String keyboard

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String keyboards (also known as string machines or string ensembles ) are a group of keyboard instruments from the 1970s that try to electronically imitate the sound of a string orchestra .

The keyboards were designed in the mid-1970s as a more cost-effective and lightweight alternative to the Mellotron , but they sound completely different because they do not sample original sounds , but rather create them themselves, similar to a synthesizer . Some models also offer other sounds, for example organ or piano-like sounds.

As a result, string keyboards sound more synthetic and “cooler” compared to the Mellotron. They are assigned their very own sound character, which is particularly popular with some musicians across all styles. Often they are played through a phaser effects device. Other effects are also used internally and externally: mainly Ensemble (Yamaha SK series), Flanger , Chorus , Reverb and Delay.

The sound of the string keyboard can be found everywhere in rock and pop music of the late 1970s - in jazz rock and progressive rock as well as in disco and electronic music. Similar to the Mellotron, string keyboards still enjoy a good sound reputation and are used accordingly in current music productions, both in the original and sampled.

The first, best-known and probably also most frequently used string keyboard in rock and pop music is the ARP Solina String Ensemble , which was built as part of an organ by Eminent in 1972 and finally built as an independent keyboard and, among other things. a. distributed by ARP Instruments itself.

Models

  • ARP Solina String Ensemble / Quartet / Omni
  • Crumar Performer / Multiman
  • ELKA Rhapsody
  • Farfisa Syntorchestra / Soundmaker / Polychrome
  • Freeman String Symphonizer
  • Hohner String Melody (identical to Logan String Orchestra) / String Melody II / String Performer (successor)
  • JEN String Machine SM 2007
  • Korg PE-1000 / PE-2000 / ES-50 Lambda / DL-50 Delta / Trident / Trident Mk II
  • Logan
  • Moog Opus 3 / Polymoog
  • Roland RS-202 / VP-330 / Paraphonic 505
  • Siel Orchestra 1 and 2 (the Orchestra 1 was also sold by ARP under the name "Quartet") / Cruise (was also sold by Sequential Circuits under the name "Fugue")
  • Vermona piano strings
  • Welson Keyboard Orchestra / Symphony Concert
  • Wersi String Orchestra (identical to Logan String Orchestra)
  • Yamaha SS30 Strings / SK-10 / SK-15 / SK-20 / SK-30 / SK-50

Virtual simulations

There are now software emulations based on instrument samples from the string keyboards. A particularly well-known software with extensive equipment (= many different instrument models ) is the GForce Virtual String Machine .