Steiner-Parker Synthacon

Last updated
Synthacon
Steiner-Parker Synthacon, Tecnopolis Sonora 1 (clip).jpg
Steiner-Parker Synthacon
Manufacturer Steiner-Parker
Dates1975–1979
Technical specifications
Polyphony monophonic
Timbrality monotimbral
Oscillator 3 VCO
Synthesis type analog subtractive
Filter 2-pole resonant low-pass
high-pass
band-pass
Attenuator 2 ADSR envelope generators
Effects sample and hold, portamento
Input/output
Keyboard 49 keys
External control CV/Gate

The Steiner-Parker Synthacon is a monophonic analog synthesizer that was built between 1975 and 1979 by Steiner-Parker, a Salt Lake City-based synthesizer manufacturer. It was introduced as a competitor to other analog synthesizers, like the Minimoog and ARP Odyssey.

Contents

The Synthacon includes three voltage-controlled oscillators, a two-pole resonant Sallen Key filter, two attack, decay, sustain and release envelope generators, a pink and white noise generator, and a 49-key keyboard. While the Synthacon was not a modular system, signal routing could be achieved through a series of switches. Although Steiner-Parker only sold a few hundred units, the filter of the Synthacon is still in use in modern modular synthesizers and a modern analog mono synthesizer, the Arturia MiniBrute.

Development

The Synthacon was first released in 1975 as a more affordable competitor to the Minimoog and ARP Odyssey. [1] It uses the same circuitry as Steiner-Parker's modular synthesizer of the same period, the SynthaSystem. [2] The Synthacon's filter was designed by company co-founder Nyle Steiner. [1]

Synthesis model

The Synthacon is a monophonic analog synthesizer. It uses three voltage-controlled oscillators (VCOs) as sound sources. One oscillator could generate sine or sawtooth waves, and the other two could each generate either sawtooth, pulse, or triangle waves. [3] The synthesizer was also capable of generating white and pink noise. [2] Unlike those on the Minimoog, the oscillator controls on the Synthacon were placed on the right side of the sloped control panel; the Minimoog placed them on the left side. [4]

The filter for the Synthacon, designed by Nyle Steiner, is a 12db/octave multimode filter capable of functioning as a resonant low-pass filter, a high-pass filter, or a band-pass filter. [2] [5] Like the contemporary Minimoog filter, the Steiner-Parker filter is capable of self-oscillation. Because the filter uses positive feedback, increasing the resonance does not cause the audio output to lose amplitude, as it does in the Minimoog and other analog synthesizers. [1]

Several types of modulation are available on the Synthacon. Each oscillator can be modulated against the second attack, decay, sustain and release (ADSR) envelope, another VCO, the keyboard, the noise generator, or the sample-and-hold effect. [3] The voltage controlled filter (VCF) can also be modulated by the second ADSR envelope, the keyboard, one of the VCOs, or the sample-and-hold. The VCA is modulated by the first ADSR envelope. [2]

Sales

According to designer Nyle Steiner, "several hundred Synthacons were made and sold". The Synthacon is considered to be relatively rare. [3]

Legacy

The Synthacon's filter circuit, often referred to as a Steiner filter, can be found in contemporary modular synthesizer designs due to its low cost and relative ease of construction. [6]

The Arturia MiniBrute uses a 12db/octave multimode filter, designed by Yves Usson under guidance from Nyle Steiner, based on the Steiner-Parker Synthacon filter. [1] The filter for the MiniBrute incorporates improvements on the circuit design to reduce the “chaotic behaviour“ (as Yves named it) [7] of the original design. [5] Usson insisted on the Steiner-Parker filter because of its versatility and its distinctive sound, which separates it from the 24db/octave filter used for synthesizers such as the Minimoog. [8]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Analog synthesizer</span> Synthesizer that uses analog circuits

An analogsynthesizer is a synthesizer that uses analog circuits and analog signals to generate sound electronically.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Modular synthesizer</span> Synthesizer composed of separate modules

