Inside the Legendary ARP 2500 - Every Module Explained

video upload by Anthony Marinelli Music and Rosen Sound

"I’m joined by my friend and synth technician to the stars Rob Rosen for a deep dive into one of the most legendary synthesizers ever built: the ARP 2500.

We go module by module through the instrument, exploring what makes the 2500 so unique, from its architecture and standout modules to the unmistakable character of its sound. We also look at how the ARP 2500 was configured and priced when it was introduced in 1970, how those systems compare to what they’re worth today, and why these instruments have become so desirable to collectors, studios and musicians.

And we don’t just talk about it. Throughout the video, I perform three solo pieces on the ARP 2500 to show the raw sound power that lives in this instrument.
If you’ve ever wondered what makes the ARP 2500 so special, and why it remains one of the most sought-after synthesizers more than 50 years later, this is a close-up look at the instrument from the inside out."

The Alan R Pearlman Foundation's Year in Review

video upload by Alan R. Pearlman Foundation

"From a Compilation to a Concert Celebration, our year celebrating our namesake's Centenary has been amazing! Share our journey!

Music by Lisa Bella Donna & Shawn Johnson

Purchase Soul of the Machine at https://alanrpearlmanfoundation.bandc...

2025 Sponsors:
Korg, Cherry Audio, Moog Music, Manny Fernandez, Tom Rhea, Rosen Sound

2025 Partners:
Bell Tone Synth Works, CMS, CatSynth TV, EMEAP/MMT, Eric Crawley/Dan Gilbert, Interage MediaWorks, Knobcon, Korg, Anthony Marinelli Music, Antonus, Mashina Bristronica, NAMM Museum of Making Music, Vito Nandi, New England Synth Fest, Projekt Records, Steve Roach, Round & Wound, the SynthCave, SynthCube, Synthtopia, Synthetic Dreamscapes, The Record Co. (TRC), Sharon Wasko Designs

Thank you to all of our donors, volunteers, interns, friends and partners including (but not limited to) Alex Ball, Antonus, David Baron, Lisa Bella Donna, Chris Cardone, Jon Carin, Alison Cassidy, Nick Carlisle, Phil & Linda Cirocco, Mike Cushing, Tom Cusimano, Eric Crawley, Stephen DeJesus, Rich Formidoni, John Foxx, Dan Gilbert, Patrick Gleason, Herbie Hancock, Martin Gore, Rupert Greenall, Ryan Hawkins, Mary Lock, Mark Marshall, Machina Bristronica, David Mash, Steve McQuarry, Bill T. Miller, LaMar Mitchell, Chris Meyer, NE Synth Festival, Nicola Joss, Ruperto Ifil, Brian Kehew, Anthony Marinelli, Tom Piggot,TRC (The Record Co). EMEAPP/MMT, Mary Lock, David Mash, Matrix Synth, Michelle Moog-Koussa, Tony Norton, Jim Michmerhuizen, Mike Metlay, C. Carl Peters, Rob Puricelli, ProSynth Network, Drew Raison, Steve Roach, Sam Rosenthal, Drew Schlesinger, Don Slepian, Steve Smith, SynthTopia, the NAMM Museum, the MiDI Association, Real World Studios, Gerson Rosenbloom, Collin Russell, James Thirlwell, Pete Townshend, the Townshend Studio, and Andrew Ward"

Inside Tom Oberheim’s Garage Workshop

video upload by Anthony Marinelli Music

See the full interview here, and the SEM Story here.

"Step inside the legendary garage workshop of Tom Oberheim—the birthplace of some of the most iconic sounds in music history. In this rare behind-the-scenes tour, Tom shares his latest creation: a custom-built computer he’s designing entirely from scratch—just because he loves the way it sounds.

Along the way, Tom opens up his treasure chest of innovations, showing us priceless prototypes from his storied career, including the original Maestro Phase Shifter prototype and circuit boards that paved the way for his groundbreaking synthesizers.

I’m joined by Rob Rosen (Rosen Sound) and Marcus Ryle (Alesis, Line 6) as we hear directly from Tom himself, walking through this sacred space filled with history, innovation, and pure sonic imagination.
👉 Don’t miss this intimate glimpse into the genius of a true pioneer."

https://oberheim.com/

https://anthonymarinellimusic.com

This Little Box Changed Synths Forever | Tom Oberheim’s SEM Story

video upload by Anthony Marinelli Music

See the full interview here.

