Freeman String Symphonizer

A brief walkthrough of the Freeman String Symphonizer, invented by Ken Freeman, sounds from which are in both VSM and RE-STRINGS.
The Further Adventures of K.FREEMAN and his Incredible Machine of a Thousand Strings courtesy of I Monster - BRIGHT SPARKS album. www.imonstermusic.com
Ken Freeman footage courtesy of BRIGHT SPARKS Documentary
brightsparks.movie

[@norwegianzound]

I met Ken while on holiday in Spain. A lovely man. Very unassuming.

[@alanshewitt]

That “keyboard balance” control is a pretty ingenious bit of design. So simple yet useful.

[@Meteotrance]

In fact Hammond was the first to make a string synth call the Hammond Novachord, and it was in the 30's check it out, it's a realy impressive device and also a commercial failure at the time.

[@WillieWonka928D]

I always thought the Freeman was the best sounding of all the string machines.

[@nicolasbeker6490]

Reminds me the haunting string sounds of the Fade To Grey song by Visage. These and those of the Korg Lambda are IMHO the best analog strings ever.

[@FrancisMaxino]

Love that 'ramp in' feature, vibrato comes in slowly.

[@seppoinnanen5577]

Really simple machine, but what it does sounds stunning

[@noiselabproject9659]

What a marvellous invention, chuck it through a phaser and then the verb and Bob`s your Uncle .... oh yes

[@RetroPlus]

That thing sounds incredible

[@acozz333]

At that time, Norlin owned Lowrey which was their most successful brand, so they dumbed down the symphonizer to 2 oscillators and put in their top of the line organ models, where it was partnered with the 'brass symphonizer' on the top of the line. It was, at the time, by far the best string sound on a commercial home organ and one of the reasons Lowrey did so well. Garth Hudson used one in The Band.

[@dinorocker8647]

5:23 Shit that sounds more like an organ than the organ setting on the Yamaha CS-80, definitely gives that Mr. Crowley intro vibe.

[@ClJNT]

Top quality content as usual. Enjoyed that.

[@IrwinCespedes]

One simple keyboard yet so complex with big sounds! Short but excellent video!!!

[@user-fd9uw3lb1b]

i really love your passion for synth's

[@LFOVCF]

Bloody Glorious!

[@Lea_Der_777]

Real Analog Heaven.... But not just an analog, because today we have a lot of modern analog synths with sterille, small and harshly sound... This is a TRUE ANALOG HEAVEN!.... Because it's a TRUE vintage analog sound..... Amazing sound, just a real MAGIC, my favorite strings-machine ...

[@geoffk777]

Cordovox was an Italian accordion company, that also moved into organs. They were owned by Norlin Music, a large American company that also owned the brands Gibson guitar, Pearl Drums, Lowery Organ--and Moog Synthesizer. In fact, one of Cordovox's best known instruments is the CDX-0652 "White Elephant" stage organ, which had a Moog Satellite built into the upper manual. It was housed in a distinctive, funky white plastic case, and is still collectible today, although it didn't sound that great.

[@Dolores5000]

Fantastic

[@Novaheart1998]

That machine sounds epic.

[@flyingyeayea]

nice sound !

[@ingoodmusic]

great tone it has

[@mantashaft]

Have to see your movie

[@timconsequence1]

I found one for $20 in the basement of a local music store.

[@TZKeyz]

I loved mine when I had it.

[@Relaxicity]

Apparently you can add some release using the sustain slider....

[@alicefaivre-duolua]

HI Gforce, thanks for the great demos! what is the synth used in the intro of the video? Thanks!

[@thevortexofdoom8778]

As an owner of your Mtron pro and all expansions will you be making this an expansion of something or its own plugin? I love your company and everything you make. My wife and I are hardcore Gforce users. Thanks for everything.

[@testohtoby]

great demos and knowledge as usual but there's a thing that I didn't understand: what's the "Mantovani machine" you mentioned at 8:14 ? Thanks !

[@torbenanschau6641]

Is this the Ken Freeman who's also written the soundtrack for the science fiction TV-Series Tripods?

[@Chevytravelleruk]

Yup.. That's him.. and Casuaty

[@meowzer999]

Love it, when effex are added it soundz amazing. Is this the string machine Ron Mael used on Sparks' Propaganda LP? I thought I read that someplace but my memory's a bit shot, ha.

[@CptSnarkyPants]

John Meowzer Yeah this whole video I was thinking "Oh my word, stick a phaser on this thing immediately!"

[@creamydistortion]

Anybody know which string synths were used on 'Fool to Cry' by the Stones & 'Chimes' by J. Geils Band?? Iconic sounds!

[@marcuskeulertz5852]

Intro sequence of War of the World's.

[@miaris]

It sounds better than the Solina. Me like!

[@goodtimesandalpines5442]

agreed

[@beaufighter245]

Yes, I agree. I have a Solina but this has the edge. The reverb makes a difference.

[@woodsdenis]

Is it the keyboard on the War of the Worlds.

[@Chevytravelleruk]

one of many used on that album...

[@thesset3666]

j aime bien le son brut .

[@willdatsun]

Someone play the theme to Wattoo Wattoo

[@mantra3000]

Hello, what is the title and artist for the background music between 0 and 2 minutes?

[@dadautube]

not as natural a sound quality as expected, even for its time (compared to Solina Stings synth for example) but still such a great machine, especially with that F ~ C balance volume slider thing! me wanteth! :)

[@alienmachine]

This was actually a cut down version of Freeman's original machine, that is why is not that lush sounding. Here is its story www.soundonsound.com/people/ken-freeman-birth-string-synthesis

[@alexdeaton7753]

HEY!!! I have one of these! It comes on, all lights work, but i am getting no output :( Once I got a very very quiet sound out of it, but now nothing. Anyone have any tips on what might be wrong?? I Have used a contact cleaner to clean out the inside, all the pots and switches but that did not solve the issue.

[@kuttysharp8477]

Are you going to sell it?

[@rctubs3593]

It's the Davey and Goliath sound

[@marcuskeulertz5852]

Called "Eve of War"

[@MikeTheTeacher]

sweeeeeeeeeeeet

[@PT-yx1lf]

Nice k-k-k-keyboard , K-K-K-Ken !

[@CoolDudeClem]

Sounds more like an organ than strings, but still an interesting sound.

[@smbm7784]

Eve of the war

[@NickHchaos]

That creamy expository voice.

[@hot88s23]

Willy Wonka, I had one. Agreed.

[@Nervejam]

Sounds a bit "vox humana" in places.. like..