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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
Videos
VCO8
The Incredible Sounds of Synclavier II (1981)
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
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The Synclavier II was renowned for its polyphonic digital sampling, allowing manipulation of real-world "found noises" within music compositions.
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Additive synthesis frames display 24 harmonics, with frequencies displayed from low (left) to high (right), impacting sound as notes are held down.
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It's mentioned that the Synclavier II's software architecture remains identical in modern recreations, ensuring authentic sound and functionality.
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Comparisons
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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".
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User experience
Value and pricing
Software and compatibility
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Modern digital recreations, such as Arturia's Synclavier V, offer similar capabilities for $150, showcasing significant advancements in accessibility and technology.
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Arturia's Synclavier V and SynclavierGO! iPad app allow users to replicate Synclavier II sounds affordably, expanding accessibility for enthusiasts.
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Setup and maintenance
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Maintaining a Synclavier II is costly due to aged internal cards, with few technicians having spare parts available for repair.
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Use cases and applications
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The Synclavier II was heavily used on Genesis' "Mama" album, showcasing its ability to blend sampling and analog elements seamlessly.
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Frank Zappa utilized the Synclavier II's sequencer for complex compositions, preferring it over live musicians for precision.
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Soft Cell's "Non Stop Erotic Cabaret" employs the Synclavier II on every track, demonstrating its versatility across an entire album.
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5.0 out of 5
Based on 2 Reviews and 7 Ratings
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.
257
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.
41029
don't forget mid-period Depeche mode for synclavier 1 and 2 creating a lot of those cool resythesis/additive percussion loops...
Artist usage
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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.
According to John Carpenter's website, a Synclavier was used on the soundtrack for "They Live."
In this profile from the May 1982 issue of Electronics & Music Maker magazine, Keith states that he used a Synclavier II.
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.
"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."
Greg Hawkes used a Synclavier during the Heartbeat City tour. You can see it during the Live Aid concert.
'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].
"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."
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.
“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.”
Album Usage
The NED Synclavier II has been featured on the following albums:
Why? (feat. Neil Tennant) [Superchumbo Mix]
Bronski Beat & Neil Tennant (2024)
Hardcastle X (The Eclipse)
Paul Hardcastle (2022)
The Cars at Live Aid (Live at John F. Kennedy Stadium, 13th July 1985)
The Cars (2018)
3-D The Catalogue
Kraftwerk & Kraftwerk (2017)
3-D Der Katalog (German Version)
Kraftwerk & Kraftwerk (2017)
A-Z (Remastered 2016)
Colin Newman (2016)
Astronomica
Crimson Glory (1999)
Strange and Beautiful
Crimson Glory (1991)
Dutch (Original Motion Picture Score)
Alan Silvestri (1991)
Predator 2 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Alan Silvestri (1990)
They Live - Expanded Original Motion Picture Soundtrack 20th Anniversary Edition
John Carpenter & Alan Howarth (1989)
Money For Nothing (2022 Remaster)
Dire Straits (1988)
Music for the Masses
Depeche Mode (1987)
Lovely Thunder
Harold Budd (1986)
Crimson Glory
Crimson Glory (1986)
The Dream Of The Blue Turtles
Sting & Sting (1985)
Theme of Secrets
Eddie Jobson (1985)
Bachbusters
Don Dorsey (1985)
Selections From The Original Soundtrack The Woman In Red
Stevie Wonder & Dionne Warwick (1984)
Heartbeat City
The Cars (1984)
Hysteria
The Human League (1984)
Lite Me Up
Herbie Hancock (1982)
Thriller
Michael Jackson (1982)
Dare!
The Human League (1981)
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.
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