Peter Zinovieff in the EMS Synthesizer Musikmesse Booth Circa 1975

This one in via Brian Kehew

"Circa 1975: A photo from the Frankfurt Music Fair

Peter Zinovieff in the EMS synthesizer booth!

They are featuring the rare SYNTHI P model, just announced on the left side and stand. Underneath the board listing EMS musical artists is a SYNTHI HI-FLI effects unit is barely seen. Another unusual/prototype model is next to the Hi-Fli."

NAMM 2015: Moog Modular Systems

Published on Jan 25, 2015 Electronic Musician Magazine

"Moog shows off their Modular Systems at the NAMM Show 2015."

Brian Kehew.

Happy New Year From MATRIXSYNTH! - A Look Back at 2014

Happy New Year everyone!

I want to start by thanking everyone that comes to MATRIXSYNTH and helps make it what it is - the readers, the supporters, and of course all the sponsors on the right.

THANK YOU and have a GREAT 2015!!!

This site is a labor of love and a ton of work. This site is ultimately meant to be an testament to everything synth in the making. We have over nine years of daily synth history captured here, 119,983 published posts. I can't wait to see what the future brings us in 2015!

That said, here are a few interesting bits from 2014 in the longest post of the year. ;)

CLICK FOR MORE »

50th Anniversary of the Moog Modular Synthesizer - Details on the Emerson Moog Modular Clone

Published on Oct 11, 2014 Moog Music Inc

"October 12, 2014 marks the 50 Year anniversary of the unveiling of the Moog modular synthesizer at the Audio Engineering Society's (AES) New York convention. On that day in 1964, Dr. Robert Moog introduced the world to a completely new type of instrument that would go on to change the course of music history and influence decades of future instrument design. Told by a Moog engineer, Moog Historian, and Bob Moog himself, this mini-documentary explores Moog Music's quest to resurrect the original methods, materials and designs used in the foundational modular synths. Through recreating Keith Emerson's modular system, Moog Music rediscovers the power, elegance, and enduring legacy of its first instruments.

Find out more at www.moogmusic.com"

"Moog’s 1:1 Recreation of Keith Emerson’s Modular Synthesizer shown at AES ‘14

Asheville, NC, October 11, 2014 — Tomorrow, October 12, 2014, marks the 50 Year anniversary of the unveiling of the Moog modular synthesizer at the Audio Engineering Society's (AES) New York convention. On that day in 1964, Dr. Robert Moog introduced the world to a completely new type of instrument that would go on to change the course of music history and influence decades of future instrument design.

The Moog modular synthesizer was comprised of individual electronic modules, housed in a wooden frame, and it made use of voltage-control as a new way of creating powerful sounds that had never been heard before.

After its debut at AES, the scientific-looking Moog modular instrument that made extraordinary new sounds with rapid alterations and exotic tonal colors, started to gain in popularity. Musicians began to establish the Moog system as the archetype of synthesis. One of the earliest and most famous artists to adopt the new instrument was Keith Emerson, keyboardist for the innovative band Emerson Lake and Palmer. Touring the world for over forty years with this unique instrument, Emerson has made his Moog modular system the most recognizable synthesizer of all time.

The 50th Anniversary of the Moog Modular is a historical landmark for musical instrument design and popular music. In celebration of this momentous occasion, Moog Music has faithfully and painstakingly recreated Keith Emerson’s Moog modular. This new Emerson Moog Modular System (EMMS) utilizes original design material and parts to duplicate each facet of Mr. Emerson’s custom instrument down to the smallest detail. The modules in the EMMS are built exactly as the originals were in the Moog Factory in Trumansburg, NY in the 1960s: by hand-stuffing and hand-soldering components to circuit boards, and using traditional wiring methods. Today, Moog also released a mini-documentary featuring a Moog engineer, a Moog Historian, and Bob Moog himself, that explores Moog Music's quest to resurrect the original methods, materials and designs used in the foundational modular synths.

"It's a dream come true for us to bring back these instruments that our company is so known for, and to make them visually and sonically perfect. It's even more perfect that exactly 50 years after the first Moog synth was shown to the public, people can come to AES 2014 and experience the new Emerson Moog Modular System," said Brian Kehew, Moog’s Historian.

This towering recreation of the world's most recognizable synthesizer will be on display in Moog booth 1028 at the 137th AES convention in Los Angeles, CA through Sunday 10/12/14. It is the first time the Emerson Moog Modular System has been shown to the public since it’s unveiling at Moogfest 2014.

