A series of live improvisations by D.A.Wilson recorded in front of some of the myriad of cherished and rare vintage synths returned to life over the past few years in The Lab at Hideaway Studio.

All Recordings are Copyright D.A.Wilson, Hideaway Studio.

The Secret World of Vintage Synths

A 1983 Fairlight CMI Series IIx going through her paces whilst testing out her realtime controllers and delayed vibratos following major repairs and overhaul here in the workshop - in this case the foot controller is mapped to the filter cutoff...  bringing in the human element makes such a huge difference!

Composition & Recording Copyright D.A.Wilson, Hideaway Studio, 2021.

1983 Fairlight CMI Series IIx: Foot Sweller...

A live improvisation resulting in one of those happy accidents tweaking various parameters in a SynHCS patch editor session running on a Kaypro 2X CP/M computer while testing out a 1982 DK Synergy during major restoration after successfully building and installing one of the superb new Tauntek Synergy II+ upgrade kits.  This digital wonder was streets ahead of its time and remains easily my favourite vintage digital synth - every time I sit in front of one of these beasts it leaves me in awe with a deep respect for the talent and dedication of its creators at Digital Keyboards and Bell Labs in the late 1970s.

Composition & Recording Copyright D.A.Wilson, Hideaway Studio, 2021.

1982 DK Synergy II+: Binary Chaos Machine... (Tauntek Upgrades)

A live improv recorded in two takes from a 1977 Polymoog 203A during major repairs and overhaul at Hideaway Studio.

Composition & Recording Copyright D.A.Wilson, Hideaway Studio, 2022.

1977 Polymoog 203A: Undivided Attention..

Having fun hooking up a 1983 PPG Waveterm A to a Wave 2.2 Digital-Analog hybrid synth from 1982 following upgrades and an overhaul. The Wave was one of the first commercially available wavetable synths offering wavetable sequencing and lead the way to the Waldorf Wave series and the Korg Wavestation. Unlike the later derivatives, the early models definitely had a sound of their own thanks to their 8-bit DACs and SSM2044 filters. The whole thing has a raw yet warm sound about it and can cover a surprising amount of sonic territory. I have long since loved the unique sound of 8-bit digital audio into analog filters!

Composition & Recording Copyright D.A.Wilson, Hideaway Studio 2022.

1983 PPG Waveterm A: Monster Waves (Hosting a Wave 2.2)

A live improv featuring two solo string patches played in unison recorded directly from a 1983 DK Synergy II+, an early additive 32 oscillator digital synthesizer recently returned to working order at Hideaway Studio.  The Synergy is a direct relative of the Crumar GDS and the Bell Labs Synthesizer known as Alles Machine.

These strings are 100% synthesized.. not a sample in sight here - and all the more amazing considering the age of this all-digital beast!

Original Composition & Recording Copyright D.A.Wilson, Hideaway Studio 2014.

1982 DK Synergy II+: SoLo Strings

Testing out a 1979 Crumar Performer following repairs at Hideaway Studio.  Like so many other Italian synths of the day I find this little wonder may not be feature rich but has so much heart to give - a lovely sounding instrument!

Composition & Recording Copyright D.A.Wilson, Hideaway Studio 2023.

1979 Crumar Performer: Corde del Cuore...

A brief live improvisation I recorded using the first voice patch I managed to program into the 1979 Crumar GDS shortly after I undertook the major restoration (previously owned by the late Klaus Schulze) of this extremely rare groundbreaking early digital synthesizer.   It is named in memory of the late Max Mathews who played a major role in developing the software routines and concepts behind key parts of the GDS as well as in many other areas of pioneering computer based music technology.

Original Composition & Recording Copyright D.A.Wilson 2014.

1979 General Development System: The Max Factor

100% made with sounds dialled into a super rare 1977 Lord Synthesisers Skywave monosyth during revival and major repairs by D.A.Wilson at Hideaway Studio.  Believed to be only one of ten ever built it is clear this curious instrument was designed from the outset as a performance instrument boasting several unusual features such as a three-axis joystick modulating the pitch/filter/VCA/LFO and Sample-Hold features as well as featuring Low and Band-Pass filters along with a built-in Ring Modulator and Phaser.  It all takes some getting used to but there is a lot of sonic territory to explore with this unusual beast.  

I decided to call this piece Desert Awakening as I've often felt like I've been alone in the desert whilst reviving this beast thanks to an apparent total lack of any technical information out there!

