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THE HISTORY OF STUDIO ELECTRONICS
Past to [almost] Present.
Founded in 1985 (a recital of events unto itself) by Tim Caswell and
Val St. Regis, a.k.a. FLETCHER, that master of "personic reinvention"
STUDIO ELECTRONICS began its venture into the world of Analog
synths by rack mounting and "midifying" the Minimoog. The
first units were built on Mom's (Mary Capretta St. Regis - still very
much a player in the co.) kitchen table. This homespun novelty was
an instant success, and within a few short years the product known
as the Midimoog was making its way into serious professional's
studios and touring rigs the world over - the instrument of choice
for midi controlled "discrete" analog basses and leads.
When the supply of Minimoogs started to become scarce, the STUDIO
ELECTRONICS MIDIMINI was born. An exact clone of the original,
it was hand built with all of the original components and produced
the "Moog" sound identically, while incorporating some clever
innovations.
 With
the success and notoriety of the MIDIMINI, there were requests
for other classic analog rack mount conversions. Over the next several
years STUDIO ELECTRONICS produced the Obie Rack, (two
Oberheim S.E.M.s - magic!), the P-Five (Sequential circuits
Prophet 5), the Obie Eight, (Oberheim OB-8), and in a very
limited quantity the "Harvey" (as in Steve) 808,
(Roland TR-808).
Instruments, not Commodities.
With computer-based sequencing becoming more popular, the need for
expanded midi control and programmability of classic analog bass and
lead sounds became evident. The team at STUDIO ELECTRONICS:
Tim, Greg, Cassie, and Marc (Greg's brother) realized that it was
time for a product of their own creation. In 1993 the SE-1 was unleashed, in essence an affordable programmable Minimoog: the
ultimate bass and lead synthesizer. Built With authentic discrete
circuits, the SE-1 featured three voltage controlled oscillators,
two classic voltage controlled filters: (24db Moog and 12 db Oberheim),
complete programmability, solid MIDI control, multiple L.F.O.s, and
Envelopes, Ring-Mod and quite a bit more. Its superb truly discrete
analog signal path and outstanding factory presets, e.g., "#04
Basic Record", made it an indispensable tool of the most respected
and paid Hiphop, R&B, Pop, Film, Television, and Electronic Dance
Music Producers, not to mention crack Sound Designers, working on
this relatively young third stone from the sun. The SE-1 was
indeed "seen where the sound of success is heard".
Continuing to stay at the forefront of analog synthesizer design, STUDIO ELECTRONICS released the ATC-1 or "Analog
Tone Chameleon" in 1996. A totally original concept - it featured
an interchangeable cartridge based filter system. Four classic filter
types: Mini, S.E.M., 303 and 2600 allowed
the user to create an extremely wide range of classic analog synthesizer
sounds never before achievable with just one instrument.
The Future of Analog:
 Work
in earnest began on the Omega Series Synths in the spring of
1997. With over 10 years of experience in analog hardware and software
interface design, the time was right - we thought it just might be
doable - for STUDIO ELECTRONICS to deliver a polyphonic, programmable
multi timbral analog synthesizer that would set new standards for
the competition. Once again utilizing classic discrete voltage controlled
analogue sound platform circuitry, the Omega 2, and Omega
8 (also available in a 4 or 6 voice configuration) incorporate
that ingenious multiple filter platform neatly "sampled"
from the ATC-1. To insure immediate response and allow for
plentiful modulation routings, each voice is its own powerfully independent
stereo synthesizer and external input signal processor; ingeniously
linked, controlled and cajoled by one very dedicated computer board,
producing what we passionately believe to be sound quality, and originality,
that is clearly... unmatched. Released in the late second quarter
of 2000, fantastically patient and devoted Analogians finally witnessed
for themselves "realization", as a fully configurable multitimbral
Omega 8 ver. 2.0 became a reality in February of this year
(2002), nearly satisfying the "wish list" of its sound designers;
splits, layers, prepared modes and a duophonic Omega 2 preceded
in the intervening months. A voice board code upgrade, adding yet
more to the expressiveness of the Omega, is planned for the
summer.
The SE-1X (available as an SE-1 upgrade as well), a
deep improvement on our highly favored SE-1, still "the
ultimate bass and lead synth", was released in Jan. 2001. It
speaks volumes for itself here.
OS upgrades for the X model, allowing it to run the Omega
Series true exponential envelope and glide routines, not to mention
its modulation routings, are next in line for this Hiphop and R&B
phatty.
Class A discrete Audio gear: a stereo mic pre., and dual
compressor limiter, and an ingeniously, "iconically"
redesigned ATC-1: the ATC-X - all three pieces previewed
at Summer NAMM 2002 - are slated for a much anticipated mid second
quarter '02 release date.
While the rest of today's manufacturers rush headlong towards digital
simulation, STUDIO ELECTRONICS remains firmly committed to
the superior sound production and functionality of discrete analog
synthesis. Stimulation not Simulation. True. The "future of analog"
firmly resides in the hands of STUDIO ELECTRONICS, or if you
prefer, ANALOGIA INC.
So, the reader is a mere 4 years behind... almost acceptable ... HELP!
Dan! Greg! Mary! Jack!!! |
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