The Lambda ES50 is a vintage poly-ensemble type synthesizer with slightly editable Preset orchestral sounds. It is divided into two sections: The Percussion set includes Preset pianos, clavis and harmonics; The Ensemble section has Presets for brass, strings, organ and choruses. Filter and envelope controls affect the different instruments individually. The Lambda has 96 discrete envelopes and VCAs - two for each key - a very unusual design. There are also vibrato and chorus effects.

The Percussion group and Ensemble group each have their own separate outputs which is nice. A joystick is proveded left of the keyboard for simultaneous control of pitch bends and chorus phase speed.

The String sounds are the nicest sounds this synth can create. With three oscillators you can vary and detune them enough to get a nice layered analog string. Piano and Brass sounds are pretty cheesy. The Lambda is cased in a great big wooden case that gives it that authentically vintage status. It's nice to have around, but a good sample of it is all you'll really need these days.

Livercage

July 2, 2009 @ 1:34 am

I have one of these and it is used greatly . An excellent creation indeed. The strings are probably the best analog strings that exist.
Death to the mutant!

Vudu12

March 8, 2009 @ 10:34 pm

It's not often even these days that you get a keyboard where you can play ALL the keys at once! I did it, with all sounds on a once and couldn't get any overload distortion. Amazing! And the sound, wow for massive stereoized chorused string chords, you cannot get it with digital. Downside of course is the sounds are very tweakable.

planetplayer

January 13, 2009 @ 12:29 am

I loved this instrument. The action was king of soggy if I recall. The sounds were nice. I played this in early 1980's. Only knew it as Lambda and not ES-50. I still love it. I loved all the Greek Korg instruments at the time era. The Trident was the best.

Alessandro

September 21, 2008 @ 11:30 am

owned one, it was realy nice, especialy the chorus part, and it is STEREO!!

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