ELKA OMB 5 - Automatic Italo for the people

[@HowlingMoonCinemas]

Absolutely _nothing_ "cheesy" about that sound! That sounded absolutely *beautiful* !

[@EspenKraft]

Some times I use words and phrasing to get some emotions out of my audience he-he... it's a little gem this one, even with its faults and quirks ;-)

[@sub-jec-tiv]

I love cheese.

[@radrickdavis]

So in love with the ending. The wah-wah solo over the deep, rich bass scales are gold.

[@EspenKraft]

Sweet! I might do something more on that theme. Was just improvised straight in.

[@sub-jec-tiv]

Those string synth strings are gold, very Crumar. It’s like the best Portasound ever made.

[@piyanistcanertruva]

First of all thanks for your job, its my fist box in 1995 age 11 now my age 38 still missed it.. Also extra info; under of this mac. there was a track leveler by contact, elkavox at the back side.. Cheeres from Turkey, in 90*s we were using yamahas or casio or technics sound ketboards with Elka.. :) *now using Roland bk 5 ..

[@whiteman1506]

Hi Espen. I own a OMB 5 too, i got it very cheap in non working condition a few years ago. I fixed it then, now it's fully working. In that case I replaced the old noisy fan with a new silence fan with temperature control. So this is a very useful and cheap possibility to get this machine much more quiet.

[@EspenKraft]

Yes, that would be the way to go if it's to be used in the studio.

[@StefanoPapaleo-TS]

An Italian machine to make italo disco... makes sense ;) Nice piece of gear, like the Solton. I've always like these arrangers/groove-makers, unlike many who hate/ignore them. They are a good easy way to lay down some tracks, to learn something, and with some tweaking and imagination, and effects, can turn out to be quite nice surprises.

[@EspenKraft]

Early workstations yes. Always had a thing for those. Not so easy to find anymore.

[@Anvilshock]

They should have left all the labels in Italian, too, hahaha!

[@DigitalMusicXpress]

Wow, nearly sounds Vince Clarke at some stage, nifty and nice retro machine!

[@amonster8mymother]

I like the strings. 😎

[@dotline4759]

2:35 A wild Fred Ventura spawn and change your bassline meanwhile dancing. Alone... Fun machine and great vid Pal Keep on❤

[@EspenKraft]

Cheers!

[@rdm5190]

Got one on a shelf in the studio, ain't touched it in a couple of years,it sounds like a bad night at a roller rink,which is ironic because mine came from an auction when a local rink closed

[@NormanStansfield1]

They have a separate out for the drums and synth which is great. People may say it sounds cheesy but a lot of synth sound pretty weak until you add a chorus/phaser, some delay, reverb or another effect. This might make for a good video on adding some effects to see if you can make it sound really good.

[@organfairy]

The usage for this machine is just as the title of the instrument: One man bands! The type of musician that plays at weddings and anniversaries. The musician who can play anything from the wedding march to current pop songs according to what the host or guests wishes. This was Elka's primary target group of musicians and they had a tradition of making accompaniment units like this. The earlier instruments of this type were called Elka Wilgamat. They were supposed to be used together with other instruments - maybe an electric accordion or a tonewheel emulator organ. The German company Wersi made similar units called Wersimatic and the other German brand Böhm made a similar Böhmat (I am not kidding - Google it).

[@EspenKraft]

Good summary! I've been playing at weddings myself, not with the OMB5 though. I've been into organs as well ever since the start of the 80s so I remember the Elkas from that time too.

[@organfairy]

Elka is the brand that is best represented in my humble collection of organs. I have EP-8, X-30, X-45, and X-1000. The primary reason is that they can often be bought very cheap :-) Elka unfortunately always stood in the shadow of Wersi in Germany and Hammond in the rest of the world. But I like them for what they are: A mixture of drum machine, tonewheel emulator, synthesizer, and performance instrument.

[@EspenKraft]

Apart from the elusive Synthex I gave the Elka EK22 analog synthesizer, a very capable one and I love it. Their organs fall kind of short compared to the Yamaha C605 it's bigger brother D85 which I love but can't find space for at the moment.

