Godwin 849 String Concert

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via this auction

Details:

"There doesn't seem to be much information about Godwin keyboards available online, except that they're good, and they're not very common. Here are a couple of the mentions I've found on the String Concert series:

"Logans and other string machines that use this system (such as the Hohner String Performer and the Godwin String Concert) are, in my opinion, vastly superior to more famous paraphonic designs such as the Solina, the Rolands, and the Omnis."

Sound on Sound
"A very beautiful and appealing early string synthesiser, warm, sweet and dirty. The chorus and tremolo swirl and make every sound beautifully analogue. Beats the Solina and that says something."

Sonicstate
A Godwin 249 String Concert recently sold on Ebay for £530 (see past listings for Godwin Synth.) This is its big brother, the Godwin 849 String Concert (Symphony). But unfortunately, it's not working. The string sounds are all so quiet as to be practically inaudible, though if you turn the volume on the amplifier fully up you can hear that the controls and sliders do have an effect. The volume slider doesn't do anything though. In the past I seem to remember wiring up an amp to some part of the circuit-board and getting full volume, and concluding that some component might have gone in one of the effects sections, but I don't really know anything about electronics or vintage keyboards.

There's also a brass section which currently doesn't seem to be working at all, though it has worked intermittently in the past, churning out the odd punchy analogue brass sounds.

One of the selection buttons is broken, and I've dismantled another to see how it worked, but that shouldn't be too hard to put back. All the other keys and buttons seem to work, insofar as they light up, make faint noises, etc. Cosmetically, it's not too bad really, with no broken notes, and the sheet-holder still tucked into a clip inside the case. (These things come built in to the bottom of the carrying case. They're fairly chunky and heavy, and look quite cool in a retro way.)

Controls are: String Volume, Brass volume, Cello, Viola, Violin, Organ, Brass 1/2/3/4/Wah/Woh, Cello level, Violin level, Viola level, Bass, Treble, Chorus, Tremolo, Envelope Attack/Sustain/Volume, Vibrato Depth/Speed/Delay, buttons for Classic/Concert/Brass/Vibrato/PolyTrig/Octave, Expression pedal input, High/Low output.

The internal circuit boards are all present and it hasn't been raided for spares. In the right hands, this could be restored into a collector's item. But since it's not presently working, it's £15 with no guarantees and no reserve."

via Rob.

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R.A.Moog modular synthsizer keyboard controller

Click here for more pics.

"R.A.Moog modular synthsizer 5-octave keyboard controller, model 950, s/n 1019, July 19 1968. this is the keyboard controller designed to connect to the larger Moog modular synthesizer systems, ie: system 15/35/55, and is one of its key components."

via this Craigslist posting. Sent my way via brian comnes.

Yes Yes Yes/Orgon Modular Synthesizer/VCS-3/TR-606

YouTube via LxukDorsett.

"Ramon working with the Orgon Modular Synthesizer, EMS VCS3 and a Roland TR-606.

VCS3 Specs:

The VCS3 (nicknamed the Putney) is an analog monosynth housed in a distinctive angled wooden case, a truly classic synth. EMS (Electronic Music Studios) was created in England back in 1969. The VCS3 was one of their first synths and it is still a great, unique, funky little unit! Pictured above is the Mark I model. Pictured is another unit with the small wood-cased DK2 voltage-control keyboard required to play the VCS3.

It has three oscillators, and a unique matrix-based patch system. Instead of patch wires, the VCS3 uses a patchbay grid in which the synth components are laid out, and signal routing is accomplished by placing small pins into the appropriate slots. The VCS3 was, in actuality, a modular type synthesizer reduced down to an extremely portable size.
t generates familiar sci-fi sounds (Dr. Who) and other truly analog sounds. Unfortunately, the oscillators tend to drift out of tune. There's a Noise Generator, 2 Input Amplifiers, 1 Ring Modulator, 1 Voltage Controlled Low Pass Filter (VCF), 1 Trapezoid Envelope Generator, Joy-Stick Controller, Voltage Controlled Spring Reverb unit and 2 Stereo Output Amplifiers.

