Elka Synthex
Info
Every respectable studio is obliged to possess a decent analog synth, the Synthex is my precious analog.
It was produced between 1981-85 and came out in three versions; the first didn't have any MIDI at all, the second had a computer interface where you could connect a MIDI converter, the third had factory MIDI.
It is made by the Italian organ manufacturing company Elka Orla and designed by Mario Maggi.
The Synthex is known for being the sound generator behind the laser harp Jean Michel Jarre used in his concerts.
That laser harp sound is actually a factory preset called "Ring mod." and is made by the Synthex promoter Paul Wiffen.
Only 1850 Synthex synthesizers were made during the production period.
Despite having more features than most other polysynths at the time it was released, the Synthex didn't became a commercial success.
Mainly due to the release of the Yamaha DX-7 FM synth in 1983. On the other hand, today the Synthex is a legend!
Read an interesting article from Sound On Sound magazine about the Synthex.
Audio samples
- All 40 Synthex presets 15 minutes of my crappy keyboard playing while I go thru the presets.
- Rendez-Vous 2 strings Rendez-Vous - The Synthex album.
- Chronologie 1 intro strings There is quite a bit of Synthex in this album too.
- Glide bass The sound that starts off the second part of Chronologie 1.
- The Laser Harp The mighty laser harp sound.
- Rendez-Vous 4 brass A recognizable Synthex sound. It is not a preset so I had to create it, but making these powerful brass sounds is quite easy on a Synthex.
- The London Kid sound This sound is also a Synthex factory preset called "Metallic".
- High-pass sweep That big sound used in Rendez-Vous 5.
- CS-80 imitation The Synthex does a pretty good Yamaha CS-80.
- Band-pass strings Band-pass strings with some resonance.
- Sync bass with ringmod A bass sound with sync and ringmod.
- Bass lead Running Synthex bass with the internal sequencer.
- Analog filters Demonstrating the glory of the Synthex analog filters, together with some Virus KB drums.
- Pink noise Pink noise played with the Synthex.
- Chorus 1 Pink noise played with chorus 1.
- Chorus 2 Pink noise played with chorus 2.
- Chorus 3 Pink noise played with chorus 3.