SynclavierII

New_England_Digital SynclavierII

Released: 1979

MSRP: $200k-500k

Synopsis:

Commercial version with original keyboard (ORK), mono FM, and optional mono sampling (50kHz). Velocity and pressure sensitivity are via MIDI only. 16 bit sampling and direct-to-disk recording were popular options. Samples can also be analyzed and resynthesized into additive waveforms (36 harmonics). Architecture Class: Additive-FM-Sampler.

Ebay Description:

The New England Digital Synclavier II is a computer based digital synthesizer/sampler controlled via terminal and/or keyboard. The number of synthesizer and sampler voices depends on the configuration, but each instrument uses 4 partials. Each partial can use synthesizer or sampler voices and features a volume IDADSR envelope, vibrato, tremolo, and various performance control (ribbon, velocity, aftertouch) modulation routings. The synthesis engine uses additive synthesis (including sample resynthesis) with 2 operator FM (with dedicated IDADSR envelope), using "Timbre frames" to morph timbre over time. The sampler engine records/edits/plays 16 bit (0-50kHZ) samples. Presets and samples can be loaded from optional floppy, optical, or hard drives. A sequencer and various IO configurations are also available.

Physical

Form Factor	Dimensions	Weight	Audio Input	Audio Output	Communication Port	Control Input	Control Output	Switch Input	Power
various rack configurations + 61 keys (ORK)	various	various	optional: sample UDIO (AES/EBU, S/PDIF)	balanced and unbalance optional: UDIO (AES/EBU, S/PDIF) additional analog	optional: MIDI SCSI	MIDI optional: SMPTE/Clock	MIDI optional: SMPTE/Clock	hold repeat portamento punch-in/out sustain arpeggiate phrase mute	AC

Interface

Compatibility	Multitimbral Memory	Program Memory	External Storage	External Programming	UI Input	UI Output
-	N/A	64/bank	SCSI HD 5.25" floppy optical drive	terminal	buttons VT-100 terminal or VT-640 graphic terminal	LED display VT-100 terminal or VT-640 graphic terminal

Architecture

Multitimbral	Polyphony	Unison	Architecture
4 timbres/patch (split/layer)	8-128	no	"FM synthesis" engine (8 bit) uses additive synthesis (including sample resynthesis) with 2 operator FM, using "Timbre frames" to morph timbre over time. Four partials could be considered "8 operator FM" (12 operator if the "chorus" oscillators are counted), except FM is fixed to single carrier/modulator pairs. While samples can replace synthesized partials, FM modulation is not available to sample based partials.

Output

Effects	Pan Modulator	Volume Modulator	Headphone
chorus (detune)	no	aftertouch breath-controller key Mod-Wheel pedal1 pedal2 ribbon-controller velocity Tremolo	no

Control

Arpeggiator	Arpeggiator External	Sequencer	Sequencer Memory	Sequencer External	Continuous	Program Change
routed through LFO	no	32-200 tracks, depending on version	uses external memory (load from floppy or HD)	MIDI	breath-controller Mod-Wheel Pitch-Wheel pedal1 pedal2 ribbon-controller	MIDI

Keyboard

Key Pressure	Chord Memory	External Control	External Sustain	Key Scaling	Velocity Curves
poly (MIDI RX)	no	MIDI	MIDI pedal	microtonal volume:fade-in/out points	1 (MIDI RX)

