I visited the Italian Synth Museum!

Sdílet
Vložit
  • čas přidán 29. 06. 2024
  • Whilst taking a holiday in Italy we stopped off at Museo del Synth Marchigiano for a couple of days and this is the account of what I experienced there.
    Enormous thanks to everyone at the museum, particularly Riccardo and Paolo.
    www.museodelsynth.org/
    / museodelsynthmarchigiano
    0:00 Intro
    1:19 Synket
    4:40 EKO Computerhythm
    8:01 Chilton Talentmaker
    12:07 Crumar Compac Synth
    13:41 Crumar DP-50
    15:07 Elkatwin 61
    16:29 Elka Synthex
    19:38 CRB Oberon
    21:29 CRB Voco Strings
    22:53 CRB Uranus 2.0
    24:34 Farfisa Polychrome
    25:24 Logan Piano Strings Synthesizer
    27:10 Welson Syntex
    28:28 Keytek CTS-2000
    29:47 Baleani Solista
  • Hudba

Komentáře • 814

  • @AlexBallMusic
    @AlexBallMusic  Před rokem +51

    "Shut up and play"
    01:19 - DEMO 1 - "GENESI" - SYNKET
    04:41 - DEMO 2 - "PUNCH CARD" - EKO COMPUTERHYTHM
    07:26 - DEMO 3 - "TAKE CINQUE" - EKO COMPUTERHYTHM
    08:01 - DEMO 4 - "JOYFUL NOISE" - CHILTON TALENTMAKER
    10:47 - DEMO 5 - "OPTICIAN" - CHILTON TALENTMAKER
    12:07 - DEMO 6 - "BABY COMPAC" - CRUMAR COMPAC SYNTH
    13:41 - DEMO 7 - "DUAL'S GOLD" - CRUMAR DP-50
    15:08 - DEMO 8 - "FOLDING GOWN" - ELKA ELKATWIN 61
    15:51 - DEMO 9 - "PHASE OF GLORY" - ELKA ELKATWIN 61
    16:29 - DEMO 10 - "FRACTURAL HORIZON" - ELKA SYNTHEX
    17:05 - DEMO 11 - "EVERLASTING CITY" - ELKA SYNTHEX
    18:30 - DEMO 12 - "BACK IN CHIME" - ELKA SYNTHEX
    18:50 - DEMO 13 - "EUTOPIA" - ELKA SYNTHEX
    19:39 - DEMO 14 - "MOON MUSIC" - CRB OBERON
    19:55 - DEMO 15 - "PARALLELOGRAM" - CRB OBERON
    21:13 - DEMO 16 - "MS ITALIANO" - CRB OBERON
    21:28 - DEMO 17 - "CURTAIN CALL" - CRB VOCO STRINGS
    22:53 - DEMO 18 - "DIFFERENT ORBIT" - CRB URANUS 2.0
    23:45 - DEMO 19 - "HERSCHEL" - CRB URANUS 2.0
    24:34 - DEMO 20 - "LAST WALTZ" - FARFISA POLYCHROME
    25:08 - DEMO 21 - "FRATELLI CHIMICI" - FARFISA POLYCHROME
    25:24 - DEMO 22 - "LOGAN'S RUN" - LOGAN PIANO STRINGS SYNTHESIZER
    26:00 - DEMO 23 - "DUST AND ECHOES" - LOGAN PIANO STRINGS SYNTHESIZER
    27:10 - DEMO 24 - "SYNTHEX SYNTAX" - WELSON SYNTEX
    28:10 - DEMO 25 - "RANDOM MUSIC" - WELSON SYNTEX
    28:28 - DEMO 26 - "DATA NIGHT" - KEYTEK CTS 2000
    28:57 - DEMO 27 - "BRASS HOLIO" - KEYTEK CTS 2000
    29:47 - DEMO 28 - "MARCHES MARCH" - BALEANI SOLISTA
    31:26 - OUTRO - BALEANI SOLISTA

    • @fakshen1973
      @fakshen1973 Před rokem

      No Siel DK-600? :)

    • @phooeyjr6545
      @phooeyjr6545 Před rokem

      demo 7 reminded me of aphex twins ambient stuff

    • @adamkrasneski3679
      @adamkrasneski3679 Před rokem

      Hey alex. Finally got around to watching ur daft punk tutorial. Very cool stuff reminded me of ur "metal" song 😃 Would be very interested on ur take/tutorial for white zombies "more human than human". I found korgs faily disappointing.

