Aries Modular 300 Vintage Analog Synthesizer

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Aries 300 Vintage Modular Synthesizer at The Synth Sanctuary in NYC

Published on Jul 15, 2018 123synthland

"Programmed by Jay Wires, resident programmer at The Synth Sanctuary Electronic Music Studio in NYC. Wanna make the best synth album ever? Send TSS a link to your Soundcloud.http://www.thesynthsanctuary.com"

Vintage Aries 300 Modular Synthesizer Picked up at a High School

Published on Aug 30, 2017 Shmatty Cat

"If you know any info about this synth or how to throw together a simple patch that would be awesome!"

:)

Aries Modular Synthesizer at The Synth Sanctuary feat. Jay Wires

Published on Jun 6, 2017 123synthland

"The Aries 300 series synth system in this video is part of The Synth Sanctuary vintage synth recording studio in New York City. This loop was quickly created by resident programmer Jay Wires. The Aries output is going through the ARP 2600 spring reverb and built in speakers."

1977 ARIES Synthesizer Brochures & Catalogs

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"ARIES SYNTHESIZER COLLECTION 1977. CATALOGS, BROCHURES, OVER 50 PAGES!

RARE! ORIGINAL. VINTAGE. GOOD CONDITION."

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Aries Modular Synthesizer Owners Manual with Blueprints, Schematics, etc.

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"Aries Modular Synthesizer Owners Manual which includes approximately 6 folded blueprints and 9 additional schematics, as well as many wiring diagrams, block diagrams, assembly and component, parts information. Also soldering information. Condition: Original but in white 3 ring binder. 1st page in side pocket. Appears complete however SOLD AS IS. Many pages, tons of information for this legendary and rare Aries Modular Synthesizer. Was acquired used with an Aries system long ago."

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BSEM - The Boston School of Electronic Music Website

This one in via an anonymous comment:

"Everyone should check out this link for info about Boston School Of Electronic Music, founded by Jim Michmerhuizen, who also wrote the original Manual for the ARP 2600. Somewhere at the site is a pdf with a graet patch for the 2600 by Jim in 1972. A SAMPLE/HOLD PATCH THAT SWINGS.
http://2little2late.org/BSEM/"

via the website:

"The Boston School of Electronic Music was "founded in Boston, Massachusetts, in May of 1972 by Jim Michmerhuizen, BSEM was the first independent school of electronic music in the United States.

Closing in 1978 as the result of a catastrophic fire, BSEM was a focal point for those interested in electronic music synthesis. This site is an attempt to preserve some of the history and culture, and to document that unique moment in the late 20th century..."

An interesting side note according to this post, "a former ARP engineer told me that this was a side project of a ARP/Aries engineer for the Boston School of Electronic Music."

I'm curious if this was Jim Michmerhuizen's or Dennis Colin's, the engineer behind the ARP 2600 and Aries modular. If anyone knows, feel free to leave a comment below. A search for Jim Michmerhuizen on the site brings up a couple of previous posts but no mention of Aries.

Updates via the comments:

Fletcher Ingram:
"The person in question is Ron Rivera. I can't find where I saw that he was evolved in the ARP techy stuff department, but the following link: "http://www.gentleelectric.com/AriesMusic.html" indicates his having done work for Aries Music and that he did fix, clean, restore all things synthesizers. In his dining room was either a Moog 55 or 35 continuously being worked on, or it was the dining room table. You also had to be aware of the rabbit droppings throughout his apartment. He help with the Aries analog Sequencer & Sequential Switch. He offered modified ARP2600 & Minimoogs, adding Sync and other enhancements. I work with him several times doing menial work. I attended & resided at BSEM for several years before it closed as a student, house keeper, office boy, and Lab assistant. I may have embellished a few things here, but I was indeed involved with most things going on at BSEM in the middle to late 1970s. BSEM was a hell of an experience that I will remember till I go to be with Lord. If further info and corrections are needed:
Fletcher Ingram
626.768.8784
fletcher_ingram@yahoo.com
YesTalesRSOG74@yahoo.com"

Michael Wm. Gilbert
"According to Jim M. this synth predated Aries. Per Jim:
'This is a picture of the big synthesizer BSEM built for Wesleyan University around 1974. This was basically Bob Snowdale's initiative; he came to us from W.U. having studied with Alvin Lucier there. Later, of course, Snowdale went on to found Aries.'

