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Description

The NED Synclavier II stands as an iconic piece of music history, blending digital synthesis with sampling capabilities that were groundbreaking during its era. Renowned for its FM synthesis, this powerhouse synthesizer offers a versatile sound palette that has shaped countless hits and film scores since its release. The Synclavier II is celebrated for its ability to produce crystal-clear tones and complex sound textures, making it a favorite among professional musicians and composers.

This synthesizer features a dynamic interface that combines a keyboard with a computer-based control system, offering comprehensive sound design options. With the Synclavier II, users have access to a wide range of sounds, from classic analog recreations to cutting-edge digital timbres. Its ability to seamlessly integrate with other studio equipment makes it a valuable tool for both live performances and studio recordings.

The Synclavier II's sound engine is complemented by an intuitive user interface that allows musicians to dive deep into sound manipulation. Whether you're crafting the perfect pad, punchy bass lines, or intricate soundscapes, this synthesizer provides the tools to bring your musical visions to life.

Key Features:

  • FM synthesis for a diverse range of sounds
  • Sampling capabilities for added versatility
  • Integrated keyboard and computer-based control
  • Seamless studio integration for professional use
  • Intuitive interface for advanced sound design
  • Renowned for its clear tones and complex textures
VCO8

VCO8

The Incredible Sounds of Synclavier II (1981)

Video thumbnail for The Incredible Sounds of Synclavier II (1981) by VCO8

The Incredible Sounds of Synclavier II (1981)

VCO8

VCO8

Video thumbnail for Jon Appleton demonstrates the Synclavier II (1984) by Matt Bucy

Jon Appleton demonstrates the Synclavier II (1984)

Matt Bucy

Matt Bucy

Video thumbnail for Synclavier II - Demo (audio) by SoloB3

Synclavier II - Demo (audio)

SoloB3

SoloB3

Video thumbnail for Synclavier II - Timbre Disk 7 by 100 Things I Do

Synclavier II - Timbre Disk 7

100 Things I Do

100 Things I Do

Video thumbnail for Denny Jaeger - The Incredible Sounds Of Synclavier II デニー・ジャガー (マイケル・ジャクソン 今夜はビート・イット) by mandarake

Denny Jaeger - The Incredible Sounds Of Synclavier II デニー・ジャガー (マイケル・ジャクソン 今夜はビート・イット)

mandarake

mandarake

Video thumbnail for The Incredible Sounds of Synclavier II (1982) by EDSynth

The Incredible Sounds of Synclavier II (1982)

EDSynth

EDSynth

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about NED Synclavier II.

Features and functionality

  • The Synclavier II was renowned for its polyphonic digital sampling, allowing manipulation of real-world "found noises" within music compositions.

    Source
  • Additive synthesis frames display 24 harmonics, with frequencies displayed from low (left) to high (right), impacting sound as notes are held down.

    Source
  • It's mentioned that the Synclavier II's software architecture remains identical in modern recreations, ensuring authentic sound and functionality.

    Source

Comparisons

  • The Synclavier II's main rival was the Fairlight CMI, which was more sampling-focused and known for its use in Kate Bush's "Running up that Hill".

    Source

User experience

  • Early users, like Depeche Mode, found the Synclavier II challenging and cumbersome to set up and use, impacting initial impressions and workflow.

    Source
  • Owners highlight the Synclavier II's intuitive visual interface, making it accessible even for those not experienced with synthesizers.

    Source

Value and pricing

  • A fully loaded Synclavier system could reach costs around $100,000, making it accessible only to top producers of the time.

    Source
  • Synclavier II units can range from $6k to $70k+, influenced by condition and ownership history, with Jam & Lewis' PSMT listed at $69k.

    Source

Software and compatibility

  • Modern digital recreations, such as Arturia's Synclavier V, offer similar capabilities for $150, showcasing significant advancements in accessibility and technology.

    Source
  • Arturia's Synclavier V and SynclavierGO! iPad app allow users to replicate Synclavier II sounds affordably, expanding accessibility for enthusiasts.

    Source

Setup and maintenance

  • Maintaining a Synclavier II is costly due to aged internal cards, with few technicians having spare parts available for repair.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • The Synclavier II was heavily used on Genesis' "Mama" album, showcasing its ability to blend sampling and analog elements seamlessly.

    Source
  • Frank Zappa utilized the Synclavier II's sequencer for complex compositions, preferring it over live musicians for precision.

    Source
  • Soft Cell's "Non Stop Erotic Cabaret" employs the Synclavier II on every track, demonstrating its versatility across an entire album.