"How did the legendary Oberheim SEM (Synthesizer Expander Module) come to life? In this video, Tom Oberheim himself tells the story of how necessity became the mother of invention.
After creating the world’s first digital sequencer, Tom needed a dedicated synthesizer voice to play back the note information generated by the sequencer. His solution was the SEM — a compact, self-contained synth voice that could be sequenced while leaving a musician’s main synthesizer free to perform alongside it. This groundbreaking idea gave players entirely new creative possibilities and laid the foundation for some of the most influential instruments in music history. Join me, along with Rob Rosen (Rosen Sound) and Marcus Ryle (Alesis, Line 6), as we hear directly from Tom about the innovation that started it all.
👉 Discover how the SEM was born and why it changed the future of synthesis."

https://oberheim.com/

https://anthonymarinellimusic.com

The Secret to the "Oberheim Sound"

video upload by Anthony Marinelli Music

See the full interview here.

"Discover the true origin of the “Oberheim Sound” in this rare and revealing conversation. Legendary synth pioneer Tom Oberheim himself explains how he dialed in his iconic tone—locking himself in a room with nothing but a bag of resistors, capacitors, and an oscilloscope. Over several days, Tom tweaked and tuned until he was satisfied, even embracing a level of filter distortion that most engineers at the time would have rejected. That bold choice became the unmistakable warmth, grit, and musicality that defined the Oberheim legacy.

He’s joined by Marcus Ryle (Alesis, Line 6) and Rob Rosen (Rosen Sound) as they dive into the legacy of Oberheim instruments—from the SEM to the OB-series—and how they shaped music for artists like Prince, Stevie Wonder, Queen, and Daft Punk.

This is the inside story of how imperfection became perfection, and how one man’s vision changed music forever. Don’t miss this exclusive conversation with three icons of synthesis history."

https://oberheim.com/

https://anthonymarinellimusic.com

Tom Oberheim: The Genius Behind the Greatest Sounding Synthesizers

video upload by Anthony Marinelli Music

"Today, we’re at the home of Tom Oberheim — one of the original pioneers who shaped synthesizers and music history. Tom's legacy includes some of the most groundbreaking innovations: (a stand alone ring modulator, the first commercially available phase shifter pedal (my personal favorite), an early digital sequencer, the Oberheim DS-2, and the SEM the first commercially available polyphonic synthesizer made in 2, 4 and 8 voice models, followed by favorites such as the OB-X, OB-Xa, OB-8, Xpander, Matrix 12, DMX drum machine and more... of course, most importantly he gave us the unmistakable "Oberheim sound" on his entire collection of iconic synthesizers that have inspired compositions and performances on countless records by multiple generations of artists.

Joining me for this special interview is my friend Rob Rosen from Rosen Sound—talented musician and renowned expert in synth restoration and preservation, and someone who's worked closely for a while with Tom to keep Oberheim instruments and ALL vintage synthesizers alive for future generations of musicians.
We’ll also be joined by Marcus Ryle, who's done so much. Marcus began his career working closely with Tom, at Oberheim, was a session musician, designed dozens of affordable and accessible products for Alesis - including the ADAT multitrack recording, Quadraverb digital reverb, and HR-1 drum machine, and later co-founded Line 6 (creating innovative guitar effects and revolutionizing digital modeling technology). His insight into Tom’s innovations—and his own contributions in music history —makes this a rare, deeply meaningful conversation.
Let’s get into it."

https://oberheim.com/

https://anthonymarinellimusic.com

ARP at 100: The Alan R. Pearlman Celebrates the man behind the ARP Name on his 100th Birthday!

video upload by Alan R. Pearlman Foundation

"ARP@100 is a year-long celebration commemorating the 100th heavenly birthday of Alan R. Pearlman, inventor of ARP Synthesizers, but also a father, husband and futurist.

Join the Alan R. Pearlman Foundation and the world as we celebrate one of the synth worlds pivottal pioneers in musical instruments.

Detals: The history of ARP is one of innovation, of pioneering musical technology, of driving humanity forward, and of a genuine connection between circuits and souls.

There is a growing legacy of incredible music that keeps us going every day..
ARP makes us move. ARP tells us stories. And ARP takes us to new worlds.

As we celebrate the 100th birthday of our namesake, let's talk about the man who changed the world."

https://alanrpearlmanfoundation.org/

ARP 2500 to ARP Chroma Synths - Celebrating 100 Years of Alan R. Pearlman

video upload by Anthony Marinelli Music

"Join me and synth expert Rob Rosen as we honor the 100th birthday of Alan R. Pearlman, the visionary founder of ARP Instruments.

