KAWAI SX-210 - Analog Synthesizer Review, Sounds & Demo
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- Опубліковано 1 чер 2024
- Kawai SX-210 analog synthesizer review, sounds and demo. This Kawai SX210 synth review covers various features of the Kawai SX-210, a demo of Kawai SX210 sounds and patches, and concludes with my final thoughts including pros and cons of this vintage 1983 polysynth. Sounds & patches only (no talking) starts at 17:10.
The Kawai SX-210 is an 8-voice polyphonic analog synthesizer manufactured in the early 80s, and competed with the Roland Juno 106 and Korg Polysix. It has 1 analog DCO with saw, square (adjustable pulse width), PWM and sub-oscillator waveshapes. The VCF and VCA are both analog (VCF uses SSM filters) and have adjustable ADSR envelopes, and there is a high-pass filter onboard as well.
The Kawai SX-210 has 1 LFO with adjustable delay and speed, and uses sawtooth, square and sine waveshapes, all of which can be reversed. The LFO can modulate the DCO, VCF and VCA all simultaneously, as well as be used for envelope triggering of VCF/VCA.
The Kawai SX210 also has a 4-voice mode using 2 DCO per voice, a monophonic unison lead mode, and chord memory mode that allows you to stack oscillators for big fat sounds. The built-in Ensemble effects can help to widen the stereo image and is great for pads and strings.
Additional features on the Kawai SX-210 include adjustable pitch bender w/ adjustable bender range, key hold, portamento and glissando, 32 patch memory locations, large LED display, and dial wheel for editing.
Overall the Kawai SX-210 is a somewhat obscure synth with its own distinct features and sound character. The layout is easy to understand and uses buttons to select functions and a dial wheel to adjust their parameters. There were only a few thousand Kawai SX210 manufactured so it is not as common as other synths, but its certainly an interesting vintage synth with some cool features for the time. Keep your eyes peeled for the Kawai SX-210 if it interests you!
TIMECODES:
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00:00 - Intro
01:08 - Overview
02:00 - Oscillator
04:30 - Ensemble FX
05:17 - Pitch Mod
05:49 - LFO Shapes
06:47 - Pitch Mod LFO
07:29 - Noise
07:40 - Low-pass Filter
09:00 - VCF Envelope
09:55 - VCA LFO
11:25 - High-pass Filter
12:03 - VCA Envelope
12:44 - Voice Modes
13:46 - Chord Memory
14:22 - Portamento
14:46 - Glissando
15:02 - LFO Env Looping
15:47 - Pitch Bender
16:10 - Master Tuning
16:32 - Patch Memory
17:05 - Sounds & Patches Demo
23:49 - Final Thoughts
25:09 - Pros
27:37 - Cons
31:02 - Conclusion
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Hey guys, FYI -- if you just want to listen to some sounds & patches (no talking), jump ahead to 17:10 in the video. :)
Thoughts on this versus the Polaris?
@@MIDERA Polaris sounds way beefier/bigger/raw and has 2 VCOs, ring mod and sliders which is nice. I'd probably keep the Polaris if given the choice.
@@synth4ever thanks for the insight. Probably sounds a bit like the AX80? I think the SX AND AX share some components, but could be wrong. The Polaris is super thick. But I hated the AX80.
Thanks again!
@@MIDERA AX80 used CEM chips, this uses SSM filters so there is a fundamental difference. I'd say the AX80 sounds more cold and gritty whereas SX-210 more sweet and cheerful.
@@synth4ever ah. Right. I think what I recall was the SX-240 has “VCOs” that aren’t true VCOs and the AX80 is guilty of the same, or something like that. There was a very technical UA-cam video on the subject a few years back.
Thanks!!!
Great video! The SX-210 really has a great sound - the DCO's and SSM filters are a good combo. Almost at times has a digital sound similar to the PPG Wave. That 210 is also in great condition for its age.
Thanks Johnny! :) Yea, they went with an interesting oscillator & filter combo for this synth. Actually... the SX-210, SX-240 and K3/K3M (hybrid) all use SSM filters - so it was definitely a common choice for their synths back then. Condition overall is very good other than some minor scuffs/scratches, but to be expected considering its from 1983. Thanks for watching!
It's bloody mint, is what it is. :)
I was just looking at listings for one of these, what timing. Great demonstration!
Thanks for stopping by Jorb! Yes, I see one is on Reverb as we speak... perhaps you should snag it! :)
Great to see you do a detailed video on the 210! This synth is so much better than it typically gets credit for. The 240 gets all the love for having split mode and a 2nd oscillator. However, the ensemble on the 210 is superior and it still shares the same wonderful sound character. They are both incredible & under rated instruments. I'd argue that Kawai never made a bad synth. You certainly can't go wrong with SSM 2044 filters! 😆 Great video!
Thanks a lot! The ensemble is certainly nice on this synth. And Kawai synths are definitely capable and have their own character, which makes them a bit different. SSM filters are lovely.
Awesome video. Thanks for putting it together and sharing!
Thanks!
Excellent review of an excellent synth!
this is such a helpful video thanku!
I played one of these for a while in a band in 95. I love the brightness of this synth. I haven’t seen one since, but still fondly remember that tone.
