PAIA Modular

[Connie and/or Dave Garfield]

Dempsey Elks wrote:
> 
> At lunch today I went to the local music store around the corner from
> here and found a PAIA modular synth sitting among the shiny new
> keyboards. It looks like a tolex covered suit case with the modules in
> two seperate sections sitting on top of the keyboard. Anyone know > about this thing?
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"Master-Synthesist" (;->), Dave Garfield replies:

Yep!  Cut my "Analog Synth Teeth" on a PAiA 2700R keyboard, and through
the years, upgraded to a BUNCH of 4700-series modules in two "Wing
Cabinets" like the ones you describe.  The modules are all homebuilt,
consequently, with varying levels of quality, the VCOs are linear
(Volts/Hz instead of Volts/Octave), so key transposition wasn't possible
without a lot of electronic 'gymnastics'.  With everything properly
calibrated, though, the VCOs will track pretty well over 3 or 4
octaves...more for the 4720A VCOS.  The 2720 VCOs were not very
temperature stable, though, and had to be retuned about every 10 minutes
or so of playing.  The 4720s were much better, but still not
rock-solid.  Unfortunately, the signal outputs are all 0.5 Volts P/P,
and control voltages are 0-5 Volts, so signals can't readily be used as
control voltages without a buffer of some kind, like the 2720-12
Inverter/Buffer (or homebuilt, of course).  The 4730 Bi-Quad, State
Variable, Multi-Modal VCF (WHEW!!), is rather cool.  It can track Linear
control voltages pretty well, has Low-Pass, Band-Pass and High-Pass
outputs simultaneously available, and is Very resonant (but not to the
point of self-oscillation).  By now, the system may need (or not) some
cleaning and trimming, and maybe a capacitor or two replaced.

> Can operation instructions and schematics for this unit be found?

YES!  John Simonton, founder of PAiA Electronics, and all-around NICE
GUY, has kindly posted the schematics for most of those old modules at:
				WWW.paia.com
As far as operation instructions go, I don't know...it's been a long
time since I've peeked at those postings.  BUT!...I just happen to have
the ORIGINAL Manuals for ALL the 2700/4700 series modules, which I'd be
Glad to copy and send to you, should you decide to grab it.  BTW, if the
keyboard has a computer built into it (left of the keys, a panel with
membrane switches and three 7-segment displays), it's a 4700-J, and is
capable of polyphony and 'digital sequencing' - though you'll have to
patch all the voices yourself.  If there are just two knobs on a small
metal panel, it's a 4700-S...monophonic, analog controlled.
    
> How does it compare with other analog synths?

Well, it was a TERRIFIC place to start with synthesis, as NOTHING can
teach you the in's and out's of synthesizers better than "rolling your
own" - and John Simonton was THOROUGH about explaining how the circuits
worked, in Detail, in the back of each Assembly/Using Manual.  I would
say, however, that if you didn't build it originally so that it has
'sentimental value', you might be able to find something a bit more
stable, polyphonic, even MIDIed for a similar price (but not necessarily
as flexible, of course).  It IS Very cool for making all sorts of weird
'analog-type' sounds (I used mine to score a college radio drama, and a
student film!), and it's SOOOOOOO easy to add new modules and homebuilt
crud to!!

> Just thought some of you guys might remember this one.

Not only do I Remember it, I Still have mine, and by using the linear
control voltages from my PAiA Fatman, I can play it from my Matrix-6!
> 
> Dempsey

Dave...Glad to meet you, Dempsey!

Anyway, if it's not too !@#$%&*ed expensive, and you feel like
experimenting, it could be a good buy.  New, the 4700-S sold for about
$525, and the 4700-J for around $650(?).  Hope that helps!!  Whatever
you choose, Happy Synthesizing!!