ARP 2500

images via this auction

"super-rare ARP 2500 from the personal collection of Phil Cirocco of CMS / Discrete Synthesizers. It features a rare, vintage ARP 2002 cabinet, a 3000 series four voice keyboard and a full compliment of 1000 series modules. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to own a fully functional, killer sounding synthesizer, as well as a rare piece of electronic music history. The 2002 cabinet is in good condition. It is all original and has not been restored. It was made in 1970. It is a very early and rare version featuring 10 patching tracks on the top section instead of the 20 that later versions use. The top section of a 2500 is only used for CV, gate and trigger etc. so 10 tracks is usually adequate for most situations. It has 20 tracks on the bottom as all 2500s do. Also, this early unit is more compact and uses its space more efficiently than later versions. (Many people complain about the large amount of real estate that later version 2500 cabinets use up.) The power supply was upgraded here at CMS about 2 years ago to a 1.5 Amp, low noise high performance unit. The separate 12v lamp power supply was also recently rebuilt. The Keyboard is a standard ARP 2500 4 voice split keyboard. The rubber mounts of the key contact PCB have been replaced. The key contacts have been cleaned. The rubber pads of the keyboard are intact. The keyboard is fully functional. The keys are in very good condition. The hardwood keyboard cabinet is in very good condition. There is a very small ding on the left keyboard control panel. It includes the keyboard connection cables as well as the AC cable. The 1000 series modules are fully functional and have been meticulously maintained here at CMS for the past decade. The module compliment includes the legendary ARP 1047 Multimode Filter and the ARP 1027 sequencer. The 1004T VCO and the 1036 Dual Sample Hold were originally owned by the ARP factory as production samples. The dual VCO is a super-rare prototype developed at ARP by Roger Powell and Clark Ferguson.

1004T VCO
1027 3 x 10 Sequencer
1023 Dual VCO
1005 Ring Mod / VCA
1047 Multimode Filter
1033 Dual EG with delay
1016 Noise / Random Voltage
1006 Lowpass filter / VCA
1036 Dual S/H, Clock
1003 Dual EG
1002 Power Control

This system has been fully calibrated recently here at CMS. If you want to hear an example of a 2500 system in action go to: discretesynthesizers.com

Several modules have a former owners name and serial # engraved the corners of the front panels. The veneer cabinet has 2 corners that have been rounded slightly, but they are in the back. The left side has some broken veneer on the front edge. I was planning to refinish the cabinet myself, but I never got around to it. It’s quite easy to separate the electronics from the cabinet. When all the modules are out of the case, the matrix switch/shelf assembly slides right out the back. The upper left matrix switch assembly looks like it took a small impact at one time, but it functions normally. This is a vintage instrument from 1970"

ARP 2500 Bible - 1050 Mix Sequencer Part 1

video upload by O.Z. Hall

ARP 2500 Bible 1050 Mix Sequencer Part 2


"The ARP 2500 was the flagship modular synthesizer from ARP throughout the 1970s.

This is part 1 of a two part video series on the Behringer clone of the ARP 2500 1050 Mix-Sequencer.

Part 1 review every control on the 1050 Mix-Sequencer in detail
Part 2 demonstrates the three example applications from the original 1970's ARP 2500 Owners Manual.

a free PDF of this manual is available here:
https://guitarfool.com/ARP2500.html
see the three PDFs on the top left of this page.

here is the PDF of the script for this video, if you're interested:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mIO4...
It includes the configuration for each of the three examples."

Help the ARP Foundation Share Their ARP 2500 Synth With the World!

video upload by Alan R. Pearlman Foundation

"Help Us Share Our ARP 2500 Synth With the World!
The ARPs for All project is expecting a new member of the family! We need your help!

(see our Fundraiser https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/he...)

This video contains excerpts with permission of a longer video from @DivKid [posted here]
Music is by permission from @DavidBaronMusic .

The restoration process has been very laborious and time-consuming, and this is where we need your help! If we reach our goal with your donations, this will become the only ARP 2500 available for public use in the USA!

Filling a missing module, sourcing a keyboard, and adding a protective case will cost upwards of $6000.

We are asking for donations of any amount... BUT we have some GREAT perks for those who help us - including actual hands-on time with the wonderful and rare ARP 2500 in Boston!

All funds will go towards the Foundation's 2500's restoration effort and the ARPs for All project."

