Doepfer

I have been on this search for a while. I once owned 2 AKSs and a  
VCS3. I have tried to re-create the "feel" of them and found a few  
things about the EMS designs that become the challenge - one is the CV/ 
Octave range is very non-standard. It is if I remember correctly  
around 0.32v/oct on the EMS. This makes for a very wide range of  
modulation. Most current modulars are close to the 1v/oct when the  
inputs attenuators are full open. This brings me to the second main  
difference - the modules on the EMS, as you may notice using the one  
you have, have no input attenuation, everything has output pots but no  
input ones. This adds to the chance of distorting inputs when like for  
instance more than one source is plugged into the filter. And the  
matrix makes plugging many things into one input VERY easy. The main  
drawback to this scheme is that the scaling whacks out when you try to  
do something basic like controlling a VCO from a keyboard a lfo and a  
sequencer at once - you just can't scale the voltages to track in  
tune. I think this is why the Synthi has fallen to the role of what I  
used to call "Rayguns from Mars" sounds and modification of other  
sounds. I sold mine cause I wanted to get more "musical" and thought a  
good modular would do the abstract stuff just as easily. That was not  
the case. If you are wanting to make abstract sounds quickly and more  
importantly have fun playing them -there is really nothing like a  
Synthi AKS.

-James


On Jun 3, 2008, at 1:05 AM, Richard Scott wrote:

> Hi
>
> I am lucky to be sitting with a rather knackered but still working  
> (borrowed) EMS VCS3. Its a synth I've wanted to get my hands on for  
> a long time and i must say its no disapointment. the sound is  
> incredible and the interface, for me, is by far the friendliest I  
> ever had on a modular. I love the high resolution VCO pots, the  
> crazy trapezoid envelope, the no-patch-leads, the way it can create  
> distortion all over the place...
>
> and this is my question. I know analogue solutions make the filter  
> and trapezoid and i know some kind of pin matrix is coming soon, but  
> I wonder if anyone has found doepfer or other modules which  
> replicate the ways the VCS3 mixers and gain stages overdrive and  
> saturate... it seems to me that is a big part of what brings about  
> the signature sound of the EMS.... more so than the filter for  
> example. I am using moogerfoogers a lot these days and this has  
> showed me that very good quality gain stages and mixers which create  
> a beautiful controllable timbre are a huge part of what is missing  
> from modern synth designs.
>
> Of course I know getting a VCS3 is the best solution... its tail  
> chasing to try to replicate the sound of one synth with another, but  
> they become so rare and expensive these days
>
> Maybe an overdriving  mixer with germanium could even be a nice idea  
> for a module?
>
>
> Richard
>
> -- 
> I am using the free version of SPAMfighter for private users.
> It has removed 538 spam emails to date.
> Paying users do not have this message in their emails.
> Get the free SPAMfighter here: http://www.spamfighter.com/len
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>