EMS Synthi 100
Encyclopedia
The EMS Synthi 100 was a large analogue synthesizer
made by Electronic Music Studios (London) Ltd
. It was released in 1971 and cost £6,500. It is estimated that fewer than 40 units were built.
The Synthi 100 was developed from a combination of three VCS-3 Systems, ending up with 12 VCO
s, two keyboards (each of it duophonic, making it possible to play 4 voices simultaneously), and a 3-track 256-step monophonic digital sequencer. Two 60 x 60 matrixes were used to connect the different modules by using patch pins. The keyboard spread could/had to be adjusted, making it difficult to play a tuned temperated scale for a longer time, but allow for alternative tunings easily.
The sound of the Synthi-100 was subtly distinct from the VCS-3. Both filters and oscillators were much more stable in the Synthi-100. The instrument, however, was very sensitive to temperature changes, so it required repeated re-tuning.
The Synthi 100 also had an add-on computer interface known as "Computer Synthi" which contained a PDP-8
Minicomputer
and 4Kb of Random Access Memory. It featured an LED
display, twin digital cassettes, Two 24 x 60 matrix patchboards, and a switch button control panel. Three were built.
Also the Vocoder 5000 (Studio Vocoder) was available as a separate module installed into the Synthi 100. It contained a 22 band filter, 22 x 22 matrix patchboard, Mic/Line Inputs, 2 Oscillators and Noise sources, Frequency Shifter, Pitch to Voltage Extractor, and a Spectrum display driver.
can be heard being used extensively on electronica
group Meat Beat Manifesto
's album R.U.O.K.?. Many photos from that album's CD sleeve are close-up photos of the Synthi 100's control panels and displays. It was claimed that his unit was the only one still in working condition at that time.
A Synthi100 is on display at the Cantos Music Foundation in Alberta, Canada.
The Synthi 100 was used by Karlheinz Stockhausen
in Sirius
.
Billy Corgan
, longtime frontman of The Smashing Pumpkins
, is also reported to own one.
The University of Osnabrück
, Germany, has a possibly unique Synthi 100 variant labelled "Synthi 200" still in operation.
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
made by Electronic Music Studios (London) Ltd
Electronic Music Studios (London) Ltd
Electronic Music Studios Ltd. is a synthesizer company formed in 1969 by Dr. Peter Zinovieff, Tristram Cary and David Cockerell....
. It was released in 1971 and cost £6,500. It is estimated that fewer than 40 units were built.
The Synthi 100 was developed from a combination of three VCS-3 Systems, ending up with 12 VCO
Voltage-controlled oscillator
A voltage-controlled oscillator or VCO is an electronic oscillator designed to be controlled in oscillation frequency by a voltage input. The frequency of oscillation is varied by the applied DC voltage, while modulating signals may also be fed into the VCO to cause frequency modulation or phase...
s, two keyboards (each of it duophonic, making it possible to play 4 voices simultaneously), and a 3-track 256-step monophonic digital sequencer. Two 60 x 60 matrixes were used to connect the different modules by using patch pins. The keyboard spread could/had to be adjusted, making it difficult to play a tuned temperated scale for a longer time, but allow for alternative tunings easily.
The sound of the Synthi-100 was subtly distinct from the VCS-3. Both filters and oscillators were much more stable in the Synthi-100. The instrument, however, was very sensitive to temperature changes, so it required repeated re-tuning.
The Synthi 100 also had an add-on computer interface known as "Computer Synthi" which contained a PDP-8
PDP-8
The 12-bit PDP-8 was the first successful commercial minicomputer, produced by Digital Equipment Corporation in the 1960s. DEC introduced it on 22 March 1965, and sold more than 50,000 systems, the most of any computer up to that date. It was the first widely sold computer in the DEC PDP series of...
Minicomputer
Minicomputer
A minicomputer is a class of multi-user computers that lies in the middle range of the computing spectrum, in between the largest multi-user systems and the smallest single-user systems...
and 4Kb of Random Access Memory. It featured an LED
LEd
LEd is a TeX/LaTeX editing software working under Microsoft Windows. It is a freeware product....
display, twin digital cassettes, Two 24 x 60 matrix patchboards, and a switch button control panel. Three were built.
Also the Vocoder 5000 (Studio Vocoder) was available as a separate module installed into the Synthi 100. It contained a 22 band filter, 22 x 22 matrix patchboard, Mic/Line Inputs, 2 Oscillators and Noise sources, Frequency Shifter, Pitch to Voltage Extractor, and a Spectrum display driver.
Users
The Synthi 100 owned by Jack DangersJack Dangers
Jack Dangers is an electronic musician, DJ, producer, and remixer best known for his work as the primary member of Meat Beat Manifesto. He lives in San Francisco.-Career:...
can be heard being used extensively on electronica
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
group Meat Beat Manifesto
Meat Beat Manifesto
Meat Beat Manifesto, often shortened to Meat Beat or MBM, is an electronic music group originally consisting of Jack Dangers and Jonny Stephens formed in 1987 in Swindon, UK...
's album R.U.O.K.?. Many photos from that album's CD sleeve are close-up photos of the Synthi 100's control panels and displays. It was claimed that his unit was the only one still in working condition at that time.
A Synthi100 is on display at the Cantos Music Foundation in Alberta, Canada.
The Synthi 100 was used by Karlheinz Stockhausen
Karlheinz Stockhausen
Karlheinz Stockhausen was a German composer, widely acknowledged by critics as one of the most important but also controversial composers of the 20th and early 21st centuries. Another critic calls him "one of the great visionaries of 20th-century music"...
in Sirius
Sirius (Stockhausen)
Sirius: eight-channel electronic music and trumpet, soprano, bass clarinet, and bass is a music-theatre composition by Karlheinz Stockhausen.-History:...
.
Billy Corgan
Billy Corgan
William Patrick "Billy" Corgan, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and occasional poet best known as the frontman and sole permanent member of The Smashing Pumpkins. Formed by Corgan and guitarist James Iha in Chicago, Illinois in 1987, the band quickly gained steam with the...
, longtime frontman of The Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins are an American alternative rock band that formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1988. Formed by Billy Corgan frontman and James Iha , the band has included Jimmy Chamberlin , D'arcy Wretzky , and currently includes Jeff Schroeder Mike Byrne , and Nicole Fiorentino The Smashing...
, is also reported to own one.
The University of Osnabrück
University of Osnabrück
The University of Osnabrück is a public university located in the city of Osnabrück in Lower Saxony, Germany.In 2010 it was attended by 9,298 students. In 2009, the staff of 1,570 consisted of 214 professors, 662 additional academic personnel and 694 non-academic personnel...
, Germany, has a possibly unique Synthi 100 variant labelled "Synthi 200" still in operation.