The Attic 3: Product Tour video upload by Soniccouture
"A sonic tour of some of the 600 presets in Soniccouture's The Attic 3 VST synth collection."
The Attic 3 is a collection of 24 different quirky electronic oddities. Because these days
you can buy a knock-off of every classic synth there is, instead Soniccouture dig around
the margins of music production history for the rare or the forgotten.
Analogue pianos, funky organs, glassy digital boxes, vocal synths, string machines.
Soniccouture sample every single key, then model the filters and envelopes. This gives a
unique imprint of the vintage character in a way that code-based software synths can’t."
"Nothing special here, just playing with cross-modulation after I finished service and troubleshoot of the unit. I like the way the different parts are interacting and the resulting sound."
I just recently came accross this one and thought it was worth sharing, if anything for the nun with the SYNTHI below. It immediately reminded me of the Every Nun Needs a SYNTHI ads. According to the article that the image is from, they formed around 1981. The article is in French and has one NSFW (not safe for work) image of a breast - fair warning if you pop it up with someone else within eyesight: [French | Googlish]. The following is the bit pertinent to synths followed by a translation of the full article. You can find the release via BandCamp above or in the article from Born Bad Records. I also wanted to post this for the way the female singer enunciates those lyrics.
"While they started out like everyone else, playing flute and acoustic guitar and listening to King Crimson, the arrival of synthesizers on the European music scene completely redefined their direction: they cut their hair, donned ties, and replaced Indian tapestries with Venetian curtains. Kraftwerk had clearly had an influence. It was around an EMS AKS synthesizer, a Roland SH101, and a Roland TR808 drum machine that the four friends gathered in their home studio to compose the carefree and joyful electronic and exotic tunes that are the hallmark of Chacha Guitry. The group thus chose to climb the sunny side of New Wave, the one taken by the B-52's or Isabelle Antena, rather than its dark side, cluttered with the heirs of Joy Division. The boys programmed the machines, while the girls created minimalist, geometric costumes using whatever materials were at hand (paper rather than fabric). Together they immortalize their youth on Polaroid, take glue and scissors to assemble photomontages in the style of their Dadaist idols."
"Are you a fan of early Pink Floyd and their keyboardist, Richard Wright? We are too! We faithfully recreated his early setup and our Education Associate Mike Kiker delivers an instrumental remake of their beloved song, 'Echoes'. If you want to see a full technical rundown of the setup, go check out Episode 1 of 'Inside The Mix: Richard Wright'."
Hammond M-111, Farfisa Compact Duo CD/30, Fender Rhodes, piano, EMS SYNTHI AKS, and VCS3 Putney.
"This is 'The Holy Grail of Holy Grails' and I am so excited to offer this for sale on behalf of the second owner from new. This is an EMS Synthi Hi Fli, but the crazy thing about this is it's serial No. 1. This is THE first production Hi Fli ever built, produced immediately after the 10 prototype units, this is the very first production example to leave EMS. Even more remarkable, prototypes #9 and #10 remain in the hands of David Gilmour, placing this instrument directly in the lineage of those legendary examples. It was purchased many years ago from its original owner, this extraordinary survivor remains astonishingly complete, retaining its original pedals, manuals, factory schematic, original demo cassette, and accompanying original components—a level of completeness that is almost never seen. It's just undergone an incredible service by a leading UK tech, so it's quite literally ready to go! Museum-worthy. Investment-grade. Virtually impossible to replicate. This is one of them. What a privilege to offer it for sale. Please see the pictures below as they form part of my description. Grab a rarity!"
"A short excerpt from today's session: sending a drum machine into the Synthi audio input.
No post processing, no EQ or else. Direct output to audio interface."