Of the 5 Emerson Moog Modular Systems Moog will build, only 1 remains available for sale. The price is $150,000 USD. To inquire about purchasing the last remaining Emerson Moog Modular System, contact Steve Maass at Moog Music. 828.251.0090 ext. 205 or email steve.m@moogmusic.com. Serious buyers only please."

Rare Vintage Synth Scans via Brian Kehew

Brian Kehew gave a presentation on his vintage synthesizer brochures at Knobcon this year. He sent in a few select scans to share with readers of MATRIXSYNTH. Enjoy! Be sure to see the channel labels at the bottom of the post for any you are not familiar with. Three of these warranted separate posts that just went up. You'll find links to them below. These are an amazing bit of synth history, many of which have never been shared online before. HUGE THANK YOU to Brian Kehew for sharing these with us!

The scans pictured in order:

Moog Sonic V Synthesizer "Makes Waves"

ARP Synthesizers

ARP Modular Synthesizer Lab

EML

EMS SYNTHI FLI (always thought of it as the Hi-Fli but the had only has FLI)

Performer by Ionic

Variophone

Sequential Circuits Model 600 Sequencer (see this post for a write-up)

Digelius Electronics Finland DEMI (see this post for a write-up)

DMX-101 Computer Sound Processor for a whopping $35,300 at the time. (see this post for a write-up)

CLICK FOR MORE »

Sequential Circuits' First Product, The Model 600 Sequencer and Complex Wave Generator

Brochure scan in via Brian Kehew.

This is a scan of a product flyer for the the Sequential Circuits Model 600 Sequencer and Complex Wave Generator.  It is first image of the  unit shared on the internet that I am aware of (click here for a search).  It was Sequential Circuits first product. Approximately only four units were made a couple of years prior to the Model 800.

An interesting side note is the aesthetics of the unit.  See if you can spot what's missing before you read on.  Sequential Circuits (along with Oberheim) started out creating products to work with existing synthesizers at the time.  So what's missing?  The trademark knobs and section outlines.  It wasn't until the Model 700 programmer in 1977 that we begin to see what was to become Sequential Circuits trademark look.   Another interesting side note is that the model numbers for Sequential Circuits first three products where not actually sequential, the Model 600 (1974), the Model 800 (1975), and the Model 700 (1977).  They broke out of the "Model" line for the name with the Prophet-5 (which was the Model 1000) in 1978, but came back once with the Model 64 Sequencer for the Commodore 64 in 1983.  One final thing I thought was kind of neat was that the final bullet point in the brochure called out how the Model 600 made for an excellent teaching aid for electronic music.  Indeed.

The following is the description from the scan (note the reference to the unit as a teaching aid):

"MODEL 600 SEQUENCER and COMPLEX WAVE GENERATOR

As A Sequencer -

- Three rows of 16 controls, each row with its own output.
- Built-in sequential control for up to 48 note sequences by turning only one knob.
- Voltage controlled clock can be set internally and/or controlled externally.
Patch one output row back to the VCO input, and the length of each note can be precisely controlled.
- Can sequence slower than one pulse every 30 seconds through and beyond the entire audio range.
- Any one level can be skipped by simply throwing its corresponding switch; hence, any combination of levels can be set.
- Direction switch for forward or backwards direction.
- Handy three-way mixers at the output for easy patch changes.
- LED (light emitting diode) visual display.
- Switch trigger output compatible with Moog synthesizers, including the Mini-Moog.
By flipping one switch, gate and trigger outputs can be obtained for other synthesizers, suck as the ARP 2600.

As A Complex Waveform Generator -

- The quality of the Model 600 makes it possible to be used as a complex waveform generator, with up to 48 segments constructing the composite waveform. Below is an oscilloscope plot of a 48 segment sine wave at 300 hertz, with the lower wave-form the output after being run through a low-pass filter.
- One can easily see the possibility for complete waveform control. With an internal adjustment, the external input can be adjusted to the standard 1 volt/octave; hence, the sequencer can actually be played as an oscillator by any keyboard.
- This capability makes the Model 600 an excellent teaching aid for electronic music, as well as a quality waveform generator for the perfectionist synthesizer performer."

The Digelius DIMI Music Instrument, Computer, Synthesizer, Studio, Rabbit

Brochure scan in via Brian Kehew. This is the first time Digelius has been featured here on MATRIXSYNTH. The following is the description from the scan followed by some info on the man behind Digelius, Erkki Kurenniemi.

“DIMI IS A MUSIC INSTRUMENT. DIMI IS A COMPUTER. DIMI IS A SYNTHESIZER. DIMI IS A MINIATURE ELECTRONIC MUSIC STUDIO. DIMI IS A RABBIT.

The essential part of the digital instrument DIMI is an integrated circuit memory which is capable of storing an almost endless variety of musical structures.