Modular synthesizers are synthesizers composed of separate modules for different functions. The modules can be connected together by the user to create a patch. The outputs from the modules may include audio signals, analog control voltages, or digital signals for logic or timing conditions. Typical modules are voltage-controlled oscillators, voltage-controlled filters, voltage-controlled amplifiers and envelope generators.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CV/gate</span> Analogue method of electronic sound production

CV/gate is an analog method of controlling synthesizers, drum machines, and similar equipment with external sequencers. The control voltage typically controls pitch and the gate signal controls note on-off.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ARP Odyssey</span> Electronic musical instrument developed by ARP Instruments

The ARP Odyssey is an analog synthesizer introduced by ARP Instruments in 1972.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moog Concertmate MG-1</span> Monophonic analog synthesizer

The Realistic Concertmate MG-1 is an analog synthesizer manufactured by Moog Music in 1981 and sold by Radio Shack from 1982 to 1983 under their "Realistic" brand name. It was produced without some standard Moog features, such as pitch and modulation wheels, as a cost-cutting measure aimed at achieving a lower price for the consumer market. The synthesizer also featured a pair of pass-through RCA jacks, which allowed users to mix radio or records into the final live synthesized sound output.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moog synthesizer</span> Electronic musical instrument

The Moog synthesizer is a modular synthesizer developed by the American engineer Robert Moog. Moog debuted it in 1964, and Moog's company R. A. Moog Co. produced numerous models from 1965 to 1981, and again from 2014. It was the first commercial synthesizer and established the analog synthesizer concept.

Arturia is a French electronics company founded in 1999 and based in Grenoble, France. The company designs and manufactures audio interfaces and electronic musical instruments, including software synthesizers, drum machines, analog synthesizers, digital synthesizers, MIDI controllers, sequencers, and mobile apps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Micromoog</span> Monophonic analog synthesizer

The Moog model 2090 Micromoog is a monophonic analog synthesizer produced by Moog Music from 1975 to 1979.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moog Source</span> Monophonic analog synthesizer

The Moog Source is a monophonic Z80 microprocessor-controlled analog synthesizer manufactured by Moog Music from 1981 to 1985. The Source was Moog's first synthesizer to offer patch memory storage. The design was also the first Moog synthesizer to feature a flat-panel membrane keyboard to replace the standard buttons, knobs and sliders, along with multihued panel graphics that were very different from anything Moog offered at the time. Sound wise it is considered to sound more like the original Moog Minimoog than any other synthesizer made by Moog and was introduced as its replacement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moog Sonic Six</span> Duophonic analog synthesizer

The Moog Sonic Six is a duophonic analog synthesizer that was manufactured by Moog Music from 1972 to 1979. Because of its portable design and built-in speaker, the Sonic Six was widely used for lectures and educational purposes, often by Bob Moog himself.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Korg Polysix</span> Synthesizer

The Korg Polysix(PS-6) is a six-voice programmable polyphonic analog synthesizer released by Korg in 1981.

The ARP Little Brother, produced from 1975 to 1977, is a keyboardless monophonic expander module, sold as an add-on for another ARP synthesizer. It was controlled by connecting the control voltage (CV) output of an ARP synthesizer's keyboard to the Little Brother's CV input.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doepfer A-100</span> Modular synthesizer, introduced the Eurorack standard

The Doepfer A-100 is an analog modular synthesizer system introduced by German audio manufacturer Doepfer in 1995. Although only 10 module types were at time of release, it currently has more than 120 modules plus several different enclosures and accessories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yamaha CS30/CS30L synthesizer</span> Analogue keyboard synthesizer

The Yamaha CS30/CS30L is an analog keyboard synthesizer that was released in 1977. It is the top of the range in Yamaha's original line-up of monophonic synthesizers, others in the range being the CS5, CS10 and CS15. It features two voltage controlled oscillators (VCOs), two voltage controlled filters, two voltage controlled amplifiers (VCAs) and three envelope generators. It also sports a ring modulator and a voltage controlled low-frequency oscillator (LFO).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Serge synthesizer</span>