1. 07.10.2026 EMS Synthi AKS - The sweet spot
2. 07.10.2026 EMS Synthi AKS [01]
3. 07.10.2026 EMS Synthi AKS [03]
4. 07.12.2026 EMS Rehberg Synthi AKS
5. 07.12.2026 One minute with EMS Rehberg Synthi AKS [01]
7. 07.12.2026 One minute with EMS Rehberg Synthi AKS [02]
8. 07.12.2026 Half a minute with EMS Rehberg Synthi AKS
"Up for sale is a super rare Macbeth Elements EL2 analog synth, hand-built by Ken MacBeth back in 2019 in extremely limited run of only 30 units, as said by himself - the best ever analog synth he ever built in his life… Described by him as “Elements on steroids, circuit wise”. Please do not mislead this with a regular silvers Elements - EL2 is one of a kind the way different unit. It features a striking black aluminium chassis, gold plated touch up keyboard and a very deep vintage style circuitry using through-hole components and 70’s vintage new old stock semiconductors and metal ICs. Three highly versatile discrete voltage controlled oscillators with individual audio outputs and advanced sync capabilities, classic architecture with subtractive signal path featuring unconventional filter slopes, a built-in spring reverb and a tape echo simulator. All this mixed up with a wide-ranging modulators and large tactile potentiometers for deep sound sculpting. Also, Ken decided to completely remove MIDI support making the priority to CV: he noted that most musicians use the instrument with Control Voltage and modular setups anyway. Removing MIDI parts freed up physical space and optimised the pure analog circuitry. VCO1 and VCO2 now get their own knobs instead of sharing just one. New spring reverberation circuit in EL2 provides a much deeper, different sound than the first model. Cross-modulation expanded as well: VCO3 syncs to VCO2 and VCO2 can now syncs to VCO1 directly. Of course, inspired of the legendary EMS Synthi, but ones you came across both in one room - you will definitely can’t choose which one is better here. EL2 will be never produced again and it’s already a holy grail in the world of analog synths. This exact one is number 15 of 30. Comes with the original power supply. Everything you can see in the pics is included in that sale. Was a beloved studio toy, but now it’s time to go! In excellent overall and technical condition. Please see all pics cause they are a part of description. Free shipping within the US from Brooklyn, NY. International shipping from Brooklyn, NY to any place in the world with a tax free service."
Pics of the inside and the user manual below.
"This edition is rare, and cannot be found anywhere as a set. Made by EMS London, and works differently than the Synthi A, although it appears to be the same. Here is a breakdown of what you get below:
In addition to the power supply, new patch cables as well as the original patch cables (standard mini jack), the lid of the "suitcase synthesis" and the original manual (or textbook) are included.
The modules of the EMS Synthis work perfectly, the overall sound and especially the filter sound very high-quality.
VCO – Voltage Controlled Oscillator • with the vibration forms sine, sawtooth, triangle and rectangle with external control voltage input for pulse width modulation • VCF – Voltage Controlled Filter • Multimode filter with 12 dB slope, low-pass, high-pass, band-pass and phaser • LFO – Low Frequency Oscillator • with the vibration forms sine and rectangle • SRG – Slow Ramp Generator •
with the vibration form sawtooth • NG – Noise Generator • the noise generator offers white noise • EG – Envelope Generator (Envelope Shaper) • A-D-S-R • RM – Ring Modulator • INV – Inverter • SL – Slew Limiter (Portamento) • EF – Envelope Follower • External Audio Input • Output/Mix • Control Inputs"
"This is an excellent original example of the highly sought-after EMS Synthi AKS. Our client has owned the instrument for over 40 years and used it primarily for home recording until approximately 1995, after which it was stored.
Following inspection, the Synthi AKS was sent to EMS for a full service, with repairs carried out where required. This recent factory-authorised servicing by EMS significantly reduces the uncertainty often associated with vintage Synthi ownership.
Serial number: 45138KS
Cosmetic Appraisal:
The instrument remains in excellent original, unmodified condition. The control surface shows only light age-related wear consistent with a Synthi AKS of this vintage. The Spartanite case presents well, with some marks from use, and the nickel catches and hinges show an expected aged patina while operating correctly. No keys are supplied for the case locks.
This EMS Synthi AKS arrived with a heavily worn set of original matrix pins. To address this, a complete new set has been purchased directly from EMS and is included in the sale.
