Analogue Solutions MAXIMUS: 16 VCO, 8 Voice Polysynth

13 Sep 2023 by Rob Puricelli |

4,5 / 5,0 | Approximate reading time: 3 Minutes

Analogue Solutions MAXIMUS · Source: Analogue Solutions

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Analogue Solutions announces the most amazing 8 voice, 16 VCO polysynth since the Oberheim Eight Voice. Hot on the heels of the recently revealed AMPLE, comes MAXIMUS!

In most walks of life, there are those who fly straight and level. Trustworthy, no frills and straight as a die. Then there are those who fall short of the mark. Lacklustre, limp and always second best. And then there are the chancers. The daredevils. Mad as a box of frogs. Taking chances, throwing caution to the wind and sticking a middle finger up at the establishment! Tom J Carpenter of Analogue Solutions is, unquestionably, the latter. I’ve told him as much to his face and received that cheeky grin of his. He knows it. We know it. And the world of synthesizers loves him for it.

Proving my point, in some considerable style, I give you the MAXIMUS!

Analogue Solutions MAXIMUS · Source: Analogue Solutions

MAX Specs

MAXIMUS is an 8-voice, 16 VCO, 100% fully analogue synthesizer. The first thing that springs to mind is that it is a present-day version of the equally impressive Oberheim Eight Voice. Each voice has its own bank of controls, one stacked atop the other. This is the spec list for each voice within the AS300 unit…

2 VCO
1 Mixer
3 12dB filters
2 Full ADSR envelopes
1 16-step note/modulation loop sequencer
1 BBD-style retro echo
1 Main out VCA
1 White Noise
1 Sub Osc
1 Portamento / Glide
1 VCO tune Vernier dial
Generous selection of cross-modulation controls.

Beneath that is a master section that contains the following…

1 VC LFO
1 LFO with delay
1 LFO
8-channel stereo mixer
2 Real spring reverbs
1 Master control knobs
1 Poly MIDI to CV converter
4 Key modes
2 MIDI Sync modes
1 Multiple
Generous modulation routing

All of this is housed in a metal chassis with birch ply cabinetry. Also available is an optional keyboard, the AS 400, which features 61 weighted, velocity-sensitive keys with aftertouch and a 64-pad touch controller.

There are plenty of patch sockets across the whole thing for even more fun! MIDI is included as standard.

Analogue Solutions MAXIMUS · Source: Analogue Solutions

First Impressions

Obviously, I haven’t seen or heard this in the flesh yet. No one has at the time of writing, but demos are incoming. But if you’ve ever hankered after a true polysynth with intimate controls over each voice, this is it. MAXIMUS will allow you to break free of the traditional analogue poly paradigm in a way that few synths ever could. The possibilities are endless. It’s a true statement piece. And it will be priced as such. 99% of us will not be able to afford one, let alone accommodate one. But these machines need to exist. Makers like Tom need to make such things. This is as pure as synthesizers get.

Price & Availability

So I guess you’re all wondering how much this beauty costs. Well, this is Analogue Solutions. They do not do things by halves. Everything is hand built and made with the utmost attention to detail, using only the very best materials. MAXIMUS is being built in small batches and batch 1 is available to order now. The launch price of the AS300 is £19,900 GBP which will rise to £22,500 GBP for batch two onwards. The optional AS400 keyboard has a launch price of £1,800 GBP, rising to £1,900 GBP for batch two onwards. All prices exclude crates, shipping and tax (where applicable).

Units will ship 2-6 weeks after ordering.

MAXIMUS will be on display at Synthfest U.K. on October 7th, 2023.