Toolshed Pawn Shop Movie

YouTube via massonix. Various Roland, EM&M Spectrum Synthesizer, Casio, EDP Wasp, Hohner, Pearl Syncussion, Quasimidi, ARP, Wurlitzer"
"Analogue Synthesizers,vintage Keyboards,Toolsheds studio two in 1999."

E&MM SPECTRUM SYNTHESISER

YouTube via jonsey1976

E & MM Spectrum Synthesizer

images via this auction

E & MM

via this auction

Not the best shot but you don't see these often. No extra info in the details of the auction. Click on the EMM label below for prior posts with more info.

EMM spectral synthesizer

YouTube via massonix. jaco s from this post.
"analogue kit built synthesizer from the 80s"

E&MM Spectrum Synth

YouTube via wetdragoon.

E&MM Spectrum Synth

Title link takes you to more info on the synth on sequencer.de.

Doepfer A-100 MiniCase

via this auction
Doepfer A-100 MiniCase (Black Texture - Beauty Version)
a. A-100 miniature case ("A-100 beauty case")
b. built-in A-100 miniature power supply/bus board with higher output current (200 mA @ +/-12V and 50 mA @ +5V)
c. width 28 HP (e.g. three modules with 8 HP and one module with 4 HP)
d. 4 bus connectors (i.e. max. 4 modules)
e. alternatively raw wood or black coated
f. outside measures: about 160 width x 155 height x 125 depth (mm)
g. max. module depth in the left half: about 50 mm (because of the heat sinks of the power supply)
h. max. module depth in the right half: about 90 mm
i. pay attention to the suitable module depths if you order the modules, e.g. A-112, A-113, A-126 or A-199 (because of the spring reverb tank) cannot be mounted into the A-100MC.
j. the handles on top of the cases are enclosed but not mounted, two holes with about 3 mm diameter have to be drilled to mount the handle, if the miniatures cases have to be stacked on top of each other the handles have to be omitted.

via brian comnes

E&MM Peter Vettese Interview Excerpts on the Rhodes Crhoma Site

Via Chris Ryan on the Rhodes Chroma list:

"New on the site this month, excerpts from an interview [link] with Peter Vettese, who played the Chroma with Jethro Tull and Ian Anderson in the early 1980s. Perhaps most notable is that he hints at future directions for the instrument/platform; there have been suggestions that he did a promotional video for the Chroma [link], so may have had some inside information. Also, he is holding a Polaris on the front cover of the magazine; I'm not sure when that keyboard was released, but I thought it wasn't until 1984. It does appear to have the production prototype panel scheme [3].

Chris"

Digisound 80-21

Click here for shots pulled via this auction.

Details:
"The Digisound 80-21 is a rare Voltage Controlled Digital Oscillator, and provides a very unusual sonic palette.

The Digisound 80 Modular Synthesizer was a (largely) kit-built synthesizer designed, primarily, by Charles Blakey who ran a small family-owned company called Digisound Ltd near Blackpool in northern England. Many of the early modules appeared as construction articles in two British electronics magazines - Electronics Today International (ETI) and Electronics & Music Maker (E&MM) in the early to mid 1980s.

The Project 80 series - a number of whose modules were based on the CEM (Curtis Electro Music Specialities) range of ICs - was not, however, his first collection of synthesizer modules. He had, previously, produced an early series (the Digisound 20000 series) based around the SSM (Solid State Microtechnology) range of ICs.

Here's a recent article from January 2000 about the Digisound modular written by Paul Nagle (a British composer of synth music and user of the Digisound synth) available in the internet archives of Sound-on-Sound magazine. To quote from Paul’s own web site "Great, smashing, super - this is an amazingly versatile, superb-sounding modular - full of character" - ‘nuff said!

All Digisound Synthesizer modules had a common package design, with modules interchangeable within the cabinet, common voltages, Input / Output impedances, etc. This made it quite simple to design a system, or change that system around if you desired a different configuration. The modules are compatible with the majority of the modular and performance synthesizers of the time, i.e. 1V/Octave exponential control voltage scaling, 0-10 Volt peak-to-peak control voltage ranges, and a regular gate trigger system.

I've been a big fan of Digisound Synthesizer modules since the late 70's, when I used to bug them and Aries Modular Systems for new catalogs! Over the years, I put together a large number of modules (along with Aries Modular, the USA equivalent).

