ARP 2600

Infobox_synthesizer


image_caption = Steve Fisk's ARP 2600
synth_name = 2600
synth_manufacturer =ARP Instruments, Inc.
synthesis_type = Analog Subtractive
polyphony =Monophonic
timbrality = Monotimbral
oscillator = 3
filter = 1 24dB/oct. low-pass
attenuator = ADSR and AR
lfo = 1
keyboard = 49 keys
left_control =
velocity = none
aftertouch = none
ext_control = CV/Gate
memory = none
fx = Spring reverb
dates = 1971-1981
price =

The ARP 2600 is a semi-modular analog subtractive audio synthesizer, designed by Alan R. Pearlman and manufactured by his company, ARP Instruments, Inc. Unlike other modular systems of the time, which required modules to be purchased individually and wired by the user, the 2600 was semi-modular with a fixed selection of basic synthesizer components internally pre-wired. The 2600 was thus ideal for musicians new to synthesis due to its ability to be operated either with or without patchcords, and was, upon its initial release, heavily marketed to high schools, universities, and other educational facilities.

Three basic versions of the ARP 2600 were built during ARP's lifetime. The first, dubbed the "Blue Marvin", housed in a light blue/grey metal case, was assembled in a small facility on Kenneth Street in Newton Highlands, MA during ARP's infancy as a company. They were often mistakenly referred to as "Blue Meanies," but "Marvin" is the correct name as named after Arp's then CFO Marvin Cohen. Later ARP 2600s were built in a vinyl covered wood case and contained an imitation of Bob Moog's infamous 4-pole "ladder" VCF, later the subject of an infamous, threatened (though ultimately nonexistent) lawsuit. Finally, in order to fit in with the black/orange theme of ARP's other synthesizers, the ARP 2600s were manufactured with orange labels over a black aluminum panel.Little known is that the mid-production grey 2600 models featured many changes amongst themselves. Various panel lettering and circuitry changes provided not one, but at least three different grey panel models.

Alan R. Pearlman was just as innovative as a salesman as a synthesizer designer, as he provided synthesizers to famous musicians, namely Edgar Winter, Pete Townshend, Stevie Wonder, and Herbie Hancock, for their celebrity endorsements.

The enduring popularity of the ARP 2600 has led to software companies such as Arturia and Way Out Ware releasing software emulations for use with modern music equipment such as MIDI devices and computer sequencers. Although technology has progressed to the point where the ARP 2600 can be emulated fairly accurately, the idiosyncrasies of analog circuitry make an exact digital replica arguably impossible.

An ARP 2600 was used to create the voice of R2-D2 in the "Star Wars" movies. [http://www.vintagesynth.com/arp/arp.shtml]

Notable players

The following is a partial list of artists who have played the ARP 2600:

* 808 State
* Ellen Allien
* Audiodream
* Emilie Autumn
* Soulwax
* Jim Baker
* Tony Banks
* Peter Baumann of Tangerine Dream
* Paul Bley
* Michael Boddicker
* David Bowie
* Cat Stevens
* Arthur Brown
* Richard Burgess
* Chemical Brothers - used on Dig Your Own Hole
* Vince Clarke
* Mike Cotten with The Tubes
* Steve Cunningham
* Mickie D
* Jack Dangers of Meat Beat Manifesto
* Depeche Mode
* Electronic Dream Planet
* Elemental
* Brian Eno
* John Entwistle & Pete Townshend of The Who
* Larry Fast - Synergy
* Brian Gascoigne
* Miquette Giraudy with Gong
* Roger Glover of Deep Purple
* Herbie Hancock
* Steve Hillage
* John Hollis
* Steve Howell
* Garth Hudson
* Jackson Five - used on Rock Me and others
* Bob James
* Jean Michel Jarre
* Brian Kehew and Roger Joseph Manning Jr. of The Moog Cookbook
* Praga Khan of the Lords of Acid
* Joy Division
* Kool and the Gang
* Kraftwerk
* (M)ercurey
* Metro LA
* John Lennon
* Steve Levine
* Lightwave
* Dave Macrea
* John McEntire of Tortoise
* Tony McPhee
* John Medeski
* Daniel Miller
* Kaus Netzie
* Nine Inch Nails
* Nitzer Ebb
* Willie Obst
* Mike Oldfield
* Orbital
* Bobby Orlando
* Steve Porcaro
* Roger Powell
* PiL - "Flowers of Romance"
* Rebirth
* The Arcane Paradigm
* Steve Roach
* Phil Sawyer
* Klaus Schulze
* The Shamen
* Shpongle
* Skinny Puppy
* Thighpaulsandra
* Ultravox
* Ian Underwood for Frank Zappa
* Underworld
* Vince Welnick with The Tubes
* VNV Nation
* Willie Obst
* Wilco - "Spiders (Kidsmoke)"
* Edgar Winter - "Frankenstein"
* Stevie Wonder
* Xpando
* Allan Zavod
* Joe Zawinul - usually played two with Weather Report (one for each hand)
* Zim Zum of Marilyn Manson

External links

* [http://www.vintagesynth.com/arp/arp.shtml Vintage Synth Explorer]
* [http://www.sdiycut.com SDIYcut] (a cardboard model of the ARP 2600 can be found on that site)
* [http://www.gersic.com/arp2600.pdf ARP 2600 Patch Diagram] - Patch Diagram, useful for "saving" your patches