crazy about '70s String Synths

[OffYourFace]

I've been buying cheap (mostly Italian made) synths lately. I love them. Anybody else into them?

So far I've got:

-Siel OR400 (same thing as the Siel Orchestra 2 and the Sequential Circuits Prelude)
-ARP Quartet (same thing as the Siel Orchestra mk1)
-Crumar Orchestrator (sounds close to the Eminent/ARP Solina for much less)

I've also got a Roland Juno 60 and a Yamaha PS-55 (basically a fancy version of the PS-20, the Beach House synth)

Want:

Arp Omni 2 (Joy Division) and Farfisa Soundmaker (seems to be rare)
Of course I'd love a Solina or better yet, a Freeman String Symphonizer, but that's big $$

[eggwheat]

Oh yes defo.. I've had a Solina for a very long time ...used it on tons of tracks over the years..they were really hard to find pre-internet.

I got a bit more exotic on my OYR album.... On the song 'We Ran' I used an Arp Quadra(with the legendary built in phaser) and on 'Some Things Are' I used a Roland RS-505, if you want to hear them

I've had a few Arp Omni 2's and they sound amazing well worth getting although they are nearly always fucked (re-capping and re-bushing etc needed). The bass section mixed with the strings is instant Joy Division.

I have had a couple of Roland VP-330's too..

[OffYourFace]

Cool! I'll revisit your record. I'd love to try an RS-505. It's difficult for me to get string sounds that I like from the Juno 60. It's good at other things, though.

My one reservation with the Omni 2 is that I play the synth in a simple manor like Joy Division so it'll probably sound too much like Division. Tonally that is... not my songs.

[eggwheat]

Oh yes, you'll never get the classic stringer sound from a Juno 60 as great as it is...no good for that.

The RS-505 is a real favourite...it's a stereo Solina basically but with 3 chorus modes...chorus, ensemble and flange...and again the bass section is awesome. oh and as matter of point they did make a Stereo Solina in the 80's...avoid it if you ever see one(has LED's in the buttons)..it's shit..a complete redesign.

[fortytwo]

I've had two Solina's, an ARP OMNI and a Logan String Melody. I still have a Roland RS-09, and a Juno 60, although I'm contemplating selling the Juno.

All very fun, but they took up way too much space, so now I'm running them all as soft-synths. Yeah I know, it's not the same, but they do the same, and in most mixes you can't tell the difference.

[eggwheat]

Yeh I have an RS-09 too actually. Great bargain string synth.. Doesn't really sound like a solina though. the cure used to use them early on, you can hear it on the song 'funeral party'. Also early Talk Talk..

Not a fan of soft synths replacing string machines.. That's one job I don't think they do well imho..

[whisperit]

slightly off-topic, but what's your thought on Waldorf Streichfett?
vintage synths are no longer a bargain - you can buy Streichfett for half a price of RS-09, but would it do the job better than, say, soft synth?

[eggwheat]

I don't know, but I would venture that it isn't the same. The trouble with trying to emulate a string synth is that every key sounds different on them, add in all the weird organic note interference you get..and everything else like the ensemble circuit. It's like trying to emulate a tube circuit in software.

An RS-09 sold for £250 on eBay a couple of weeks ago...a better investment in my mind.

[OffYourFace]

slightly off-topic, but what's your thought on Waldorf Streichfett?
vintage synths are no longer a bargain - you can buy Streichfett for half a price of RS-09, but would it do the job better than, say, soft synth?

I bought a Streichfett just to have something portable and it's a great backup. It sounds pretty good! But as Philip said, it's not a replacement for the real thing. It's perfect for a home desktop studio. YOu need to pump it through a preamp with some EQ to get the girth of a vintage machine... in my experience anyway.

I just bought an ARP Quartet for $200. Bargains can be found. The Quartet is very basic but with some outboard EQ and some delay, reverb etc, you can do alot:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaHGVfQfuoQ" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MSFKHnYfEM" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (Siel Orchestra, same exact machine)

[whisperit]

Thanks guys, appreciate your opinion!

[OffYourFace]

I did an amplified A/B test with the Streichfett and my Siel OR400 tonight. Sorry, I didn't record it...

I wasn't concerned about how similar they sounded, just the overall sound and feel. While the Siel OR400 is considered a Lo-Fi early '80s analog synth, it sounds huge compared the streichfett. No effects, just both units plugged straight into my PA at my rehearsal studio.

Now if I'm just making demos, the Streichfett will be just fine and actually easier to use. The Siel needs to be tuned and since I tune down a half step, I tune the synth down... I'm not a keyboard player so I'm not comfortable playing the black keys haha. I just have to transpose the pitch on a midi controller and I'm in tune. I also discovered that you can tweak the sounds of it further if your MIDI controller has all the extra controls & sliders (most do nowadays). That was a welcomed surprise! I was able to get much cooler tones.

Here's a good video of the Streichfett compared to a Logan String Melody II:

pt 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1iBjAGi92k" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

pt 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inS8HXzdWfw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[OffYourFace]

anyone have experience with the Moog Opus III? That's another one that I want..

[eggwheat]

Yeh, can only say I hated the one I had, just didn't like the sound at all. Doesnt compare to a solina.

One I have never tried but would love to is the Yamaha SS30... It's the string synth Magazine used.

[OffYourFace]

Yeh, can only say I hated the one I had, just didn't like the sound at all. Doesnt compare to a solina.

One I have never tried but would love to is the Yamaha SS30... It's the string synth Magazine used.

oh interesting... it's good when stereolab uses it but I do prefer the Solina sound.
I'm quite satisfied with my Siel OR400 but I want something that has that 'singing' top end that the Solina has. I just love the size of the Siel.
The Crumar Orchestrator has that Solina sound but it's pretty big. Plus, mine needs service! I'm going to try to fix it myself first...

[fortytwo]

One I have never tried but would love to is the Yamaha SS30... It's the string synth Magazine used.

I did a small tour with a keyboard player that had one, it sounded absolutely fantastic, especially through his EP-3.