VINTAGE EMS VOCODER 2000

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via this auction

"Up for auction is an awesome, professionally maintained original EMS 2000 Vocoder System. Original Owner. Looks sharp and in perfect working order, there is some scratches from being in the rack (see pictures). Designed by Tim Orr and Robin at EMS, made personally for one of my U.S. studios well over 2 decades ago. It has a standard U.S. AC cord, a conversion that will cost a pretty penny on imported Euro units, and the import/customs/etc. cost over $1000 U.S. dollars even decades ago. They aren't made anymore and the EMS Vocoder 2000 is the best vocoder period. An awesome effect to have in your arsenal right now.

Vocoders were originally used to encode a voice to be transmitted over distance, having military tech functions... the compression and encoding of your signal and the synthesis. Essentially, a voice is compressed and encoded, then a new voice is synthesized. You can combine your signals with a keyboard/instrument or use the independent excitation mode to use the EMS Vocoder 2000 as a stand alone processor. With 16 analyzing and 16 synthesizing filters the EMS Vocoder 2000 has clarity and distinction in the processing that you WILL NOT find in plug ins or other Vocoders. Nice fat lows and mid range mix great with guitars and other synths. The EMS Vocoder 2000 is renowned for it's use in the show Battlestar Galactica as well as by Pink Floyd. Distinctive analog processing used by sonically renowned artists.

The coolest thing about this EMS Vocoder is you can design your own effects that are hard for others to duplicate. Bored of out of the box production and effects, the EMS Vocoder 2000 is the solution.

It cost almost $7000 decades ago to get this very special EMS Vocoder 2000 in my studio. It has been professionally maintained and otherwise safely racked in a professional studio since the 80's and is as mint as you will find.
If the price is too high, then you don't get what an EMS Vocoder can do.

Included in the auction are (1) EMS Vocoder 2000, Original EMS Manual, and AC cord."

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EMS Vocoder System 2000

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via this auction

via the seller: "The Mighty EMS Vocoder System 2000, with 16 bands in excellent condition and 100% fully functional. It looks beautiful. This is the series II, black version with rack ears, handles, dual LED meters and in USA voltage. I am the original owner and it has less than 50 hours on it. I kept it turned off and disconnected from wall power when not in use.
I have owned most of the top vocoders with exception of the EMS 5000 and the EMS line of vocoders sound better than all of the rest in terms of raw character. The EMS 2000 has an electric punch to it that others don't have and it's sibalance is excellent too. To me it sounds better than the Moog/Bode vocoders and definitely better than the Sennheiser VSM-201.
The Sennheiser is smooth but lacks that electric punch. Electronically in terms of filters and envelopes, the EMS 2000 is close to identical to the EMS 3000 and EMS 5000. Only difference is that the 3000 has the same 16 bands/filters/envs but with attentuators and the 5000 has 22 bands and patch panel. The S/N ratio is better on the 2000 than the 3000 perhaps due to not having the attentuator circuits installed. Sure digital vocoders can do cool things, but when you hear an EMS 2000 analog vocoder with a monster Moog or Oberheim synthesizer along with vocals, some analog reverb and tube preamp...piped into a very powerful sound system, well, lets just say.....you will definitely never forget it."

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EMS 16 Channel Matrix Vocoder w/ Filter Bank Patch Matrix?

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via this auction

"EMS unit with many features like double oscillator, pitch shifter, levels on every bands...etc... great sounds"

Update: Looks more like a Synton Syntovox 221 as seen in previous posts including demos, but note the different layout. I don't beleive I've seen this particular model before. If anyone knows what this is feel free to leave a comment.

Update 2 via the comments:

"I am assured by EMS that this is NOT an EMS build. After I complained to reverb the seller changed the description and calls it a "custom projekt". It is built around an EMS 2000, so good luck if it ever needs a service or repair. The seller still has it branded as EMS even though it is a codged together unit and NOT EMS. You can't put a Ferrari engine in a ford and sell it as a Ferrari, can you?"

And via the listing:

"this a rare opportunity to obtain a classic EMS sounds

and add many features like double oscillator, pitch shifter, levels on every bands... more a classic pin matrix.... this is a custom projekt based around an original EMS 2000 vocoder pcb board"

Note the custom faceplate. The original EMS 2000 is completely different. You can find some pics in additional posts mentioning the EMS 2000 Vocoder here.

