I can only agree to what synchro1 says here.
The AKS'ses weer extremely stable, and mostly very reliable as well.

It's a bit of a misunderstanding that they were "effects machines" only.
And a pity too. They were worth so much more [as a musical instrument].

FWIW, I had the same experiences as synchro1 with my mini's and AKS on
stage.
I even sold a Mini (early one) and bought a Source instead, 'cause I
was getting tired of trying to tune it every 5 minutes. Big mistake
that (the swap), but that's an entirely different story.


_g

On 26 Jan 2009, at 22:05, synchro1 wrote:

> >> ----- Original Message -----
> >> From: analog1k
> >> To: Doepfer_a100@yahoogroups.com
> >> Sent: Monday, January 26, 2009 4:25 PM
> >> Subject: 1 Doepfer VCS3 Oscillator module
> >>
> <snip>> Although the VCS3/Synthi OSC were so unstable and only good
> for
> >> sound effects at the best of times. <snip>
> >>
>
> I have no opinion of the uderlying question but will be curious to
> read what Dieter has to say.
>
> But as a side note, the statement above is not accurate. As a long-
> time owner of 2 AKS (mid and late period) and one early VCS3 Mk 1, I
> can assure you they may be played quite well as tuned instruments.
> Much melodic music has been composed on them over the years. I
> played live for 5 years on the road and found my AKS to be more
> stable than my Minimoog (mid-period Norlin-era). It was often my
> main lead-line innstrument.
>
> Many people have this impression because they are so much fun to use
> as sound effects devices that they assume that is what they were
> made for. The people who built them fully intended musicians to play
> them in tune as well as experiement with sound.
>
> Issues that contribute to this common belief is misunderstanding how
> to use the pin matrix, matching the proper resistors in the matrix
> pins, and routine internal calibration maintenance.
>
> Several years ago I brought my VCS3 to a Bay Area analogue gathering
> to show Peter Grenader (of Plan B fame and just a cool guy to listen
> to) how well an unmodified early VCS 3 would stay in tune. We
> plugged it in about 11 AM, tuned it at about 11:15 and then
> continued to check the tuning with a DK1 keyboard at least once an
> hour. By 4 PM the drift was so small there was only a slight beating
> between osc 1 &2 and only at the highest octave.
>
> About 10 minutes later an electrolytic capacitor on the power board
> failed spectacularly. But it was in tune right to the last second.....