Does any synthesizer have a more glamorous name than the Synclavier™?

One of the rarest electronic instruments ever made, the original NEDC Synclavier was the first all-digital performance synthesizer to reach commercial production—though only 13 units were ever built before the more famous Synclavier II took its place. This earlier model pioneered FM synthesis, years before Yamaha’s DX line brought it to the masses, and boasted surround sound outputs with a jaw-dropping 140 dB dynamic range per channel.

Its raw, unmistakable sound partly came from its lack of anti-aliasing filters, which let aliasing artifacts creep in—especially in the low end—giving it a unique sonic character unlike anything else.

With over 2,000 samples, this library brings you the original factory presets (minus one—see below), plus a collection of custom-programmed sounds and processed patches taken from original compositions. In the Kontakt version, you can tweak each sound using filter and envelope controls, and enhance them with four built-in effects for added depth and color.

In addition, the upgraded version also includes a random note generator (for full Kontakt only) that emulates a custom programmed algorithm created on the Synclavier in 1991. This instrument is also available separately.

For more detailed information about the library, download the Synclavier User Guide.

⚠️ What happened to Preset #2?

The front panel button for Preset #2 failed repeatedly (despite plenty of TLC) and ultimately couldn’t be sampled. In the Kontakt version, you’ll see a “broken” button on the interface; the Logic version simply omits it. There’s hope the current owner will restore the instrument fully—if that happens and Preset #2 becomes available in usable quality, we’ll offer it to all registered users as a free update.

More interesting facts on the Synclavier and its history.