Alka - Demoing The EMS Synthi AKS Mk 1 (Pt 1/2) 

Why does this randomness of blips and blops sound so appealling? I used to hate these kinds of sounds, but after listening to a lot of work of Alessandro Cortini and Richard Divine i started to fall in love with everything related to modular and these kinds of old synths! Great video!

This is the first synth I ever saw in the 4th grade Parker school . The student music teacher Mr. Andreoli brought it in . I wanted a synth all my life after that and finally got my dream Moog little phatty a few years ago. Thanks to him for showing me this at a young age. Hope his had many great years teaching.

I really hope you defeated the daleks after all that.

Man, I really appreciate you uploading this.

$12,000.00 12 THOUSAND dollars. 12 Grand... 12 THOUSAND SMACKAROONIES.

I would like to add that there are very cool videos that show people actually twisting knobs as they play...JMJ Oxygene is a 56 minute tour of analog greatness and it has examples of how the synthi can be used, along with some other great modular stuff. There have been great artists of the past that have "played" their modulars...not just sequenced them...but really tweaked them. Tomita, Bermuda Triangle! But as time passed, men turned the experimental into the mundane...FOR SHAME! lol..

Love it. Hard to beat. You perfectly perceived the spirit of AKS. Thanks!

Never heard of this synth before tonight. The idea of a portable modular is great. And this video really does the synth justice.

Very cool. I have a friend who used to own a Synthi 100. He said it was like having several Synthis stacked in one machine. I agree that this is a "one of a kind" synth...very cool burbling noises, glitchy and wonderful. One has to understand that if you want to make a "dub bass" sound, or play "Jump", you should look at something else. But, if you want to experiment...Semi modulars, or modulars...or "normalized" synths with many control capabilities are the way to go. Its like doing puzzles.FUN

Lovely meaty sound! Perfect for a rainy day sound creation weekend.

this particular A unit was built in 72, the KS built in 76 if I recall correctly. Both in immaculate condition. I had the AKS for a few years but had to reluctantly part with them recently...

massive sound, this is an awesome synth

I love the editing!

You can see where where the Arturia Microfreak partly got its inspiration from. The touchstyle keyboard, the wild sequencing. The matrix patch bay. The weird sound effects...

Eargasm at 2.18! Great sounding/looking video.

Love the Workshop. thank you. The first time I turned the machine on, it was instant Pertwee/Baker episodes.

Thank you for this little explanation, it makes a lot more sense now! I also read about David Cockerell and the VCS3 in the mean time.

The prestopatch socket was available on the Mk2 Synthi's and VCS3's as an option for preset pin matrix recall, although mine was added custom. EMS only factory supplied 3 prestopatch (preset) cards, which were housed in a plastic case. The card in the video is DIY, exposed circuit board with hand-soldered 2K7 resistors and, as you pointed out, enables interactive body contact.

looks like a shock therapy type device for the hospital of the insane.

Sublime sounds my friend. Great video.

Sounds like the soundtrack of a very weird early 70's sci-fi movie ;) Cool!

this is so aweseome

Glad I could assist in your experimentations.

That was some serious screeching synthesis. Very very interesting synthesizers, the Synthis are... I'd like to try one for myself!

Excellent videos ! I don't get enough ;)

Great. Ive just tried these things and the Synthi has surprised me yet again, thankyou. I just used some strip board with my fingers resistance. Will try resistors. Had not heard or thought of the scope trick. Its opened up another world. I did notice yours has the scope on column A, where as mine is on column B, between outs 1and2. Thanks again, great vid.

this synth sounds so unique to me... theres so much modulation and its sounds so raw. modern stuff doesn't sound quite like this... why?

My kind of sound demo. I love synthesizers because they do this as well as make pretty sounds :)

great demo for an awesome synth! half of the sounds make me think, 'i hope that sound doesn't make the synth break!'

The Level 1 into Scope trick is a way of getting a sort of audio feedback loop as the scope acts a throughput and can be patched via the matrix. It was fun making my own prestos although it took awhile to source the boards, and even then I had to cut them down with a blade. Pins and prestos can be used simultaneously, like two pins in one coordinate... EMS version of a banana jack, I suppose. I used 2K7 resistors, but others can be used: EMS green pins = 68K. Thank you for watching.

Beautiful instrument.

i would do terrible, unforgivable things to own one

And another thing! When I get old, by the Grace of God, I will keep my mind right by working out new signal paths and creating my "special sounds" on my Huge Modular! See...there is a health issue tied to this whole business. Stave off dementia and senility with synthesis! Better than sitting around and doing crossword puzzles until you croak. I wonder if their are complex musical instruments in heaven? I will find out one day. Hell will just be an endless modulation of intense screaming.

About a 12 year waiting list :)

So unique!

cud you imagine this guy living above you

It's a DIY Prestopatch. Basically the circuit board is cut down to fit in the 32 card edge connector, that I installed, which is internally wired to the x and y axes of the matrix. The 2K7 resistors (same one as most pins) are wired to different points on the circuit board to create a connection on the matrix without pins. The prestopatch card was an original EMS solution for recalling intricate pin layouts on the board, creating an early form of analog patch memory recall.

