Cherry Audio Elka-X Synthesizer Effects Download

Cherry Audio Elka-X Synthesizer is based upon the legendary Synthex, a rare Italian analog synthesizer designed by Mario Maggi and manufactured by ELKA in the early ’80s. Elka-X replicates the extraordinary character of the original synth without compromising sound or functionality, thoughtfully expanding its feature set and delivering the authentic Synthex experience at an excellent value.

The Synthex included a combination of uncommon and forward-looking features that made it stand out from other contemporary synthesizers, including highly stable digitally-controlled analog oscillators and a flexible four-pole multimode filter. Unlike most other popular synths that utilized CEM3320 filter chips in a lowpass-only configuration, the Synthex filter featured a 24dB/oct low-pass mode, 6 and 12dB/oct band-pass modes, and a 12dB/oct high-pass mode. Along with a powerful onboard analog chorus effect, this gave the Synthex a distinct and powerful tonality. It was multitimbral, with the ability to play two different patches simultaneously, in either split or layer mode. It even included an innovative four-track monophonic step-sequencer with real-time recording and transposition.

By the mid-’80s, ELKA made the last Synthex for Stevie Wonder, who used it for the distinctive bass tone on his single "Skeletons" from the 1987 album Characters. Other notable users of the Synthex were Geoff Downes of the supergroup Asia, Keith Emerson, Nick Rhodes of Duran Duran, Peter Howell of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, and Jean-Michel Jarre, who used it extensively on Rendezvous and for his famed "laser harp" sound.