MATRIXSYNTH: EMS Synthi AKS & Extras



Thursday, August 22, 2024

EMS Synthi AKS & Extras

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"Rare transition example that has been used but very well looked after - supplied serviced and ready for use. Recent extensive servicing and modifications by Europe's premier EMS tech to create what we consider to be the ultimate Synthi AKS. All features are fully working and expertly calibrated. Includes many extras and upgrades (see description for full details). This is the AKS to buy if you want the maximum possible sonic options...

EMS Synthi AKS for sale in perfect working order - highly modified to be the ultimate AKS with an even greater range of sonic possiblities over a standard Synthi.

It comes complete with the following accessories:

1. Portabellabz SQ-1 Synthi Sequencer - built from Korg SQ-1 and designed to fit into the top Jones connector and work with the Synthi.
2. Portabellabz Sister Card: a great addition intended for the experimental user - able to create crazy droid sounds as well as subtle modulations. Features 2 extra LFOs & CV modulation buses, Sample & Hold and attenuvertor pins.
3. Fresh copies of these three essential EMS handbooks:
The Synthi Educational Handbook
The Synthi Book Of Sounds by David Stevens
The VCS3 Mk1 User's Manual
4. Pair of minijack to Matrix in/out cables (these are great with Soundgas LFOmo or other external devices).
5. Power cable and Jones connecting cable for KS section.
6. Bag of parts removed during servicing.

This is a rare transition example that has had an interesting life - recent extensive service and mods by Europe's premier EMS tech. All features are fully working and expertly calibrated.

EMS Synthi AKS # 4355.KS - report by Constantin at Portabellabz:

The serial # is on the KS only, the sticker showing it on the Synthi is missing.

The KS is a standard early revision with MF50052T shift registers and the dynamics feature.

The Synthi A is a rare early transitional unit : the board A is intended for PA234 / GEL234F1-based output amps and reverb driver like in MK1 units and an early PSU able to power the KS like in MK2 units but it was modified at the factory with the regular MK2 output amps (daughter board with 741 + germanium transistors) and reverb (MFC6070) circuits, which makes it even rarer.

Several modifications were implemented by EMS :
• oscillators synchronization : in each oscillator an on-off-on switch slaves it to one of the other 2
• oscillators stabilization : the 3 oscillators are fitted with a metal can supermatched pair
• oscillator 3 range : a switch selects high or low frequency range
• oscillator 3 tracking : it tracks -0.32V/oct like the other 2
• portamento : a pot with rotary switch slews the KS sequencer CV on row 16

Further extensive modifications performed in March 2024 by Portabellabz:

• oscillators t° compensation : tempco glued on the metal can supermatched pair in each oscillator
• oscillator 1 range : push-pull on the sine pot, pull it for low range
• oscillator 2 range : push-pull on the square pot, pull it for low range
• sample and hold : push-pull pots on the noise pots
pull the level pot to enable the mod and route the S&H CV output to row 9
use the level pot to select the S&H clock : trapezoid (pushed) or oscillator 3 (pulled – the shape pot setting might upset the clock)
• attack and decay time extension : push-pull pot on the attack pot, pull it to extend the attack and decay times
• trapezoid polarity : push-pull on the trapezoid pot, pull it to invert polarity
• sustained/transient gate : push-pull on the on pot, pull it to shorten the gate signal present at the keyboard socket into a short pulse – the on pot may need adjustment and the KS may cause repetaed triggers when played by hand with the mod enabled
• inverter pins : the 2 pins with wires at the right of the pin park invert signals
• attenuverter pins : the 2 pins with wires at the left of the pin park can attenuate and invert signals with the added pots : CCW is inverted signal, center (detent) is 0, CW is normal signal
• buffers on rows 8 and 9 to preserve stable signal regardless of the number of pins

The below board is an optional upgrade and not included in this sale (available by separate negotiation):
• special hybrid board A with MK1 GEL234F1-based output amps and reverb driver, late MK2 PSU and adjustable +11V rail to power the GEL234F1’s (in MK1 units, these are powered by a +11V rail which is actually closer to +11.3V)

This is a stunning package that represents the ultimate Synthi AKS for anyone interested in sound design. It's in perfect order and ready to play!

Some history from the previous owner:

'I bought it from Rod Argent’s place in Denmark Street, back in the late 1970s: they’d taken it in part-exchange for a something else and no-one in the shop really knew how to use it.
I’d been initiated into the mysteries by Ed Williams, back in when I lived in Bristol and worked for the theatre company there, so had a fair idea of what it could do.
It made its first professional debut in a play by Howard Barker, called “The Hang Of The Gaol” at the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Warehouse Theatre in Covent Garden (now The Donmar Warehouse) and then went on to be used in many other shows, both for The RSC and elsewhere, when I went freelance.
My personal favourite was an RSC regional tour of Henry IV, Parts 1& 2, where I’d produced a soundtrack using the Synthi and a Watkins Copicat, along with a few other bits and pieces.
I seem to remember one of the reviews saying the soundtrack sounded like something out of Assault On Precinct 13; a movie that was directed, written and scored by John Carpenter, so I took that as a huge compliment, although I don’t think it was meant that way...'"

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