"EMS VCS3 field trial by Studio Sound. Four large pages, b/w, Used, Good condition, 1971 vintage original, no punch holes, no writing, no highlights, no tears, no stamp. No returns, no refunds. Time keeps on slipping into the future."
00:00 Opening Titles
00:17 Introduction
01:27 Switched On 80s
16:14 Synthesiser Club
19:48 Commercial Break
23:57 Patching Today
35:04 Little Black Boxes
38:53 Video Lab
44:22 Outro
SWITCHED ON 80s - This third series takes an in-depth look into six classic 80s synthesisers, selected because of their interesting and unique attributes
SYNTHESISER CLUB - A short musical demonstration of a synthesiser classic or three, concentrating on 'families' of synths
COMMERCIAL BREAK - Some shameless Memetune shilling
PATCHING TODAY - A deep-dive into vintage modular systems and how to set up a patch on them, starting from scratch, this time using Cybersynthesis techniques to bring an element of surprise to the patches
LITTLE BLACK BOXES - A further look at some classic rack mount studio gear of the 80s and 90s
VIDEO LAB - A look at old video equipment and how to create experimental visuals, concentrating on a specific device in each episode
SWITCHED ON 80s - A detailed presentation on FM synthesis and its history, looking at the DK Synergy (as used on the Tron soundtrack), but mainly the Yamaha DX series of synths
Click the auction link on top when you get there for additional listings.
VEMIA is Peter Forrest's auction house. He is the author of The A-Z of Analogue Synthesizer Books.
"**** PRICED TO SELL!**** Original EMS Synthi oscillator board housed in a custom 63hp eurorack panel by Hinton Instruments. It has a few of the modifications Hinton carries out on synthi's such as shape c/v input, hi/lo range switch, variable sync with sync source switch. As far as I'm aware Graham has only done a couple of these. I'm the second owner. It has some rackrash marks from the previous owner. The module needs a strong stable power supply. I have used it with a Doepfer power supply for years and the module operates properly. But the module did not operate in a stable manner with Intellijel or 4ms power supplies. It also comes with a mint condition Klavis CalTrans eurorack module (boxed) which I have used in order to get a stable and wider pitch range. After shipment the buyer may need to calibrate the vco tuning. The oscillator board comes with its eurorack power cable. When the panel is not mounted in a case there is a very slight bend in the module front panel. When the module is mounted in a case the slight bend is not visible. 63hp."
Click the auction link on top when you get there for additional listings.
VEMIA is Peter Forrest's auction house. He is the author of The A-Z of Analogue Synthesizer Books.
"This is the second and sadly last Putney / DK.1 combo to come to VEMIA from Cardiff University Electronic Music Studio - one of the first and biggest electronic music studios in the world, with six VCS3s and then a Synthi 100. Another of the VCS3s from the studio is the featured instrument in the Wikipedia article https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/02/EMS_VCS_3.jpg - note the exact same type of security tag and engraving (E M Studio). The Wikipedia one is s/n 143. This Putney / VCS3 is s/n 377. The DK.1 is s/n 2090. Cosmetic condition is very good for things that are over 50 years old. There is considerable wear to the top panel silk-screening, and a few minor marks in the woodwork, but otherwise everything is lovely. The silk-screening around the matrix is in excellent condition - much better than average - and the matrix itself is very good. As well as looking great, they are in perfect working order, thoroughly serviced in September 2024 by EMS expert Lucid. The servicing includes replacement of all noisy pots and a correct set of matrix pins, all proper spec and sourced from Robin Wood at EMS. (Total invoice just under £1K). The extra switch on the DK.1 reverses the dynamic voltage from the keyboard - perhaps in response to Carlos' criticism about the voltage as originally designed being negative. Lucid suspects this is an original EMS mod (and is identical to the other Cardiff Uni model we auctioned in April). **Now with one of Robin Wood's excellent padded covers for the VCS3 - money very well spent indeed. ** Packing at VEMIA: 30GBP."
Click the auction link on top when you get there for additional listings.
VEMIA is Peter Forrest's auction house. He is the author of The A-Z of Analogue Synthesizer Books.
