The Analog Lab NYC - Octave Plateau Voyetra 8 

I had the pleasure of working for one of the last great America synth manufacturers Octave-Plateau when it was based out of the old Bell Telephone building in Yonkers. As a young tech not far out of school I was nearly given the sack by the third day but after a heart to heart with Jeff out in the back street, he intervened and I made good on the second chance given to me. I worked on VPK-5s ,testing and troubleshooting. We had a wonderful group of fellows working at that facility,.I am greatful to Carmine Bonano ,Fred and Jeff for taking a chance on me. It was an honor serving the corporation. Thanks to that second chance I went on to a successful career in ELectronics. The Voyetra 8 is a great instrument and if you are lucky enough to own one kudos. Youve got a piece of American history. Much love and respect, Jeff. --John "J.R." Rivera

I too worked at Voyetra both at Broadway and 21st and Yonkers. I tested, calibrated, made patches, and demoed the unit. It was a great synthesizer. Also a great bunch of people there. Hi to all you guys there. My favorite thing to do was connect two Voyetra's together. What a sound. They sold me one at cost. I remember what batch it was. I would lovingly calibrate it. Every couple of days ago, Bruce would come up with something good. Burn the new OS into the EPROMS.. (yes, remember those). Jeff, it's great to see you, my best to any former worker there.

I remember visiting with the guys at Octave Plateau while doing business down the hall with Joan Robb at Skyfield Music. Frank and I became friends and I would go to gigs in NYC where Frank ran sound! He was Rick Wakemans keyboard Tec in the 70's. I wonder what he's up to these days. Hi Jeff. I don't know if you remember me. I wrote some songs that Skyfield signed. You guys were listening to my stuff and digging the keyboards I was using on my demos. B3, Mini, Elka Strings, Clav and Rhodes. I was doing 4 track teac demos back then. I enjoyed seeing you guys you were always cool! Thanks for the video.

It gets so melancholic towards the end! Always enjoy listening to Jeff :)

Amazing synths and talent we had back then unlike today's virtual junk

very intriguing synth, very different and powerful!

Hi- I used to calibrate and write patches for that thing! Hi Jeff long time no see! i put my initials in some of the units with nail polish. Have a look. I really enjoyed that tape you gave me back then Jeff. Thanks BTW... I have on my desk and original Voyetra Eight Manual. Wish I had one of the instruments! I also have some pictures of us at the NAMM Show with you and the boys assembling the weighted keyboard on the hotel bed.

Great synth. Great tech.

Beautiful video, fascinating synth. Thanks Jeff!

Only just noticed...the voyetra featured in the video is my one :)..the bottom one in the stack.

Hi Jeff - It's been a long time. Thanks for the shout-out!

Wow. THANK YOU!

I saw a demo of this pre-MIDI synth at a Namm show I think, and was blown away because it was a complete mystery how it all worked. Just this flashy box with flashing lights playing this sequence as if they hired Jan Hammer to do it. It still sounds great!

heartbreaking. I needed a tissue by the end.

In architecture and design this synth was truly brilliant. Pioneering. In the early days of MIDI this synth was unusually well thought out and had a true engineering vision. In my mind it took the lead but the problem was no other synth makers followed it. Maybe they couldn't. It was a synth players machine and too difficult for average keyboard players. Like the OB Matrix 12 you had to know what the hell you're doing. It's target audience was too small.

I lov Gillian

What's the tune at the end? Great stuff!

4:21

Often it seems that many American synths are made for the US only ...

Man, I don't mean to be rude because the Voyetra 8 is onee of my Favorite Synths but, this guy's demeanor, 'verbal style' if you will, well...YYAAAWWWNNNNNnnnnnnn!!