EML SynKey

TX81ZJH · Post by **TX81ZJH** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 1:07 am

Hey everyone,

Does anyone own a EML SynKey? - I was browsing the synth list on here the other day and I came across the SynKey. I was fascinated by the "punch card" storage of sounds. My dad told me (He's an Organist) some old Allen organs ran on punch cards as well.

I can't find any images of the SynKey punch cards though. Was wondering if anyone could post some cool pics of a SynKey and some cards.

Villi · Post by **Villi** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 1:52 am

Sure looks like an interesting synth. I like this quote:

Related & Alternative Gear:
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Too unique to relate it to anything else.

TX81ZJH · Post by **TX81ZJH** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 1:58 am

Villi wrote:Sure looks like an interesting synth. I like this quote:

Related & Alternative Gear:
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Too unique to relate it to anything else.

Your telling me! - I've used cassette storage, but punch cards? that is WAY old school and COOL!

B00gie · Post by **B00gie** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 2:38 am

I own eml synkey for almost a year now. It's my favourite mono so far, even though mine has scratchy resonance pot. I have seen some pictures of punch cards on the web, but i don't really care, since all the pots are disabled if you are using patch card. There are some pics of Synkey in studio pics thread (check out page #407)

If you need more pics or you need some info - feel free to contact me

P.S. Im gonna sell my Synkey to afford freakin Machinedrum...

B00gie · Post by **B00gie** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 2:40 am

here you go:

Automatic Gainsay · Post by **Automatic Gainsay** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 3:04 am

B00gie wrote:I own eml synkey for almost a year now. It's my favourite mono so far, even though mine has scratchy resonance pot. I have seen some pictures of punch cards on the web, but i don't really care, since all the pots are disabled if you are using patch card. There are some pics of Synkey in studio pics thread (check out page #407)

If you need more pics or you need some info - feel free to contact me

P.S. Im gonna sell my Synkey to afford freakin Machinedrum...

Don't sell it yet. If you think it's a mono after having it a year, I think I have a surprise for you.

TX81ZJH · Post by **TX81ZJH** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 4:19 am

B00gie wrote:here you go:

Thanks for the upclose picture. The one on VSE is too small to really see anything.

B00gie,

Thanks for the info, I'd consider buying it if I had any money LOL!

I'm just so fascinated by the whole punch card sound loading!

B00gie · Post by **B00gie** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 6:12 am

Automatic Gainsay wrote:
B00gie wrote:I own eml synkey for almost a year now. It's my favourite mono so far, even though mine has scratchy resonance pot. I have seen some pictures of punch cards on the web, but i don't really care, since all the pots are disabled if you are using patch card. There are some pics of Synkey in studio pics thread (check out page #407)

If you need more pics or you need some info - feel free to contact me

P.S. Im gonna sell my Synkey to afford freakin Machinedrum...
Don't sell it yet. If you think it's a mono after having it a year, I think I have a surprise for you.

Oh, please surprise me AG!

(even though you CAN play chords on synkey using 12 divide-down oscillators, you can only access 1 chord at a time, and you do it by just pressing 1 key on the keyboard; this key represents root note, and all the semitones from dd oscillators are gonna be stacked on top. While it's perfectly good for making strings/pads/chords in the studio i think it's a bit tricky to do this kinda thing in live show environment. Also, chords are limited to square waves only, whereas single mono voice is represented by really cool oscillator which can blend between 7 waveforms. So in another words i can't consider synkey as a polyphonic synth)

B00gie · Post by **B00gie** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 6:33 am

this thread needs moar synkey 8)

Carey M · Post by **Carey M** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 8:57 am

Those buttons are dead sexy!

- CM

ColorForm2113 · Post by **ColorForm2113** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 10:02 am

I'm interested in hearing what the last Mod Osc wave all the way to right sounds like. it looks like this "\ \"

B00gie · Post by **B00gie** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 10:36 am

Ok, so here is quick example of the last mod osc wave. (the one that looks like "\ \")

http://www.box.net/shared/okofi734gk

first sound is simple square wave, opened filter, amp sustain at max. MOD osc set at its fastest rate. First i increase the amount of mod osc -> pitch (to a 100%), then i gradually turn mod. osc. speed from fastest to slowest.

Second sound is the same thing, but im using a chord instead of 1 note, and also some env cutoff modulation is going on

I think it shows the character of that lfo shape very well.

Post by **cornutt** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 4:49 pm

I've always wanted to have one of these things. Besides my unhealthy fascination with EML stuff in general, I'd like to see if I can hack into the card reader interface and make all the parameters MIDI controllable.

TX81ZJH · Post by **TX81ZJH** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 7:24 pm

B00gie wrote:this thread needs moar synkey 8)

it's the card reader! COOL!

TX81ZJH · Post by **TX81ZJH** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 7:28 pm

B00gie wrote:Ok, so here is quick example of the last mod osc wave. (the one that looks like "\ ")

http://www.box.net/shared/okofi734gk

first sound is simple square wave, opened filter, amp sustain at max. MOD osc set at its fastest rate. First i increase the amount of mod osc -> pitch (to a 100%), then i gradually turn mod. osc. speed from fastest to slowest.

Second sound is the same thing, but im using a chord instead of 1 note, and also some env cutoff modulation is going on

I think it shows the character of that lfo shape very well.

That is the coolest thing I have ever heard. Period.