Kawai SX-210 Analog Synthesizer

YouTube via mcvadsr. "Analog Keyboard (1983)"

Update via Qwave:
"Here is a short personal review of this Kawai SX-210 I now own for half an year:

Kawai SX-210
common info:
This is a single DCO per voice synth from the pre Midi times. It got 32 sound memories on board and a HUGE 6 digit alphanumeric display for the sound names.

sound:
Well a single DCO per voice (8 voices all together) is nothing special. But the filter is a SSM 2044 analog filter chip. As used in many great synth. Including the PPG wave. But this is the only thing it got in common with a PPG.
The DCOs are of cause very stable in pitch. No autotune needed (or featured). And they are not sounding bad just because they are digital controlled. The wave shaping is still analog.

interface:
Think Moog Source:
a single endless rotary with a two digit (0 to 99) LED display for the values. All switches and buttons got an LED to show their status (on/off on button switches). Or the LEDs show what gray button is selected to be edited with the big wheel. There are no hidden functions and no second level button use. This makes it straight forward.

features:
You can stack 2 voices for an 4 voice mode. Or stack them all for a bug monophonic sound. Of cause the DCOs will be slightly detuned (preset) for a wider sound. No split or layer mode, because this is a non-multi-timbral synth. You can use a chord memory. And it will be stored with the sound.
The DCO got saw, pulse, sub (- 1 oct) square wave and (white) noise. You can use a combination of them or all together. But no mixer available.
The LFO is routable to the pulse wide, the filter, the VCA or retriggering the envelopes in any given combination. The LFO got saw, triangle and square wave. The reverse button let you change the phase. This is a great help on the saw wave. There is only one LFO shared by all voices. That is most like noticed if you use the delay parameter of the LFO.

The pitch bender is a Roland styled one. This is nothing I am used to (yet).

On the top right of the userinterface there is a red button to switch the preset analogue ensemble FX on or off. And this FX makes the Kawai SX-210 to the very best programmable string keyboard

A clear 6 letter/number read out for the sound names was a big plus in the early eighties. And although you have 16 or more digest on most synths today, you will prefer six digit read out more then no user sound name at all.

likes:
- anlog SSM filters
- pwm by the LFO to widen the sound
- 2 envelopes
- clear layout and easy to use interface
- preset ensemble FX

dislikes:
- no mod-wheel. But you can shut of the LFO with a single button
- no velocity or aftertouch
- mass storage beyond 32 patches by tape interface only
- no user changeable detune for stacks
- no other FX parameter then on/off for the ensemble FX
- no S&H on the LFO
- no visual feedback for the pitch of stacked notes (chord memory function). Nice for octave layers.

__________________
keep on turning these knobs

Till "Qwave" Kopper"