EMSA -- Electronic Music Studios of America

via David:

"Peter Forrest's post to AH about EMSA led me to do a little digging. I lived in Amherst, MA, years after EMSA but still love the area. Anyway, Everett Hafner's (owner of EMSA) daughter put up a page about him, including a seriously photo-laden picture of EMSA stuff"

Update: Be sure to check out the EMSA link below for all posts featuring EMSA - there are only a few including this one, however there is some fascinating history including the Ionic Performer.

moog emsa x-y controllers and CEMS cabinet

flickr by independentsoundandvisi on. Click through for more shots. To see to see the full size, click on the All Sizes link for each when you get there.

Click here for more info on the CEMS.

Update: see this post for more info on the x-y controllers. These are also part of the VEMIA auction.

(When I Was A) Kid - EMS Vocoder Track

via synchro1 on AH:
"If you are curious, I have a sample of the large EMS Vocoder. The track (When I Was A) Kid uses the EMS that was imported by EMSA and sold to Stevie Wonder; early 1979, I think. I had about 24 hours access to it before flying it from Boston to LA for delivery. I stayed up around the clock and ran anything I could think of through it."
Title link takes you to the track

Update: There are reports of an annoying ad-ware pop-up for this link. Be careful not to click any of the buttons in the pop-up. Always close these things out by click the close button outside of the ad, you know the one you use to close your browser.

Ionic Performer - Synthi AKS clone

Many know the EMS Synthi AKS as THE synth used in Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon. The low bass sequence loop in "On The Run" is the Synthi. The Synthi AKS is one of the most coveted, rare and expensive analogs of yore. Few know of the Ionic Performer. The title link will take you to a great site on the synth with pictures, samples, and some great email threads on the history and relation to the Synthi. From the site:

"Somewhere in my collection of EMS material I have a lurid photo of the Ionic Performer you mention. I remember attending a NAMM show in Chicago in the early seventies where Ionic Industries had a small booth and were exhibiting the Performer. You are correct that it was a repackaged VCS3 with an integral keyboard. Instead of the pin matrix it had rows of rectangular push-button switches - like an early ryhthm box. What really struck me about it was the publicity leaflet which brazenly announced 'No skill required' in its operation, before expanding further on this theme. It still had the familiar vernier dials for tuning the oscillators. I spoke to Steve Mayer on the stand but no Alfred. Dealings with Ionic were soon curtailed and from about 1972 the US side of the business was handled by Dr. Everett Hafner and his company EMSA from Amherst, Mass."

Pic of Synthi AKS from an Engadget post (absolute beauty):


Pic of Ionic Performer from Ionic site:


There is also a VSTi of the synth on the Ionic site: