Frank Zappa used Synclavier to create really unique, complex music, with hell lot of work put into it.
Is there any other artist, who would use this instrument in similarly creative way? According to Wikipedia, plenty of artists used Synclavier, but probably few of them used it as exclusive compositional tool, and likely most of them are pop artists, who used Synclavier solely for some sound effects. Is there anybody, who did use Synclavier in more advanced way?
Long time Arturia Analog Lab user here. I have it installed on 3 workstations with 3 different arturia controllers: knobs all control knobs just fine.
But now I need to use a minicab MkII with the Synclavier V software. The keys work just fine, but the knobs are not. Is there an easy way to "tell" it I have a minicab? Or less easy way to map the knobs?
Zappa's synclavier stuff is not his best stuff in my opinion, but still it's very cool sometimes! Do you have any favorite synclavier tracks or albums?
It is not the "samples from hell" rare one on youtube at the moment.
The one i saw he was actually typing stuff into the computer and explaining some stuff.
I cannot find this anywhere and it is driving me crazy. I am pretty sure i saw it on very early youtube, but it could have been somewhere else before youtube.
EDIT:
3hree8ight5ive found it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hl8Qay0V1yo&feature=youtu.be&t=1015
The part i remember seeing starts at around 19:30
but i especially remember the parts here:
You know what I mean, those weird noises that would show up in every song at some point. I'll list a few here:
Weird warble noise (also used in the '81/'82 tours IIRC?)
And so on and so forth - I'm sure there are plenty more I'm missing but that's the reason I'm asking you guys if you know of any more lol.
I know it's a long shot, but would anyone know of some sort of online library that has all these sounds in isolation? Either that, or, do you guys know of any moments on the 88' albums (Broadway, Jazz Noise, Best Band, YCDTOSA#4 & #6, Trance-Fusion, etc) or any '88 bootlegs where these noises are used by themselves? (making them easier to simply cut out of said songs without needing to remove other noises in the background)
I know this is a bit of a weird post but... ah, fuck it, y'know? I just reckon it'd make for a great soundboard.
Thanks in advance!
There’s this website http://www.500sound.com/workshop/synclavier_restore.html that says that Coldplay used a Synclavier on what seems to be X&Y. Above one of the photos in the link, it says about Coldplay having similar work done to their Synclavier by a company, which they then used their Synclavier during the recording of their recent album. Then at the bottom of the page is a copyright declaration dated from 2005, which is the same year that X&Y Was released. If they did indeed use a Synclavier on that album then that means that they used two pretty cool and interesting vintage synths on X&Y (the other one being the Yamaha CS80).
The current owners of the Synclavier brand have announced Synclavier Go! for iPad and Synclavier Pocket! for iPhone/iPod Touch.
Features include:
- Over 900 Authentic Synclavier Sounds
- New presets added for Go!
- Harmonic Additive Synthesis Engine
- MIDI, Audiobus, Ableton Link supported
- Superior Touch UI
- Multi-layer Effects
- Free updates
- In-app Purchases available for advanced features
- Runs on all models of iPad with iOS9 or later: iPad, iPad 2, iPad Mini, iPad Pro, iPad Air, etc.