Rare Hagstrom Swede / Ampeg Patch 2000 Pedals

via this auction
"Hagstrom Swede Patch 2000 Guitar/Bass Background
The Hagstrom Swede Patch 2000 guitar is the world’s first production synthesizer guitar (guitar/synth hybrid). It was boldly conceived (years ahead of it's time) and manufactured in an innovative collaboration with Ampeg, who provided the on-board circuitry and accompanying pitch/glide pedals. Based on the Hagstrom Swede guitar, a total of 498 right hand models were produced from 1976 to 1979 along with 11 left-handed models being manufactured in 1977. There was also a small run of Hagstrom Swede bass and Hagstrom Jazz bass models that came equipped with the Patch 2000 system. In addition to the standard 1/4" audio jack located on the Hag P2K guitar/bass, you'll also find a 7-pin jack which allows it to interface directly to the Ampeg floor pedals being offered here.

The sonics produced by the Hagstrom Swede/Ampeg Patch 2000 system have been realized by the likes of Jazz/Rock Fusion wizards Allan Holdsworth (Swede), Larry Coryell & Darryl Stuermer (Genesis, Jean-Luc Ponty), Jazz master Herb Ellis and other guitar greats such as Frank Zappa, Bob Welch, John McVie (Fleetwood Mac, P2K bass), Steve Pacelli, Bill Nelson (Be Bop Deluxe) and apparently Carlos Santana - as well as many others.

* Ampeg Patch 2000 Pedals
These Ampeg Patch 2000 foot pedals were designed exclusively by Ampeg to work in conjunction with both the Hagstrom Swede Patch 2000 Guitar -or- the Hagstrom Swede Patch 2000 Bass. They allow the P2K guitar to interface (via control voltage) with analog synths such as Roland, Moog, Oberheim, Steiner-Parker, ARP, EMS, etc.. In effect, this gives the Hag guitarist the option of playing his P2K instrument either as a standard Hagstrom Swede guitar (though there's nothing 'standard' about the Hagstrom Swede's outstanding sound) -or- as a synthesizer -or- as a simultaneous real time combination of both - producing a myriad of sonic tones & colors.

See the Hagstrom Swede Patch 2000 Youtube Video Demo - highly recommended!!! [below]

* Pitch & Glide
This Ampeg device consists of two pedals built into a single floor unit. The pitch pedal is continuously variable controlled, which allows you to raise the pitch up a full octave over the range of the pedal (heel-to-toe). This allows you to actually change tuning as you play. In this way, the pedal can be used for "bending" effects - much like a synth keyboard player can achieve (i.e. Chick Corea style). The glide pedal controls the response of fret-to-fret changes - governing how much time it takes for the synth to "glide" from one note to the next.

* 5th Harmony Switch
The Ampeg pedals also include a '5th Harmony' function, which is activated by a single pushbutton switch located between the two pedals (see photo). This 5th function allows the controlled synth note pitch to become a fifth higher than the actual fretted note (the major dominant) for an additional sonic effect.

* Construction
The last thing you'll have to worry about is damaging these pedals due to heavy use or road abuse. This is simply the most ruggedly durable pedal unit you'll ever find! Extremely sturdy construction consisting of a thick (~3/16") all metal outer housing with a stamped sheet metal bottom (~1/16") - tooled upwards (L shaped) in order to also function as the back access panel (see photos). Both Pitch/Glide pedals and the 5th Harmony Switch are also of a heavy metal construct. All-in-all, Ampeg did it right - these pedals were designed to last!"

Hagstrom Guitars Patch 2000 Synthesizer Guitar Demo

previously posted back in 2006
YouTube via DeeCee333 — October 16, 2006 — "Steve Pacelli demo's the Hagstrom Patch Guitar system in the Umea Store (original footage from 1977) courtesy of Lennart Johnsson, presented by Hagstrom UK http://www.hagstrom.org.uk"

1976-77 EMS Synthi AKS SN 45377 with Original Box

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via this auction

I'm not 100% sure, but this could be the first post to feature the original box of a vintage EMS SYNTHI. That's a rare little bit of synth history right there.

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EMS Vocoder 2000

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via this auction

"I have owned at one point or another almost every vintage vocoder ever made, including all the popular classics like the Roland SVC350, Roland VP330, EMS 1000, 2000, Sennheiser VSM201, Moog Vocoder, etc. To me the EMS 2000 is one of the best out of them all for creating pronounced and intelligible vocals while giving you the vocoding effect, though it can get quite creativity and warped on other settings as well. For a small box with only a few switches there's still loads of sounds to be had. There's nothing quite as classic as a good vintage vocoder, every collector or home studio needs to have at least one. Don't miss out!"

