PAiA QuASH and PAiA 8700 Computer/Controller

via this auction

"Quad Addressable Sample and Hold. If you have to ask what this is, this is not the module for you. It only will work with a PAiA 8700 computer/controller w/ the A/D converter to deliver delicious analog “polytonic” sounds! The QuASH provides four computer addressable S/H circuits in a single module. It features adjustable glide rate for each channel (selected by computer control), individual trigger “gates” and an individual modulation input for each channel. On-board address decoding allows up to four QuASH modules to be bussed together in a single system for 16 voice “polytonic” synthesis! This module is intended for the true PAiA fanatic that wants a complete and original computer controlled system from the glory days of the analog world: the 1970’s"


"This is the original “polytonic” modular synthesizer computer/keyboard controller! Analog synths met the new digital age way back in the ‘70’s! The 8700 processor is a 6505 CPU system using 1K byes (yes, bytes!) RAM, 1K byes ROM locations (256 byte monitor included), two 8 bit input ports, two 8 bit output ports, one latched the other buffered. The 6503 has the same structure as the 6502 used in the Apple II, PET and other computers of the era. A 24 key touch operated keypad is used by the monitor to allow entry and execution of user programs as well as controlling features not normally found on a single board computer including: a relative address calculator that completely eliminates normally tedious hexadecimal calculation and back-space key that eases entry and editing of programs. Pointer High and Pointer Low keys allow the 8700’s twin seven segment displays to serve the multiple functions of indicating both address locations and data. The unit comes with the CS-87 Cassette Interface Option, the digitally encoded 8782 keyboard and complete set of manuals. When used with one or more 8781 QuASH modules, you can achieve 4 notes or more of “polytonic” synthesis complete with software based envelope generators (see my other auctions). So why would you even want this in today’s MIDIfied, Pentium world? To complete a cool 70’s based PAiA synthesizer, of course. Talk about authenticity! The unit was refurbished and brought up to factory specs by the renowned Scott Lee of PAiA Electronics in 2002."