Elaphon - Œil Sympathique

The Œil Sympatique by Elaphon is an electro-acoustic resonator. Something truly special that invites you to investigate the edges of sound design.

There is a common misconception that synthesizers are not "real" instruments. And there may be a deeper reason for this. Acoustic instruments are made up of a sound-generating device and a corpus (or body). They are amplified by mechanical means. Electronic instruments have a sound generator that is transmitted through a loudspeaker. The latter is tuned for linearity and unaltered sound. The corpus of an acoustic instrument on the other hand, is a complex resonating chamber that amplifies the excitation of a reed or string in a purely mechanical manner. Its geometry and the used material color the sound in a very specific way. In the electronic realm, filters, FX, EQs, etc. are used to simulate or play with a bodily impression, which is precisely the appeal of sound synthesis.

It is not about one being better or more authentic than the other. It is about possibilities. The Œil Sympathique reconnects with innovations of early electronic music that were forgotten with the advent of amplifiers / transistors and later: Effects. These are now waiting to be rediscovered.

In short, the Œil Sympathique is an electro-acoustic resonator. It consists of an acoustic body with resonance strings and a loudspeaker. In addition, it has an integrated contact microphone for sound pickup or feedback loops. But it is also a sound body crafted according to the principles of instrument making. The Elaphon is made from carefully selected wood and is meticulously handcrafted in many (many!) steps. The Œil Sympathique is suitable for any kind of input. The complex interaction of its individual elements enables nuances to be deliberately emphasized.

The soundboard is activated by an exciter. The material (and geometry) of the soundboard determines its sound-altering behavior. The overtone spectrum changes - as with any body, some frequencies are absorbed while others emerge. The Œil Sympathique is coupled with 24 freely tunable strings, which, as the name suggests, are excited by sympathetic resonance. The interaction between the processed signal and the chosen tuning system determines the decay. With careful microphone placement, the sound can be captured and further processed. The built-in contact mic picks up the vibrating soundboard and can be fed back into the input via an external mixer, if desired.

 Each object is unique. This is also reflected in the price, which is more in the league of large polysynths or acoustic instruments. What you get with the Œil Sympathique is a handmade, unique acoustic sound body / processor.

Specifications:

• Body: Maple, Walnut, Mahogany
• Soundboard: Spruce
• Strings: Steel strings (piano wire)
• Speaker: Visaton EX 80 S (Electrodynamic Exciter)
• Power Handling: 50 W (Maximum long-term power according to DIN EN 60268-5)
• Impedance: 8Ω
• Piezo Pickup: Schaller Oyster S/S brass
• Input: Combo jack speakON / 6.3 mm mono jack
• Output: 6.3 mm mono jack
• Tuning Key with wooden handle size 2 for flat head tuning pegs 4.0 mm
• Mount (threaded socket) for 3/8" (microphone stands)

We're aware that compatible 50W/8 Ohm mono amplifiers are rare. We ourselves use a stereo amplifier: XS200 from LD Systems. In principle, any amplifier with the specified power can be used (and connected via an adapter cable). We explicitly recommend experimenting with different amplifiers as well as microphone setups. With an equalizer before the amplifier, frequencies can be selectively (over-)emphasized or attenuated.