MATRIXSYNTH

ElectroComp EML-200 VINTAGE ANALOG MODULAR

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"THIS SYNTHESIZER STARTED A REVOLUTION!" (see the ad below)

"This is a very rare and unusual modular sound synthesizer. Only about a few hundred of the EML-200's were made, and this one has the sought after blue face. The EML-200 modular synthesizer is a vintage synth fanatics dream come true. Its capable of sounding like nothing else you have ever heard. It's a cross between a musical patchable synth like a Moog or ARP 2600 and RAW test equipment - great for someone who needs really science fiction sound effects, drones or crazy tones - oscillator sweeps, pings, bleeps, huge reverberating swells, clangy metallic sounds, fat drum sounds, percussion, harsh noises, you name it! The tone of the EML-200 is very different from that of any other manufacturer. It can be raw, nasty and harsh but also pure, floaty and lush. Nothing sounds spacier than this things spring reverb! Great for the experimental musician or sound designer / noisician. It's a great stand alone unit but also makes a terrific companion to the EML-101, EML-300 sequencer, and other ElectroComp products, or cross patch it with your other analog gear for variety! You can also control the EML-200 with a variety other external analog sequencers. I believe you can also have an experienced technician install a midi to cv converter so you can hook up an external midi type keyboards and sequencers if you like. It's also a really unique processing tool for other sound sources such as a microphones, guitars, keyboards, etc. There's a mic preamp so you can patch external sounds through the electro comp's high pass and low pass filters, TWO ring modulators, 3 oscillators, etc to create all kinds of stereo effects, vocoder or whatever else you can dream up.

-Master oscillator with extended frequency range
sine, triangle, square wave outputs (2 each)
noise source (2 outs)
course and fine frequency knobs
-VCO no 1
center frequency
2 swing (frequency modulation) knobs
2 swing input jacks
2 outs
-VCO no 2
center frequency
2 swing (frequency modulation) knobs
2 swing input jacks
2 outs
-Spring Reverb
input
depth
gain
2 outs
-Switch - switches between 2 input signals
A on time
A gain
B on time
B gain
ins for A and B
2 outs
pulse input for external clocking
-High Pass Filter
-Low Pass Filter
-Wave Shaper
-Sample and Hold "sampler", in and 2 outs
-Envelope generator
attack
decay
rate
duration
envelope output
carrier and modulator ins
modes: manual, auto, ring modulation, amplitude modulation
manual push button
pulse input for external triggering
-Mixers and Pan
6 channel mixer
gain for each channel
2 sets of 3 ins with pan for each set
left, stereo and right outputs (2 each)
-Ring Modulator # 2
modulator and carrier ins
gain
2 outs
-Microphone amplifier
hi, med and lo ins
gain knob
2 outs"

"Originally designed to be used an educational tool in schools for the beginning electronic composer. They wanted a synthesizer that could stand up to young exploring hands and 10 hours a day use, so needless to say it's very durable and sturdy. You can't make a wrong patch, anything is possible!

Manufactured by Electronic Music Laboratories in Vernon, CT, USA."

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Haible (JH.) Trapezoid VCA Prototype (like EMS)

via this auction

"Prototype of the
"Trapezoid VCA" Project"
(click for more info and samples)

" * Emulating the EMS VCS3 and Synthi A Trapezoid Generator without copying the actual circuit
* Unique FET-based VCA included
* Parameters not independend of each other - quirky and inspiring like the original
* Positive and negative Polarity with variable DC shift

* Self-Cycle Mode smoothly activated towards the end of Off-Time knob range
* Standard Voltage Trigger and Switch Trigger inputs
* 3 Power options:
o +/-15V with MOTM and Synthesizers.com connectors
o +/-12V with "Euro standard" 10-pin connector
o 15V AC Wallwart - ideal for making a standalone box
* Voltage controlled Decay with positive or negative amount
* A variety of extra functions that you can implement, or omit."

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JH. Minotaurus (Moog Taurus 1 clone without VCOs)

via this auction

via JH in the description:
"I built this many years ago. It's an emulation of a Moog Taurus 1, minus the oscillators.

The idea was to run another synthesizer thru the VCF and VCA of a Moog Taurus, to get the same increadible sound that only a Taurus 1 can normally provide (and which has never been accomplished by the Taurus 2, and I don't know about the Taurus 3 ...)

