The VCS3 is an analog monosynth housed in a distinctive angled wooden case made by Electronic Music Studios, London.
EMS was created in England in 1969 and the VCS3 was one of the first synths they ever made and more or less the first portable commercially available synthesiser—being housed entirely in a small, wooden case, unlike previous machines from American manufacturers such as Moog, ARP and Buchla which were housed in large cabinets and were known to take up entire rooms.
It has three oscillators, a noise generator, two input amplifiers, a ring modulator, 24 dB/octave voltage-controlled low pass filter (VCF), a trapezoid envelope generator, a joystick controller, a voltage-controlled spring reverb unit, two stereo output amplifiers and a unique matrix-based patch system.
Instead of patch wires, the VCS3 uses a patchbay grid in which the synth components are laid out, and signal routing is accomplished by placing small pins into the appropriate slots.
This VCS-3 comes with the DK2 voltage-control keyboard required to play it.
Notable artists who have used EMS synths include Brian Eno, Tangerine Dream, Pink Floyd, Autechre, Stereolab, Coil and Aphex Twin to name but a few.
Includes original cover, power supply, DK2 Keyboard & informational book from EMS which provides not only information on the VCS-3 but also several explanations on synthesis from the creators themselves & patching recommendations / diagrams.
Fully serviced. Power cable has been replaced to meet AU Safety Standards.
Video: https://youtu.be/O5voNyRmvXs
Product Specs
- Item Number: 19583
- Make: EMS
- Model: VCS-3
- Condition: Excellent
- Finish: Silver
- Categories: keyboards-and-synths ⇒ analog-synths
- Year: 1979
- Made In: United Kingdom
- MPN: EMS-VCS3