EMS VCS3

[andbydefinition]

You've made this sound heavenly, have you recorded anything on this yet?

[stevee0303]

Just a minor observation but your VCS looks seriously unstable on that synth stand.

Nice vid though, keep them coming.

[MrFloyd4]

Hey, I have an idea, ship it to my house !

[Arkipelago2]

Won't Get Fooled Again!

[rimefrostkitten]

Even though I am not a big fan of synthesizers, I'll admit that these models are the cooler ones not relying on keyboards.

[windowlicker1]

nice vid,  beautiful synth :)

[wischmaster81]

ja das ist analog sound

[angelsarebestial]

hehe, poor pet @ 4:09 ;D ;D ;D

[nadeharry]

klingt kacke ..... aber das liegt glaube ich eher am video was hochgeladen wurde

[CoolColJ]

that needle is gonna break

[ElectriContradiction]

imagine playing that with a hell of a lot of reverb on the fucking pyramid stage.

one day.

one day.

[konked]

Okay, but as a non musician I can ask a dumb question.. is there any possibility to bring other than those various noises out of it, e.g a decent melody line or riff i.e can you actually play rather than toy around with it?

[Kohntarkosz]

Yes you can, if you have a keyboard that will interface with the instrument. EMS made such a keyboard back in the day, but it seems like most people made do without it. Or you could play melodies by sweeping the frequency controls on the oscillators back and forth, kinda like playing a slide whistle. And of course, there's the Synthi AKS, which is basically the same instrument, in a very James Bond style briefcase, with a built in touch keyboard and sequencer.

[Max16032]

Amazing sounds. Even if this machine is over 30 years old, it sounds so futuristic. By the way, the segment from 0:00 to 4:16 could fit well as an intro for a old school rave party!

[ChemicalMikeUK]

very cool! (but im guesing you already know that) peace! ;)

[TheCuse13]

There is a guy named Glen Stegner who makes a couple of standalone analog softsynths and makes them available free for download. I made a video of a creation of mine made with his MiniMogue VA softsynth. There is also a link on where you can download your own free in the description. The title of my video is Analog Synthesizer by TheCuse13

[TheCuse13]

There is a guy who makes free software standalone analog synthesizers that come with a functional keyboard. I made a video of some of the stuff I have done on it and a link to where you can get it.

[Alun53]

Still more "other-worldy" than most modern technology can achieve. To much now is pre-set sounds which ;eave little space for accidental discovery. VCS 3's were simple but effective. Its interesting how modern musicians are drawn to old technology. Great stuff!

[goohber1]

this would make a good soundtrack to a NAVY movie, as it sounds like two ships communicating to each other via pings & such.  good job.

[neil73]

How much does one of these cost?

[mcw55cb4]

@neil73 Last one I saw on ebay went for about £6500, in 2010.

[mcw55cb4]

@neil73 Last one I saw on ebay went for about £6500, in 2010. I went for a demo of one back in about 1973 at EMS in Putney, but had no chance of raising the required £700 at that time. Not much better now!

[neil73]

@mcw55cb4 Good heavens! Looks like I'm going to have to get 6 numbers tonight before I get one of them then!

[mcw55cb4]

@neil73 Same problem here, I'm still saving up for the fridge magnet version of it. But I do have a 1970s promo leaflet - somewhere - and I make all sorts of strange noises anyway. If we all keep very quiet about them maybe more will turn up as bargains at carboots.

[DJGahann]

I'm hoping to trade my Supernova for something that can copy some of the sounds the VCS-3 is capable of, looking at the Moog Little Phatty for instance (for use in my Jarre covers only).

[xxxgiuliano]

‎...c'e' sempre qualcuno che si sta preparando..."notare" la scena finale suono / VU meter ...fantastica...

[finalmattasy]

best synth ever... somebody needs to remake these in a rack model with midi and recall. I'm waiting. I think it really needs to be reissued, it's time.

[b00y4kk4]

@finalmattasy don't forget ARP 2600 :-)

[Maravalmusic]

The real shift in music. The previous wasn't that mystic, and the rockers from the 70s did it well!

[VectronMusic]

It speaks to me. ...Lost pirates in space. Blue caverns with fog..

[2010mustang2]

COOL!

[likker5tuFF]

Cool Lab!

[ronkopald]

I want one. Fucking awesome. Reminds me of a Drone Commander, which I am going to buy as soon as possible. Those things are cool too.

[Alembic25]

What a wonderful thing. I suppose they're in short supply these days?

[TomZentra]

@Alembic25 The vintage ones are very expensive. However, production of new ones resumed some years ago. I don't know if they are still being manufactured. Try searching the web. You really have to want one of these synths to buy one. They are extremely primitive. The novelty wears off very quickly.

[stomachlining]

@TomZentra are you kidding.... novelty.... yeah treat it like a novelty and get bored with it..... or follow it down the bottomless pit of inner space ...or let it take you on a journey to outer space... it is all up to you

[DJGahann]

@TomZentra they are, in fact, still being made to order in the UK. Prices start at GBP1600,-.

[TomZentra]

@DJGahann That's fine, but one can do much more for less money with modern hardware and software. Remember this… the goal of the VCS3 and other devices was to make music, not weird sounds. But in the days of the VCS3 and other primitive hardware designers were just learning what components were necessary to create and modulate waveforms appropriately.

[DJGahann]

@TomZentra little did the guys at EMS know their VCS-3 would become the cult piece it is today :) I'm really hoping to run into one tucked away in a dusty old basement or attic belonging to a layman :-D Then again, I'm hoping that for MANY other vintage synths :-D

[TheRealTakumaji]

@TomZentra: That's only one side of the coin. Synthesizers like the VCS3 also were created to explore new ways of musical expression, not just mimic other instruments or make music in the classical sense. There's a reason why they are still popular, and it's not just nostalgia... :)

[tomtomastina]

fukin sik!

