Siel Synthesizers?

[flat earth]

DK-600

Another one of those synths that doesn't get much of a mention these days.

Seems to be a fairly decent, cheap, dual DCO synth capable of a plefora of pleasing sounds.....with midi!

Does anyone know the main differences between the Siel DK-600 and the Opera 6? As far as I can tell, the Opera uses VCOs, yes? any other differences? Beyond the colour and graphics they look very similar.

Also, any opinions of sonic comparison to Polysix, Junos, AX's ?

[ohmicide]

vintage synth explorer says

The DK-600 is Siel's unique Italian take on the mid-eighties programmable polysynth with MIDI implementation (badged as the Opera-6 in the UK).

[Mr. Varaldo]

Hi flat earth,

I played an early version Opera 6 (I believe it was a version with VCOs) every week at rehearsal in a Rome studio in the late '80s/early '90s, and I remember I liked it quite a bit: beautiful synth strings and powerful synth brass were its main features, but I also recall a distinctive electric piano sound. However, I also remember the velocity-sensitivity was hard to play, going from pianissimo to fortissimo without much control in between.

The DK-600 is an updated version with better MIDI, and DCOs.

As far as differences in sound, this is what I remember:

Opera 6 - PolySix: very different. The Opera 6 was more "plastic-sounding" if I can describe it like that, where the PolySix is more "liquid"

Opera 6 - Juno line: different from the 60; more similar to the 106

Opera 6 - AX line: different from the 80. I'm not familiar with the 60 or 73 enough to make a comment

[flat earth]

Originally Posted by Mr. Varaldo

Hi flat earth,

I played an early version Opera 6 (I believe it was a version with VCOs) every week at rehearsal in a Rome studio in the late '80s/early '90s, and I remember I liked it quite a bit: beautiful synth strings and powerful synth brass were its main features, but I also recall a distinctive electric piano sound. However, I also remember the velocity-sensitivity was hard to play, going from pianissimo to fortissimo without much control in between.

The DK-600 is an updated version with better MIDI, and DCOs.

As far as differences in sound, this is what I remember:

Opera 6 - PolySix: very different. The Opera 6 was more "plastic-sounding" if I can describe it like that, where the PolySix is more "liquid"

Opera 6 - Juno line: different from the 60; more similar to the 106

Opera 6 - AX line: different from the 80. I'm not familiar with the 60 or 73 enough to make a comment

Hey! thanks for the info Paolo. Much appreciated!

So am I right in thinking the Opera 6 is a 2 VCO Poly?

If so, think I would be very much interested in trying one of these out for myself!

[Mr. Varaldo]

Originally Posted by flat earth

Hey! thanks for the info Paolo. Much appreciated!

So am I right in thinking the Opera 6 is a 2 VCO Poly?

If so, think I would be very much interested in trying one of these out for myself!

Anytime, Flat

Reading from our "bible" - Peter Forrest's A-Z, there were three versions of the Opera 6: the first two versions were 2-VCO, the third version was 2-DCO. So you will have to look for the two early versions if you want the VCOs

How to recognize it? From Peter's bible:

"Version 1 had an Oberheim-style pin-stripe control panel, with just one modulation wheel. Program selection was by a matrix of tiny push buttons. [...]"

"Version 2 had dark blue casing, with solid blocks of light blue for the sections of the control panel. It also had a very different arrangement of all of the controls, now with two wheels. Even the little program buttons are re-positioned. [...]"

"Version 3 had yet another colour scheme, a cross between versions 1 and 2, with re-arranged wheels, this time next to each other, not separated by switches. [...]"

I think the one I played was a Ver.2 then.

So to recap for your search:

Ver.1 = Oberheim-style stripes, only one wheel, 2-VCOs
Ver.2 = Dark blue case, lighter blue control panel, two wheels separated by buttons, 2-VCOs
Ver.3 = Mixed color, two wheels not separated by buttons, 2-DCOs

Unfortunately, it looks like Ver.3 is the easiest to find, these days.

Good luck hunting!

[rockmanrock]

I've read Siels in general are not very reliable so check it out carefully. I tried an Opera 6 once in a music shop and it sounded great (not sure which version), I was tempted but couldn't justify it. I've got an EX80 expander module which is rather like a Korg Poly 800 (paraphonic) but has the benefit of being editable with CCs. One aspect of Siels I really like is that they used SSM filters which sound fantastic.

[flat earth]

Originally Posted by Mr. Varaldo

How to recognize it? From Peter's bible:

"Version 1 had an Oberheim-style pin-stripe control panel, with just one modulation wheel. Program selection was by a matrix of tiny push buttons. [...]"

"Version 2 had dark blue casing, with solid blocks of light blue for the sections of the control panel. It also had a very different arrangement of all of the controls, now with two wheels. Even the little program buttons are re-positioned. [...]"

"Version 3 had yet another colour scheme, a cross between versions 1 and 2, with re-arranged wheels, this time next to each other, not separated by switches. [...]"

Superb info! thanks..

Upon reearch, it appears another varient exists:



from Siel Synthesizers Website

So basically, the Opera 6, DK-600 and KIWI are all an evolution of the same basic design, with more features, different design and reliability.

(also rebadged as Velocity 6, and sold by Sci!!)