V.A.I. is a vintage gear collection and recording facility in the hills of Florence run by Swedish musician and producer Pontus Berghe.

Amassing one of the world’s biggest collections of 1970’s and 1980’s Italian synths, drum machines and effect units, V.A.I.s mission is to let the machines unlock the creativity and playfulness that can be elusive in a typical music studio environment. 

Italy has a long history of instrument production, and a wide range of original synthesizers and drum machines that were introduced and limited to the domestic market — the heart of theV.A.I. collection, which ranges from the better-known string machine classics by Crumar and Elka to the much sought-after Logan Piano Strings Synthesizer and the Farfisa Polychrome. 

The monophonic part of the collection include the characteristic Eko synths, the Farfisa Clavioline tube synthesizer as well as powerful rarities like the CRB Oberon and the Steelphon S900 — both of which are among less than 10 units remaining in the world today.

The Vintage Audio Institute collection will continue to expand with new instruments arriving in 2024.