Thank you for the praise. This is some custom code I wrote after reading how Brian Enos piece “Discreet Music” was put together. I am planning to make a video about it, actually.
I was astonished to learn that only 13 of these were ever made. Through some unusual circumstances, I ended up owning TWO of them for a while-actually two synthesizer units and a single ABLE computer. With a bit of hardware and software hacking, I was able to get both synths working (doubling the number of FM voices), and also got them to do Casio-style phase distortion as well as sine-carrier FM. I eventually passed the hardware on to Jon Appleton (one of the NED co-founders), who had helped me obtain needed parts. I’m curious to know where they are now, after Jon passed away early in 2022.
Do you know if there’s anything like a technical system overview for the synclavier online anywhere? This video is this the first time I’ve seen interior shots of this instrument. I’ve wondered if one could completely reproduce the sound of the instrument running software on modern computer through the original 8 bit converters.
Yes, complete hard and software documentation is available for the Synclavier. Whether it is possible to reproduce the machine as a plug-in or similar project, I have no idea. That said, people have done it with the Synclavier II.
@@rootstudio247 thanks kindly for the reply. I didn’t even know there was a sharp distinction between the first Synclavier and the Synclavier II; I took your suggestion and wrote to Synclavier Digital. Hopefully this is the same firm that provides support to the original instruments. I hope you will continue making these videos. I’d love to see more about every aspect of the system, how the sound is produced, what software that was written for it, etc. It’s a real treasure. My comment about the 8-bit converters was more philosophical than practical. It seems like a lot of people familiar with these instruments attribute the special quality of their sound to the way it is converted into analog signal. If it’s all code in the digital domain, it seems like it shouldn’t matter what processor is running the code, and that it must come down to the way the information is converted to audible signal. Some people say they used extremely high quality converters and attribute the sound to this. It’s interesting to consider.
@@ghostexits I doubt you will be able to get information on this particular instrument from them. You might have more success with the model II. But anyway, the quality of output converters makes a huge difference to the sound.
I’m not a hardware guy, so I wouldn’t know for sure. But if you look at the difference between the original memory card and what I presume is a replacement in the video, I think you have a point, though. Perhaps someone else will chime in here eventually.
They’re regular copper PCB’s, but because no “solder-mask” layer was used, the entire exposed copper got “tinned” (coated with solder) when the boards were tin through a wave-soldering machine. Solder-masking became widely used in the 80s; these boards date from the late 70s.
![[#SHORTS CLIP] ใช้ของของตัวเองไปเลยสิคะ l ซานิเบาได้เบา l One Playground](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Ea_mTywx2p4/mqdefault.jpg)
The music starting at :30 it’s just breathtaking! I’m getting a synclavier ii and hope it’s fm voices can sound this lush
Thank you for the praise. This is some custom code I wrote after reading how Brian Enos piece “Discreet Music” was put together. I am planning to make a video about it, actually.
I was astonished to learn that only 13 of these were ever made. Through some unusual circumstances, I ended up owning TWO of them for a while-actually two synthesizer units and a single ABLE computer. With a bit of hardware and software hacking, I was able to get both synths working (doubling the number of FM voices), and also got them to do Casio-style phase distortion as well as sine-carrier FM. I eventually passed the hardware on to Jon Appleton (one of the NED co-founders), who had helped me obtain needed parts. I’m curious to know where they are now, after Jon passed away early in 2022.
Fantastic! Thanks for sharing. Maybe through my videos I will eventually find all previous owners. Great to hear from you 👍
Do you know if there’s anything like a technical system overview for the synclavier online anywhere? This video is this the first time I’ve seen interior shots of this instrument. I’ve wondered if one could completely reproduce the sound of the instrument running software on modern computer through the original 8 bit converters.
Yes, complete hard and software documentation is available for the Synclavier. Whether it is possible to reproduce the machine as a plug-in or similar project, I have no idea. That said, people have done it with the Synclavier II.
@@rootstudio247 thanks kindly for the reply. I didn’t even know there was a sharp distinction between the first Synclavier and the Synclavier II; I took your suggestion and wrote to Synclavier Digital. Hopefully this is the same firm that provides support to the original instruments. I hope you will continue making these videos. I’d love to see more about every aspect of the system, how the sound is produced, what software that was written for it, etc. It’s a real treasure.
My comment about the 8-bit converters was more philosophical than practical. It seems like a lot of people familiar with these instruments attribute the special quality of their sound to the way it is converted into analog signal. If it’s all code in the digital domain, it seems like it shouldn’t matter what processor is running the code, and that it must come down to the way the information is converted to audible signal. Some people say they used extremely high quality converters and attribute the sound to this. It’s interesting to consider.
@@ghostexits I doubt you will be able to get information on this particular instrument from them. You might have more success with the model II. But anyway, the quality of output converters makes a huge difference to the sound.
ANALOG BABY!!😁👍🏻
Not quite… not even a volume knob 🙃
Thanks for this video. These circuit boards look like silver etched as opposed to copper?
I’m not a hardware guy, so I wouldn’t know for sure. But if you look at the difference between the original memory card and what I presume is a replacement in the video, I think you have a point, though. Perhaps someone else will chime in here eventually.
They’re regular copper PCB’s, but because no “solder-mask” layer was used, the entire exposed copper got “tinned” (coated with solder) when the boards were tin through a wave-soldering machine. Solder-masking became widely used in the 80s; these boards date from the late 70s.
Thanks Shane for clarifying.