VEMIA Update

Via Peter Forrest:

"Interesting analogue items in the VEMIA auction at www.spheremusic.com ending on this coming Saturday, (April 12) include ARP 2500, Quadra, Solina String Synthesizer, Cavagnolo Exagone XM64, CRB Computer Band 2000, Crumar Spirit s/n 15, Digisound, Doepfer, Elka Synthex, EML 200, EMS Logik, Dequencer, Hi Fli, Vocoder 2000, ETI 4600, Fender Rhodes Mk I, Freeman String Symphonizer, unopened Hohner Clavinet, Drumfire DF500, Kenton Mono/Poly kit, Korg MS02, 03, 50, SQ-10, Trident II, VC-10; two Mellotrons (one in Canada), MasterRoom reverbs, R A Moog CEMS (the biggest custom design he ever did?), Minimoogs, Minitmoog, Sonic Six, three touchplates; Matrix 12 with Xpander front panel, OB8, OBMx, OSCar, Syntars, PPG 1002, 350, 360, 390; Rhodes Chroma, Prophet T8, Simmons SDSVs, Spectral Audio ProTones, Steiner Masters Touch, SE MIDIMini and MIDIMoog, Stramp Synchanger II, dotcom stuff, early Curetronic, Adrian Utley's theremin, Estradin 230, GTC Telefonfilter, Rozzbox, Persephone Deluxe, Springer 1950s time-stretcher, Vox Jaguar (Canada), Yamaha SS30, and plenty more besides. Some prices are high, some very high; some are surprisingly low. You can always just look at any pictures that interest you."

Pictured here is the MOOG Touchplate prototype #1.
"A fantastic and rare example of Bob Moog's own handiwork, serial number TP010. When he started back into music manufacture in the early eighties, the model 300 touch-plate was one of his first products. This is the prototype Synton received from Bob for demonstration purposes. It is extremely Moog-like in its characteristics. It has its own inbuilt power transformer, and the outputs are available on six 1/4in jack sockets, with good ol' Moog knobs for controlling sensitivity. It has a Synton sticker on the back, saying 'TOUCH PLATE USA'. Synton and Moog had a close relationship in the 80s, with reciprocal import/export. It is untested. This is from the collection amassed by Felix Visser, former head of Synton. All items were destined for a national technology museum project, many years in the planning, but finally cancelled by politicians and planners. They have mostly been stored unused for a number of years. Any items marked untested are untested, are sold as is, and could be fine or could need work. Wherever we have more information (good or bad news) it is mentioned in the item description."

PPG Wave 2.2 / 2.3 Rack Project

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

via this auction

"I have a significant amount of time [both mine and others] and money invested in making this work.
I am at my limits of abilities to work on it. I can get a display to run but no sound because of the Proz-mismatch.

The PPG has the latest Virtual Music 8.3 ROMs. I am including a second set of ROMs as well.

I would refer to this below from Alexander from Virtual Music [link removed by eBay]
I am looking for $5000 as is.

When this was shipped, the cards were not removed and wrapped so the damages are listed below.
• 2-3 broken mylar caps [the leads are hairline thin and very fragile]
• 1 broken 27.460mhz Crystal
• LCD cable pins are bent / broken and some will need replacement.

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Roland TB-303 Devil Fish w/ MIDI in Aluminum Case

via this auction

"Serial #178, Version v.4.0B

In December 2003 I purchased my very first TB-303 via Peter Forrest’s VEMIA auction, it was immaculate and functionality perfect. In the next couple of years I purchased several TB’s, but it was clear that the first was the nicest, and so, in 2005, I sent it off to Robin Whittle to undergo the Devil Fish treatment.

In a stroke of luck, I happened to be lucky enough to acquire one of the revered and totally gorgeous alu cases that Martin Rothlisberger designed in his spare time and sent this to Australia so that Robin could built the Devilfish into it.

The fitment into the case is a very tricky affair, they are carved from solid blocks of aluminium by a computer, and thus super accurate; the problem lies in the TB itself, which hailing from the 80’s is not so accurate! Some of the potentiometer positions can subtly vary, and there are other pitfalls, for example the wires can get pinched in different places. This TB has been fitted to the highest standards possible. There are crazy aspects to it, like 2 by 2 carbon fibre washers, an even larger capacity lithium battery than the one Robin uses as stock for the bank memory back up and the rear of the case attaches via precision machined titanium bolts. It’s a functioning piece of design / art.