The digitally controlled sound generators can be operated either by manual instructions from the keyboard or by instructions stored in the memory.

Any manual instruction can be recorded into the memory by touching the R-key. The selective erase function permits flexible editing of the stored program.

The interplay between manual and stored instructions results in a music instrument with possibilities not surmised earlier.

* MOS integrated circuit content addressable memory, 100 words 16 bits each.
* two sound generators, eight octaves chromatic scale
* vibrato unit, amplitude variable in eight steps and several frequencies
* two external general purpose inputs
* two selectors for eight sound sources
* two attenuators, seven steps six decibels each and off
* two banks of eight octave band pass filters
* three modulators
* rhythm generator, 48 different durations or tempi
* all parameters are digitally controlled and thus programmable
* contains about 250 integrated circuits
* dimentions 40x40x15 cm
* price 15 300 Fmk (about 3750 US$)

Digelius Electronics Finland Oy
Huvilakatu 24
Helsinki 15
Finland”

Some info on Erkki Kurenniemi via Wikipedia:

"Erkki Kurenniemi (born July 10, 1941 in Hämeenlinna, Finland) is a Finnish designer, philosopher and artist, best known for his electronic music compositions and the electronic instruments he has designed. He is considered one of the leading early pioneers of electronic music in Finland. Kurenniemi is also a science populariser, a futurologist, a pioneer of media culture, and an experimental film-maker.

Kurenniemi completed the majority of his instruments, electronic compositions and experimental films in the 1960s and 1970s. Between 1962 and 1974, he designed and constructed ten electronic instruments and studio devices when he was working as a volunteer assistant at the Department of Musicology at the University of Helsinki, and as designer at Digelius Electronics Finland Oy, founded in 1970. In addition to the Musicology Department, Kurenniemi also worked as assistant and senior designer at the Department of Theoretical Physics from 1962 to 1973. Kurenniemi earned a Bachelor of Sciences degree in 1968.

He subsequently worked as a designer of control systems for industrial robots at Oy W. Rosenlew Ab (1976–1978), and as a designer of industrial automation and robotic systems at Nokia’s cable machinery division (1980–1986). He also worked as a specialist consultant and Head of Planning at the Science Centre Heureka in Vantaa, Finland (1987–1998).

Kurenniemi received the Finland Prize of the Ministry of Education and Culture in 2003.[1] In 2004, he was elected honorary fellow of the University of Art and Design Helsinki.[2] 2011 Kurenniemi received Order of the Lion of Finland medal from The President of Finland Mrs. Tarja Halonen."

Update via Unknown in the comments: There's an article on Erkki Kurenniemi in the September 2013 issue of Sound on Sound (available online here). Definitely worth checking out.

Pictured: "Erkki Kurenniemi's first instrument was the Integrated Synthesizer. Completed in 1967, it used pin-matrix programming on a huge scale."

1982's Digital Music Systems DMX-1010 Computer Sound Processor with $35,300.00 Price Tag

Brochure scan in via Brian Kehew. This is the first post to feature Digital Music Systems and the DMX-1010. The following is the description from the scan. I wasn't able to find any info on the company including whether or not they had additional products.

"The DMX-1010 is the most advanced and powerful audio signal processor available today. It contains two computers - an LSI-11 microcomputer and a super-fast DMX-1000 digital audio signal processor. MUSIC-1000 software allows this system to be programmed easily in an intuitive way for almost any synthesis or processing task.

Features
- Real-time digital synthesis and processing of sound
- User-Oriented software makes system fast and easy to use
- Flexible enough to do any type of audio signal processing
- 16-bit converters and arithmetic for ultra-high fidelity
- Stereo input and output - expandable to quad
- Price competitive with other systems that do only limited synthesis

For Synthesis

Features
Units include:
Oscillators
- generate any waveform
- waveform tables up to 2048 16-bit words
- interpolation between waveform table values may be specified
- double-precision (32-bit) phase accumulation may be specified
White noise generators
Variable high-pass, low-pass and band-pass filters
Reverberent comb filters and all-pass filters
Line-segment, exponential-segment and arbitrary-function envelopes
Frequency modulation, amplitude modulation, phase modulation and ring modulation
Table lookup
MUSIC 1000 allows programmable control and connection of these software units with control and audio signals.
Ultra-high fidelity — 16-bit arithmetic is standard. 32-bit arithmetic may be used when required. 16-bit A/D and D/A converters.
Real-time user inputs - 10 knobs, 5 switches and a foot pedal — may be used to control any synthesis parameters while sound is being generated or processed.