Somewhere there was also a big customized Moog synthesizer that we (BSEM) installed at UMass Boston in the mid 70's. Bob Moog himself came, and after it was set I enjoyed driving him back to the airport and hanging out with him while waiting for his flight.

For Fletcher - Ron Rivera's bunny was named Pummel :)"

Aries Music 77 Vintage 1977 Catalog

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An amazing bit of synth history. You should be able to click on the images to read each page. The Aries modular system was designed by Dennis Colin who recently passed away this year. He was also designed the ARP 2600.

"This sale is for a 1977 Aries Music catalog. It's in solid condition with good pages and a good stapled binding. It shows some storage wear and tear (see pictures). It measures about 8.5" x 11"."

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nonlinearcircuits aries 329 phase clone

Published on Dec 23, 2015 cirtcele

"1st play with this module. Still a bit of tweaking of the trimpots to do and adjust some signal level, but it seems to sound pretty good!
Circuit is based on the Aries 329 phase/Flange, which is not the same as but shares some similarities with the Arp Quadra phaser and the Tau pipe Phaser. This version is nearly all smd and uses BCM847 matched transistors"

RIP Dennis Colin, Co-Designer of the ARP 2600 & the Aries Modular

Some sad news in via Grant of Music Technologies Group. It has come to his attention that Dennis Colin of ARP and Aires fame has passed away. There is a GoFundMe page set up to help his daughter with the funeral and travel costs. Click through for details.

Dennis Colin not only designed the ARP 2600 with Alan R. Pearlman, he also built the Aries Modular (see this post and this post for reference), and he later ran Colin Electronics.

The image to the left is from an article in Guitar World from this year, back on February 9. The following is a short excerpt:

"The short story goes like this: Dennis spent several years at the ARP company, creating the 2600 and other strange instruments. Eventually the company changed hands and he moved on to other work away from music.

Years after retiring, Dennis now lives alone in a small house somewhere in New England. He recently lost his wife and has been having a rough time. A chance meeting between his daughter and my guitar-building buddy, Ben "C.B. Gitty" Baker, led to my eventual visit to his house. I stood on his doorstep feeling like Ralphie about to meet Santa Claus.

A frail man at 71, Dennis has sharp mind of a teenager. Although he left ARP Synthesizers many years ago, he never left music and he enthusiastically showed me his secret lab upstairs in the house. There were oscilloscopes, strange strobe lights, a homemade 500-watt amp (!) and model airplanes scattered about. The dude lights his cigarettes from a Tesla coil! When he talked about music, he referenced everything from da Vinci to string theory.

Forget Ralphie...I was in the inner-sanctum of the musical Willie Wonka!"

A great man behind some great synths. He will be remembered. Be sure to see the GoFundMe page.

Update: Memorial Service to Be Held at the MIT Chapel on Friday, December 18th at 1PM.

Aries System 300 Catalog late 1970s

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Robert Leiner - Dromomania Featuring Vintage Aries 300 Modular System

Published on Jun 3, 2015 source66

Adult themes and language but otherwise safe for work.
Audio: Aries 300 (bubbly fx sequence), Linndrum, Prophet VS, Korg Mono/Poly, Korg PS3200 and some Max for Live in Ableton.

"Official video of the track 'Dromomania' from the album Melomania.

Video production by Is This It."

Update: image of the Aries system via Robert Leiner.

The system was at the recent 5th Lindblad Electronic Music Meet.

1978 Aries Music AR-328 Stereo Reverb and Output Module Ad

via Retro Synth Ads where you'll find the full write-up.

"Aries Music Inc. AR-328 Stereo Reverb and Output module 'Make some space for your sounds' 1/4-page black and white advertisement from page 46 in the March 1978 issue of Contemporary Keyboard."

ARIES MODULAR SYSTEM 300 AR-313 KEYBOARD

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Note the listing is for the keyboard only.

"Nice condition and fully working (recently cleaned, had all the bushings replaced and was calibrated). Comes with some old Aries literature and scans of all the service docs. This has the Aries standard plug, but works with any +/15 and 5V supply."

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VINTAGE 70s ARIES SYSTEM 300 Comparison Chart to Moog & ARP Modulars

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"This is one authentic 14 page full page catalog from Aries Synthesizers in the 1970s. Synths, parts, kits and tons of gear etc. Looks to have been rarely used. In very good shape with no rips or problems..."