Additonally, the VCS3 was also sold in a plastic breif-case and called the Synthi A. The major Synthi 100 system was based on three VCS3's strung together. Some ultra-rare commercially unavailable synths EMS made include the VCS4 in 1969 which was basically 2 VCS3's plus a keyboard. And the Synthi Keyboard 1 of 1970 was just a VCS3 with a mini 29-note keyboard. Many of these EMS synth's have been used by Brian Eno, Tangerine Dream, Pink Floyd, Stereolab, Yes, Aphex Twin, Autechre, Jean-Michel Jarre, Astral Projection, Klaus Schulze, Depeche Mode, Vince Clarke, Add N to (X), The Who, Todd Rundgren, Recoil, Freddy Fresh, and many more.


Roland TR-606 Specs:
A cool little box! So primitive and cute! The 606 was the percussion side-kick to the TB-303. It even looks like the 303. It stores up to 32 patterns and 8 songs. The 606 allows switching between Pattern Play and Write mode while running - making the 606 the only drumcomputer in the X0X series that can be edited while performing and switching patterns. It is also possible to link up to 4 consecutive patterns in Pattern Play mode. There is only a mono audio output, however there are mods from Kenton Electronics and Analog Solutions that will add individual outputs for each drum tone.

The 606 has seven analog drum sounds which are simple, yet great! Kick, Snare, 2 toms, open hat, closed hat, cymbal, accent. The hi-hats are a very tinny electronic sound and its toms are great for soft tribal patterns. These seven sounds alone are still quite popular today, and the 606 has been used by Uberzone, Cirrus, Sneaker Pimps, Download, Aphex Twin, Astral Projection, Nine Inch Nails, Mr. Oizo, Jimi Tenor, Kid 606, OMD, Moby, Freddy Fresh, Autechre, Luke Vibert, and Union Jack.

For control, the 606 can receive or transmit DINSync for synchronization with other TR and TB family instruments. There are also two trig-outs on the unit, which make it very valuable as a pattern-programmable dual-channel trigger sequencer. It's often used for this by various people (Jimi Tenor) to 'drive' other sequencers and the like.

Modifications
Editable Drum Tones! - Analog Solutions external modification adds tuning for all drum tones, snap and decay for the snare drum, decay for the cymbals and a sweep effect for the toms.

Individual Outs! - Analog Solutions adds 5 individual outputs for cymbals, kick, snare, toms and hi-hats.

Synhouse MIDIJACK DINSYNC - Adds a MIDI jack so the 606 can be sync'd to external MIDI triggers and tempo sources."
via sequencer.de

Joop Stokkermans - The Magic of the ARP-Synthesizer (1970, NL, electronic)

Title link takes you to the post on Wiel's Time Capsule including stream and download links.

via Josh of Phoenecia and Schematic Music Company.

BTW, I added this to the list of Synth CDs on the right.

EML 100 Serial Number 199 of 200?

Via slitscan in the comments of this post.

""The 100 may have came out as late as 1971."

I lucked into a 100 last weekend, and while it needs some serious work, I did get it to trigger.. (just not in anything resembling pitch)
According to legend, they only made 200 of the 100.. I opened this one up, and s/n 199 is etched into the panel. (although, it looks like someone did it with a knife)
The date on the circuit board (3) is 11-71

EML100.JPG"

JH DX Programmer

Dedicated knob box for the Yamaha DX7. Title link takes you to shots including schematics sent my way via daddio of Tapewarm Studio. I also mirrored them here.

Thank you daddio!

BTW, don't miss this post on Tapewarm.

Heath Finnie Yamaha CS80 Track

Title link takes you to the mp3.

Heath Finnie

Robert Rich MOTM Track - Atlas Dei

Via Paul Schreiber on AH:

www.synthtech.com

click the NEWS link at the top, the demo is the first item on the page.

Excerpt from Robert Rich's upcoming film score. Contains:

a) MOTM-480 Yamaha CS-80 LPF on the "bass drops"
b) MOTM-650 MIDI-CV using the Wendy Carlos Harmonic Series tuning table preset,
driving 3 MOTM-300 VCOs/3 MOTM-420 VCFs with delay
c) the high "wind chime" tinkles are the MOTM-510 WaveWarper driven by MOTM-300
VCO triangles then fed through the MOTM-410 triple res filter
d) Robert plays PVC flute from Home Depot :)

Sequenced via Logic on Mac G5, tc electronics m3000 reverb.

Enjoy!

Paul S.

Update via the comments:
Here's the first dvd trailer:

Miniatures by danmcp

Remember these? Click here for more by danmcp on flickr for sale.

Miniatures 10 & 11 on top and Hexatron below.