For Sound Processing

The DMX-1010 is a real-time digital audio signal processor and can replace virtually all of the signal-processing units found in a recording studio, including:
- delay lines
- phasers
- flangers
- tape echo units
- reverb units
- graphic and parametric equalizers
- compressors
- limiters

The DMX-1010 Includes:

DMX-1000 Signal Processing Computer
Two channels of audio input (A/D conversion)
Two channels of audio output (D/A conversion)
4K x 16-bit data memory
64K x 16-bit delay memory
PDP-11/03 Computer
64 Kbyte memory
VT-100 terminal
Dual 8” double-density floppy disk drives — 1
Mbyte total capacity
Real-Time Control Panel
10 knobs and 5 switches
Footpedal jack
MUSIC-1000 and DEC RT-11 Software
The DMX-1010 is a complete turnkey system containing all the hardware and software necessary for audio synthesis and processing.

DMX-101 Price
April 1982 is $35,300.00 U.S.”

Kraftwerk on Meeting Bob Moog

This one in via Brian Kehew.

I thought the following was pretty great. It's at the end of a rare interview with Kraftwerk's Ralf Hütter on the Miami New Times.

"Before you leave, may I ask you what influence Moog has had on your music?

We met him when we were recording a TV show in Los Angeles back in '75 and Mr. Moog was there. We used a monophonic Minimoog -- we didn't have the budget for the larger one -- but he, of course, knew that already. What he didn't know was that meeting the machine's inventor was one of the true highlights of our lives."

Update: below is an image of Kraftwerk from 1976 via Wikipedia's page for Trans Europe Express.  You can see the Minimoog as well as a couple of ARP Odysseys.  Curios what that is in the background left.

Update2 via Steven in the comments: "It's a Synthanorma sequencer (by Matten & Wiechers).
http://a-u-t-o-b-a-h-n.blogspot.co.uk/2011/09/elektromusik-u-t-o-b-h-n-der-besten-das.html

I guess it's an earlier model than this one.
http://www.matrixsynth.com/2007/02/synthanorma-sequenzer.html"

And via Brian: "Under the Minimoog is an Orchestron, Model A or B..."

The New Emerson Moog Modular System Is Real

Remember the April Fools post? Turns out the April Fools joke was that it's actually real.

"Moog Music Announces The New Emerson Modular System

Friday, April 25, 2014 - Moog Music unveils one of its largest engineering undertakings, the new Emerson Moog Modular System.

On the 50th anniversary of the introduction of the Moog Modular, the first voltage controlled synthesizer, Moog Music is proud to honor Keith Emerson and his seminal collaboration with Bob Moog. Today, for the first time at Moogfest 2014, Moog Music reveals its three year effort faithfully recreating the iconic Emerson Moog Modular.

In the intervening 50 years since the advent of the first Moog synthesizer, people have steadily come to appreciate the power and flexibility of the early Moog modular systems. Now in 2014, 60 years after Bob Moog started his electronic musical instrument company, with great respect for the tradition, design, and craftsmanship of the original Moog modular systems, Moog Music proudly announces the recreation of arguably the most famous synthesizer in history--Keith Emerson’s Moog Modular System.

Over the last 3 years Moog Music has set out to research and build a faithful recreation of this highly complex, custom instrument. Using the original documentation as well as circuit board and art files for nearly every original Moog module, Moog Engineers have painstakingly recreated the original Emerson Modular System. The new Emerson Moog Modular System is comprised of handcrafted Moog modules built from the original circuit designs and are true recreations of the originals, utilizing the same hand assembly methods used in the Moog Music factory in Trumansburg, NY in 1969. The modules in the new Emerson Moog Modular System are built just as the originals were, by hand-stuffing and hand-soldering components to circuit boards, and using traditional wiring methods. Even the front panels are photo-etched aluminum (a rare process now), which is the classic and durable, look of vintage Moog modules.

Moog Music is proud to partner with Keith Emerson and salute his pioneering artistry with the announcement that Moog will build a handful of these incredible, custom handcrafted Emerson Moog Modular Systems.

To celebrate the introduction of the new Emerson Moog Modular System, Moog Music featured Emerson as a headliner at Moogfest 2014, where he played a special performance last night on Thursday, April 24th and is featuring a live discussion with Emerson today, Friday, April 25th."

A couple of pics of Keith Emerson at Moogfest with the system via John Grabowski's photostream on Flickr. (click through for more).

And via @Moogfest

"Introducing the new Emerson Moog Modular System. … pic.twitter.com/KHSP5dl5W3"

Gene Stopp pictured with the new system.  Gene is a renowned modular tech who worked on Keith's original system.  He and Brian Kehew worked closely together on the new system.  You can see them both pictured here.

