Tim Orr Modular synthesizer. Refurbished by L.Hastilow, H.Thompson & S.Scutt of London Met University.

Tim Orr Modular synthesizer. Refurbished by L.Hastilow, H.Thompson & S.Scutt of London Met University. from stephen scutt on Vimeo.

"A demonstration of the London College of Furniture Modular synthesizer. Designed by Tim Orr of EMS fame and built by electronics students of Jim Grant in 1982/3. The synthesizer was repaired & refurbished in 2012 by L.Hasilow, H. Thompson & S.Scutt to be included in the 2012 Cass exhibition.

The synthesizer has a very sumptuous sound. Here it is in action being played by the repairers."

Powertran Transcendent 2000 Synthesiser Demo

via this auction
"It is an unusual single-oscillator fully analogue monosynth produced in kit form by Powertran, UK in the late 1970s. It was used by legendary producer Martin "Zero" Hannett on Joy Division's "Unknown Pleasures" album - mostobviously on the track "Insight" where it can be heard wibbling away over Peter Hook's bassline.

As befitting a synthesiser designed by Tim Orr, the man behind the extraordinary EMS Synthi, the Transcendent 2000 has a couple of little surprises up its sleeve, namely:
1. The ADSR envelope generator can be set to repeat mode, turning the envelopes into a second (low-range) LFO
2. The ADSR envelope generator can be bypassed, allowing the oscillator to sound indefinitely, perfect for drones, wind noises etc
3. The oscillator has 2 waveforms, a variable square and a triangle. Somewhat unusually, the later's shape is adjustable from a ramp to a sawtooth allowing some rather subtle, delicate timbres to be created.
4. There is also VCF input that takes the supplied expression pedal, allowing the filter's cutoff to be played like a wah-wah. Talking of which, the filter can self-resonate with the best of them and can be switched between bp and lp modes.

Sound-wise, this synth excels at abstract drones and soundscapes, random machine noises, flowing leads and rather haunting solo violin type sounds. It's certainly no Synthi but it capable of far more sonic goodness than its simple architecture might suggest!"

Powertran Transcendent 2000 Demo by The Purple People Strings
"All sounds (including drums and percussion) generated by my Transcendent 2000. Recorded in Reaper with a little delay and reverb added afterwards.

The Transcendent 2000 was an English single oscillator monosynth produced in kit form in the late 1970s. Designed by Tim Orr of EMS, the synth was used by Joy Division on their debut album "Unknown Pleasures". Examples are now extremely rare."

Powertran Transcendent Polysynth

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated. Powertran Transcendent Polysynth / Tim Orr / Vintage Synth / Synthesizer 1980's

Published on Jan 20, 2018 Emily Anne

via this auction

"Excellent immaculate condition, has been sitting up in the loft untouched for 30 years. Only used a couple of times from new. Recently had the power updated and a few parts inside changed, to ensure it’s working beautifully. Found a detailed manual for it online: [PDF]"

"The Transcendent Polysynth was a 4 voice, polyphonic synthesizer. Based on CEM ICs the design by Tim Orr was published in ETI from December 1980 to March 1982. It was available as a kit or fully assembled from Powertran"

Two advert scans below.

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TRANSCENDENT 2000 Vintage Monophonic Synthesizer By Powertran

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(click through for the larger pics - see this post for why)

"You probably already know what this synth is all about, but for those that don't here's a little background. Designed by Tim Orr in the early 80's (formally EMS). The Synthesizer was sold ready made or in kit form. Buying the kit meant that you got the synth for £100 less than the ready made price. This made the synth desirable for musicians on a budget wanting access to a synthesizer and had a few weeks spare to put the thing together. Most of the kits are badly put together with loose keyboards and casework. Tim Orr was also responsible for the transcendent poly synth also available as a kit. This kit was very complex and finished units are hens teeth!. Late 80's saw the demise of powertran and all of it's kits but the legacy lives on. The synth we have here has had a full service with everything functioning as it should. Keys are clean, everything is tight and built well. All analogue electronic single circuitboard design. This synth has a great sounding filter with real warmth, similar to the ladder designs used in the moogs. The filter has sweep controls with band pass and low pass filtering. A VCF Envelope control with single shot and hold facility. The filter has a characteristic all of it's own!. The synthesizer is capable of some amazing squelchy bass type sounds and effects. I could probably go on all day describing the facilities so i think it best to google 'transcendent 2000' to get a full run down of it's features. I will include the original schematic on CDROM, it's not a great copy but still readable. One control knob has a scratch on it (pictured), The octave switch does not have the tactile ident like all the other but is still fully working."