In this special tribute, we explore the evolution of ARP synthesizers—from the iconic ARP 2500 to the advanced Chroma. You'll get a rare, up-close look (and listen) at the panels, sounds, and inner workings of these legendary instruments that helped shape the sound of modern music.

These synths didn’t just make history—they are just as relevant today as they ever were!

Whether you're a synth fan, musician, or just love music tech history, this one’s for you.

Please join the ARP Foundation mailing list to support and stay current with the latest exciting synthesizer related events alanrpearlmanfoundation.org"

How the Synclavier & Cameron Jones Changed Music

video upload by Anthony Marinelli Music

"Step into the world of the Synclavier - the revolutionary instrument that forever changed how music and sound are created. Join me and tech expert Rob Rosen as we explore the visionary genius work and life story of Cameron Jones, co-inventor of the Synclavier. This incredible instrument redefined music production with its groundbreaking capabilities, high-res sampling to precise event editing, transforming the workflow for engineers, producers and filmmakers. Discover how the Synclavier altered the course of music history with its lasting impact on how composers could write music and what they co do with quick access to mind-blowing sounds. You'll also find out what Cameron sees for the future of music creation, expression, music tech and AI. This video is a must-watch for musicians, music lovers, inventors, tech enthusiasts...anyone with a dream!

00:00 - The Future is Now
01:08 - Video Intro
02:14 - How The Synclavier Change Music
09:39 - Early Days of Electronics
18:51 - N.E.D. The Digital Music Revolution Begins
33:06 - Selling a Dream
38:37 - Fearless Design
43:39 - Mainstream Success
51:05 - Iconic Design
1:04:57 - Synclavier Rises Again
1:09:23 - The Power of Digital
1:21:33 - Epilogue"

"The Chromed TONTO" - MASSIVE Live Modular Synthesizer w/ P-Thugg from Chromeo

video upload by Anthony Marinelli Music

Like a modern day TONTO - "The Chromed TONTO"

"Discover the unbelievable as Anthony and co-host Rob Rosen, synth tech to the stars, team up with special guest Patrick Gemayel, also known as P-Thugg from electro-funk duo "Chromeo," to unveil and construct the world's largest touring synthesizer - a towering 18 feet long and 8 feet tall, featuring 6 keyboards, all fully CHROMED! Dive into an epic unboxing and building session, culminating in an electrifying improvised synth jam.
In this captivating video, witness the step-by-step assembly of four colossal custom chrome modular synthesizer towers, drawing inspiration from iconic sources like Stevie Wonder’s TONTO synth, 1984 Bang & Olufsen speakers, and Seventies space-age furniture. Crafted and chromed by the legendary Roger Arrick from Synthesizers.com, these towers house cutting-edge modular synths with a unique behind-the-modules patching system, ensuring seamless performances with quick sound changes and full MIDI compatibility for patch cord free audience views.
Delve into the meticulous live performance setup of P-Thugg and his duo mate David Macklovitch (aka Dave 1), showcasing their mastery of Ableton Live and AbleSet for music playback, set lists, and lighting cues. Experience the behind-the-scenes magic as you join the conversation with the funk maestro "P" in his warehouse, where dreams of a chromed synth spectacle turned into reality. Don't miss out on this unforgettable journey into the heart of electro-funk innovation!

00:00:00 Intro (music)
00:00:55 Meet P-Thugg
00:01:11 Building the Modules / Jam 1
00:02:53 The MIDI Keyboards
00:04:53 Building the Tiers / Jam 2
00:06:33 Custom system by Synthesizers.com (https://shop.synthesizers.com)
00:12:15 Custom Tuner Module
00:13:10 Synthesizer Tuner Hack
00:14:10 Modular and Poly Synth Output Configuration
00:15:50 Look Mum, no patch cords - Hard Wired Presets
00:17:34 Culmination of a Modular Dream / Monster Polyphonic Dream Next
00:19:07 Building the MIDI / Jam 3
00:22:44 Fully Built Instrument (after 3 hours setting up)
00:24:05 Preset Patching System
00:29:47 Bypassing the Preset Patches
00:30:21 Switching Presets on Stage
00:33:40 Spontaneously Programming Sounds on Stage
00:34:42 P-Thugg's Favorite Sound
00:35:25 Presets Switch between Live Panel Settings
00:36:39 Re-creating the Album in a Live Setting
00:37:35 Changing The Face Panel
00:40:09 Patching the MIDI Polyphonic Synthesizer Keyboards
00:43:15 Tuning Drifting Oscillators - Custom Tuner Module
00:43:51 Connecting All 4 Modular Instruments
00:45:59 Cleaning the Chrome
00:46:35 MIDI Interface Routing
00:48:47 Moog Modular Flexibility with Minimoog Speed
00:49:14 Front Panel Tour
00:51:20 Overriding the Presets with Patch Cords / Multi-Mode Filter
00:53:34 AbleSet by Leolabs - Set Lists, MIDI Patch Changes, Ableton Live Playback connection (https://ableset.app)
00:56:10 Ableton Light Cues
00:57:02 DAW Software - Cubase, Pro Tools, Ableton Live
00:57:50 Adapting the Show to the Song
00:59:37 Chromeo's Mission
01:01:20 Conclusion
01:01:47 Logo (music)"

