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
>
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