    • @Lamster66
      @Lamster66 Před rokem

      @@fakshen1973
      No Because Siel are basically crap as are most Italian Synths
      I had a Siel Ex80 it was trying to be a Poly800. Which I also had at the time.
      When these things came out they really were like toys compared to the things they were trying to copy. They were cheap aiming at what is now Behringer's market but without the build quality.
      I guess that the unobtainabiliy of 80s analogue synths from the likes of Roland Korg Moog Sc and Obeheim has made these things desirable to a younger generation, as they are quirky and not like the other over priced sampled plastic availible from Roland and Co.
      Seriously Crummar Jen Siel and Eko synths mostly ended up in the bin when they inevitably packed up.and those that weren't are now on ebay having been dragged screaming from the back of someones damp garage as someone is likely to pay good money for a broken synths that wasn't any good when it was new.
      10 or so years ago you could pick this stuff up on ebay for under £50 I looked at several "Trilogys" mainly because they looked very obeheimish. But even at £40-50 at the time for a part working one, with a couple of missing keys, was way more than it was worth. And at the Time I was too Busy buying faulty JX3s and Poly 61s for that sort of money to be bothered with Siels and Crummars.
      However That Crummar Piano showed in the video, a mate of mine bought one of those but it was made like a mini grand piano (not working of course) for about £25. Weirdly enough It was ful of CEM filtre chips ( i Know because I spent weeks fixing it for him.)
      At the time It was a real descision whether to break it up and sell the chips on ebay for a profit or repair the piano. We made the Ethical choice and repaired it and basically gave it away and didn't even make enough on it to pay for the parts I had to replace such was the value of 70s and 80s italian keyboards.
      Also at that time The Hohner Pianette ( yes I know they're german) were also worth next to nothing and now you'll pay upwards of £850 for a fully working one.To put that in context you could buy a working Wurlitzer 200A at the time for around £500.
      .

    • @TheUKMikey
      @TheUKMikey Před 10 měsíci

      Rather than going the Moog route these Italian manufacturers seem to specialise in instruments based around the technology of existing polyphonic keyboard instruments and this really comes out in the character and texture of the sound.
      There's a fair amount of organ in Uranus.

  • @paulwiffen3847
    @paulwiffen3847 Před rokem +283

    I could never have imagined when Elka hired me to voice and demo the Synthex 40 years ago that people would still be talking about it today. Of course all they could say back then was "But it's not a Prophet or an Oberheim!!!" to which I would reply "absolutely, it's so much better than those! To start with it stays in fucking tune! But I'm so grateful that this synth fell into my hands at the Frankfurt Musikmesse and Elka had no one to demo it! It led me to work with Geoff Downes, Jean-Michel Jarre, Stevie Wonder and many more

    • @teddybearasaurus
      @teddybearasaurus Před rokem +13

      What a life. You are blessed 🙏🏽

    • @AlexBallMusic
      @AlexBallMusic  Před rokem +33

      Paul! Your ears must have been burning as I was doing some synth trading with your old friend Simon Forsyth recently. I'd seen a video of you demonstrating the Synthex but he filled me in on the rest of it.
      So awesome.

    • @nerfytheclown
      @nerfytheclown Před rokem +6

      Oh, that's amazing! Especially the part about the synth staying in tune.

    • @GNeuman
      @GNeuman Před rokem +2

      Nice one, Paul. 👍👍👍

    • @peterkadarmusic9728
      @peterkadarmusic9728 Před rokem +11

      Paul, thank you for all your work in the industry and also excellent writing for SOS over the years. Alex, thank you for a great channel that is not only informative, but entertaining and deeply musical.

  • @Max16032
    @Max16032 Před rokem +21

    Mario Maggi (the designer of the Elka Synthex) also deserves recognition for making one of the first synthesizers with proper, non-volatile patch memory, the MCS-70. The synth was very capable, with three oscillators, two filters and two envelopes, and its patch recall was instantaneous. The 1978 album "Automat" is a fantastic display of its versatility, being the only synth used to record it. Maggi never managed to put the MCS into production due to the Prophet 5 setting the standard, but he was inspired by it and moved on to create the now-classic Synthex.

    • @bontempo1271
      @bontempo1271 Před rokem +3

      So glad i read this, now i know the synth used in Automat :) Cheers !

    • @Esperluet
      @Esperluet Před rokem +2

      Maggic 😊

    • @MegaCraptacular
      @MegaCraptacular Před 10 měsíci

      Synthex, one of the greatest poly synths ever made!

  • @ghostexits
    @ghostexits Před rokem +17

    Italy has a rich history of electronic instrument manufacturing probably starting with their electric accordions and on into transistor organs and guitar effects industry of the 1960s. Italy having such a preeminence in international graphic arts and industrial design, it’s no surprise that these instruments were created with such striking character and style.

  • @Hainbach
    @Hainbach Před rokem +17

    Let’s goooooo!

  • @widor672
    @widor672 Před rokem +9

    Crumar DP50 and Elka Synthex sound is amazing!

  • @modeswitching
    @modeswitching Před rokem +38

    Man this place is like the island of misfit toys! So cool to see the menagerie of designs, controls, typography and colors. The visual language of synthesis was still being formalized and they were taking inspiration from organs, computers, automobiles, office machines, and toys.

