Five Hot New Toys

Here's a round-up of five new products that you might be interested in.

1. Rhodes Mark 7 Electric Piano

These are not sampled pianos, but the real thing - real electromechanical tines. The Rhodes website has full details including audio and video demos.

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Link: Rhodes Homepage 

2. Virtual String Machine

Next we have a virtual instrument from GMedia which emulates string synths. This should be perfect for all your Pink Floyd, Ultravox and Jean Michel Jarre recreations.
It emulates 17 different string synths, the full list being:

  • ARP Omni
  • ARP Quartet
  • Crumar Multiman
  • Elka Rhapsody
  • Eminent  310
  • Freeman String Symphonizer
  • Junost 21
  • Korg PE-2000
  • Logan String Melody
  • Oberheim OB-8
  • Oberheim Xpander
  • Moog Opus 3
  • Polymoog
  • Roland RS202
  • Solina
  • Yamaha SK-15
  • Yamaha SS-30

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See the link for audio demos and more info.

Link: Virtual String Machine

3. Nord C1 Combo Organ

 Nord's Hammond organ simulation was great in their Electro keyboards, but now they've improved it, added an extra manual and also simulations of a Farfisa Compact Deluxe and a Vox Continental. Full details including audio samples are on the Clavia site.

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Link: Clavia 

4. Waldorf Zarenbourg

If the Rhodes electric piano isn't flexible enough for you then maybe you'd be interested in the forthcoming Waldorf Zarenbourg which emulates 5 electric pianos, although the website doesn't say exactly which ones.

Here's a video to demonstrate.

Link: Waldorf Zarenbourg product page

5. SampleTron

Finally we have another virtual instrument, only this one is dedicated to 'tron instruments. It contains samples of 18 'tron keyboards. The full list is:

  • Mellotron M400
  • Mellotron MK5
  • Mellotron MKII
  • Mellotron Powerhouse
  • Novatron
  • Vako Orchestron
  • Optigan
  • Talentmaker
  • Chamberlin Music Master 600
  • Chamberlin Music Master 400
  • Chamberlin Model 200
  • Chamberlin M1
  • Chamberlin M4
  • Chamberlin Rhythmate
  • 360 Systems "Digital Tron"
  • Roland VP330 (Choir)
  • Stylophone
  • Birotron

Sampletron

 

Schunda Cimbalom

This concert cimbalom was built by Schunda of Budapest and was on Ebay with a starting price of US $1280 (which attracted no bidders). It seems that Jozsef Schunda first developed the concert cimbalom in the 1870s. The workshop closed down during WW2 though.

I wonder if anyone still makes cimbaloms in Hungary of the surrounding area. Please leave a message if you know.
clipped from cgi.ebay.co.uk

Mackenzies Piano/Harp

I've never seen one of these before. I guess it's more of a dulcimer than a harp, but on the very brief auction listing this is described as "A Mackenzies Piano/Harp circa 1850 in walnut case. Height 29 inches, length 45 inches."

It sold for only $100.

Glass organ.__Órgano de cristal


Glass organ.__Órgano de cristal, originally uploaded by Fhoys.

This glass harp busker was pictured in Madrid.
For  Saw Lady

Contrabass Banjo !

I bet you've never seen a contrabass banjo before...