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EMS 2000 Vocoder

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via this auction - learn how to sell on eBay here
analoglsd (RSS)

"Up for sale is our EMS 2000 analogue vocoder, including the original user manual. EMS Vocoders have been used by everyone from Herbie Hancock and Man Parrish to ELO and Kraftwerk. They are an absolute classic piece of kit..."

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JH Living Vocoder

via JH:

"Just to let you all know ... I'm getting into "vocoder mood" again. :)

I thought about it a lot in the last few days. I think I will put the whole circuit onto one huge board, filling a 19" rackmount enclosure, like EMS did with the 2000 and 3000. The board will have a much higher component density than EMS, though, so you can expect something more complex than the EMS. Not more channels - but other goodies. :)

I think I'll be able to offer that PCB for EUR 150.00 + shipping if I get enough orders.

Oh yes, and I have a name for it too:

It will be the "Living Vocoder". :)

I try to include what I consider the best of Sennheiser, EMS, ETI and Roland. It probably owes the most to EMS, but it will in no way be a clone.

I have made some demos with a preliminary version I've built on veroboard many years ago. This is *not* from the upcoming "Living Vocoder", though:

http://www.jhaible.de/jh_freeze_ohh_1.mp3
http://www.jhaible.de/jh_freeze_ahh_1.mp3
http://www.jhaible.de/jh_throat_1.mp3
http://www.jhaible.de/jh_talking_synth.mp3

There will be Freeze, symmetric and assymmetric slew control (a la EMS), a multifilter function with filtered silence bridging (a la Sennheiser), a compander for high dynamic range (a la Roland Vocoder Plus), and the filters will most probably be calibrated bands al a ETI (which I like better than the uncalibrated EMS filters).
I also plan to make an interface for external patch storage and CV control. just the interface, not the storage.)"

Contact jhaible at debitel.net if interested. Let him know you saw it on MATRIXSYNTH.

EMS - music by ems / video by extraG

YouTube via extragdotcom. No, not that EMS.
"new york's electro "ems" by ems - satamile records SAT02
http://www.satamile.com - http://www.electromusic.com

video by gloria dostal machnowski
http://www.extraG.com

At a top roof in the Lower East Side is almost the year 2000, oscilloscopic waves drawn by the electro sound itself. Analog sound shot in New York City: TR606, Roland MC4 and home made CMS02 modular synthesizer.

Stephen Machnowski uses his home-built synths and drum machines for his ems project (electro music specialist)

ems at the itunes music store:
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZ... [link 404s at the vid]

Gloria Machnowski's videos had been exhibited, among other venues, at the New York Not Still Art Festival, Detroit VideoFest, Fashionlab, The Zeitgeist Gallery, Brooklyn's Dumbo Art Under the Bridge Festival, ICI Buenos Aires, Videoformes in France, Mtv's amp and De Olho Nu Festival in the Botanical Garden of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil."

Analog-Lab X-32 Vocoder

via this auction

"Analog Lab x32 Vocoder in like new condition, this is a clone of the EMS-2000 and these cost like $2300 originally new from france and supposedly only a 100 or so were made. These are extremely rare especially in the USA and it's real special because it's like getting a new EMS-2000! It so sweet because it has a nice oscillator in it already which is cv controllable (don't need gate because your voice is the gate). It's sweet I've hooked up my pro one cv out to the cv input on the back and controlled the internal oscillator just fine so no real need for an external synth just your mic and a cv keyboard if you want to control pitch. This thing is built like a tank, super high quality metal and no signs of rack rash it's real clean just a couple small blemishes here and there. It responds to bass signals so much better than any analog vocoder I've heard and has a real unique sound. Also the LFO can modulate the pitch of the internal oscillator and has a knob to go between saw and square waves."

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First person synth jams! EP2: Electro-reggae with an EMS 2000 vocoder

Published on May 30, 2017 synthead

"Music starts at 6:57!
Download the song here! https://clyp.it/xucpekjt"

Using a Roland Juno-106 & BOSS Dr. Rhythm DR-55. Man that sounds good.

You can see a pic of this particular EMS 2000 here.

EMS VOCODER 2000

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via this auction

"This auction is for an original EMS Vocoder 2000. Very rare unit! Very creative and musical tool. The previous owner told me he got it from the Electric Light Orchestra (Mr.Blue Sky) but I don't have proof of this. They are known to have used this model. Many other top artists used the Vocoder 2000. It has a very complete feature set with some nice tricks. It just had a new meter backlight bulb... Everyhting is ok."