This unit combines the flexibility of analogue voltage control with the clarity and realism of digitally generated waveforms. The design is fully compatible with existing synthesizer systems (1V/octave frequency control, 10V p-p output, linear and exponential modulation inputs) and offers the versatility of 32 different waveforms encoded as wavetables in the 2716 EPROM. A particular waveform can be selected with push button switches using a simple incremental system or a combination of a push button switch and suitable electronic pulses to the input. The useful audio range is 30Hz to 10kHz.

Much more great information can be found at Dave's Digisound Page."

Demo synth AMS-16 and drums ADS-8

"DIY synth AMS-16 and drums ADS-8 presents www.enmusic.by.ru"

YouTube via enginmusic. Sent my way via frederic.

Update: I sent an email to AH asking if anyone had more info on these. The following are the replies:
Florian

"The Drumsynth reminds to a tama TS305/306 series.
The Monosynth is according to a link in the kyrillian text an adaption of Ray Wilsons Soundlab Minisynth and the sequencer is derived from Thorsten Kloses software projects."

Synth Ollie:
"the drumsynth is based om some old e&mm diy-syndrum articles, synbal and syntom II"

Vintage Synth Scans

Click here for pdf scans of various synth brochures and articles. I tried to list all models below. Apologies for the long list but if you are searching for this stuff via your favorite search engine, this is the only way it'll come up, and finding that oddball rare scan can be absolute gold.


Roland
JX-8P and PG-800, JX-3P and PG-200, Jupiter-6, Juno-106, Synth Plus-60 (HS-60), SH-101 and MGS-1, EP-50, MPU-101, MPU-103, TR-707. TR-909, TR-606, TB-303, CR-8000, CR-5000, SBX-80, MSQ-100, MSQ-700, JSQ-60, BOSS Dr. Rhythm DR220A and DR-220E, Alpha-DRUM DDR-30/PD-10/PD-20, Alpha Juno-1 and Alpha Juno-2, DEP-5, DG CMU-810 Compu Synth, Juno-106, Juno-6, Super JX JX-10, MKS-100, MKS-50, MKS-7, MKS-70, SBX-80, SDE-3000/1000/2000, TR-505, Octapad PAD-8, TR-727, Jupiter-8, MC-8, System 700, CPE-800, VCA-800, System 100M, System 100, Jupiter-4, Promars, SH-2, SH-09, CSQ-600, CSQ-100, SH-1, SH-5, SH-2000, SH-7, SH-3A, SH-1000, VP-330, RS-09, RS-505, SA-09, SIP-300, SIP-301, SPA-240, SPA-120, SPV-355, SVC-350, SBF-325, SDD-320, SPH-323, SMX-880, SRE-555, RE-502, DC-30, DC-20, CR-78, CR-68, TR-66, MKB-1000, MKS-30, MKB-300, MKS-10, MKS-80, MPG-80, JX-3P, MC-4, MM-4, MC-202, MIDI-DCB, MTR-100, CV Interface, Piano Plus-400 HP-400, Piano Plus-300 HP-300, RE-150, RE-501, RT-1L, MPU-104, MPU-105, Cube-100 (CK-100), Cube-60 (CK-60), Cube-40 (CK-40), KS-2, KS05, KS-6, KS-11, KS-1000, TB Series Carrying cases, PSA AC Adapters, KS-1100, SC series soft cases, AB series resin-molded cases, MR-1, RH-10, DP-2/6, FS-1/2/3, M-16C/64C, BR-2/3, RD-1000, MKS-20, MKB-200

Yamaha (note the documentation adds the - in the descriptions. So you CS70M in the title, but CS-70M in the body). I thought that was interesting.
CP-30, CP-20, GS-1, CP-10, CP-11, CS-70M, CS-40M, CS-20M, MQ802, CP-80, SK-50D, SK-15, CS-15D, CE-20, CS-01, CS-15, CS-5, SK-30, SK-20, SK-15, SK-10, GS-2, CE-20, MA-10, MM-10, MH-10, KS-50, KS-100, E1005, E1010, MQ802, CP-80, CP-70B, CP-35, CP-25.