Robin strikes me as the classic genius engineer and in implementing the modification, I guess his priority is in making sure everything works, not necessarily whether it looks beautiful. As a result, I have expertly implemented a host of cosmetic amendments myself to make things like the LED’s shine more attractively, the knobs sit at a comfortable height and, perhaps most practically, I have implemented a delightfully simple but important idea that buffers the main PCB board, in the event that the machine ever falls face flat, which due to the design by Roland, does leave the machine quite susceptible to a cracked PCB. Some of the ideas I have shared with Robin (to his interest!), others I have not as yet, but I suspect he and other TB enthusiasts would find them interesting, if not a touch obsessive :-)

As the numerous pedantic personal touches might indicate, I never foresaw parting with this machine, but am contemplating it primarily for two reasons, I have another Devil Fish (non MIDI version) so I wouldn’t miss this one all that much, principally I am interested to acquire something entirely different for my studio, which would entail raising the necessary funds.

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ELECTRONIKA EM-04

via this auction

"HERE THE DESCRIPTIONS FROM PETER FORREST BOOK "VINTAGE SYNTH'S A-Z": Elektronika EM-04 - 49-note (C-C) split multi-keyboard. This seems to have appeared in two very different forms. Both have sets of sliders to the left of the keyboard and in three sections behind it; but one is a neater, flatter machine with a carrying handle at the forot, while the other has fold-down legs, a little Farfisa-like, and a reverse-colour keyboard for the bottom two octaves. Divide-down tone generation; 'slalom' effect. Size: 790 x 490 x 155 mm. Weight: 18kg."

"EM-04 HAS A FOUR MAIN SECTIONS OF CONTROL:
1-st GROUP (left manual) - attack, sustain, bass, violin, alto, string, orchestral, brass
BRASS FILTER - attack, sustain (level, on/off), cutoff, resonance
2-nd GROUP (right manual) - attack, sustain, bass, violin, alto, string, orchestral, brass
MASTER - fine tuning, main volume level, tone (brightness), slalom (pitch slide), gavai (finger pitch controller), string/organ select, brass 1-2.

CONNECTIONS - output 5-din, pedal input 5-din, power socket, fuse, power on/off switcher."

samples at the auction via ruskeys.net

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Sequential Circuits Prophet T8 - 8-Voice Polyphonic Synthesizer SN 000024

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

via this auction

"Selling my beloved Prophet T8 after many years of great recordings and cared use. This was serviced a few years ago by one of the best western Canadian synth technicians. Its fully function and the keybed has felt replacement recently and it feels great. Lots of information on the net about this amazing synthesizer. Its midi functionality is great and I used this as my main controller for my DAW instruments and other synths with midi. The built in real-time sequencer is amazing! Poly After touch, 8 Voice, Velovity envelope control! Its been called the Rolls Royce of Synths in the book 'A to Z of Analogue Synths' by Peter Forrest.

Its in excellent shape, some little dings and scratches on the metal here and there. Was like that when I got it. Its lived in my studio since purchasing over 10 years ago." [posted here]

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Peter Forrest's A-Z of Analogue Synthesisers - Revised Editions Part One & Two

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

via this auction

"Both highly collectible and extremely useful - the ultimate reference for vintage analog synthesizers!"

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Befaco diy modular synth & eml polybox

Befaco diy modular synth

Published on Jun 8, 2014 xamstradx·4 videos

"Having fun with my Befaco DIY modular synth (2010-2014, and growing)

Everything recorded in live, all sounds coming from the main output.

Patch 1 - Using MidiCV module ( Multi4 mode ), different sequences and filter functions.

Patch 2 - Using MidiCv module ( Poly mode ) trying some chords and pads. Don´t expect it to excel at this, it´s not what it is intended for. But with some tweaking you can still get some polyphonic goodness.

Path 3 - Random+rythmical pattern using internal functions (no midi here).

