E-mu Emulator III - Service Training Video

video upload by MuStudio

"Here is a video that was shared with me by Kevin Monahan and his wife (she was the one who recorded and edited it at the time).

The main narrator is Tim Swartz, who headed the maintenance department at E-mu Systems.
Hello and welcome to this E-mu Systems Emulator III maintenance video.
To help you better understand and maintain the Emulator III, we have created this maintenance video.
It includes an overview of the EIII, covering both the standalone EIII and its system integration.
We will discuss disassembly procedures, technical modification orders, calibration, and basic troubleshooting."

SynthFest 2018 - Synclavier History by Jean-Bernard Emond

video upload by SynthFest France

This one is in via Jean-Bernard Emond. Click CC at the bottom of the player for subtitles. This is an older video from 2018 but still interesting. This is also a good reminder that SynthFest France 2026 is happening this weekend: https://www.synthfestfrance.com.

"I invite you to revisit my short 2018 talk (33 minutes), still relevant today, on the history of digital synthesis—specifically FM synthesis. It covers everything from the NED Synclavier to Yamaha’s FM machines, and ends with the audio engines from the Hal Alles family tree (ATT Bell Labs), starting with the Alles Synth, then the Crumar GDS, and finally the DKI Synergy."

Jean-Bernard Emond also sent in the following links:

The latest on WaveFrame’s AudioFrame: https://mustudio.fr/2026/04/17/waveframe-corporation-audioframe-2/

"And another previous piece on audio in NeXT computers, especially focusing on what was developed at the IRCAM and CCRMA research centers: https://mustudio.fr/2024/06/21/sound-on-the-next/"

UVI made a virtual AudioFrame previously featured here.

See the WaveFrame label below for a handful of posts on the site.

Technos Axcel - vidéo de démonstration

MuStudio

Super rare resynthesis synthesizer. See this post for demos from the creator and this post for demos from Perfect Circuit. See the Acxel label for additional posts.

Description for the video above (Googlish below): "Cette vidéo a été retrouvée dans les archives de Michel Geiss, j'estime qu'elle a été enregistrée vers 1988-89.

La qualité n'est pas extraordinaire car la vidéo était enregistrée sur une cassette VHS au format NTSC et elle commençait à présenter de signes de fatigue, je l'ai numérisée moi-même.

Mais le plus important, c'est la rareté d'un tel document. En plus, c'est suffisamment rare et exceptionnel qu'il soit en langue française - québecoise."

Googlish:

"This video was found in the archives of Michel Geiss, I believe it was recorded around 1988-89.

The quality is not extraordinary as the video was recorded on a VHS tape in NTSC format and it was starting to show signs of fatigue, I digitized it myself.

But the most important is the rarity of such a document. In addition, it is sufficiently rare and exceptional that it is in French - Quebecois language. "

ARP Pro Soloist

MuStudio

Visite chez Laurent Lecatelier (BALORAN)

Published on Jan 23, 2020 MuStudio

"Laurent Lecatelier nous propose une petite démonstration de deux Rivers en phase de tests / montage."

"Laurent Lecatelier offers us a small demonstration of two Rivers in the testing / assembly phase."

Judy Jackson performs on the Alles Machine

Published on Feb 2, 2017 Timara Department

"Judy Jackson live performance (2016) on the repurposed Alles Machine in the TIMARA Studios, Oberlin Conservatory: http://www.timara.oberlin.edu

You can read information about the Alles Machine here: timara.con.oberlin.edu/jtalbert/Alles/alles.pdf

See the video of Laurie Spiegel playing the Alles Machine in 1977:"

Improvisation on a "Concerto Generator" (1977)

Uploaded on Oct 9, 2010 MuStudio

"Laurie Spiegel Playing the Bell Labs Digital Synthesizer, better known as the Alles Machine or Alice, was an experimental additive synthesizer designed by Harold G. Alles and Douglas Bayer at Bell Labs in 1977-78.

This composition was commissioned by Bell Labs and the Motion Picture Academy for the 50th anniversary of talking pictures. Working with the Alles synthesizer, with its extensive array of input and output channels for control, was a real pleasure after years of GROOVE's extreme restrictions. The interactive software I wrote for this composition recycles the player's keyboard input into an ongoing accompaniment. However, writing the software from a remote DEC PDP-11 computer (see also the PDP-11 FAQ and PDP Music Survey) in the new "C" computer language still undergoing frequent change, within a still-experimental UNIX operating system, without the control inputs or sonic output, under a tight deadline, while the Alles synthesizer hardware was still under construction, turned out to be quite an adventure.

It can orchestrate and perfome musicale scores as fast as a composer at its controls can think them up; create previously unheard musical sounds; and raise or lower the pitch of an instrument or human voice in real time-instantly-so that a man speaking into a microphone can be made sound like Donald Duck or Ezio Pinza. The machine divides sound into its frequencies and amplitudes, processing it un up to 200 million operations per sesond.

For more information look :
http://www.retiary.org/ls/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_Lab...
http://timara.con.oberlin.edu/~jtalbe..."

