Showing posts sorted by relevance for query POLYSYNTHI. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query POLYSYNTHI. Sort by date Show all posts
Friday, October 08, 2010
Mike Hall's & Vince Clarke's EMS Polysynthi For Auction
via this auction
"[The seller is] selling this Polysynthi on behalf of it's owner, Mike Hall, who used to be synth technician for the previous owner of this eccentric electrical item, a certain Mr. Vincent Clarke of Basildon - former founder member of Depeche Mode, and Yazoo, and currently with Erasure.
Mike bought the synth on behalf of Vince in 1990 from the latter day Mr EMS himself Robin Wood (a scan of the letter from Robin confirming which is included in the photos in this listing) but he literally ended up rescuing it from Vince's rubbish skip, after having been both surprised and shocked to hear Vince claim it was 'the worst sounding synth ever made' and had decided to get rid of it. Mike was to be its saviour, and he whisked it away to the safety of his abode - this Polysynthi has subsequently been used by fellow Mute Records artists Komputer (previously known as I Start Counting) who've borrowed it from Mike occasionally, as indeed have I for my own musical exploits.
For corroborative purposes, take a look at this link to the official Erasure website (circa late 1990s), which features an interview with Mike, where he mentions the very Polysynthi for sale here...
Sadly, the time has finally come, and Mike has decided to sell his beloved Polysynthi. Fair enough really, seeing as he rarely uses it himself!
The EMS POLYSYNTHI
Made in 1979 by the legendary EMS, alledgedly no more then 29 were ever produced. Size-wise, it's bloody massive, and it really looks the business, despite its multicoloured, toytown style exterior. It houses the first ever (only?) velocity sensitive, aftertouch responsive 100% POLYPHONIC keyboard - if you've enough fingers and toes, you can play every single one of its 49 notes at the same time. The keyboard has a totally unique velocity sensitivity and aftertouch implementation - the entire keyboard itself moves as one mechanical piece. And, it has to be said, the Polysynthi also has one of the most difficult to fathom control surfaces ever to appear on any synthesizer!
It uses a switchable bus matrix system to determine, amongst other things, the signal and modulation sources, which can also be variably assigned to velocity and/or aftertouch. This switchable bus system on the Polysynthi is quite frankly bonkers. When I've used it in the past, to be honest, there have been times where I really couldn't make head nor tail of what was actually happening - but I'm sure(-ish) that this was probably just my own ignorance of it's more intricate workings!
As you can see from the specifications below, it has a somewhat standard set of synthesizing functions, but it does have some additional useful abilities too. The two ADSRs onboard are also routable and patchable through the bus system, though take some getting used to, and there's an external audio input, routable through the filter section and modulation matrix, as well as a fantastic analogue delay line. This delay was the original design for what became the ElectroHarmonix Memory Man, and produces very peculiar and interesting effects indeed, especially with higher feedback settings - you seriously have to watch out for your bass bins when using it.
It's in really good condition despite it's age, apart from a couple of scratches in the decal, and one cap is missing from a knob on the delay line. We're also including it's very own, high quality, custom-made flight case, so you can take it on the road to wow synth-nerds with at your gigs.
What else can I say? There's nothing else like it. It's weird. It's at times frustrating. It's great though - even if Vince does hate it.
Specifications
4 Octave velocity sensitive keyboard
100% FULLY POLYPHONIC Oscillator Bank - Sine, Square and Triangle Waveforms
Noise and External input with envelope follower
2 x VC LFO
2 x VC ADSR
VCF: 2 pole (12db per octave) /4 pole (24db per octave) resonant filters
Switchable Modulation Bus matrix system
VC Analogue Delay
Designed by Graham Hinton
Delay Unit designed by David Cockerell
(For full specifications, see the included photo of the original promotional leaflet)
Previously owned by:
Vince Clarke
As used by:
Komputer
Mechanical Cabaret
LCD Soundsystem"
Monday, July 29, 2024
EMS Polysynthi Analog Synthesizer
Monday, November 08, 2010
EMS Polysynthi
via VEMIA
"Following the recent sale on ebay of Vince Clarke's junked Polysynthi for £4100 here's another of these rare specimens. (VEMIA note: the main difference is that this is virtually as new, and has been checked by Robin Wood!) Polysynthi was designed by Graham Hinton in 1978 when EMS re-located to Oxford from Putney and the first units were shipped in March 1979. This example was the last one to come off the production line in 1981 after EMS went bust and all the stock was inherited by Datanomics. It has a Datanomics sticker inside giving the serial number as 616, but it is known that no more than 50 of these instruments were ever made. This one has been in dry storage for 29 years and has been renovated by EMS in Cornwall. It is in near new, 100% working condition with virtually no marks. The only significant mark is to the vinyl covering on the right-hand side. Most of the panels suffered from flaking of the yellow painted areas but this one is perfect - see photos. Weight: 18 kg Dimensions for shipping (approx): 100 x 76 x 38 cm Equivalent volumetric weight: 58 kg" Update via jochen in the comments: "Polysynthi was NOT designed by Graham Hinton. It was designed by a committee of Peter Zinovieff, Ludwig Rehberg and Alan Sutcliffe."
