Well, I hadn't realized that you know circuit design and my personal thoughts, feelings, motivations or perception better than I do myself. You're obviously an expert on so many matters, then I'd better shut up indeed and let you spread your foolproof knowledge and certitude. You're also obviously a...

It is sorta true, but a truth that is a lie. What lie ? Adapting THT circuit for SMT and modern components is one thing, replacing peculiar and specific discrete circuits with ICs is another one and the undeniable fact is that even if some ICs are the midi interface as suggested, which is a decent ...

There was a possibly similar envelope problem on a French friend's one recently. He wrote that the cause was some kind of "gate input overload" (I don't know exactly, my friend is not very specific when it comes to tech talk). This problem is quite rare but Tom Oberheim is aware of it, he sent the p...

I've bought a few used ones for my own use and for cutomers who wanted one to pair with the 208 I built for them, price varied between about €550 and €800 IIRC, depending on condition, latch mod presence, urgence, change for overseas transactions...

Which speakers ?

On the PCB partially visible on the pic we can already count much more ICs than there are in the original circuitry, actually 3 only for the output amps and reverb driver, all the rest is discrete components (I don't include the 2 741's in the MK2 PSU, which I'm sure they didn't clone and should be ...

To mount the banana jacks perpendicularly to the board, insert the tab in the slot, solder it and snip the exceeding part.
To mount them in parallel with the board, solder the tab to the board's back pad, it's easier if you put solder on both the tab and pad prior to assembly.

Happy building !

What causes vibration in old devices is usually a transformer and there's no transformer in a 208c indeed.

A lovely limited edition 1987 Ampeg SVT "Skunkworks" head and a custom Barefaced Two 10 cab with tweeter.
Now waiting for gigs to can use those.
Ah yes, and a super nice Thorens TD124/II turntable, definitely the 2020 acquisition I use the most.

There's no license deal or agreement or whatever with EMS.

The Portabella is the prototype that would become the Synthi A.
Only one was built AFAIK. I don't know where it is today but I've heard it still exists.

Analogue Systems has a license deal with EMS to use the name. The circuits are close but not the same. Steve Gay, who worked with Bob Williams also worked with EMS. Either way, a Synthi is more than the sum of its parts, what makes the instrument great is how its modules work together, this has been...

It's much more difficult to find the Spartanite case than to adapt it for a Synthi A. :) All you have to do is basically to cut off the central panel, to cut off some female parts of the hinges to make the lid removable, to add 4 rubber feet and to drill the 3 mounting screws holes near the handle a...

A 208 on its own is already a great and versatile instrument.
I find that the 218 (or other controller) is just the icing on the cake.

Here's a pic.
The green cable is signal, soldered to the tip.
The shielding is ground, connected to both other tabs via a piece of component lead.


Some minijack plugs work in tinijax sockets, others don't.

The problem is not about clones but about repeatedly mentioning those in unappropriated places. I don't tell in the BEMI / BUSA Easel threads that the 208p is a better option. I don't care of the Synthi clones, it's a parallel market and most people really wanting an original Synthi won't settle for...

It's not a matter of rules but a matter of elementary good sense.

This thread is meant to talk about the waiting list and therefore intended for the ones interested in a genuine new EMS Cornwall Synthi and willing to wait, not for the ones interested in a so-called "alternative" and not willing to wait or pay for the real thing. Repeated "suggestions" for these so...

Fair enough, but what's your point ? Informing people that they can get a knockoff with a shorter waiting time ? Many thanks for the scoop but every participant here is already aware of that.

There are various threads for Pin's and other knockoffs.
This one is about genuine EMS Synthi, not knockoffs, and it's annoying to see this kind of displaced considerations repeatedly.

So what ?

Robin has a long time assistant who should of course stay in the company if it changes hands.

There's most likely a same build error on both cards, double check all.
Just in case, there is no 4016/4066 on card 1.

In case of power related issue, I'd first suspect a faulty or overloaded system's own DC PSU rather than the mains AC.