VINTAGE 70s ARIES MUSIC 77 SYNTHESIZER CATALOG 14 PAGES

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"This is one authentic 14 page full page catalog from Aries Synthesizers in the 1970s. Synths, parts instruction etc. Looks to have been rarely used. In very good shape with no rips or problems..."

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Frodebeats.com Oscillotron VSTi Featuring ARP 2500, Aries & E-Mu Modulars +

"Oscillotron contains thousands of patches all made exclusively with analog synths. ARP 2500/2600/ Odyssey, Aries, mammoth modulars, EMU, MOTM, MODCAN, Korg 700s, Sequential pro 1, Roland promars/Sh1/JP4 and Oberheim 4 voice. From brutal and full on, to crystalline and etherial, these discrete synths give you that unique sound quality that we all lust after. All techniques known to man have been utilised in the making of this VSTi. That´s why we say: new sounds from old machines. Oscillotron contains 28 000 samples, round robin variations and filter layers. This beast acts and behaves just like the real thing.

Oscillotron is no wave player. It´s a unique VSTi synthesiser that shines in comparison with the finest hardware and software synths out there.

Content

• 400 advanced single sounds

• 100 drum sets (10 sounds in each)

• 96 Soundscapes (up to 16 sounds in each )

Oscillotron is available as VSTi and standalone. It has 2 multimode filters in series, with filters modelled from Moog and Oberheim, three envelopes, LFO´s, overdrive and exciter, 7 modelled effects: Analog chorus, tape delay, spring reverb, frequency shifter, compressor, digital delay and a beautiful digital reverb. You also get an eight band master EQ and a master limiter. And, lastly, a track sequencer with analog functions that includes over 100 drum loops and 100 soundscapes, freely available and syncable with your sequencer..."

Some pics of the gear used:

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Univeristy of North Carolina-Greensboro Bestows Vintage Modulars to BMF

"Aries Modular on display at Mountain Oasis Electronic Music Summit. (Photo by Chris Stack)"

via The Bob Moog Foundation

"We are delighted to announce a permanent loan from UNC-Greensboro that includes a variety of synthesizers and other vintage instruments and equipment, including four legendary modulars: a custom built Moog Modular from R.A. Moog, Co., two ARP 2600s, and an Aries 300.

Due to the historical significance of this gift, we asked music technology journalist Geary Yelton to write a guest blog for us exploring some of the very early history behind the instruments.

Read more here about these fascinating synthesizers, and the man who bought or created them for the university in the early days of modular synthesis."

Moog Modular, Aries Modular, ARP 2600 #mtnoasis

via Chris Stack on Facebook

A Hybrid Digisound & Aries Modular Synthesizer at Switched On

Published on Sep 5, 2013 Switched On·49 videos

"This spectacular synthesizer system is a combination of Digisound modules (white faceplates) & Aries Modular (black faceplates). Originally there were two non-functional systems, an Aries Modular system and the Digisound. Switched On was asked to resurrect two separate system and combine them for the best arrangement of modules. The result was very pleasing to say the least!

This patch is based around the 4 wavetable based Digisound DCOs cycling through a bank of 8 wavetables each. Each DCO has 4 banks of 8 waveforms totaling at 32 possible waveforms. Occasionally you will see the bank being switched to allow a different set of 8 waveforms to cycle. By "multing" the pulse signal off the Digisound Quad LFO we are able to make all 4 Digisound DCOs step through various waveforms in time. One of the DCOs is being processed through the Digisound Ring Modulator to add some extra metallic brilliance, and another DCO is being processed through the Aries Frequency Divider adding even further versatility to the timbre. All 4 are being mixed and summed into the gorgeous sounding fully discrete state variable filter made by Aries. In our opinion the sound of the filter is somewhat reminiscent of a Sequential Circuits Pro-One. We are also sending just a touch of modulation from the Digisound Quad LFO to the cutoff frequency and resonance of the Aries Filter to add some extra animation to our sound. In this circumstance we are using the filter as an output stage as well.

We hope you enjoy the sounds of this very rare and unique modular system that we had the pleasure of working on!

Switched On is a full service dealer and repair shop of all manners of musical electronics.
Shop with us & find out more about what we do on our website:
http://www.switchedonaustin.com/

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Update: pics here