The service by EMS covered all the critical items, including replacement of ageing power-regulation capacitors, deep cleaning, and calibration. In addition, the following work was carried out by EMS at our request:
1. VCO stabilisation modification implemented
2. All three VCO potentiometers replaced
3. Joystick potentiometer replaced
4. Full set of twenty-one new matrix pins supplied
Details of the repairs carried out by EMS are itemised in the service invoice, a copy of which will be supplied to the new owner. As the manufacturer has carried out the servicing and repairs, we are satisfied that the instrument is operating correctly and it is therefore sold with our 90-day warranty.
This Synthi AKS operates on either 240V or 110V mains supplies via the built-in voltage selector."
"Tubbutec upgraded MC-2oh2 is master of ceremony here. It plays the 202 voice on channel one and Synthi on channel 2 (via Portabellabz CV/gate card). I must say that - quite unexpectedly - this small powerhouse by @tubbutec has turned into a hub of my present live rig. It’s that versatile and fun to play."
You can find posts on MATRIXSYNTH featuring Jack Hotop here for a look back on his influence in the synthesizer community. The first post was a simple pic back in 2006.
Press release from Korg follows:
Over a 40-Year Career, the Influential Synthesist and Accomplished Touring Keyboardist Shaped the Sonic Architecture of More Than 100 Landmark Instruments, Including the Historic M1 Workstation
MELVILLE, N.Y. - Korg USA announces with deep sadness the passing of longtime employee, celebrated sound designer, and musical instrument industry icon Jack Hotop. Joining Korg USA (then Unicord) in 1983, Hotop started as Senior Voicing Manager and spent over four decades driving the development, sound design, programming, voicing, and product demonstrations for more than 100 Korg products. As a pioneering engineer and exceptionally skilled performer, his extensive contributions helped guide the evolution of synthesizers and digital workstations from the early 1980s through the modern era, leaving an indelible imprint on instruments used by musicians around the world and for generations to come.
Hotop’s foundational expertise was anchored in a rigorous musical and technical background. Raised in a musical family, he began piano lessons at age seven, inspired by his father, a musician featured on several Broadway cast recordings, and numerous pianists on his mother’s side. By age 14, he was actively performing in local bands on a Gibson 101 organ. He pursued formal training at the Berklee College of Music, majoring in arranging, composition, and accompaniment, before expanding into emerging music technology at the Boston School of Electronic Music under Roger Powell. It was there that Hotop established his core synthesis fundamentals using early hardware including the ARP Odyssey, 2600, 2500, and EMS Synthi, building a deep understanding of waveforms, envelopes, low-frequency oscillators, and modulators.
"In 1973, Pink Floyd released 'The Dark Side of the Moon', one of the most influential albums of all time. The track 'On the Run' is famous for its use of the Synthi AKS, a classic London-made analog synthesizer by EMS (Electronic Music Studios).
Today I’d like to show you how to recreate the iconic sequence of that track on an EMS Synthi A, then show how to program it on a Moog Mother-32, and finally how to patch it in a Eurorack system."
"The Erica Synths Syntrx II is one of the most talked-about synthesizers of recent years — but three years on from its release, is it still worth your money? In this in-depth review and demo, I finally get hands-on with this modern spiritual successor to the legendary EMS VCS3 and EMS Synthi, and I want to bust two big myths: it's NOT as complicated as it looks, and it's NOT just a crazy sci-fi sound effects machine. 🎹 What's covered in this video:
-Syntrx II vs the original EMS VCS3 / EMS Synthi — key similarities and differences -Syntrx II vs Syntrx I — what changed and why -The 16x16 digital pin matrix explained simply -Using the Syntrx II as a standard 3-oscillator monosynth -The trapezoid (looping) envelope in practice -All-analog signal path walkthrough -Onboard 3-channel sequencer, DSP reverb and delay, envelope follower FM, self-oscillation, noise modulation, and filter techniques -Sample & hold circuit — how to set it up -The joystick as an LFO / recording modulation source -MIDI setup tips (offset fix, CC assignments for X and Y axes) -Patch saving — what it DOES and DOESN'T save, and why it matters -Honest pros and cons
🎵 Extended drone demo — 5 minutes of the Syntrx II running a single live patch with the trapezoid looping envelope, FM, noise, filter modulation via joystick, and DSP effects. The full version was over 10 minutes — it really is that good.
