Thanks KRM: finally - a video with substance. I used EMS equipment back in the 70s (VCS, Synthi 100, Synth A) and was engrossed for ever with the incredible variations you could control to set up original sounds that would last for ages (courtesy of the Osc3). It's great to see an engineer who is so clear with a rundown on the instrument, I am yet to find one in Australia.
Hello Keith, you are a lucky man, you own the Graal of the synths... Looking it's guts, i never understood why he is so expensive and no really replicable in these times , there is less in it than in a color TV of the 70'... I can't understand ? Maybe, there is some magic knowledge in is making and setting components together ! Sure, David Cockerell was a Wizard of electronics, touch by a holly kind of Saint Spirit ! Ho, my kingdom for a VCS 3... I could be a burglar for this synth, lock carefully your doors ( i'm kidding )l This untamable synth is the dream of my life ! Lucky man ! Philippe from france. Thank you for this interesting technical overview, your passionate knowledge.
I knew the synthi was in safe hands, as soon as I saw his beard. A genius has his best ideas while shaving, then abandons the shave to get to work! Just a bit of fun dude, great work, great video!
Oh and Pete Townshend used a VCS-3 (essentially the same instrument as the Synthi A) to process the organ on The Who's Won't Get Fooled Again. He used the filter and the envelope generator/VCA to generate the keyboard sound you hear throughout the song.
Thank you very much for sharing this synthesizer with us. I think the filter is an incredible thing with an incredible sound, old gong and Steve hillage records really make it my favorite synth ever.
EMS synths were used by a lot of people. Del Dettmar used a couple of them in Hawkwind (he was still using one when I saw him play with Nik Turner in 94). Tim Blake used them with both Gong and Hawkwind and also his solo records. Karlheinz Stockhausen used several Synthi A's and VCS-3's on Sternklang, and the big Synthi 100 on Sirius. Brian Eno used a couple on most of his 70's era recordings. My friend Doug Walker used one with his band Alien Planetscapes as recently as 2001.
Very informative. Thanks for sharing. I'm doing a report on EMS synths and this video is very useful for understanding the features of the Synthi and how they work.
Thanks for this Keith, with my interest in this instrument it was great to get a walk through of the basic features and internal components of the Synthi A.
You can still buy them new at EMS UK in Cornwall.Do bare in mind you will be put on a list as many people want to buy 1.There will be 40 VCS's and 40 Synthi A's built,and that's it.
This is nice to see. When I was a student at Cardiff Uni back in the mid-eighties We had two studios. one had a VCS-3 and the big studio had a Synthi-100, ex-BBC I believe. Good fun to play with. Probably gone for scrap now.
nice video. II would like to see more details about how to generate the sounds and modify them. Still, a cool video and very informative. I love old synths
Great synth here; Todd Rundgren (one of the first owner/users) tells of David Gilmour visiting his studio for info. re: the Synthi. If I could have just one synth ....
You American guys really like to talk a lot on your videos before showing... sound demo starts at 8:00. Great video, but less talk would be great. Just a suggestion.
Stunning sound. What a gorgeous looking synth. Even today, it compacts more in than any other synth!
Thanks KRM: finally - a video with substance. I used EMS equipment back in the 70s (VCS, Synthi 100, Synth A) and was engrossed for ever with the incredible variations you could control to set up original sounds that would last for ages (courtesy of the Osc3). It's great to see an engineer who is so clear with a rundown on the instrument, I am yet to find one in Australia.
Hello Keith, you are a lucky man, you own the Graal of the synths...
Looking it's guts, i never understood why he is so expensive and no really replicable in these times , there is less in it than in a color TV of the 70'... I can't understand ?
Maybe, there is some magic knowledge in is making and setting components together ! Sure, David Cockerell was a Wizard of electronics, touch by a holly kind of Saint Spirit !
Ho, my kingdom for a VCS 3... I could be a burglar for this synth, lock carefully your doors ( i'm kidding )l
This untamable synth is the dream of my life !
Lucky man !
Philippe from france.
Thank you for this interesting technical overview, your passionate knowledge.
I knew the synthi was in safe hands, as soon as I saw his beard. A genius has his best ideas while shaving, then abandons the shave to get to work!
Just a bit of fun dude, great work, great video!
Oh and Pete Townshend used a VCS-3 (essentially the same instrument as the Synthi A) to process the organ on The Who's Won't Get Fooled Again. He used the filter and the envelope generator/VCA to generate the keyboard sound you hear throughout the song.