Sound Design, Composition & Recording Copyright D.A.Wilson, Hideaway Studio 2024.

1977 Lord Synthesisers Skywave: Desert Awakening.. (Ultra Rare)

A live improvisation by D.A.Wilson shortly following restoration of 1982 Digital Keyboards Synergy number 1032 at Hideaway Studio running in conjunction with the SynHCS host editor on a Kaypro II CP/M computer under HxC disk emulation.  

In this recording you can hear the Synergy's unusual continuously variable random vibrato in action.  The Synergy is an all digital synthesizer with 32 oscillators featuring both FM and additive synthesis.  It is a direct relative of the 1979 Crumar GDS.

Original Composition & Recording Copyright D.A.Wilson 2015.

1982 DK Synergy 1032 Awakens: Evolutions

A live improv test recording from 1982 Synclavier II number 880C just after initial wakeup during a major overhaul and conversion to HxC based solid state floppy drive.  This is a 16-voice FM only model which produces 100% synthesized sound ie. it does not rely on sample playback.

Original Composition & Recording Copyright D.A.Wilson, Hideaway Studio, 2015.

1982 Synclavier II: Four-Three SoundScape

A live improvisation recorded on what was Klaus Schulze's ultra rare 1979 Crumas General Development System (GDS) [featured on Death of An Analog among others] during final testing prior to shipping the beast to its new owner following a 100% tear down and major restoration by D.A.Wilson at Hideaway Studio.  Considerably ahead of its time, and one of only three known surviving examples, the GDS was a groundbreaking digital synthesizer featuring FM and additive synthesis in 16-bit audio.

Composition & Recording Copyright D.A.Wilson, Hideaway Studio, 2015.

1979 General Development System: The Big Farewell

A live improvisation by D.A.Wilson on an extremely rare 1982 Buchla 400-T computer controlled 6-voice hybrid synth (digital "arbitrary" oscillators into analog filters) running MIDAS-III complete with flat pressure sensitive Touch Controller housed in a custom Teak solid wood cabinet awakens during return to operation and overhaul and Lotharek Rev.F HxC virtual floppy disk retrofit at Hideaway Studio.

The touch keyboard was a nightmare to get used and it took a great deal of my concentration to perform this as the pressure-to-pitch modulation was pretty intense on the patch I'd dialled in that day but it certainly resulted in something from the heart.  The highly responsive playing surface opens up some interesting possibilites for expressive patch design and playing!

Original Composition & Recording Copyright D.A.Wilson, Hideaway Studio 2015.

1982 Buchla 400 Awakens: Haute Tension

A brass ensemble patch dialled into a rare 1978 KORG PS-3300 during testing.  Recorded live into EQ/delay/reverb during major overhaul at Hideaway Studio by D.A.Wilson.  This rare 144 voice analog monster is one of three I look after for clients in only around 50 examples world wide.  Due to its three triple channel resonators it is well suited to creating pseudo realistic acoustic instruments.

Original Composition & Recording Copyright D.A.Wilson, Hideaway Studio 2017.

1978 KORG PS-3300

1978 KORG PS-3300: Brass Ensemble

A live test improvisation recorded in front of a 1982 Rhodes Chroma analog polysynth after finally springing into life during a particularly arduous debug session to determine the root cause of a failed auto-tuning system during major overhaul at Hideaway Studio. 

Easily one of my favourite vintage polysynths (even over Prophet 5 and OB-X) and one I consider to be extremely underrated - a complex and remarkably flexible 16 oscillator beast with a warm but biting character all of its own!!

Original Composition & Recording Copyright D.A.Wilson 2017.

1982 Rhodes (ARP) Chroma: Autotune-ONE

Here's an unusual vintage synth combo just for fun...

A quick improvised duet featuring a 67 year old Jennings J6 tube synth playing oboe and a 40 year old DK Synergy digital synth playing a 100% synthesized Cello!

Original Composition & Recording Copyright D.A.Wilson, Hideaway Studio 2017.

Duet: 67 Year Old Jennings J6 Tube Synth vs 40 Year Digital Synergy

Having great fun testing out a 1981 Sequential Circuits Pro-One shortly following major repairs at Hideaway Studio.

This time a little flute like number I dialled into the Pro-One.

The Pro-One has a particularly flexible dual oscillator architecture with great modulation allowing all manner of interesting cross modulation, oscillator sync and synchronised filter modulation combinations.

Original Composition & Recording Copyright D.A.Wilson, Hideaway Studio 2018.