[@organfairy]

I also have the Elka EM44, but I have sort of an ambivalent relation to that instrument. It can make some nice sounds, but since it is an FM synthesizer it is a bit tricky to programme. I guess Yamaha or Elka....it's a matter of taste. I have played quite a few Yamahas but I am more of an Elka person - or Technics.

[@EspenKraft]

The Elka 44 is digital while the 22 is analog. They're very different. As for organs, well they had their time. I wouldn't mind getting a Yamaha D85, but space is not to be found :)

[@spacefolder]

The ending tune is amazing.. Loved it! Cheers!

[@EspenKraft]

Awesome, thanks!

[@Latvian3Dman]

I can now find out so many things about 80ies music, hardware, and that's all here, in channels such as yours. Exciting. Please do continue :-) And big Thank You for your work here and "behind the screen".

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks Juris! I have plenty more in the pipeline :)

[@WavestationTracks]

i think i´m in the 80´s..great!

[@bcastromusic]

Elka's answer to the Solton Programmer 24.

[@retrosound72]

More Solton Arranger 24

[@discodalle]

killer video !!! in love with this workhorse

[@TheGhostMall]

Wow, this video is such a rad surprise, my friend! That is one idiosyncratic piece of kit! Thanks, as always, for your excellent in-depth look at this machine.

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks buddy! Yes, it's a hidden piece of gear that should be resurrected for the sheer love and hate experience, no doubt. I find myself more and more looking for that gear that no one talks about anymore, cam be had for next to nothing and still is part of the 80s synth history.

[@TheGhostMall]

Haha, indeed, I have had a few of those love/hate experiences with gear in the past! Well, for what it's worth, I definitely am interested in more about those "hidden gems," if you will, of the era. I think that it is often the lesser-known items that have the most character, and this OMB 5 certainly seems a prime example of that. Cheers, Espen!

[@marcom.]

Hi Espen, always enjoy your videos, as I really love the 80's synth pop. May I suggest a topic for a future video? How about Howard Jones? He is such a great composer and synth user. Next to Forever Young which you already honored, maybe you could explain us the timeless beauty of Hide and Seek from Howard? Would be great...

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks Marco! I love Howard Jones myself and I have been sitting on a cover of one of his tracks for over a year. I might do one of his tracks one day even If I don't have anyone planned right now. It has to have a chord progression I find I can angle towards the type of chord/melody songwriting tutorial I like to make. I don't do song or production analysis only in this channel. At least not yet :)

[@davidosolo]

Ha Ha, when you told me you had another Elka coming in, I wasn´t exactly thinking in this One Man Band. Although it´s amazing what someone like you can get out of this toy! I´m impressed anyway.

[@Vim-Wolf]

That programmed drum beat - I could swear you were starting to do the intro to Blue Monday :)

[@PC0067]

Cool sound!! Thanks

[@stcezaire06]

It seems so simple to explain and improvise as you do with this incredible machine; Respect but I think there are many hours of work for this great result , thanks Espen and waiting for the next video

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks! :)

[@wrmusic8736]

These old, "jack of all trades, master of none" attempts at what would be later known as 'workstation' are pretty fun to watch.

[@EspenKraft]

They're fun to use too.

[@larslevinberget9558]

Totally wrong...a synth workstation is the flagship synthesizer of a company at a given time containing a multi-track sequencer and a useful bank of drum samples topped with a state of the art multi efx processor...as well as a decent MIDI master keyboard. Good examples are Roland XP60 and KORG Triton...they are expandable too.

[@DrUmSensitive]

​@@larslevinberget9558 ...and the following iterations of the "Elkas of the time" are called "ARRANGER keyboards" like the Roland G800/1000, Solton MS50/100, Korg Pa series, etc. Your comment is exactly what I wanted to write...

[@beatz04]

Not useful ?? I've already heard sever sounds in this video that i would use. The pads and synth sounds are pretty lush, i like them.

[@GamesExposed]

great gear ! fantastic dynamics on those sounds ! :D

[@texacomann]

I would suggest to use cubase and record this elka and make loops to arrange them and build a nice Song out of it. I did that very often with my Roland G-70 and Yamaha PSS 680 it sounds beautiful. Cool workflow makes me creative in a special way.