Fairlight Series IIX System on MATRIXSYNTH CLASSIFIEDS - Demo Video

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
Uploaded on Jun 29, 2015 Dylan Wahl

via MATRIXSYNTH CLASSIFIEDS

"This Series IIX system is in decent but not perfect condition. There are paint blemishes and scratches. The lightpen is a Fastpoint replacement, not Fairlight original. The alphanumeric keyboard is missing, I have been using my laptop with a serial cable but am working on a USB keyboard adapter. I start having parity errors when the room temperature is above 75 degrees. It has the MuStudio SD card interface. Photos coming, in the meantime check out the video. Sorry about sound quality, it's monitoring the headphone output, through an ampex speaker, through the cell phone mic... I'll try to do another demo using my UA apollo. Offers considered, I paid $8000 in non-running condition but I think that was a little high."

Update: pics added.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Happy New Year! The Year in Synths 2013

Happy New Year Everyone!

What a busy year it has been in the world of synths.

This is going to be one doozy of a post, so bear with me. This post is a review of the year in synths for 2013. We begin with Tributes to Those We Lost This Year, followed by New Manufacturers & Makers, Older Manufacturers Added to the Site, New Gear Announcements, Top 10 Posts by Traffic,  My Standout Posts for the Year, and finally This Years' Synth Events. I did my best to keep things as short and concise as possible.

Let's begin with the hardest part of the post.

Tributes to Those We Lost This Year

RIP Bernard Parmegiani - Electronic & Acoustic Composer
Lou Reed RIP
RIP Dick Raaymakers aka Kid Baltan
RIP George Duke - DreamWeaver
RIP Ralph Dyck, Sept 28, 1941 – May 20, 2013
RIP Ray Manzarek

All missed and never to be forgotten. Take a moment to remember them.

------

New Manufacturers & Makers

Starting last January, I decided to keep a running list of every new manufacturer and maker introduced to the site during the year.  This is something I haven't done before and I thought it would be interesting to see how many there were in the year.   It's easy to focus on the big synth announcements throughout the year, but what about all the new makers and brands? I shouln't have to go considerably into the significance of new designers on the scene, so I'll just say two things regarding them.  One, the number of new makers is a direct reflection on the interest in our scene, and two, these are the creators of new gear which directly translate into new designs not previously available to us.  Think about that for a moment.  These are makers and designs that did not exist before.  They are part of our synth history.  So what is the total count of new synth designers for the year? A whopping 113. Think about that a bit. One hundred and thirteen new synth designers and brands this year alone.

Here they are (note a handful date back to 2012, but 2013 marked their momentum and availability):

CLICK FOR MORE »

Fairlight - Flash Kit & QDOS Boot Kit

Published on Aug 24, 2013 jbfairlight·51 videos

"Examples of reading and writing from the 8'' floppy drive and Flash drive. More information soon on =- mustudio.fr -="


QDOS boot on Flash Kit for Fairlight C.M.I.
Published on Aug 24, 2013

"QDOS boot on Flash Kit for Fairlight C.M.I. more information soon on -= mustudio.fr =-"


OS-9 boot on Flash Kit for Fairlight C.M.I.
Published on Aug 25, 2013

"Microware OS-9 boot on Flash Kit for Fairlight C.M.I. more information soon on -= mustudio.fr =-"

E-mu - Emulator I

Published on Jul 28, 2013 jbfairlight·49 videos

"Petite démonstration d'un E-mu Emulator I que j'ai réparé. J'en ai également profité pour lui ajouter un lecteur HxC et surtout maintenir l'utilisation du lecteur 5 1/4" d'origine. Le kit est disponible sur commande sur mon site mustudio.fr"

IRCAM ISPW (Ircam Signal Processing Workstation)

YouTube Published on Apr 17, 2012 by jbfairlight

via jbrairlight in the comments of 1996 MARS (Musical Audio Research Station) Synthesizer
IRCAM stands for the Institut de Recherche et Coordination Acoustique/Musique and is located in Paris. See the IRCAM label below for more including Buchla. Some posts that stand out include a Q&A on the Acxel II Resynthesizer and the Sogitec 4X and Spaceware on the PDP-1.

You'll spot a Fairlight and Synclavier in the above video as well.

Googlish translation of the YouTube description (original in French below):

CLICK FOR MORE »

Oberheim OB-X

YouTube Uploaded by jbfairlight on Mar 27, 2012

"Des grenouilles testent un Oberheim OB-X !
Et cela toujours après un barbecue du bon vin et des bières rafraichissantes :)

http://mustudio.fr"

New MIDI Kit for Elka Synthex

Some additional info on the kit previously posted here.

"The MIDI KIT is composed of many pieces. It offers to a Synthex
synthesizer the possibility to have a MIDI communication.

MIDI KIT consists of the following elements :
1. Documentation is absolutely necessary to install the MIDI KIT
2. One MIDI BOARD
3. One wire to connect the MIDI interface with the Synthex CPU Board
4. One wire to connect the MIDI interface with the outside of the Synthex
5. One wire to connect the ouside of the Synthex to three female MIDI
connectors (Octopus MIDI cable)
6. Two EPROM
7. Two DIP sockets for RAM chips
8. Two RAM chips
9. Two straps wires
10. Screws to fixe the MIDI board and the Octopus MIDI cable(Screws,
Spacers, Rings).