Source

Name	Signal Class	Waveform	Octave Range	Amplitude Modulator	Harmonics Modulator	Pitch Modulator	Wave Assign Modulator
Partial1-Carrier	digital	24 harmonics (with phase) or sample (without FM)	0-1.76kHz	aftertouch breath-controller key Mod-Wheel pedal1 pedal2 ribbon-controller velocity P1Amp-EG	FM:Partial1-Modulator	aftertouch breath-controller key Mod-Wheel Pitch-Wheel pedal1 pedal2 ribbon-controller velocity portamento Vibrato	TimbreFrames
Partial1-Chorus	digital	same as carrier	+-3	same as carrier	same as carrier	aftertouch breath-controller key Mod-Wheel pedal1 pedal2 ribbon-controller velocity portamento	same as carrier
Partial1-Modulator	digital	sine	-10 +16	P1FM-EG	no	Vibrato FM-ratio: aftertouch breath-controller key Mod-Wheel pedal1 pedal2 ribbon-controller velocity	no
Partial2-Carrier	digital	24 harmonics (with phase) or sample (without FM)	0-1.76kHz	aftertouch breath-controller key Mod-Wheel pedal1 pedal2 ribbon-controller velocity P1Amp-EG	FM:Partial1-Modulator	aftertouch breath-controller key Mod-Wheel Pitch-Wheel pedal1 pedal2 ribbon-controller velocity portamento Vibrato	TimbreFrames
Partial2-Chorus	digital	same as carrier	+-3	same as carrier	same as carrier	aftertouch breath-controller key Mod-Wheel pedal1 pedal2 ribbon-controller velocity portamento	same as carrier
Partial2-Modulator	digital	sine	-10 +16	P1FM-EG	no	Vibrato FM-ratio: aftertouch breath-controller key Mod-Wheel pedal1 pedal2 ribbon-controller velocity	no
Partial3-Carrier	digital	24 harmonics (with phase) or sample (without FM)	0-1.76kHz	aftertouch breath-controller key Mod-Wheel pedal1 pedal2 ribbon-controller velocity P1Amp-EG	FM:Partial1-Modulator	aftertouch breath-controller key Mod-Wheel Pitch-Wheel pedal1 pedal2 ribbon-controller velocity portamento Vibrato	TimbreFrames
Partial3-Chorus	digital	same as carrier	+-3	same as carrier	same as carrier	aftertouch breath-controller key Mod-Wheel pedal1 pedal2 ribbon-controller velocity portamento	same as carrier
Partial3-Modulator	digital	sine	-10 +16	P1FM-EG	no	Vibrato FM-ratio: aftertouch breath-controller key Mod-Wheel pedal1 pedal2 ribbon-controller velocity	no
Partial4-Carrier	digital	24 harmonics (with phase) or sample (without FM)	0-1.76kHz	aftertouch breath-controller key Mod-Wheel pedal1 pedal2 ribbon-controller velocity P1Amp-EG	FM:Partial1-Modulator	aftertouch breath-controller key Mod-Wheel Pitch-Wheel pedal1 pedal2 ribbon-controller velocity portamento Vibrato	TimbreFrames
Partial4-Chorus	digital	same as carrier	+-3	same as carrier	same as carrier	aftertouch breath-controller key Mod-Wheel pedal1 pedal2 ribbon-controller velocity portamento	same as carrier
Partial4-Modulator	digital	sine	-10 +16	P1FM-EG	no	Vibrato FM-ratio: aftertouch breath-controller key Mod-Wheel pedal1 pedal2 ribbon-controller velocity	no

Envelope

Name	Level	Rate	Loop	Polarity	Trigger	Level Modulator	Rate Modulator
P1FM-EG	attack sustain	delay attack decay release	no	no	no	aftertouch breath-controller key Mod-Wheel pedal1 pedal2 ribbon-controller velocity	aftertouch breath-controller key Mod-Wheel pedal1 pedal2 ribbon-controller velocity
P1Amp-EG	attack sustain	delay attack decay release	no	no	no	aftertouch breath-controller key Mod-Wheel pedal1 pedal2 ribbon-controller velocity	aftertouch breath-controller key Mod-Wheel pedal1 pedal2 ribbon-controller velocity
P2FM-EG	attack sustain	delay attack decay release	no	no	no	aftertouch breath-controller key Mod-Wheel pedal1 pedal2 ribbon-controller velocity	aftertouch breath-controller key Mod-Wheel pedal1 pedal2 ribbon-controller velocity
P2Amp-EG	attack sustain	delay attack decay release	no	no	no	aftertouch breath-controller key Mod-Wheel pedal1 pedal2 ribbon-controller velocity	aftertouch breath-controller key Mod-Wheel pedal1 pedal2 ribbon-controller velocity
P3FM-EG	attack sustain	delay attack decay release	no	no	no	aftertouch breath-controller key Mod-Wheel pedal1 pedal2 ribbon-controller velocity	aftertouch breath-controller key Mod-Wheel pedal1 pedal2 ribbon-controller velocity
P3Amp-EG	attack sustain	delay attack decay release	no	no	no	aftertouch breath-controller key Mod-Wheel pedal1 pedal2 ribbon-controller velocity	aftertouch breath-controller key Mod-Wheel pedal1 pedal2 ribbon-controller velocity
P4FM-EG	attack sustain	delay attack decay release	no	no	no	aftertouch breath-controller key Mod-Wheel pedal1 pedal2 ribbon-controller velocity	aftertouch breath-controller key Mod-Wheel pedal1 pedal2 ribbon-controller velocity
P4Amp-EG	attack sustain	delay attack decay release	no	no	no	aftertouch breath-controller key Mod-Wheel pedal1 pedal2 ribbon-controller velocity	aftertouch breath-controller key Mod-Wheel pedal1 pedal2 ribbon-controller velocity

LFO

Name	Waveform	Delay	Polarity	Sync	Delay Modulator	Level Modulator	Rate Modulator
Vibrato	sine triangle ramp inverted-ramp square random (with quantize and bias)	attack	yes	yes	aftertouch breath-controller key Mod-Wheel pedal1 pedal2 ribbon-controller velocity	aftertouch breath-controller key Mod-Wheel pedal1 pedal2 ribbon-controller velocity	aftertouch breath-controller key Mod-Wheel pedal1 pedal2 ribbon-controller velocity
Tremolo	saw	attack/decay	yes	key	no	no	no

Additive-FM-Sampler Models

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