[@torstenH78]

And i sold my years ago :-( Used it on stage for dancing music.

[@hansworst8545]

Very nice!

[@teknokont]

Good old days

[@AlexBallMusic]

Long before Guitar Hero there was this!

[@EspenKraft]

It sure was!

[@mmrva]

:D

[@TH3_FURY]

Great video and fantastic job ! I love Elka gears, i don't know the OMB but It sounds pretty cool, with a Elka Drumstar inside it's absolutely awesome ! It's a nice drum machine ! For me, like the TR 626 it's the Synth pop sound from the 80's ! I have a sample pack and use it in Ableton drum rack ! Drumstar 80 drum machine remind me "Don't you love me baby" ! And there is an other ELKA stuff i love...A boss, the "Synthex"...a fabulous and very rare master piece ! Keep the vibe !

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks Eric! Yeah, the OMB5 is somewhat of a conundrum today, but back then there were many keyboards similar to this. The Drumstar 80 is a great drum machine so to have that in this is awesome, but with only one output it's totally not usable in a real live gig situation as you need to separate at least the kick and the snare. The Synthex is of course something else entirely and I don't expect to find tone at the local dumpster anytime soon ;-)

[@cortical1]

Yes, cheesy can be charming for sure! I love this thing. I see what you did with the video title. Are you an REM fan? Cheers.

[@EspenKraft]

I'm not into REM in any particular degree, but I like to play with words.. ;-)

[@cortical1]

@@EspenKraft I'm convinced that word play is the foundation of human higher order thinking. :)

[@DrUmSensitive]

Espen, have you too noticed how the "tr." command in the midi/record menu turns the notes of the arrangement over the midi out on or off? I speak fluent Italian (along with English and German), but after having read the manual a couple of times, I can't find this mentioned anywhere. So, I love my Elka, I have got it really cheap some 10 years ago, repaired it twice since and bought a Wilgamat (still to be repaired) and other stuff which I like to abuse the hell out of by changing the tempo to extremes and using external FX and extra notes/sequences to make it perfectly usable in today's music. That said, since the OMB5 is only partially usable today (even with stacking/layering sounds or rhythms, or even with adding other synths/drum machines to the arrangement), I decided to take the MIDI notes from the arrangements (recording the midi out while sending chords to the midi in from a totally different keyboard) and then tweak them to my liking in the sequencer or triggering other equipment with some of them to create nice/modern/professional sounding textures and arrangements. This was quite hard to achieve that because of the "tr." function and the manual being so "less than ideal." I guess I now finally figured out what to do, so I decided to share it with others watching this video.

[@EspenKraft]

I can't say I remember. I sold the OMB5 a long time ago so can't check it now either. ;-)

[@BenJamminKraftbc]

What a badass last name you have there Mr Kraft ;)

[@EspenKraft]

Likewise Mr. Kraft! :)

[@ArmonyJazzStudio]

Has Roland been inspired by this keyboard for its 1986 pro-E?

[@steevomusic]

Great video!!! Good

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks! :)

[@fabian27111972]

Hello Aspen, many thanks to explain the OMB5 in this video. Great explanation. But please, could you explain how to connect and start the OMB5? ... there is E.CL on display on my OMB5 only. No sound. Many Thanks in Advance

[@EspenKraft]

If you have E.CL in the display it means the OMB5 is in External Clock Mode and can only be started by feeding MIDI clock in from an external drum machine, sequencer or things like that. You need to put it in internal clock again. This is how to do it: Press the MIDI button Press the RECORD button Display shows: "cL.0" = clock ON / master, internal clock - to set it to slave push the "+" or "-" buttons below the display. Display shows: "cL.I" = clock OFF / slave, external clock When it's set to external clock, the display is always blinking with "E.CL." Turn off the MIDI button to complete the setup. So this way you can toggle between the different clock settings.

[@rickygarcia7400]

awsome arranger that would work for the type of music I do the new arrangers have way to much middle Eaststern stuff and drives me nuts roland and the others need to make arranger that specializes in 80s synth pop and Italia disco.

[@EspenKraft]

I couldn't agree more!

