MATRIXSYNTH: Meet Colossus - Analogue Solutions Rendition of the Classic EMS SYNTHI 100


Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Meet Colossus - Analogue Solutions Rendition of the Classic EMS SYNTHI 100


You might remember Analogue Solutions EMS SYNTHI 100 for sale from previous posts. It appears they have put it to good use and designed their own version. P.S. I spotted this earlier this morning, but thanks to Soviet Space Child for sending in the link.

via Analogue Solutions:

"Available direct only... Come see Colossus at SynthFest (UK, 5/Oct)

Numbers will be limited - we are currently taking pre-orders, ready to ship in early 2020.

This is truly something special.

Price is £25K. This exclude any tax (most likely you can claim it back through your business). Shipping: Outside of UK it would need to be crated, onto a pallet, then freighted. Shipping and crating likely to be 500-1000GBP. If you aren’t too far from Calais there maybe other options.

WHAT IS COLOSSUS?
Analogue Solutions is excited to introduce Colossus, an exciting new mega-synth with a design ethos truly from the dawn of analogue synths. It is more than a powerful analogue ‘workstation’ - it is also art, architecture, exquisite studio furniture.

Design inspiration is of course from the 1970’s EMS Synthi 100, however, no circuit from the Synthi has been cloned or copied. We prefer to make our own designs. We have chosen some of our favourite circuits from our own large back catalogue synths such as Polymath, Telemark and Vostok.

Colossus is not a Synthi 100 clone - all circuits are non-EMS, Analogue Solutions’ design.

The original Synthi was so large it wouldn’t fit through a standard doorway. We didn’t make that mistake but don’t underestimate it’s size. It will be prominent in your studio, or art gallery!

It is sized at 1700mm wide, 700mm deep and 650mm high and weighing in too big to fit on the scales.


All the voice and modulation circuits are of course 100% analogue. We purposely steered away from digital, it doesn’t have MIDI or USB (there are plenty of MIDI converter boxes out there should you need that facility). This wasn’t designed to be the solution to your modern digital studio but rather a serious analogue power house of sound. There are of course digital elements to the sequencer control - that is unavoidable - even classic analogue sequencers like the ARP sequencer using digital logic chips. In fact the Synthi 100 features a digital sequencer.

This synth is purely for those who want it just as it was in the 1970s - but new with parts still in production.

Colossus is large scale, featuring large knobs that control metal shaft potentiometers. VCOs have multi-turn verniers. The two enormous pin matrix panels dominate the horizontal panels - these are incredibly expensive Swiss made broadcast quality signal routers - 1 for CV and 1 for Audio.

There are two spring reverbs, touch keyboards, step sequencers, moving coil meters, joysticks and so much more. An immense expanse of jack sockets for additional patching within or without the system.

There are no gimmicks - this is pure synthesiser. A huge sound enclosed in a solid metal case wrapped in solid hardwood. No expense has been spared to bring this incredible machine to life.

Synthesisers like this only come around once in a decade, or possibly a generation.

The Colossus you see here is the pre-production test unit and is currently 95% finished. You can see Colossus at SyntFest (UK) October the 5th, as well as other Analogue Solutions products like Impulse Command.

Video and audio will be release on the web site as it comes in.

Colossus should be enough, but there are more analogue projects coming in addition soon from Analogue Solutions.

SPECIFICATION

VCO Panel
12 x Analogue VCO (/LFO)s.

Four waveforms, Pulse Width, Sync, Sub Osc. Ability to go down to low frequencies. Precision control using high quality multi-turn vernier dials.

Sample and Hold Generator.

Random Voltage Generator.

2x White/Pink Noise Generators.

Multiple.

Scope Panel

Analogue CRT oscilloscope.

2x LFO (in addition to the VCOs.)

4x VCA (in addition to the VCF VCAs.)

4x ASR Envelopes.

Multiple.

Note!

VCOs can be used as LFOs. So Colossus has in fact a potential total of 16 LFOs!

Each of the 8 VCFs have VCAs hard wired inline, so these plus the individual VCAs means there are in fact a total of 12 VCAs!

Filter Panel

4x Multimode filters - Low, Band and High pass 12dB filters.

Each with serial VCAs.

4x Low Pass filter - 24dB transistor ladder filters.

Each with serial VCAs.

(8 VCF/VCA combinations in total.)

2x Analogue mechanical Spring Reverbs. Each one features a triple spring tank.

2x Ring Modulators.

2 Voltage Slew Generators.

4x ADSR with repeat and hold-repeat feature.

Sequencer Panel

4x large signal level meters, backlit.

64 step / 2x 32 step Analogue CV/Gate sequencer with clock generator, glide, jump, reset, CV, gate.

Touch Panel

6 channel stereo audio mixer with level, pan and mute.

2x Joystick Controllers.

2x Touch Keyboards with digital note sequencers.

Matrices

2x Broadcast quality CV and Audio Pin Matrix panels

Jack Socket Patch Panels

4x minijack patch panels - providing I/O from all circuits.


Analogue Solutions is a UK based company specialising in true analogue synthesisers, sequencers and eurorack modules. With over 25 years experience in the industry, Analogue Solutions were there right at the start of the eurorack revolution.

Analogue Solution instruments are hand built in England, with all being designed and tested by founder Tom Carpenter, who has hands on involvement in all aspects of the company.

Analogue Solutions award winning products have been applauded for having a truly vintage sound that is full of character. The synthesisers have a full analogue audio path, and analogue LFOs and EGs. Also no memories means nothing in the synth is being made sterile by CPU control. When you turn a knob you are directly changing the voltage or current in an actual synth circuit.

Analogue Solutions founder, Tom Carpenter, has a genuine passion for analogue synths, drawing on his years of using and owning vintage analogue synths and drum machines, which he uses, along side AS products, in his own music productions.

Analogue Solutions: music electronics for electronic musicians

Note: We chose to use a CRT Oscilloscope because clearly this gives the most authentic vintage look. However these are increasingly hard to find (new that is, we wouldn’t fit a used scope). Only a limited number of Colossus will be fitted with a CRT scope. Most likely once we run out of stock we will start fitting LCD screen scope."

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