There are a lot of negative things about the Internet, but one thing is for sure, being a fan of niche instruments such as vintage synthesizers would have been a lot less social without it. Online communities have made it much easier to interact with other enthusiasts and to share tips as well as tunes. The rise of video sharing services, such as YouTube, has also made it easier to not just hear other synth players, but to also see them in action. While there are plenty of channels dedicated to synthesizer music, it is also great to see some that are dedicated to the more technical aspects of the hobby. Here are a few channels that we recommend checking out if you want to see more about the inner workings of synthesizers or if you want to learn more about repairing these instruments. 

"markusfuller"

Markusfuller joined YouTube in 2009 and his channel boasts 37,000 subscribers. In his description he states that he is fascinated by electronics and his curiosity to know how everything works is what led him to taking things apart. Fortunately for us, this means he has plenty of videos where he takes synthesizers apart so we can get a peek inside. Our favorite video sees him exploring the inside of a Dave Smith Prophet 12 synthesizer keyboard, but he also has a lot of other interesting ones. They range from the inside of a Moog Minimoog Voyager to an in-depth look inside a Behringer X32 mixer and even some repairs for stuff like the Korg Delta DL-50. Overall, it's a great channel with plenty of interesting content for synth enthusiasts.

"Synth Chaser"

Synth Chaser is a channel that joined YouTube in 2015 and according to their description, the focus is on analog synthesizer repair and innovation. This is exactly what they deliver with videos like the restoration of an ARP Pro/DGX Synth, the repair of an Oberheim OB-Xa, and even the calibration procedure for an ARP Omni 2. There's some other interesting content featured as well, such as how to replace the battery of a Yamaha DX and how to replace the noisy fan in a Memorymoog with a more quiet one. Don't let the low number of subscribers to this channel fool you, there's hours of interesting content to watch. 

"RetroLinear"

Retrolinear joined YouTube in 2011 and their specialization appears to be the restoration of vintage synths and other instruments. Most of their videos are short and entertaining, but we would have liked to see more of the actual restoration process instead of just overviews of the instruments afterwards. Still, they feature some great synths and even make a few custom modifications to the ones that they restore.

"GOLT!"

GOLT! joined YouTube in early 2015 and features synth repair and restoration videos. What is great about this channel is that they also feature circuit descriptions along with details on how the synths actually work. While this channel doesn't feature as many videos as some of the others, there is plenty of interesting content to watch. Some of the synthesizers featured in the restoration videos include an Oberheim OB-X, AKAI AX-60, Roland Juno 6, Yamaha CS-60, and Moog Prodigy. 

"Mike Sisk"

Mike Sisk joined YouTube in 2013 and since then he has uploaded a number of videos. Some feature helpful instructions, such as how to replace the battery on an Ensoniq ESQ-1 (which is a lot more complicated than what you might think), or even how to make your own power supply. Mike also has a penchant for circuit bending a number of things, which is fascinating to watch. 

"bradthx"

This channel joined YouTube in 2006 and focuses on repair videos and other electronics projects. The focus isn't exclusively on synthesizers, so there some other projects featured as well, but the synth repair and restoration ones are really good. Everything from the Roland TR-505 and Ensoniq ESQ-1 to the Roland JP-8000, Yamaha SPX90 II and Roland JUNO-D are featured to name just a few.

"Mr Circuit"

Mr Circuit joined YouTube in 2013, but only started uploading a few videos about a year ago. There's not a lot of content here, but the videos that are up are quite interesting. The channel has a video about troubleshooting the power supply of a TR 909, repairing a Roland JP 8000, opening up a Roland SH101, and a few others. 

"Really Nice Audio"

Really Nice Audio joined YouTube in 2006 and still regularly uploads videos despite having very few subscribers. In addition to testing out a few instruments, the channel also features a couple of repair videos for things like the Juno 106 voice chip, the Roland MKS-80, and Poly61. 

"Synthpro"

The Synthpro channel is run by a man named Jareth, who joined YouTube in 2008 and has a knack for restoring vintage synths. In addition to a couple of jams, there are plenty of videos featuring repairs and restorations. These videos feature everything from the Arp Omni and Akai AX-73, to the Yamaha S08, Polymoog, Micromoog, ARP Odyssey 2800, Prophet 5 and SCI Pro One. 

Conclusion

Considering how vast YouTube is there are definitely a few channels that we have missed, so let us know what your go-to channel is for seeing synthesizer repairs and modifications in action. Whether it is in-depth technical repairs, or simply inventors messing around, such as the popular "Look Mum No Computer" (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCafxR2HWJRmMfSdyZXvZMTw/videos).