[linux-audio-user] Russian synths ?!

[derek holzer]

I've made a few recordings with a friend's Formanta EMS-1 in Latvia. He 
said it was just laying around an old theatre in Liepaja collecting dust 
when he found it. The synthesized strings on the keys are fairly tame, 
but the noise-driven, sample-and-hold LFO is an absolute monster!

http://ruskeys.net/eng/base/formanta.php

Another bonus feaure is the fact that the Formanta sounds *completely* 
different about three hours after turning it on than when you start. 
Let's hear it for non-linearity, which simply can't be emulated on the 
computer.

Another friend from Riga occaisionally sells different Soviet/Russian 
synths on Ebay. In fact, there seem to be quite a few of them around. 
Not the Formanta, it's a rare beast, but if you are looking for a 
Polyvox, for example, the going price seems to run between 500 and 700 
Euros. Shipping is what would really kill you, though. A Polyvox isn't 
too heavy, but the Formanta is approximately the size and bulk of a 
small fridge!

best,
derek



Mark Knecht wrote:
> Darn those would be fun to play with.
> 
> Thanks Alex!
> 
> 
> On Tue, 26 Oct 2004 09:40:23 -0400, Dave Phillips <dlphilp at bright.net> wrote:
> 
>>Greetings:
>>
>> Alex Prokoudine sent this link to some interesting photos and info
>>concerning Russian (pre- and post-Soviet) synths:
>>
>>http://ruskeys.net/eng/synths.php
>>
>>  Thanks Alex !
>>
>>Best,
>>
>>dp
>>
>>
> 
> 


-- 
derek holzer ::: http://www.umatic.nl
---Oblique Strategy # 111:
"Lowest common denominator check
-single beat
-single note
-single riff"