The Electronic Room in The Deutsches Museum and The Siemens Modular

Beyond those glass doors lies the electronic instrument room in the Deutsches Museum. Peter Forrest, author of the excellent A-Z Books, posted a question on the AH list asking if anyone heard of the "Siemens modular synth from around 1970, with a very large number of oscillators, a pin matrix, and an interesting triangular design? This is later than their early (pretty magnificent) synthesiser / vocoder." Apparently The Deutsches Museum has one and it is most likely behind that door with more electronic goodness. I ran a quick search on flickr for The Deutsches Museum and found it. Update: Turns out this is not the synth Peter was referring to. The one he is referring to has a triangular design like a pyramid. If anyone has any more info on this unique synthesizer, please post a comment or contact me. My contact info is on the bottom right of this site.

flickr by jacktastic. full size
"Siemens electronic music lab circa 1960ish. The highlight of any trip to Munich and star of the Deutches museum."


Synthesizer. flickr by thefoggiest. full size

I also found the following:

hofner guitar with Oberheim DX, Casio VLTone and? flickr by thefoggiest. full size

click here for the Musical Instruments page on the official Deutsches Museum website. BTW, if anyone has more info on the Siemens please comment. If you have more images send them my way. My contact info is at the bottom right of the site.

Update: also see this link (in Googlish here).

Update via swissdoc in the comments:
"Whenever you are in the Museum, make sure to visit the HighVoltage Show and the "Bergwerk".

The Siemens Studio is featured on 6 pages in issue 03/07 of the "Synthesizer-Magazin". You can still get a copy here (in German only).

What looks like a modular synth is indeed "just" a bank of oscillators built 1956. It features 1 Tieftongenerator (Dual) which is a Dual-LFO, 19 oscillators (sinus or sinus to square variable, AR Env) and a Noise Generator (takes static noise from an FM receiver). There is a patchpanel to interconnect the oscillators.

There is a CD available with music recorded in that studio:
link
link

There is a small booklet available "Siemens-Studio für Elektronische Musik / [Hrsg.: Siemens-Kulturprogramm]" which can be found in German libraries with a little luck.

Some further links on the topic:
link
link

Georg."

Link to the Synthesizer Magazin issues in Googlish

Synton Bow Tie and Hankerchiefs!

Too funny. via
this auction

"Great fun - a mint unused unopened Synton promo bow-tie and handkerchief, in blue. Very much from an era when men like Bob Moog and Felix Visser wore suits and had long conversations at trade shows. Sold in celebration of Synton, now that Felix is selling up his own gear and retiring."

Also one in
silver grey. (another of the Syrinx colours!)."

Note these are interesting items Peter Forrest is putting up to promote the VEMIA auction. You will notice a number of posts going up here this week. Peter has been gracious enough to offer me some very nice hi-res shots of items going up. We get the shots for posterity and those that might be interested in picking up any of the items will get the heads up. Do note that not every single synth will get a post, so be sure to check out the auction periodically for updates.

VEMIA Nov 3-10

Via Peter Forrest:

"Advance warning of another load of high-ticket items that will be in the next VEMIA auction (www.spheremusic.com) Nov 3-10 - delete this if you've had enough already.

Felix Visser, founder of the legendary Synton company, will be selling off some of his collection of synths, including his own personal Syrinx, vocoders and modular gear.

More details and pictures when I return from Europe at the end of the week - please email me offlist if you'd like me to email you when I get back.

Peter F"

I will post the pics and details as they come in.

Spectral Audio ProTone - VEMIA

"Synthesiser module Listed in Peter Forrest's Analogue Synthesiser book. Good for metallic percussion sounds, monophonic leads and sound effects. Dual VCO. Snappy envelope. Noise PWM, noise and ring mod. Filter Accent switchable over midi."
VEMIA - Click on Auctions, Search, and search for 5693.

I just like this shot for some reason.

VEMIA Auction Update - Joel Chadabe Late 60s CEMS System Goes Up

The official auction start date is Nov 3 and runs until Nov 11, however you can see some items listed here. From the description it looks like you can start bidding now.

