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EMS (Electronic Music Studios) Synthi AKS

 

Synthi AKS #4533

SYNTHESISER COLLECTION

 

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  CLICK ON ANY IMAGE TO ENLARGE IT
 
Pin Matrix Panel   Oscillators 1 & 2.   Envelope Shaper and Ring Mod   Out of the case Internal View.
Patch Panel
  
Oscillators 1 & 2
 
Filter/Envelope
  
Internal View
 
Osc 3, Noise and Output Filter Controls.   Keyboard Sequencer   Input Levels and Joystick   Complete Synthi A
Oscillator 3 and Outs
 
Keyboard Sequencer
 
Joystick Controller
 
Full Face Synthi A
Some more up to date photos
Osc's 1, 2 & 3.   Joystick orginally used in a Radio Controller.   IEC Socket and Envelope Shaper and Ring Mod   Board A and Power Supply +12V, 0V and -9V
Oscillators 1,2 & 3
 
Joystick close up
 
Filter/Envelope
  
Board A and PSU
 
Board B Filter, Envelope Gen, Ring Mod.   Board C Osc 1,2 & 3   Stripped down synthi A   Sealectro Matrix Panel Serial No.
Board B
 
Board C
 
Synth stripped
 
Sealectro Matrix
 

These are a few photo's of the 3rd EMS AKS I have owned.

The first, was bought for £420 in July 1972, and within 3 months had developed a minor fault, I took it back to Putney, and they attempted to effect a repair, the synth was collected, and I was assured it was repaired, but on my return home, I tried the unit, and the fault was still present, I returned the unit again to Putney, but I was directed to Hilton Electronics in Wareham, and they exchanged it for my second AKS, no questions asked, and I even got a cup of tea and some biscuits..

The second, I sold in August 1977 for £700, as I wanted to buy a PC, actually I bought a Commodore PET (Personal Electronic Transactor) £699 (1978)

The third (pictured), was won in an Auction run by Peter Forrest (VEMIA) in 2004 and was originally owned by Tim Blake, who then sold it to Nik Turner of Hawkwind.

I have done several modifications to it, adding Sync to all the Oscillators, which didn't work too well, upgraded the Bulgin Mains connector to a Europlug, added Portamento.

After looking at David Cockerell's original electronic circuit design, I realised that the 16 x 16 patchboard, was really a limitation on the synth, as the shape of the waveform on all the oscillators are voltage controllable, this also applies to the filter waveform and response, another compromise are the single waveform outputs to the matrix from Oscillator's 1 and 2.

These limitations I hope to eliminate on my clone project. which will have a 20 x 20 patchboard from Ghielmetti, which was cheaper to purchase, than a custom 16 x 16 patchboard.

I have added a few more detailed internal shots, this really is a good example of excellent design, showing just how many devices you can put in such a small space.

I don't know who actually modified the synth, but I didn't like the position of the 1mm Red socket placed right next to the patchbay labelling, so I moved it to the bottom right hand corner of Oscillator 2, and changed it to a Red Square Socket.

Neither did I like the position of the Sync Switch on Oscillator 2, I added Sync to Oscillators 1 and 3, and placed the switches in between the Shape and Level pots.