- Up to 12 Partial Timbres
- Theoretically unlimited voices (depending on iPad processor speed)
- InterApp and InterDevice audio support
- MIDI in: for keyboard, pitch bend wheel, and other interfaces
- 16 MIDI Tracks for outboard sequencing (multi-timbral)
- AudioBus and Ableton Link Support
- Audio out: Up to 24bit stereo at 44.1 Khz or 48kHz (tracks mixed), through headphone jack / lightning or USB
- Built-in 3 Octave touch keyboard
- Repeat, Arpeggiate, Portamento (Legato) functions can be set per timbre
- Supports Polyphonic and Monophonic modes with Retriggering settings
Pocket (iPhone features:
- 1 Free Disk of Authentic Synclavier Sounds
- Harmonic Additive Synthesis Engine
- MIDI, Audiobus, Ableton Link supported
- Superior Touch UI
- Multi-layer Effects
- Free updates
- In-app Purchases available for advanced features
- Runs on all models of iPhone or iPod Touch with iOS9 or later
- Up to 4 Partial Timbres
- Theoretically unlimited voices (depending on iPad processor speed)
- Mono-timbral MIDI in: for keyboard, pitch bend wheel, and other interfaces
- AudioBus and Ableton Link Support
- Audio out: Up to 24bit stereo at 44.1 Khz or 48kHz (tracks mixed), through headphone jack / lightning or USB
- Built-in 2 Octave touch keyboard
Other highlights:
- Contains documentation of the original Synclavier lineup and a manual for how to program the new version
- No android version planned
- Contains original disk sounds from the 1980 System Disk
- Poly sampling will be on the way as in-app purchase, but possibly only for the iPad version
Synclavier Go! is $27.99 in the app store. Synclavier Pocket! is free, but you can purchase Timbre Disks 1-6 for $3.99 and Resynth Disks 1-3 for $2.79
[The Sound Test Room demo](https://youtu.be/yN_
... keep reading on reddit ➡I was looking up some stuff about the Synclavier when I came across the official website run by it's inventor and current owners. There's a message under the banner:
>You have heard of the Synclavier® I, Synclavier® II, Synclavier^(3) and Synclavier V.
>
>Now, may I ask you,
>
>HOW LONG CAN YOU HOLD YOUR BREATH?
>
>The next step in the evolution of this remarkable instrument will be announced on Thursday, January 24, 2019 at 11:00 AM in Anaheim, California.
>
>C. Jones, Inventor
I have no idea how long it's been there, I haven't heard anything about this, and the only other thing I've seen about it so far is a comment claiming that it's going to be a new hardware version running the original code. Predictions? Speculation? Comments?
As the title says. I've had a Synclavier II in storage for some time and recently have been interested in restoring it.
Specifically: I have the big blue control unit and keyboard for a Synclavier II. That's it. I don't have the terminal, floppy drive, cables, or anything else. Obviously this is not an ideal situation.
Right now I'm just trying to determine whether it's even feasible to restore this synthesizer to full functionality, and what kind of work might be involved in doing so. But there is very, very little information available online. I can't even find a user manual (although it looks like paper copies go on auction every few years for dozens to hundreds of dollars).
Does anyone here have any experience working with the Synclavier II? Any information at all would be a tremendous help. Even just full list of necessary components would go a long way.
Here are some photos for anyone interested:
Keyboard/CU front view
Keyboard/CU back view
Better view of the CU rear ports
Edit: View of the interior (largely obscured by ribbon cables for the time being)
https://youtu.be/sgd8oMGDW1E
I can’t get the plugin featured in the video to work
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yN8k8kjybU&t=2m13s
Looking to brew up this bass instrument in Serum. Not sure what to call it. Makes me think of a HUGE metal string being plucked, with weird reverb. It kind of reminds me of some of the stuff on Harold Faltermeyer's Top Gun score, specifically this track ("MIG 28"). Top Gun was the first movie score that used the Synclavier, so a Synclavier inspired patch perhaps?
G-Spot Tornado from Jazz From Hell is also played by Ensemble Modern on The Yellow Shark.
Are there any other synclavier pieces that were played and issued by an orchestra or (better yet) by one of Zappa's teenage rocking combo's?
My family recently came into possession of a Synclavier II and we're very excited, me in particular, to see if we can get it running and add it to our humble collection of keyboards and musical toys. I'm not super synth-savy beyond some basic knowledge and with something this old it's even harder to figure out where to start. I'm not completely sure if we even have the correct parts or not but I feel like it should be within reach. Can someone help guide me towards a solution to getting sound out of it? I'm not looking for anything fancy but would just like to know if I can get it working.
Here are some photos: https://imgur.com/a/vIbm2qA
We have the keyboard itself and the digital control unit, as well as what I think should be all the appropriate cables and a floppy disk reader. Not sure if there's anything missing but I just have no idea where to start in terms of getting this thing to actually make sound. Do we need a certain floppy disk, do we need to interface with a computer? etc.
Any help would be hugely appreciated.