The rarest item to be auctioned? Joel Chadabe's late 60s CEMS system (pictured - click the image for the full size shot). The CEMS system was located at the Electronic Music Studio at State University of New York at Albany. You can see and read more about Joel Chadabe and the system at his official website. Joel also wrote Electric Sound which recently came up for auction here. Side Note from the comments of this previous post: Richard Lainhart of O-Town Media learned to play electronic music on the CEMS system pictured here.

Peter Forrest who runs the auction let me know that the auction will include Felix' Visser's own Syntons. Felix is the man behind Synton, pictured here . His items start at number 5500 and go to 5539.

Update via Richard Lainhart in the comments:
"Some notes about this system: the large knobless module at the end of each sequencer is a Linear Mixer that Bob custom-designed for this system. These were very clean simple mixers that could mix from DC up into the audo range. They were intended mainly to mix the CV outputs from the sequencer stages together, but since they were so clean, we would often use them to mix the oscillator and filter outputs as well.

The jackfields at the bottom of each cabinet are patchbays that connect the cabinets together. In its original configuration, there were bundles of cable behind each cabinet that connected the patchbays to each other, so you could cable between the cabinets without needing extra-long patchcords.

The cabinet with the large white panel contains all the components of the Master Analog Clock, another custom design. The four vertical slots in the third row down from the top are Nixie lamps; these would display the current time count (in 10th of a second, I think). The top row are 8 individual clock subdividers, which could be set to send out divisions or multiples of the basic clock pulse. Below all that are the 8 clock outputs, any of which could be routed to any of the sequencers. The purpose of all this was to provide a master timing source for the sequencers, so they could all be synced with complex rhythmic relationships. The sequencers could also free-run, so you could have any combination of master-synced and free-running.

The remaining cabinet contains most of the actual audio-generating modules, although as I recall there were a couple of additonal filters and oscillators in some of the control cabinets as well.

At the time, it was the largest integrated Moog system in the world, and probably the largest integrated Moog sequencer system ever."

Update via Richard Lainhart:
"By the way, all the pieces on the second half of this page. from "The Wave-Sounding Sea" to "A River On Cold Mountain" were created with the CEMS system. "

General Music No More

http://www.generalmusic.com

via AH: GeneralMusic declared bankruptcy laying off 75 workers

Their official website appears to just have you see here on the left. It's sad to see any synth company go under. Condolences to all at General Music.

Update via antonio on the AH list: "I received a couple of requests about Generalmusic history and in the meantime I received an email from Roberto of VIEI yahoo group (italian synth and organs) that I'm translating (kind of :D )here:
Generalmusic moved first steps thanks to an accordion built in 1890 in the Antonio Galanti artisan laboratory with the help of 3 sons a company was created: the award-winning factory Galanti accordions. After accordions they started crafting classical and electric guitars (much
later). In 1959 the 3 brothers founded in Mondaino the General Electro Music (GEM) company. At the start they worked for other companies like Baldwin, Thomas, Vox with no internal brand.
In 1966 they created the first branded GEM instrument: the "Minigem", a portable electronic organ. It was a big success and they decided to expand creating other 2 companies the "Intercontinetal Electronics" and in San Marino, "Titanic Music". In Marignano, where is the current (closed) factory, they created the "Laboratorio Elettroacustico Musicale" (LEM) specialized in amplifiers. In 1987 GEM acuires the ELKA brand and 1994 changes the name in GeneralMusic (GEM, LEM and ELKA). Other brands acquired during those years are pianos Schulze Pollmann, (plant Fermigliano) and church organs Ahlborn in 1992. During the 80s and 90s the company had about 450 workers. Many analog keyboards were created under the GEM brand: Pk4900 a Gem synth, the Instapiano, Instastring and many others (I guess Peter Forrest would be more precise than me!).

now seems really the end of the story...

thanks (to Roberto)

antonio"

Elektor Formant Modular Synthesizer

via this auction
"Elektor Formant Modular Synthesizer System very rare
Unique Opportunity
Early German 1970s

great condition custom/built Formant Modular System with keyboard it apparently came also from the very respected "martin Newcomb Synth collection " and is pictured in the Peter Forrest A to Z books

there is a fair amount of historical information on the Formant Modular on the internet a useful link is...