    • @AlexBallMusic
      @AlexBallMusic  Před rokem +9

      Absolutely this!

    • @discocassara
      @discocassara Před rokem +4

      The machines with typography in italian are so nostalgic. We are so used to the english typo, that it looks so strange to us when a snare is being called „rullante“! Just beautiful!

    • @user-fn3qd8fc3c
      @user-fn3qd8fc3c Před rokem

      🏎️サイキックフィーバー🇯🇵TV

    • @christophermitchum6829
      @christophermitchum6829 Před rokem +1

      Bro, take me back to the days! I can still hear the purity of the soul of those inventions/instruments!!! And trust me, these modern plugins can't get that "phat... smooth" vibe! Oh, well, keep on truckiin'. 😎🎶💥🌎♥️✔️💪

  • @WrvrUgoThrUR
    @WrvrUgoThrUR Před rokem +106

    Great when you watch a rare synth demo and they DON'T play sounds that you easily could get out of a kid's Casio or spend 20 minutes on an INIT patch demo-ing raw oscillators.

  • @peterldelong
    @peterldelong Před rokem +23

    You’re still the gold standard when it comes to CZcams synth channels. I never roll my eyes on any of your presentations and we hope you continue for many years. Thank you

  • @bassboomboing
    @bassboomboing Před rokem +7

    every town should have a museum like this.

  • @everpuremusic
    @everpuremusic Před rokem +2

    I love all of this. The Elka Synthex is of course the shining star of the show - and yes, it is absolulety right there with the mentioned Oberheims, Prophets and Jupiters of its era. But what strikes me - apart from hearing all those lovely, very European sounds of the 60s, 70s and 80s, from Krautrock and Cosmic all the way to Italo Disco - is the range of weird and wonderful designs. What's with all those knobs on the front, under the keyboards? And all those weird knobs and buttons in the strangest, oddest colours and sizes? The Italians clearly went much further out there than the British, American and Japanese designers at the time!

  • @samplequence
    @samplequence Před rokem +13

    i cant believe nobody is talking about that polychrome. it sounds amazing

    • @AlexBallMusic
      @AlexBallMusic  Před rokem +5

      Oh, people are talking about it alright. Yeah, quite the sound!

    • @briankehew579
      @briankehew579 Před rokem +2

      It's VERY famous from some CZcams videos but more rare than almost any synth made! Everyone wants one. Behringer ought to be looking into it!

  • @oliverscarlin
    @oliverscarlin Před rokem +13

    That last Baleani Solista demo sounds like a Dan Deacon chiptune dream 🙌

  • @adrianmccombe625
    @adrianmccombe625 Před rokem +38

    Great video. 90% of these synths I'd never heard of.
    This video is destined for a follow-up... Make it so Alex

  • @MultiPetercool
    @MultiPetercool Před rokem +4

    I got to play with a Crumar GDS once. It was at Bell Labs in Murray Hill. Apparently, AT&T purchased it to replace the Alles Synthesizer which had been donated to Oberlin. Max Mathews gave me access. It used 8” floppy drives Lots of fun!

  • @XavierRadix
    @XavierRadix Před rokem +18

    Walking into that museum must feel like you're visitng an abandoned planet that was once inhabited only by... Italians?
    What an immensely cool collection of unique gear. So glad people are preserving an almost lost and forgotten history. I want to visit! Now!

  • @busywl69
    @busywl69 Před rokem +2

    and now I've visited the Italian Synth Museum. Thanks!! Would love a Logan Piano Strings Synth VST 😍😍

  • @Nalinc33
    @Nalinc33 Před rokem +2

    Viva la Italia !
    I got my self a GENERAL MUSIC / GEM wX2 16 track sequencer workstation or a music processor
    , a partially a synthesizer ...
    It was the world first 16 track karaoke keyboard in 90's.
    Italians know what they are doing. ❤️

  • @NickHowesAstro
    @NickHowesAstro Před rokem +2

    Having just picked up a Gem S2 Turbo from the recent Gary Moore guitar auction, I can say "YES" these Italian synths were built like tanks. The keyboard/action on this thing is beyond exquisite (poly AT/release velocity etc. etc), but it's the build quality/screen and spec (for 1992) which just blew my mind. It's usurped my TS-10 into a sound source now, and replaced it as the master keyboard in le-studio. Great video as always Alex, and a timely reminder (as Paul says below) to not just think of the "big guns" when it comes to great synths

  • @markusfuller
    @markusfuller Před rokem +9

    That Crumar DP-50 sounds beautiful

    • @AlexBallMusic
      @AlexBallMusic  Před rokem +4

      Yeah, one of the many surprises in that place.