[deadlover73]

so sexy in a weird way.

[apprenticemart2]

4:12 is that a springer reverb?

[kimowasabe]

the dog barking after a while is classic! lol  Dude makes some music with it rather than just dick with it

[kellyssa3]

Machine to torture the sound. Great demo. Thanks for posting

[rubyconem]

When I was 14 I used to tweak my synths just like him and being late for school :D

[michal23pl]

i've seen it on exhibition in Science Museum in London in Making the Modern World section:) well deserved!

[Synthiefrau]

The EMS VCS 3 is a sexy thing!!!!!! I want one...

[TEMPmichaelhansen]

sounds like a moog-i want one-even though i love pink floyd, at least you are not doing the 2345 version of "On The Run"

[mynmyself]

sounds from tomorrow.... machines from yesterday

[576557]

i went to ems in putney, london in 1972.

they made these there as u know.

wanted one but alas, it inspired me from the roxy music , eno use ,brill, u lucky to have it, class

[cinnamonjuly]

Wow, that's cool, to have been there! Yes, I realise I'm lucky to have one. I paid what I thought at the time was a lot of money for it about ten years ago. I also have an AKS. My first experience of these was in my Dad's college, they had a huge sound room with an AKS in it, plugged into massive tannoys.

[Alembic25]

Del Dettmar from Hawkwind used one of these. Brain melting stuff. I think Eno used one in Roxy Music too.

[underpantswedgy]

i want one..where can i get?

[underpantswedgy]

Welcome to the machine!!

[czolgista999]

It's a very rare synth, isn't it ?

[uhj4]

oh, so beautiful sounds!!!

[bleemie]

really ? where did you see that ? ive seen 7 - 8k

[therealKINDLE]

Thos machine is a priceless producti of mankind. Why these were never Re-Vamped like Moog I will never know.

[davitogrubba]

revamping is not necessary, just start building them again!

[therealKINDLE]

Ok! YOU build me a Synthi 100, & on that day.. Satan will be skating to work!

[davitogrubba]

Some day....

[justwaving]

Beautiful machine, I hope you have good locks on your doors!

[tall32guy]

This is amazing. The VCS3 has held out for so long and it still well known and well respected, just as it was in the early 70's. very cool! :)

[AAR182]

ahhhhhh 0:32 onward is the wind from the instrumental side of the album "Heroes" by David Bowie!!! Him and Eno used a VCS3 on that album extensively.

[Alembic25]

Hawkwind LOVED these. Del used one of these and Dik Mik used a signal testing audio generator through a Wah pedal and loads and loads of drugs!

[baward]

A bonkers machine, thanks for posting!

Ben in Melksham

[hieronymusrex]

i would never sleep! me want!!

need some Putney in me chutney!!!!

[OxygenBurglar]

Euphoric electronic violence, I love it.

[n00bdirect]

how much does one of these cost?

[muymalmoon]

$2500 to $3000 last time I looked.

[THEDEFOCATOR]

Has anyone ever reverse engineered this synth. Is there a clone of some sort? I know they still make them but they are are really expensive.

[SydtheSandman]

also used on the Dark Side of the Moon

[BazzTheBoss]

wow that's like music science

[lerxt42]

sounds like kraftwerks first 2 albums

[JMJarvinenStudio]

Would love a VCS3, Synthi-A and DK-1/2 ;) <3 It would be three years saving as VCS3 £1800 Synthi-A £1600 NEW from EMS but the "Cricklewood" DK1/2 is a hard-to-find vintage kbd JMJarre used the Synthis&VCS´ nicely in Helsinki In-Doors :D

[khyropia]

Do any of the ems vcs3 demo videos have a keyboard? i know the synth has one, I would like to see one operated by a keyboard, but anyway, nice demo : )

[greedo16]

HEHE 4:14 !

[sirwatchalot]

When I met Todd Rundgren,he called his a Putney..is this English slang for the VCS3?

[cinnamonjuly]

Yes Guv, EMS were based in Putney for a while....

[moogyboy6]

@sirwatchalot I read somewhere that the VCS3 was marketed as the Putney for the US market; it might have just been the American distributor's choice to rename it here.

[philrgv]

hehe! J.M. JARRE's toy :-)

[l87HZ]

:D Greets to you my friend.

[pauleyh]

mine is one of the first 10 made dated 1968 on back of it. this synth was also behind lots of motown songs. during that time

[cinnamonjuly]

Wow cool, I wonder how I could date mine.....

[PhotoAnimationGuy]

you just need to make a move, ask her out, be confident and make sure to dress nice and take her to a fine restaraunt and tip well.

[cinnamonjuly]

Heh heh, that's rich coming from an animator...:-)

[Eamuesrtsionn]

I have an old school EML one that is crazzy. it just doesnt work

[plungerdrum]

Really? What songs?

[themachman1969]

that sounds fantastic!new to all these synths.some great stuff posted on this site,thanks..

[skodas]

love the sounds

[mindthebendthemind]

Probably the best Vcs3 reference video on Youtube! Thanks for posting.

[Thalassa77]

I'm agree

[cinnamonjuly]

Thanks, if you're interested, there's a really nice hi def version on vimeo, also you can download it. cj.

[pauleyh]

reflections supremes. lots of stevie wonder songs. as a matter of fact theres a vcs3 at the museum. i would say close to a hundred motown songs

[cinnamonjuly]

Great, thanks.

[Thalassa77]

Hello , I've posted this video on switchedonsynthesizer.blogspot . com

[DavideModu]

I love EMS!!!!!

[cinnamonjuly]

Me too!