All sound recorded with the camera microphone, sorry for the poor quality

Kits are available at befaco.org."


eml polybox Uploaded on Aug 4, 2011 xamstradx·4 videos

"Got this eml poly-box for some years now, i decided to put up some quick demo due the lack of info, and sometimes curiosity, about it.
It´s is a cute, tiny, and exotic synth companion who basically turns a mono synth into a pseudo poly-synth (well not exactly, but more or less).
I bealive it was designed to work with EML electrocomp series. So to take the best of it you need a modular or semimodular device i´d say. Here it is with my diy modular synth.


'From the Peter Forrest guide to all things synth: 'A curious and rare product - only 130 ever were made. Designed to turn monosynths into pseudo-polyphonics. Twenty-six "note memories." Connect a monosynth audio out to the PolyBox input, play a note on the monosynth, hold down a chord on the PolyBox, and the PolyBox will fill out the chord from the original root note. Then you could route the PolyBox back into your synth (if it had an audio input) to use the synth's filter and envelope. The PolyBox's own sound was limited to pulse wave

Here is how EML describes it:
'Poly-Box is a pitch following variable chord generator controlled by your synthesizer and Poly-Box's own keyboard with built-in memory. Poly-Box takes a single pitch from your synthesizer and creates two banks of pitch sources. Each pitch bank contains 13 simultaneously available pitch sources at precise semitone intervals - covering an entire chromatic octave. The pitch banks may be in the same or different octaves, and can cover the range from one above to three octaves below the synthesizer oscillator.'"

A Visit to Thighpaulsandra's Aeriel Studios Pt2 - Pt4

YouTube via matrixsynth.

Peter Forrest and Thighpaulsandra tweaking the Cynthia Zeroscillator with Plan B at Aeriel Studios. Be sure to click on the Aeriel Studios label below for all posts in this set.

http://thighpaulsandra.com/
http://www.myspace.com/thighpaulsandra

Olson XX-100 Rhtythm Beat - VEMIA

"Made in Japan, for an Akron Ohio firm. Another very rare machine - they are certainly coming out of the woodwork for this auction. This has probably the worst made-up name/number I've ever seen... XX-100 would be better on a rocket ship. BUT... it is beautifully made, in super condition for its age, and it has some very appealing sounds. As usual Bossa is one of the most useable, but they are all cleverly designed, and the whole thing is definitely at the tasteful and well-executed end of the tackiness spectrum. Buttons manually playing eight extra sounds. The only thing to stop it being near-mint is that the back hinged cover looks like a utilitarian (plain ply) replacement. Very nice indeed, though."
VEMIA - Click on Auctions, Search, and search for 5911.

And that's it folks. Be sure to check out VEMIA for everything else I did not put up. There is much, much more listed.

I want to thank Peter Forrest for being kind enough to give me the go ahead to put these up. Yes, the auctions get exposure, but once they are over and gone, the images and info will remain. BTW, be sure to click on the images for the full size shots. You can click on the VEMIA link below to bring up all VEMIA posts.

Roxy Music's Brian Eno's Custom Dual EMS SYNTHI

A few pics of Brian Eno's custom dual EMS SYNTHI via MarkEC on the AH mailing list. You can see the custom SYNTHI in the video posted here.

Peter Forrest, author of The A-Z of Analogue Synthesizers chimed in with the following:

"I asked Robin Wood and got this reply, which he said was OK to relay.

'Nice to see a few photos of this beast, usually only seen in OGWT video footage (or should that be TOTP?)..

This was a special built for Roxy by Gerry and Brian Rodgers, quite possibly after they had split from EMS when they were trading as RSE (Rogers Studio Equipment).

According to Gerry there were problems with its reliability. Also Gerry says Eno was 'sacked' by Roxy partly because of the instrument, so it's 'working' life was short. Information not easily substantiated..'"

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Farfisa Syntorchestra analog synthesizer - rare wooden version

via this auction

"From the web (http://till-kopper.de/syntorchestra.html)

According to the very well done book "A-Z of Analogue Synthesisers" by Peter Forrest, this little thing was built from late 1975 till 1978. It was available in a metal stage and a more organ like wood housing version. Here you see the wooden version. It is built from chipboard covered by real veneer that looks like cherry wood to me. Only the vertical stripe above the keyboard action is real wood. The bottom plate is identically to the metal housing version. That is why one finds there some clips to attach the note book holder (made of a thick chrome covered thread) of the metal housing version there. The front and the housing left and right the keyboard are made of metal..."