"This special Synthi-E was in prior use by a music school for the blind and the panel was damaged by the sign language stickers hence we decide to be serviced. It just came back from service from EMS experts Portabellabz (Invoice included) - It was modified for 3,5mm jacks instead of the non-standard jacks. - A new power supply is also supplied. - As the Slider Keyboard was unable to restore, it was decided to put in just a 'panel' instead of the actual slider keyboard. Parts are included in the purchase if you want to convert it. - Due to the age, pots are still scratchy despite being cleaned, but this gets substancially better when used more often. Panel has been reworked by Audiocustom.pl - Service alone is around 1400 EUR worth."
"Something no-one asked for but it's here anyway... I was fascinated by the idea of Richard processing drums in things like the MS20, but rather than go down that route I figured I'd have a go at Ventolin using the spiritual ancestor of the EMS Synthi, the Erica Synths Syntrx II.
Chapters below -
0:00 Intro
1:30 Thought process and motivation
3:17 Syntrx II Demos
8:17 Parts for Ventolin
11:00 Track!
It's not 100% (obviously) and I didn't go to the trouble of changing the parts up too much. I think the drums are samples - there are bits in the original that sound like they're being played backwards which gives the game away - but the Syntrx is way more than 'just' a monosynth, and makes some very weird sounds so I sort of went with it."
"Nel nostro laboratorio Alphalab Audio di Torino, specializzato nella riparazione e restauro di strumenti musicali elettronici, abbiamo avuto il piacere di lavorare su un EMS SYNTI AKS che proprio in questi mesi ha compiuto 50 anni!
Lo strumento presentava diverse modifiche eseguite nel tempo e non perfettamente funzionanti, il proprietario ci ha quindi commissionato un ripristino totale della macchina.
E' stata rivista la matrice, sono stati cambiati i pot con gli originali multi-giro, sono stati sostituiti alcuni componenti non più performanti ed è stata eseguita la taratura completa.
Anche la tastiera è stata restaurata e tarata.
Se hai un synth o uno strumento musicale elettronico da restaurare, affidati ai nostri tecnici!"
Googlish:
"In our Alphalab Audio laboratory in Turin, specialized in the repair and restoration of electronic musical instruments, we had the pleasure of working on an EMS SYNTI AKS that just recently turned 50!
The instrument had several modifications made over time and not working perfectly, so the owner commissioned us to completely restore the machine.
The matrix was revised, the pots were changed with the original multi-turn ones, some components that were no longer performing were replaced and the complete calibration was performed.
The keyboard was also restored and calibrated.
If you have a synth or an electronic musical instrument to restore, trust our technicians!"
"Batch of EMS brochures, technical documentation, photographs and advertisements + chrome sticker
"**** PRICED TO SELL!**** Original EMS Synthi oscillator board housed in a custom 63hp eurorack panel by Hinton Instruments. It has a few of the modifications Hinton carries out on synthi's such as shape c/v input, hi/lo range switch, variable sync with sync source switch. As far as I'm aware Graham has only done a couple of these. I'm the second owner. It has some rackrash marks from the previous owner. The module needs a strong stable power supply. I have used it with a Doepfer power supply for years and the module operates properly. But the module did not operate in a stable manner with Intellijel or 4ms power supplies. It also comes with a mint condition Klavis CalTrans eurorack module (boxed) which I have used in order to get a stable and wider pitch range. After shipment the buyer may need to calibrate the vco tuning. The oscillator board comes with its eurorack power cable. When the panel is not mounted in a case there is a very slight bend in the module front panel. When the module is mounted in a case the slight bend is not visible. 63hp."
"This is the second and sadly last Putney / DK.1 combo to come to VEMIA from Cardiff University Electronic Music Studio - one of the first and biggest electronic music studios in the world, with six VCS3s and then a Synthi 100. Another of the VCS3s from the studio is the featured instrument in the Wikipedia article https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/02/EMS_VCS_3.jpg - note the exact same type of security tag and engraving (E M Studio). The Wikipedia one is s/n 143. This Putney / VCS3 is s/n 377. The DK.1 is s/n 2090. Cosmetic condition is very good for things that are over 50 years old. There is considerable wear to the top panel silk-screening, and a few minor marks in the woodwork, but otherwise everything is lovely. The silk-screening around the matrix is in excellent condition - much better than average - and the matrix itself is very good. As well as looking great, they are in perfect working order, thoroughly serviced in September 2024 by EMS expert Lucid. The servicing includes replacement of all noisy pots and a correct set of matrix pins, all proper spec and sourced from Robin Wood at EMS. (Total invoice just under £1K).
"EMS AKS SYNTHI