This worked great in combination with my Yamaha CS-50. Setting the CS-50's own filters wide open, and running it thru my Minotaurus, created an earth-shattering bass sound, that I only know from records that were using the original Taurus 1 Pedal.

For fairness' sake I have to meation that the CS-50's VCOs have a lot in common with the Taurus 1 VCOs, so you might not get 100% close to "the" sound with a synth that has rather thin-sounding VCOs to start with.

Nevertheless, the unique Filter/VCA configuration of the Taurus 1 that is built into the Minotaurus, will give tremendous enhancement to _any_ audio signal you run thru it.

I have carefully replicated even some of the so-called "flaws" of the original, such as the envelope level depending on the attack time setting, and the interaction of the various envelope parameters. There are no presets, however - just the manual controls.
Potentiometers are high quality types, and I haven't noticed any scratchy noise from them so far. Front panel is black anodized aluminium and milled - the lettering is engraved, not printed.

I never built this commercially - I have built this for myself when music electronics was still just a hobby for me."

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Roland Jupiter 6 With Europa Mod Ver2

via this auction

"This Europa Jupiter-6 is running the newest version of Europa (v2) that includes a random patch generator and a multivariable arpeggiator. If you are in any way familiar with the Jupiter-6, the Europa Jupiter-6 will come as a blast of fresh oxygenated air. This machine may now serve as the beating heart of a seriously professional synth studio. All sliders now send midi and the arpeggiator sends, receives and will now sync to midi. There are more options for sound creation as one now has the ability to turn on and off all waveforms individually. The random patch generator is really something. Beatkamp will not be responsible for any drool that may run down your chin whilst operating this legendary monster synth. Read about the Europa upgrade at synthcom.com."

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The New Sound Of Music 1979 - BBC Documentary Featuring EMS & More

YouTube via JeffreyPlaide | October 17, 2010 |

"The New Sound of Music is a fascinating BBC historical documentary from the year 1979. It charts the development of recorded music from the first barrel organs, pianolas, the phonograph, the magnetic tape recorder and onto the concepts of musique concrete and electronic music development with voltage-controlled oscillators making up the analogue synthesizers of the day. EMS Synthesizers and equipment are a heavily featured technology resource in this film, with the show's host, Michael Rodd, demonstrating the EMS VCS3 synthesizer and it's waveform output. Other EMS products include the incredible Synthi 100 modular console system, the EMS AKS, the Poly Synthi and the EMS Vocoder. Most of the location shots are filmed within the BBC's Radiophonic Workshop studios as they were in 1979. Malcolm Clarke demonstrates the Synthi 100, also known as the "Delaware", Michael Rodd demonstrates musique concrete by tape splicing and manipulation and Paddy Kingsland demonstrates tape recorder delay techniques (also known as "Frippertronics"). The Yamaha CS-80 analogue synthesizer is demonstrated by both Peter Howell and Roger Limb. The EMS Vocoder is also expertly put to use by Peter Howell on his classic "Greenwich Chorus" for the television series "The Body in Question". Dick Mills works on sound effects for Doctor Who using a VCS3 unit, and Elizabeth Parker uses bubble sounds to create music for an academic film on particle physics. Peter Zinovieff is featured using his computer music studio and DEC PDP8 computer to produce electronic variations on classic vintage scores. David Vorhaus is featured using his invention, the MANIAC (Multiphasic ANalog Inter-Active Chromataphonic (sequencer)), and playing his other invention, the Kaleidophon -- which uses lengths of magnetic tape as velocity-sensitive ribbon controllers. The New Sound of Music is a fascinating insight into the birth of the world of recorded and electronic music and features some very classic British analogue synthesizers creating the electronic sounds in this film. The prime location for these demonstrations is the BBC Radiophonic Workshop where much creativity and invention took place during the period the workshop was in operation in the latter part of the twentieth century. Electronic music today is used everywhere, and many musicians gain inspiration from the past, as well as delving into the realms of sonic structures and theories made possible by the widespread use of computers to manipulate sounds for the creation of all kinds of musical forms."

The New Sound Of Music 1979 (part 2)

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Thingamagoop 1 VCO Synth Noise Bot

via this auction

"This is a mint condition Thingamagoop 1: An analog VCO (voltage-controlled oscillator) activated by a photo cell. It'll work with an internal speaker, or plugged into an amplifier.

You use the light at the top of the system to interact with the photo cell while using the knobs to control the wave shape and frequency.

This was manufactured by Bleep Labs: http://bleeplabs.com/"