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The A-Z of Analogue Synths

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

via this auction

By Peter Forrest.

"The A-Z of Analogue Synths, part 1 and part 2 or A-M and N-Z, paperback.

Both books are in very good condition, no tears or stains.

These are a great guide to Classic synths and there's so much information crammed in to the pages it takes a little to get used to the style. But there's everything here; Arp 2500, Korg PolySix, Moog CDX.

Numbered and signed by the author."

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Yamaha SS 30 String Synthesizer

via this auction

"This baby is Ultravox in a box!!! Listen to "Reap The Wild Wind" or other tracks from Vienna or Rage in Eden to hear the SS 30 in all its glory; or check it out on Youtube as mentioned later.

I have several string synthesizers including the ARP String Ensemble, Korg Lambda and Delta, and Crumar Multiman (very underated btw!), and I've owned several more and I can truly say that the SS 30 is unique!!! It has a shimmering quality which the chorus and vibrato can emphasize like no other stringer I've played. I've also had a Yamaha SK30 and these strings are MUCH BETTER, so don't judge this lovely Yamaha on the quality of those SK models. These are more like the string presets built into the Yamaha home organ E50/70 series which also had the CS 50/60/80 voices on it... full of character and a top end that really cuts through a mix. Cleaner than the ARP String Ensemble, more like a Roland RS 505 but better ;-) Peter Forrest raved about it in The A-Z of Analogue Synthesisers and it has many fans on the net. They are super rare in the USA, as they were not sold here when new.

Some of the best uses are applying chorus and or vibrato to the violins and not the cellos with the different keyboard splits and using the cellos as a bass synth sound. This is one of the only string synths where the sounds are just as good without chorus as with. EVERYTHING WORKS on this well-maintained unit which has been in my smoke free studio since 2006. The veneer has a cut or two and some scratches... this is probably a 7 out of 10 cosmetically but all the knobs and logos are complete and legible. These do not come up for sale often!!!

You can apply vibrato and chorus in weak and strong amounts with variable rates, delay etc to either cellos or violins independently; there are two "oscillators" or ranks so the vibrato comes from varying their pitch slightly. Attack and release for envelopes is also independent and each key has its own VCA like the Korg Lambda or the Moog Polymoog, you never get voice stealing on long sustains. Two cello voices, a viola voice and two violin voices.

The only negative I will admit to is that it's mono... if it were stereo it would rule the world, or most of the good parts. It has inputs for a volume pedal and sustain switch, these both work and the volume pedal helps with dynamics as it has no velocity.

Hear for yourself on Youtube, I'm not linking to any vids but they're easy to find. This board loves effects too... throw some phasing on it and you get stereo delight."

Logan Vocalist - Analogue Choir Synthesizer from 1979, Italy 🎹

Published on Mar 21, 2020 Reuben Jones

Elka Synthex, DSI/Sequential Tempest, and Octave Kitten featured as well.

"The Logan Vocalist, by Logan Electronics, 1979, Italy.

The Logan Vocalist is an analogue synthesizer designed to mimic the sound of a polyphonic choir and the solo human voice. Evocative vocal-like sounds are made using a mixture of hard-synced oscillators, analogue filtering, and ensemble and vibrato effects.

There isn't a lot of information on this rare and interesting synth, and the schematics are the only documents I can find. If anyone has more information, including the A3 folded manual that Peter Forrest mentions in his A-Z book, please let me know!

Join 'Sintetizzatori Vintage Italiani' and 'VSMIproject Vintage Synthesizers Made in Italy', both on Facebook to see more Italian synthesizers.

Also, visit https://www.museodelsynth.org/ to find out about the Italian synthesizer exhibition in Macerata, Italy.

Thanks to Keith Kniveton at Lucid Sound, and to Dani Wilson at Hideaway Studios.