It's a DIY version of an EMS Prestopatch. A way of instantly recalling an arrangement of pins on the matrix. An analog form of a preset patch... the bonus is that it has interactive tactile potential.

Robin Wood, owner of EMS Cornwall, said the same thing. Must've been very cared for through its lifetime. This unit currently lives in LA in a recording studio I believe.

The best video of the synthi aks demonstration in you tube. You have a synthi very cleen and beautiful. TERRIBLE

He s looking goood !!!

Thats what i love about this just press anything and somethings will happen

ha that george harrison modular synth record on the floor!

Bravo 😊

@RogerODonnellTV thanks Roger! no music intended... just pure circuitry and squelch!

Sick!!! Mad as bat shit!!! Blew my head off!!!

Really nicely done improvisation. No a Dr. WEho cliche in the bunch either.

Now thats what I call music? Er well maybe not but its still awesome!

fantastic ;-)

Really? I have never seen such a super mint condition of Synthi AKS. Thanks for your response.

The point where improvisations becomes random shit. Not that I don't enjoy random shit, but random shit it is.

good, another full set of a 2013 Synthi vids...: EMS Cornwall Synthi A 2013 Synthesizer Demo 1 The VCOs

I have a synthi E and am negotiating for an AKS. Over the many years It has been around, the prices always hold up. If I own a top condition Synthi for 1 year or 5 years, or more, It will cost me little or nothing in the end, if I take care of it. Just figure out how to get one while you still can hear. And stop sniveling about randomness. This thing is BEAUTIFUL in all ways!

The most bad-ass synth ever.

Be glad you didn't see me with the back open messing about with the solder gun.

Hi. Great stuff. You have the hi level 1 going into the scope at the start. Can you tell me why you do this? I have an AKS and am interested in making some prestopatches. Any tips? Pins can be used with the cards aswell? Do you suggest only using 2k3 resistors? Thanks for your vids.

LOL @ 7:31. I'd just hit the attack button all day.

No musick?? I was waiting for some gong covers..!

This demo terrifies my cats.

unique

@derekrevell thank you. Yeah, i was pretty shocked when i heard Peter's recent comments regarding this "pathetic little synth"... to pack all that endless sound and potential into a little case using surplus electronics is an unbelievable feat. but i guess when you take into the account of being the first person in the world to privately own a computer and having created the world's first sampler and giving some of the world's first electronic music live performances... well, we can't blame him!

At 2:38 it sounds like the intro of "Mexican Radio" by Wall Of Voodoo.

@Desmaad sure! but this is my logic: i have loads of other equipment that can do melodic. NOTHING can plumb the depths of aural madness like a Synthi.

Thanks from Japan. Sounds great, looks pretty new! Simple question. Is that Synti you purchased from EMS as a new product?

You can do complicated pitch modulation! Above all, its epoch-making portability.

@MrHugo280 cheers good sir!

... and I never waited years, bought this second hand years ago... new ones do not have the prestopatch and KS. I have since sold it.

Wasn't trying to make "music" in these videos. You can hear my "music" in the above reverbnation link in the info section if you could be bothered to click it.

I didn't say it isn't. They asked if there's a "cool, modern equivalent", which could only be a Moog/euro style modular (unless you want to wait a decade for a new EMS).

Still the best synth made by man. No other ones can sound like this. Period.

You can get a modular synth that can do all this and a lot more.

What modifications are there on this AKS? Looks like there are a few extra sockets and switches.

Pure avante-garde

yes

aint that the synth pink floyd used on dark side of the moon album???

This is a modular synth...

i want one! :O

I never liked the aks very much, but I sure miss my vcs3

EMS still produces them. Long lead time though.

That's an interesting Prestopatch you've made, people just don't know how good this little synthesiser is, not even Peter Zinovieff.

I play a synthi through a Marshall time modulator in my videos

I'm getting a new synth a.. what mods do you have here?

5:40 How to add entropy in the audio signal: move the chip XD

@Desmaad Pink Floyd Dark side of the Moon......thats exactly this Synthisizer :-)

Thank you. No, this Synthi A was built in 1972, the KS in 1978.

6 people prefer playing with themsleves rather than amazing vintage synths

Where did you buy that?

minute 4:00, Yazoo-Situation (new recording)?... :)

2:30 On the Run.... :)

You've DIY presto patch!

tremendo equipo ...pero a este tipo le quedo grande ...no tiene idea

If I had the opportunity to purchase again I would certainly seek out a VCS3 over an AKS. I think I could have fun with exercises in feedback control that the wooden case provides over the suitcase. Plus eliminating as much plastic as possible from one's life is always good.

what's the card thing? is that a mod or do certain models have that?

Didn't know that synths needed acupuncture too!

Me like. Lots.

Roger Waters called...he wants his rings back.

But... can you make music with it?

list of mods done are at the end of my blog post here: myspace.com/alka/blog/446297044

are you sure it's working ?

How long have u had than synthi ? it looks unmarked