Elka EK-44
Fun fact this unit was the one used by UVI for their soundbank 'uvi synthox' x)
1986 italian FM synthesizer, 4 operators, 8 algorithms, 18 voices, 8-parts multitimbral.
It also has 2 individual mono 3009 BBD lines (wish they had just made one, but stereo)
The EK44 - call it EM44 or ER44 as well - is based on the Yamaha YM2203, which sounds cleaner than classic DX chips... too nice for my taste, I sold it a year ago!
It's more straightforward than most FM synthesizers: sounds are rather thought as stacks of simple patches rather than single complicated evoluting sounds. Also the approach is orthogonal to DX series if I can say! You program a single parameter, for all the operators one by one on the same page. DX would give you multiple parameters for a single operator, and yet you would have to change parameter and operator by a single button. The EK44 show you the 8 (2x4) operators values, at the same time by little graphs on the screen, it's really cool. What's less cool is that they don't display algorithms anywhere. How am I supposed to guess them?? (you might have to look at the german pdf online)
Worth noticing the keyboard feeling is a step ahead from other synthesizers of that era, not as good as the solid straight Kawai K3 or AX80, but really flexible, bouncy, pleasant and kinda unique.
Additional comment: it's defo not a 1500€ synth as you might see on reverb lmao
0:00 FM Realm
0:13 3009 Strings
0:33 Golden Hour
0:49 Zappa's Apostrophe
0:58 Abas 1
1:04 Abas 2
1:08 Stackbas
1:14 Polyphonic Memory
1:34 Musical Greenhouse
1:45 Stratus
1:56 Pasiphaë
2:16 The Contract
2:28 Broken Lullaby
2:40 Simmons' Spring