MATRIXSYNTH: Maplin


Showing posts with label Maplin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Maplin. Show all posts

Sunday, May 07, 2023

The TITAN Synth Built From A Magazine Subscription In 1973 - Wireless World


video upload by

"The WIRELESS WORLD Electronic Sound Synthesizer Built By John if you'd like to see more videos on this project/livestreams and more
support here :- https://www.patreon.com/Lookmumnocomp..."

You might recognize the TITAN from this previous post: VINTAGE ANALOGUE SYNTHESIZER....Wireless World 1973

Monday, April 10, 2023

WilliamSynthesizer Mystery DIY Synth Update



A video and pics have been added to this earlier post.

Sunday, April 09, 2023

Williams Synthesiser?


video upload by matrixsynth via Andrew

Update: video above added along with new pics below, via Andrew.

"Explored the internals and it doesn't appear to be a Maplin kit, but looks like a DIY/Handmade."

Andrew went on to mention "It looks like a Dewtron DIY system. The controls are similar to that of the Apollo." [see this post]


This one is in via Andrew.

Note the WilliamSynthsizer on the top right, the 7 x 10 patchpay on the lower right, the massive 12 x 19 patchbay on the left, and the keyboard controller. I thought it might be a Maplin. If so, some massive custom work went into it. It could also be ralated to this synth from 1973's Wireless World magazine. There was also a custom white 5600s which has a larger patchbay compared to the standard square found on most Maplins. Note the one on this Williams Synthesiser is much larger. I could not find a matching keyboard controller.

Andrew plans to open it up and take a look at the inside. He also plans to take more pics. I'll put up a new post when they come in. Until then, if you know what this is, or have any guesses, let us know!

Wednesday, December 07, 2022

Rare Titan Synthesizer by Tim Orr of Powertran, Transcendent 2000, & Maplin ETI 4600


A Funky Uses For A Tape Machine and a massive Tape - MAGICALL E2 video upload by @THISMUSEUMISNOTOBSOLETE

Formant & Digisound get a mention as well. See this post for another video of the Titan and an article.

"Plans are a foot. if you want to get on the list use contact form below. if you'd like to Support the museum here :- https://www.patreon.com/lookmumnocomp...
--------
if you'd like to visit
information / contact:-
https://www.this-museum-is-not-obsole..."

Monday, June 06, 2022

Maplin 5600s

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.


via this auction

"This is my Maplin 5600s stereo sound synthesizer. It�s a very rare vintage monophonic matrix synthesizer. This was only available in kit form from Maplin Electronics in the early 1980�s."

Saturday, March 12, 2022

New Maplin 5600s DIY Build Based on the Raspberry Pi

video uploads by Derek Walker

"Maplin 5600s Build - pictures & videos of the build in chronological order from the beginning of the project, August 2018, to the end, June 2019."

via http://www.bygonebytes.co.uk/Maplin_5600.html

"I recently came accoss the contruction manual for my Maplin 3800 synthesiser and flicking through it I wondered would it be possible to build the 5600s systhesiser today, August 2018, nearly four decades on.

With the passage of so much time there will be a few challenges to overcome namely component obsolescence. Integrated circuits, spring line, patch board, keyboard but to name a few. Please read the 'Hindsight Engineering' section at the end of the page.

On the positive side the build process should be simpler. For me the circuit boards will be easier to produce, no more ferric chloride, bubble etch tanks, spraying copper clad board with photo resist varnish and so on. Just produce the gerber files (I used EasyEDA) and send them off to JLCPCB.

I'm still considering what to do about the patch bay, try to source one or simply bring the inputs/outputs to limited number small jack sockets so they can be 'jumpered' - no room for 900 sockets!

I am also considering usng the Raspberry Pi instead of a keyboard either as a sequencer or as a 'soft' keyboard. I will re-hash my sequencer program for use with the 7" touchscreen and find a space to fit it on the panel."

You can find full build details at http://www.bygonebytes.co.uk/Maplin_5600.html.

