Producer, composer & synthesist David Baron has announced a new album, The ARP 2500, that he describes as “The first ever all ARP 2500 album.”
Baron owns a private recording studio, Sun Mountain, located on top of a mountain overlooking the Ashokan Reservoir, with a collection of vintage synthesizers, including an ARP 2500.
The ARP 2500 is a monophonic analog modular synthesizer, the first product of ARP Instruments, Inc., built from 1970 to 1981. It is equipped with a set of sliding matrix switches above each module; these switches are the primary method of interconnecting modules.
His new album, The ARP 2500, is set for a November 10th on Here & Now Recordings. For the album, the ARP 2500 was the only sound source.
Here’s what he has to say about the album:
“The Arp 2500 was the only sound source. I sequenced one or two patches at a time and then built the compositions in layers.
A lot of the audio FX were created through the use of pedals. The reverberation came from the Bricasti, EMT 240 Plate, Roland Space Echo 501, and a Vermona Spring Reverb. The Arp 2500 always ran through the Avedis Key Pre. I used very little dynamic compression/limiting. Time delay effects were mostly created ‘in the box’ but also with rack mount outboard including the AMS Tape Phase Simulator, an Eventide Instant Flanger, and a MXR Flanger/Doubler.
The instrument stays in tune (for the most part). The filters can distort so some care has to be used when gain staging. The envelopes are very snappy. The sound is beautiful and creamy yet percussive and forward.”
You can preview the album with the single City of Nerves, embedded above. The ARP 2500 is available for pre-order on Bandcamp, and will be out Nov 10th.
A portion of the proceeds go to supporting The Alan R. Pearlman Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the legacy of synth designer Alan R. Pearlman.
Absolutely beautiful. Can’t wait for the rest.
Very nice.
very nice! liked the noise effect on the chording. Q: was any of it played? there’s only a mention of sequencing… so?
Thank you! A lot of it was hand played while turning knobs….etc…the more percussive material is sequenced.
Very nice but possibly not the first all ARP 2500 album. Eliane Radigue used it in her recordings for some decades starting in the 1970s.
Yes, I believe you are right. Eliane made full records on the Arp 2500. Mine might just be in the first ten! Or maybe higher up if you stipulate that the keyboard was used. I love her music and it perfectly suits the 2500. Hopefully more full Arp 2500 to come from others.
I believe Benge did some ARP 2500 only releases aswell..
anyway..the more the merrier..I love this thing..and I loved your youtube vidoes with it so i’m happy to put this in the bandcamp cart.
j
0=0