Vintage Synthesizers News

How Blondie's Heart of Glass turned the Roland CR-78 into a pop landmark

Blondie’s hit turned a CR-78 preset into a defining pop groove, and its trigger-driven quirks still expose what modern clones struggle to fake.

Nina Kowalski•5 min read•10:55 PM

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Updates

Roland Cloud GALAXIAS 1.9 adds CR-78 CompuRhythm instrument

Roland’s GALAXIAS 1.9.0 brings the CR-78 into a four-layer “Scene” workflow, with 32 presets and 16 new scenes.

Nina Kowalski2m read

Analysis

Vintage synths need care, from Moog Memorymoog to Prophet-5

A powered-on Memorymoog or Prophet-5 can still hide battery leaks, aging caps, and failing logic. The fastest fix is simple: inspect early and stop DIY before board damage spreads.

Jamie Taylor5m read

Analysis

What makes a synth sound old, Rory Dow’s practical guide

Rory Dow’s shortcut is blunt: old synth character comes from drift, simple waveforms, and a little mess. You can fake most of it tonight without chasing museum gear.

Sam Ortega6m read

Analysis

MusicRadar shows how to make soft synths sound like vintage analogs

MusicRadar’s ZebraCM patch recipe shows how drift, uneven filters, softer envelopes, and noise can fake costly 1970s polysynth character in software.

Jamie Taylor4m read

Analysis

Make Noise 0-Coast blends Moog and Buchla synth philosophies

The 0-Coast still nails the Moog-meets-Buchla brief, and the new crop of semi-modular boxes shows hybrid synth design is now a real buying category.

Sam Ortega5m read

Analysis

Why Synths With the Same Curtis Chips Still Sound Different

Same Curtis chips can still hide very different synths. Architecture, calibration, and output stages decide whether a clone feels alive or just familiar.

Nina Kowalski5m read

Analysis

Essential KSR Restorations and SynthXL Resources for Vintage Synth Care

Two practical resources, KSR Restorations (Kent Spong / KSR80) and the SynthXL service-manual and parts index, offer a clear starting point for buying, maintaining, and restoring vintage analogue synthesizers. These resources clarify common maintenance tasks, help locate manuals and part numbers, and indicate when to hire a qualified technician, making them immediately useful to anyone working on classic synth gear.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Analysis

Home Vintage Synth Repair Guide: Safety, Soldering, Cleaning, When To Stop

Home vintage synth repair guide outlines safe starter steps for cleaning, soldering, and troubleshooting, and explains when to stop and hire a pro.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Releases

Synth Gems 1, A Photographic Guide to Vintage Synthesizers

This article breaks down what makes Synth Gems 1 an essential visual reference for collectors, restorers, researchers, and players interested in vintage synths. You will learn the book’s key features, signature instruments covered, practical value for the community, and why the photographic and editorial approach matters.

Jamie Taylor3m read

Releases

Blippoo Box Legacy arrives in Eurorack, reviving Rob Hordijk’s vision

Rob Hordijk’s Blippoo Box has landed in Eurorack for the first time, handmade in Mallorca by Biyiblip. The $1,999 release keeps the chaos-theory heart intact.

Nina Kowalski2m read

News

Roland Juno-106 and MKS-80 brochure set surfaces for collectors

A clean Roland paper cache has surfaced with Juno-106 brochures in English and German, plus MKS-80 and 1984 catalog material that helps verify the originals.

Nina Kowalski2m read

Analysis

original Korg miniKORG 700S still sings after 50 years

Chris gets a 50-year-old miniKORG 700S to speak in the voice that made it matter: dual-oscillator bite, Traveler sweeps, and a panel built for performance.