CMS MR-3 Synthesizer, ARP 2500 multimode filter replica direct from CMS SN 110

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"Please note: This item will not be re-listed. This auction is for a super rare, brand new, CMS MR-3 direct from CMS. This particular variation of the CMS MR-2 is designed to satisfy persons seeking the ARP 2500 sound without dealing with the matrix switches, lengthy restoration, etc. This synthesizer features the 9006 multimode filter that faithfully duplicates the circuitry of the famous ARP 1047 multimode filter used in the ARP 2500 system. Features summary: Discrete differential transistor audio processing circuitry. Special high quality military spec Honeywell potentiometers will never get scratchy….NEVER! Scratch resistant color impregnated anodized aluminum front panels. High quality Switchcraft connectors. High quality ARP 2500 style control knobs. Professional enclosure and military spec power supply. What is so special about this auction? Why not just order one from CMS? We are basically talking instant gratification here. Our modular systems are handmade by the Phil Cirocco himself so they take incredibly long to manufacture. The CMS modular waiting list is now over 1 year long. The human life span is a bit too short to be waiting several years for a piece of gear to be made. This is a once in a lifetime chance to own a CMS modular system now! Internal power supply can be hardwired for 120V or 230V. No keyboard. This unit is meant to be used with a MIDI to CV converter or some other standard CV and gate source. This synthesizer comes with a 1 year warranty on all parts and labor. Unit will be packed in a sturdy double wall U-Line box. Packing materials charge will be 35.00 USD Buyer is responsible for shipping and insurance charges. Buyer must supply a valid UPS account number. Unit must be insured for full value. See our website for more info. discretesynthesizers.com It looks like ebay no longer permits paying by personal check or wire transfer?"

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ARP 2500 Synthesizer Demos

ARP 2500 Synthesizer Demo 1


ARP 2500 Synthesizer Demo 2

YouTubes via 123synthland.
"As vintage synth dealers we get to play with a lot of fun toys most people never see. Here's a patch we quickly set up on an ARP 2500 while preparing it for sale. This was inspired by the Giorgio Moroder / Donna Summer "I Feel Love" bassline. Yeah, we could have synced up another sequencer to automatically transpose the pattern, but ya get what ya pay for, ok?! ;) To the usual critics - this was not made to impress you, it was quickly thrown together to give people an idea of a small fraction of sounds someone with an understanding of programming can get out of the ARP. We also feel it's important to point out that it's not the modular synth that makes the sound - it's the person who programs it. So your results may vary. One of these days we're going to show you the kinds of sounds you can get out of a "lowly" Paia when you know what you're doing. ;) Email us anytime at minime123@onebox.com
Enjoy!
Mini"

7-9-12 ARP 2500/2600 improv

7-9-12 ARP 2500/2600 improv by imperceivable shifts
"ARP 2500 and ARP 2600 improvisation
Nothing but analog synths.
i probably should have added some kind of compressor cause some of the sounds kinda jump out at you, but i wanted to keep it raw.. right??"

via William Kennedy on The MATRIXSYNTH Lounge

" weird 40 minute improv with arp 2500 and 2600 simultaneously...hope someone outthere likes it!"

Behringer ARP 2500

video upload by Robin Rimbaud-Scanner

"The ARP 2500 was an analogue modular synthesiser created by ARP Instruments, manufactured from 1970 through 1981. I have come to accept that I will never own an original, so have built my own modest micro ARP 2500 using the recent Behringer remodels. This has probably saved me about £30k. Today was my first chance to really play with the system and see what emerged. It feels like a very capable and inspiring system so far, so let's see where it takes me in the future then.

Everything you hear is the ARP 2500, with a little added NI REPLIKA XT on the final mix."

Vintages ARP SOFTWARE & ACCESORIES LIST

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"ARP SYNTHESIZER ACCESORIES LIST. Condition is Used. This is a list of the accessories you could buy from ARP SYNTHESIZERS back in the 70s. It is in excellant condition.

I don't believe I've seen this one before. Crazy to see the low prices on some of these including the ARP 2500 Owner's Manual for $6.00, Learning Music With Synthesizers for $7.50, and Lessons in Electronic Music for $8.95. Also if the manuals were available for order, that means they were not limited to the number of synths sold. Some cool ARP swag below as well.

Typed it out for the archives:

ODYSSEY

Learning Music With Synthesizers
(Textbook 213 Pages)
OD-01......................$7.50

Odyssey Patch Book
(75 Great Sounds)
OD-03......................$9.95

Odyssey Owner's Manual
OD-04......................$3.50

Odyssey Facsimile Pad (25 Sheets)
OD-05......................$1.00


OMNI-2

Omni-2 Owner's Manual
OM-01......................$3.50

Omni-2 Facsimile Pad (25 Sheets)
OM-02......................$1.00

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ARP 2500 - Deep Future House

Published on May 30, 2015 DJjondent

"A mix using the ARP 2500.
The original samples were recorded on this video:
https://youtu.be/uOvcMBZy_RQ
The drums were added later."