💷 Price context: Original EMS Synthis now sell for £24,000+. The Syntrx II comes in under £2,000. If you've ever wanted that Synthi sound without selling a kidney, this might be your answer."
This Instrument is made for Soundscapes, Pads, FX and Cinematic Sounds.
We freshly Recorded and meticulously prepared 255 Samples from our extensive Vintage Synthesizer Collection from Synthesizer Museum/Studio Berlin for our updated version of the popular SYSTEM FLOW Grain Sampler. For this update we specially curated and prepared a huge Sound Library for a rich Soundpallette. Additional Overdrive & Tape Delay style FX for each Sample Engine. New Filters and Modulation Routing Options New Samples & Presets for version 2.0
NEW: ADSR and MPE capabilities. Choose your favorite Style of playing. Choose ADSR for regular Keyboard playing. DRONE for Chillout and Sessions where you just want to play a chord and let SYSTEM FLOW 2.0 do it’s thing. Use MPE for a full polyphonic experience with poly Pitch-bend and controls for the Filters and LFOs with pressure and Slide.
Additional Routing capabilities. Filter & Sample read Position can now be modulated from all 6 Modulation Sources.
NEW FILTERS: virtual Analog Filters with Drive, Boost & HP options. Same as the Filter used for X-FLOW.
NEW FX per Sample Slot: We added a Tape Delay and Overdrive Distortion to each Sample Engine
New A & B View for a streamlined Workflow. Simple B View if you just want to play the Presets and or just want to drop some Samples into the engine or go to A view for a full experience with all parameters exposed. Same goes for the Reverb engine.
More Presets for the Reverb and a streamlined UI Mix/Match & randomize each Parameter of the Reverb and make your own combinations of the Independent Granular Engine and Reverb Presets. More than 80 different Reverb Presets.
Komplete Kontrol & Maschine ready Just add the Instrument to your User Library and browse the Presets from there with the 8 most important Knobs. KK & Maschine open System FLOW 2.0 with the simple B view. Press the + Sign to reach the full A view.
Synths Samples that we recorded for SYSTEM FLOW: Jupiter 4, Prophet 10, SH-2, SYSTEM 700, ARP 2600, Broken OB-X, CS-80, EMS SYNTHI AKS, MEMORYMOOG, MINIMOOG, ADDTIONAL RECORDINGS: Guitar, Field Recordings, GLITCH NOISES, SPACE SAMPLES, SSB SCI-FI BRAHM’s
Requiers: FULL NI REAKTOR 6.5 or up
Comes with: Presets: 30 Samples: 255 File Size: 547 MB packed 296 MB as ZIP for easy Download"
Click the auction link on top when you get there for additional listings.
Pic of the inside below.
"This auction is for an original 1971 Mk1 EMS Synthi A synthesiser, serial number 4118, in its Spartanite case. The case has a few marks and scratches as befitting a 55 year old instrument, but no chips or breaks. The latches, although showing some corrosion, work perfectly.
The Synthi front panel is one of the cleanest we’ve seen, being almost immaculate with virtually no panel marks and, unusually, no writing or marking absent or worn from the screen printing. In addition this example comes with the early chrome mirror finish knobs.
The internals are extremely clean and original with no modifications (see photo#4 now under the wrong thumbnail) and the unit has the genuine GE PA234 audio amplifier devices for the outputs and reverb.
The unit has been fully tested by one of the three or four people in the world who can call themselves EMS experts. It has been aligned and found to be working perfectly, and consequently given the original condition of the unit, no capacitors have been replaced. The original ones are working fine and show no signs of leakage or decay. However while the existing pots are electrically good with no scratchiness, some are a mechanically stiffer than current production models and the buyer might wish to have these replaced. This can be done at additional cost either here in the UK by EMS experts Lucid or by the buyer’s own engineer.
The Synthi comes with a full set of 20 patch pins and a new UK 240VAC mains lead (not shown). (Observant viewers may notice the absence of the usual Synthi A plastic name plate which usually adorns the outer case. This isn’t missing, but was simply never fitted as there are no holes for it, perhaps because of the early serial number. In addition the rear case is attached by four factory fitted screws and bushings, rather than the more usual arrangement of three)."
