Digital Keyboards Synergy

Back in 1982, this pioneering digital additive synthesizer brought Bell Labs-level tech to everyday musicians for a fraction of the cost, evolving from the ultra-expensive Crumar GDS into something you could actually own.

It packs 32 digital oscillators into a sleek console with a 74-note velocity-sensitive keyboard spanning E to F, delivering polyphonic play with up to 24 voices—selectable via two rows of 12 switches for single or multi-voice modes blending up to four at once. Controls are mostly smooth rotary knobs for amplitude sensitivity, timbre shaping, and dynamic centering, plus a standout 4-way joystick for pitch bend, modulation, and more, with stereo audio outs, footswitch input, portamento, and a clever 4-track sequencer that captures key name, velocity, duration, and even rests for real-time playback tweaks like speed doubling or transposition. Internal memory holds 24 preset tones, eight instrument settings, and a cartridge slot for 24 more, making it a complete creative hub.

Vintage enthusiasts prize its dramatic touch response—strike keys harder for brighter timbres and louder volumes—and that crystalline, ahead-of-its-time sound, though only a handful of the roughly 700-800 units survive today, fueling a dedicated preservation scene.