The Sounds: Various
Listen to the machines: Click on the picture to play the sound demo.
EMS Eight Octave Filter Bank
Fixed Filter Bank (*1971)
In the 1970s, fixed filter banks were a very popular sound-design tool (thanks, Wendy). Various well-known synthesiser manufacturers had at least one in their product catalogue – and so did EMS. Their Eight Octave Filter Bank also counts as the very first unit in their range of EMS Studio Modules.
EMS Eight Octave Filter Bank
Fixed Filter Bank (*1971)
EMS Phase Frequency Shifter P.F.S.
Frequency shifter (*1975)
The EMS Vocoder 5000 has been a favourite with many professional studios, experimentalists, and musicians. The frequency shifter built into this very device was also available as a stand-alone box.
EMS Phase Frequency Shifter P.F.S.
Frequency shifter (*1975)
Steiner Parker Master's Touch
Breath Controller / Filter (*1980)
Strictly speaking, the Master’s Touch isn’t exactly an “effects device” in the most literal sense of the word but still, it is worthy to be included in this book as it represents a truly masterful attempt at giving a little more life and animation to otherwise dull (keyboard) sounds.
Steiner Parker Master's Touch
Breath Controller / Filter (*1980)
EMS Vocoder 2000
Vocoder (*1977)
The Model 2000 could be called the epitome of vocoders, designed by London-based company EMS and produced in collaboration with a small German enterprise, EMS Rehberg, located in the beautiful South of Germany.
EMS Vocoder 2000
Vocoder (*1977)
Barth Musicoder
Stereo-Vocoder (*1978)
In the late 1970s, when the vocoder craze was peaking, Hamburg-based studio outfitters Rüdiger Barth KG tossed their own candidate into the fray, going for the title of World’s Finest Robot Choir. Alas, their Musicoder remained a fairly exotic secret ingredient – and quite a spectacular one at that.
Barth Musicoder
Stereo-Vocoder (*1978)
Electro Harmonix Vocoder EH 0300
Vocoder (*1979)
There is no doubt you have heard of Electro Harmonix at least once in your lifetime – if you haven’t, something must have seriously gone wrong as the cult following their stompboxes have is as strong as ever. Their rackmount vocoder ranks among the rarest products this NYC-based company ever came up with.
Electro Harmonix Vocoder EH 0300
Vocoder (*1979)
Publison Fullmost
Relief Enlarger / De-Esser (*1978/79)
In the late 1970s, devices designed to mysteriously add some brightness to analogue recordings were as popular as they were mythical beasts – which comes to no surprise as all manufacturers of those miraculous boxes were guarding their circuit designs as if they had retrieved the Holy Grail. Along with Aphex’ Exciter, Publison’s Fullmost is one of the most fascinating progenitors of this species.
Publison Fullmost
Relief Enlarger / De-Esser (*1978/79)
Aphex Model II
Studio Aural Exciter (*1981)
Back in the day, Aphex‘s first Aural Exciter was praised as the ultimate secret weapon and, in 1975, it spawned an entire breed of studio devices. The Model II reviewed here was the first of its kind that allowed the user to access the settings of the sound-processing part.