TRANSCENDENT 2000 ANALOG SYNTH by TIM ORR of EMS

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via this auction

You can find a demo video of this auctual synth here.

"The T2000 was sold only in kit form and this unit has been very well constructed (see interior photo) with a nice style of large knurled control knobs chosen, and unusually a small Roland style knob added to what is usually just the stump of a potentiometer for overall tuning.

Although this unit has never been anywhere near Martin Hannett or any member of Joy Division or New Order AFAIK, it was the unit featured in the book "Analog Synthesizers" (2nd Edition 2019, pp. 364-5) and for many sounds on the CD "Sequencer Loops" (2002) by Mark Jenkins of which a brand new copy is included.

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TRANSCENDENT 2000 POWERTRAN - Analouge Mono Synth

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via this auction

"This Synth did work at some stage and with a little love and care this synth would reward you with a very usable EMS filter. Would be a great project synth. According to legend, EMS didn't want their name associated with the varying build quality of a home made synth, hence the kit being marketed by Powertran. It looks great even as an ornament.


The Powertran Transcendent 2000 was an English synthesizer designed by Tim Orr, also notable for his work at EMS and Akai. In the late 1970s, a good synthesizer was too expensive for many musicians, so Orr conceived the Transcendent 2000 as an affordable kit that could be assembled at home - a similar concept to the one used by PAiA in the United States.

The synth behaves pretty strangely, the unit powers up, however oscillators do not seem to function, except for very intermittently. The filter, which until quite recently did work with an external input, now behaves very erratically and does not process input signals."

Powertran Transcendent 2000

via this auction
"Rare and collectable classic Analogue Synth.

The same model as used in early Joy Division recordings, amongst others

Desighned by Tim Orr of EMS as used by the Floyd.

Sound Characteristics are said to be similar to that of the KORG MS-20

Far more versatile than many monophonic synth of it's time

-Made in about 1978
-Size 56cm X 30cm X 12cm

Features include:
• 3 octave keyboard
• Portamento control
• Pitch bend
• Wave shape selection
• Triangle and square waves
• Wave shape adj - triangle - sawtooth - square pulse width
• VCO level control
• Sample and hold amount
• ADSR to pitch adj
• Various pitch shape controls
• Tune control
• White noise level
• VCF filter
• Filter sweep amount
• Sweep shape - Normal - 0 - Inverted
• BP and LP filter selection switch
• VCF attack and decay
• VCF AD single shot or hold
• ADSR envelope
• Keyboard gate / norm and repeat trigger
• ADSR bypass - on or adsr
• Hi and low outputs
• Ausio in - Feeds external signal through the filter
• VCF freq pedal input
• CV and gate inputs"

Rare Powertran Transcendent 2000

via this auction

"Built around 1979 This fantastic British Mono synth was designed by Tim Orr of EMS. He was the chap behind some of the most classic and sought after early synths like the EMS synthi used by Pink Floyd This was the first synth used by Joy Division / New Order and appears on there early tracks.."

Trancendent 2000 Modified Synth Module with Midi

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"A rare collectable piece of equipment from the now defunkt POWERTRAN CYBERNETICS. These synths were originally sold as kits complete right down to the last nut and bolt. Designed by the legendary TIM ORR of EMS fame. A fully analogue synth designed on a single circuitboard. Gone now is the keyboard and original case, this one has been re boxed in a wood case. Now incorporates midi control that now allows connection to a computer sequencer or whatever midi device you like. Midi incorporates a push button learn facility for channel recognition. Midi control can be programmed via a PC and suitable cable allowing key span and adjustments. There are controls at the rear that allow precise tuning of octave width and pitch offset. Software links and some information will be provided on CDROM regarding these setup procedures. Now has a full compliment of moog style knobs however, the shafts that hold the knobs have been sanded to get these knobs to fit making the control turn slightly wobbly. All knobs work though with no noise, all have been cleaned. Incorporates an LFO rate indicator on the front panel. The original key switches used in the T2K become unreliable and can be a complete nightmare to set them all up correctly. With midi control this problem is eliminated. This unit plays exactly as a T2K should. A great sounding filter with a warm quality close to moog ladder designs. Incorporates band pass and low pass responce. Only genuine high quality components used when repaired and converted. Pictures show rear of the unit, midi in and thru sockets will be labelled before despatch."