Update2 via petjen in the comments: "and Rose Zinovieff designed the bright panel."
"Following the recent sale on ebay of Vince Clarke's junked Polysynthi for £4100 here's another of these rare specimens. (VEMIA note: the main difference is that this is virtually as new, and has been checked by Robin Wood!) Polysynthi was designed by Graham Hinton in 1978 when EMS re-located to Oxford from Putney and the first units were shipped in March 1979. This example was the last one to come off the production line in 1981 after EMS went bust and all the stock was inherited by Datanomics. It has a Datanomics sticker inside giving the serial number as 616, but it is known that no more than 50 of these instruments were ever made. This one has been in dry storage for 29 years and has been renovated by EMS in Cornwall. It is in near new, 100% working condition with virtually no marks. The only significant mark is to the vinyl covering on the right-hand side. Most of the panels suffered from flaking of the yellow painted areas but this one is perfect - see photos. Weight: 18 kg Dimensions for shipping (approx): 100 x 76 x 38 cm Equivalent volumetric weight: 58 kg" Update via jochen in the comments: "Polysynthi was NOT designed by Graham Hinton. It was designed by a committee of Peter Zinovieff, Ludwig Rehberg and Alan Sutcliffe."
Update2 via petjen in the comments: "and Rose Zinovieff designed the bright panel."
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
EMS Polysynthi Videos by Benge
Polysynthi Benge1 Published on Oct 16, 2013
"The super-rare EMS Polysynthi. See http://myblogitsfullofstars.blogspot.... for more info"
Polysynthi Benge2 Published on Oct 16, 2013
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Polysynthi Sketch
via ben:
"I did a little 'sketch' on my EMS polysynthi yesterday and thought you might like to hear it. The polysynthi as you probably know is a very unusual synth:
a] its the only british polysynth [as far as I know]
b] its the first ever synth with built in delay [voltage controlled - very cool]
c] only about 30 were made
d] all the knobs are backwards [they go from 10 to 0 anti-clockwise]
e] it has an odd form of after touch whereby the whole keyboard pivots
down and sends out a CV
f] it looks like something out of playschool
g] its the hardest synth I have ever tried to fathom
actually, its a very limited synth because it uses divide-down technology [a bit like the polymoog] but I like it's quirkiness and put through the lexicon 224 [which came out the same year - 1978] it makes quite a racket"
Title link takes you to the sample. Thanks ben!
"I did a little 'sketch' on my EMS polysynthi yesterday and thought you might like to hear it. The polysynthi as you probably know is a very unusual synth:
a] its the only british polysynth [as far as I know]
b] its the first ever synth with built in delay [voltage controlled - very cool]
c] only about 30 were made
d] all the knobs are backwards [they go from 10 to 0 anti-clockwise]
e] it has an odd form of after touch whereby the whole keyboard pivots
down and sends out a CV
f] it looks like something out of playschool
g] its the hardest synth I have ever tried to fathom
actually, its a very limited synth because it uses divide-down technology [a bit like the polymoog] but I like it's quirkiness and put through the lexicon 224 [which came out the same year - 1978] it makes quite a racket"
Title link takes you to the sample. Thanks ben!
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
EMS PolySynthi Video
YouTube via aurexlive | October 05, 2010
"Having fun with EMS Polysynthi"
Don't miss Mike Hall's and Vince Clarke's polysynthi up for auction.
