Another SH-3 Shot & Early Synth Clones

The SH-3 with Moog filter, not the SH-3a. Roland Polyphonic - 505 and Yamaha CS01.

It's interesting, I never knew the original SH-3 had a Moog filter. Now I'm wondering what the SH-1000 had before it. I also wonder how many synths had cloned features from other manufacturers in the early days.

So far I am aware of the following:

- Ionic Performer - clone of the EMS Synthi
- ARP 2600 with Moog Ladder filter clone
- Octave CAT - said to be an Arp Oddyssey clone
- SH3 with Moog Ladder filter clone

I'm sure I've heard of others, but I don't remember. : ) If you know of any, feel free to share and I'll put them up.

Update via the comments:

Almost everything Multivox put out for several years was a complete Roland ripoff. I had the MX-202 string synth for a while, and it was a part-for-part copy...it sounded very good, too.

Image via http://www.ph.k12.in.us/~drew/ahmw/pics/2001/P1010217.gif

Two Roland SH-3's on the *bay

Update: Via this Sound and Sound article.

"Not everything was plain sailing, and it appears that Kakehashi infringed one of Bob Moog's filter patents when he designed the SH3. So a new version appeared in 1974. Externally, the SH3A was almost identical to the SH3, but it sported a new VCF and VCA, and it was this model that Vangelis and a handful of other famous keyboard players adopted in the mid-1970s."

Also, the SH3 was originally released ast the ACE Tone SH3, not the Roland SH3:

"Then there was Japan's first synthesizer, the SH1000 (see the box on the previous page) and its more powerful sibling, the SH3, which appeared as both the Roland SH3 and the Ace Tone SH3, and remains highly sought-after to this day."



Update: In via the comments. Thanks Shoontz!

"The Sh-3 is worth WAY, WAY more. Some have even gone for around $10,000.

The SH-3 was the original model, but it plagiarised Moog's 4-Pole filter design. After a lawsuit it's production was halted, so only a few were ever made, (some say around 100, others say less). It's supposed to sound much nicer than the 3A too. "

Link to auction. Title link takes you to Sonic State's page on the SH-3a. Two things stand out with the SH-3a. One, it was Roland's first programmable, non preset mono synth. It came out in 1974, the year after Roland's first synth, the SH-1000 (see this post for a Roland timeline). And two, it had a form of analog additive synthesis in which you used sliders to adjust stages of the different analog waveforms. Click through title link for more. Thanks goes to Ben Shannon Illustrator who sent this my way.

Two shots pulled form the auction.

Two Buchla Music Easels

Two beautiful Buchla Music Easels and a 208 Stored Programed Sound Source (half the synth of a Music Easel). Title link takes you to a larger shot.

New Depeche Mode Video - Precious (analog synth goodness)

Title link takes you there. Some light analog synth p*rn in the begining including what looks like a shelved rack of synths flying in and out as if on escalators mounted on the walls. Gotta get me one of those. : )

Video re-posted here.

blankstare.biz - circuit bending and more

Via GetLoFi. Title link takes you there.

Yamaha PSS-460. Yowsa!

Cwejman Synthra-M - Prototype Cwejman S1

Update from Robert Leiner in the comments section. Thanks Robert! : )

"Hi, nice to se my Synthra here!
This is what they say at the Cwejman page under Company info.
-
The company

It all started with a SYNTHRA
The story begins in the 1970s when we developed our first analogue synth. It was made to order for a musician and given the name SYNTHRA. When digital synthesizers hit the market, we believed that the day of the analogue synthesizer was over. As a result, it was to be many years before we built another synthesizer. In the meanwhile, we devoted ourselves to developing industrial electronics.
-

PS: http://www.leinermedia.com is about to change server and will be back soon!
All The Best -
Robert Leiner"

Found this shot in my synth p*rn stash. The Synthra-M from Cwejman Sound, makers of the highly praised Cwejman S1 and S2. I checked out the Cwejman site and didn't see any reference to the Synthra-M. I checked out the AH archives and found the following:

"Hello list members,

I have put up an image of the Cwejman Synthra-M that I recently bought.
The Synthra is the prototype to S-1 and have more or less the same futures.
One of the main differences is that on the Synthra the two filters are
switchable
betwen Low-Pass and Hi-Pass and on the S-1 the first is an Low-Pass and the
second is an Mulltimode filter, and of cource the Synthra dosen't have midi.

