MATRIXSYNTH: PAiA


Showing posts with label PAiA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PAiA. Show all posts

Saturday, October 23, 2021

Custom Modular Analog Synth with PAIA VCO, VCF, VCA, ADSR Modules

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video upload by Erich Izdepski

Left channel audio only.


via this auction

"This is a custom modular synth with linear PSU, cables, and vintage 80's CEM chips in VCO/VCF/VCA/EG. Also includes a stand-alone noise gate unit.

Includes all the PAIA technical docs on how the modules were built AND additional usage notes. This unit is not for rookies. The modules cards plug into sockets on the back of the metal plates so during shipping they can come loose. The oscillators will need tuning to play right over more than a couple of octaves. You may want to tune the VCF, too. Procedures are in the docs. Because it uses banana plugs you have to ensure the synth is grounded to whatever is providing it CV signals. I play this through a synth as shown in the demo that has a Gate circuit on the external audio input. You can use the envelopes and VCA on the modular but it is easier and cleaner if you don't have to. The oscillators will put out a 'low F' signal that needs to be gated to remove. You also have to adjust the CV bleed through from the EG periodically to avoid hearing it. Tip: I use a function generator as an LFO since there is none. Whew!

But it sound great so see the demo on YouTube!

The modules are:

- 3 oscillators based on the CEM3340 with square, saw, and triangle waveforms, with a pulse width knob and a CV input

- Mixer with two channels, each with several inputs

- 24db resonant filter with CV input for resonance based on the CEM3320

- Dual VCA's

- Dual ADSR Envelope Generators for control of VCA and VCF

- Output module with 3 separate Mults

Has attenuated power outputs so the main PSU can be used to provide different output voltages for other gear.

It comes with a dual voltage linear power supply that outputs +/-15v and a custom gate module (but will need a mod to add a power jack since original very rare cable has been lost).

Includes all the banana jacks seen plus several more. The case is particle board reinforced with aluminum frames for holding the modules. Wrapped in black tolex (I think)."

Friday, October 15, 2021

PAIA 2700 Modular Synthesizer

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via this auction

Wednesday, September 15, 2021

PAIA Drummer Boy

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via Switched On Reverb

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"This PAIA Drummer Boy is fully functional and in very good condition.

A rare and fantastic sounding drum machine from the early 70's with great preset rhythms in a sturdy casing!

Model is missing "Samba" and "Rhumba" switch covers, but all rhythms are fully functional."

Friday, August 27, 2021

Paia Proteus 1

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via this auction

Pics of the inside below.

Sunday, May 30, 2021

1978 Paia 1550 Strings'N'Things Synth Keyboard

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via this auction, also on Reverb

"Rare DIY synth keyboard from the 70's!

Piano and string tones, as the name suggests, and able to have both voices play at the same time with separate sustain controls.

Fully functional. The modulation is only for the string setting and gives a little bit of vibrato or tremolo. The split function is for mixing.

The built in case is in good shape, some scuffs, dings, and tears but protects the instrument very well."

Monday, May 03, 2021

PAIA FatMan Classic Analog DIY Rack Synth

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via this auction

"PAIA FatMan Classic Vintage Synth: 19" Rackmount with Original Blue Face and 12V Power Supply.

The FatMan has all the features that give analog its big bottom and punch in a MIDI-controlled package. The classic Voltage Controlled normalization is brought up to date with a Velocity CV not available on pre-MIDI synths. Pitch wheel modulation is supported and Pitch and Velocity CV, and Gate outputs are provided on the front panel for driving PAiA or other linear-response synthesizer modules.

It is a small monophonic analogue synth with two oscillators, 18 rotary knobs, 3 switches and no keyboard. There is a low-pass resonant A(S)R filter, an ADSR VCA and portamento. There is MIDI on-board and as the FatMan uses control voltages to operate the MIDI really acts as a MIDI-to-CV converter. This means that it's CV outputs can be used to control other old analogue gear you may have around.

The FatMan's classic normalization of two VCOs, VCF and VCA is enhanced with MIDI pitch bend and a Velocity Control Voltage routed to both filter and final amplifier. With transpose and offset, pitch covers seven octaves starting from a room-shaking 65 Hz., four octave response under MIDI control.

And all those knobs. They invite experimentation and invention in ways that a single control with functions buried under layers of obscure menus never can. Just a few hours with the FatMan will teach you more about the nature of sound than you might ever learn otherwise. It's as at home in the physics lab as on-stage."

Tuesday, April 27, 2021

Paia 4700 by Benge


video by zack dagoba

"Paia 4700 - a little sequenced patch I just made"

Sunday, March 21, 2021

PAIA QUASH MODULE 8781

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via this auction

"The QuASH provides four computer addressable S/H circuits in a single module. It features adjustable glide rate for each channel (selected by computer control), individual trigger “gates” and an individual modulation input for each channel. On-board address decoding allows up to four QuASH modules to be bussed together in a single system for 16 voice “polytonic” synthesis! This module is intended for the true PAiA fanatic that wants a complete and original computer controlled system from the glory days of the analog world: the 1970’s"

Thursday, March 18, 2021

PAiA Gnome Analog Synthesizer Model 3740

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via this auction

Pics of the inside below.

Thursday, March 04, 2021

Vintage PAiA PolyPhony Mini Magazine January, 1976

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via this auction

Thursday, February 04, 2021

PAiA Gnome Mini Synthesizer

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via this auction

Friday, January 08, 2021

VINTAGE 1980 PAIA 4700-SERIES SYNTHESIZER (ASSEMBLED FROM KITS) W/ PRO KEYBOARD

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via this auction

"Analog 'patch cord' monophonic synthesizer that contains all of the fundamental modules needed for music synthesis. I assembled this synthesizer in 1980 using 4700-series kits from the legendary PAiA Electronics, Inc. in Oklahoma.