    Source
Add

5.0 out of 5

Based on 2 Reviews and 7 Ratings

5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star
vohs
vohs

101

worse than a crack habit

spent 5 years building mine from spare parts. was worth the wait. most powerful sounding synth/workstation i have. even tracking into it imparts a very powerful and forward sound. no need for this review the countless albums made on it are enough. if you have disposable income and time to blow..... get one.

atonalmeasure

Ahh the holy grail of FM & sampling

Always wanted to see what the hoo har was about especially after hearing it all over MJ's Thriller album, Grace jones Slave to the rhythm and Paul Hardcastles work, definitely would love to have one for a while.

jimmarchi1

don't forget mid-period Depeche mode for synclavier 1 and 2 creating a lot of those cool resythesis/additive percussion loops...

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Alan Wilder uses NED Synclavier II

Alan Wilder

Drummer, Keyboardist

Depeche Mode

...
Verified via Sound On Sound

According to Gareth Jones, the Synclavier II was the primary sampler for People are People as evidenced by this sound on sound article. "That song was a lot about sampling and the room," says Gareth Jones. "The monophonic Synclavier was a big part of the sound — we didn't have the polyphonic sampler until the fifth album". We can infer that the Synclavier II was the model used due to the sampling feature on the second unit.

See how John Carpenter uses NED Synclavier II

John Carpenter

Guitarist, Keyboardist

Texas Toad Lickers

...
Verified via The Official John Carpenter

According to John Carpenter's website, a Synclavier was used on the soundtrack for "They Live."

See how Keith Levene uses NED Synclavier II

Keith Levene

Guitarist

The Clash

...
Verified via Photo

In this profile from the May 1982 issue of Electronics & Music Maker magazine, Keith states that he used a Synclavier II.

See how Alan Silvestri uses NED Synclavier II

Alan Silvestri

Composer

...
Verified via YouTube

In this video,from 15:09 to 15:35 we can see that Silvestri used the Synclavier at least in Flight of the Navigator and Predator soundtracks.

See how Colin Newman uses NED Synclavier II

Colin Newman

Singer, Guitarist

Wire

...
Verified via Muzines

"My first LP was called A-Z. That was the first time I recorded with the Synclavier. The other thing we were using then was the EMS Synthi, which was great for guitar treatments. At that point I was very much into treatments of sound using guitar treatments on voices and anything else."

See how Greg Hawkes uses NED Synclavier II

Greg Hawkes

Guitarist, Keyboardist

The Cars

...
Verified via YouTube

Greg Hawkes used a Synclavier during the Heartbeat City tour. You can see it during the Live Aid concert.

See how Laurie Anderson uses NED Synclavier II

Laurie Anderson

Singer, Keyboardist

We Are Family Collective

...
Verified via Emusician

4th paragraph down and 12th line LA uses this synth

See how Isao Tomita uses NED Synclavier II

Isao Tomita

Keyboardist, Music Producer

...
Verified via Isaotomita

'Grand Canyon' was the first Tomita album for two years, and also the advent of the first digital system, namely the Synclavier II [40k JPEG]. Hugely expensive, half of its power came from its ability to record and playback samples of real instruments, but was somewhat let down by the fact that it had only one mono output on the back (in its basic configuration, anyway)! Digital instruments were easier to control and use with the benefit of MIDI*. Also present was the Emu Emulator [28k JPEG], another large modular, the Roland System 100M [68k JPEG], one of the most popular polyphonics, the Sequential Circuits Prophet-5, and the future hip-hop workhorse, the Roland TR-808 drum machine [62k JPEG].

See how David Ball uses NED Synclavier II

David Ball

Keyboardist

Soft Cell

...
Verified via The Electricity Club

"The sampler we used was a Synclavier MkII that belonged to our producer, Mike Thorne. I only used the sampler for the bass guitar on the track ‘Martin’ on the bonus 12” single."

See how Suzanne Ciani uses NED Synclavier II

Suzanne Ciani

Keyboardist, Composer

...
Verified via Photo

In this photo you can notice the Synclavier II with monitor console. On the top of the monitor you can see a vintage rack version of Eventide SP2016 Reverb.

See how Phil Oakey uses NED Synclavier II

Phil Oakey

Singer, Keyboardist

The Human League

...
Verified via The-black-hit-of-space

“Well, I was under pressure because I can’t play anything, so I felt I had to do something and sequence programming on the Synclavier is really slow. It took up a lot of our time, and we didn’t do that any more. The Synclavier was the major difference between Dare and Hysteria; we did a lot of sampling for instance, and I don’t even really like that any more. It’s alright for percussion, but you can’t do anything with sampling that you can’t do very carefully with tape. It’s not creative – we’re a synthesizer band and we want to use synthesizers.”

See how Eddie Jobson uses NED Synclavier II

Eddie Jobson

Keyboardist, Composer

Yes

...
Verified via Sussex

Eddie Jobson used a Synclavier to compose his solo album Theme Of Secrets.

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use NED Synclavier II, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

1 alternative for NED Synclavier II, curated by the Equipboard community.

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