I have to say that both of them sounds realy good and have a good punch in
the
bottom end and snappy envelopes.

Check it out -

http://www.leinermedia.com/Studio/Cwejman.html

--------------------------------

Robert Leiner
LEINER media "

--------------------------------

The link in this thread above is dead. This is one of the many reasons why I save this shots. : ) Title link takes you to a bigger one of the above.

Yamaha AN1X - New Flickr Shot

Switched on Bach Rock - New Flickr Shot

See the Moog modular in the background? : )

Sequential Circuits ProFX Site

Update: check out the comments for some easter eggs. : )

Sent to me by rick, the creator of this in depth site on the SCI ProFX. The site includes photographs, marketing material, detailed information on all modules, the operations manual and a brochure. Simple and clean, excellent site design. Title link takes you there. Enjoy. Thanks rick!

Grey Arp 2600 Shots

Some nice ARP 2600 shots in via AH. This one was just put up on the *bay. Title link takes you to more shots saved for posterity. Enjoy. : )

Andromeda A6 Poster Art

Not sure where I got this from, but I like it. As you can guess I am a fan of the color green. : ) Title link takes you to a bigger shot. Note the limitted edition Andromeda with purple background instead of blue.

Roland VSynth Book & Roland Synth History

Right click title link and save for the Roland V-Synth Book in PDF format. Page 7 covers Roland synthesis evolution and page 22 is a chronological table of all Roland synths starting with the SH-1000 released in 1973. The rest is all VSynth goodness. Some great shots and info on the synth.

Update: What's really interesting is that on Page 7 Roland gives the following categories:

Currently there are three major Roland product categories:

1. Synths that are designed primarily for making/playing new sounds: V-Synth, V-Synth XT


2. Synths that are designed primarily for performing and composing music: Fantom-Series Workstations


3. Synth designed primarily for multipurpose and easy to use: Juno-D etc

And no that's not my inconsistency going from Synths to Synth. : )






Update: This was via Vintage Synth Explorer.

Stephen Parsick - Hollenengel

Some Yamaha CS80 goodness. Title link takes you there. Enjoy.

YMO's Moog Modular? - New Flickr Shot

This Flickr shot claims to be Yellow Magic Orchestra's Moog. Title link takes you there.

Rare Arp Solina String Synthesizer on the 'bay

Title link takes you to the shots saved for posterity. Click here for auction.

Check out the label for Noise. : )

"On sale here is the super rare Solina string synthesizer (100 ever made,unknown how many survived) with built in string ensemble and analog Arp Explorer synthesizer.This unit was made by Arp and Solina and contains a fully blown String ensemble as seen in the String ensemble MKI and MKII (it has that awesome chorus/modulation unit known to give that great string ensemble shimmer) next to it is contains a Arp explorer synth with the 4075 filter module used in the Arp Oddysey and Axxe and a 4027-1 VCO wich is the same as used in the mighty 2600...The built in synth has it own ADSR and LFO to create a wide range of sounds...It makes really edgy sounds and the filter can split your ear drums.. What is really special about the String synthesizer is that you can send the output of the string ensemble thru the filter of the Explorer!!! You can incorporate nice sweeps plus the ADSR and the LFO into your strings... The thing that makes it so nice is that you can play funky Arp baselines with your left hand and nice string pads with your right...."

DSI Evolver Filter to Korg MS-20 Filter Comparison

Update: Thought I'd clarify my point below. I believe the intent of the comparison was simply to see if an Evolver could cover the MS-20, rather than a filter A vs. filter B comparison? It's an interesting line to cross when you think ab out it. Anyway, take my comments below as just that... comments in general.

Kind of an odd comparison as the two filters are completely different, but there it is. Title link takes you there.

