MCS70

Infobox_synthesizer

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synth_name = MCS 70
synth_manufacturer = Audio Systems Electronics
synthesis_type = Analog Subtractive
Analog Linear Frequency modulation
polyphony = 1 voice
timbrality = Monotimbral
oscillator = 3 VCOs per voice
filter = 2 lowpass
lfo = 1
dates = 1977

MCS70 is a monophonic analog synthesizer.

Overview

The MCS70 was designed and built by the Italian engineer Mario Maggi in 1977. It is a monophonic analog synthesizer with an architecture composed by three Voltage Controlled Oscillators (VCO), one noise generator (white or pink), two voltage controlled filters (VCF), one voltage controlled amplifier (VCA), two ADSR envelope generators and one Low-Frequency Oscillator (LFO).

Among its singular features were the introduction of a "chopped" triangle wave with a unique timbral characteristic impossible to obtain in synths with conventional VCOs, very long envelope transition times (from 1ms to 50s) and the capacity to store the programmed sounds in memory (MCS means "Memory Controlled Synthesizer"). This last feature is common nowadays but at the time it was a great innovation.

Only one MCS70 was ever built. The production of this synth was made impracticable by the introduction of the polyphonic synthesizers in the market, like the Sequential Circuits Prophet 5. The prototype was the only synth used in the production of the electronic music album "Automat" by Romano Musumarra and Claudio Gizzi, released in 1978. Shortly after it was bought by Patrizio Fariselli from the Italian progressive rock band Area.

Leaflets