More info on the Aries System Modular

via kkissinger on this electro-music.com thread (see the thread for updates):

"After 33 years, my Aries still works to specification.

They used Allen-Bradley pots and they have not become scratchy after all these years. I have had to replace a bypass switch on the Phaser and have, in the past, had to replace the big capacitors on the power supply.

The oscillators are extremely stable.

I have made a few mods to the synth. I dioded the gate and trigger inputs to the envelope generators to prevent "backfeeding" of trigger and gate signals. I've added a Paia MIDI-to-CV converter to it.

The only module that I don't (and have never liked) is the output module because it is too noisy. However, not a big deal because I always just fed the output from the end of my signal chain (generally a VCA) directly to my recorder and/or amplifier-speakers. I want to rebuild the output and power module to bring the level up to +4dbv balanced output for compatability with the rest of my studio.

The keyboards have also held up very well. The contacts are self-wiping gold-plated contacts that never need cleaning. If a contact is intermittent then all one has to do is repeat the note a few times (this happens on some of the less-used high notes).

The Pitch-to-Voltage converter is really an awesome module that works very well.

How does it sound? Well, if you like Moog or Arp Synthesizers, then you probably would like the Aries.

If you purchase one, make sure that it comes with all the schematics. Since it is a kit synthesizer, the quality may vary depending on the skill of the builder.

Also, I power up my Aries on a regular basis -- this is important. An instrument that has sat in an attic for thirty years may require a major restoration effort.

The Aries is a precision instrument -- for example, if you want to do classical transcriptions, then the keyboard action and tuning accuracy permits this kind of use. The five-octave keyboard was quite a luxury in the mid 1970's. They utilize 1% metal film resisters across the keyboard voltage divider. The keyboards are two-voice capable. The voice output produces a voltage that corresponds to the lowest note that is pressed. The aux-voice output produces a voltage that is the difference between the highest and lowest note. Thus, to track the highest note one must sum the Voice and Aux Voice voltages.

The control voltages are standard 1v/Octave. The gates, triggers, VCO, and LFO voltage are all 10v peak-to-peak. Thus, the Aries modules are compatable with modern equipment.

I just posted some looped/improvised tracks at http://kevinkissinger.com/ariesinfo.shtml. You will also see a number of multi-track works and other Aries synth tracks from my tape "archives" there.

On my theremin page, I used the Aries for parts of the Franck "Prelude, Fugue, and Variation".

I'm not entirely sure -- from what I've seen my collection of Aries tracks may be one of the largest that is available all in one place.

We are holding a regional electro-music festival here (near Kansas City) in July. I plan to have the Aries there in the exhibition space and may use it for a set. Would be great to have you attend and you will get to experience the Aries and a lot of other homebuilt/DIY equipment there. Smile

Here is a link to the Call for Participation:

http://electro-music.com/forum/topic-32546.html"