Talk:EMS VCS 3

The abriviation VCS stands for Voltage Controlled Synthesiser, and the number 3 simply refers to the fact that this was EMS (Electronic Music Studio) third version of the design, wich eventually made it to production.

How was the VCS-3 *Semi*-Modular?
The claim is made on this page that the VCS-3 was "Semi-Modular". It's my understanding that Semi-Modular means that a synth has a default signal path which can be overridden. Did the VCS-3 have a default signal path? I don't think so, right? I think this should be changed to just "Modular". — Preceding unsigned comment added by 129.174.255.87 (talk • contribs)


 * The VCS-3 has a pegboard for signal routing. I *guess* you could call it modular, given it doesn't have a default signal path - you need to use the pinboard for routing. It's a monolithic device - no discrete hardware modules - but it's modular in its signal paths. It's going to come down to what the definition of "Semi-Modular" is, and it feels kinda weird classifying this as 'modular' given its physical nature - A l is o n  ❤ 19:25, 13 January 2022 (UTC)

Still in production?
The links section points here and states that the machine is still in production. But the company's webpage was last updated in 1998. In theory I could telephone them and find out what they are doing (their number is 01726 883 265) but that would be original research. I would have to phone them up, write about them on a website, and then link to that article in order for the information to be valid under Wikipedia's rules. -Ashley Pomeroy 22:25, 11 January 2007 (UTC)
 * Good idea.--Dr. Who 02:13, 14 February 2007 (UTC)

Spam?
What the heck is this http://www.ems-synthi.demon.co.uk/snaps/everynun.jpg ? --Dr. Who 02:13, 14 February 2007 (UTC)
 * It's an EMS Synthi A. Rodhull  andemu  23:02, 9 August 2009 (UTC)

Merge of EMS Synthi A?
Both of these synths have a hugely overlapping history, for their design, development and use. Would the coverage of Sister Synthi A be improved by combining the to and presenting it all as one coherent article? Andy Dingley (talk) 17:19, 8 August 2016 (UTC)

This makes perfect sense to me - the Synthi A is essentially a repackaging of the VCS3 and the two should be considered together Jpmaytum (talk) 13:03, 7 February 2017 (UTC)

External links modified
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 * Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20131125155112/http://www.ems-synthi.demon.co.uk/ to http://www.ems-synthi.demon.co.uk/
 * Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20120717010956/http://www.ems-synthi.demon.co.uk/snaps/everynun.jpg to http://www.ems-synthi.demon.co.uk/snaps/everynun.jpg

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Prototype
Hello, I'm new to all this. I've signed up because I'm currently restoring the original prototype VCS3, and I feel that I should post some pictures of it.

It's the very first one built by David Cockerell and Tristram Cary, and is hand labelled with Indian ink in Tristram's wonderfully spidery writing. It was owned by Tristram until his death, and is now owned by his son, John. It's also the actual machine that was used on various Dr Who episodes from 1969 until the Radiophonic Workshop got their Delaware. So any advice on how to add these would be appreciated Davepegz (talk) 01:39, 15 February 2017 (UTC)

Hi Dave, perhaps you could upload your photos to Wikimedia Commons? Then they could be added to this article. It would be very useful to have them to illustrate the development of the instrument. If you're not sure how to add the photos, just leave a note here, and I'll add them for you. I'm planning to improve this article.

--Electric Antiquarian (talk) 14:39, 25 April 2017 (UTC)

External links modified
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Hans Zimmer's first synth
This source says that the VCS 3 was the first synth owned by Hans Zimmer. It came up for sale in 2021, and Zimmer confirmed that he had owned it at one stage. One of the photos shows that the case is engraved with the words "Hans Zimmer Hill House Studios, Brighton." I wondered if this was worth adding as it is sourced.  ♦Ian Ma c M♦  (talk to me) 19:36, 13 May 2024 (UTC)


 * We could add Hans Zimmer to the Notable users section but I'm concerned about using a for sale notice as a source for this. ~Kvng (talk) 14:12, 17 May 2024 (UTC)
 * Definitely not a reliable source. Masato.harada (talk) 14:20, 17 May 2024 (UTC)
 * The primary sourcing is why I held off on adding this. It may well be true, but it needs better sourcing. This dates from 2021 and the asking price for the synth and its keyboard were £13,990 GBP, approx $17,770 USD; the page says that the item has been sold as of July 2021. This gives some idea of the price for a second hand VCS 3.-- ♦Ian Ma c  M♦  (talk to me) 16:09, 17 May 2024 (UTC)
 * I'm actually OK with adding an entry now that the sale is complete. My main concern was helping someone complete the sale or other COI. A primary source is better than no source which is the situation with a few other entries in this list. There's little chance of misinterpretation of a primary source for a bare entry in a list. ~Kvng (talk) 18:24, 17 May 2024 (UTC)