Elektrish - Vintage Synthesizer Studio & Museum

27/05/2024

Happy days!
Look what just arrived for our soon-to-be-opened synth museum…
We are literally jumping with excitement. 😍

Fairlight CMI Series IIx (1983)

As soon as the museum is open, you will have the opportunity to see this beauty up close and even try playing it if you wish.

At Elektrish you can experience and explore a vast range of vintage and classic synthesizers.

20/05/2024

The Roland Space Echo RE-201 (1974) turns 50 this year! Can you believe it?

I never get bored watching the tape reel running through the machine. 😊

And there's also a very special feeling knowing that the sound has passed through the playback head, tape, and recording head — something that is hard to beat with digital alternatives.

02/05/2024

This is our Roland CompuRhythm CR-78 from 1978.

With it, you were (according to the original Roland ad) "only limited by your imagination".

Either way, it has 34 different preset rhythms, including 16 for rock and disco - and a handsome wood cabinet. 🔥

What else could anyone yearning for a rhythm machine ask for?

08/02/2024

As proud sponsors of the Swedish synth film 'Düsseldorf, Skåne' we were particularly thrilled to participate in Tuesday's gala premiere at the Royal movie theater in Malmö.

During the event, we showcased some synthesizers featured in the film, including the original Roland System 100 unit used in its production.

Amidst engaging conversations with the wonderful attendees, we unfortunately forgot to capture moments through photos during the actual event. Though we did manage to capture some shots from before the festivities began, and luckily there were others who were better at taking photos and generously let us borrow theirs. 🙂

Big thanks to Düsseldorf, Skåne - Synthfilmen for the fantastic evening, and congratulations to the entire team on a great film!

19/01/2024

It's small, it's cheap and it's good!

Casio designed the CZ-101 with portability in mind, weighing only a few kilograms and powered by batteries.

With its Phase Distortion synthesis technology it allows a diverse range of sounds - from warm and lush pads to sharp and punchy basslines.

Four part (mono) multitimbrality, 8-voice polyphony and three 8-stage envelope generators also help make this little fellow from 1985 a great synthesizer.

Disclaimer: This is not a toy.

12/01/2024

The Emax was released by E-mu Systems in 1986 as a low cost alternative to the Emulator II.

It offers 12-bit sampling (but only 8-bit sound storage) at 42 kHz sample rate, and 8-voice polyphony with analog filters (SSM2047).

We just love the lo-fi grit you get with vintage hardware samplers. 😍

18/12/2023

360 Systems Digital Keyboard (1983):

"For now, the 360 is probably the most sophisticated instrument of its kind, capable - in the right hands - of performing musical miracles."
(Electronics & Music Maker, October 1984)

On top, left: The sample based drum machine, MXR Drum Computer, also from 1983.

On top, right: The British-made drum synth unit, The Kit from 1982.

11/12/2023

In the 1980s E-mu Systems brought us the great Emulator series, and the world of sampling would never have been the same without them.

All three are now together again in our studio and museum: 😍

- Emulator I (1981)
- Emulator II (1984)
- Emulator III (1987)

There is definitely something very special with vintage hardware samplers.

06/11/2023

Five features that we love with the Roland SH-5 from the late 1970s:

- The extra bandpass filter
- The Ring Mod
- The routable modulations
- The VCO sync (weak/strong)
- The Ext In (as audio source or assignable to Ring Mod and envelope trig)

12/10/2023

A synthesizer in a suitcase? -How convenient! 😍

EMS Synthi A from 1971 - the mother of all drones (together with the VCS3).

02/10/2023

Sakata DPM-48 (aka Hammond DPM-48)

A sample-based drum machine from 1984 competing with the E-mu Drumulator, LinnDrum, Oberheim DX and the MXR.

There's a good chance that you've never heard of it, but that's too bad since it actually sounds pretty cool - if you like the classic, "realistic" 80s drum machine sound.

And the thing sticking out it's front is the RAM cartridge - a must to create and edit your own drum patterns.