All music by me, except for
02:29 - 03:17 : Non si Sevizia un Paperino by Riz Ortolani, used in the Italian giallo movie Don't Torture a Duckling, 1972;

and,

03:17 - 03:48 : L'Alba dei Morti Viventi by Goblin, used in the movie Dawn of the Dead, 1978.


Thanks for watching!

Instagram: reuben0jones"

Yamaha SS-30 analog string synthesizer

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

via this auction

"If you want classic analog strings ,this is what the Yamaha SS-30 excels at.All this machine does is make superlative string sounds - there's no Brass or Organ settings here. If you won't take my word for it , just look at the following Youtube link of Ultravox's 1982 Monument tour where two Yamaha SS-30s were used by Billy Currie and Midge Ure. [video here] This synth is all over the first 3 post-Foxx albums - Vienna , Rage in Eden and Quartet.Opening chords on The Voice , Reap the Wild Wind, Vienna,Hymn Also used a lot by John Foxx on Metamatic

This synth totally blows away the Moog Opus 3 , Korg Delta , Roland RS-09 , RS-202 and it's only competitor is the Roland RS-505 Many people looking at this auction will also have Peter Forrest's excellent A to Z of analog synths book and i would urge you to read his review of the SS-30:- "played in a realistic manner,sounds very good.Even without the Orchestra modulation on,it sounds very good.And through a classy hall room reverb setting it sounds very,very good.It just goes to show that it's better to do one thing well,than three things to a so-so standard" i think this was a little dig at the Moog Opus and Korg Delta and some of Yamaha's own SK range. The real beauty of this machine is the phasey string sounds which come from Detuning the oscillators and swithching on the ensemble mode. The Decay is fully variable and the whole thing is built like a tank and weighs a ton.."

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EML Electrocomp 200 - VEMIA

"Excellent condition, rare interesting semi-modular with EML's usual character - both sonically and physically. Very solidly made, with chunky knobs, and a pleasure to use. Working perfectly, and in superb cosmetic condition - I nearly described it as 'near mint' which is pretty amazing for a 35-year-old instrument. Even the outside of the casework is excellent, and the case metalwork is shiny and not at all corroded. A fantastic way to get a slice of early synth history - this was designed before the Minimoog, 2600 etc; a museum-quality example; and a synth with a different character from any other range. 110V US power - but transformers are easy to find in Europe. You can guess the small scale of production when you see that the serial number was scratched on by hand (inside the power cable compartment). Thoroughly recommended. (Peter Forrest of VEMIA visited Jeff Murray, one of the EML founders, in January and saw the actual garage where these machines were made. Great location, really super guy, and excellent synthesisers!)"
VEMIA - Click on Auctions, Search, and search for 5752.

A-Z of Analogue Synthesizers

via this auction

"A brand new set of the two A-Z of Analogue Synthesisers books direct from the author / publisher.

Very few of the A-M are left, and I'm so busy with the VEMIA auction and other stuff that it will be a long time before it is re-published.

I seem to have lost the blurb about these books - it's a long time since I put a set on eBay.

Trust me, they are good and pretty comprehensive. Every synth by every maker you ever heard of, and then some.

The EMS page in the photo is an example of stuff you don't see every day. Plus each book has 16 pages packed with good colour pics.

More detail when I'm not working on the final packing and shipping and seller payment from the VEMIA auction.

ARP, Buchla, EML, EMS, Farfisa, Hohner, Korg, Moog, Oberheim, Octave, Roland, Serge, Yamaha, and hundreds of smaller manufacturers too.

Plus combo organs, Hammond, Mellotron, Theremin and many more.

A brilliant present for the analogue synth fanatic in your family! Three-day listing - don't miss it!

Peter Forrest"

I have a copy of the books myself. They are absolute must haves if you are into synths. Seriously fantastic books. If you miss the auction I have them listed on my Synth Books section on the right.

A Visit to Thighpaulsandra's Aeriel Studios Pt 7

YouTube via matrixsynth.

