French boutique maker Mos-Lab shared this video documenting their fantastic DIY synth project – a replica of the rare E-mu modular synthesizer.
Before E-mu created gear like the Emulator, the Drumulator, the Emax and the Proteus, they created a modular synthesizer to compete with the likes of Moog and ARP. Introduced in the early 70s, only a few hundred E-mu modular systems were made.
The video shows some of the behind-the-scenes work that went into making this impressive project, ranging from woodworking to panelwork to the electronics.
Incredible work! I’ve built a couple of euro modules from kits, but the whole system? That’s some real passion right there!
Cool, very nice.
I have nowhere near the tenacity and Benjamins required for something like this.
Hats off to the builder! Awesome system! I know it took a lot of time and headaches!
In the past I built a few synth modules n had to calibrate….no easy task!
The sound is excellent, but unlike Moogs, its hard to pin down because it was so rare. There’s an interesting roundness to it. My E-mu experience began with a Proteus/1, so this sits next to real Fairlights as a dream item. It was also a smart design move to avoid the pin matrix.
I worked on one as an undergrad at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago 25 years ago. I didn’t really know what the hell I was doing with it but it was cool to play with. Anyone know they they still have it?
i don´t get it. why would you do that when you can have the new roland fantom instead that has every sound on the planet, plus a step sequencer and ableton-in-the-box?
If that’s what you want, why wouldn’t you just use Fruity Loops, ragnhild?
i was talking about hardware.
Because not every musician is you. Every musician gets inspiration in different ways and prefers workflows in different ways.
People will never understand the different passion that motivates different people.
“Why create music at all?”
James Noxon – you had one in your Boston apartment! care to expound, Respected Sir ..?