The Maplin 5600S analog vintage synthesizer flagship (Video 1)

YouTube via scienceforce

"This is a vintage Maplin 5600s stereosynthesizer. This sequence is based on his two transient trapezoid envelopes. It's a very nice matrix synthesizer with many parameters ...much more than an EMS VCS3. His Matrix has 30 x 30 contact points (900 in total) for complex I/O and control voltages.
It has a built in spring reverb and an amazing cv controlled phaser.
The "kick" come out from a RSF Kobol driven by the Maplin 5600 trigger."

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Maplin 5600s

via this VEMIA auction

Videos below.

"Maplin 5600s stereo synthesizer. It's a very rare vintage matrix synthesizer, rich in parameters ... much more than an EMS VCS3. This isn't a typical example, either. Unlike most, the construction and wiring quality is absolutely professional, so it comes in perfect working condition, serviced and tested recently. The original service manual is included.... very unique cover! The Matrix has 30 x 30 contact points (900 in total) for complex I/O and control voltages. It has a built in spring reverb and an amazing cv controlled phaser. Many features: 4x VCO's, 1x LFO, noise and Sample & hold, 3x audio Mixers, 2x CV controlled mixers, 2x Transient envelopes (that you can use as sequencer with hold delays & portamento, amazing!) 1x Trapezoid envelope, 2x 24db filters, 2x VCA, 2x Ring modulators, Spring Reverberation, amazing Phaser, 2x Audio in modules, Pan controls, Joystick and more. The keyboard is 5 octaves and there are 2x cv controls and gate (2x trig inputs, switchable from the audio in modules) retrigger, echo send / return, foot pedal & switch connections. Working voltage: 220 / 240 volts There are 3 fresh youtube demos about this Maplin 5600s: filters on phasing patch and other 2 of transient techno sequences, you can check the videos from this channel" below

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Maplin 5600s vintage analog synth repair PART ONE MF#45

Published on May 3, 2015 markusfuller

"this is the first part of the repair of the rare 1979 vintage analog synthesiser from Maplin electronics. I am not sure how many parts this will be as I'm still repairing it or rather rebuilding it."

In the hall of the mountain king on Synthesisers

Published on Jun 27, 2015 markusfuller

"Just a Bit of fun, I decided to remake an old favourite on my synthesisers. in the hall of the mountain king by Edvard Grieg. recorded using Moog Theremini, Moog Phatty, Moog Sub 37, roland TR-8 & TB-3, & the Maplin 5600s, Maplin Spectrum Synth & a Bass guitar."

Maplin Voice Changer Kit

Product Features

* Manipulate your voice to sound like a robot
* Add vibrato or increase/decrease pitch!
* Requires 3 x AA batteries (Order Code: L43AL)

Available via Maplin. via this electro-music.com thread. You might recognized the name Maplin from the Maplin International synthesizers. Anyone know if they make any other current synth kits?

Maplin 3800 & 5600s Stereo Synthesizers Construction Booklet

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

via this auction

"Maplin 5600s 4800 (sic) analogue synth synthesier kit instruction manual.

This is a very rare opportunity to secure a significant item:
instructions for the building of perhaps the greatest analogue synthesier ever created: The Maplin 5600s."

Maplin 3800 Vintage Analogue Synthesiser

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

via this auction

"used but excellent condition Maplin 3800 analogue synthesizer, these are now incredibly rare. This machine has just come out of service with a full bill of health after being fully calibrated and checked over by one of the best synth engineers in the UK. Physical condition is excellent aside from a few marks from use. As pictured some of the knob caps are missing, they will be replaced by the time the auction ends with a similar alternative, please not the colour may differ slightly from the originals, its pretty cheap to replace them all if you want a more universal finish. This machine wipes the floor sonically with similar sized machines from Roland/Moog/ARP partly due to the Transient Generator which are normally only found on modular synths The 3800 has some useful unique features including an external input which allows you to put other instruments through the synth and a multi-stage Transient Generator which is far more flexible than a standard ADSR type Envelope generator fitted on most other analogue synths. The Transient Generator has 7 controls; Start Level (+ & -), Delay 1, Slope 1, Hold Level (+ & -), Hold Delay, Slope 2, and Final Level (+ & -). This means that you can, for example, control the Filter to close off and then open up and close off again in one envelope cycle! I don't know of many other analogue synths that can do that other than the ETI and Maplin ones. The Filter is a 24dB per octave type, just like the Minimoog, so you can get all the classic Bass and Lead sounds from this synth. Features: •48 note monophonic keyboard •Low Frequency Oscillator (LFO) •2 Voltage Controlled Oscillators (VCOs) with Sine, Triangle, Sawtooth, Inverted Sawtooth, and Square Wave output. Square wave can be adjusted or controlled from the LFO or Transient Generator. •Pseudo random Noise generator controllable between white and pink noise. •Sample and Hold •24dB Voltage Controlled Filter (VCF) with variious control input capabilities. •Voltage Controlled Amplifier (VCA) which allows Ring Modulation. •1 Envelope Generator with 5 controls •1 Transient Generator with 7 controls •External input which allows external signals to be matched to the synth and also generate a Trigger pulse •5 Stage Graphic Equaliser •Built in Spring reverb..."