Thighpaulsandra talking about his old Serge modular, possibly Martin Newcomb's Serge, and some Synton filters at Aeriel Studios with Peter Forrest. Be sure to click on the Ariel Studios label below for all posts in this set.
http://thighpaulsandra.com/

http://www.myspace.com/thighpaulsandra

MOOG MEMORYMOOG SERIAL 1009

images at this auction
"This particular memorymoog is the one featured in Peter Forrest's "A-Z of Synthesiser Technology" books.. it's the one on the cover and in the colour center section. I have own it for 5 years and it has been serviced/tuned 3 times during my time, once at Synthrestore and twice through Kent Spong of KSR/RLMusic. It tunes all 6 voices pretty much all the time and after a few hours warming up it's rock solid, it would easily handle a recording session but I wouldn't take it out on the road.

6 voice polyphonic... 6 complete synth chains so you get 6 filters & 12 envelopes etc. not 6 voices going through 1 filter and 2 envelopes.

3 Oscillators per voice... hold all 6 notes down and that's 18 Oscillators playing!

Each Oscillator can have all waveforms operating at once... so that's Pulse, Sawtooth and Triangle all on, creating a huge depth to the sound.

Oscillators 1 and 2 can be synced and modulated for that great 'twang' sound as used by Jean-Michel Jarre.

All Oscillators range from 16' through 2' pitch and can be tuned using dual concentric vernier tuning pots for precise tuning... and Oscillator 3 can be modulated into low frequency allowing you to gain extra modulation possibilities (and emulate minimoog patches).

2 separate modulation busses allowing LFO modulation of Oscillator pitch, pulse wave width (each oscillator can be modulated independently) and filter. Voice modulation in conjunction with OSC 3 can modulate OSC 1 and 2's pitch and pulse wave width, and also filter.

Famous discreet component Moog ladder filter matches the same controls as the minimoog model D including switched keyboard tracking, off, 1/3, 2/3 and full.

Full Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release envelopes for both amplitude and filter (not just ADS like on the mini) with multiple retrigering functions allowing you to legato the filter envelope or restart it on every new key trigger or make the envelope generator finish its Attack/Release cycle if you just touch a key etc.

Sounds can be stored in 100 preset positions and dialed in via an alpha-numeric keypad and display... a display which shows you the values of the parameter you are controlling live as you are turning the knob, something that was cutting edge 25 years ago and still not implemented as standard on all modern synths."

Roland CMU-810

Click here for shots via this auction. Details: "This is the Roland CMU-810 Compusynth, one of the rarest synths ever made by Roland DG Group, an obscure offshoot of the Roland Corporation that remains to this day. In the old dealer price sheets from the 80's it was listed as an expander for the CMU-800 Compu Music, a small mixer/synth/drum machine in a similar housing that you hooked up to a computer. If you look online or read Peter Forrest's A-Z book, a false rumor has perpetuated that this is simply an SH-101 or an MC-202 in a metal box without a sequencer. They reference the schematics but the schematics are nowhere to be found. I've been looking for years for them without any luck. I've compared all three synths side by side, and have triggered the CMU from both an SH-101 and MC-202 sequencer as well as the Roland MC-4. The sound out of this box is entirely different than it's younger cousins, more aggressive, with a faster attack, and much nicer filter. The SH-101 and MC-202 sound very plasticky and thin compared to the CMU. The CMU-810 sounds more like the SH series of synths and soundwise it's probably closer to the SH-09. It excels at bass sounds and percussive effects. It also differs from the MC-202 and SH-101 in that it has a delay slider on the LFO, an input to control the VCA for tremolo effects, and removes the trigger control over the envelope. It also has a built in miniature mixer so you can merge the sound of two additional synths or drum machines (MC_202/TR-606?) with the output of the CMU. It sports sliders from the era of the Jupiter-8 indicating that it probably predated the MC-202 and SH-101 by at least a year or so. One European reviewer on SonicState wrote, "They say it is like the 101/202 but I have not heard any of them (101/202) as aggressive as my new baby (cmu). Very clear, very warm, loads of rumbling and as stated before it can be a very aggressive basspump. If you want to get rid of yours give me a shout cause I would not mind linking a few together." I agree 100%. I would buy one over an MC-202 or SH-101 anyday. But the CMU makes a good partner for either of these synths because it takes up such a small footprint and can act as a second voice when hooked up via CV/GATE. You can watch a video of a CMU-810 on YouTube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eof7hVqBsw0"



Previous CMU-810 posts