Update via VoiceEncoder in the comments: "The EMS Vocoder 2000 is the vocoder used for the voices of the Cylon Centurions in both the original 'Battlestar Galactica' and 'Galactica 1980' TV-series!!"

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Inside an EMS 2000 Vocoder

This one spotted and sent in via Soviet Space Child.

via Reddit:

"Hey all! This is an EMS 2000 vocoder I just got in the mail! I was too curious to not take its top off (heh heh heh), so I did and was delighted to see all the 16 bands of this lovely vocoder separated out in plain view. I then realized that there were basically no pictures of the insides of these things online, so here you go! Enjoy!"

Update: video here.

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.

Powertran Transcendent 2000 Synthesiser Demo

via this auction
"It is an unusual single-oscillator fully analogue monosynth produced in kit form by Powertran, UK in the late 1970s. It was used by legendary producer Martin "Zero" Hannett on Joy Division's "Unknown Pleasures" album - mostobviously on the track "Insight" where it can be heard wibbling away over Peter Hook's bassline.

As befitting a synthesiser designed by Tim Orr, the man behind the extraordinary EMS Synthi, the Transcendent 2000 has a couple of little surprises up its sleeve, namely:
1. The ADSR envelope generator can be set to repeat mode, turning the envelopes into a second (low-range) LFO
2. The ADSR envelope generator can be bypassed, allowing the oscillator to sound indefinitely, perfect for drones, wind noises etc
3. The oscillator has 2 waveforms, a variable square and a triangle. Somewhat unusually, the later's shape is adjustable from a ramp to a sawtooth allowing some rather subtle, delicate timbres to be created.
4. There is also VCF input that takes the supplied expression pedal, allowing the filter's cutoff to be played like a wah-wah. Talking of which, the filter can self-resonate with the best of them and can be switched between bp and lp modes.

Sound-wise, this synth excels at abstract drones and soundscapes, random machine noises, flowing leads and rather haunting solo violin type sounds. It's certainly no Synthi but it capable of far more sonic goodness than its simple architecture might suggest!"

Powertran Transcendent 2000 Demo by The Purple People Strings
"All sounds (including drums and percussion) generated by my Transcendent 2000. Recorded in Reaper with a little delay and reverb added afterwards.

The Transcendent 2000 was an English single oscillator monosynth produced in kit form in the late 1970s. Designed by Tim Orr of EMS, the synth was used by Joy Division on their debut album "Unknown Pleasures". Examples are now extremely rare."

VEMIA November 2000 catalogue - vintage synths & prices

via this auction

"From ten years ago, a paper catalogue from the VEMIA auction. 24 pages, tiny print, and not well printed - but just about readable everywhere. A couple of illustrations (not high quality!!) - of a massive Roland System 700 and the even bigger Yamaha EX42.

Fun to look at the prices - many of them not the final bids, but all already over their reserves (there are no hidden reserves in this auction) .

That means that in November 2000, you could have had a chance of winning the following (with prices in pounds sterling):

