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Elka Synthex

 

 

 

elka synthex

info Country: Italy
Weight: 30 Kg
Dimensions: 1095 x 500 x 165 mm
audio demo trend price : 6000€
manual schematic demo comments

Elka Synthex (1981)

 

Impressive analog cult poly synthesizer designed by Italian organ societies Elka & Orla.

synthesizer Elka
left board

info KEYBOARD 61 keys (no velocity) optional pair of legs.
The main panel features 36 knobs, 84 buttons, 6 levers and a joystick for pitch bending and modulation.

Back panel terminal connectors:
- tape interface
- sequencer sync input
- stereo analog out
- expression pedal input control for filter cutoff
- footswitch input program up
- footswitch input sustain + EG release
- footswitch input glide control.


 

edit TECH main 8 bits CPU 6502 clocked at 1MHz manages 8 voices polyphony organized on 4 voice boards with stereo mode . A synth basic Synthex patch is composed by 2 DCO oscillators + 1 white-pink noise generator.

dco

demo Hear stereo mode

 


edit
OSCILLATOR DCO1 and DCO2 can be ringomodualted and mixed with individual mixer and have similar characteristics:

DCO octave range: 16' 8' 4' 2' 1'

shapes: sawtooth / pulse (variable width) / square / triangle

detune: yes

Hardsynch: 2>1
demo Hear hardsync harp





edit PERFORMANCE
the multiplexed boards feature 4 playmodes:

elka synthex tech

- double mode: is a layer of 2 sound patches
- split assigns 2 patches on a different keyboard zones
- stereo panning mode: voice boards are sequenced to left or right stereo field
- polyphonic portamento with glide option and variable speed rate demoHear glide





filterFILTER
is a multimode resonant model based on 8 Curtis CEM 3320 chips.
The VCF works in 3 different modes with possible polarity inversion option:

filter4


- lowpass at -24 dB slope

- bandpass at -12 or 6 dB slope

- highpass at -12 dB slope.

demoHear filter sweeps




lfo LFO
there are 2 LFO, a main one (LFO1) and a simpler one (LFO2) triggered by joystick that modulates onlu pitch and filter with a triangle shape. LFO1 is quite complet:

lfo

shape: triangle /saw/ ramp / square

destinations: pitch / width / amplitude

delay: yes

depth: yes
demoHear Insane LFO






adsr ENVELOPE
2 EGs:

lfo

- EG1 VCF 4 segments ADSR

- EG2 AMP 4 segments ADSR.

In addtion 2 extra functions for envelope control: hold and sustain.





edit SEQUENCER
a 4 tracks recorder with real-time or step entry notes.

sequencer

Each track transmits Midi signals, then whole sequence can be shifted in real-time for performance.

Recording function are limited to 5 buttons and 2 knobs: write, beats, delete, loop mode, ready-reset, gate EG value.

edit SYNC internal frequency or slave-tempo mode controlled by external + trigger pulses.





fx EFFECT
based on TDA1022 is a 3-modes analog chorus fixed rate and depth values.

sequencer

demoHear Chorus modes




repair synthex
MAINTENANCE Synthex suffers from common issues fx

picture by Gallio


repair synthex voice boards lifespan that is quite unpredictable, fortunately there are not so many custom IC onboard, Synthex is mainly build with TTL and common electrical parts on the shelf


- maintenance requires patience and experience since there are a lot of circuits inside and a precise calibration.






memroy MEMORY:

elka synthex internal


- 40 ROM presets
- 40 RAM user slots
- 128 events per track (512 total)


memroy Memory based on a 3.6V internal battery, created sounds can be saved only to tape interface - Click to enlarge pic
-

 

memroy OS on EPROM 2532 (x2) + 2516

big elka synthex

 

lfo

DOWNLOAD
BINARIES



lfoMIDI
second and third Synthex versions implement a simple Midi interface manage only basic note ON-OFF data.

big elka synthex

According to Castelfidardo center there have been 1850 machines produced:

- wave 1: 50 units (no Midi)

- wave 2: 800 units (external Midi interface)

- wave 3: 1000 units (standard Midi)




lfo
RELATED FAMILY

elka synthex reissue

The 2015 Synthex reissue failure.
After a failed crowd-funding campaign named "indiegogo Bringelkaback" the Finnish company just gave up on this project- even J.M jarre made a vid to support this funding.

Reality is: elka synthex will NOT be come back.

elka ysnthex 2

SYNTHEX 2- "the evolution of a legend" The original italian engineer Mario Maggi is working a new digital project called "Synthex 2".


READ THE SPECS from Synthex 2 website.

 

 

effet VST PLUGIN / SAMPLED VERSION there are some free and commercial samples set:

free synthex sounds

Polynominal

2 sounds fully sampled at 4 octaves: bass and a kind of brass pad sound.

30 MB FREE!
Free donation

FREE SAMPLES

FREE SAMPLES
synthex VST

ZOOTOOK

Xils-Lab
Syn'X

SYNTHEX VST- Free

Commercial
VST plugin
 





edit GALLERY:

german scan

flyer
synthex data sheet music messe jarre synthex
german scan scan germany gadget scanning magazine scan germany
synth cat elka synthex serial
Early model
     

 

Company: Elka
Model: Synthex
Class: Synthesizer
Keyboard: 61 keys
Dates: 1981
Display: none
Synthesis: analog sub
Polyphony: 8 voices
Oscillator: 2 DCO
Crossmod: hard sync
Ringmodulator: fixed
Multitimbric: 2 part
Filter: LPF / HPF / BPF
LFO: 2 modulators
Memory: 64 slots
Effect: chorus
Sequencer: 80 notes
Sync: trigger
Storage : tape
Midi: IN / OUT / THRU
CPU: 6502
IC: CEM 3320 /
TDA1022

demoDEMO:

demo laser harp classic
demo filter sweeps
demo modulation strings
demo Small town with SCI drumtraks
demo jam with TR-909
demo Lucky square with PDD-14
demo sounds like an air
demo Noise experiments
demo Synthex withDRP-16
demo Stereo Mode
demo Glide stereo
demo funky
demo chord progression
demo another bass liner
demo Square waves
demo Insane LFO
demo Chorus I - II - III
demo Bouncy bass
demo Bassline stereo
demo mix demo by S.Codazzi
demo mix demo by R.Gallio

demohave some Synthex
demo?
upload!

 

manual



manual

 

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laser harp
the LASER HARP

 

ELKA SYNTHEX FOR SALE
elka synthex for sale

CHECK OUT EBAY OFFERS


 

lfo

 

lfo

synthesizer Elka serial slider

awardSPECIAL AWARDS:

solid solid
analog king rare

comment

REVIEW "The Elka Synthex is one of few analog polyphonic-structured synthesizer that boasts deep bass, rich strings and complex magical electronic sound. A true sonic cult, few true alternative, even today!"

manual manual
-Massive polyphonic

- technical care

-sound
- basic Midi
- Sequencer - High price
- rare  

title synthex

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all snapshots*, sounds, texts copyright Polynominal.com / Eric Pochesci -* overhaul picture by Riccardo Gallio: thanks! also for some demos.
polynominal.com is not associated or affiliated with ELKA / ORLA / Mario MAGGI in any manner.

Elka synthex Elka Synthex
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