This synthesizer was in “working” condition before I stored it away. I was already an experienced electronic kit assembler at age 18 when I assembled all of the modules. I used terminal strips to create “bus bars” inside the module cabinets to conveniently provide the three supply voltages (plus ground) to all of the modules. Once I got to college at PSU I begged an Electrical Engineering professor let me use a frequency meter in a lab to calibrate each key of the keyboard to the proper pitch. I recently applied power to the cabinets and proved that the power supplies are working, but their output voltages will need to be recalibrated according to the manuals. I say that this unit is “working”, but I never really got it to make the sounds I was hoping for…

I fell in love with synthesizers as a teenager during the 1970’s because I was into both music and electronics. I desperately wanted to buy a MiniMoog (despite the fact that I didn’t have any keyboard aptitude or training) but, in any case, my family didn’t have that kind of money for something non-essential.

I discovered PAiA Electronics when their first 2700-series synthesizer kits were featured on the cover of Radio-Electronics magazine in 1973. The cover picture showed a fully functional synthesizer built from kits – except that the keyboard was made of hand-bent spring wires with buttons glued to the ends in order to keep the cost down. A few years later PAiA started offering professional 37-note keyboards and enclosures.

I bought the road cabinet and the power supplies first in 1979. I bought the actual synthesizer module kits as I could afford them during 1979 and 1980. I finally raised enough money to buy the (approximately) $100 keyboard/case kit in 1980.

This synthesizer contains the following cabinets and modules:

Monday, December 07, 2020

PAIA 2700/4700 MODULAR ANALOG SYNTHESIZER

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via this auction

"A few years ago I decide to take my 1974ish PAiA synthesizer and rebuild it. I researched components by consulting with Scott Lee of PAiA. I designed custom panels through Front Panel Express. To keep the engraving costs down I went with a minimalistic look that was reminiscent of PAiA yet totally original with a vintage vibe, especially the knobs.

I had Steve Wood, a former PAiA Tech from back in the day, do all the module refurbishing. Most of the major components on the boards were replaced & all ICs socketed. The audio path has upgraded caps and Burr-Brown op-amps. All front panel parts and hardware are new. Taking Marvin Jones’ advice, I replaced all the control voltage “pin jacks” with 3.5mm audio jacks. These are grounded so I could interface the PAiA with my other modular gear.

Multi-turn pots are used for VCO frequency tuning (they look like the pots on the old “Putney” synth!). The “bouncy” push button switches are replaced by momentary toggle switches and all of the switches are now toggle switches with vintage looking paddles.

Tuesday, October 13, 2020

RARE RED PAIA FLEXI-DISC SOUNDSHEET DEMO RECORD

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via this auction

PAIA SYNTHESIZERS
1974 PAIA ELECTRONICS


SELECTIONS FROM EPSILON BOOTIS
COMPOSED AND PERFORMED
BY RICHARD BUGG


FLEXIBLE RED PLASTIC 33 RPM STEREO

Thursday, October 01, 2020

PAiA 1976 Product Catalog, Featuring the GNOME MICRO-SYNTHESIZER

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via this auction

Thursday, September 17, 2020

EMS Bournemouth built PAIA analog synth 1970s from Martin Hannett

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via this auction

"Built in the 1970s from modules at Electronic Music Studios EMS Bournemouth factory, this analog modular PAIA modified by EMS Bournemouth 110 volt synth ended up in the hands of Joy Division's producer Martin Hannett who was also a musician mainly using synth and bass guitar.NOTE -The listing is for the synth only, the Hannett AMS delays and Marshall Time Modulators are available from me separately- message me for more info on those. this EMS Bournemouth PAIA analog modularHannett synth is a working piece of history"

Saturday, September 05, 2020

PAiA August 1983 & 1991 Catalog Brochures

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via this auction

"The August 1983 catalog is 16-pages of brand new PAiA products: guitar stomp boxes, speech synthesizers, velocity/after-touch controller, Shephard function generator and more. And, of course, the enire line up of PAiA keyboards, synths and modules, books, tapes, studio gear, analog drums and even their old original products such as wind, wind chimes and surf sound effect boxes."

"With the advent of PCs, cheap keyboards from Asia and digital synthesizers, analog was out and DX7s were in. This is often refereed to as the Dark Ages of Synthesis. This affected PAiA greatly and they went into a period of inactivity. No new products were designed from 1983-1991. When interest in vintage analog synths started to happen, PAiA started to emerge from the shadows and started to introduce new products such as the MIDI-CV PROCESSOR, PC-MIDI Interface, along with a Neural Network Analog to Digital Converter. They were still selling their Studio Series line, Guitar Effects, Curtis chips and their CEM based analog synth cards, along with books and tapes.

The 1991 catalog chronicles all of those changes and is fascinating to see what was happening as analog and DIY started to rise from the ashes, like the Phoenix. The catalog is 12-pages and isn't slick looking like previous ones."

Friday, September 04, 2020

PAiA 1979 Spring Product Brochure

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via this auction

PAiA Understanding Cassette Demo Part 1 Book

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via this auction

"PAiA Electronics would produce demonstrations of their synthesizer modules. Their in-house studio consisted of a TEAC 3340S reel-to-reel plus a few other pieces of outboard equipment.

This demo, as I recall, was to show off their new 47xx line of VCOs and VCFs.

There are numerous patches and explanations of the patches and the recording techniques. Of course these patches can be applied to any modular synthesizer.

Please note that this is for the booklet only. I have no idea what happened to the tape.

Enjoy a fun piece of history!"

Sunday, July 12, 2020

Building PAIA FatMan Analog Synthesizer from kit


Niche Channel
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