[@DrUmSensitive]

Try Yamaha DJX. I love it to death. Oh, and Roland EG-101. Not really "80's" but great.

[@KMNKeyboardVault]

Sounds like cross between a Yamaha DX7 and Kawai K5

[@olleandersson8054]

Very similar to the Solton Programmer 24 but without the individual outputs. The Solton sounds a LOT better though. Nice demo.

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks! I agree completely about the Solton, much better sound imo. The drums of the OMB5 is great though and are taken directly off the Drumstar80 drum machine (that has individual outputs) and imo they are very good.

[@torstenH78]

Only the drums are PCM. Rest is FM 4-operator technology.

[@richardwalley2862]

You have to make a song from that first track that quirky beat was epic

[@EspenKraft]

Maybe I will! :)

[@desktorp]

3:00 wow 3:16 wow!!

[@cdwhiley]

I have one of these and it was totally dead. After replacing the -12V and +12V fuses and replacing 5 capacitors (shorted tantalum) on the second PCB inside it now works....almost. Sadly the preset 2 section makes no sound. No idea how to fix that. It's a shame.

[@XavierRadix]

I can see myself using this as a silly writing tool. Sounds so cheesy, love it! The drums are great though!

[@EspenKraft]

The drums are actually extremely usable and they have a very "Human League/don't you want me" feel to them. The Drumstar 80 has the same drums with individual output as well. I'll sample these and make them available soon.

[@XavierRadix]

That's awesome! I'm kind of an "sample hoarder". I have TONS upon tons of samples from drummachines or from other intstruments. Would be a nice edition to the family :).

[@MisAnnThorpe]

@@EspenKraft The drums at 8:38 which you describe as "disco" remind me a lot of The Human League's "Do or die". Drums apart, this is pretty awful sounding in all honesty.

[@MisAnnThorpe]

By the way; somebody is selling one here in London for £500! I think they're trying their luck and will NEED all the luck they can get to sell it for that price. Perhaps they missed out the decimal point between the "5" and "zero"?

[@pekkagronfors7304]

Nice demo!

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks Pekka!

[@raquinarnaud2072]

hey thanks for the lovely video ! Does anybody have a copy of the user manual? I try to figure out how to use the song mode (recording my own), thanks!

[@EspenKraft]

Cheers!

[@ingoodmusic]

seems like a very fun toy

[@piyanistcanertruva]

I have used to it , more than 3 years in 1996 to 2000.Missing its power on stage and 3 ways out -aux for mixer, ıf there are any to sell ı could buy ıt please share with me .

[@MisterWood1000]

io ne ho uno da vendere; di dove sei?

[@piyanistcanertruva]

Please English

[@sauermusicDE]

This one in combination with a Solton Programmer 24 (a machine with a similar concept) would be the ultimate "shit" for Italo Disco! :-)

[@EspenKraft]

Yeah, I know the Solton Ketron 24. They rarely surface around here, but as soon as I see it, I'll pick it up.

[@diegotemacho]

i would like to be like you man!

[@richardwalley2862]

Epic

[@richardwalley2862]

Almost pulled the trigger on this but with its 220power and having to purchase it overseas unfortunately made me hold off

[@EspenKraft]

It weighs a lot too. If you get another chance at home you should try to get it home :)

[@392Firepower]

We here in the states never had much exposure to Elka products for some reason...although plenty of Japanese products. I wonder why?

[@EspenKraft]

Probably something related to import/export and prices at the time. Like all E-MU products here was beyond crazy prices. The EMAX I always wanted was the double of the Akai.

[@RayyMusik]

Definitely from hell - from a pretty funny hell though. :)

[@EspenKraft]

Haha, yeah!

[@phonopollution]

I can hear a little bit of OMD, am I right?

[@EspenKraft]

You're absolutely right. You have a good ear!

[@blowmmaddinundemaudefaades440]

Hi there, my Elka OMB 5 is broken. It seems to work but no sound is coming out of the 3 outputs. Anybody a suggestion? I threw some Balistol on the inside but... yeah. Doesn't work.

[@EspenKraft]

Try asking in a Facebook synth repair forum or Gearslutz too.

