Image
Category
On Display
Object type
Maker
Place of origin
Date

Technics SL-1210 Mk2 mode quartz synthesizer direct-drive turntable: one of two

1999

Synthesizer. Powertran 2000 (Synthesizer PT2000) from a design by Tim Orr

1978

Sequential Circuits PRO-One monophonic synthesizer. Designed by former West Coast computer scientist

1982

Stylophone electronic organ

1968

Prototype Synthi-E briefcase synthesizer.

1972-1976

Oberheim OB-Xa Analogue Polyphonic Synthesizer

1981

Model Synthi K

1969-1973

Roland model TB-303 Bass synthesizer with sequencer

1981-1984

Wasp music synthesiser

circa 1978

Oramics Machine

1966

Speaker for Oramics Machine.

1966

Sound Generator for Oramics Machine

1966

V.C.S. 3 music synthesizer made by Electronic Music Studios

1970

Amplifier for Oramics Machine

1966

Programmer for Oramics Machine

1966

Speaker for Oramics Machine.

1966

Waveform slide for Oramics Machine

1966

Waveform slide for Oramics Machine

1966

Model 380A (Prototype) of DNA Synthesizer

1986

Technics SL-1210 Mk2 mode quartz synthesizer direct-drive turntable: one of two, by Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Osaka, Japan, 1999. The Technics SL-1210 Mk2 mode quartz synthesizer direct-drive turntable would normally operate as a pair: both connected to the amplifier and speakers through a cross-fader. This is to mix the outputs of two separate soundtracks, a procedure which is the foundation of 'mixing'.

Technics SL-1210 Mk2 mode quartz synthesizer direct-drive turntable: one of two

1999

Sequential Circuits Prophet 600 6-voice polyphonic analogue synthesizer. Serial number #600-1821

Sequential Circuits Prophet 600 6-voice polyphonic analogue synthesizer

1982-85

Korg 01/Wpro digital synthesizer, 1991. Serial number 00027.

Korg 01/Wpro digital synthesizer

1991

'Univox' single channel synthesizer manufactured in England by the Jennings' Organ Company, Dartford, Kent, model no.J6, serial, no.2788, comprising amplifier,and speaker unit built into suitcase, with separate keyboard unit, plus connecting lead and mains lead all stored within suitcase

'Univox' single channel synthesizer manufactured in England by the Jennings' Organ Company

1970-1979

One 'Micromin' frequency synthesizer, 1971

One 'Micromin' frequency synthesizer, 1971

1971

"CHATTERBOX" SPEECH SYNTHESIZER, Home-built in the UK to a design published by Witten and Madams in "Wireless World" December 1978/January 1979

"CHATTERBOX" SPEECH SYNTHESIZER

1978-1979

Korg Wavestation Digital Synthesizer. The Korg Wavestation has been described as “the end prodcut of California dreams and Japanese sobriety” (http://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/korg-wavestation/424). When the Sequential Circuits company collapsed, Korg picked up their R&D into vector synthesis, including Dave Smith and his research team, leading to the hugely successful Wavestation Synthesizer. The Wavestation incorporated the 2-dimensional vector joystick of the SC ProphetVS which allowed the user to alter and animate sounds. Korg added to this a second innovation in synthesis: wave sequencing, by which short segments of sampled audio waveforms could be played one after the other and cross-faded into each other for some complex and unusual tones, pads, textures and rhythms. The Wavestation had 2MB of ROM-based samples and was easily upgraded and expandable with PCM cards (Source: Vintage Synth Explorer) The Wavestation was very popular with musicians and composers. Users in the early 1990s included Jan Hammer, Phil Collins, Gary Numan, Keith Emerson, Genesis, Depeche Mode, Michael Jackson, and Dire Straits. Mark Snow used the Wavestation to score X-Files episodes. Its sound was most commonly heard in the 1990s in the startup chime for Apple Mac computers, which was created by Jim Reekes on a Wavestation.

Korg Wavestation Digital Synthesizer

1990-1994

Prototype four track tape recorder using 35mm 'mag track' developed by Daphne Oram, part of the Oramics machine, 1966, used to create electronic synthesized music and developed by Daphne Oram, co-founder of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop.

Prototype four track tape recorde for Oramics Machine

1966

Components and accessories from the Oramics machine, 1966, used to create electronic synthesized music and developed by Daphne Oram, co-founder of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop.

Oramics machine; Components and Accessories

1966

System 900 Moog synthesizer comprising input/output and control unit, keyboard, and ribbon controller, by R. A. Moog Co., New York, 1968.

Moog synthesizer

1968-1969

Roland SH-09 monophonic analog synthesizer.

Roland SH-09 monophonic analog synthesizer

1980

Reverberation Line, part of the Oramics machine, 1966, used to create electronic synthesized music and developed by Daphne Oram, co-founder of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop.

Reverberation Line for Oramics Machine.9

1966

Matchbox containing screws for Wasp synthesiser by Electronic Dream Plant (EDP) designed by Chris Huggett, c.1978, used by electro-acoustic musician Hugh Davies (1943-2005)

Wasp music synthesiser (screws)

ARP QUADRA music synthesizer with flight case, circuit diagrams, manual and program chart. The ARP QUADRA music synthesizer represents an advanced generation of synthesizer technology from the late twentieth century, making extensive use of MSI and LSI scale electronics along with reasonably advance analogue op-amps. The ARP Quadra was a 61 key analog synthesizer produced by ARP Instruments, Inc. from 1978 to 1981. The machine combined pre-existing products: the Omni II, Odyssey, a Solina-esque string synthesizer unit, a phaser and a divide-down organ with ADSR envelope, and a 4075 24 db low pass filter into one box. It had four sections: a Bass synth, Poly synth, Lead synth, and String synth. It was quite good at emulating each of these sounds and could function in any of its four modes at a time with the ability of layering the different sections. Bass was on the bottom two octaves, and had two unison bass circuits (electric and string), with AR and a single pole low pass filter and a related AD envelope for cutoff. A string section was similar to the ARP Omni. Poly Synth, and a two voice Lead Synth similar to the Odyssey and a five-way mixer with four-unit outputs, a stereo pair, a line mono and an XLR out. There were 16 program patches for storing sounds. Other major features include an incredible phase shifter, multiple balanced audio outputs for each section, dual portamento controls and a superior arpeggiator.

Music synthesizer

1979-1984