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Benge Releases All EMS Polysynthi Album - Forms 3
"One of the interesting things about creating an album using just one synthesiser is that it puts you in the 'sonic era' of the machine that you are working with. So for this reason I decided to create these tracks with this idea in mind, resulting hopefully in a sound reminiscent of the musical cues found on certain late 1970s soundtrack or library albums. Therefore when listening to this record it would not be inappropriate to try and imagine yourself immersed in a progressive Television Play such as would have been broadcast on on a sunday evening in 1978
This record was made using the EMS Polysynthi electronic polyphonic synthesiser. All sounds were created and played on this single machine, and then recorded directly to multi-track tape in overlaying passes. The only exception to this was the minor addition of monophonic spring reverberation via the EMS VCS3 and some occasional band-pass filtering courtesy of the EMS 8-octave filter bank
credits
released 16 December 2013
Music created on the EMS Polysynthi
Recorded at Memetune Studios, London, UK
© December 2013 Benge / Expanding Records
All Rights Reserved
expandingrecords.com
memetune.net"
via Benge's It's Full of Stars
Friday, October 15, 2010
Polysynthi - Multitrack Session
YouTube via aurexlive | October 15, 2010
"Okay, because of the many requests ... another Polysynthi vid :)
This time a multitracked song, first completely dry then wet to show the full potential of the Polysynthi.
Next up, some new aurex songs, it' about time I think :D
See ya!"
Friday, June 08, 2012
EMS Polysynthi "Sounds from the Outer Space"
YouTube Published on Jun 8, 2012 by scienceforce
"This is one of the few and working EMS Polysynthi, produced between the '78 and 79 in ONLY 29 exemplars. As far I know the last Peter Zinovieff work.
Space look... totally amazing, its sound is magic!
It's fully polyphonic with built in analog delay and chorus (both CV/keyboard touch controllable) Two cv-lfo's with many combinations, modulable also from keyboard aftertouch, filter is very very nice selectable from 2 to 4 poles, envelope follower for external signals and many other features.
For me is one of the best polyphonic synthesizers ever made with unique sound and an incredible look.
This is a small space sounds demo with both the enevelopes auto triggered from one cvlfo."
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Ultra Rare EMS POLYSYNTHI
Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
via this auction
"WoW! This is one of the few and working EMS Polysynthi, produced between the '78 and 79 in ONLY 29 exemplars!!! As far I know the last Peter Zinovieff work. Space look... totally amazing to see, its sound is magic! It's fully polyphonic with built in analog delay and chorus (both CV/keyboard touch controllable) Two cv-lfo's with many combinations, modulable also from keyboard aftertouch, filter is very very nice selectable from 2 to 4 poles, envelope follower for external signals and many other features. For me is one of the best polyphonic synthesizers ever made with unique sound and an incredible look. It's perfect working, just well tested another time but due the vintage nature of this instrument I'll sell it as seen..."
via this auction
"WoW! This is one of the few and working EMS Polysynthi, produced between the '78 and 79 in ONLY 29 exemplars!!! As far I know the last Peter Zinovieff work. Space look... totally amazing to see, its sound is magic! It's fully polyphonic with built in analog delay and chorus (both CV/keyboard touch controllable) Two cv-lfo's with many combinations, modulable also from keyboard aftertouch, filter is very very nice selectable from 2 to 4 poles, envelope follower for external signals and many other features. For me is one of the best polyphonic synthesizers ever made with unique sound and an incredible look. It's perfect working, just well tested another time but due the vintage nature of this instrument I'll sell it as seen..."
Sunday, December 24, 2017
SUPER RARE EMS POLYSYNTHI UNIQUE VCS-3 POLYPHONIC VINTAGE ANALOG SYNTHESIZER
Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
via this auction
"FOR SALE SUPER RARE SYNTHESIZER KEYBOARD BY ELECTRONIC MUSIC STUDIOS - EMS POLYSYNTHI !!! SYNTH IN WORKING CONDITION. THIS UNIQUE SYNTHESIZER. UNIQUE SOUND STRUKTURES, - FX PSYHODELIC SOUND SYNTH... THIS IS THE BEST SYNTH WHICH I HAVE. INCREDIBLE SOUNDING POLYPHONIC VCS-3 SYNTHI VERSION SYNTH. FOR THE SOUND TRACK IN THE CINEMA AND SOUND PRODUCED PRO-STUDIOS. . MOST MUSICAL IMAGES HE CAN BORN. A LOT OF COMPLEX AND INCREDIBLE MONUMENTAL SOUNDS AND POWERFUL BEAUTIFUL SOUNDS. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO TRANSFER ALL EMOTIONS THAT WILL SUPPORT THIS SYNTH. = ONLY YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF USE WITH IT WILL GIVE YOU UNDERSTANDING AND DISCLOSE THE MAGIC OF SOUND THESE SYNTH!"