It has been fully restored by the synth guru at KSR ( kent spong ) each and every function configuration is

4 x VCO
2 x VCF 12db
1 X VCF 24db
1 x RFM (Resonance Filter)
2 x COM (Control and Output)
2 x LFO (Triple/Multi LFO Module) 6 LFOs in total
4 x ADSR
1 x ADSR Controller
2 x Dual VCA
1 x Noise
1 x Anlogue controller Keyboard and inter-connect cable

The specification is high and powerfull

This particular example has been very well constructed and as you can see from the pictures is in very good condition and being pure"old" analouge sounds extraordinary

Following the standard form-factor of most 1V/Oct analogue systems this Formant system would fit nicely into any existing analogues setup and being of 1970s German design offers the purist something really very special and different from the more contemporary modulars on offer these days

the recently full service by KSR is still under warranty aswell

Runs on EU voltage 220V"

Alisa 1377 - Vintage Soviet Analog Synthesizer (1)

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

"ALISA-1377 - RARE SOVIET-ERA MONOPHONIC ANALOG VINTAGE SYNTH BUILT IN 1985 BY LUBERETSKY PLANT IN THE SOVIET UNION. Some description from the book "VINTAGE SYNTH'S A-Z" by PETER FORREST [synth books]: • 44-note (F-C) 1-VCO monosynth. • Designed as a standard monosynth, but also a source of "non-standard-electrical signals for scientific and educational needs. • VCO has controls for waveform, FM, mod amount, PWM, harmonics, portamento, tuning, and octave switching. • Simple vibrato LFO; VCF; ADSR. • Switching is generally done with push-buttons. • Connection on the rear panel : on/off switch, OUTPUT on standard 1/4''jack, fuse (0,5A) . SWITCHABLE VOLTAGE WITH FUSE POSITION BETWEEN 220V/110V/127V/. For USA or Japan users voltage transformer is NOT necessary!!!"

CLICK FOR MORE »

Moog Memorymoog Featured in A-Z of Analogue Synthesizers for Sale

via this auction

"First version, original EU Export model, works natively @ 220v.

Serial number: 1009, one of the first 10 made.

Comes with Flightcase and original Moog pedal.

This is the actual Memorymoog pictured on the famous Peter Forrest' "A/Z Encyclopedia of Analog Synthesizers" book."

CLICK FOR MORE »

GRS VCO.3 and H.R. Giger

via Nikos-Greece

"a picture I found in a Taschen book about the famous Swiss artist H.R. Giger.(see "Alien" and ELP'S "Brain Salad Surgery" cover) Well, in the picture, you can see behind the couple(?) the rare Italian synth GRS VCO.3. According to "A-Z of Analogue Synths" by Peter Forrest,only 30 of them were made,and it is reported that it was a great sounding synth. So maybe in the 'famous users list' of A-Z, could be added this couple of engineers. An (Eminent) Solina can be seen also, under the VCO.3.

You can also find a photo of the GRS VCO.3, in Sequencer.de site, as it's featured in the swiss synth "Synthorama" collection."

Early Musonics Minimoog

Two pics in via Bob Wittmann. These are for sale. If interested, contact Rob at: wittmanns@comcast.net.

Note the last two Musonics Minis listed on Ebay had BINs of $8,299.00 (posted here), and $8,800.00 (posted here). If anyone has any ideas what these are realistically worth feel free to comment. Note these numbers are just for reference and curiousity, not to set expectations for this sale. Contact Rob for more info if interested.

Update: via Peter Forrest of the A-Z of Analogue Synth books and VEMIA: "Musonics Minimoog depending on condition $6000 - $8000"

Peterson Engineering Foot Stomper Bass

flickr by alexp202
(click for more)

Update: if anyone knows more about this one, feel free to comment.

