EMS Synthi AKS
Encyclopedia
The EMS Synthi A, first available in May 1971, and then in March 1972 a version of it with a built-in keyboard
and sequencer
, the EMS Synthi AKS, a portable modular analog synthesiser
made by EMS
of England. Most notable for its patch pin matrix, its functions and internal design are similar to the VCS 3 synthesiser
, also made by EMS. E.M.S. is still run by Robin Wood in Cornwall, and in addition to continuing to build and sell new units, will repair and refurbish E.M.S. equipment.
The Synthi AKS has been used extensively by Brian Eno
in his art rock
and ambient
albums. He particularly made prominent use of its signal-chain editing capability in order to add colour to his own voice as well as Robert Fripp
and Phil Manzanera's
guitar work. His early band, Roxy Music
, supposedly requested that he join them after watching him tinker with the Synthi AKS for only a few minutes.
Jean Michel Jarre
featured Synthi AKS on Oxygène
and Equinoxe
and has one for Oxygene Live in your living room (2007).
Pink Floyd
used the synthesiser to create the electronic riff
of the track "On the Run
" from the 1973 album The Dark Side of the Moon
.
Czesław Niemen in 1975 used Synthi AKS in recording of his album Katharsis
.
When launched in 1972, the Synthi AKS retailed for around £450. There was an optional three octave (37 note) DK1 monophonic keyboard available for it, later the DK2 (Dynamic Keyboard 2) was available, this allowed independent control of two Oscillators, thus enabling the player to play two notes together.
As with the VCS3, a Synthi AKS was worth considerably more than its original price by the late 1970s.
Musical keyboard
A musical keyboard is the set of adjacent depressible levers or keys on a musical instrument, particularly the piano. Keyboards typically contain keys for playing the twelve notes of the Western musical scale, with a combination of larger, longer keys and smaller, shorter keys that repeats at the...
and sequencer
Music sequencer
The music sequencer is a device or computer software to record, edit, play back the music, by handling note and performance information in several forms, typically :...
, the EMS Synthi AKS, a portable modular analog synthesiser
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 EMS
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....
of England. Most notable for its patch pin matrix, its functions and internal design are similar to the VCS 3 synthesiser
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...
, also made by EMS. E.M.S. is still run by Robin Wood in Cornwall, and in addition to continuing to build and sell new units, will repair and refurbish E.M.S. equipment.
The Synthi AKS has been used extensively by Brian Eno
Brian Eno
Brian Peter George St. John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno , commonly known as Brian Eno or simply as Eno , is an English musician, composer, record producer, singer and visual artist, known as one of the principal innovators of ambient music.Eno studied at Colchester Institute art school in Essex,...
in his art rock
Art rock
Art rock is a subgenre of rock music that originated in the United Kingdom in the 1960s, with influences from art, avant-garde, and classical music. The first usage of the term, according to Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, was in 1968. Influenced by the work of The Beatles, most notably their Sgt...
and ambient
Ambient music
Ambient music is a musical genre that focuses largely on the timbral characteristics of sounds, often organized or performed to evoke an "atmospheric", "visual" or "unobtrusive" quality.- History :...
albums. He particularly made prominent use of its signal-chain editing capability in order to add colour to his own voice as well as Robert Fripp
Robert Fripp
Robert Fripp is an English guitarist, composer and record producer. He was ranked 42nd on Rolling Stone magazine's 2003 list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" and #47 on Gibson.com’s "Top 50 Guitarists of All Time". Among rock guitarists, Fripp is a master of crosspicking, a technique...
and Phil Manzanera's
Phil Manzanera
Phil Manzanera is a musician and record producer. He is the lead guitarist with Roxy Music. In 2006 Manzanera co-produced David Gilmour's album On An Island and played in Gilmour's band for tours in Europe and North America...
guitar work. His early band, Roxy Music
Roxy Music
Roxy Music was a British art rock band formed in 1971 by Bryan Ferry, who became the group's lead vocalist and chief songwriter, and bassist Graham Simpson. The other members are Phil Manzanera , Andy Mackay and Paul Thompson . Former members include Brian Eno , and Eddie Jobson...
, supposedly requested that he join them after watching him tinker with the Synthi AKS for only a few minutes.
Jean Michel Jarre
Jean Michel Jarre
Jean Michel André Jarre is a French composer, performer and music producer. He is a pioneer in the electronic, ambient and New Age genres, and known as an organiser of outdoor spectacles of his music featuring lights, laser displays, and fireworks.Jarre was raised in Lyon by his mother and...
featured Synthi AKS on Oxygène
Oxygene
Oxygène is an album of instrumental electronic music composed, produced, and performed by the French composer Jean Michel Jarre. It was first released in France in December 1976, on Disques Dreyfus with license to Polydor. The album's international release was in summer 1977...
and Equinoxe
Equinoxe
Équinoxe was the second major-label album release by French musician Jean Michel Jarre, released on Disques Dreyfus in late 1978....
and has one for Oxygene Live in your living room (2007).
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
used the synthesiser to create the electronic riff
RIFF
The Resource Interchange File Format is a generic file container format for storing data in tagged chunks. It is primarily used to store multimedia such as sound and video, though it may also be used to store any arbitrary data....
of the track "On the Run
On the Run (Pink Floyd song)
"On the Run" is the third track from British progressive rock band Pink Floyd's 1973 album, The Dark Side of the Moon. It is an instrumental piece that deals with the pressures of travel , and is an EMS synthesizer based piece...
" from the 1973 album The Dark Side of the Moon
The Dark Side of the Moon
The Dark Side of the Moon is the eighth studio album by English progressive rock band Pink Floyd, released in March 1973. It built on ideas explored in the band's earlier recordings and live shows, but lacks the extended instrumental excursions that characterised their work following the departure...
.
Czesław Niemen in 1975 used Synthi AKS in recording of his album Katharsis
Katharsis (album)
Katharsis - Czesław Niemen's concept album released in 1976. Whole concept is about dead ends and traps on the road of expanding human civilization and space exploration...
.
When launched in 1972, the Synthi AKS retailed for around £450. There was an optional three octave (37 note) DK1 monophonic keyboard available for it, later the DK2 (Dynamic Keyboard 2) was available, this allowed independent control of two Oscillators, thus enabling the player to play two notes together.
As with the VCS3, a Synthi AKS was worth considerably more than its original price by the late 1970s.