  • @alistairsteadman3765
    @alistairsteadman3765 Před rokem +4

    Really interesting. Thanks Alex. I’m now going to get on with fixing up a MK1 Performer which will have a custom front panel as the sliders are impossible to find. Watch this space.

  • @wiseoldfool
    @wiseoldfool Před rokem +3

    Made my day! Love the Crumar DP-50 in particular.

  • @Garflips
    @Garflips Před rokem +3

    I have a working Crumar Orchestrator! Besides a unique sound it keeps the house from blowing away in strong winds.

    • @AlexBallMusic
      @AlexBallMusic  Před rokem +1

      Haha, yeah. I had a comment on the video I did about it that was something like: "I used to own one of those, just seeing it again and my back hurts".

  • @Moruial
    @Moruial Před rokem +14

    Some of these synth have amazing sounding capabilities! I wasn't aware there was so much italian synths. Thank you very much for the video, much appreciated!

    • @AlexBallMusic
      @AlexBallMusic  Před rokem +6

      Yep, sounds and textures that I've never heard before. The Synthex and Polychrome in particular. Then there's that Synket... 😍

    • @IGD-974
      @IGD-974 Před rokem +1

      They made a lot of electric organs back in the day as well. Which correct me if I'm wrong but they're just pretty much synthesizers with less control over the sound.

  • @aidanknight
    @aidanknight Před rokem +7

    that eko computerythmn is SO sick. blown away by how advanced it was and aesthetically it's perfect??

    • @AlexBallMusic
      @AlexBallMusic  Před rokem +2

      Amazing thing for 1972, absolutely.
      Gorgeous looks and workflow, definitely.

    • @MACRONOne
      @MACRONOne Před rokem

      same!

    • @aidanknight
      @aidanknight Před rokem +1

      @@AlexBallMusic also the grid matrix layout (led?) for each sound in the sequencer made me do a double take, that's an SDS6 feature (also ultra rare) and about 10 years later!

    • @AlexBallMusic
      @AlexBallMusic  Před rokem

      @@aidanknight Didn't know that was on the SDS6. Yes, it seems out of place in time given its features.

    • @kaitlyn__L
      @kaitlyn__L Před rokem +1

      @@aidanknight might’ve been neon lamps judging by the colour and size!

  • @BR1NSOP
    @BR1NSOP Před rokem +5

    Damn, that Crumar DP-50 is beautiful. That e-piano edge with the filter control and the really subtle playing made a wonderful sound.

  • @uhuhuhuhuhuh3537
    @uhuhuhuhuhuh3537 Před rokem +5

    I'm lying in bed with a bad cold rn. This video has made my day significantly better!

  • @Lu_Woods
    @Lu_Woods Před rokem +2

    The phaser on the Crumar Roadrunner is glorious too.

  • @rigelbadger962
    @rigelbadger962 Před rokem +2

    Nice nod to the stranglers with the demo Falling Down

    • @AlexBallMusic
      @AlexBallMusic  Před rokem

      Found a harpsichord sound, had to be done. 😉

  • @kabongpope
    @kabongpope Před rokem +9

    That Synthex is to die for! What a machine

    • @paulwiffen3847
      @paulwiffen3847 Před rokem +4

      Unequalled for 40 years (but then I was the demonstrator and did the factory presets). Recently Black Corporation made the Xerxes which faithfully reproduced 8 voices of a single Synthex timbre. I have been using that in the studio and will use it in my noonday presentation 40 Years Of Sound Design in Sheffield at Synthfest this coming Saturday (Oct 8th). More recently I was sent the ELKA-X softsynth by Americans Cherry Audio and that does up to 16 voices of Synthex voice architecture with two timbres available at once for Split/Double or with the Sequencer which it also faithfully reproduces. I'll be using that at the repeat presentation at Synthplex in Burbank California on Oct 29th to save taking the Xerxes on a plane with attendant customs problems.

    • @kaiherrmann4800
      @kaiherrmann4800 Před 9 měsíci

      With a limited budget I had to choose between a CS-80 and the Synthex. The Yamaha was 1000 DM cheaper, -
      And I took the ELKA. (Three decades plus ago.) I won‘t regret ever. Btw it is the only synth I had in use, which performs over the full range of 10 (ten!) MIDI octaves.
      THEN it sounds crazy... :D

    • @stephencrane561
      @stephencrane561 Před 2 měsíci

      I know it's not the same, but Cherry Audio's VST recreation is probably about as close as us non-Wiffenesque mortals will ever get to owning one. I'm enjoying mine, despite the lack of anything tactile.

  • @simonhodgetts6530
    @simonhodgetts6530 Před rokem +4

    Hugely enjoyable! And some unusual synths there…….I always remember Elka and Crumar synths lingering under dust in ‘Modern Music’ a repair shop in Dudley (Dud-lay as they say around here) which I used to visit once in a while with my dad, usually when his bass pedals had packed up and needed attention……one of them had a cardboard sign with ‘Fairlight CMI’ written on it in felt-tip…….