Whatever Happened To Tin Pan Alley [Pete Townshend with ARP 2500]

Whatever Happened To Tin Pan Alley from ITN Source on Vimeo.

Pete Townshend with ARP 2500 at 9:40, audio at 10:22.

This one in via Brian Kehew.

The First Moog Ever

via Bubba Ayoub on Facebook

"I saw the first Moog ever today. IT WAS AWESOME."

"The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. It was in the Mini Moogseum at the Museum of Making Music a few years ago though."

Curious what impact moving the Bob Moog Archives to Cornell will have on the formation of the Moogseum. Click here for all posts mentioning the Moogseum.

Update:

New pics via Brian Kehew.

They are owned by the Henry Ford museum of American innovations.

Toomorrow (Feat. Olivia Newton-John) - Takin' Our Own Sweet Time

Uploaded on Aug 5, 2010 retrospecta2010·306 videos

"From the cult movie Toomorrow (1970) - For the full movie see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tdXl8..."

1970 DIY synth.

This one in via Brian Kehew

Rare BBC 1967 Mellotron PEG: Programme Effects Generator

Note the serial number is 47. I wonder how many of these were made. via Brian Kehew:

"I've always been a huge fan of Mellotrons and related items. This might be the rarest one I've seen. A friend of mine had this unit in a crate in his storage for years, I've been begging to let me get it out and try it... and it's finally possible. It's the only one I've ever seen, and most Mellotron people don't even know these existed.

The BBC seemed to have commissioned these in 1966/67 for quick access and playing of sound effects tapes. Previous to this, sound effects were kept on individual reels/spools and threaded manually onto a tradition reel-to-reel tape deck. The PEG is designed to use custom cartridges, with preloaded springed tape. They cartridges can be used up to 4 at one time, each loading into a Record/Playback "drawer" with some options. Each drawer allows you to record a new sound onto the tape, or simply play back. Playback allows pitch change and preset decay times as the tape plays. It's industrial or space-age sheet metal construction makes it look very "of its time" sort of Dr. Who meets a battleship.

It's designed a kind of a table-top or desktop unit, and there is a heavy external box used to vary pitch, if needed. So far I have only limited success with it, but it does light up and have some function. There is a huge and detailed manual documenting everything about it, so it will only be 'yet another project' and a matter of time to get it all sorted out..."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Electrospective Roundtable @ Abbey Road: Mojo Session

Published on Jul 27, 2012

"Mojo ask Daniel Miller, Andy McCluskey, Martyn Ware, Mark Jones, Trevor Jackson, Matthew Herbert and Bill Brewster their thoughts on electronic music.
Visit: http://www.electrospective.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Electr0spective
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Electrospective
Sign up: http://bit.ly/LNrRP1"

Lots of Moog in the background of this one! BBC Radiophonic Workshop gets discussed as well.

This one in via Brian Kehew.

Alesis Andromeda A6

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

"Also included is the optional PCMIA card is loaded with the following sound banks which are also downloadable from the Alesis website in the event the patches become corrupt.

Rob Papen’s Program Bank
Klaus Peter Rausch’s Program Bank
Pim Schilperoort’s Program Bank
Joerg Huettner’s Program Bank
Brian Kehew’s Program Bank"

CLICK FOR MORE »

NAMM 2013: Gene Stopp & Brian Kehew at The Bob Moog Foundation Booth

via The Bob Moog Foundation on Facebook

"Top-notch modular tech Gene Stopp and the inimitable Brian Kehew stop by the Bob Moog Foundation booth at NAMM 2103."

http://moogfoundation.org

Subscope Theremin + Talking Machine

YouTube Published on Jul 14, 2012 by EtherealTristesse

"I am using a Subscope Theremin here plus the Electro-Harmonix 'Talking Box' set on an open/fixed "Ah" to play 'Pie Jesu'. It is pretty amazing how this effect box can change the usual sound of the theremin to a very believable human voice."

This one in via Brian Kehew.

Moog Cookbook

via Brittany Niedzwiecki on Facebook

The Moog Cookbook are Roger Joseph Manning Jr. and Brian Kehew

myspace.com/moogcookbook
The Moog Cookbook on Wikipedia

Brian Kehew Talks Synths at AES Studio City LA

via Brian Kehew on Facebook

"Hey music friends - I'm giving a talk on (cool, old) synthesizer instruments at the Audio Engineering Society meeting this TUESDAY night 8.00pm at Sportsmens Lodge,
12833 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604. It won't be technical, and I have tons of old photos and catalogs from a collection I've hidden-away all these years. It will be fun, informative and, hopefully, inspiring!"