Korg
PS-3300, PS-3200, PS-3100, PS-3010, PS-3040, PS-3050, PS-3001, VC-10, MS-10, MS-20, MS-50, SQ-10, MS-03, MS-02, MS-01, 800DV, 700S, 900PS, M-500SP, PE-2000, PE-1000, KA-180, FK-3, FK-1, V-C-F, Mr. Multi, SE-500, SE-300, EM-570, SP-2035, SM-20, Mini Pops 120W 120P, Mini Pops 7, Mini Pops 45, Mini Pops 35, Mini Pops Junior, Korg Quartz, WT-10A, GT-6, RT-10,

Vintage Synth Story - magazine scans
Crumar DS2, Sequential Circuits Pro-One, RSF Kobol, Roland TB-303 and TR-606, TR-808, PPG Wave Computer, PPG Wave 2, Oxford Synthesizer Company OSCar, EMS Polyvoks, Oberheim OB-X, Octave-Plateau Voyetra Eight, EMS Polysynthi, Moog Minimoog, LinnDrum, Korg PS-3100, Korg MS20, EMS Synthi AKS, ELKA Synthex, ARP Sequencer, ARP Quadra, Korg Polysix, Korg PS-3200, Moog System 3P, Korg Trident mkII, Moog Liberation, Memormoog, Mutron Bi-phase, Oberheim 2 Voix, Oberheim Xpander, PPG Wave 2.3, Roland CR-78, Roland VP-330, RSF PolyKobol, Moog 960 and 961, Sequential Circuits Prophet 10, Vox Super Continental, Yamaha CS-15, ARP, Chroma, Sequential Circuits Drumtraks, EMS Vocoder 5000, E-MU Drumulator, Korg Story, Yamaha CS70M, Korg, Synton Syrinx, Roland MC-4, Oberheim 6 voix, Simmons SDS V, Simmons SDS.3, PolyKobol RSF, Keyboards Synthe Story Part 1 and Part 2.

E&MM Synblo

Title takes you to the full scan.

via synth ollie.

Cloned Analog Gear

Title link takes you there. You will find pdfs of schematics, pics and more. E&MM Synth pictured. Yet another "synth dream" synth. Anyone know more about this one?

More Scans by Synth Ollie

This set includes the Amdek Handclapper and Boss PC-2, both previously posted, the Casio VL1, Noise mod for the PC-2, clap_schemo is a better scan of the boss/amdek handclapper schemo, synbal, synclap, and syntom2 are construction articles from e&mm (british synth mag from early -80´s) on how to make your own diy drumsynth modules.

Update: One more via Peter Ullrich via Synth Ollie: drumbox_layout_pack.zip.

"SynTom II and Cymbal II: PCB scanned from the Austrian magazine ITM Praktiker ("Drumbox")"

CLICK FOR MORE »

Formanta Percussion Synth

Martin sent me a link to this auction for a Formanta/Rokton Percussion synth. Title link takes you to more shots. Info on the machine pulled from the auction below. Thanks Martin!

"FORMANTA
A PERCUSSION SYNTHESIZER

VERY RARE SOVIET-ERA ANALOGUE DRUM SYNTH WITH BUILT IN PRESET DRUM MACHINE!
WAS MADE IN RUSSIA, THEN USSR, BY FORMANTA POLIVOKS FACTORY IN 1987!
EXCELLENT MINT CONDITION. WORKS PERFECTLY. ALL PARTS ARE ORIGINAL.

FORMANTA PERCUSSION SYNTH (OTHER NAME ROKTON PERCUSSION SYNTH) - RARE SOCIALIST VERSION OF ROLAND TR-909 AND OTHER MOST POPULAR VINTAGE DRUM MACHINES FROM 80'S. IT SOUNDS BETTER THAN MANY CLASSICAL DRUM MACHINES AND THIS MACHINE IS ALSO MUCH MORE RARE. THE DRUM SYNTH PROVIDES IMPRESSIVE ANALOG SOUNDS! IT IS CONVENIENT FOR MODELING OF SMOOTH KICKS, CLASSIC ELECTRO TOMS, OLD SCHOOL AND TECHNO SNARES, SINE WAVES. ETC. IT WAS MANUFACTURED IN 80'S by FORMANTA, A SOVIET MILLITARY RADIO PLANT AT KACHKANAR CITY, NEAR SVERDLOVSK CITY. The same one wich manufactured now legendary POLIVOKS synth. It is built like a rock, pure military technology. The body is solid and the knobs feel nice. There is an original soviet factory structure - i.e. method of synthesis, knob resistors, parts, connections, voltage etc. It runs on 220V AC (US customers will need an adaptor).

FORMANTA PERCUSSION SYNTH has 5 independent channels with a complete spectrum of synthesis (sensitivity, filter, pitch, balance tone/noise, decay etc) and two channels for cymbals. There is a built-in PRESET rhythm machine with 16 preset patterns; basic control functions and various styles, which can use any edited or factory sounds. It can also produce any preset style and live triggered sounds simultaneously. The module has a standard 1/4 jacks for triggers connection, pedals input and line-outs. Each of seven FORMANTA drum channels inputs can be triggered from individual outputs of the drum machines such TR 707, TR 626 or similar!

