Tag: korg

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Synthesizers

Keyboards of the Seventies part II

Contessa_2Above: What the holy F is this thing?

Today: yet another installment in our ongoing series on Keyboard of the 1970s.  Click here for part one.  As per usual, if you are still using these things today, drop us a line and let us know!  Except for the Rhodes.  There’s nothing new to say about those fkkn things.  So keep yr Rhodes to yrself thanks.

Univox_Compac_piano_1972Above: the Univox Compac Piano.  We had one of these things for a minute in high school.  I think it was $100.  Really terrible sound.  Click here for previous coverage of this atrocity.  

Rhodes_1977 Rhodes_1972Above: the two worst ads Fender ever ran for the Rhodes.  ’77 and ’72.

Novaline_piano_1977Above: The Novaline Piano circa ’77. Never seen one.  Anyone? 

MaxiKorg_1977Above: The KORG Maxi-Korg circa ’77.  Looks pretty cool.  Any of these still working?

Hohner_1977Above: Hohner made many keyboards besides the famous Clavinet.  For instance,,,

Hohner_Contessa_96_1972…The Contessa of 1972.  Farfisa-type organ with accordion chord-buttons in the left hand.  Yikes.

Baldwin_SynthaSound_1972Next time you see one of those shitty old Baldwin living-room-organs at the goodwill, take a 2nd look: it might have the SynthaSound option boards.  Wacky sounds ensue. 

Elka_Stringchoir_1977Above: The ELKA #8609 String Choir.  My K2500 has a bunch of ELKA patches and I kinda like em.  Anyone use the 8609?  How does it compare to other string synths of the era?

Categories
Synthesizers

Synthesizers photographed on stone-colored backgrounds

As the first in a series of “Brief Trends in Visual Culture,” we bring you: synthesizers photographed on stone-colored backgrounds.  Pictured above: Roland  S50, Korg SG1, EMU Emax SE and Emulator 3.  If anyone can explain the significance of the all the stone-gray backgrounds, please let us know.

Categories
Synthesizers

1981: Battle of the ’55s

1981: Korg and Roland both release prosumer drum machines designated 55.  The KORG KR-55 is a non-programmable drum machine with many preset patterns and individual volume controls for each sound.  Regardless of what this advert claims, trust me, this thing does not remotely sound like an acoustic drum kit.  The sounds are pretty charming tho.  I had one of these for years and now i have somehow ended up with only an empty KR55 box.  The Boss (ROLAND) DR-55 is quite different: despite the very crude prototype-esque appearance, the DR-55 is a programmable drum machine.  We have one of these at Gold Coast Recorders and while it seems to be overlooked in favor of our TR606, it is a worthy unit.  For some odd reason the DR55 seems to command a higher price than the 606 on eBay.  Anyone have an idea why?  Has the DR55 been embraced by a leading contemporary artist?