Two Siemens V72s, 440GBP; Vortexion tube amp 23GBP; Roland CR-78 230GBP; Roland TR-808 500GBP; Crumar Jazzman 95GBP; Hohner Clavinet 1 140GBP; Clavinet/Pianet Duo 260GBP; Wurlitzer EP-200 450GBP; Ashly SC-68 140; AKG BX20E 100GBP; Six Audio & Design SCAMP modules 130GBP; BBC EQs in a rack 50GBP; Binson Echorec Baby 280GBP; Binson Tube Reverb 350GBP; Carlsbro Flanger 85GBP; Dynacord CLS222 145GBP; Dynacord TAM19; Echolette SEV66 Vocoder; Echoplex tube model 240GBP; EH Small Stone original 55GBP; EH Talking Pedal 260GBP; Four EMT 256 II compressors and two de-essers 755GBP; Moog 12-Stage Phaser 580GBP; Roland Funny Cat 160GBP; Roland RE-201 190GBP; Roland SRE-555 240GBP; Ursa Major Space Station 450GBP; Reslosound Ribbon 75GBP; two Sennheiser MD421s 250GBP; two Tannoy mics from the House of Commons 45GBP; Two EMS Presto patches 60GBP; Korg MS-03 110GBP; Korg MS-04 110GBP; Optigan Stereophonic Deluxe 220GBP; RSF Kobol Programmer 450GBP; BBC Outside Broadcast four-channel passive mixers 90GBP; Roland VCA800 / CPE800 units 115GBP; Telefunken 12/2 mixer 200GBP; ARP 2600 Blue Meanie (aka Blue Marvin) 1450GBP; EMS Synthi AKS with all EMS mods 1770GBP; EMS Synthi-E 600GBP; EMS VCS3 1900GBP; Korg MS-50 680GBP; Roland System 100M five-module system 880GBP; Roland System 700 complete 9950GBP; ARP Odyssey white-face 480GBP; ARP Pro Soloist 150GBP; EDP Wasp 280GBP; Hohner Bass 28GBP; Korg M500SP 75GBP; Korg Sigma 180GBP; Moog Minimoog 900GBP; Moog Prodigy 270GBP; Oberheim OB-1 460GBP; Octave Cat 330GBP; OSC OSCar 840GBP; Roland MC-202 200GBP; Roland SH-101 190GBP; Roland System 100 101 330GBP; Farfisa Compact Duo 500GBP; Hammond F-100 Extravoice 150GBP; Moog CDX 430GBP; Yamaha EX42 GX-1 look-alike 1250GBP; Vox Continental 300 240GBP; Yamaha YC-45D 280GBP; Elka Rhapsody 610 85GBP; Gleeman Pentaphonic 1270GBP; Moog Memorymoog Plus 1450GBP; PPG Wave 2.3 800GBP; Roland Jupiter 6 580GBP; Roland Jupiter 8 (JP8) 680GBP; Roland VP-330 400GBP; SCI Prophet 5 rev 3.2 760GBP; SCI Prophet 5 with Kenton MIDI 900GBP; Korg SQ-10 250GBP; Roland CSQ-100 34GBP; Roland MC-4 250GBP; a hundred CEM 3396 chips 100GBP; Leslie 147 360GBP; Ampex 351 980GBP; Studer C-37 300GBP."

EMS Vocoder 3000

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"For sale is an insanely rare EMS Vocoder System 3000. A once in a lifetime chance to own one of these? We think so. In our 10+ years of synthesizer hunting, this is the first ever 3000 we have encountered. The 2000 is quite rare, but the 3000 even more so. We've owned almost every major vocoder made (Roland VP330, SVC-350, Korg VC10, EMS 1000/2000, Sennheiser VSM201 (3 total!), Moog Vocoder etc) and to our ears the EMS is the best for dialing in intelligible vocals with synthesized tones. It just sounds excellent, easy to use and all around fantastic vocoder. The EMS 3000 adds level controls for 16 bands which makes it incredibly useful for dialing in more specific tones.

This unit is fully functional, recently serviced and in excellent shape. Don't pass this one up!"

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A Quick EMS Vocoder Demo via the Melbourne Electronic Sound Studio in Melbourne Victoria, AU

The awesome awesome EMS Vocoder 2000. Use it now at MESS! #messltd #ems #vocoder pic.twitter.com/8gpBVCLMG7

— Mess Ltd. (@mess_ltd) April 29, 2016

Make sure to click the little speaker icon on the bottom right of the player for audio if you don't hear it.

via @mess_ltd

"The awesome awesome EMS Vocoder 2000. Use it now at MESS! #messltd #ems #vocoder"

EMS Vocoder System 2000

Title link takes you to shots pulled via this auction.

Details: "British synth maker EMS are known not only for their classic VCS3, but also for their unique retro vocoders. Designed by Tim Orr, the EMS Vocoder 2000 is an excellent voice synthesizer comparable to the Roland SVC-350. It has been around since the late seventies, and is still available to this day. The Vocoder 2000 offered 16-channels of vocoding with filters, mic/line inputs, oscillator and noise sources, voiced/unvoiced detector, and slew/freeze control."

TRANSCENDENT 2000 POWERTRAN - Analouge Mono Synth

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"This Synth did work at some stage and with a little love and care this synth would reward you with a very usable EMS filter. Would be a great project synth. According to legend, EMS didn't want their name associated with the varying build quality of a home made synth, hence the kit being marketed by Powertran. It looks great even as an ornament.


The Powertran Transcendent 2000 was an English synthesizer designed by Tim Orr, also notable for his work at EMS and Akai. In the late 1970s, a good synthesizer was too expensive for many musicians, so Orr conceived the Transcendent 2000 as an affordable kit that could be assembled at home - a similar concept to the one used by PAiA in the United States.

The synth behaves pretty strangely, the unit powers up, however oscillators do not seem to function, except for very intermittently. The filter, which until quite recently did work with an external input, now behaves very erratically and does not process input signals."