08/09/2023

EMS VCS 3 - "The voltage controlled studio version 3" from 1969.

It looks so James Bond-esque, straight from Thunderball, that we are almost afraid to touch it in case it would accidentally trigger some kind of intercontinental missile.

But if you have the guts, it's now in our museum and studio for you to play with...

23/08/2023

Roland TR-909 from 1983 - a staple of techno, acid and house in the 80s and 90s.

But why did it become such a classic drum machine?

Was it just a coincidence, or is it unique?

02/08/2023

The Roland JX-3P is another great polyphonic synthesizer from the early/mid 1980s.

It has an onboard sequencer, built-in chorus and it was one of Roland's first synthesizers with midi,

Add the PG-200 programmer and you have a classic Roland six-voice, dual DCO synthesizer with hands-on controls.

16/05/2023

Our Korg 770 from 1976.

This beautiful, little two-VCO, monophonic synthesizer is all about nostalgia - and ring modulation.

15/03/2023

The Source will be with us, always...

Our other Moog's looked a bit sceptical at first (even the Memorymoog) when we carried it in.

- Membrane buttons? Data wheel? A colorful panel?

But as soon as they heard it play they realized that it was part of the Moog family.

07/03/2023

Roland VP-330 Plus Mk I vocoder from 1979.

The VP-330 was unique in that it combined a ten-band vocoder with a string machine, an ensemble effect, and topped it off with the famous, synthetic choir sound.

Now I need some inspiration. What's your favorite vocoder song?

31/01/2023

"A synthesizer is not an organ."

That's the first sentence in the original instruction manual for Roland's first synthesizer, released 50 years ago!

The Roland SH-1000 from 1973.

And from that point, like a train leaving the station, the synthesizer moved forward while the other was left standing on the platform, watching it depart.

26/01/2023

The Nord Lead synthesizer from 1995.

This was one of the first synthesizers with virtual analog synthesis.
On the outside the Nord Lead boasts a sleek red design worthy of an Italian sports car. But of course it's not Italian - it was made in Sweden by Clavia.

The unique wooden pitch stick and stone like modulation wheel adds even more to its character.

24/01/2023

Korg MS-10 and MS-20 (1978).

The MS-20 has 2 oscillators, 2 filters and 2 envelopes, whereas the MS-10 has only one of each.
But the MS-10 has pulse-width modulation! 🔥

Regardless, they are both undeniably classics!

19/01/2023

Kawai R-100 drum machine from 1987.

24 PCM sounds in 12 bit/32 kHz.
Sounds can be panned and tuned 16 semitones.
Velocity sensitive pads.
Sync via midi, din or clock.
Stereo/mono and 8 individual outs.

- But it sounds so 80s, you say.
- Yes... and we like it! 😍

12/01/2023

Synths (with weird joysticks) move in mysterious ways!

A bit surprisingly, the Korg Sigma unit (with serial no 0085) that Alex Ball demoed on YouTube seems to have ended up in our studio and museum.

Go check out his excellent video at https://youtu.be/bqFOiJvnkpY. ⭐

And of course, then you're always welcome to visit us if you want to try it out yourself.

03/01/2023

Like two peas in a pod:

- Oberheim OB-Xa from 1981.
- Oberheim OB-8 from 1983.

We feel so lucky to have them both, side by side. 😍

20/12/2022

The Mu-Tron Bi-Phase is a legendary phasor from the 1970s, and it sounds fantastic with synthesizers!

With its dual signal path it can produce a wide range of phase shifting effects, from subtle and shimmering to dramatic and sweeping.

It's no surprise the Mu-Tron Bi-Phase was used by many notable musicians in the 1970s, including Kraftwerk.

14/12/2022

The Suiko ST-50 is a wonderful little Koto synthesizer.

Hours of fun discovering all kinds of mysterious sounds.

But next time we decide to get an obscure sound making contraption like this we will try to make sure that it includes a manual - in English. 😀