The Synthacon returns: Classic 1970s triple oscillator monosynth
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Steiner-Connolly Synthacon · Source: Steiner-Connolly
Steiner-Connolly Synthacon · Source: Steiner-Connolly
The Steiner-Parker Synthacon is a fat and fantastic-looking but lesser-known synthesizer from 1975. It’s being remade by original designer Nyle Steiner and musician Robbie Connolly.
Synthacon
So what do we know about this fabulous-looking wedge of a synth and why has no one done this before? Well, Steiner-Parker operated out of Salt Lake City and you probably know the name from their filter design that pops up on synths like those by Arturia. Steiner-Parker also built synths, and the Synthacon was introduced in 1975 as a competitor to the Minimoog and ARP Odyssey.
In terms of specs the Synthacon has a similar architecture to the Minimoog. There are three VCOs with a choice of sine wave or sawtooth on the first two and the addition of a pulse wave on the third. You could also mix in white or pink noise. There were two envelopes, one for the VCA and one for the filter. For other modulation there was an LFO and a Sample & Hold circuit along with Portamento and pitch bend.
But it’s the 12dB 2-pole filter which was the most interesting aspect. Like the Minimoog it could self-resonate, but it didn’t suffer from the drop in volume that the Moog encountered when you pushed the resonance. It also had multiple modes with bandpass and highpass in addition to the usual lowpass options. It was the filter that gave the Synthacon its unique character and is why that design is still around today.
Apparently, Steiner-Parker sold a couple of hundred units before dissolving in 1979.
Steiner-Connolly Synthacon · Source: Steiner-Connolly
Reissue
At the moment, the actual details are a bit sketchy. There’s no functioning website, and the Facebook page has nothing going on, but the newly formed Steiner-Connolly has popped up on Modwiggler and in Facebook groups suggesting that if you’d like one then you can preorder via email.
However, there has been a bit of a breadcrumbs trail around the development, including Robbie Connolly’s Instagram. Here’s a post from a year ago:
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I’m sure we’re going to hear a lot more about it in the coming months, but according to facebook:
This is an authentic, discrete, through hole recreation of this iconic 70’s synthesizer under the direction of Nyle Steiner himself. We have added midi via a FATAR keybed, and a couple new features but this unit has been tediously recreated right down to the original circuit board design and vintage components.
The preorder price is $3,000 and if you’d like your name down then send an email to support@steiner-connolly.com
- Facebook page.
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