Thursday, November 11, 2021

VINTAGE ANALOGUE SYNTHESIZER....Wireless World 1973


video upload by Outdoorsman

"This is an early analogue synth that I built from a series of articles in Wireless World magazine. I obviously spent a LOT of time making it....let's see if it still works..... (update coming soon!) Here's a link to the original articles....http://www.keith-snook.info/wireless-..." (PDF link - pics below if you want to skip)

Note the article appears to be by Tim Orr of Powertran, and a D. W. Thomas. Anyone know who that is? The design reminds me of a Maplin.



Sunday, August 08, 2021

MAPLIN SYNTHESIZER 1977 ORIGINAL VINTAGE ADVERT

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.


via this auction

"BRITISH MUSIC PRESS CLIPPING

SMALL ADVERT MEASURES 85mm X 65mm"

Monday, July 12, 2021

Maplin ETI 4600 Analogue Vintage Synthesizer

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.


via this auction

Wednesday, November 25, 2020

'Ode to Trevor Marshall'


Monte Carlo

"Thought I'd put togther a little tune to show off the sounds of this mega synth.
This is the second 5600 I've owned, the first I sold after reparing it some years ago and quickly regretted selling it. When another one came up for sale I bought it and then spent ages fixing lots of little faults, including an original design error on the LFO. Now it's working perfectly.
The synth is controlled by midi from a midi to CV converter. The CV has to be exponential but the on-board exponential converter does not produce totally clean output, so I made my own converter which runs off batteries.
All the sounds are from the synth, except the drums. I added basic FX: chorus, phaser, reverb and echo to the parts.

BTW, Trevor Marshall is the genius who created this classic synth."

See the Maplin label below for more.

Friday, June 26, 2020

ORIGINAL 1977 MAPLIN SYNTHESIZER Ad

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.


via this auction

"BRITISH MUSIC PRESS CLIPPING

SMALL ADVERT

MEASURES 90mm X 70mm"

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Maplin 5600s Synthesizer - Short Demos


Published on Nov 13, 2019 Abelardo Gil

"Here is a quick snippet of a sound that the Maplin 5600s Synthesizer can achieve."

This is currently for sale here.

Pics and details previously captured here.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Maplin 5600s Monophonic Vintage Synthesizer

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"Up for auction is a Maplin 5600s Monophonic Vintage Synthesizer Synth Rare. This unit was completely put back together by Kurt Sampson in Prescott, Az and some of the parts are original but most of the parts are new.

I am going to break down the repairs as best as I can. The keyboard (digitally controlled) is new, the spring reverb is new, & the power supply was specifically constructed for this machine. All four oscillators work, the two filters work, all five mixers work, the keyboard control works, both amplifiers work, the sample and hold work, left and right outputs work great, the spring reverb / phaser work, & the 30 x 30 patch matrix works great and it comes with 14 pegs to make different combinations of patches. There are no dirty potentiometers. More recently the pitch wheel was installed, gate clock in, cv in, ext cv1, ext cv was installed as well so you can sync it up with a drum machine.

There are knobs on this unit that don't do anything. On the bottom left of the keyboard there is a knob that says computer and it doesn't do anything because you can't hook it up to a computer, on the bottom right of the keyboard ext. input 1 & 2 don't do anything, in the middle of the keyboard the foot pedal, foot switch, and echo knob don't do anything either.

I poured in more than 6k to get this guy going. This synthesizer sounds incredible and there is nothing else like it. Please take a good look at the pictures and ask any questions that you would like. I will not ship this keyboard. This is a pick up only situation and I live in Phoenix, Az."

Update: videos posted here.

Saturday, September 29, 2018

Vintage Maplin 5600s Analog Synthesizer

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"Over the last three years, this unit was put back together and rebuilt by several technicians. The majority of the unit was put back together by Kurt Sampson in Prescott, Az and some of the parts are original and some of the parts are new.

I am going to break down the repairs as best as I can. They keyboard (digitally controlled) is new, the spring reverb is new, & the power supply was specifically constructed for this machine. All four oscillators work, the two filters work, all five mixers work, the keyboard control works, both amplifiers work, the sample and hold work, left and right outputs work great, the spring reverb / phaser work, & the 30 x 30 patch matrix works great and it comes with 14 pegs to make different combinations of patches. There are no dirty potentiometers. Also, I have the old pitch wheel if you would like to have that as well. I poured in more than 5k to get this guy going. This synthesizer sounds incredible and there is nothing else like it.

