Publisher: Samples From Mars
Website: samplesfrommars.com/products/sk1-from-mars
Format: KONTAKT, EXS, NNXT, STRUCTURE, REX2, AIFF, WAV
Quality: 24 bit 44.1 kHz stereo
Description: The SK-1 is an unassuming 8-bit synthesizer and keyboard sampler from the mid-80s. His sound is unadorned and Lo Fi in almost every way. But what sets this almost toy-like instrument apart from all the other keyboards on sale? And yet it is sound, of course! Combined with its ease of use, it’s no wonder that almost all users love this synth (seriously, try to find negative reviews about this guy). SK’s sound is grainy, unique and charmingly archaic.
The beauty of simplicity and cheapness: There are plenty of cheap and cheerful synths, and many of them have nostalgic roots that justify their desirability. But the SK-1 has maintained its popularity over the years, rising above thousands of other entry-level keyboards because its sampler engine is special and easy to use. Record your voice, a dog barking, or a fork clanging against glass, and instantly spread the sound across your keyboard. This affordable digital converter sounds and sounds like nothing else.
Recording Process: Our main challenge when sampling the CK was to push its narrow sonic boundaries and needed to clean up the tone a bit (not too much). While recording custom vocal and percussion samples through the internal mic and SM57, we also captured all of the synth’s original presets and drum loops, applying some additional processing with various gear (Overstayer MAS, Reddi, API 550B and even spatial echo). We multi-sampled vibrato, sustain and smoothing. SK definitely has that elusive lo-fi flavor that creates the perfect wobbly pianos, dark vocal sounds, grainy brass pipes and sliding synth patches. And with a touch of onboard vibrato (one of its two sweet FX!), you can get a spooky, warble-filled piano worthy of accompanying the “Prince of Darkness” at Halloween
Conclusion: We sample a lot of high quality material, so why don’t we give this synth a chance? Because its low-frequency converter can give you that special grainy sound that can’t be achieved with more high-end synthesizers. Try to get those smoothed pads or 8-bit piano from Voyetra – it’s impossible. In a world crowded with expensive synths for every taste, the SK1’s sounds remain musical, unique and unpretentious. It’s an unassuming little keyboard full of surprises and inspiration that can’t be found anywhere else.
Content :
•18 Multi-Sampled SK-1 Instruments For Ableton, Kontakt, Logic, Reason, Structure & 24bit WAV
•22 Accompaniment-Style Drum Patterns and Fills recorded to tape available as 24bit WAV, Apple Loops & REX2
•Fun vocal synths, grainy trumpets, lo fi pads, 8 bit organs, cheap pianos and more
•Extensive multi-sampling, modulation and FX routing on all instruments
•Hand trimmed and looped to perfection
•Clean and processed recordings with a variety of Class A gear