    • @AlexBallMusic
      @AlexBallMusic  Před rokem +2

      I read this in a brummie accent.
      I wonder if that Fairlight was brought back to life.

  • @RossTotino
    @RossTotino Před rokem +1

    Love this type of gear! Great demos! Thanks :)

  • @AlyxxTheRat
    @AlyxxTheRat Před rokem +2

    Thank you for sharing these with us! I absolutely love the sounds of these old synths.

  • @amazingmono
    @amazingmono Před rokem

    Tremendous amount of work, Alex! This is so inspiring! Thank you so much

  • @waskerbasket9601
    @waskerbasket9601 Před rokem +5

    Beautiful. Thanks, Alex.

  • @duncanparsons
    @duncanparsons Před rokem +4

    What a lovely video
    I have a Davolisint, a Jen Piano 73 and a Jen DT Piano. Jen Pianos formed the basis for a number of the Crumar pianos.
    If you want phasing, the Piano 73 phaser is AMAZING. Piano 73 is a kind of poor man's RMI, but put all the options on and hit some bass octave octaves with the phaser and it's one of the best sounds ever

  • @marcuspearson6214
    @marcuspearson6214 Před rokem +4

    That was awesome dude, a thoroughly enjoyable watch!

  • @JFB-Haninge
    @JFB-Haninge Před rokem +1

    Wonderful Alex. Love this ancient stuff!!

  • @fer_fdi
    @fer_fdi Před rokem

    Amazing and delightful, thank you so much!

  • @matzeknoob3688
    @matzeknoob3688 Před rokem +1

    Very, very interesting video Alex!! Thanks for that GREAT stuff! I love it..

  • @ckworton
    @ckworton Před 11 měsíci +1

    I do miss my synth collection. But they all went to good homes. Lovely to relive them in these videos.

  • @razornaut
    @razornaut Před rokem +4

    The DP-50 just sounds lovely!

    • @AlexBallMusic
      @AlexBallMusic  Před rokem

      It does indeed.

    • @markusschloesser
      @markusschloesser Před rokem

      @@AlexBallMusic sounds lovely, any recommendation for a vst or library that captures this?

  • @grigioviola8523
    @grigioviola8523 Před rokem +2

    Amusing video thank you very much Alex, i have to say that the guys Riccardo Pietroni end Paolo Bragaglia are two Genious !!!

  • @GavinLyonsCreates
    @GavinLyonsCreates Před rokem +5

    Brilliant and really interesting , love that Baleani!

  • @kr61ab67
    @kr61ab67 Před rokem +1

    One of the most interesting and friendly channels about synths ! greetings Alex, well job.

  • @orangeflipflop485
    @orangeflipflop485 Před rokem +5

    It's always good to see a new video from you!

  • @mu_zines
    @mu_zines Před rokem +12

    I'll add my vote for an Oberon plugin! Devs, start your engines..! Some super obscure stuff there (and some nice playing too!) Cool place!

    • @AlexBallMusic
      @AlexBallMusic  Před rokem +6

      Yeah, buzzy band pass and lots of dirt. Strange overtones to boot!

    • @RiccardoPietroni
      @RiccardoPietroni Před rokem +4

      Thanks!

    • @baxthered
      @baxthered Před rokem +1

      I thought that SampleScience made a plugin called OBEROM which is probably an emulation of that bad boy.

  • @lucadr5521
    @lucadr5521 Před rokem +1

    Thanks so much for this unknown journey into forgotten musical instruments ❤

  • @billysunshine9100
    @billysunshine9100 Před rokem

    You are the best at this content, I learn so much about my dearest love through you, thank you for your had work.

  • @madFame
    @madFame Před rokem +2

    Wow!! What a fantastic video, thanks Alex. It's so good to see (and hear) these important and interesting contributions to synth history.

    • @AlexBallMusic
      @AlexBallMusic  Před rokem +2

      Hey! Yes, a whole other world I knew little about!

    • @christophermitchum6829
      @christophermitchum6829 Před rokem +1

      Please.... more vintage synth covers...70's synth sound is what started the rest... and I am an old geek who saw, and heard it!!! Took me from guitar,bass, piano... bravo ✔️🎶

  • @DavidFilskov
    @DavidFilskov Před rokem +1

    Excellent video! - incredible demos and awesome sounds. Well done and thanks a lot :)

  • @DuckTronic
    @DuckTronic Před rokem +1

    Very interesting, Alex! Thanks for the Italian history lesson. 👍

  • @JohnMoser66
    @JohnMoser66 Před rokem +1

    This video made me smile so much! Thank you Alex! 😄⭐️

  • @marsmediapro
    @marsmediapro Před rokem +1

    well, dang! I hope this is a first volume of a series? with your visit of that unique museum, hopefully you captured more video! thanks for sharing, Alex!