There are knobs on this unit that don't do anything. On the bottom left of the keyboard there is a knob that says computer and it doesn't do anything because you can't hook it up to a computer, on the bottom right of the keyboard ext. input 1 & 2 don't do anything, in the middle of the keyboard the foot pedal, foot switch, and echo knob don't do anything either."

Wednesday, November 09, 2016

Unique Custom Vintage Analog Drum Synth

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.


via this auction

via the seller: "this is a one-off special, constructed in North London around 1983. I acquired it from the dude that built it. By coincidence, he lived at the end of my street at the time, 20 years earlier! I believe it's made from E&MM modules (Maplin), e.g. Syntom, Synbal, Synchime etc? not sure which exactly. it has 2 'toms' (pitch/sweep/decay/volume) and 2 'noise' (pitch, resonance, decay, volume), so 4 modules total. I know these modules are super rare now and sought after if you are inclined to raid it for parts (>sniff<) to 'evolve' it. it works pretty well, tho it can be temperamental, one channel is quiet and it may crackle a bit when you turn the pots, or not.. getting it warmed up and running is part of the fun. you can play on it but it needs some tlc or a service let's say. you buy it 'as is' and it will be sent fully insured at cost price (unknown at present, your choice) for full bid value, for your own reassurance. no returns accepted under any circumstances. pro production is not the point of this machine. i have been time travelling with it. it's rare and special and tons of fun live, with a polymoog for example. it doesn’t sync to anything; that's just a 5 pin din audio out (untested) and 1/4" jack out (working), you can see on the side. it runs from 240v mains and i cannot vouch for the safety of that. I've been using it 12 years without problem but I do not accept responsibility in any way, to any extent from any consequences of its use. the sequencer has one channel per sound, 16 steps switched on or off by switches... like a proto simmons sds 6. It has 2 tempo controls, which you can switch between. you can make bars 8, 12 or 16 steps long instantly. you can switch a channel permanently on, or off, or just to respond to steps that are switched on, on the fly. it has a stop/go button. that's it. there are tons of new things out now that do loads more than this but in some indescribably ways this remains a perfect piece of history, encapsulating the first synth DIY era. It's very odd, from the people that brought you 5600s & spectrum... and worth it just for the classic E&MM modules, which I'm basing the start price on."

Tuesday, May 03, 2016

Maplin 5600s Stereo Analog Synthesizer SN LV/16

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.


via this auction

See this post for a great repair overview and demo of the Maplin 5600s.

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Phonic Taxiderminist 47 2b - Maplin Voice Vandal clone - ACID test.


Published on Apr 19, 2016 circuitbenders.co.uk

"The Phonic Taxidermist 47.2b is a DIY clone of the Maplin Voice Vandal. This was a kit available from Maplin in the early 90's, consisting of a high frequency audio chopper and grungy 10 bit delay.
PCB's are available from http://www.circuitbenders.co.uk/forsa..."

Saturday, March 26, 2016

Vintage Maplin 5600s analog synthesizer

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.


via this auction

"This was bought from a house clearance. The gentlemen had past away and I no nothing about it so will have to be sold as spares or repair as we never found the power pack. Looks to be in good condition and looks like it has been well looked after.
Aby questions please email me and I will get back to you as soon as I can."

Monday, January 25, 2016

Maplins Voice Vandal clone - prototype PCB 2


Published on Jan 25, 2016 circuitbenders.co.uk

"The second prototype PCB for a Maplins Voice Vandal clone.
DIY PCB's should be available soon from circuitbenders.co.uk"

"It was a kit from Maplin, probably in the early 90's if i recall correctly. Its got a grungy digital delay and a 4 stage high speed signal gating circuit, with a knob to set the gating speed. Gate the signal fast enough and you get cross modulation style effects."

Saturday, January 16, 2016

International 3600 4600 Synthesizers - a MODERN MAGAZINES publication

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.


via this auction

"Rare Australian publication 66 pages containing block diagrams, schematics, parts lists, theory of operation, PCB layouts, construction notes - everything you need to know in order to build a modular analog synth. Two models covered, International 3600 and 4600."

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