ARP 2500 Envelope Generators

Published on Nov 6, 2014

"A bit of experimentation with the 1046 Module - The Quad Envelope Generator.
ARP 2500 EGs have both Gate & Trig inputs.
This is a really cool feature. If you apply another trigger signal while the gate is still present the cycle
will restart. ..a good way for creating multi-peak envelopes.

You can see some pics and a bit of info on this patch here:
http://djjondent.blogspot.com.au/2014..."

Voice of the Cylon - Battlestar Galactica, The ARP 2500, and the EMS Vocoder 1000

Published on Nov 20, 2019 supajc

Amazing series sent my way via John L Rice. Playlist and descriptions for each video in the playlist above, directly below. Enjoy. ;)

See here for previous posts featuring Battlestar Galactica.

Playlist:

1. Voice of the Cylon Pt. 1 The Synthesizer [ARP 2500]

Battlestar Galactica fans & synthesizer community, rejoice! For the first time in history the mysterious sound of the Cylon voice is revealed. I tracked down probably the last person alive who knows the entire formula, very private individual still works in visual arts. To him it was just a job he did 40 years ago, to me it's one of the most mesmerizing sounds in musical/sci-fi fx history. 6 parts to this series as of 11-2019.

2. Voice Of The Cylon Pt. 2 the Voice Recording

My contact told me "they brought us the voices" on Nagra III and IV tape machines. Vocoder recorded back to Nagra for film sync. Voice actor Micheal Santiago was hired to do the voice, but didn't, telling youtube user intromix later that "they ended up getting someone cheaper" to do it. One actor did all the voices, for consistency, reading the script in a lifeless, monotone voice as to not shift the frequency spectrum in the vocoder.

3. Voice Of The Cylon Pt. 3 The Vocoder [EMS Vocoder, specifically the Vocoder 1000]

Finally it is known exactly which vocoder was used for the Cylon voice. Universal Studios had rented the EMS and Sennheiser, and when sound designer Peter Berkos was asked about it circa 2008 he mis-remembered due to having the Sennheiser manual still. Youtube user intromix has owned both and tested oscillators, it could not have been the Sennheiser but now we know for sure anyway.

4. Voice of the Cylon Pt. 4 the Phaser & Distortion [Countryman Associates Type 968A Phase Shifter]

The rare, quirky effect box that was used as an impromptu distortion device. My contact told me that they floated the idea of using a guitar amp and/or pedals, but did not even try it once they found this. ** Also, he told me NO Marshall Time modulator was used as it hadn't even been released yet.

5. Voice of the Cylon Pt. 5 Recording Gear

Two main pieces of studio recording gear that were present at Universal Studios in 1978 that had a big impact on the sonic character of the Cylon voice recording. Big thanks to Ken from Electrodyne for all his advice, as well as https://vintageking.com/ and http://petesplaceaudio.com

6. Voice Of the Cylon Pt. 6 Audio Demos & Credits

Resurrecting the sound of the Cylon Centurion from the original Battlestar Galactica 1978 using the original equipment. Once the vocoder was recorded, it was further altered/degraded by multiple tape transfers in the video editing process, post-production techniques (EQ and reverb, to "place" the character in a big room, spaceship, etc) My contact said there were just pieces of tape on the gear to place knobs/switches back where they were; and that the synthesizer frequently sounded very different from day to day or after a power outage. In the series there are wildly differing Cylon tones, tiny movements in gain or EQ settings (especially the ringy ARP 2500 filters) radically alter the vocoder due to the ultra-harmonic richness of the tone. So many preamps and transformers involved, it was hard for THEM to make the Cylon voice consistent. Supposedly sound designer Peter Berkos wrote notes on the process, Universal Studios couldn't locate any info at all, it likely all burned down in the great fire of 2008 as well as the golden ARP 2500 oscillator used all throughout Galactica 1980.
Preamp was running a bit hot in this demo, didn't catch until after, so this tone sounds extra crunchy in this example. I sampled my tones with lowpass filter a bit too low, hope to get another chance with the real thing some day.

7. Gold Cylon Voice Vulpa [extra video]

Recreating the lower voice of the Gold Cylon commander. There are so many steps and factors to re-creating the Cylon voice even the original crew could not make it consistent on a day-to-day basis. Out of hundreds of test files this year I'm only really happy with about 5 of them but will keep working to recreate it perfectly.