[@blowmmaddinundemaudefaades440]

@@EspenKraft Thank you very much. Seems like it's often broken. will throw it in the ditch.

[@jackberlien8916]

It would be nice if someone could make a video that efficiently demonstrated the synth rather than trying to meet a particular video length quota

[@andyp6544]

Ehi Man! great video! I have one OMB5 ... all the lights come on, but it does not emit any sound!!! What problem could it have? Would you give me any advice for repair? Thx!!

[@kingkatalogas]

hi andy, i got the same problem. did you solve it?

[@snoopdoggdankkush9285]

bosssssss vid

[@ME-ru4hv]

This would be lovely for tasty cheese breaks

[@UnitedPebbles]

how unique. Wonder if Elka would give me one for free, or for a few dollars?

[@74goldenjet]

Is it possible to program the drums via midi?

[@synthtools]

Cool, can you provide the Drum Samples?

[@EspenKraft]

I might if I get the time to sample them. Could be a while.

[@ingoodmusic]

+1

[@ingoodmusic]

those toms are amazing actually

[@synthtools]

Seems to be a Simmons sample.

[@christseen]

Hello Epson, might I ask how you got such a clean sound out of this? I have one and there seems to be a lot of noise that comes out of it when not being played. I think you mentioned that this synth is a little noisy in this video and I'm curious how you overcame that. Long time fan thank you so much for your time.

[@christseen]

*Espen

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks! Good solder joints at the output, good quality shielded jack cables, optimum recording level and noise reduction, eq, compression and processing at the mixing stage. With all that in place you'll have a good recording with little or no perceive noise. ;-)

[@christseen]

Thnx so much Espen

[@madmac66]

So this is where Novation got the idea for the Circuit then...

[@EspenKraft]

Haha, good observation!

[@mikehydropneumatic2583]

The drum sounds are great. BTW Is that a Rolex you're wearing?

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks man! The Rolex Seadweller (old model) has always been one of my favorite watches :)

[@MaggieKeizai]

If only Wesley Willis had had one of these.

[@EspenKraft]

Should have appealed to his nature I bet.

[@ArmonyJazzStudio]

La mamma della Roland pro-E

[@junksmith_wizard]

Almost got one of these on finn for 40$ but my g.a.s had other plans

[@marcelfrehse]

love the ending synth part from the TX synth. Question on this: is this a patch also available on other DX Synths?

[@EspenKraft]

Thanks man! The TX802 solo patch started out as a preset I found online. It's originally for the DX7.

[@marcelfrehse]

great! i am wondering if it would be possible to convert this DX7 6OP Voice into an 4OP-Voice, so I can use it on my FB-01? Or converting it from DX to SY Format?

[@EspenKraft]

Don't know man. You should ask in any of the Facebook DX groups :)

[@musk771]

Hello Espen Kraft, I have just got one of these, but it doesn't produce any sound although all commands and buttons seems to work. Do you know a way to reset the instrument?

[@EspenKraft]

I can't say I remember the reset procedure, if there is one. I've come across several Elkas that has the output stage blown. Have you checked that?

[@musk771]

@@EspenKraft Not yet, I have got the OMB5 just yesterday. There is a way to understand if the output stage has blown? I have opened the unit and cleaned from dust . Everything seems to be in order from the inside , but I'm not a technincian and I don't have such specifical knowledge.

[@elil.2054]

If the resistor is soldered into the fan power circuit, the speed of its rotation will decrease, as will the noise.

[@EspenKraft]

Do you know what value?

[@richardwalley2862]

Is this 220 power supply? Im guessing they didnt make this to work with usa power ?

[@EspenKraft]

It seems they were mostly sold in Europe yes. The one in the video is 220 Volts.

[@13grammi]

Italo disco

[@loung71]

I've just found one fully working for 50€....Do you think I should get it ?

[@EspenKraft]

Get it.

[@loung71]

@@EspenKraft Thanks Mate....!

[@kingkatalogas]

hi! i have an omb 5 but i have no sounds on it. do i need a cartridge or something? grretz!

[@EspenKraft]

No, the OMB5 only has preset sounds, all part of the machine itself. If you have no sound, then there's something wrong with it or you're using it wrong. Take it to a tech.

