commercial synth circuits

[Tony Clark]

> I've looked through most of the synth related web sites during the last
> week, and I have seen only a few examples of commercial designs from the
> hayday of analog synthesizers.

   Only a few?  Which ones were you looking for?

> I suspect the lack of such postings are due to any
> of the following:
> 
> There is a concern over the copyright issue.

   This really isn't an issue.  Not only are most of the companies out of 
business, but if are still in business, aren't _making_ analog synths.  
So there's no trouble from that side.  Also, the electronic designs in 
many of the old synths aren't proprietary any more so it's not like 
anyone is going to complain if a circuit is "rediscovered".

> The above referenced schematics aren't available to those posting things on
> their websites.

   Sure, they are available.  But there are numerous factors in getting 
schematics posted:
   One, you need someone willing to scan them in.  Unfortunately not 
everyone who owns schematics are willing to do so.  
   Two, many schematics were printed on massive single sheets (some 
standard engineering document size) and cannot be scanned easily.  Moog 
is notorious for this.  Sections can be scanned and then pieced together, 
but this is no fun task (something I did for many of the Aries scans I 
have on my site).
   Three, after scanning in schematics, you may have to spend a LOT of 
hours doing touchup work (like what I have been doing to the Moog 960 
scans).

> No one is interested.

   Sure, we're all interested.  But again, there are many hours of labor 
that go into getting these things online.  And all of us that are doing 
so are doing it out of our own personal time, not getting paid for it.  
So that puts certain projects at a premium.

> It's been done already, and I missed it.

   It is _being_ done!  ;)  Slowly but surely, many of us are adding more 
and more schematics online.  Perhaps if there was something in specific 
that you are looking for, then those of us that have access to said 
documents can move 'em a bit faster.
   I would dearly love to have any of the following donated:

   Arp 2500
   Roland 700
   Buchla _anything_
   E-mu modular
   PPG 300

   These would be the most beneficial as they are primarily modules and 
are easier to browse and compare designs.  However, I'd love to see more 
of the polyphonics too.  Memorymoog, Jupiter-8, CS-50/60/80, etc.
   Unfortunately I'm sure that most of the polyphonics are going to be 
lots of trouble due to oversized sheets.  That, and the service docs get 
really wordy...equating to MANY scans!
   Anyway, rest assured that there are people that are working to add 
more schematics online.  Just be patient!
   Also, if you are in need of schematics for a specific machine, you 
would do well to give Mark Glinsky a look as he can fire off a copy of 
any of the schematics/service manuals that he owns.  You can find a link 
to his site from the DIY Archive here:

http://aupe.phys.andrews.edu/diy_archive/manuals

   Hope I've been of some help!

   Tony

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I can't drive (my Moog) 55!         |     The E-Music DIY Archive
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Tony Clark -- clark at andrews.edu     | aupe.phys.andrews.edu/diy_archive
http://aupe.phys.andrews.edu/~clark |     Contributions welcomed!
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