Jean-Michel Jarre makes the case for why we need to bring Elka Synthex back, and opens up on his deep passion for his 3 Elka Synthexes. Be part of it at BringElkaBack.com
At least Cherry Audio managed to create a faithfull to the original sounding plugin, and that's more than the promise of the person who bought and shipped all parts abroad.
Total not worth it IMO. Jean-Michel Jarre also used the Roland JX-8P on Rendez Vous (one of my favorite albums) and they go for dirt cheap (they can sound great too). Here's my thinking: Yes Synthex is probably a better synth overall than the JX (you can stack two patches for example), the JX is closer to it than you might think. First point, the JX sounds really good, a little more Roland-y in flavor perhaps. Things it has in common with the Synthex? It has great sounding DCOs just like the Elka Synthex, patch memories and great cross-mod/Osc Sync. I'm not sure if the Elka has a touch sensitive keyboard- but the JX has. It has great sounding filters just like the Elka. Some say the filters are not good, they are in fact used on the Rev 5 Roland Super Jupiter that goes for mega bucks.
Plugins have improved a lot though in the 8 years since this video was made, computer processing speed and power has also improved. I'm definately looking into Cherry Audio's Synthex plugin.
Would be great to hear what is Jean Michel's opinion about the Xerxes from Black Corporation... It is said to be not a clone but inspired by the Synthex. And is importantly, much lighter (touring wise that must be an advantage). But does it still feel like a machine from the future as the Synthex feels?
Actually, as far as I know, the project is alive, but as expected, it has ran into financial trouble, which is evident with the fact that it is currently waiting for crowdfunding - which means there could be a long wait. Musicians interested in a fully analog synthesizer are, let's say "limited" in numbers. Take a look: bringelkaback.com/press.html
The Elka Synthex is one of the holy grails of the synthesizer world and I really hope no one will ever re-create it, because they will most probably ruin it. The Cherry audio plug-in failed miserably in re-creating it and this proves the uniqueness of this instrument. You can't mess with perfection. 1400 hardware Synthex units that were made are more than enough for this planet, the musicians that deserve a Synthex are not more than 1400. So, let it remain in its divine status, let it dwell in our dreams and fantasies and try to cherish the recordings that include it. Otherwise, we will be full of talentless wannabes that will think they are musicians because they own one. If you really want that laser harp sound so badly, get yourself a Virus TI, it has a really decent patch of it, besides being an overall great synthesizer. Even Jarre uses it in his concerts these days (2024).
I got an Elka Synthex, it's huge and heavy - but the best synth I ever had. And I had many... very musical, superb, powerful sound (not like Prophet, not like Jupiter, not like Moog but like Synthex), very well engineered, a pleasure to play. It looks great, great user interface, reliable electronics inside, exclusive (less than 2000 where made), artists like J M Jarre love it, what more could you want :-) Playing with it is like driving a vintage Jaguar. It has class and quality (luxury?). I hope Behringer will not touch it. A cheap B version would kind of hurt. Even if it's legal, something exclusive like a Jaguar should be not beeing rebuilt cheaply and made available for the masses.
How dare this man criticize plugins! I mean - when did this guy ever bring out a bunch of great albums? I rest my case! Nobody has heard of this guy! He is not a patch on Chris Brown or Ed Sheeran!
+Computer Boy lol nobody heard of this guy, that's why chineses made him the first occidental artist to play a great concert in china when the china was a closed contry.
+Computer Boy I've known Jarre for going on 40 years and just had to google Chris Brown and Ed Sheeran. So on top of being an egotist you're just wrong.
At $3,181, a LOT of people could afford one. It's cheaper than a Yamaha Montage, Korg Kronos 2, Kurzweil PC3K8 or Forte, MOOG Voyager or Minimoog Model D, Tom Oberheim Two Voice Pro, Studio Electronics Omega 8, Modal Electronics 008 or Modulus, any Nord Stage, & only a couple $100 more than Dave Smith Instrument OB-6, Prophet 12, & Kurzweil PC3K7. People have bought literally 100,000s of those models, so how could people NOT afford to buy a Elka Synthex??? That doesn't make sense.
At least Cherry Audio managed to create a faithfull to the original sounding plugin, and that's more than the promise of the person who bought and shipped all parts abroad.
cant compare real thing with vst
Respect to Mr Jarre, who, despite his millions, hasn't had his teeth straightened and 'Hollywoodised'.
This guy here is my hero and he’s also the reason why I play keyboards.
Out of curiosity I just checked, and I see a used Elka Synthex for $11,000! Holy smoked sausages!
Total not worth it IMO. Jean-Michel Jarre also used the Roland JX-8P on Rendez Vous (one of my favorite albums) and they go for dirt cheap (they can sound great too).
Here's my thinking: Yes Synthex is probably a better synth overall than the JX (you can stack two patches for example), the JX is closer to it than you might think.
First point, the JX sounds really good, a little more Roland-y in flavor perhaps. Things it has in common with the Synthex?
It has great sounding DCOs just like the Elka Synthex, patch memories and great cross-mod/Osc Sync.
I'm not sure if the Elka has a touch sensitive keyboard- but the JX has. It has great sounding filters just like the Elka. Some say the filters are not good, they are in fact used on the Rev 5 Roland Super Jupiter that goes for mega bucks.