1981 Sequential Circuits Pro-One Test Flute..

Testing out my beloved 1986 Prophet VS after replacing all of the tantalum capacitors.  Twice in as many months this beast had let the smoke out due to failing caps so I though it was high time I did something about it!

This is a patch I programmed a few months ago whilst trying out the superb new Stereoping hardware patch editor - heck did that little box open up this wonderful digital-analog hybrid vector synth...

I have always liked the sonic aesthetics of cold crunchy digital into warm analog filters!

Original Composition & Recording Copyright D.A.Wilson, Hideaway Studio 2018.

1986 Prophet VS: The Rezzodrone...

An improvised montage of sounds recorded live from 1938 Hammond Novachord No.346 shortly after partial restoration to working order by vintage synth specialist D.A.Wilson in the UK in 2009.  It is very rare to hear a direct modern recording (non-acoustic through chorus/delay/reverb directly from the generator chassis)of one of these instruments in action as less than 50 remain in known working order.

The Novachord is generally accepted to be world's first commercial all electronic polyphonic instrument featuring dynamics control and specifically designed to emulate timbres beyond those of an organ such as strings, harpsichord and piano.

See more on this extremely rare beast at www.novachord.co.uk

Original Composition & Recording Copyright D.A.Wilson, Hideaway Studio 2009.

1938 Novachord #346: Creepy Montage (85 Year Old Tube Polysynth!)

A live improvisation by D.A.Wilson recorded whilst testing out all 32 voices of a recently upgraded 1993 Waldorf Wave during a major overhaul in The Lab at Hideaway Studio.

This is one behemoth of a digital-analog hybrid!!

Composition & Recording Copyright D.A.Wilson, Hideaway Studio 2020.

1993 Waldorf Wave: The Martian Waverunner

With some intrepidation I decided to have a go firing up Novachord 346 for the first time in what turns out to be 8 years since I resurrected and partially restored this 1/4 ton behemoth!...

To my great relief, this now 85 year old quarter ton 163 tube beast came out of slumber with all 12 of her master oscillators in action and pretty much in the same order she was in last time I hooked this monster to the power!...

After some initial tests I made this recording consisting of one overdub of a plucked Attack setting over a slow sustained Attack setting whilst occasionally moving some of her triple L/C formant resonator controls, the Bright/Mellow control and the Vibrato Depth.  

The source is 100% Novachord and the recording was made directly from the line output of the pre-amplifier into basic delay and reverb but with no form of added modulation processing such as chorus/ensemble/flanger.  Any natural chorusing you hear is due to the Novachord's 6 free-running vibratos acting on pairs of her 12 master-oscillators.

It still truly astounds me that an all electronic instrument originally on the drawing board in the mid 1930s can sound like this.. and even moreso 85 years after she left the factory!!

We are so used to hearing muffled scratchy recordings from the 1930s – but that is not to say its what it sounded like on the day of the recording – the HF the NC produces is amazing for its era.

Composition & Recording Copyright D.A.Wilson, Hideaway Studio, 2020.

1938 Novachord #346: The Beast Doth Gently Awaken (86 Year Old Tube Polysynth!)

D.A.Wilson is an Electronic Engineer, Sound Designer & Vintage Synth Specialist with a particular interest in combining vintage tube, classic analog and modern digital technologies working as a synth engineer looking after a very considerable amount of vintage studio equipment for Will Gregory (Goldfrapp / Moog Ensemble) and a number of other internationally celebrated electronic musicians and producers.  Having undertaken several major restorations and produced custom electronic designs for a number of major artists including Jean-Michel Jarre, Dani is also known for fully restoring two out of the world's four remaining 1979 Crumar GDS and partially restoring 1938 Novachord 346 (the only known operational Novachord in the UK) to playable order along with developing and producing the popular MIDI Front Panel Animator (FPA), Filter Defeat Module (FDM) and XD-280 Drive Emulator upgrades for the AKAI S612 sampler.

Demos of the S612 Upgrades in Action: 

https://soundcloud.com/hideaway-studio/sets/hideaway-studios-s612-front


Hideaway Studio Kontakt Sound libraries may be purchased directly from: 
https://www.lootaudio.com/category/kontakt-instruments/hideaway-studios
 

..and a nice introduction by Cory Pelizzari to the Hideaway Studio Kontakt Libraries:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-C7a3ChC9U&feature=emb_title


For more on releases from Hideaway Studio for Kontakt please visit the blog at:  www.hideawaystudio.net