[sdiy] [AH] Custom ARP Avatar

Thu Mar 27 02:14:39 CET 2025

Hi Ben,

The Roland pickup should work well, because all the preamp stuff is in the Avatar. Roland has a bunch of pickup models, so check into the various ones, I think there’s one part that has open wires.

I do have a 1050 on backorder, it does look very cool. I blame OZ for me ordering one. I ordered at least one of almost all of the bARP modules. The 1027 seq should be here tomorrow. So you got the 55, that’s cool. How is dealing with the S-trig stuff in the Eurorack mode? I did order a few of the Boog modules, like filters, and the Bode, but avoided the OSCs, and s-trig modules. I started off going for all the Broland modules, but then shifted to mostly bARP, augmented by Boog, Broland, and Butable.

I ended up ordering two of the Go boxes so it’s like getting an empty 55. Still waiting for the legs to connect them. It is truly amazing how fast you can run out of room, and HP becomes one of the major considerations when looking at modules! That and all the Butable modules they have started to produce. And the vocoder, so much fun stuff. And finally in a price range I can meet.

Did you get some AMS stuff? I haven’t yet, but OZ has me frothing at the mouth over them. I want to get up to speed with what I have coming, and then will probably get some of the AMS modules. I do want to figure out how to do stuff like the ARP 1600 sequencers—how they could be transposed by an external voltage, and they even had built in quantizers. It seems like I might be able to coerce the 1027 into behaving like a 1600. Maybe with the Maths like modules. I do have an Expressionist that I actually bought for the Avatar. Controlling the Avatar from the Xpander had its limits. So I can sequence from the compy, but I use to do transposable sequences with an SH-101, and that was quite enjoyable.

I've gotten pretty far with my OSC design that I’m implementing on the Patch.Init()., and is very fun to control with the Victor joystick—real hours go by doing such things. Getting real time timber changes directly from your actions is so addictive. This is likely the most exciting thing I’ve been doing related to sound lately. I’m probably going to have to move that code to a plugin soon (I’ve started to play with iPlug2), and then start figuring out how to implement some proper Tony style ENVs. I hope he wont get too worn out by all the questions I will be bothering him with when I get there!

Very sad about Paul. It seems we’ve survived long enough that losing good folks is a regular part of life now. When Kevin went, and then Darwin, it’s really heart breaking to lose such dear people. I have such strong desires to share stuff with people that are no longer here, but I can’t, and it is so depressing. Sometimes everything just seems so pointless, but the joy we can get from sound is awesome, and everyone on this list shares that love.

