Crumar Polysynths

Analogue Crazy · Post by **Analogue Crazy** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 4:42 pm

I have looked on the net for info on the Stratus and Composer but can't find much. What are your opinions on these synths? Do they use VCO's or DCO's?

BTW i have seen bluesynths review on the Trilogy. The sound examples on Synthmania sound really nice too.

JUGEL · Post by **JUGEL** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 5:01 pm

I have yet to hear an italian synth I don't like....

Post by **wiss** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 5:16 pm

the fliters are analog, I cant say for sure if its a VCO or DCO...I know when they starting adding midi to thier gear they went DCO....

Sir Ruff · Post by **Sir Ruff** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 5:27 pm

how much more info do you need?

http://www.bigbluewave.co.uk/synths_crumar_stratus.htm

http://www.synthmuseum.com/crumar/crustrat01.html

http://www.synthmania.com/trilogy.htm

Micke · Post by **Micke** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 7:01 pm

I believe both the Stratus and Composer use DCO's.

OriginalJambo · Post by **OriginalJambo** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 7:03 pm

Don't forget the Crumar Bit 1 and 99! Much like an advanced, Italian Roland JX-3P.

- 2 DCOs per voice
- 2 envelopes
- 2 LFOs
- 6 notes of polyphony
- Patch memory

Quite a catch if you can find a working one cheap.

Analogue Crazy · Post by **Analogue Crazy** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 7:05 pm

I thought they might use DCO's. The Italians made some of the very first DCO based synths.

Chaorta · Post by **Chaorta** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 7:09 pm

I owned a DS-2 for awhile. It was technically DCO's...i think actually the DS-2 was the first DCO synth.

Micke · Post by **Micke** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 7:20 pm

Yes, the Crumar DS's were probably the first commercial synths having Digitally Controlled (analog) oscillators.

The first ever synth to use DCO's was most likely the PPG Sonic Carrier 1003 though. It came out in 1976 but only a small number of units were built. The 1003 also used Digitally controlled filters, envelopes and amplifiers.

Analogue Crazy · Post by **Analogue Crazy** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 7:25 pm

Micke wrote:Yes, the Crumar DS's were probably the first commercial synths having Digitally Controlled (analog) oscillators.

The first ever synth to use DCO's was most likely the PPG Sonic Carrier 1003 though. It came out in 1976 but only a small number of units were built. The 1003 also used Digitally controlled filters, envelopes and amplifiers.

Mike....Is there much you don't know?

You are like a synth
encyclopedia. One day i will be like you.

Chaorta · Post by **Chaorta** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 9:48 pm

Micke wrote:Yes, the Crumar DS's were probably the first commercial synths having Digitally Controlled (analog) oscillators.

The first ever synth to use DCO's was most likely the PPG Sonic Carrier 1003 though. It came out in 1976 but only a small number of units were built. The 1003 also used Digitally controlled filters, envelopes and amplifiers.

What is with you Swedes and DS2's? The one i owned belonged to a guy that moved to the states after buying his in Sweden, when i sold it, it went to the keyboardist of The Cardigans, and now you're the one who replied!

A conspiracy!

JUGEL · Post by **JUGEL** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 10:00 pm

Micke wrote:Yes, the Crumar DS's were probably the first commercial synths having Digitally Controlled (analog) oscillators.

how about the Jen SX1000 ??

Micke · Post by **Micke** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 10:25 pm

JUGEL wrote:
Micke wrote:Yes, the Crumar DS's were probably the first commercial synths having Digitally Controlled (analog) oscillators.
how about the Jen SX1000 ??

The Jen SX-1000 does appear to have used a DCO rather than VCO and it too appeared in 1978.

However, according to an article on SOS the oscillator in the SX-1000 was some kind of hybrid design.

JUGEL · Post by **JUGEL** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 10:45 pm

I've heard that too .... that thing is a mystery to me... with it's slow lfo it just nails those old soft 70's sounds.

I was watching an old Italian softcore "Loverboy" with Edwidge Fenech the other day ... I swear those "moog leads" are the Jen SX1000.

Lif Chng · Post by **Lif Chng** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 10:23 am

The trilogies and bit 99s are gradually getting rarer on ebay. Nice sounding synths IMHO.