Remember to go through eBay for their buyer protection when purchasing anything through them. If you take the purchase offline to save a buck, you risk losing it all.
via this auction
"FOR SALE SUPER RARE SYNTHESIZER KEYBOARD BY ELECTRONIC MUSIC STUDIOS - EMS POLYSYNTHI !!! SYNTH IN WORKING CONDITION. THIS UNIQUE SYNTHESIZER. UNIQUE SOUND STRUKTURES, - FX PSYHODELIC SOUND SYNTH... THIS IS THE BEST SYNTH WHICH I HAVE. INCREDIBLE SOUNDING POLYPHONIC VCS-3 SYNTHI VERSION SYNTH. FOR THE SOUND TRACK IN THE CINEMA AND SOUND PRODUCED PRO-STUDIOS. . MOST MUSICAL IMAGES HE CAN BORN. A LOT OF COMPLEX AND INCREDIBLE MONUMENTAL SOUNDS AND POWERFUL BEAUTIFUL SOUNDS. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO TRANSFER ALL EMOTIONS THAT WILL SUPPORT THIS SYNTH. = ONLY YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF USE WITH IT WILL GIVE YOU UNDERSTANDING AND DISCLOSE THE MAGIC OF SOUND THESE SYNTH!"
Remember to go through eBay for their buyer protection when purchasing anything through them. If you take the purchase offline to save a buck, you risk losing it all.
Saturday, August 18, 2018
Benge Polysynthi Sketch
Published on Aug 15, 2018 zack dagoba
"Playing around on the EMS Polysynthi. No other effects were used in this video. It really is a clever little polysynth. The aftertouch is surprisingly expressive. And the voltage controllable analogue delay is shattering. See http://myblogitsfullofstars.blogspot.com for more"
Sunday, February 19, 2023
New Distortions - an EMS Sound Study
video upload by zack dagoba
BENGE
FORMS 14
"New Distortions"
Available NOW on Benge's Bandcamp page: https://zackdagoba.bandcamp.com/album...
This sound study was created on electronic instruments made by British synthesiser manufacturer EMS. The specific items used were as follows:
Polysynthi
VCS3 Mk1
Dual Synthi AKS (known as The Crystal Machine)
TKS Sequencer
8-Octave Filter Bank
Pitch To Voltage Converter
Random Signal Generator
Dual High Pass Filter
Note that the Polysynthi has an analogue delay unit which can be accessed via an external input
No other instruments or sound processors were used in this composition
The video was created by Benge at the Memetune VideoLab. The following equipment was used:
Panasonic WJ-MX50 (x 2)
Grass Valley Indigo Video Switcher
Sony DSR DR1000 DVCAM HD Recorder
Sony DSR500 Video Camera
Davinci Resolve
Written and recorded by Benge (BD Edwards) at Memetune Studios, UK
(c)+(p) 2023 MemeSongs
Monday, April 22, 2024
EMS Polysynthi
Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
via this listing
"THE EMS POLYSYNTHI,
ITS A SUPER RARE ANALOG SYNTH WITH ONLY MAYBE 30 IN THE WORLD AND THIS IS SERIAL NUMBER 21.
ITS IN GREAT CONDITION AND FULLY WORKING AND WAS SERVICED BY KENT SPONG AROUND 7 YEARS AGO AND BEEN SITTING IN MY MUMS HOUSE SINCE.
IT NEEDS TO BE USED AND IT SOUNDS AWESOME,
ITS VERY BIG AND WEIGHS A TON ."
via this listing
"THE EMS POLYSYNTHI,
ITS A SUPER RARE ANALOG SYNTH WITH ONLY MAYBE 30 IN THE WORLD AND THIS IS SERIAL NUMBER 21.
ITS IN GREAT CONDITION AND FULLY WORKING AND WAS SERVICED BY KENT SPONG AROUND 7 YEARS AGO AND BEEN SITTING IN MY MUMS HOUSE SINCE.
IT NEEDS TO BE USED AND IT SOUNDS AWESOME,
ITS VERY BIG AND WEIGHS A TON ."
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Polysynthi Sketch 2
Part two of this post via ben.
"i've done another polysynthi thing, this time on its own. i recorded it 'pure' with no fx, eq or anything [except for the built-in delay]. i just layered up a few simple parts. its only short though"
Title link takes you to the sample. Thanks ben!
