Few people have heard of it, yet many consider John Blankenbaker's KENBAK-1 to be the first commercial personal computer.
Join The "Synth Module Of The Month Club"
By James Grahame
Modular analog music synthesizers are magnificent beasts. They usually look like a cross between a 1920s telephone exchange and a mad scientist's lab. The sound? Pure old-school analog, with dozens of instantly tweakable knobs and patch cables. In other words, these things are an electronic musician's delight. The big problem with modular synths is the price. Because they're handcrafted in small numbers and use expensive analog designs, the price is usually out of reach for all but the most dedicated pop stars or dotcom millionaires.
Synthesizers.com has the perfect solution: a $120 per month purchase plan. You get a new module each month, and by the end of the year you'll find yourself with a full-fledged (and easily expandable) modular synthesizer. This "Entry Level" system includes a MIDI interface, two audio oscillators, 2 envelope generators, an amplifier and state-variable filter. You also get a case with power supply and some orange, brown and red patch cables to ensure that your home studio always has that unmistakable Mad Scientist aura.
The system shown above takes things a step further and includes a 5 octave keyboard controller and a total of 21 modules in a beautiful walnut case. It retails for $2,658.50 plus an extra $450 for the keyboard.