  • @BosleyStarr
    @BosleyStarr Před rokem +2

    Awesome video Alex, I fantasized about some of those Italian synths when I was a kid.

  • @SeansMusicVault
    @SeansMusicVault Před rokem +1

    That was delightful! And - no joke - I paused your video, went to Cherry Audio, bought the Elka vst, installed it and (after dorking around a while with it here in the studio) played along with you through the rest of the video (using the 1492 Lead Lines patch). What an amazing sound! I'll be sculpting with this thing big time! A most humble thanks for an excellent experience, mate! ☮ PS., it's funny how woefully out of tune those last couple of keyboard are. It actually makes kind of a beautiful racket playing over them.

  • @nickpritchard7130
    @nickpritchard7130 Před 10 měsíci

    Great vid and very interesting content. Huge thanks for making this one..

  • @aegis3d
    @aegis3d Před rokem +8

    Gorgeous tones! Thanks Alex, those were perfect late night vibes.

    • @AlexBallMusic
      @AlexBallMusic  Před rokem +3

      Lovely things aren't they. So other worldly.

  • @richardballinger517
    @richardballinger517 Před rokem +3

    Who would have thought Uranus could make such wonderful sounds? Great video and you can't beat a Phaser on synthesizers.

    • @AlexBallMusic
      @AlexBallMusic  Před rokem +3

      In Italy, even Uranus has a phaser.

    • @rachelar
      @rachelar Před rokem

      It does sound a bit farty. In a good way

  • @jooei2810
    @jooei2810 Před rokem +2

    Must have been a magical experience.

  • @rootvalue
    @rootvalue Před rokem +1

    Omg Jon Brion’s soundtrack to Eternal Sunshine was seminal in my influence as a musician. I had no idea the background of his arrangements, let alone you had previously done a video breakdown. Thrilled.

  • @image30p
    @image30p Před rokem

    Thank you! Wonderful fun to listen to all those cool synths

  • @VEsound
    @VEsound Před rokem +5

    The Eko Computerrythm is a masterpiece. Far in advance of its time as you said, thank you. There are not enough drum machines with visual sequence for each percussion like the Computerrythm had... Amazing. As your imitation of Jean-Michel Jarre and the Uranus joke: you're the best Alex, please never stop! Love from France ❤

  • @stevewhitehouse
    @stevewhitehouse Před rokem

    Another cracking video from Alex. Always entertaining.

  • @brerkris
    @brerkris Před rokem +3

    That Crumar Compaq sounded awesome!

    • @Patrick-bm6ih
      @Patrick-bm6ih Před 3 měsíci

      Yes, definitely need an emulation for this one..unless there is one around already? Any sample sets around?

  • @jemandhuman5039
    @jemandhuman5039 Před rokem +1

    Wow that Synthex sounds lovely, awesome demoing!

  • @LFOVCF
    @LFOVCF Před rokem

    That place is to die for!
    Superb demo!
    Aching with jealousy!

  • @ToastandJam52
    @ToastandJam52 Před rokem +1

    Absolutely brilliant video!! Great history lesson with loads of examples. As I am from that era, some of these I came across way back in the old days. Thanks for doing this Alex. Really enjoyed it (except for the bad bum "jokes"!)!!!!

  • @klinkske
    @klinkske Před rokem +4

    Some unreal fantastic sounds!!!

    • @AlexBallMusic
      @AlexBallMusic  Před rokem +1

      A different flavour of vintage isn't it. Really satisfying to explore.

  • @grrlpurpleable
    @grrlpurpleable Před rokem +3

    Every single synth was living and breathing here... every one. Awesome video Alex!

    • @AlexBallMusic
      @AlexBallMusic  Před rokem

      Yes, all so alive and ready to take you away to some new place.

  • @kirabarsmith9353
    @kirabarsmith9353 Před rokem +1

    Now that's my kind of museum, too friggin' cool. Thanks for an excellent tour, Alex, I never knew Uranus could sound so good. LOL

    • @AlexBallMusic
      @AlexBallMusic  Před rokem +2

      Cheers. Yes, Uranus is surprisingly flexible....sonically.

  • @bubuAudio
    @bubuAudio Před 12 dny

    fantastic episode !! ❤
    As an Italian, I'm so happy to watch this !
    I didn't even know about the museum !! thank you !! 🙏

  • @johnvcougar
    @johnvcougar Před rokem +3

    Alex, you’re a card. Lovely playing as usual! Fascinating look at a non-Japanese synth pioneer, lovely stuff! ❤

  • @CraigStuntz
    @CraigStuntz Před rokem

    What a lovely video. I "liked" it, but that doesn't seem enough. Especially enjoyed the opening music, but loved hearing all of the synths throughout. Thanks for publishing it!