Nina Kowalski5m read

News

Roland Cloud cuts JUNO-60 and JUNO-106 lifetime keys to $99

Roland Cloud put JUNO-60 and JUNO-106 lifetime keys at $99, giving vintage-synth fans a cheaper path to the classic Roland chorus sound.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Analysis

Technical Checklist for Collectors Buying Vintage Synthesizers Online

Use this technical checklist when buying vintage synthesizers online to demand a power-up video, PCB photos, serial numbers, and service-history proof before payment.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Analysis

Vintage Synthesizer Museums Guide: Restoration, Sourcing, Storage, Hands-On Education

Museums and collections are preserving analog character through targeted restoration, component sourcing, climate-controlled storage, and hands-on exhibits that teach repair and patching skills.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Analysis

Collector's primer for buying and restoring vintage synthesizers safely

A practical primer identifies key vintage synth models and gives hands-on buying and restoration tips that matter to collectors and players.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Analysis

Practical Power Supply Diagnostics and Fixes for Vintage Synthesizers

This hands-on guide explains how to diagnose and repair common power-supply failures in 70s-90s vintage synthesizers and why those failures matter to collectors, restorers, and players. It lays out the essential tools, step-by-step inspection and measurement techniques, typical repairs like recapping and regulator replacement, and clear safety guidance so you can make informed decisions about when to tackle a fix yourself and when to call a professional.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Releases

Air Music Tech makes Jura Chorus free, recreates Roland Juno sound

AIR Music Tech is giving away Jura Chorus until August 2, putting the classic Juno-style stereo chorus in your DAW or Akai hardware for nothing. It’s the fastest route to that wide, 1980s Roland sheen.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Releases

LAR-32 Synth VST recreates Roland MT-32 sounds for modern DAWs

LAR-32 drops the MT-32’s bell-bright, game-music glow into a DAW, with sampled banks, modern formats and no aging hardware to wrestle.

Nina Kowalski2m read

Analysis

Vintage synth repair guide helps owners fix common faults at home

A tired vintage synth often needs cleaning, not a full restoration. Here are the home fixes that save money, and the failures that belong on the bench.

Nina Kowalski6m read

Analysis

Vintage Synth Buying Guide: Trusted Markets, Inspection Checklist, Pricing, Shipping

Practical buyer's guide for vintage synths explains trusted markets, inspection checklist, pricing benchmarks, and shipping rules to cut GAS-driven mistakes and costly repairs.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Analysis

Community restoration logs deliver practical guidance for vintage synth repairs

A hands-on community project published detailed restoration logs with photos and step-by-step repair notes, giving readers practical instructions for safe basic synth servicing.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Analysis

Music Thing Modular Workshop turns loops into self-destroying drones

Music Thing Modular’s Workshop System now has a Degenerator card that makes loops blur, fray, and collapse into Basinski-style drones.

Jamie Taylor5m read

Analysis

Why Vintage Moog and ARP Synths Drift Out of Tune

A little warm-up drift is normal in a vintage Moog or ARP. Persistent wandering usually points to oscillators, compensation parts, or power issues that need real service.

Sam Ortega6m read

Analysis

Five Vintage Synths You Can Still Buy on a Budget

Five 1980s classics still slip under collector panic pricing, but the real bargains are the serviced units with clean sliders, healthy batteries, and no voice-chip surprises.

Jamie Taylor4m read

Analysis

RL Music Highlights Kent Spong’s World-Class CS-80 Level-2 Restorations with Multi‑Month Warranties

RL Music highlights Kent Spong’s KSR Level-2 restorations for Yamaha CS-80s, detailing full operational overhauls and multi-month warranties that boost reliability and resale confidence.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Analysis

AMYboard brings vintage-flavored synthesis to Eurorack for $29.90

A $29.90 10HP AMYboard packed Juno-6, DX7 and sampler flavors into a DIY Eurorack module, with USB, MIDI and CV on tap.

Nina Kowalski2m read

Updates

nozoïd updates Kagouyar engine and cuts price to €849

nozoïd dropped Kagouyar to €849 and pushed its engine to v2.0, adding more waveforms, effects, and performance control. The update sharpens its case as a modern poly for vintage-style sounds without vintage hassle.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Releases

PPG 1002 returns as limited boutique recreation for collectors

Only 102 will be built at €9,999, bringing Wolfgang Palm’s 1975 1002 back as a hand-built console with MIDI, velocity and the original two-oscillator, 24 dB voice.

Jamie Taylor2m read