Why this comparison is odd:
The Evolver is a product of Dave Smith Instruments. Dave Smith was the man behind Sequential Circuits. He is responsible for the classic Prophet 5 and Prophet VS. The Evolver is an evolution of these two synths. It has two digital oscillators containing the Prophet VS waveforms and it has two analog oscillators similar to the Prophet 5. The filter is a custom Curtis chip. The Prophets had a Curtis chip as well, but a different model. Regardless, if there is any filter to compare the Evolver to, it would be the filter on the original Prophets. They are very similar. The Korg MS-20 on the other hand is a discrete analog filter and sounds very different not only from the Evolver and Prophets, but also from the Minimoog Ladder filter and most Roland filters including those on the 303, Juno, and Jupiter series. So.... take these comparisons with a grain of salt. What you like may reveal more about what filter you like better between a Moog, SCI Prophet, or Roland.

BTW, it's commonly thought that what makes a Korg MS-20 as far as sound is it's filter. That thing can strip paint off a wall. If you want the filter without the price, check out the Frostwave Resonator. It's a clone of the MS-20 filter, I've never heard anything to the tune that it's close but not quite there like most other clones (read this as it is the same filter), and it most definitely screams. This is the Korg MS-20 filter.

Ensoniq TS10 - New Flickr Shots

Title link takes you to more.

Roth-Handle Studios

"Welcome welcome welcome to the homepage of the Roth Händle studios in Stockholm. This is a place for merging of ideas, musical visions and archaic keyboards, guitars and drum machines. Hidden away at an old parking lot in Sundbyberg it is the birth plave of many albums."

Title link takes you there. Make sure to click on the equipment link at the bottom of the page for a list of the studio equipment inlcuding pictures, information and videos. And... The have a Yamaha GX1. : )

EMS Synthis

Thought it might be fun to put up a post on the four most popular EMS Synthis. And yes you can still get a Synthi from EMS, a Synthi A or a Synthi VCS3 to be exact. Title link takes you to the history of all EMS synths. Well worth checking out if you haven't in a while, or even if you have. You can back track to the home page from there if you want to buy one. : ) This stuff never gets old for me.

Synthi A (Portabella)- click here for a larger picture


VCS3 (Putney) - click for larger picture.


Synthi AKS - click for a larger picture



And the big daddy, the Synthi 100 - click for a larger picture

How do you rate the condition of your gear?

Interesting thread came up on AH regarding common guidelines for rating the condition of used gear. A link was posted on guidelines. I thought I'd share. Title link takes you there.

Curetronic Modular

Update: Some video in via AH. Right click and save.

Yowsa! Title link takes you there. Check out the fotogalerie.

Find the smiley face sticker. : )

New Buchla 200e Modules

In via Joxer on AH. I swore I saw the 261e Complex Wave Generator before, but the AH archives come up drive. Maybe it was one of my synth dreams... Anywho. Enjoy.

Complex Wave Generator
261e - http://www.buchla.com/200e/261e.html


Quad Control Voltage Processor
256e - http://www.buchla.com/200e/256e.html

DIY 8 Step Analog CV Sequencer

Just a hop, skip and a beat away. Title link takes you to GetLoFi. GetLoFi takes you to Experimentalists Anonymous, the makers of this device. Enjoy. I like the sleak design of this unit.

Requiem for Bob Moog - by THM

Via Vintage Synth Explorer, via Future Producers. Beautiful track. Title link takes you to the post on Future Producers. Link to MP3 is the first post on the thread.

Some details from post:

"Hi, well this is probably my first full track you see on FP - I made it as a kind of hommage to Dr. MOOG - using my own Memorymoog in a pretty long synth solo at the end of the track.

Since 15 years I've been making especially trance (last years hard trance & epic trance), but lately I wanted to take some new paths and so I started experimenting with ambient kind of stuff.
Driven by the death of Bob MOOG and the Doepfer MAQ16/3 I bought last month (for easy looping sequences) I *finally* ended my first track.
Like I said it's a kind of ambient meets MOOG lead, composition and sounds almost completely maid with my own vintage analog hardware (see description below).

