ARP 2600 FS Synthesizer

General

Long, long ago, the unsuspecting ARP started to produce what would grow into a legendary sonic-dragon slayer. The ARP 2600 was produced throughout the '70s and, while it was since shelved, has been used by eminences including Jean Michel Jarre, Rick Wakeman, Brian Transeau, Tony Banks, Nine Inch Nails, Radiohead and many more. A little while back, Korg did breath some new life into the ARP legacy by developing the Odyssey but even that doesn't quite match up to the sheer might offered by this, the ARP 2600 FS. A giant among synthesizers, complete with a controller-keyboard, an army of sliders, switches and knobs and patch-gates and a seductive character that drips like analogue honey from a spoon.

The Many Features of the ARP 2600 FS

In principle, this is every bit the ARP 2600 of old and has all the feel of stepping into a museum dedicated to analogue. You get three properly stable oscillators that can do all the work that regular oscillators or LFOs can do. Oscillators 2 and 3 offer pulse-width and can be switched for FM. The filter offers resonance (with self-oscillation) and a host of modulation options that shape a core that can now be found everywhere. Essentially, by using the ten included patch cables, you directly construct the architecture of your sound. This is a semi-modular synth since, in contrast to something like a Eurorack module where the base can be composed, here the patchable base is already there. A VCA module is of course included as well as spring reverb for all the '70s and 80's style spacey effects you could want. There's a noise-generator with white, pink and brown noise options and a sample/hold generator, an audio input with envelope follower and ring-modulator as well as voltage processors in the form of inverters and delays on the CV signal.

The Keyboard-Controller and Other Practical Additions

The included 49-note keyboard controls functions like the arpeggiator and vibrato and, while the keys aren't pressure-sensitive, they do come with aftertouch. The side of this synth where the DIN-MIDI and USB-MIDI ports are found is the only part that exposes it as a contemporary model and makes the task of integration into a studio setup look far easier than its ancestors ever could have ever dreamt. The synth, as well as the keyboard, come ready-housed in their own case that can then be transported with the further protection of the included flight case, complete with fitted wheels. This is a big hint that this is not just a studio instrument but can comfortably find a place in a touring band.

Who Needs This?

Ok, this is not a synth for everyone. It's monophone, massive, includes no pianos and the price is enough to strike fear in the bravest of hearts. As J.P. Morgan once said (for good or ill) "If you have to ask for the price, you probably can't afford it". This is undoubtedly a synth built for the highly advanced sound-designer who yearns for a genuine replica that has the benefits of reliability and MIDI/USB connectivity. It's also worth noting that not many of these will be made, so acting now might not be a bad idea since it's probably the case that some will emerge on the second-hand market along with highly inflated prices.

• Please note: A limited amount of this model is being produced and once they're gone, they're gone.