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?

ETI Maplin International 4600 Analog Synthesiser

via this auction via the forum

"ETI 4600 International - Maplin Edition

This is a 1973/74 Analog Synthesiser."

International 3600 4600 Original Vintage Publication

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via this auction

"Rare Australian publication 66 pages containing block diagrams, schematics, parts lists, theory of operation, PCB layouts, construction notes - everything you need to know in order to build a modular analog synth. Two models covered, International 3600 and 4600."

Seems like we are in a Maplin ETI run. Also posted in the last 30 days:

Joy Division Producer Martin Hannett's International 4600 Up for Auction?

ETI - Electronics Today International - Jan 1974: Full Scale Synthesizer Build

Maplin 5600S Analogue Vintage Syntheseiser Demo Video

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Maplin 4600 Synthesiser - full construction details booklet

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via this listing

"Maplin International 4600 Synthesiser booklet with building instructions. There's also a component schedule included in the sale. The booklet is written in English and contains 44 pages. One of the previous owners has underlined some parts and made notes inside, but the overall condition is good. Great item for collectors, builders or users of this rare synth."

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SYNTHESIZER MAPLIN International eti4600 c1975

via this auction
"Designed in Australia by Barry Wilkinson & Trevor Marshall Aug.1975/6

Barry Wilkinson of ETI was responsible for the packaging and kitting coordination. It was adapted for Europe by Maplin Electronic Supplies of Rayleigh, Essex who produced full construction details, and were able to supply all the components for the project including PCBs, printed panels and case."

Electronics Today International/Maplin 4600 Synthesiser

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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."

Synth Surprise in Morrissey's "Last Of The Famous International Playboys"

This one spotted via Gunner:

"I was just taken aback by some synth content in a Morissey video(!) Synth at about 2:40 and for microseconds in a couple other places. Looks like the [Maplin] ETI 4600 "International", which corresponds too nicely with the song title to be incidental."



ETI 4600 international synthesizer
YouTube via scienceforce
"This is the ETI 4600 intarnational synthesizer, structure based on Matrix patch panel like EMS VCS-3, AKS.
There are two different ETI 4600 versions: one blackface and the other extremly rare Silver face!
Sound like Space Odyssey ;-)"

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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International 3600 and 4600 Scans

more scans via Loscha

"International also known as the Maplin, also known as the ETI.
Cover
The "Goods"

This is a bit different from my usual scans. I removed the staples and scanned the book in as a book. So, you print it out on double sided paper, staple it in the middle, and have yourself a real book! I thought it was a nifty change, and was quick and easy for me on the work copier."

International 4600

This one is listed as an International 4600 according to this auction, aka the Maplin 4600. No title link. Just the two shots. via Simon.

ETI 4600 Synthesiser Auction Video Overview & Demos

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YouTube Published on Aug 9, 2012 by MikeyJTUK
4 part video series for this auction.

"ETI 4600 synthesiser demonstration. This is being sold on eBay from August 15th 2012 and ending on August 25th. World-wide shipping is available. This is an overview showing the complete 1970s vintage analogue synthesiser with an overview of the modules and layout.

This synth was a state-of-the-art design when it was conceived back in the1970s. Designed by Trevor Marshall in 1973, this synthesiser was offered in kit form by Maplin Electronic Supplies (in the UK). The parts cost was around £500, and was said to match the performance of synthesisers costing £1500 - that equates to a staggering £15,600 in today's money (according to www.thisismoney.co.uk calculator). This is a collector's dream! This actual synthesiser is featured on the home page of www.eti4600synthesiser.org.uk website, is fully working, and is in great condition considering it is some 35 years old. This synthesiser was built by me in 1977 when I was a teenager and has remained in my possession until now.

Not only is this a great asset for lovers of nostalgia and early electronic music history, but also for the modern day sound design engineer who can sample these great 70's sounds and combine the wonderful early synthesiser sounds with the precision, reliability, automation, and flexibility of modern DAW's!

See the other 3 parts for an in-depth demonstration."

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ETI International 4600 Vintage Semi-Modular Synthesizer

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via this listing

"This is a large semi-modular synthesizer, designed in Australia and released as a kit by Electronics Today International magazine in 1973. The large aluminium panel pivots forward for maintenance. Its 22x22 matrix switchboard, joystick, complex modulation and feature set is reminsicent of a larger EMS VCS3, a comparison enhanced by the use of genuine Cliff "little Dalek" knobs.

The main modules in the 4600 design were repackaged for the (smaller) ETI 3600 and the lightly larger Maplin 5600 kit synthesizers. Its notable features are volts-per-herz VCOS (rather than volts-per-Octave linear VCOs), complex Transient Generators that are like simple three stage sequencers, and a different-sounding VCF.

This is a rare, powerful and unique synthesizer that needs some TLC from a competent builder to unlock its potential.

STORY

In the early 80s before it had been completely built, it suffered damage (the plaster ceiling collapsed on it, because of a shoddy repair job after the previous tenants, a punk gang, had a "demolition party" that destroyed all internal walls). The keyboard was destroyed and there seemed little reason to replace it (the first 4600 keyboard circuitry was problematic and had been replaced by a design from the Fairlight team.) There was some scratches to the case and a lot of dust, though the pots did not seem scratchy.

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Ghielmetti Pin Matrix Kit for the Teenage Engineering POM-400

via matrix.vondle.com

"A bolt-on kit to turn your Teenage Engineering Pocket Modular 400 into a matrix synth like the revered EMS Synthi. Instead of using cables to patch outputs of one module into inputs of another, you use the supplied pins to connect a row (output) to the corresponding column (input).

The matrix itself is made in Switzerland by Ghielmetti, the original manufacturer of the pin matrices on the EMS Synthi, EMS VCS3, ETI International 4600 and the Maplin 5600.

The kit simply bolts onto the back of the POM-400 modules with the supplied hardware - there is no soldering required. Once bolted on, it enables you to make 100% of all the patches you could otherwise make using cables, with the added benefit of having virtually no restrictions on the number of available outputs and inputs for each module. Patch cables can still be used in conjunction with the matrix for interfacing the system with external modules and running sound out from the device.

For more details and to place an order go to matrix.vondle.com"

ETI - Electronics Today International - Jan 1974: Full Scale Synthesizer Build

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

via this auction

"How to repair calculators

Digital Stopwatch Project

Hi-Fi… Construction… Communications… Developments"

Maplin 4600

Maplin ETI International 4600

Title link takes you to shots via this auction via the Matrixsynth Forum.

Details:
Some references including links to ETI, specifications, schematics and manuals in PDF form:
trevormarshall.com
futuresoftware.com.au
matrixsynth.blogspot.com
synrise.de"

Update: Added two more shots of the inside to the set.