Plugins have improved a lot though in the 8 years since this video was made, computer processing speed and power has also improved. I'm definately looking into Cherry Audio's Synthex plugin.
Spot on!
Downloaded Cherry Audio's incredible Synthex plugin for only $39 a few days ago and I cna't stop playing it! 😎
Its an honor to hear this, its so fantastic JMJ is the best synth composer ever.
why an horror?
ELKA string synth classic!
When do we ramp up re-production?
Key my email in for an order of 1 unit...
Would be great to hear what is Jean Michel's opinion about the Xerxes from Black Corporation... It is said to be not a clone but inspired by the Synthex. And is importantly, much lighter (touring wise that must be an advantage). But does it still feel like a machine from the future as the Synthex feels?
AWESOME! JMJ is PROPHETIC !
Not too many of the people that made famous music on the vintage analogs still revere them. JMJ here, Nick Rhodes is another.
The godfather of electronic music.
When will you open the waiting list to buy the new Synthex?. I want one
Pedro Gomis You can, it is Finland now. bringelkaback.com
Sold mine to go digital back in the day. Stupid..
Amen
It would be nice if they would bring back the Elka X-1000 too - though with a flash drive instead of a floppy disc drive :-)
I had no idea JMJ was a Joy Divison fan. :-)
Anders Wahlbom All good musos are Joy Division fans :)
@@russ254 if it was wash day, he'd be shirtless.
he wants to french kiss the synthex. ooh la la
Programming by my friend Paul Wiffen. Shame the project to relaunch the Synthex never got of the ground.
Actually, as far as I know, the project is alive, but as expected, it has ran into financial trouble, which is evident with the fact that it is currently waiting for crowdfunding - which means there could be a long wait. Musicians interested in a fully analog synthesizer are, let's say "limited" in numbers.
Take a look: bringelkaback.com/press.html
Next week Cherry Audio releases the VST...bonkers company, low price and amazing sounds...
@@DrunkRubberDuck - "Page 404 - Oops! Page not found" says it all.
Where are all those Elka Synthex parts now? Who knows...
The Elka Synthex is one of the holy grails of the synthesizer world and I really hope no one will ever re-create it, because they will most probably ruin it. The Cherry audio plug-in failed miserably in re-creating it and this proves the uniqueness of this instrument. You can't mess with perfection. 1400 hardware Synthex units that were made are more than enough for this planet, the musicians that deserve a Synthex are not more than 1400. So, let it remain in its divine status, let it dwell in our dreams and fantasies and try to cherish the recordings that include it. Otherwise, we will be full of talentless wannabes that will think they are musicians because they own one. If you really want that laser harp sound so badly, get yourself a Virus TI, it has a really decent patch of it, besides being an overall great synthesizer. Even Jarre uses it in his concerts these days (2024).
$3100 not bad for the one
I got an Elka Synthex, it's huge and heavy - but the best synth I ever had. And I had many... very musical, superb, powerful sound (not like Prophet, not like Jupiter, not like Moog but like Synthex), very well engineered, a pleasure to play. It looks great, great user interface, reliable electronics inside, exclusive (less than 2000 where made), artists like J M Jarre love it, what more could you want :-)
Playing with it is like driving a vintage Jaguar. It has class and quality (luxury?). I hope Behringer will not touch it. A cheap B version would kind of hurt. Even if it's legal, something exclusive like a Jaguar should be not beeing rebuilt cheaply and made available for the masses.
They ARE HEAVY! Pretty normal sized case for a synth of it’s type and vintage, but UNGODLY weight compared to a Jupiter 8 or OB-Xa
@@21GunStudio I don't think an OB-Xa is smaller or less heavy.Yeah, the Synthex weighs 28 kilograms.
Poor old Jean-Michel looks like he's been out for a night on the beers with his dark glasses indoors.
+Matt Boardman
Anyways I would love to look like that when I'm 68 !
Did he say "chocolate orange?"
No
How dare this man criticize plugins!
I mean - when did this guy ever bring out a bunch of great albums? I rest my case!
Nobody has heard of this guy!
He is not a patch on Chris Brown or Ed Sheeran!
+Computer Boy
lol
nobody heard of this guy, that's why chineses made him the first occidental artist to play a great concert in china when the china was a closed contry.
+Computer Boy I've known Jarre for going on 40 years and just had to google Chris Brown and Ed Sheeran.
So on top of being an egotist you're just wrong.
Computer Boy how can people not realise your being sarcastic
@@jean-louispech4921 ...
Hardly anyone would be able to afford a new one anyway, what's the point.
Great synth but the price tag doesn't match.
At $3,181, a LOT of people could afford one. It's cheaper than a Yamaha Montage, Korg Kronos 2, Kurzweil PC3K8 or Forte, MOOG Voyager or Minimoog Model D, Tom Oberheim Two Voice Pro, Studio Electronics Omega 8, Modal Electronics 008 or Modulus, any Nord Stage, & only a couple $100 more than Dave Smith Instrument OB-6, Prophet 12, & Kurzweil PC3K7. People have bought literally 100,000s of those models, so how could people NOT afford to buy a Elka Synthex??? That doesn't make sense.
@@analogsynthplayer Cherry Audio got hold of it, and it sounds amazing...for a plugin.