FYI:

* fx sounds: MOOG Memorymoog L.A.M.M., Elka Synthex, Roland Juno-60, Roland Jupiter-8, Roland JP-8080, Yamaha CS-50
* piano: Kurzweil PC88
* background choir: samples (Spectrasonics "Symphony Of Voices")
* phased chord strings (at the beginning and end of the track): Roland Jupiter-8 with heavy phaser fx
* phased solo string (in the middle of the track): Yamaha CS-50 (with slight phaser fx)
* bassdrum (with heavy reverb and fx): Roland TR-808
* drum sequence: Arturia MOOG Modular V
* lead sequence: MOOG Memorymoog (driven by my Doepfer MAQ16/3 sequencer)
* subbass: MOOG Memorymoog
* bass: MOOG Memorymoog

and not to forget:

* solo lead: MOOG Memorymoog L.A.M.M. - played live in one session; no MIDI trickery added (I know there are a few small glitches but nevermind)


I hope you'll enjoy it (it's a pretty long track) & please give some comments - good or bad (as long as it is constructive)."

Synth1

Thought I put up a post on Synth1 already, but I guess not. I mentioned Synth1 as being one of the best free VSTs out there in my previous post on the Superwave P8. Title link takes you there. It's one of my favorite VSTi. What amazes me is back when I first got into synths, I had to save up nearly a year and a half to get my Matrix-6 at roughly $1300 in 1986 dollars. Today you can get hundreds of synths for free. You need a PC and good midi/audio interface to get going, but wow, once you get past that, the potential vs. cost is amazingly slanted towards potential. Awesome times...

Superwave P8 - Free VSTi

Sounds like this free VSTi is worth checking out. Some posts on Vintage Synth Explorer call it out as one of the best free VSTis out there. It apparently does a great job at the Roland JP8000 supersaw. Synth1 also gets a nod. I have Synth1 and it is amazing. Going to check out Superwave P8 this weekend.

Another Track from Heath Finnie

Via Vintage Synth Explorer. Track included an Arp 2600, Alesis Andromeda and Minimoog. I love his music. The base line and feel reminds me of my favorite local Seattle band, Juno.

A/DA STD-1

Analog, Knobs, STD. That's STD as in Stereo Tapped Delay. I haven't seen this before, but I'm pretty inept when it comes to effects. Inside joke for a couple of people out there that know this. : ) This unit recently came up for sale on AH. Title link takes you to two shots, one a bigger version of the below, and the other the flip side or second page listing control functions, rear panel functions and specifications.

Yamaha CS15 on the *bay

Title link takes you to more shots saved for posterity. Click here for the auction. I have no affiliation with the auction, just grabbing the shots before they are lost to the ether. Where do those electrons go anyway? It's all voodoo I tell ya...

Electro Harmonix Electric Mistress Flanger/Filter Matrix

Only something to see here, literally. : ) I just like this shot. I wasn't going to post this but I figured why not. Title link just takes you to a bigger shot. Oh, and it's got green, black and it says Matrix. : )

Radikal Technologies Spectralis

I haven't been to the Radikal Technologies site in some time. It's been updated with samples and more. Title link takes you there. Worth checking out again if you haven't been there in a bit. The Spectralis is from Jorg Schaaf, previously of Quasimidi. In a sense this would be the next generation synth from the minds that made Quasimidi. Moogulator has a great page up with more info on the Spectralis. Click here for the page.

Ross Perot and Spectralis

Via ByronIV on AH. Too funny.



Click here for more on the Radical Technologies Spectralis.

How I wish this was a synth...

Via Engadget. Looks like a music player phone. It's just a matter time before we will have all our synths in our pocket. Actually, you can get a Pocet PC (phone edition or not), and Griff.

Not a Synth:


And a synth:


Babelfish Link

Moog Moves

In via Sonic State. It's great to see Moog Music moving forward.



“Bob helped pick out this space and design the layout,” states company President, Mike Adams. “We felt that it was important to stay in Asheville, where our roots are, and this area meant a great deal to Bob. Unfortunately, Bob did not have the opportunity to work in the finished space. His legacy lives here in the products we produce and the people he worked with. We are excited to settle into the new facility and continue the great tradition of innovation that is Moog.”

Buchla

Mike Nichel sent this image my way. Title link takes you to a bigger shot. Thanks Mike!