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EMS Vocoder System 2000

Title link takes you to shots pulled via this auction.

Details: "British synth maker EMS are known not only for their classic VCS3, but also for their unique retro vocoders. Designed by Tim Orr, the EMS Vocoder 2000 is an excellent voice synthesizer comparable to the Roland SVC-350. It has been around since the late seventies, and is still available to this day. The Vocoder 2000 offered 16-channels of vocoding with filters, mic/line inputs, oscillator and noise sources, voiced/unvoiced detector, and slew/freeze control."

1975 EMS Universal Sequencer Serial #5

via this auction

"EMS Universal Sequencer. Very few of these super cool and extremely useful radical units were built. This one is serial #5. These were designed by the great Tim Orr for EMS and only a handful were produced in 1977. Upgraded KS with Control Voltage and Gate interface. CURRENTLY WORKING. Pick up or inspection is possible in Los Angeles."

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Powertran Transcendent Synth from Martin Hannett 's ( Joy Division)

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via this auction

This appears to be #7 in the lot. You can find previous ones here.

"from Martin Hannett's personal collection of Transcendent's- probably the nicest one to date to be refurbished and with it's original Anvil made in USA Hannett bomb proof flight case. Hannett put Transcendent synths into loads of records he produced including Joy Division- there are Transcendent sounds on Unknown Pleasures and other Joy Division recordings from that era . Hannett produced Joy Division early New Order, John Cooper Clarke, Nico, Buzzcocks, Magazine, Pauline Murray, U2, Stone roses, Happy Mondays, he was really responsible for bringing synths and echoes into punk and post punk

Ready to plug in and create those Joy Division sounds- this synth was designed by Tim Orr who also worked for EMS.

This has not just been stuck in an attic for years and full of dodgy controls or part working- this is fully serviced and refurbished and ready to go

will come with Hannett's personal notes on Transcendent No 7"

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Powertran Transcendent Polysynth

via this auction

"This analog monophonic synthesizer was designed in the UK in 1978 by Tim Orr of EMS and made by Powertran, Hampshire in the early 1980s, either as a fully built synth or as a self assembly kit through the publication Electronics Today International. The synthesizer produces a distinctive sound and is believed to have been used by Thomas Dolby, New Order, Joy Division. The Transcendent seems to be quite rare and collectable now.

The synth features CEM chips (as used in Prophet 5, Pro-1, Korg polysynths etc) and has been described as "the kit-builder's Jupiter 8 without the memories".

See:

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jan00/articles/netnotes.htm

for more details."

Transcendent 2000 Vintage Modified Analogue Synthesizer

via this auction

"A rather nice piece of synthesizer history from the now defunkt Manufacturer powertran. An english company selling many electronic devices as kits. Most of these designs were posted in the ETI electronics magazines as complete projects. The synth could be purchased ready made or in kit form. The kits were complete right down to the last nut and bolt (including the wood case). The synth was designed by tim orr, an ex synth designer at EMS. The Synth circuits were designed on a single circuitboard, all discreet components. The synth is highly bendable, if you so desire!. This unit has had several modifications, one of which should be apparent in the photo's. The keybed has been shortened slightly to accommodate a pitch and modulation wheel. The modulation wheel controls the LFO rate. Synth has an indicator light giving a visual indication of LFO frequency. The pitch wheel performance is good (but not fantastic). 2000s original pitchbend control was mounted on top of the synth... terrible place to put a pitch bend!!. Now it's more hands on and in easy reach. This is certainly a great synth for those classic analogue squelchy bass lines and effects. The filter has switchable Band Pass and Low Pass settings, comes close to moogs ladder designs for warmth and response. Very rare in this sort of condition and has become a desirable collectable piece of history that has true analogue circuits, nothing virtual......looks great too!"