The Serge synthesizer is an analogue modular synthesizer system originally developed by Serge Tcherepnin, Rich Gold and Randy Cohen at CalArts in late 1972. The first 20 Serge systems were built in 1973 in Tcherepnin's home. Tcherepnin was a professor at CalArts at the time, and desired to create something like the exclusively expensive Buchla modular synthesizers "for the people that would be both inexpensive and powerful." After building prototypes, Tcherepnin went on to develop kits for students to affordably build their own modular synthesizer, production taking place unofficially on a second floor CalArts balcony. This led to Tcherepnin leaving CalArts in order to produce kits commercially, starting in 1974.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Synthesizer</span> Electronic musical instrument

A synthesizer is an electronic musical instrument that generates audio signals. Synthesizers typically create sounds by generating waveforms through methods including subtractive synthesis, additive synthesis and frequency modulation synthesis. These sounds may be altered by components such as filters, which cut or boost frequencies; envelopes, which control articulation, or how notes begin and end; and low-frequency oscillators, which modulate parameters such as pitch, volume, or filter characteristics affecting timbre. Synthesizers are typically played with keyboards or controlled by sequencers, software or other instruments and may be synchronized to other equipment via MIDI.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oberheim Xpander</span> Analogue synthesizer

The Oberheim Xpander is an analog synthesizer launched by Oberheim in 1984 and discontinued in 1988. It is essentially a keyboardless, six-voice version of the Matrix-12. Utilizing Oberheim's Matrix Modulation technology, the Xpander combined analog audio generation with the flexibility of digital controls logic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Korg Mono/Poly</span> Analog synthesizer, manufactured by Korg from 1981 to 1984

The Korg Mono/Poly (MP-4) is a 44 key "mono-polyphonic" analog synthesizer manufactured by Korg from 1981 to 1984. This keyboard is the sister synthesizer to the Korg Polysix. It has four highly stable voltage-controlled oscillators (VCOs), a 4-pole, self-oscillating low pass filter (LPF), wide modulation capabilities and pseudo-polyphony (paraphony).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Akai AX60</span> Polyphonic analogue synthesizer

The AX60 is a polyphonic analogue keyboard synthesizer manufactured by Akai Professional in the mid-1980s. It was Akai's answer to the popular Roland Juno series synthesizers. The AX60 uses voltage-controlled analogue oscillators and filter circuitry based on the Curtis Electronics CEM 3394 integrated circuit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arturia MiniBrute</span> Synthesizer

The Arturia MiniBrute is a synthesizer manufactured by Arturia. Although the MiniBrute was the first piece of hardware created by Arturia—which had previously exclusively marketed software synthesizers—it generated strong sales.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Mark Vail (22 January 2014). The Synthesizer: A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding, Programming, Playing, and Recording the Ultimate Electronic Music Instrument. Oxford University Press. pp. 158–159. ISBN   978-0-19-933486-5.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Steiner Parker Synthacon". Vintage Synth. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 "Synthacon". Synthmuseum.com. November 14, 2006. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  4. ↑ Mark Jenkins (19 October 2009). Analog Synthesizers: Understanding, Performing, Buying--From the Legacy of Moog to Software Synthesis. CRC Press. p. 125. ISBN   978-1-136-12278-1.
  5. 1 2 Reid, Gordon (March 2012). "Arturia MiniBrute: Analog Monosynth". Sound on Sound . Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  6. ↑ "Synthetic Sound Labs Intros Enhanced Steiner Filter Module". Synthtopia. December 8, 2014. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Improved Steiner VCF".
  8. ↑ Usson, Yves (15 November 2012). "Yves Usson – Co-developer of the Arturia MiniBrute" (Interview). Interviewed by Peter M. Mahr. Great Synthesizers. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.