EMS Synthi 100
Project Duration
From 1979
Curators
1979 – 2022: Ivan Schepers
2022 – present: Bart Moens
Summary
In 1979, IPEM acquired an EMS Synthi 100, and after 40 years it is still fully operational, depite the many times it was moved about, not always in good circumstances. Over the years, it has been maintained and serviced by serveral talented technicians; most notably Ivan Schepers (IPEM), Constantin Papageorgiadis (Portabellabz) and Orson Wouters. Thanks to them, today the legendary soundmachine is still operational and attracting a wide audience. The release by Soulwax of an album and book, with new compositions and documentation, as a tribute to the Synthi 100, is certainly illustrating this.
Lately IPEM and it’s Art-Science-Interaction Lab [ASIL] has integrated the artistic heritage within a digital culture and science context of new inventions with new technology, notwithstanding AR/VR/XR approaches. Combining ‘living heritage’ [Cultural heritage can only persist when there is renewal and interest in it from a younger generation, creative and connecting!] with diverse art-science approaches, a new network developments are offering new immersive experiences.
EMS Synthi 100 at FTI 2024: live concerts in the new Wintercircus Concert Hall (16 & 17 March 2024)
Live performances of:
- Micha Volders
- Köhn
- Floris Van Hoof
- Ambisynics
- Sagat
- Roman Hiele
- Mika Oki
- Ossia
- Indrė Jurgelevičiūtė
DEEWEE – EMS Synthi 100: listenening session in 4DSound (December 2023)
David & Stephen Dewaele (aka Soulwax/2manydjs) have always been fascinated by collecting instruments and recording gear. Their passion hasn’t been born by completism: simply every new item inspires a world of new possibilities. The one item that always eluded them was the EMS Synthi 100 – a huge and rare analogue/digital hybrid synthesizer that can create a near infinite array of sounds.
The album sounds simultaneously futuristic and retro as it highlights the versatility, uniqueness and warmth of the Synthi 100. Remarkably, a synthesizer that was first launched in 1971 continues to excel in 2020, aided only by patient restoration and fresh creative input. Each side of the vinyl features a long piece of music, each of which is divided into three movements. While they can be heard separately, David & Stephen Dewaele, urge people to listen to the entire experience from start to finish.
Especially for Ocean Of Sound, DEEWEE created – with the help of studio wonder Pim Gombeers – a 4DSOUND version of this already legendary album. For this they went to Berlin to mix the composition in MONOM’s 4DSOUND studio. Immersive composition created in 4DSOUND. The artist is not playing live.
Credits
Composed, recorded, produced and mixed at DEEWEE by David & Stephen Dewaele | This album was created with the help of and in collaboration with IPEM, Gent | Photography: Younes Klouche | Art direction: III-Studio | Spatialized and produced by Monom Studios, commissioned by STUK – House for Dance, Image & Sound, for Ocean Of Sound 2023 | In the context of: New Horizons | Dieric Bouts Festival, an initiative of KU[N]ST Leuven | Special thanks to: Pim Gombeer
https://www.diericboutsfestival.be/nl/agenda/deewee-ems-synthi-100
1979
EMS Synthi 100 (#30) bought from EMS, imported by Trans European Music
Het IPEM slaagt er als enige Belgische instelling in één van de 29 exemplaren van de Synthi 100 van Electronic Music Studios (EMS) aan te kopen. Het toestel wordt in de IPEM-BRT studio van de Muinkkaai geplaatst.
1987
Verhuis naar de Rozier (kelder)
Milestone Content goes here
1987
2002
Verhuis naar 2de verdiep (rozier)
Milestone Content goes here
February 2013
Verhuis naar het Technicum
Milestone Content goes here
February 2013
March 2013
IPEM50: Synthi shows in Aula (UGent)
2013
Synthi featured in EOS magazine
2013
March 2014
Tumult: Synthi on location in Gravensteen
November 2014
All Connected #6: IPEM Special in AB - synthi on location
Milestone Content goes here
November 2014
2015
Jaarbeurs Flanders Expo
2015-2017
Restauration by Constantin Papageorgiadis & Ivan Schepers
From 2015 to 2017, the Synthi 100 was completely serviced by Constantin Papageorgiadis, a technician with expertise in EMS gear. It was restored on voluntary basis; with the aim to be played again by musicians.
2015 Restauration – Photo by Katrien Van Remortel
2015 Restauration – Photo by Katrien Van Remortel
2015 Restauration – Photo by Katrien Van Remortel
2015-2017
February 2017
Relocation to The Krook
Milestone Content goes here
March 2017
Opening Ceremony @ The Krook
March 2017
November 2017
Album Release: Yoshio Machida + Constantin Papageorgiadis: Music from the SYNTHI 100
2020
Synhti @ AntennA festival
2020
May 2020
Evening on Klara about the EMS Synthi 100
Evening on Klara (classical radio) about the EMS Synthi 100 (28/05/2020)
Late Night Shift stelt op donderdag 28 mei graag de nieuwe plaat van David & Stephen Dewaele aan je voor. EMS Synthi 100, het resultaat van hun verkenningstocht op de legendarische EMS Synthi 100 van het Gentse IPEM, het Instituut voor Psychoacustica en Elektronische Muziek. En met Ivan Schepers, Pieter-Jan Maes en Bavo Van Kerrebroeck van het IPEM gaan we ook dieper in op de geschiedenis van het IPEM en deze unieke synth. Klara, Blijf Verwonderd!
May 2020
LP Released: DEEWEE Sessions Vol . 01
May 2020
Oktober 2021
Paul Pignon Creatures Talk Global
This is a project involving three Synth 100’s in different parts of the globe communicating over a peer-to-peer internet connection: Athens, Beograd, Gent. On each of them I created what I call a Zoetic Engine, consisting of several “creatures”, patches which are autonomously active, alive I like to say, or one could just say “automata”, but also responsive to sound input from the outside world.
December 2023
Ocean Of Sound: Synthi performance on 4D Monom Sound system (Stuk, Leuven). Patching by Bart Moens
Milestone Content goes here
December 2023
February 2024
Synthi repair by Ivan Schepers, Orson Wouters & Johan Robaeys
In preparation for the upcoming events, the synthi has again been serviced by the talented team of Ivan Schepers, Orson Wouters & Johan Robaeys; with the kind help and advice from Jari Suominen. Lights, sliders, knobs & potmeters have been cleaned and fixed for smooth operation; Johan and Ivan repaired the original frequency counter with nixies. Future plans are being made to fix the sequencer (which never did work, even just after purchase) and the voltmeter!
March 2024
Live Synthi Performances in Wintercircus FTI (Despacio chill room)
March 2024
Synthi 100’s worldwide
There have been 30 EMS Synthi 100 units produced in the 70’s. IPEM owns the one with serial “3030”, presumably the last one built by EMS. Estimates are that there are still at least12 units around (source):
- Greek Contemporary Music Research Center (Athens)
- University of Melbourne
- Ghent University
- Musikhochschule Stuttgart
- South Bend, Indiana
- Townshend Studio (University West-London)
- Richard James (Aphex Twin)
- Jack Dangers (Meat Beat Manifesto)
- Danny Kerry (Tool)
- R10 Interact Digital Arts (Leicester, UK) – in restoration
- National Music Centre in Calgary (Canada)
- University of Osnabrück (Germany) (Synthi 200)
