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HomeExploreMusicClassic Synthesizers and Drum Machines
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Look closely at the original hardware behind decades of electronic music, from patch-cord synthesizers and tape keyboards to digital workstations and drum machines. The panels tell their own story. Some give every sound a knob, while others make a few buttons do the work.

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22
Roland D-50
Roland D-50: The D-50 uses short sampled attacks with synthesized material. The contrast helps explain why a digital…
23
Casio CZ-101
Casio CZ-101: Casio put its phase distortion synthesis into a compact keyboard with small keys. The rows of buttons give…
24
Sequential Circuits Pro-One
Sequential Circuits Pro-One: The knob-heavy Pro-One puts two oscillators and a filter on a small monophonic keyboard. A…
25
ARP Odyssey
ARP Odyssey: The original Odyssey uses colored slider caps to help a player find controls quickly. Its two oscillators can…
26
Yamaha CS-80
Yamaha CS-80: Banks of colored controls run across the CS-80’s face. The keyboard responds to pressure on individual notes…
27
Ensoniq ESQ-1
Ensoniq ESQ-1: The ESQ-1 combines digital waveforms with analog filters. Its display, buttons, and built-in sequencer let a…
28
Electronic Dream Plant Wasp
Electronic Dream Plant Wasp: The bright yellow strip is a touch keyboard with no moving keys. It gives the Wasp an…
29
EMS Synthi AKS
EMS Synthi AKS: The open case holds both the synthesizer and a flat keyboard and sequencer. The pin matrix carries the…
30
Korg Mono/Poly
Korg Mono/Poly: Four oscillator sections line the blue panel. The instrument can stack the oscillators on one note or…
31
Roland SH-101
Roland SH-101: Sliders and a short keyboard keep the signal path within reach. The SH-101 combines a monophonic synthesizer…
32
Roland CR-78 CompuRhythm
Roland CR-78 CompuRhythm: The CR-78 looks like a preset rhythm box, with buttons for named beats across its face. Roland…
33
E-mu SP-1200
E-mu SP-1200: The pads and sliders put drum hits and sampled phrases at the player’s fingertips. The SP-1200 became a…
34
Akai MPC60
Akai MPC60: The square pads sit within reach of the screen and controls on Akai’s original MPC60. Roger Linn’s design…
35
Yamaha RX5 Digital Rhythm Programmer
Yamaha RX5 Digital Rhythm Programmer: The large field of buttons is a clue to the RX5’s editing depth. It let players…
36
Moog Polymoog Synthesizer 203A
Moog Polymoog Synthesizer 203A: The wide keyboard and banks of controls set the Polymoog apart from the smaller Minimoog…
37
Fairlight CMI Series IIx
Fairlight CMI Series IIx: A Fairlight session used a separate musical keyboard, computer, monitor, and alphanumeric…
38
New England Digital Synclavier II
New England Digital Synclavier II: The red buttons stand out against the Synclavier II’s dark panel. This digital system…
39
Buchla 100 Modular Synthesizer
Buchla 100 Modular Synthesizer: Two cabinets of patchable modules sit above flat touch plates. Don Buchla developed the…
40
Oberheim Four Voice
Oberheim Four Voice: The four matching panels each control a separate analog synthesizer voice. Oberheim joined those…
41
Simmons SDS-V Electronic Drum Kit
Simmons SDS-V Electronic Drum Kit: The hexagonal pads give the SDS-V a silhouette unlike an acoustic drum kit. Striking the…
42
Korg Polysix
Korg Polysix: The blue panel puts sound controls and patch memory above the keys. In 1981, the original Polysix offered…

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