The Synthex was conceived and developed by independent Italian designer Mario Maggi, who then gained the financial backing of the Elka company of Italy, who produced the synthesizer from 1981 to 1985.

Elka, a company more noted for its organs, had previously introduced their Rhapsody 490, 610 string machine, the monophonic Solist 505 and the big combo organ/synth X-705.

Instead of traditional pitchbend/modulation wheels, the Synthex employs a joystick which allows for greater variable real-time control over the two LFOs, oscillator and filter modulation.

Other features include the onboard digital Ring-Modulator, Chorus effect and Dual or Layer modes available.

[5] Martin Gore keyboardist of Depeche Mode used the Synthex a lot in his latest solo album "MG".

[7] When interviewed on Keyboard Magazine he said: "KM: On the song “Mediterranea,” there’s a sort of bubbling, arpeggiated track in the background.

[10] Italian film music composer Ivan Iusco used the Synthex on his albums Era Vulgaris and Synthagma.