E-Mu Emax SE

via this auction

"Aside from being the keyboard behind the sound of Depeche Mode in the 1980's, the E-MU EMAX was one of the first truly modern synthesizer samplers, with awesome lo-fi 12-bit resolution up to 42kHz and 512K os sample memory. This board is PERFECT for 80's neuwave and electro sounds, and recreates saw-wave beasts like the Oberheim OBXA spot-on. All the tinny tines and silly fat swells are here ready to be run through awesome analog filtering that is actually easy to operate despite the lack of knobs. Having owned an Ensoniq Mirage, a Casio FZ1, and Korg DSS-1, I can truly say that this is the best 80's sampler I've used. I'm only selling to buy a new Juno 106, as that is my favourite board of all time and mine finally died.

The synthesizer you're bidding was owned by a synth geek since it was new, and is in excellent shape, with the superficial exception of the backlight for the LCD which, like most 80's synth screens, has stopped lighting up. No problem really, the screen is still visible 100%. This E-MU EMAX has the added SE programming, although I was told that the OS on the floppies would need to be updated to the newest version to take full advantage of this synth engine. Every aspect of this board functions great. All jacks sound off, all lines in sample correctly. I am including 9 disks of samples, from the Moog to an OBXA saw wave, lots of basic tones, some sweeping pads and strings, basslines, arpeggiators, and a disk of sci-fi samples.This board even comes with the ORIGINAL MANUAL AND ORIGINAL SHIPPING BOX with $2000 price tag! If you want to get into sampling, or you need lower-fi than modern MPC's can offer, this is your board. GRITTY, GRITTY, GRITTY, that's t he EMAX. I never like buying boards unheard, so I played off all my favourite sounds onto an MP3 for you to listen to. All these tones, included on the floppies, have been sampled from original 80's boards like the OBXA, Juno, and DX7, are at base filter with no effects and no special EQ'ing. Check it out here: MP3"

Apologies for grabbing the full description on this one. I usually filter them but this one was littered with interesting bits so the whole thing goes up. Anyone know what filter this one had? I'm not seeing it on the synthtech chip list and I forget.

Moog Liberation Keytar Analog Synthesizer

images via this auction

"This is a real Moog Analog, 100% Analog, 2 Analog Oscillators, 2 Moog Analog 4-pole filters synthesizer. Did I mention, this is all ANALOG!!!! Anyway, before digital modeling and sampling became the things in synthesizer, Moog ruled the synth world with their high quality instruments. This thing does not play realistic piano or accordion sounds but if you want the screaming, rich, fat sounds that ELP, Pink Floyd, Yes and Return to Forever used - this is the beast for you.

It was designed for the keyboard player who wanted to get out from behind the keyboard. It was designed to strap-on like a guitar so that you could get out in front and do soaring leads. The left hand controls are designed to give you full range of pitch bend, volume control, modulations and glide. The right hand plays the keys and works the other controls (the envelopes, waveforms, mix, octaves, etc). The Liberation is pretty straight-forward to use if you understand synth terminology. I played the thing on top of another keyboard or on a stand. If you strap it on, you won't to do that all night. It is heavier than a heavy Les Paul guitar at 13.5 lbs. But it is not bad for all it does.

It is made of wood and metal. All the pictures I have seen of Moog Liberations are black. This one is orangey-yellow. I have remove the bottom panel and it was yellow inside, too which leads me to believe it came from the factory this way but I don't know. Being almost 30 years old, it has nicks (at the tip of the arm) and a crack that has been glued and repaired (see pictures). Also, the syn switch had the arm broken off and was repaired with a long screw and spacer and works fine."

via everything2:

"A 2-voice polyphonic analog strap-on synthesizer with a 44-note keyboard. Manufactured from 1980 to 1984.

The Liberation features two VCOs with a 3-octave range. They can be set to play in a thicker 2-oscillator monophony in addition to the 1-osc polyphonic mode. VCO1 is switchable between sawtooth, triangle and pulse waveforms, while VCO2 substitutes pulse with square wave. The oscillators can be synced, with a manual "interval" knob for adjusting the sync depth. A pink noise generator is also included. Moog's patented 4-pole (24dB/octave) low-pass VCF is included as the filter. It has the typical cut-off and resonance controls, plus three keyboard tracking modes. The VCF and VCA both offer their own ADS envelope generator. A single LFO is available, with the choice of triangle, square and sample/hold. It can be used to modulate the VCO sync depth by using the keyboard's aftertouch sensitivity. The unit also offers a ring modulator.

As mentioned above, the Liberation is a strap-on synth designed to be played like a guitar. Its neck features controls for filter cut-off (with a spring returning it to 0), modulation, volume, aftertouch sensitivity and portamento, plus a ribbon controller for pitch bend. The strap-on part of the Liberation is connected with a cable to its other, rackmount section. It features the synth's power supply and a CV/gate interface."

MOOG MODULAR SYNTHESIZER SERVICE MANUAL

via this auction
"This is a fresh copy of an original service manual from Moog Music that I purchased in 1978,It covers information on modules for:
System I , II, III, 12, 15, 35, 55,

It is 54 pages which contain:
1. Full Schematics for all Modules,
2. Alignment and Tracking Procedures,
3. Interconnection and Cabinet Wiring,
4. Transistor Matching.

With these schematics and some technical knowledge you can build your own $20,000 synthesizer,(I did)" Note the modular this person built pictured below.

Roland Analog Sequencer Model 104

images via this auction

Made originally as part of the Modular 100 system
# 12 steps, with step selector switch and 12 red step LED's
# 2 channels (A, B)
# Internal clock with Rate and PW
# 3 Modes (manual, A, A+B)
# Start, Stop, Continue, Manual Step controls
# Serial and Parallel Outputs

Sequential Circuits Pro-One

images via this auction
"The most popular MOD was made by a qualified Sequential technician on this Pro One. You see it on the last picture. THERE IS NO DIRECT MODIFICATION MADE ON THE PRO ONE. IT is only a small circuit board that was added independently. It is an inverter, that inverts the polarity of the filter envelope. GREAT MOD! IT DOUBLES THE TYPES OF SOUNDS POSSIBLE ON THIS MACHINE" YOU CAN MODULATE ANYTHING (PW, FREQ, CUTOFF) WITH A NEGATIVE ADSR! SO GREAT! Just push the switch back down and you get a regular Pro One"

ARP 2600

images via this auction

Roland SH-2000

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Homebrew analog synthesizer

flickr by steevithak

click here for the full size shot.

Note the Maker's Mark bottles sitting on top.

Update: More info on the synth here. via Mikael in the comments of this post.

New England Digital Archive

"This page is devoted to information and projects about one of the most sophisticated synthesizers ever made, the New England Digital Synclavier, and its offspring, such as the rare Synclavier I, and its sucessors, such as the big 9600."

You will find sections on history, documentation, audio and video. Pictured here is the Synclavier I which consisted of the monitor and three cabinets in the background.

via DVDBorn

Workspace and Environment: Lusine

Another workspace post on trash_audio.

"What is your favorite piece of hardware?
Arp Odyssey. It sounds awesome and I've owned one for over 10 years and never gotten tired of it. I have two Odysseys, a Mark III, and a Mark I. The Mark I was a hand me down from my uncle that was broken. I ordered a 2 pole filter replacement from an online tech guy and soldered it in and then I did the Kenton CV/Gate/Filter mod as well. It works, but it still doesn't work perfectly. I'm still researching into how to fix it. The Mark III is the one I've had for 10 years. I haven't done any modifications. It works and sounds great."

click here for the full post.