The amazing history of the EMS Synthi - Synth Stories
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- Опубліковано 22 сер 2019
- Watch the full course here: www.sonicacademy.com/courses/...
Our go-to vintage synth sensei King Unique tells the amazing story behind the formation of the first British synth company EMS and how its synths came world-renowned!
Now, Arturia has painstakingly emulated a legendary piece of hardware loved by the likes of Brian Eno, Pink Floyd, and Hawkwind by combining the Synthi AKS and VCS3 into one full-featured software instrument.
Known for its instability this synth could be made to sound in tune with quite a bit of hard work, but that wasn’t really what it was famous for - sound effects, drones, and psychedelic textures were what put this synth on the map.
If you own this plugin this is a must watch and if you don't, it's a fascinating insight into synth history and you'll probably want to get your hands on a copy by the end!
Seriously, check this one out!
Let us know what other synth histories you'd like to see us cover.
The sound of the Synthi a will forever haunt me... between Hillage, ashra, klaus schulze etc... when Behringer finishes their copy I’ll be there waiting for it!
Thanks for a great history of EMS story. Our Physics master at school arranged for a guy to bring in a VCS3 to the classroom when I was about 17. We were allowed to twiddle and I was gobsmacked. After returning from working in Switzerland as part of my Physics course I saved up enough money to buy an AKS after a Melody Maker small ad in 1974. A guy called Steve Deutsch (I think) sold me it from a music workshop in London for £650. I loved it and played it in a Sheffield Uni Advanced Music Group and performed with it at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 1976. The need for a car forced the sale and it went to a good friend for what I paid for it. I wish I still had it!
If you've ever wanted to own a VCS3, Behringer have just confirmed their VCS3 clone will be available in October 2021!
RIP Peter Zinovieff :(
I remember having seen the Suitcase AKS a lot in the early 2000s when looking up everything synthesizer related on the internet i could find. Always loved the "my first science kit" vibe it had. I always wondered how to even play the VCS3 without keys but saw how Klaus Schulze was using his AKS mostly for noisy generative patches and i realized the fascination for basically allowing an instrument to play itself. I'm soooo looking forward to Behringer's Clone of the "Battleship" VCS3.
If when I said, "history" it sounded the same as you, I'd probably like it as well.
A remarkable story. I was in that studio for a demo of the synth 100 back in the 1970"s with Robin Wood. I was a young lad at school and it had a lasting impression for the rest of my life.💗Bless Robin Wood.
I had many happy hours playing the EMS VCS3 that belonged to Goldsmiths University, London.
More of these, please.
Managed to buy myself a full copy of Arturia Synthi V, it is pretty good, I'm still learning my way around it though.
FANTASTIC telling of the history of one of the greatest synths ever produced.
Fantastic vid. Thanks. I owned an AKS for many years. In fact I was, briefly, the West Coast "representative" for EMSA (EMS-America), which was headquartered in Amherst, Mass. The AKS was my main "voice" in studio and performance. I loved it. Sadly, time, the second law of thermodynamics, the exponential rise and acceleration in the level of music technology in the subsequent decades eventually pushed my beloved AKS into the background and eventually I sold it to Tone Tweakers who, presumably, sold it to some lucky bastard after giving it their customary total refurbishment.
Back in 1973 I was 14 and read about the Synthi A in the NME. So smitten was I with the idea I wrote to EMS asking if they could let me have one on a ‘sale or return’ basis. Unsurprisingly they said no. Now, fifty years later, I am shortly to retire (late 2023, yay!), and my leaving present to myself will be the Erica Synths Syntrx 2. I would love a proper Synthi A, but my lump sum probably wouldn’t run to one- and the Syntrx will play very nicely with the 500 or so hp of modular gear I have. Unusually, I don’t have a pc, so a virtual VCS3 is out of the question- but if Behringer’s clone of it ever sees the light of day I’ll have one of those as well.
Behringers VC5 copy looks amazing, it even has the spring reverb. I really can't wait for it, I've always wanted one. It can go next to my 2600 that I'd always wanted too.
Absolutely brilliant - thanks King Unique & Sonic Academy!
What a great video. Incredibly informative and enjoyable.
Many thanks for this video. It was so much fun to watch. Especially as I am interested in synthis since Walter (Wendy) Carlos and Emerson Lake & Palmer. Although I learned a lot more of synthesizers in this video I didn't knew. I immediately will sit before my computer and fiddle aorund with some EMS PlugIns.
Excellent detailed history man, this is what I like. Love this stuff
Great vid. Will have to visit the Powerhouse again to see this stuff. Over 20 years ago since the last visit. The Arturia version is very good.