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ETI 4600 synthesiser, DIY, maplin

via this auction
"In the 1970s Maplin sold this synth as a kitset for those who wanted a high quality synth at a fraction of the cost.

It cost about 600 quid in 1978 apparently.

It has at some stage been a fully functioning synth but the previous owner stripped it down to modify it but sadly, He never got there.

This synth would be a good project for someone with the energy and an interest in electronics to restore to its former glory.

All of the costly bits are here such as the case, frontpanel, keyboard, joystick, pin matrix patch panel and even a reverb spring tank.

As shown in the photo, most pots, switches and knobs are there and the green crate is full of the following circuit boards:

2 x VCA mkII
4 x OSC mkII
1 x 1979 keyboard controller
1 x ETI 450A boards
3 x ETI 450B board
3 x ETI 601 filter
1 x mixer board
and many other extra maplin circuit boards.

Go to this link to have a listen"

MAPLIN 3800 analog vintage synthesizer

via this auction

"Very Nice MAPLIN 3800, British vintage analog synthesier, based on the same Maplin 5600 circuits. It has a lot of interesting features like a VCS3 Trapezoid type envelope (Transient envelope) Nice Spring reverberation and equalization, two awesome oscillators, Sample & Hold, modulator, a COOL 24db resonant Filter and more!"

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Vintage 80's E & MM / Maplin Analogue Drum Synth

via this auction

Syntom II, Synbal & Synclap
"80s modular analogue drum synth with 5 x Syntom II modules for toms, bass drum and snares and 2 x Synbal module for cymbal and gong and generally metallic noises. Also comes with a Synclap module ( for clap sounds presumably), this is not installed but there is an empty panel on the unit that is drilled out and marked up for it.

These modules were offered as a kit by Maplin in the mid 80s and build instructions were featured in Maplin's magazine Electronics & Music Maker. Supplied with print outs of the magazine articles which explain how they work, have circuit diagrams, PCB layouts and suggested settings...

Synbal modules have controls for volume, resonance, sweep, frequency, noise metallic, tone and decay. As well as a 3 way switch that selects lowpass, bandpass or highpass filters. It produces a huge variety of metallic sounds - crash and ride cymbals, gongs, cowbell and lot of strange noises too...

Each unit has 2 1/4" jack sockets on the front panel. One for a trigger input that should work with any type of piezo drum pad etc and the other to connect a pedal. With the Syntom II modules pressing the pedal produces a drum roll at a speed set by the roll rate control. With the Synbal modules, pressing the pedal shortens the decay so you can produce open and closed hi hat sounds etc. Outputs are via individual 1/4" jacks on the back panel.

There is a mains power supply built in to the aluminium case. The case has no top or bottom panels. It looks like it never had."

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Maplin 3800

YouTube via zaphid | January 15, 2011 |

"Modified Maplin 3800: patchpoints, Midi installed and via midi velocity sensitive and aftertouch routings to aftertouch cv, computer installed with 2 digital lfo's and 2 digital envelopes. 5 different waveshapes per lfo with programmable delay and fade out. Standard adsr envelopes (env 2 bipolar). Improved eq board and low noise vca + extra vca. Computer functions and commands can be selected by pressing keys on the Maplin."

Maplin 5600s

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

via this auction

"This is my Maplin 5600s stereo sound synthesizer. It�s a very rare vintage monophonic matrix synthesizer. This was only available in kit form from Maplin Electronics in the early 1980�s."

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Vintage Analog Synthesizer MAPLIN 3800

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

via this auction

"It is a true analog monophonic synthesizer. The roots of the english MAPLIN models base on the ETI DIY Synthesizers from Australia.
This MAPLIN 3800 "Synthesiser" (look at the photos) was manufactured in England.

