The Korg Preset Synthesizers (1975-1980)

Korg 900PS Preset Synthesizer (1975)

The Korg 900PS is quite a basic but very interesting monosynth. The 900PS definitely 'borrowed' some ideas from the Arp Pro-Soloist. Instant selection of 29 different tone colors. From the sweet sound of a violin to the chugging of a steam locomotive. Sensitive soft-touch switches and plentiful controls provide a wide variety of effects including vibrato, repeat, even the harmonics you need for a Hammond organ tone. The 900PS has 29 presets: Timpani, Electric Bass, Synthe Bass, Piano, Harpsichord, Shamisen, Banjo, Mandolin, Xylophone, Tuba, Bassoon, Horn, Cello, Trombone, Saxophone, Voice, Clarinet, Accordion, Trumpet, Funky Trumpet, Synthe Trumpet, Oboe, Violin, Recorder, White Noise, Scale Noise, Harmonics I, Harmonics II, Harmonics III.You can edit: Portamento, Repeat, Vibrato: Speed/Depth, Attack Control, Sustain Control, Harmonics Control, Traveler Control (filter cutoff), Pitch Bend, Forte, Volume.

Korg M500 Micro-Preset (1977-1980)

This 32-note monophonic preset synthesizer had 6 push-button presets ("voice", "synthe 1", "synthe 2", "brass", "string", and "wood" as in woodwind) and a five octave switch. If you pressed two buttons at the same time, those two presets would mix. There were controls for attack and "sustain" (decay/release), VCF, modulation depth, modulation speed, and portamento speed (as well as a lever to switch the portamento on or "momentary"). The SP version of the synth had a small built in speaker. The Korg Micro Preset synthesizer is a curious late 1970s beast with a slightly bizarre matrix of pre-set sounds, including laughable woodwind and similar noises and a low-quality keyboard all housed in a wooden box. Perhaps it was aimed at the beginners market. There is a lot of fun to be had with the 'traveller' control, a sort of filter and resonance control rolled into one, offering interesting squelchy acid-style bass run effects. In fact, like the MS-10, bass is about all you'll get out of this oddity in terms of useful noises. 

But overall this is a bit of a novelty synthesizers, and is not especially playable nor distinctive - apart from its looks! There are no MIDI, CV nor similar inputs.

Polyfusion Series 2000 (1976-1982)

Polyfusion was founded in 1975 by ex-Moog employees, Alan Pearce and Ron Folkman who decided to design a system of their own.

The serie 2000 modular came in 1976, it's a very well designed and built instrument, a kind of unbreakable machine (I have never ever seen one faulty). The first modules were using the same format and the knobs as in Moog systems. The sound is close to Moog’s one but the quality and stability of the electronic set it in another range, perhaps the most reliable modular at that time, and may be even today.
It's easily tunable and remains in tune.

The sequencer is available both in stand alone or standard module format. An 8 voices cv-gate polyhonic keyboard is also available. Available format : Main cabinet, Half cabinet. Tier cabinet, Half tier cabinet. Around 150 systems have been made from 1976 to 1982 .

(Thanks to Francois Marcaud)

Tangerine Dream - Live at Conventry Cathedral (1975)

In December 1974 Tangerine Dream were invited to play in the grand setting of Rheims Cathedral, a move certainly seen at the time as groundbreaking. Because of this, they were then invited to perform in the cathedrals of York, Liverpool and Coventry. The tour attracted unprecedented coverage in the media, especially at Coventry Cathedral, an iconic building rising like a Phoenix on the ruins of the old cathedral bombed to bits by the Germans in 1940 (Tangerine Dream is, after all, a German band) as a celebration of peace and reconciliation, as well as a lasting showcase for great contemporary art. The nave is dominated by a gigantic tapestry by Graham Sutherland, the main door dwarfed by a scuplture of St Michael and The Devil by Jacob Epstein, and the consecration in 1962 heard the first performance of Britten's incomparable 'War Requiem. To their lasting credit, Tangerine Dream contributed to this celebration.

This film released 2007 for the first time on DVD will be welcomed by the massive Tangerine Dream fan base, and also seen for what it is - a meeting of cultures and for a brief moment in time, a time where the past met both the present and the future.

Film Director – Tony Palmer

Performer – Christopher Franke, Edgar Froese, Peter Baumann

Part 1

Part 2

Moog Cordovox CDX-0652 White Elephant (1975-1979)

The dual-manual combo organ Moog CDX is basically a Cordovox organ with a built in Moog Satellite monosynth. It is the only organ product that bears the Moog name prominently across the front. Somewhat rare in the US, they seem to be in plentiful supply in parts of europe.

The Satellite was designed to be an organ player's synth. It was manufactured by the Thomas Organ Company, who paid a large royalty to be allowed to manufacture the Satellite for Moog. In return they were allowed to incorporate the Satellite into their organs. Thomas Organ Company also, along with Cordovox, designed the Moog CDX.

Steiner-Parker Synthacon (1975-1979)

The Steiner-Parker Synthacon was a monophonic analog synthesizer built from 1975-1979 by Salt Lake City-based based synthesizer manufacturer Steiner Parker. It featured three voltage-controlled oscillators (one of which could output sine and sawtooth waves and two of which could output sawtooth, pulse and triangle waves), a two-pole resonant Sallen Key Filter, two ADSR envelope generators, a pink- and- white noise generator, and a 49-key keyboard. While the Synthacon was not a modular system, signal routing could be achieved through a series of switches. Interestingly, the Synthacon's filter can self-oscillate like the Minimoog, but has an opposite polarity so it doesn't lose any volume when resonance is increased as do the Minimoog and Arp Odyssey's filters. Earlier models of the Synthacon had silver-faced front panels. Later a duophonic upgrade, the "Two Voice Synthacon" was released.

Cordovox CRD-0610 (1975-1977)

Not a White Elephant, but definitely a combo organ. Also has a built-in amp and two 3"x4" speakers.

Thanks for this "player's perspective: "The sound of this instrument is along the lines of your standard "Farfisa" style combo organ, perhaps a little cheesier, but useful... The voices range from "fuzzy" on the strings tab to nasally on brass, mellow on flute, etc...the vibrato is kind of exaggerated, but could probably be toned down by finding and adjusting the correct pot inside."

Controls:

Top Panel: Buttons: Diapason, Flute, Melodia, String, Brass; Slider: Volume; Button: On/Off

Left of Keyboard: Slider: Volume, Bass Volume; Tabs: Piano, Guitar, Banjo, Harpsichord, Vibrato, Vibrato