Analogue Solutions has introduced the Colossus, a new monster synth, inspired by the classic EMS Synthi 100.
Analogue Solutions describes the Colossus as “an exciting new mega-synth, with a design ethos truly from the dawn of analogue synths. It is more than a powerful analogue ‘workstation’ – it is also art, architecture, exquisite studio furniture.”
While the physical design of the Colosuss is inspired by the classic Synth 100, the circuit designs are original, based off of AS’s own Polymath, Telemark & Vostok.
Here’s what they have to say about it:
This synth is purely for those who want it just as it was in the 1970s – but new with parts still in production.
Colossus is large scale, featuring large knobs that control metal shaft potentiometers. VCOs have multi-turn verniers. The two enormous pin matrix panels dominate the horizontal panels – these are incredibly expensive Swiss made broadcast quality signal routers – 1 for CV and 1 for Audio.
There are two spring reverbs, touch keyboards, step sequencers, moving coil meters, joysticks and so much more. An immense expanse of jack sockets for additional patching within or without the system.
All the voice and modulation circuits are of course 100% analogue. We purposely steered away from digital, it doesn’t have MIDI or USB (there are plenty of MIDI converter boxes out there should you need that facility). This wasn’t designed to be the solution to your modern digital studio but rather a serious analogue power house of sound. There are of course digital elements to the sequencer control – that is unavoidable – even classic analogue sequencers like the ARP sequencer using digital logic chips. In fact the Synthi 100 features a digital sequencer.
There are no gimmicks – this is pure synthesiser. A huge sound enclosed in a solid metal case wrapped in solid hardwood. No expense has been spared to bring this incredible machine to life.
Synthesisers like this only come around once in a decade, or possibly a generation.
The Colossus you see here is the pre-production test unit and is currently 95% finished. You can see Colossus at SyntFest (UK) October the 5th, as well as other Analogue Solutions products like Impulse Command.
Pricing and Availability
The Colossus is being built to order, priced at £25K. See the Analogue Solutions site for details.
Attention rich people with a guilty conscious: buy me one of these and I forgive you of all you have done wrong.
25,000 pounds? Wow (toke). That’s heavy man (toke). Real heavy. Like far out (toke).
if the oscilloscope was more custom/cooler looking I would buy this. 😉
Amazing to see systems like this being made again! Bravo
not many EMS synthi 100s to go around.
Maybe Uli will give us common folks one of these systems for $350 and our soul.
Agree about that oscilloscope. It totally ruins the anesthetics of the instrument. Is it used and from the smoke filled 70’s?
The oscilloscopes AS use in the COLOSSUS are NEW.
well, guess i’m saying goodbye to one of my kidneys.
What’s the second hand price for a kidney these days?
lol,
1. im just looking forward for Behringers Synthi AKS clone, though i dont find it very usefull as instrument from the videos I have seen until now.
2. My girlfriend would kill me if i placed this in the flat with the space it takes 😀
This is a correct use of electronics and it makes the Moog re-issues look poor value. All in all just what the doctor ordered
I dont agree. This kind of instrument will never see the daylight again after being placed in a studio due to its weight and size.
It’s not supposed to see the daylight, is it? Designed for studio use. You wanna tour w/ this or create album magic? 🙂
I had an analog computer once. Great for differential equations.
Its a thing of beauty, but taking the time to really understand its full capabilities could classify as a new form of OCD. I wonder who would drop $25k on this now. It’d be a stretch to justify it, even with university dollars. It’ll be on Reverb dot com for $15k in five years anyway. Sure it will. “Covered in cat hair. Local pick-up only.”
Cool, but you can have an amazing modular set for about 20% of that price.
What amazes me is that they posted pictures, but no recordings! For $31,000+, and another $2,000 in packing and shipping to the US, I would have expected them to post what this monster sounds like! Well, their home page is bookmarked.