It has great sound capabilities because of the internal routing, the two VCOs (syncable), the noise generator, the S&H circuit (three different sources), three modulation sources, the ring modulator, the LFO, the VCF, the reverberation, the equalizer and the unique Transient circuit. The Transient is a kind of envelope that can be used to modulate several other components of the synthesizer. Like the Trapezoid circuit inside the EMS VCS3 and Synthi A synthesizers. The Transient circuit has got seven different pots for setting up and can also retrigger the synthesizer. Also there is a flexible kind of envelope for the VCA (ADDSR).

This offered synthesizer has got some issues: the two VCO input rotary switches for setting up the VCOs (the blue and the green very left ones) can not be turned without tongs! The switches have to be exchanged. The pot for setting up the noise color does not affect the noise color. The LED of the power supply is lose and needs to be fixed. Thats all. Technical everything works fine excepting the noise color pot. But noise is present and can be leveled from 0 to 100 percent. Even the VCO input rotary switches work normal excepting the strong torque they need to be switched. The installed knobs on them can't hold this strong torque and so they turn without any effect.

Sounds great without any noise on the audio path.

At the back you find several connector sockets. As there are: Foot switches for Trigger and for Glide, external audio input (can be routed through the filter and be used to synchronise the Envelope and the Transient to other sound sources) Here for there is at the front panel the section "EXTERNAL I/P". With this the external audio can be setup in sensitivity and trigger level. Also there is a separate output socket for the trigger and the retrigger, and for the audio output. At least there is a multi connector called "COMPUTER". But i don't know anything about it. I think it corresponds to the section "COMPUTER" at the front panel.

Unit works on 220 - 240 Volt. You will probably need an voltage converter to use this synthesizer or you replace the mains transformer inside."

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Zaphyd - Maplin 3800 Analog Synthesizer

Uploaded by zaphid on Jan 15, 2011

"Modified Maplin 3800: patchpoints, Midi installed and via midi velocity sensitive and aftertouch routings to aftertouch cv, computer installed with 2 digital lfo's and 2 digital envelopes. 5 different waveshapes per lfo with programmable delay and fade out. Standard adsr envelopes (env 2 bipolar). Improved eq board and low noise vca + extra vca. Computer functions and commands can be selected by pressing keys on the Maplin."

New Maplin 5600s DIY Build Based on the Raspberry Pi

video uploads by Derek Walker

"Maplin 5600s Build - pictures & videos of the build in chronological order from the beginning of the project, August 2018, to the end, June 2019."

via http://www.bygonebytes.co.uk/Maplin_5600.html

"I recently came accoss the contruction manual for my Maplin 3800 synthesiser and flicking through it I wondered would it be possible to build the 5600s systhesiser today, August 2018, nearly four decades on.

With the passage of so much time there will be a few challenges to overcome namely component obsolescence. Integrated circuits, spring line, patch board, keyboard but to name a few. Please read the 'Hindsight Engineering' section at the end of the page.

On the positive side the build process should be simpler. For me the circuit boards will be easier to produce, no more ferric chloride, bubble etch tanks, spraying copper clad board with photo resist varnish and so on. Just produce the gerber files (I used EasyEDA) and send them off to JLCPCB.

I'm still considering what to do about the patch bay, try to source one or simply bring the inputs/outputs to limited number small jack sockets so they can be 'jumpered' - no room for 900 sockets!

I am also considering usng the Raspberry Pi instead of a keyboard either as a sequencer or as a 'soft' keyboard. I will re-hash my sequencer program for use with the 7" touchscreen and find a space to fit it on the panel."

You can find full build details at http://www.bygonebytes.co.uk/Maplin_5600.html.

Electronics Today International/Maplin 4600 Synthesiser

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

"All components, pcb, keyboard, casing and internal hardware were supplied by Maplin in semi-kit form.

I personally constructed this in the late 70's , Maplin workshops set up all the boards that required it.

There is still a very small amount of work to do on this synth to complete it, the springline requires wiring in which is approx 4 wires, the joystick also requires final wiring up which is another small job. Anyone who remembers these synths will know about electronics and be able to follow the manual to complete it. The synth did play back in the 70's but I haven't used it since, I also don't have speakers etc now to listen to it on so I'm unable to run it now but there is no reason why it shouldn't work. You may find that some of the tantalum capacitors will require changing, it's usually the case with tants of this age, at least they would pop on my old Nascom which is from the late 70's. There is a very detailed manual which will come with the synth showing all the circuits and construction details, there is also a considerable number of pins for the patchboard. I have removed the back of the instrument whilst taking the photo's of the circuits for clarity, there is normally a back fitted."