  • @hightowerTB303
    @hightowerTB303 Před rokem +5

    Very interesting, thanks for inviting us ❤️
    I can hear many Italo Disco hits in between 🍻

    • @AlexBallMusic
      @AlexBallMusic  Před rokem +2

      A dream place to visit if you want to be Moroder.

  • @kaitlyn__L
    @kaitlyn__L Před rokem +2

    Oh my, that Polychrome demo really gripped me. I was a wee bit sad you didn’t have anything to say about it :)
    These are ALL awesome, of course. The industrial design of the CRB ones is especially nice, those backlit circular toggle buttons for instance.

    • @RiccardoPietroni
      @RiccardoPietroni Před rokem

      Yes, very peculiar to crb synths.

    • @kaitlyn__L
      @kaitlyn__L Před rokem

      @@RiccardoPietroni they reminded me of the Synclavier buttons, but were clearly also very different to them!
      The coloured paper (or whatever they used for gels) gives such an interesting array of hues, especially with some being pastel while others attempt brighter tones. The pastel ones are definitely my favourite though :)

    • @AlexBallMusic
      @AlexBallMusic  Před rokem +1

      I was trying to cut down the talky bits as the video was getting very long, so I amalgamated it with the Logan. The Polychrome was a favourite of mine however. Such a nostalgic sound.

    • @kaitlyn__L
      @kaitlyn__L Před rokem

      @@AlexBallMusic totally understandable! ~30 minutes can feel like a slog sometimes on CZcams. In this case the pace and formatting made it breeze by and I’d hoped for a bit of elaboration on that one, but I can certainly understand why you skipped it - despite its wonderful sound it’s probably the most “normal” analogue poly synth of the bunch!

    • @AlexBallMusic
      @AlexBallMusic  Před rokem +1

      @@kaitlyn__L Thanks for understanding. Yes, always a balance of too little or too much with CZcams videos.
      I'd love to revisit the Polychrome at some point, it was very cool.

  • @PrimevalMudd
    @PrimevalMudd Před rokem +1

    I've been feeling glum of late but this has cheered me right up.
    Thanks!

  • @macronencer
    @macronencer Před rokem +2

    Thank you so much, Alex, for this magical tour! I didn't know the Synthex had a VST, going to take a look at that one.

    • @paulwiffen3847
      @paulwiffen3847 Před rokem +1

      It's actually available not only as a VST but also Mac OSX Audio Unit, Digidesign AAX and a standalone version

  • @scottstevens7639
    @scottstevens7639 Před rokem +3

    Holy Retro, Batman!
    Awesome obscure synth history lesson. I had no idea there were so many synth manufacturers in Italy.
    Crumar must have had a pretty extensive distribution network, because their products were readily available in Canada. They were unusual but always sounded great.
    My high school buddy, who also had a Korg 770, also at one point had an Elka string ensemble (not a Rhapsody). Unfortunately it didn’t include a phaser…😒

  • @flightvision
    @flightvision Před rokem +1

    Such nice sounds!

  • @beatokiri1202
    @beatokiri1202 Před rokem +1

    Everytime i watch one of your videos i have to stop and open up fl studio and start jamming. Inspiring stuff Alex! Thank you for doing what you do!

  • @hardwaresecuritymodule
    @hardwaresecuritymodule Před rokem +1

    My god, I almost died at the CRB Voco Strings - that's the most beautiful thing I've ever heard. I've been eyeing up stringers for about 6 years without buying one, I fear I've missed that boat. Wonderful video - thank you!

  • @MPHORROCKS
    @MPHORROCKS Před rokem +7

    You're just a synth-nerd's best buddy Alex! Such a warmly and beautifully presented (as always) Synthopia! Brilliant stuff, and I'm SO glad that Cherry Audio have made such an amazing recreation of the fabulous Synthex! :)

    • @AlexBallMusic
      @AlexBallMusic  Před rokem +3

      Thanks very much! Yes, an absolute pleasure.
      Cherry Audio - that made a lot of people happy, yep. 😀

  • @realestatecult3105
    @realestatecult3105 Před rokem +5

    Fantastic! Many thanks, Mr Ball. May all future synths include a random music button.

    • @AlexBallMusic
      @AlexBallMusic  Před rokem +6

      A must have feature. Better name than "sample and hold with the sample source being white noise".

  • @shookmusic
    @shookmusic Před rokem

    Absolutely awesome Alex! ❤

  • @TheSynthnut
    @TheSynthnut Před rokem +2

    What a joyous exploration! It's interesting how many of these synths never really made it into mainstream because they didn't nescessarily sound like an x or y. Now one can appreciate the quirkiness and they find their own space.
    I was guilty of that "it's not a Prophet" or whatever back in the earlier days, but realise I was missing the point!
    Some of these deserve a lot of love and can only imagine the feeling of being let loose in the sweetshop there.
    I recently scanned some of my old Crumar brochures and spec-sheets, but I need to get around to uploading some more soon on my bigbluewave site.

