Miloco Resource - Equipment Reviews
ARP 2600 Synthesiser review by Dean Curtis
The Arp 2600 has proven quite a handy gadget for many people over the years since it was invented in the early 70s. Miloco assistant engineer Dean Curtis has certainly taken a liking to it, and has kindly delved into his knowledge and admiration for the synth to give us a spotlight of it.
You can find an ARP 2600 amongst the ranks of amazing synthesisers at Miloco Seven: Musikbox.
Technical Data:
Polyphony - Monophonic
Oscillators - 3 VCOs: VCO 1 saw / sqr; VCO 2 saw / sqr / tri / pulse / sine; VCO 3 saw / sqr / pulse; White Noise Gen: Continually variable from LF to pink to white.
LFO - Patchable with tons of modulation sources and shapes; Model 4015 Sample and Hold.
Filter - 24db lowpass, self-oscillating; Digital Ring Modulator: AC or DC coupled. Model 4012 VCF (1970-76). Model 4072 VCF (1976-81).
VCA - Env 1: ADSR; Env 2: AR; Linear or Exponential control; Envelope Follower
Effects - Spring Reverb
Keyboard - Remote Keyboard with 49 keys
Arpeg/Seq - YES via ARP Model 1601
Sequencer Control - CV/GATE
Date Produced - 1970 - 1981
Dean...
The Arp 2600 is way up there in the hall of fame of best synths ever. Bold statement I know, but
the fact that it is still being used today nearly as much as it was when it was released in the
70's should back that up nicely.
The 2600 is an analogue subtractive synth. It is semi modular so unlike it's fully modular cousins (which you had to buy separate modules for and then have them wire in) it came with its own set of modules pre installed which you can then patch in & out where ever you want as you please.
The Arp in the musikbox sounds great, it also looks cool too. It is big and has lots of knobs, faders & patching to play with which makes you feel like a synth god. But however god like you start to feel don't hit those too hard because there was less than 3000 of these bad boys ever made!