Collecting and Recreating Vintage Synths
Vail writes that many vintage synths are collectable, and has a price and dealer guide. And just like electric guitars, while many players will want to own the real thing, they can be simulated very effectively on the computer.
As I wrote back in May:
While there are still plenty of hardware-based synthesizers, home recording benefits by keeping as much as possible inside the computer. But using synthesizers with [a home recording program] was problematic for me, probably more so than other PC-based recordists. I've always been a guitarist who fiddled with keyboards, and wanted an easy solution that still sounded good. I began hearing about a program called Reason, produced by a European company called Propellerhead, whose GUI was a virtual equipment rack, that several different synthesizers, samplers and loop-playing programs could be plugged into and rearranged at will. You could even hit a computer key, and flip the rack over, to rearrange virtual wires from unit to unit.Cakewalk's new Project5 soft synth program also includes a variety of fat analog 1970s-style synth sounds among its patches. And Sonic Implants has a range of vintage synthesizer sounds, (including the Mellotron, the ARP, the DX-7, and the Prophet-5, incidentally) in its range of SoundFont files, which can be loaded into the software synths in Reason and Project5.* * *
Of course, there are a lot more software synthesizers than Reason. And in the brand new book, Software Synthesizers, Jim Aikin, the former senior editor of Keyboard magazine edits (and contributes a few articles to) a broad overview of what's out there.
So there are lots of ways to recreate the vintage sounds of '70s and '80s synths. As I said, frankly, for recording purposes, I'd much rather keep as much as possible inside the computer. And while software will crash from time to time, rebooting a PC is far easier than rethreading 35 tapes inside a Mellotron!
But for the musician and layperson alike who wants to explore where the incredible sounds that dominated '70s and '80s music came from, Vintage Synthesizers is certainly a fun read.
Article comments
1 - Mark Saleski
oddly enough, there's a huge collection of vintage synths at the New England Synthesizer Museum, in Nashua, New Hampshire.
also worth checking out is Analog Days, about the development of the Moog synth
2 - Eric Olsen
love that analog synth sound, very happy it's "back" - thanks Ed!
3 - Actif
Good article, I am fan into senior programs stuff
4 - marcia wolhandler
Would anyone be interested in buying my anolog/digital hybrid synthesizer? It is a Roland Juno 106 (from the 80's-I have the original receipt and manual). The battery is dead and so all sounds
in the memory have been erased (New ones can be MIDI downloaded or created from scratch. This was one of the first MIDI machines.
5 - osg
Nice article.
I'm interested in buying various old synthesizers, working or not. Please email me at oldsynthguy - at - aol - dot - com if you've got anything available. Thanks!
[Email obscured by editor]
6 - kathleen stockman
Hi,
I have a Yamaha electone organ. I would like to sell it. If you or someone you know might want it, please contact me at 906-233-1450 or email.
It is in excellent condition. It has a large box of Hammond organ music with it...lots of old songs.
thanks
kathleen
7 - rocco
I am heavy into using any vintage gear I can get my hands on. Anyone got a Mellotron for sale?
On another note I just got back from MOOG factory and Convention> moog has got some great stuff. Even though Bob's no longer with us MOOG will carry on beautifully continuing to exceed all expectations. MOOG Rocks!
8 - Joey Hadnot
I'm composing for a medium sized contemporary ensemble and am having trouble getting all the instrumentalists I want together, I was just wondering if anyone knows the average price mellotrons go for and where I could find one in Toronto, I need it to write compositions!
9 - kazu
Im personally looking to purchase MOOG 55 OR MOOG IIIP
do somebody know where i could find one?
10 - rocco
Type in "mellotron" into Google search engine. You can get a brand new Mellotron for about 5 Grand.
11 - jenna
Hi Has anyone ever heard of a "Johnson intonation trainer" It's A small organ that is switched between fixed and variable tuning to demonstrate even tempered and just intonation. Made by E.F. Johnson Co. That is the only info I can find on it.
12 - Jaze Wade
Check out the Vintage Synthesizer pics @ this site......beautiful!!!
13 - Keith
I have a Mellotron for sale. Anyone interested?
14 - Virginia
Have a custom made Mellotron, but my other half does not want to sell it. He will sell his FREEMAN STRING SYMPHONIZER and his HOHNER CEMBALET. Please call with any interest in either. Both in pretty good shape.
15 - manuel
to : Virginia
is your cembalet still available ? [Personal contact info deleted]