The Midi Kit price is 200 euros."

http://mustudio.fr/?page_id=1512

Synthex Midi Kit

Available at MuStudio

"Concerning the MIDI Kit, only the two first series of synthesizers can ben equiped with it. The last serie (production III) is already equiped with MIDI interface, and the three DIN-5 plugs are present on the rear panel."

"The total price pour the complete MIDI Kit is : 200 euros"

1996 MARS (Musical Audio Research Station) Synthesizer

KEYS 5/1996 Max 3.0, MARS (IRIS) Realtime Sampling + Interview

KEYS 5/1996 Max 3.0, MARS (IRIS) Realtime Sampling + Interview from Jochen Bohnes on Vimeo.

"Die Klänge sind von der Begleit-CD des Magazin KEYS vom Mai 1996. Sie sind ausschliesslich mit der MARS (Musical Audio Research Station) erzeugt worden. Ich habe einige Bilder und Texte der MARS hinzugefügt." Googlish: "The sounds are from the accompanying CD-KEYS magazine of May 1996. They have been exclusively with the MARS (Musical Audio Research Station) is generated. I've added some pictures and texts of the MARS." Update vi Jochen in the comments: "... more about MARS: bohnes.de/mars.html (Translation soon)" Googlish here. Update via elgauchoandres in the comments: "If Giuseppe (Peppino) di Giugno was involved I guess that was a very unique piece. For those who doesn't known di Giugno he developed the 4X system for the IRCAM with Hal Halles (of the Halles synth fame) I wonder if the MARS was a mini 4X? references: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giuseppe_di_Giugno http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sogitec_4X http://mustudio.fr/?p=75 http://m.matrixsynth.com/2010/04/mr-braska-visits-mustudio.html [Jochen Bohnes is also a well-known personality, see the about page at bohnes.de.] " Update via jbfairlight in the comments [new post here with Googlish translation]: "For me the MARS (Musical Audio Research Station) system looks like a ISPW (Ircam Signal Processing Workstation) and less powerful ;) Look this : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yaCR-hYwyw and also It should also read the "ISPW" category (in french) : http://mustudio.fr/?cat=31"

EML ElectroComp Model 500

YouTube via jbfairlight | October 20, 2010

"Voci un très rare EML ElectroComp Model 500.

Le Model 500 est un synthétiseur analogique monophonique a deux oscillateurs, produit a moins de 300 exemplaires entre 1973 - 1984.

Vous prouvez remarquer une légère modification / ajout. Il s'agit du gros potentiomètre circulaire juste au dessus du clavier a gauche, il permet de contrôler le mixe de la réverbération a ressort.

Pour en savoir plus : http://mustudio.fr/?p=1058"

Update via daden in the comments: "translation:

here is a very rare EML electrocomp model 500

the model 500 is a dual oscillator monophopnic synthesizer, less than 300 were produced.

you can spot a little modification/addon.
the big rotary knob above the keyboard on the left,it allows to control the wet and dry mix of the spring reverb."

Oberheim Electronics Inc - OB-1

YouTube via jbfairlight | September 05, 2010

"L'Oberheim OB-1 est un petit synthétiseur monophonique a deux oscillateurs, et LFO (Carré, Sinus et Sample+Hold) il a un filtre 2 ou 4 pôles, de la résonance, un VCA. Le clavier a 32 touches, et une interface du type CV/Gate.
Ce modèle est un mk1 de 1978.

Pour plus d'information allez sur mon site : http://mustudio.fr/?p=989"

The Mellotron M300

The following are some videos sent in via JB Emond (MuStudio).
Be sure to see candor chasma for more info on the M300.

Mellotron M300 - Mécanisme des banques sons et rythmes

YouTube via jbfairlight — May 11, 2010 —

"Cette vidéo montre le système de repérage de synchronisation des bandes lors d'un changement de banque sonore. A gauche les sons et a droite la partie rythme !
Le Mellotron de cette vidéo est un rare M300 !
Pour en savoir plus l'excellent site de mon ami egrefin free fr"

Googlish:
"This video shows the system tracking synchronization bands at a change of sound bank. Left and right sounds the rhythm section!
The Mellotron This video is a rare M300!
More from the excellent site of my friend egrefin free fr" (click for more info on the M300)

Mellotron M300 - sons


"Un exemple de son et de rythme !"
"An example of sound and rhythm!"

Mellotron M300 - Mécanisme des banques rythmes


"Cette vidéo montre le système de repérage de synchronisation des bandes lors d'un changement de banque sonore de la partie rythmique !"

"This video shows the system tracking synchronization bands at a bank change the sound for the rhythm part!"

Mr. Braska Visits MuStudio

via SynthFrog where you'll find more.

Top: "Here, Mr.Braska climbs the IRCAM 4x"

Bottom: "On the synclavier envelope generator buttons (LOTS of buttons)"

Elka Synthex Resources on MuStudio

You will find documentation (manuals, interviews, etc.,) eproms, presets and more for the Elka Synthex on MuStudio.