" Samplers and it's rack variants with Monitor and integrated edit-Software. more.. |
| Waldorf Wave Hybrid Synthesizer built 1994 / 16x polyphonic The Masterpiece from waldorf was the real successor of PPGs (Wolfgang Palm) Wavetable Synth "Wave 2.3" and added a HPF. well, about 90% of the sounds could be made with the Microwave, but not as easy since editing Waves on the Wave is possible and much faster with knobs. more.. |
| Yamaha DX7 Digital Synthesizer built 1983 / 16x polyphonic the digital classic FM synthesizer, the real breakthru for Yamaha. at that time it had more dynamics (velocity controlled fm) than analog sounds and much more "realistic".. 140 DX1 were made. more.. |
| Yamaha DX7II, DX7IIFD Digital Synthesizer built 1987 / 16x polyphonic Successor of the DX7 with better DACs and dual/split mode. the digital classic FM synthesizer, the real breakthru for Yamaha. at that time it had more dynamics (velocity controlled fm) than analog sounds and much more "realistic".. more.. |
| Yamaha TX802 Digital Synthesizer built 1988 / 16x polyphonic Rack version of the DX7II but 8times multitimbral. Successor of the DX7 with better DACs and dual/split mode. the digital classic FM synthesizer, the real breakthru for Yamaha. at that time it had more dynamics (velocity controlled fm) than analog sounds and much more "realistic".. more.. |
| Yamaha TX7 Digital Synthesizer built 1984 / 16x polyphonic Rack Version of the DX7. the digital classic FM synthesizer, the real breakthru for Yamaha. at that time it had more dynamics (velocity controlled fm) than analog sounds and much more "realistic".. more.. |
| Yamaha DX9 Digital Synthesizer built 1983 / 16x polyphonic simpler and downsized Version of the DX7 with 4 OP (Oscillators) instead of 6 and simpler Envelopes. it did not have that much success of the DX7.. so not many seen these days ,well: no velocity. more.. |
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| Yamaha V50 Digital Synthesizer built 1989 / 16x polyphonic + workstation sequencer Workstation based on the DX11 more.. |
| Yamaha SY22 Digital Synthesizer built 1990 / 16x polyphonic Vector Synth, uses FM and 12bit Rom Samples. smaller version of the TG33/SY35. Voices are reduced by 4 when using all 4 OSCs. more.. |
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| Yamaha TX16W Sampler built 1988 / 16x polyphonic Yamahas first sampler, 12bit and stereo! 3rd party os needed for really USING it ;) more.. |
| Yamaha RX5, RX7 Digital Synthesizer built 1987 / 16x polyphonic + real time sequencer the RX5 was the top model from Yamaha at that time and quite advances also, a nice 808 Card was available too (seems one of them ruined my RX at that time) more.. |
| Yamaha RX11, RX15, RX21 Digital Synthesizer built 1984 / 16x polyphonic + real time sequencer the simpler Series of the RX series (RX120-RX8) were built 1984 to 1989. They are all 12bit more.. |
| Yamaha RX17, RX120, RX8 Digital Synthesizer built 1984 / 16x polyphonic + real time sequencer the simpler Series of the RX series (RX120-RX8) were built 1984 to 1989. They are all 12bit more.. |
| Yamaha VP1 Digital Synthesizer built 1994 / 16x polyphonic VP1, which simulates Strings (any Kind) from morphing a guitar into a chinese Erthu and things like that with only a few parameters.. it's price should not be below 25000 euro, still since there are only 3 "sold" (I assume Peter Gabriel has one?) it's basic functionality is like the VL1 but it is rarely seen and I only know it from the fine Demo on the german keys mag-CD 94/12 (by Reinhold Heil)... more.. |
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