"i've done another polysynthi thing, this time on its own. i recorded it 'pure' with no fx, eq or anything [except for the built-in delay]. i just layered up a few simple parts. its only short though"
Title link takes you to the sample. Thanks ben!
Tuesday, February 28, 2023
Mega Rare EMS Polysynthi no AKS analog Synthesizer
video upload by Alexander Jovanovic
"Running a Korg Volca Beats through My EMS Polysynthi
Vintage Heaven !!!"
Tuesday, June 05, 2012
EMS Polysynthi (fx psychedelic drones demo)
YouTube Published on Jun 5, 2012 by scienceforce
"This is one of the few and working EMS Polysynthi, produced between the '78 and 79 in ONLY 29 exemplars. As far I know the last Peter Zinovieff work.
Space look... totally amazing, it's sound is magic!
It's fully polyphonic with built in analog delay and chorus (both CV/keyboard touch controllable) Two cv-lfo's with many combinations, modulable also from keyboard aftertouch, filter is very very nice selectable from 2 to 4 poles, envelope follower for external signals and many other features.
For me is one of the best polyphonic synthesizers ever made with unique sound and an incredible look.
This is a small psychedelic ambient sounds demo with both the enevelopes auto triggered from one cvlfo."
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
Sunday, May 29, 2022
TMP-02 Vintage Synth TV Series from Benge
video upload by zack dagoba
Additional Vintage Synth TV episodes by Benge
"The Memetune Programme Episode 02
00:00 Opening Titles
00:35 Introduction
01:48 Switched On - Polysynths Part One
11:51 Synthesiser Club - EMS Polysynthi & AKS
13:59 Commercial Break
16:10 Patching Today - Buchla 200
29:18 Video Lab - Chromakey
34:53 Outro/Coming Up Next Time
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Second episode in the new six part series of programmes from Benge made at his Memetune Electronic Music Studio
The series explores his passion for vintage synthesiser instruments and studio gear and how he uses it on his productions and collaborations
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
It is divided into the following sections:
SWITCHED ON - Featuring in-depth discussions about the history and development of the synthesiser over the years, including demonstrations and feature guides of many classic and iconic instruments
SYNTHESISER CLUB - A short musical demonstration of a synthesiser classic or two
PATCHING TODAY - A deep-dive into vintage modular systems and how to set up a patch on them, starting from scratch
VIDEO LAB - A look at old video equipment and how to create experimental visuals
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
In THIS episode:
SWITCHED ON POLYSYNTHS (PART ONE) - A brief history of Polysynths, with the Oberheim Four Voice
SYNTHESISER CLUB - EMS Polysynthi and Double AKS (AKA 'The Crystal Machine')
PATCHING TODAY - Buchla 200 Modular synthesiser (cloned)
VIDEO LAB - Video Switchers and Chromakeying
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Video referenced in this episode:
The Dreamer by BENGE [posted here]
LINKS:
Benge's Studio Blog: http://myblogitsfullofstars.blogspot.com
Memetune Studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/memetunestudio
Benge on Bandcamp: https://zackdagoba.bandcamp.com
Oblong album: https://townsendmusic.store/product/5...
Fader album: https://townsendmusic.store/products/...
Stephen Mallinder Um Dada album: https://www.daisrecords.com/products/...
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
The MemeTune Programme Credits:
Everything in this video was created by B D Edwards (Benge)
All music, design, writing, filming, editing and production completed at Memetune Studios, UK, 2022"
zack dagoba Vintage Synth TV
Tuesday, January 03, 2012
ULTRA RARE EMS POLYSYNTHI COLOR SALES FLYER
via this auction
See the seller's other items for more.
"Incredibly rare sales flyer for EMS (Electronic Music Studios London Ltd.)
'POLYSYNTHI' !!!!
one sheet 8.5" x 11" full color layout with description of sections on back
I don't think these ever saw production...
good condition for age - some wear around edges but overall nice
will throw in photocopy of Synthi-VCS-3 Mark II pic & DK1/KS keyboard description"
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MATRIXSYNTH - EVERYTHING SYNTH
© Matrixsynth - All posts are presented here for informative, historical and educative purposes as applicable within fair use.
MATRIXSYNTH is supported by affiliate links that use cookies to track clickthroughs and sales. See the privacy policy for details.
MATRIXSYNTH - EVERYTHING SYNTH