The Synthetone SX-1000 is an old Italian basic mono-synth. It has a single analog DCO with three waveforms: sawtooth, square, and PWM (Pulse Width Modulation). There is an analog filter (12dB/octave) with cutoff, resonance, and LFO modulation. There is also a simple ADSR envelope for shaping your sounds. In addition there are also white/pink noise generators a glide effect and a vibrato effect. It's known for fairly stable tuning too. Probably its best sounds are the lead ones, the basses aren't that deep but it sure can scream!

What it doesn't have is MIDI, CV/Gate or any other form of control. MIDI retrofits can take care of this however. Unfortunately there is no patch memory, and there is no way around this limitation. Its knobs are boldly colored and well layed-out for easy hands-on access; but you'll need a Polaroid camera if you want to store your patch settings! Also lacking are an arpeggiator, sequencer, pitch/mod wheels, and effects. Nevertheless, this Italian vintage synth is a very cheap entry-level analog synth that has some unique sounds and characteristics worth checking out if you find one. It's been used by Future Sound of London, LFO, Nexus 21, Altern 8, Eskimos & Egypt, Fillmore, Man Machine, Tim Simenon, Broadcast, Plone, Luke Vibert, Ladytron, Prodigy and Herb Legowicz of Gusgus.

Connor

October 27, 2012 @ 1:01 am

Just a little update, I noticed Depeche Mode using one on their new album (through studio footage)

Connor

October 3, 2012 @ 3:11 pm

I got one of these in london for £250 (~$400) and it blew my mind. I underestimated this thing, for a seemingly basic synth, it really has some oomph to it. I know one other person that has owned one and we both agreed that it does have a weak filter, but wow- pink/white noise generator, vibrato, pulse/saw/square waves, two ADSRs. Quite a machine!

Key

July 13, 2012 @ 11:52 am

This synth seems still very popular. I already spotted two recent video clips featuring this synth: Django - Default, and Hurts - Wonderful life.
Probably because of esthetics reasons too: it's rather small in size and has such lovely colorful knobs.

TACM

June 20, 2012 @ 8:21 am

Great analog synth, if you cannot afford the moogs and others of this time period buy a SX, it has lots of analog goodness! Had one shipped from the UK, it did not work at first but I opened it up and found a few connections had loosened during transit, plugged it all in and it works perfectly. It has some limited features but for the price they sell for you can’t go wrong. Great sound that can cut through any mix. Definitely recommended, http://soundcloud.com/tacm/basement-05

gordon kennedy

March 4, 2012 @ 5:56 am

Used to have an SX-1000. Although it's an "entry-level" synth, it's the sort of instrument you appreciate more when you're more familiar with other synths. Which is to say, if your other options are limited, you'll notice its limitations (no memories, single vco etc) - but once you have a little family of Moogs, SCIs, etc, you realise that the Jen has a unique sound. And that it cuts thru a mix very nicely at the high end. (And, for the aesthete, groovy pastel-metallic controls...)

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