Thank you very much for sharing this synthesizer with us. I think the filter is an incredible thing with an incredible sound, old gong and Steve hillage records really make it my favorite synth ever.
Great job. This is one of the best videos I have seen in regards to how a vintage synth works.
It all comes down to basic electronics knowledge, and experience. Most issues are very simple, but you need experience to recognize them.
EMS synths were used by a lot of people. Del Dettmar used a couple of them in Hawkwind (he was still using one when I saw him play with Nik Turner in 94). Tim Blake used them with both Gong and Hawkwind and also his solo records. Karlheinz Stockhausen used several Synthi A's and VCS-3's on Sternklang, and the big Synthi 100 on Sirius. Brian Eno used a couple on most of his 70's era recordings. My friend Doug Walker used one with his band Alien Planetscapes as recently as 2001.
Kohntarkosz and I will use one as soon as behringer makes a clone of it. Hoping to sound like klaus schulze or Tim Blake.
Very informative. Thanks for sharing. I'm doing a report on EMS synths and this video is very useful for understanding the features of the Synthi and how they work.
Thanks for this Keith, with my interest in this instrument it was great to get a walk through of the basic features and internal components of the Synthi A.
Put that white noise through an LFO, add a ton of reverb, perform a slow filter sweep and you've got Hawkwind.
You can still buy them new at EMS UK in Cornwall.Do bare in mind you will be put on a list as many people want to buy 1.There will be 40 VCS's and 40 Synthi A's built,and that's it.
This is fantastic. Thanks for sharing here and on Muffs.
great video - thanks for the incisive breakdown
probably all horror and sci fi movies music in the 70-90s are made by this synth :-)
Great video.....thanks for sharing.
Most people watching the video knows what a Synthi sounds like, so going the technical specs is cool.
Thanks a lot for the video these peg patching synths have always baffled me as to how they work, understand better now...bring on On The Run!
This is wonderful! I love your patches.
Awesome man! Trying to recreate this one with my modular. About half way there. Thanks for the tech review. Very helpful.
that suitcase would be my hand luggage to anywhere i travel to...anytime!!
This is nice to see. When I was a student at Cardiff Uni back in the mid-eighties We had two studios. one had a VCS-3 and the big studio had a Synthi-100, ex-BBC I believe. Good fun to play with. Probably gone for scrap now.
Wow. Some synths have their own sound but this takes it to the extreme.
EMS made some really innovative synths for their day.
Very nice job!
Awesome video - a lot of useful information. Thank you!
Was ven used in Estonian radio for sound effects in 70s.
I would have moved to Mexico with the synth. Great video.
nice video. II would like to see more details about how to generate the sounds and modify them. Still, a cool video and very informative. I love old synths
Thanks a lot for this really nice overview :-)
Damned fine synth and a very nice explanation
great tutorial ! and cool patches ...
an amazing video, thank you
Awesome vid! Thanks. :)
thanks! 勉強になった。
BEAUTIFUL
Yes. The on-board amp and speakers are just for convenience.
awesome video!
Great synth here; Todd Rundgren (one of the first owner/users) tells of David Gilmour visiting his studio for info. re: the Synthi. If I could have just one synth ....
how did you know what to do when you fixed this unit?
Music to my mind!
well explained , that is some bit of kit
Good, here is some demos of a modern synthi A from 2013:
EMS Cornwall Synthi A 2013 Synthesizer Demo 1 The VCOs
I think Pink Floyd used this synth on "Dark Side of The Moon".
Sure. 'Back in the day' many guitarists used the Synthi like an effects box.
Learnt alot ! Thanks keith =~}
nice video :) thanks !!
Yes,it accepts external inputs.
Hi, is the 3 position toggle switch for the channel 2 mute a 250VAC or 125VAC SPST switch?
Marlow Digs?
nice! thx
I have one of these. I am having some issues with intermittent issues with oscillator one. Could you fix this?
The clocks sound like the game pong by Magnavox
OMG
5:06
A naval Battle
how early is this synthi A?
1971
Now I Know How Roger Waters made him to make his effects
I though the filter sounded a little like a diode filter ? Nasal like
Hi James,
Contact me if you are ever in the Toronto (Ontario) area, and I'll take a look.
#500 like. Only 9 years late. :( 500 also part of my Username . :)
You American guys really like to talk a lot on your videos before showing... sound demo starts at 8:00. Great video, but less talk would be great. Just a suggestion.
dunno who you are saying that, but if you are british, all I have to say is LOL
ur creepy af fam, nice vid tho