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TRANSCENDENT 2000 Vintage Analogue Synthesizer

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"Originally sold in kit form through a company called 'POWERTRAN CYBERNETICS' in the 80's. Cheif designer of the transcendent was 'tim orr' and was responsible for many high quality kits allowing anyone with some soldering skills and a little electrical knowledge to build an instrument that was a fraction of the cost of commercial instruments, moogs for example. Although the transcendent may have been cheap at the time, it was still a very capable unit and is still used by musicians today. The synth was also available ready built. The 2000 was a success for powertran, 99% were sold as kits and some have not been put together very well, this unit however is solid and well finished. Powertran sunk in the late 80's so many of these synths are becoming highly desirable and collectable. Amazing sounding single board synth design with a filter similar to moogs ladder filter in response. Warm squelchy bass lines and capable of an infinite number of sounds and effects. Highly bendable design (if you feel you want to modify a classic further)...

ynthesizer has had a complete overhall with all rotary pots cleaned so no crackling controls. Switches have all the undercase covers to block dirt and debris from entering the switches. All switches respond as they should. All control knobs are present, one has a scratch of which is hardely noticable. Lid has some scratches, what you would expect with age but still in good order. This synthesizer has had two modifications which have been carried out to a very high standard. Mod one is an LFO rate indicator led mounted on the front plate giving a visual indication of the LFO rate, and the second mod is within the synth itself, an improvemant to the signal to noise on the output. Wood case is in splendid condition, keys are good with one or two scratches, still clean though..."

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Powertran Transcendent 2000 Overview & Demo by Midi/Error!!

Published on Aug 28, 2015 midierror

"A look at the features of the Transcendent 2000 synthesizer, designed by Tim Orr and used most notably by Martin Hannet and Joy Division."

Powertran Transcendent 2000 [ demo ]

Published on Aug 28, 2015

"Messing about with the Transcendent 2000 through a Lexicon reverb/delay unit."

VINTAGE EMS VOCODER 2000

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"Up for auction is an awesome, professionally maintained original EMS 2000 Vocoder System. Original Owner. Looks sharp and in perfect working order, there is some scratches from being in the rack (see pictures). Designed by Tim Orr and Robin at EMS, made personally for one of my U.S. studios well over 2 decades ago. It has a standard U.S. AC cord, a conversion that will cost a pretty penny on imported Euro units, and the import/customs/etc. cost over $1000 U.S. dollars even decades ago. They aren't made anymore and the EMS Vocoder 2000 is the best vocoder period. An awesome effect to have in your arsenal right now.

Vocoders were originally used to encode a voice to be transmitted over distance, having military tech functions... the compression and encoding of your signal and the synthesis. Essentially, a voice is compressed and encoded, then a new voice is synthesized. You can combine your signals with a keyboard/instrument or use the independent excitation mode to use the EMS Vocoder 2000 as a stand alone processor. With 16 analyzing and 16 synthesizing filters the EMS Vocoder 2000 has clarity and distinction in the processing that you WILL NOT find in plug ins or other Vocoders. Nice fat lows and mid range mix great with guitars and other synths. The EMS Vocoder 2000 is renowned for it's use in the show Battlestar Galactica as well as by Pink Floyd. Distinctive analog processing used by sonically renowned artists.

The coolest thing about this EMS Vocoder is you can design your own effects that are hard for others to duplicate. Bored of out of the box production and effects, the EMS Vocoder 2000 is the solution.

It cost almost $7000 decades ago to get this very special EMS Vocoder 2000 in my studio. It has been professionally maintained and otherwise safely racked in a professional studio since the 80's and is as mint as you will find.
If the price is too high, then you don't get what an EMS Vocoder can do.

Included in the auction are (1) EMS Vocoder 2000, Original EMS Manual, and AC cord."

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Rare Titan Synthesizer by Tim Orr of Powertran, Transcendent 2000, & Maplin ETI 4600

A Funky Uses For A Tape Machine and a massive Tape - MAGICALL E2 video upload by @THISMUSEUMISNOTOBSOLETE

Formant & Digisound get a mention as well. See this post for another video of the Titan and an article.

"Plans are a foot. if you want to get on the list use contact form below. if you'd like to Support the museum here :- https://www.patreon.com/lookmumnocomp...
--------
if you'd like to visit
information / contact:-
https://www.this-museum-is-not-obsole..."

Transcendent 2000

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via this auction

"The Powertran Transcendent 2000 was an English synthesizer designed by Tim Orr, also notable for his work at EMS and Akai. The synthesizer was used by Joy Division and New Order and is reportedly the first synthesizer Joy Division used, they then went on to use the Arp Omni..."

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Powertran Transcendent 2000

via this auction
"Powertran Transcendent 2000, rare british vintage analog synthesizer.

Designed by Tim Orr, of EMS marketed by POWERTRAN of Andover, Hampishire

Very powerful and raw dynamic filter, with external input, switchable between Low pass and Band Pass can be modulated by Lfo and by its own AD envelope

As used by: Thomas Dolby, New Order, Joy Division, etc"