Anthony Marinelli Dr. Mix Rob Rosen Synth Jam 2 | CS80, EVS, OBX, OB8, Matrix12, Prophet, ARP2600

video upload by Anthony Marinelli Music

"Welcome to Synth Jam 2, the finale of the day when I introduced Rob Rosen to Dr. Mix during his visit to me in LA. This video showcases a live AMBIENT IMPROVISATION on monster vintage synths recorded at the Cabin Studio @ Rosen Sound. It features Dr. Mix on Oberheim OBX, OB8, Prophet 5 and Prophet VS, Rob Rosen on Oberheim 8 Voice & CS-80, and me, on CS-80, Oberheim Matrix 12 ands 2 ARP 2600's. Check it out...and please remember to visit Dr. Mix's channel on YouTube for a full tour of the Cabin with Master Synth Tech Rob Rosen. You'll be glad you did!"

Anthony Marinelli Doctor Mix Synth Jam 1 | CS80, 73 Moog Modular, FVS, ARP 2600

video upload by Anthony Marinelli Music

"Check out this explosive music track spontaneously created by Anthony Marinelli and Dr. Mix while jamming on some of the monster synthesizers that live in the Rosen Sound Cabin. including: CS80, 73 Moog Modular, FVS, ARP 2600!!!!!"

Welcome To The Synthesizer Nirvana

video upload by Doctor Mix

"Today I get exclusive access to The Synth Cabin room at @RosenSound, L.A.'s leading sythesizer repair and customization lab. @anthonymarinellimusic and I join the legendary Rob Rosen for a in depth studio tour and a dense all-synthesizer jam session."

Also see Rob Rosen Reveals His Ultimate Synth Collection

Rob Rosen Reveals His Ultimate Synth Collection

video upload by Anthony Marinelli Music

A look inside the Yamaha CS80, the 14th ever made Sequential Prophet-5, a Rev 1, and a Roland Juno-106, touching on some of the evolution of analog synthesis technology over the years.

"I hope you enjoy this rare opportunity to visit with my close friend Rob Rosen for a deep dive into his ultimate vintage synth collection. Together, we’ll see inside some of the rarest synthesizers of all-time and learn from this master technician how synthesizers have evolved, what makes them tick and why synthesizers make such cool sounds!

I consider Rob’s shop @Rosen Sound ground zero for anything relating to synthesizers. It’s also the biggest wonderland of vintage synths in perfect working order that you’ll ever see .

Rob is a self-taught technician and is now the world leader for repair, restoration, custom manufacturing and sales of vintage synthesizers. He’s also quite an accomplished musician programmer and keyboard player as well."

Chapter Time Stamps:
00:00:01 Intro Anthony on the street in Burbank, CA
00:01:55 Entering Inside Rosen Sound
00:02:06 Meeting “P” from Chromeo and The Rosen Sound Team
00:03:06 Rob shows us his personal work space
00:11:42 Montage of Synths - Start
00:12:35 Montage of Synths - End
00:12:36 Anthony and Rob in “The Cabin” - a wonderland of vintage synths
00:13:42 Anthony explains and demonstrates features on the CS-80
00:20:36 CS-80 “Under the Hood” in-depth tour by Rob
00:53:31 Prophet 5 “Under the Hood” in-depth tour by Rob
01:12:50 Anthony Demonstrates some of the Juno 106 sounds
01:19:27 Juno-106 “Under the Hood” in-depth tour by Rob
01:28:54 One-of-a-Kind Oberheim Modular 8 Voice System tour by Rob
01:35:31 Anthony asks Rob 20 Questions about Synthesizers
01:39:09 Rob asks Anthony some Questions about Synthesizers
01:49:47 Bass Shootout: 1973 Moog System 55 VS ARP 2600
01:54:54 Shoot Out Conclusion and Bass Tips