[@kingkatalogas]

@@EspenKraft ok thank you! that helps... but when i turn it on i should have sound, right? i dont have to put it in whatever mode?!

[@EspenKraft]

It could be in external midi sync or whatever. Hard to say from here. Read the manual and try to see if everything is at default. I don't have the OMB5 anymore. Use the right output sockets in the back.

[@kingkatalogas]

@@EspenKraft thanks for your help! i will try... have a nice one!

[@EspenKraft]

Cheers!

[@timbermicka]

Look a lot like the Solton Programmer

[@EspenKraft]

Similar in usage yes :)

[@MSM5500]

Genuine Italo Disco must have at least a powerful Juno bass line and huge drums especially a snare of LM-2 "LinnDrum" (not LM-1) treated with EQ, exciter, compressor then pumed up with Yamaha gated reverb. A sort of music which doesn't comply the conditions from the above has nothing to do with Italo Disco at all.

[@EspenKraft]

Well, I think many will disagree on that.

[@MSM5500]

Yeah, perhaps I was too specific when saying LM-2 and Roland Juno caus it could be many more, but in fact real Italo Disco assumes both certain timbral content and rythmic structure of music. Here are examples of what Italo Disco means: Albert One - Face To Face kzbin.info/www/bejne/jKLFaJaCaLyMprM Galactic Warriors - Summer Nights kzbin.info/www/bejne/rmSQdZmKrtF3o8U LaserDance - Excitation kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z4CkgKpqfZ1rfqc Baby's Gang - Jamin kzbin.info/www/bejne/hXOXiIl-rt2Zn7M MIKO MISSION - How old are you kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpnOdaaKfZ2Ygqc Ken Laszlo - Don't Cry kzbin.info/www/bejne/epO0i6dtjc6Voc0

[@EspenKraft]

Great examples of the genre. However, there's plenty of other acts firmly rooted in the tradition, even big chart toppers like Modern Talking, New Order and Pet Shop Boys among others has tracks that are well within the Italo territory. I started collection vinyl in the early 80s and soon DJ'ed loacl venues before moving onto much bigger ones to spin and I remember the scene and genre very well.

[@MSM5500]

Yes I do agree with you that many producers in the world got influenced by Italo Disco music very much even in the North and Latin America. But the cluster devoted to Italo Disco settled in Italy and Netherlands the most. In fact initially there was no such a term like Italo Disco in Italy at all as Paolo di Nicolantoniofrom Synthmania said. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pIitmpevesSmisk He said they called it "musica de discoteca" instead. There is no a sharp boundary between Hi Energy and Italo disco genre as both have lots of common features. I believe that ZYX came up with name Italo Disco first ever since major of their vynils with collections of various artists were called like "The best of Italo Disco vol.xx" as vast of the tracks on them had Italian origin.

[@EspenKraft]

Sure, the Italo Disco term came later. As a young inspiring producer/maker of pop music I was highly influenced bu Scotch, Den Harrow, Savage and other at the time. Octave bass, analog drum machines, and the cheapest samplers got me going in making music I though would sound the same as the chart topping Italian artists. AND the Bolland brothers.

[@TeslaDanser]

Does it really have a drumstar80 in it?

[@EspenKraft]

Not the drum machine, but some of the same samples.

[@TeslaDanser]

@@EspenKraft thanks espen, you might have saved me from an unnecessary purchase haha

[@radzhkapoor3742]

You have Rolex? )

[@EspenKraft]

I've sold most of my watches ;-)

[@hankybostik7634]

Farted 🍑💨💨💨💨💨💨

[@ToreHansen]

I have seen this one time, just look, don't touch... Cool video but not my cup of tea. Cherry Audios Synthex VST released yesterday was 200 times better.

[@EspenKraft]

You cannot possible put the Synthex up against this. It's like comparing a Rolls-Royce to a bike. ;-)

[@ToreHansen]

@@EspenKraft Hope the Elka-X is the Rolls...

[@darkstarspainter]

It is a very "toy sound" for games like sega. Not professional for me.

[@djmarco589]

Nice!!