Voltage Modular | VM2500 Collection - ARP 2500 Modules in Software by Cherry Audio

video by Cherry Audio

https://store.cherryaudio.com/bundles/vm2500-collection

"Cherry Audio and MRB have collaborated to deliver the unique module features, stunning sound quality, and overall user experience of the rare and classic ARP 2500 synthesizer to the Voltage Modular platform. Every module produced for the original 2500 system has been recreated in perfect detail, including a couple that were planned but never produced (including a full-function oscilloscope and a spring reverb) and a mixer module that never existed, but should have! We’ve eliminated the matrix-switch I/O scheme and replaced all connections with standard CV jacks, and added bi-polar CV attenuators to all modulation inputs for full compatibility with all Voltage Modular modules. But most importantly, the tremendous analog sound and unique features of the original modules have been retained in their entirety, with a few small tweaks to improve the practicality of these 50-year-old designs. The recreation of the 2500 modules was a team effort, combining Cherry Audio’s extensive design experience with award-winning synth designer Mark Barton’s (MRB) DSP coding sorcery. The result is a virtual time machine of fat, impactful early electronic music history for the ears!

All 18 original modules produced for the ARP 2500 system have been recreated in perfect detail, plus a couple that were planned but never produced (including a full-function oscilloscope and a spring reverb) and a mixer module that never existed, but should have! We’ve eliminated the matrix-switch I/O scheme and replaced all connections with standard CV jacks, and added bi-polar CV attenuators to all modulation inputs for full compatibility with all Voltage Modular modules. But most importantly, the tremendous analog sound and unique features of the original modules have been retained in their entirety, with a few small tweaks to improve the practicality of these 50-year-old designs."

Fifty Years of ARP: The 2500 in 2020 (a synthposium) Part One - Engineers and Developers

Alan R. Pearlman Foundation

Introduction by Dina Pearlman
Opening Remarks by Jean-Michel Jarre

Moderator:
Jim Michmerhuizen

Panelists:
Dave Friend, Technology entrepreneur, co-founder of ARP Instruments
Barry Ober, Audio Engnieer, member of the original ARP 2500 Engineering Team
John Niclasen, NicomSoft Software Engineer, Physicist, Musician, Developer of G2500 Virtual Analog (Virtual ARP 2500) – and John Ångstrøm, Creative Input, Collaborator, Musician.
Kristin Warren, Performer, creator of various interactive instruments interfacing with the 2500

https://alanrpearlmanfoundation.org/

Fifty Years of ARP: The 2500 in 2020 (a synthposium) posts

The First ARP 2500

You are looking at the first ARP 2500. It's home is at the New England Synthesizer Museum in Nashua, New Hampshire. I was fortunate enough to actually see it in person a couple of years ago. It was an amazing experience, standing in front of it, realizing what it is. I took a few shots including this one. Title link will take you to them including a much larger version of this one. Also note the SYNTHE license plate on top. : )

What is just as amazing is how Dave Hillel Wilson, the curator of the museum, acquired it. There are amazing deals and then there is this... But don't feel to bad, as you will see, somehow karma has a way of balancing things, but somehow I think Dave still came out ahead. : )

"Many years ago a man tried to sell an ARP 2500 to Daddy's Junky Music in Nashua, New Hampshire. They didn't want it, so they referred him to me. I looked at it and was afraid to offer too little; I offered $500 US. He was expecting to get $50 for it, so he was so happy he threw in his gray meanie 2600 as well. Later Alan R. Pearlman confirmed that this 2500 was the first ever made.

Best purchase I didn't make - I looked at a Buchla Music Easel (before I knew much, but after I thought I new everything) and said it wasn't as good as an ARP Axxe. The guy offered it to me for $400 US dollars and I said no. Boy have I made some stupid mistakes in my lifetime!! (Some guy bought it for 400, turned right around and sold it to a dealer for $1200, who sold it to someone in Europe for $2400, so it's long gone)."

- David Hillel Wilson
Curator
New England Synthesizer Museum
_DWilSynth[]aol.com
_www.synthmuseum.com/nesm

Update: a few more pics below. Note David Hillel Wilson passed away in 2010.

$126,508.32 Massive Vintage Rare 1974 ARP 2500 in Superb Condition for Sale

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction, priced at $126,508.32 + $1,640.77 Shipping.

This one was spotted and sent in via an anonymous MATRIXSYNTH reader. It was once for sale back in August, 2017.