Phonic Taxiderminist 47 2b - Maplin Voice Vandal clone - ACID test.

Published on Apr 19, 2016 circuitbenders.co.uk

"The Phonic Taxidermist 47.2b is a DIY clone of the Maplin Voice Vandal. This was a kit available from Maplin in the early 90's, consisting of a high frequency audio chopper and grungy 10 bit delay.
PCB's are available from http://www.circuitbenders.co.uk/forsa..."

GooGooFish

Title link takes you to GooGooFish. The owner of the site, Chris, contacted me in March about setting up a site to host some samples of the Maplin 5600s and some other synths. I pointed him to a couple of ISPs and he took it from there. I had no idea he was going to create such a cool site. On his project page you will find more info, images and samples of Chris' projects below. BTW, I was tempted to put up a single post on every single one of these, but I figured one big post would be better.

Enjoy.








Roland SH-09 Modded

"My solution was to make a module to fit into my deopfer system and bring all the patch points where I need them. The module is connected to the SH-09 by a SCSI cable which when disconnected leaves the running as normal. The module gives you access to all the wave outs, all the sub outs, all the LFO outs and all the ENV outs including the follower. Also you have an LED which works in conjunction with the LFO LED on the synth."

Click Box

"This was a project I started in Australia after I discovered this little book called 'Electronic Musical Projects' published by BPB, which are based in New Delhi. From the back of a camper van somewhere hot and sunny I built my first version of this project which they call the 'Novel Sounds Generator'."




Casio PT-10

"The six switches above the speaker slow down, speed up and generally mess with the drum and keyboard sounds. On one far end there is an audio out and the other end an audio in and sequencer in, this advances the built sequencer on when a voltage pulse is received."




MIDIBox FM Synth

"This is my take on the MIDIBox FM Synth. The case is from a cut down wedge style Commodore C64 case ( the SID chip is destined for a MIDIBox Quadra SID! ). Foolishly I decided to fit a kettle lead plug on the back which meant it was a bit of squeeze fitting everything in. The front panel was engraved on a laser cutter and the buttons made out of coloured silicon rubber. "


Doepfer "Joybox"

"This midi controller was made for a friend using a quad speaker setup. His aim was to have a control surface using Max/MSP to move sounds around the performance space. We decided to use joysticks found in Play Station hand controllers after he had success using them in a previous project for his BA."




Maplin 5600s

"Selling my Maplin 5600s was the silliest thing I think I've done! I bought it about Five years ago, half working, as a project to get some practical experience with electronics. After a couple of weeks I realised what a huge job it was so I contacted Mr Oakley and he got it up and running for a very reasonable price."

Maplin 3800 Analog Monophonic Synthesizer

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

via this auction

"Rare Maplin 3800 analogue synth. Good working condition. Serviced 2 months ago.

It has great sound capabilities because of the internal routing, the two VCOs (syncable), the noise generator, the S&H circuit (three different sources), three modulation sources, the ring modulator, the LFO, the VCF, the reverberation, the equalizer and the unique Transient circuit. The Transient Generator has 7 controls; Start Level (+ & -), Delay 1, Slope 1, Hold Level (+ & -), Hold Delay, Slope 2, and Final Level (+ & -). This means that you can, for example, control the Filter to close off and then open up and close off again in one envelope cycle. Like the Trapezoid circuit inside the EMS VCS3 synthesizer.

The Filter is a 24dB per octave type, just like the Minimoog, so you can get all the classic Bass and Lead sounds from this synth."

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ETI Maplin 4600 Analogue Synthesiser

via this auction

"Electronics Today International/Maplin Analogue Synthesiser circa 1975 that would have been originally purchased in kit form."

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Maplin 5600s analog vintage synthesizer flagship (transients test1)

YouTube ploaded by scienceforce on Dec 5, 2011

"Maplin 5600s stereo synthesizer transients test1. It's a spectacular vintage synthesizer, esthetic very nice as a Spaceship and amazing sound.
It's rich in parameters, this explain the large Matrix patch panel (900 points!), much more than an EMS VCS3, just on sale on ebay" [via this auction]

Update: some pics for this auction:

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