  • @captainfncreepy
    @captainfncreepy Před rokem +3

    Holy heck that baleani sounds like a Dan Deacon machine I love it.

  • @_greenleader
    @_greenleader Před rokem +2

    Mind-blowing, these rich sounds teleport you to outer space, ep50 and polychrome were incredibly psychedelic!

  • @YearsOfLeadPoisoning
    @YearsOfLeadPoisoning Před rokem +1

    Nothing gets me more amped to record music than your videos. That Synthex is absolutely gorgeous

    • @AlexBallMusic
      @AlexBallMusic  Před rokem

      Ah great to hear.
      Yes, Synthex was my favourite I think.

    • @paulwiffen3847
      @paulwiffen3847 Před rokem

      Can I suggest that you invest in the $39 softsynth from Cherry Audio $39, the ELKA-X, which really faithfully reproduces the Synthex with 16 voices of polyphony and two timbres simultaneously to use for Split/Layer or with the sequencer? I am using this for my 40 Years Of Sound Design talk this Saturday at Synthfest this Saturday Oct 8th in Sheffield and at Synthplex in Burbank California on Oct 29th, where I go into how I met Elka at Frankfurt in 1982 and was hired to demo the Synthex and create the factory presets which led to me working for Vangelis, Jean-Michel Jarre and Stevie Wonder.

  • @Pablo668
    @Pablo668 Před rokem +2

    Fantastic vid as always Alex. Wonderful synths, I'm surprised they managed to get you out of there.
    I'd wager the Synket wasn't the only thing fizzing in that room.

    • @AlexBallMusic
      @AlexBallMusic  Před rokem +1

      I could have stayed in there for months easily, yes. What a collection!

  • @rozzgrey801
    @rozzgrey801 Před rokem +7

    My first ever synth was an Italian job, a Jen SX1000, a lovely little machine. I got to have a go on one again is Sam's This Museum is Not Obselete. You never forget your first synth.

  • @vsmi-vintagesynthsmadeinit997

    Che meraviglia!! Thx you!!

    • @AlexBallMusic
      @AlexBallMusic  Před rokem +1

      Ooo. Nice channel! Subscribed.

    • @vsmi-vintagesynthsmadeinit997
      @vsmi-vintagesynthsmadeinit997 Před rokem +1

      @@AlexBallMusic thx you Alex!! I'm in the Museo del Synth Marchigiano too... with my dear friends Riccardo, Paolo, Agostino and Leonardo!! I live 100 km far from Macerata, so I can't usually be there!! So I'm very sorry that I can't meet you... see you next time!! ;)

    • @AlexBallMusic
      @AlexBallMusic  Před rokem +1

      @@vsmi-vintagesynthsmadeinit997 Ah! Right, that makes sense. Yeah, see you next time. 😀

  • @DEADLINETV
    @DEADLINETV Před rokem

    Well, this was good craic! Thanks Alex!

  • @Mark_Ocain
    @Mark_Ocain Před rokem +2

    If they let me play with these, I'd be forever thinking "please lord, don't break!" ...Great episode Alex! Gosh, I really enjoyed this!

    • @AlexBallMusic
      @AlexBallMusic  Před rokem

      Most things were in incredible condition. There were some faults here and there, but they're surprisingly robust for their age.

  • @PrimitiveInTheExtreme

    How marvellous!

  • @adrianmonk4440
    @adrianmonk4440 Před rokem +1

    I throughly enjoyed 👍 the TOUR & SOUND examples of the various instruments. Mr. Ball did sound like he was explaining the Archives of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy with his British accent.

  • @chedhead3278
    @chedhead3278 Před rokem +2

    Thanks for sharing Alex, could nearly smell all that vintage electronics. Given all that Italy has to offer plus a vintage synth museum I'm surprised you made it home. Set phasers to stun, last one to Uranus gets the synthofood pills in.

  • @fritsvanzanten3573
    @fritsvanzanten3573 Před rokem +2

    I saw Heinbach visit this museum. You both have your own touch. Nice!

  • @bloemundude
    @bloemundude Před rokem +6

    Thank you for filming Uranus, for pounding it hard, digging deep, and letting loose just to see what falls out.
    Seriously, though, many of the timbres achievable on these vintage Italian synths would be nearly impossible to replicate on modern non-sampler equipment. Hearing them in this video gave me ideas of how I would use them musically if I had access today.

  • @soniklink-WKD4496
    @soniklink-WKD4496 Před rokem

    What an epic day out. Just a joy to gaze upon never mind actually playing them too. Nothing sounded bad at all, awesome dude! 🙂👍