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At the risk of boring you with too much information I have
included below the details of the available modifications. Also
I have attached two photos of? Synthis with modifications.
One has close to maximum mods, the other has a modest amount
of mods. Sometimes customers don't want any extra panel holes
to be added for switches, or want to keep this to a minimum.
If it is important to have no extra panel holes, then the following
mods are recommended:
1. Osc3 stabilisation with dual transistor
2. X10 attach/decay extension ? with pull/push pot fitted to
Decay.
3. Filter unslew ? with pull/push pot fitted to Response.
4. Sample and Hold
If a few panel holes are permitted then add:
5. Oscillator Hi/low range
6. Oscillator sync ? either variable (with extra panel pot and
switch) or hard sync (with switch only) Osc2 only.
Here are all the mod details:
| Prestopatch socket |
215.00 |
| Osc3 stabilisation and dual transistor upgrade |
28.00 |
| Oscillator Sync - variable via potentiometer
(per osc) |
35.00 |
| Oscillator Sync ? hard (per osc) |
25.00 |
| Voltage Controlled Shape (per osc) |
25.00 |
| Hi/Lo frequency range - switchable (per osc) |
25.00 |
| Portamento/gliss |
45.00 |
| X10 Envelope Attack/Decay time multiplier |
25.00 |
| Voltage Controlled Filter Response ('Q') |
45.00 |
| 10-turn pots on input channels - for easier tuning
(each) |
25.00 |
| Centre-zero trapezoid - gives inverted bipolar
output |
30.00 |
| Patchable Voltage Inverter |
35.00 |
| Extra Input Channel |
35.00 |
| Switchable 18/24 db per octave filter |
20.00 |
| Filter 'unslew' switchable on filter's CV input |
20.00 |
| Main signal output mute switches (per channel) |
25.00 |
| External gate input ? buffered Envelope follower |
65.00 |
| Papageorgiadis Sample and hold |
130.00 |
| Special jack leads with 100K resistors (for CV
ins) |
6.00 |
| Pair of direct-to-matrix pin-to-3.5mm jack cables
(in and out) |
28.00 |
Prices are in pounds (GBP).
I have also attached a photo of a recently supplied Synthi A
to help give you an idea of how the mods are implemented. The
most popular modifications are Oscillator stabilisation (on Osc3),
variable Oscillator sync on Osc2, VC Shape (Osc2 and Osc3), Hi/Lo
switchable oscillator range (all three Osc), switchable filter
un-slew and Sample & Hold.
If you want Hi/lo frequency range fitted to the oscillators bear
in mind that Osc 3 will also need stabilization and the dual-transistor
upgrade. Only Osc 1 and Osc 2 are stabilized as standard on new
Synthis.
Sync allows one oscillator to be locked to another's frequency
can create timbral effects similar to a swept filter. Usually
implemented as variable sync, by addition of a center-off switch
and a pot. The switch selects which oscillator is used as ‘master’
and the pot regulates the degree of sync. Switchable hard sync
(without pot) is also available. Note that on the Synthi-A there
is a lot less free panel space for adding extra pots than on
the VCS3.
VC shape is good for thickening sounds - principally through
Pulse Width Modulating Osc 2's square wave (also Osc 3 if Hi/Lo
has been added there). Triangle/ramp shape mod is also available
simultaneously. Note that VC shape for Osc 1 will just produce
a crunchy distorted sine-wave and Osc1 ramp wave is not shape-controllable.?
The VC shape input is created by fitting a 3.5mm jack socket
to the control panel to the right of the matrix (one per oscillator)
with connection made direct to the matrix by a short pin-to-3.5mm
cable.
Switchable filter Unslew allows much faster modulation of the
filter from a CV and hence a big extension to the range of sounds
available. This is highly recommended. The switchable Filter
18/24 db per octave mode is quite subtle but also good value.
The maximum attack time on a standard Synthi is only about 4
seconds, with maximum decay about 30 seconds. A further dramatic
increase to the attack and decay times is available with the
x10 time multiplier mod. This provides a maximum attack time
of about 30 seconds with decays of up to 5 minutes.
The patchable inverter is a handy tool as it simply turns a voltage
upside down. For example if you have an ascending sequence of
notes and feed this into the inverter you will hear a descending
scale instead. Input and output are via a single pin-to-3.5mm
cord providing the function at one pin location.
Portamento/gliss needs an additional panel potentiometer and
switch. Connection to it is made via a pin-to-3.5mm cord. Again
input and output are via a single pin-to-3.5mm cord providing
the function at one pin location.
VC Filter Response allows the Filter Response (resonance) to
be voltage-controlled. Connection to it is made via a pin-to-3.5mm
cord.
10-turn pots make for easier adjustment of the tuning spread
when using the Synthi with a MIDI/CV converter or external CV
input. Only one 10-turn pot can be added to the Synthi-A due
to internal space limitations.
If you are intending to use a MIDI/CV interface it is also important
to have the buffered external gate input for triggering the Synthi
envelope, unless you are using the Kenton system and also purchase
their special cable which includes an active buffer circuit.
Extra input channels share the joystick rows on the matrix, so
they cannot be used simultaneously with the joystick. When switched
‘on’ the Joystick range pot becomes the new input channel gain
control. On a Synthi-A connections are usually made via the less
useful Control Output and Mic input jacks which can be sacrificed.
You can also use special pin-ended cables to inject or export
signals and CVs direct to/from the matrix, if you run out of
input and output channels. They come as a pair labelled 'In'
and 'Out'. They are very fragile and must be used with care as
any sharp tug on them is likely to break the pin.
The function of the prestopatch socket is usually to connect
a Digitana break-out box. https://www.synthi.co.uk/synthi-aks-interface-modules/synthi-aks-matrix-interface
Envelope Follower. This is a signal-to-CV device which allows
the varying loudness of any signal on the matrix to be converted
into a positive or negative going CV, of variable amplitude.
Very useful if you are processing external signals, and handy
even if you are not. The function is made available at one matrix
location via a pin-to-3.5mm cord.
We are now often incorporating Constantin Papageorgiadis’ Sample
and Hold module, which drops easily into the existing panel space
for the Noise Generator, without the need for new drilling. Details
available on his website: http://www.portabellabz.be/synthimods/rvg.html
Special jacks leads (with 100K resistors) are essential if you
are going to use the Synthi in a MIDI environment, with a MIDI-to-CV
converter. Usually incoming CVs are 1 volt/octave and will need
attenuating before connection to the Input Channel amplifiers.
Otherwise setting the correct tuning spread becomes very tricky.
If you are getting the Kenton system and their special cable
these leads are not necessary.
EMS
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