This was the best video I’ve seen on this synth. Thanks for the tutorial!
Thanks for watching!
Very cool that the keyboard is also a QWERTY keyboard for naming your patches too.
You made some really nice patches with it.
Thanks Digiphex, appreciate that. There were some very basic patches on it when I got it (ie flute, harpsichord etc) so wanted to show a bit more creative possibilities.
Nice video man. I don’t think I have come across this Kawai model before.
Thanks. They don't seem to pop up too often but are worth keeping an eye out for if you like to try more obscure synths.
Great vid!
Thanks Zach! :)
Very good condition. Looks like a new one. I had one too, in the mid of the 90s.
It's in pretty good shape for the age. That's great you also got your hands on one, how long did you have it?
Many thanks for this review about a synth I didn't know. A realy interesting piece of gear.
And yes the glissando is a rare feature I would like to find more often even in modern plugin synths.
It's a pitty that Kawai haven't made so many synths, they were realy creative. And who noticed this nice little curve on the wood sides? I know it's a detail but it's the sign these piano builders had a great attention to those details.
(Although I've at least a kawai synth, a K5, I'm not a faint heart! 😃)
Thanks for watching! It is a bit of an obscure synth as only a few thousand were manufactured, but it was made to a high standard and quality like their others. I do like the curved wood sides, they are quite nice. :)
You should search for an image of the SX-240's end caps, they are even cooler! Possibly my favorite synth end caps :)
Great demo. I have the big brother version, the 240.
Thanks! How close do you think they sound?
@@synth4ever same parts, just half the osc and adsr.
@@synth4ever and has MIDI.
Looks good, sounds exactly like 1 DCO/voice, i.o.w.: underwhelming. I was happy with my Polysix back then.
It sounds very fizzy and bright through my IPAD speaker. I am sure it is much fuller through decent speakers. Those strings at the beginning were nice. They almost sound like a vintage string machine. I suggest using some analog phaser or chorus pedals on top.
You got yourself a nice little gem here. It seems like it will fit nicely into your ambient style.
Thank you Joseph! It definitely has a fizzy sound, and the ensemble effect makes it great for strings.
The good thing about your video is no one has shown these features specifically for this synth.
Thanks, yea I wanted to cover the interface and each function so people know what it can do!
Just ran across this… I’ve been hunting for an s100p myself, but I began wondering if the newer Teisco synths had glissando and was pleasantly surprised on this one.
We’re the presets theirs?
Also does this synth have MIDI? I sort of feel it was pre-MIDI?
Some of the patches I created myself, others were in the synth when I got it. No idea if they were presets. It doesn't have MIDI but there are kits avail.
i’ve just bought one of these and it was serviced before j bought it and battery changed . i just can’t seem to get any sounds out of it past a weird wispy lfo thing . nothing i press seems to make much difference .
Do you find the buttons dodgy at all. Love the Kawai synths, they sound simply brilliant! 🎹 🎶 😎
Hey, the buttons are perfectly fine, no issues at all. Agreed, Kawai synths are different sound than others!
No issues with mine either
Mine takes like 15 mins to warm up for some reason. sounds good with some simple effects. I liked it more than my jx3p.
Well, it is analog from 1983 so... I would expect some warmup, even though it uses DCO. Might try pairing it with some delays and reverbs at some point.
It may not be the biggest catch in the net, but I like the sound.
Yea, it's not a common synth but it definitely has its own character!
Where did you manage to find one?
A long time ago from a local friend
Strings at the start sound like VC340 Strings
Yes, the Ensemble effect on the SX-210 sounds lovely!
Isit new model this synthe ???
No, its a vintage synth from 1983. Fairly rare, only a few thousand were made.
This was my first Synth... was destroyed back in the day by my cat peeing on it :(
omg 😂😫
oh, that is a bit good.. wishlist
Thanks, it's definitely retro. BTW love your tracks! What synths do you use?
@@synth4ever prophet 5. casio cz101, korg dw8000 mogg little phatty, synth 1 and sylenth
Sounds like a Korg
This talking while playing is driving me nuts.
Yea, it's a review so there will be talking. Skip to 17:10 for sounds & patches only (no talking).
@@synth4ever Thanks. My point was, that I'd prefer either talking or playing. Not both at the same time. Of course sometimes it's necessary, to make a point. But to me a lot of the time, in this video, it seems unnecessary. Like those guitarists playing, while having a conversation. It annoys the hell out of me. :-D On the other hand, in a lot of synth videos on UA-cam, people talk for a very long time before even playing a single note. That's pretty annoying as well. Don't know what the solution is to that. Not watching UA-cam? :-D
@@spurv Well, can't please everyone I guess. I prefer to talk about a feature and then demo it (sound), but sometimes need to explain what I'm doing as I change parameters so people can understand better. But I also know people just want to hear the pure sounds/patches, hence I also showcase those patches in their own section. In that way its the best of both worlds. :) Cheers
@spurv Can you see how you may come across as rude? The guy has gone has gone out of his way to do a video on a nice rare synth. You immediately come on and complain, just rude.
@@breslin44 Yeah, I apologize for that. The video is great, and well made. And about a interesting synthesizer too. No question.