Details via the listing, captured for the archives:

"Selling my beloved ARP 2500 - Model 2515 Studio Cabinet. Serial number - 74-005

I am the second owner of this fantastic piece of history and purchased this instrument from a dutch composer/violinist who in turn ordered it directly from the Arp factory around 1976. Before my ownership, it was used in a reasonably well known studio in Hilversum for a multitude of experimental recordings throughout the 70s and 80s.

It is in pristine condition and original state with only a few cosmetic blemishes. It has been used and stored in a smoke free, temperature controlled environment and is a joy just to look at, let alone play. A well laid out collection of modules that offer many many years of deep exploration, I spent almost 6months just with the 1036(Sample/Hold/Random voltage) module :).

All modules are working and sounding fantastic. The filters are especially lush, definitely nothing else sounds like a 2500 and the unique matrix switch system is ripe territory for happy/accidental patching discoveries.
The fabulous ARP 2500 was used by famous musicians like Aphex Twin, Pete Townshend, Jean-Michel Jarre, Vangelis, Jimmy Edgar, Luke Vibert, Vince Clarke, Faust, Eliane Radigue. And used in films like Logan's Run and communicating with the aliens in Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

Here is your chance to own an instrument capable of taking you on an intergalactic journey through time and space...

Check out my other listings for more rare stuff.

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The Original ARP 2500 Build Invoice for Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Check that out.

See KORG microKAST Ep#21 A KORG Odyssey for additional details.

Note the invoice includes instructions on how it is to be built and there is no price. I'm guessing this was the internal build invoice for construction of the ARP 2500 and not the billing invoice to Columbia Pictures.

Amazing bit of synth history.

Apparently the system resides at Cantos. See this post for a video of the scenes that featured the ARP 2500.

You can find posts mentioning Close Encounters of the Third Kind here. Kind of a "one degree of separation" run of posts in the archives. :)

Update: See this post for an interview on the 2500 w/ Alan R Pearlman.

ARP 2500 Modular Synth

Published on Oct 23, 2007 David Morley

"I was checking the ARP 2500, so decided to video whilst noodling.
Will make something better later...
AMAZING synth. Funky, fat, flexible."

ARP 2500 Modular and TR-808

Published on Sep 6, 2008 David Morley

"Just a small jam on the 2500 with the 808 triggering it and mixed in."

ARP 2500 Synthesizer Poster

via this auction.

"You are bidding on an extremely rare, difficult to find, authentic, genuine, vintage, ARP 2500 synthesizer poster. I got this in the early 70’s with and ARP Odyssey Guide manual, An ARP 2500 Synthesizer advertisement booklet and ARP series 2600 Synthesizer Owner’s Manual. (see my other auctions). This is NOT a copy. This is NOT A COPY. THIS IS THE ORIGINAL. The condition is very good to near mint. Remember that this is 34 years old as it was printed in 1973. It is folded as it was mailed. I have only opened it twice in the last 34 years to measure it. The poster is 22 inches by 34 inches."

ARP 2500 NOODLE

Title link takes you to an ARP 2500 track sent my way via ben.

"I thought you might like to hear a little "ARP 2500 NOODLE" i did yesterday [actually its nearly 7 mins long]. It's an arp going through an ibanez AD-80 delay pedal. It's in mono. The arp is set up to play a simple sequence [notice it is 10 steps long] and I tweak the pitch etc as it goes. I also tweak the delay repeat/time/blend knobs. Note that this is an analog delay pedal from the 70s, using the amazing Panasonic MN3005 bucket brigade delay circuit"

ARP 2500-2600

flickr by jobenbelgium
(click for more)

"ARP 2500 and ARP 2600.Both have their matching keyboard.The ARP 2600 is the last version,black/orange faced.The ARP 2500 is made in 1970 and has serial#70-009 and has a complete wooden cabinet.Systems built from 1972 untill 1978(serial#21 to ???)have metal casings and 20 positions in the upper matrix.."

Solo for Arp 2500 Synthesizer

Published on Feb 25, 2017 David Baron

"The Arp 2500 is one of the rarest analog modular synthesizers of the 1960s-70s. It was created as a direct competitor to the Moog modular but never had as much success due to inherent crosstalk of the unusual slider matrix (versus Moog's patch cords). There are about twenty-five systems left working in the world. This is a solo composition for Arp 2500 performed in my studio near Woodstock, NY. I played it live on a controller keyboard so that I could edit the midi performance slightly. Velocity is mapped to filter cutoff and amplitude . The audio was recorded live with only some added reverberation and tape delay.

The most famous appearance of the Arp is in 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' - it is used to speak to the aliens as a prop. The synthesizer was also used on Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Who's Next, Logan's Run soundtrack, and for a lot of the beautiful drone work of Éliane Radigue."