-Rob-

> On Mar 23, 2025, at 4:14 PM, Ben Stuyts <ben at stuyts.nl> wrote:
> 
> Hi Rob,
> 
> Thanks for the tip about the Roland pickup. I was browsing through the Avatar service manual today, and I think you’re right. It’s just six coils going into pre-amps (inside the Avatar).
> 
> About the Barp 1027: I have it, and also the 962 (part of my Boog System 55, which had a lower empty row, now filled with Barp). But you must absolutely look into the 1050 Mix-Sequencer. I’ve only had it for a few days, so still learning, but it is a 962 on steroids. Does CV and Audio on 8 inputs with independent attenuators. Basically an 8 to 1 multiplexer, or switchable to 2 x 4 to 1. Has its own clock or can be synced to the 1027. You can use it to extend the 1027 to 16 or 24, or even more if you add some of those AMS modules. You can even use it to generate sub octaves from an audio input.
> 
> As you say, O.Z. Hall has great videos. The video you mentioned about the ARP System 5 is exactly the one I followed. Another good YT resource is synthesizer83, also with playlists about each series.
> 
> All this B stuff is right next to my (never finished) MOTM synth, where 2 or 3 potmeters cost as much as a complete B module.. RIP Paul Schreiber, king of quality front panels :-( We’ll see how this B stuff holds up over the years, having absolutely nothing mechanically fixed to the front panels, and probably the cheapest hardware possible. But in the mean time it’s loads of fun.
> 
> Ben
> 
>> On 23 Mar 2025, at 23:50, Rob Secret <rob at secret-secret.com> wrote:
>> 
>> Hi Ben,
>> 
>> It’s been quite a while, but the last I did research on this subject the Roland pickups can be made to work with the Avatars. Mostly it is just wiring them up—Arp didn’t do anything fancy between the pickup and the Avatar. And from what I remember Roland sells just the pickup as a service part too. It was pretty affordable at the time. Something like $25, but that’s probably changed a bit by now. Sam could probably get you one.
>> 
>> bARP
>> 
>> I ordered a bit of the bARP stuff from Musician’s Friend. I had a 20% off coupon, they return 8% for future purchases, and the tiny spiff the Apple Card provides. Plus I ordered them before the Agent Orange Tax was enacted. So the price was mind blowingly low for this gear. Some of the modules have arrived so far, and it seems like a new batch will show up this week, but I probably wont have the complete system for a while.
>> 
>> Of the modules I’m most excited about would start with the 1027 sequencer. I also got the Boog 962 multiplexer which will switch between the three lanes of the 1027 providing up to 24 steps. Also the 1036 Sample and Hold. It has two linkable channels, and you can clock it externally, which means an audio signal could be sent to be able to do modulatable analog sample rate reduction. 
>> 
>> The ENVs are still on backorder, as is the Mix Sequencer, but I’ll have enough to have some fun. I also ordered the Boog 1630 Bode Freq Shifter. Quite excited to be able to make X-Wing Pilot sounds. OZ Hall did three excellent videos on this module. He’s covered nearly all of the B-modular kit. And recently he’s been covering the AMSynth modules that complement the systems that AMSynth Rob helped develop. Oh speaking of Bode, Steve added one to Serum!!!!!
>> 
>> OZ’s first Bode video:
>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkwjCYgJKJo
>> 
>> I only ordered one of the 1004 OSC modules, because I ordered a pair of the 2600 OSC modules, a pair of Victors, a Brains, and a Waves (should have ordered two of these!!!). So lots of OSCs available once they show up.  And I ordered some of the Broland modules too. I am seriously blow away with how nice these modules have been—especially considering the low pricing. The dream of having an amazing modular synth is totally realizable now. It is very exciting. Don’t worry I’m not going to go Martin Gore module crazy. Just having a bit of fun.
>> 
>> https://www.modwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=195243
>> 
>> There are some pretty big holes in the 2500 line though. It can’t do OSC sync, hardly any utility functions, etc. So that’s where the bARP 2600s come in. These are now/were under $500, and add massive functionality to the system. OZ did a system using one with some 2500 modules to mock up System Five from the ARP catalogue. Very fun video. The B2600 has OSC sync, but the bARP 2600 OSC eurorack modules do not. The Broland modules help a lot here too as they have a good supply of utility functionality.
>> 
>> OZ’s System video:
>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhjVl8VobFg
>> 
>> I’m not too disappointed with the slow trickle of stuff coming in due to the backorder mode. This gives me time to mess around with each module as it comes in. It’s basically been a constant X-mas mode since November.
>> 
>> -Rob-
>> 
>>> On Mar 23, 2025, at 8:49 AM, Ben Stuyts <ben at stuyts.nl> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Hi Rob,
>>> 
>>> I’d love to try it with the hex pickup, as you say for the hex fuzz. Unfortunately the pickup is missing from my Avatar. It still has the D and E boards inside, but one of them has the power cable disconnected. So there’s probably something broken there. I have a search on ebay and other sites for the pickup, just in case. Does anybody know of any other hex pickups that would work?
>>> 
>>> The regular synth part works fine, although it needs lots of TLC for the sliders. I am not looking forward to that… And you’re right, with the cheap and available Barp modules everything changes.
>>> 
>>> Ben
>>> 
>>>> On 23 Mar 2025, at 07:17, Rob Secret <rob at secret-secret.com> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> The Avatar was my second synth. I only had it and the Xpander. No keyboards! I did auto players and controlled the avatar with an electric mandolin (I didn’t have a guitar). With this set up I think I was the first to do a midi mandolin. :P 
>>>> 
>>>> The Avatars are very interesting synths to be sure, even though they are basically just an Odyssey. 
>>>> 
>>>> To me the coolest thing about the Avatar was its Hex Fuzz. Nothing sounds like that, well maybe the Rolands did, but that sound is really cool. You can play more than just 5ths with a very warm tone.
>>>> 
>>>> Synth wise I no longer have the Avatar thanks to a very aggressive evil landlord, but like you Ben I’m going down the bARP rabbit hole. I have some of the 2500 modules, with a bunch more on order (waiting for them to make it through the backorder experience). I also got two of the bARP 2600’s (Brown and Blue). But in addition to this I picked up the Korg 2600m and Korg Odyssey desktop module. The thought process being that the desktop could replace the Avatar. It sort of does, but of course without the Hex fuzz.
>>>> 
>>>> Back when I had the Avatar I seriously considered doing mods like these. Today though I don’t know if I would. Now that there are bARP modules, and Odyssey clones I don’t think I would do it. But every time I see a modded one, even with poor mods, I get excited by the possibilities! It does look like a lot of fun!
>>>> 
>>>> -Rob-
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>>> On Mar 22, 2025, at 2:39 PM, Ben Stuyts <ben at stuyts.nl> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>>> On 22 Mar 2025, at 20:39, Michael E Caloroso <mec.forumreader at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> > I have a stock (working) Avatar here. Can you tell me more about the mods you are doing?
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Preliminary plans here http://www.analoguediehard.com/studio/keyboards/arp_avatar/index.html
>>>>> 
>>>>> Ooh, that’s a nice writeup. Thanks for that!
>>>>> 
>>>>> Some years ago I wanted to do lots of mods too but never got around to it. I recently acquired a bunch of Barp 2500 modules. These are quite nice reproductions (although Eurorack is not my fav. format, too small). Together with the Barp 2600 already here, it’s a bit of a mini 2500. This renewed my interest in modding the Avatar, but probably less extensive. It definitely needs additional patch points, so that is probably going to be my main focus.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Ben
>>>> 
>>> 
>> 
> 

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