Dimensions - 440x450x165 mm
including packing materials I would guess about 9 kgs total weight"

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Rhodes Chroma Tapper

Update from Chris in the comments section:
"If you do a search for "tapper" or "thunker" from the home page of rhodeschroma.com, you'll find a number of mentions of this feature of the Chroma. It can also be turned off. In the interview I did with Phil Dodds and Tony Williams, I asked how the "thunker" came about: http://www.rhodeschroma.com/?id=doddswilliams#thunker"



When I recently played a Rhodes Chroma for the first time I was astonished by the feel of the keyboard and the sound it produced. I had no idea what to expect, would this be a somewhat thinned down polysynth or would it have the brawn of the mighty poly analogs like the Oberheim OBXa, SCI Prophet 5, or Roland Jupiter 8. Well let's say it pretty much holds its own against these classics and actually outdoes them in some ways. The sound is absolutely full, thick analog, and the flexibility of routing and modulation options out does the above. But... this is not the point of this post. When I was playing with the Chroma I noticed a sort of thick clunk when pressing its membrane switches and for some parameters I heard this when moving its one editing slider. It through me off and I actually thought it was broken! I was actually a little relieved as at that point I figured there was no way I'd be tempted to buy this particular unit. But then it occurred to me that this might actually be by design. I played with a bit more and sure enough it was clear that this was on purpose. After using it a bit I began to appreciate the thudded tap - it added a certain weight and tactile response to editing the synth which would be missing without it. I find it fascinating that they took the time out to implement this and I'm left wondering if there are any other synths with it. At this point there is none that I know of. Title link takes you to more on this unique feature on the Rhodes Chroma site. BTW, I'm still blown away by the resources and support available on the Rhodes Chroma site. If there was ever a synth resource award, Chris Ryan would be on the top of my list. Links via Chris Ryan on AH.

Two links on the tapper:
http://www.rhodeschroma.com/?id=emm#shapingthesystem (picture)
http://www.rhodeschroma.com/?id=diagnostics#tapper

Electronic Sound Maker CD

Click through for more including downloadable samples of the Ensoniq Mirage, Yamaha TX816, and PPG Wave.



"Electronic Soundmaker and Computer Music was a magazine published in the UK between 1982 and 1985 to compete with Electronics and Music Maker (E&MM). The magazine features bands of the time, the gear of the time and readers’ musical efforts.

From October 1984 to September 1985 it also came with a C60 cassette"

Moog OSCar

I remember seeing this a few years ago on the 'bay. The claim was that it was the prototype of the Oxford Synthesizer Company's OSCar in the case of a Moog Source.

Via the AH archives:

"it was confirmed in SOS. There's an article on it. you can even see it in
the auction.

I don't think that many peopel want it because it's not working properly.
It's collectible, but that's all, not so overly usable..."

"I also think that this is the one described in a issue of Future Music
some years ago when they did a interview with Lionrock. I don't
remember the issue, though I know that I still have it. Apparently, it
was stolen shortly after the interview was completed. I saw the SOS
article too and, since the owner of the piece at that time had worked
with Lionrock, I assumed that the synth was returned."

I found this article on Sound on Sound, but no mention of the word prototype or moog (I need to read the whole thing). But I did find this information that I've also forgotten over the years. Chris Huggett, was the man behind the EDP Wasp, Oxford Oscar, Akai S1000, and finally the Novation Supernova. Pretty impressive.

From Sound on Sound:

"Chris Huggett? In the same way that I had to go and get a proper job with E&MM and then Sequential to make a living, Chris eventually had to get a more reliable source of income. I put him in touch with Akai, for whom I was doing S900 sound development, and the next thing I knew he was writing the operating system for the new S1000. Chris worked for Akai behind the scenes on most of the sampler operating systems for more than 10 years until he grew frustrated with their refusal to let him work on the hardware design as well (with the Wasp and OSCar, he had of course done both). Having fostered Novation in its early days with help and advice, he eventually joined them full-time a couple of years back and is the guiding light behind the virtual technology of the Supernova. So a very British designer is once more working on a very British synth for a very British company."

Update via Turboskin in the comments: "Found the restoration of this exact Moog OSCar: stereoping.com/"

Update 3/8/12: Bigger pics here: Legendary Moog OSCar Up for Auction

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