Update: Peter Forrest of VEMIA and the A-Z Books to the rescue:
"NY then IL firm who made at least three things like this, late 70s early 80s. Second was 24-note version; third ('Bottom Line') had controls you could mount at hand height (on the case-lid put upright with little stabilisers, or on a keyboard)."

E-Mus via VEMIA

More up for auction on VEMIA.

E-Mu Drumulator
E-Mu Emulator II
E-Mu Emulator
E-Mu SP-12

Click here for the full set of posts featuring VEMIA items. Note that there or more items for auction on the VEMIA site. These are just some of the images sent my way via Peter Forrest.

A-Z of Analogue Synthesisers Books 1 & 2

via this auction

"A-Z of Analogue Synthesisers: Pt. 1: A-M and Pt. 2: N-Z by Peter Forrest.

Both books in good used condition. You can see from the pics that about 1/6th of the top of the cover of Pt. 2 has been faded by the sun.

All pages complete and books intact, but have been used.

Pt. 1 serial: 0026/8000
Pt. 2 serial: 0683/8000

The ultimate vintage synth encyclopedia."

CLICK FOR MORE »

RITM-2

images via this auction

"A rare subtractive analog synth, manufactured in 1982 by the Kirov radio plant in the former Soviet Union is here now! Fully functional! There is an original soviet factory structure - i.e. method of synthesis, knob resistors, parts, connections, voltage etc. It runs on 220V AC (US customers will need an adaptor). NO MIDI, CV-GATE OR SYNC ARE INSTALLED.

HERE DESCRIPTIONS FROM BOOK "VINTAGE SYNTH'S A-Z" BY PETER FORREST [Check the Synth Books section on the right for this book and more]:

Ritm-2: 32-note (F-C) 1-VCO monophonic synth.
- Neat little synth with a mix of knobs and sliders. Sprung pitch-bend
wheel; modulation slider. Portamento / glissando; LFO - saw, triangle or
random; VCO: three waveforms; noise; VCF with resonance, switchable key
follow. Two ADSRs.
- This seems to have a feel of early Korg about it - nice. Made in the
Kirov factory."

Link to samples at auction.

Every Conductor Needs a Synthi

I saw this one on SURROUNDHEAD. Anyone know if it's an original? It's not listed on the Every Advert Needs a Synthi site.

Update via Matt in the comments: "It's listed in Peter Forrest's A-Z "As well as the Every Nun Needs a Synthi advert, there were also aads on similar lines for Every Picnic.., Everey Band.., Every Christmas.., and, more bizarrely, Every Conductor.., and Every Opera - this last one designed to co-incide with Glyndebourne"

The A - Z Of Analogue Synthesizers - Parts One And Two Signed by Author Peter Forrest

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

via this auction

CLICK FOR MORE »

Stuff for Sale

see the flickr set here

"a) 2x8 / 1 x 16 sequencer with 3,5mm plugs. Originally auctioned from vemia as non-working, i fixed the power supply and the other issues.
since i got a klee, a 960, a 119 and a mobius, this has become obsolete. asking 300 EUR (price negotiable)

b) Peter Forrest's A-Z of Analogue Synthesizers. Both Books (A-M) and
(N-Z) from the limited edition. (#1 -- 1891/6000 and #2 -- 1065/6000)
asking 60 EUR per book (or 100 you take both).

c) Sharp MD-R2 (MD recorder) with about 30 medias. best offer price.
d) Moog Modular power supply (vintage) best offer price, please more than 20 EUR.
Items are located in germany."

via JanVanVolt.

NOTE to others: I put posts up for the shots and info, not because they are for sale, so if you want me to post something, send me good shots like this.

EML Poly-Box vintage analog synth

via this auction
See the here for more.
"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.'"

Moog Touch Plates

via Peter Forrest:

"Three interesting Bob Moog touch plates from Felix Visser via the VEMIA auction - showing how Bob moved from a very Moog-like box to a much more Big Briar thing in three stages. Almost certainly all his own handiwork."