THE SYNTH ISSUE
KORG PS-3100
and robotic accuracy. Synthesizer companies know this, and make their modern analog devices very stable, clean, and precise. This is great for reliability and accuracy, but means that modern analog synths are less likely to sound like vintage synthesizers. And, due to the fact that digital synths and software have made such great progress in emulating analog behavior, it means that digital/software synthesizers have simulated more of the variability of analog than they did. This is the reason why the “what’s so great about analog” question exists today. A lot of modern analog is more stable than vintage analog, and a lot of modern digital/software is more variable than vintage digital. As a result, it’s hard to discern between the two. BUT WHAT ABOUT THE GREAT ANALOG TONE OF THE PAST? In 2012, something unbelievable happened. Korg, one of the largest synthesizer companies in the world, decided to actually remake an analog synthesizer from their past…the Korg MS-20. They made a faithful reproduction and allowed the synth to retain its vintage analog character… warts and all. Vintage analog had returned. They then recreated the ARP Odyssey, a synthesizer created by the long-defunct ARP Instruments… 34 JULY 2016 PERFORMER MAGAZINE
and again, made a faithful vintage-sounding reproduction.
their vintage reproductions look and feel like the original synths (even if they are slightly smaller!)
Other companies followed suit, like Moog’s recreation of the previous Moog Music’s 1974 modular, and Tom Oberheim’s recreation of his SEMs and Two Voice systems from the 1970s.
2. Check out the synthesizers created by British boutique designer Analogue Solutions. They feature all of the benefits of modern implementation with analog components and vintage tone.
A 25-year history of embracing the past as well as improving for the future has made the “What is so great about analog” question a challenging one to answer. But I suppose I would say that the great thing about analog is that it inspires the user to expressively interact with the self-contained interface while generating great-sounding timbres that also have a pleasing tone. Everyone from nostalgia-loving Gen X users like myself, to young people seeking great timbres for modern music, can find inspiration in the great tones and inspiring interfaces of most vintage AND modern analog synthesizers. BUYER’S RECOMMENDATIONS If you’re looking to find great vintage analog tone today without paying the prices associated with vintage analog synthesizers or high-level modern analog reproductions, I’d suggest checking these synths out: 1. Korg’s analog reproductions: While Korg has a number of modern analog synthesizers,
3. At first glance, they may not SEEM inexpensive, but when you think about it… 6-voice polyphonic synthesizers feature 12 analog oscillators, 6 analog filters, and a host of other functions. Keeping that in mind, I highly recommend looking into the Dave Smith polyphonics, the Prophet 6 and the OB-6. They are extremely powerful, and yet, generate deliciously authentic analog tone. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Marc Doty is the composer and synthesist responsible for the weirdly-popular (over 7.4 million views) analog and vintage synthesizer demonstration YouTube channel “Automatic Gainsay.” Marc is also a synthesis historian, a public speaker at synthesizer industry conventions, and the Archive and Education Specialist at the Bob Moog Foundation. WATCH HIM NOW at youtube.com/automaticgainsay.