Sold Out - The MacBeth Elements Synthesizer Comes To An End

Ken MacBeth announced today on his Facebook page that the Elements project draws to a close. All units are gone and no parts for new Elements left. He described the Elements as one of the best Synthesizer he ever designed. Presented on Superbooth 2014, the Elements become quick an extraordinary instrument with a unique sound character. I had the chance to play a bit with the device on the Superbooth 2016 and I’m still excited about the sound quality of this instrument.

It’s a fantastic sounding analog instrument that invite sound designer for creating deep experimental evolving sounds.Especially the onboard tape delay simulator and spring reverberator sounds lovely. Not only the sound quality of this 4400€ analog beast is phenomenal but also the build quality say to musicians: please touch me.

Sad to read to now that the production is over. It’s possible that the Elements will become a collectible synth and that Ken MacBeth will come with a new synth surprises in the future.

Here is what Kevin MacBeth said on Facebook:

And so the Elements project draws to a close……all units are gone….and no parts left. It is probably the best synthesizer that I ever designed…..it involved hard work….from top to bottom……the best sound I have ever made. Now time for that month out that I talked about…..but back with an old favourite soon!

Specifications of the MacBeth Elements Synthesizer

self contained synthesizer with built in touch capacitative keyboard
3 wide ranging voltage controlled oscillators and 1 vc low frequency oscillator/audio oscillator.
vco1: 5 waveforms: ramp, square, enhance, triangle, sine.
- multi turn vernier dial tuning frequency: 1 hz ~ 20khz and beyond.
- volume output direct to vcf.
vco2: 5 waveforms: ramp, square, enhance, triangle, sine.
- multi turn vernier dial tuning frequency: 1 hz ~ 20khz and beyond.
- volume output direct to vcf.
- shared enhance rate between vco1 and vco2, variable from slow ~ fast.
vco3: 6 waveforms: ramp, square,triangle, sine, saw, s&h
- multi turn vernier dial tuning frequency: 0.01 hz ~ 20khz and beyond. transpose switch: lo, -2, -1, 0, +1, +2.
- cv on/off switch.
- vco3 hard synchronization to vco2.
- volume output direct to vcf or cross modulate vco2.

temperature compensated vc low frequency oscillator/oscillator (vco4): 6 waveforms: ramp, square,triangle, sine, saw, s&h. frequency rate variable from slow ~ fast- approx: 0.01 hz ~ 20khz and beyond. cv on/off switch. fast ~ slow switch. s&h selector switch: noise source or vco3 source. mod vco3 potentiometer, mod vcf potentionmeter, audio to vcf potentiometer, large global modulation potentiometer.
noise generator: white noise, pink noise. volume output direct to vcf and s&h circuits.
external audio input amplifier: volume output to vcf or ring modulator.
ring modulator: mc1469 based double balanced modulator. inputs: vco1 sine, vco2 sine or external audio input amplifier. volume output direct to vcf.
voltage controlled filter/ resonator (vcf): self oscillating, 5 ‘rung’ diode ladder type approximating 32db/octave roll off slope. self correcting volume gain at high ‘q’ (response). cv/keyboard tracking switch: off (centre) half, full. vco3 modulation potentiometer, vcf eg sweep potentiometer. pure sine output at maximum resonance/reponse. targeted to ca3080 based voltage controlled amplifier (vca)
vcf envelope generator: full attack, decay, sustain, release with long ~ short timing switch. vcf eg polarity switch: positive or negative going slopes. vcf eg > vco3 sweep switch.
vca envelope generator: full attack, decay, sustain, release with long ~ short timing switch.
tape delay simulator: input direct from vca. delay time potentiometer, delay modulation potentiometer, delay modulation control switch: vc lfo ~ kbd cv, delay repeats potentiometer, delay mix potentiometer. final output to spring reverberator circuit.
spring reverberator: external spring line tank connect via ¼” jack socket, standard tank supplied: compact belton/accutronics bmn3bb2c1 for wall/under desk mounting. other tanks/accesorries can be used.
keyboard: touch capacitive gold plated articulator allows 4 octave f ~ f chromatic span.
control source via switch can be touch keyboard, midi or external cv/gate. keyboard can send 1v/octave and +12v gate signals from outputs on the rear of the unit to suitable ancilliary equipment, ie, external vc synthesizer/vc synthesizer modules.
other controls: ultrabender: dynamic pitch bend + – 2 octaves either side with dead band in the centre of play. master tune- + – ½ octave either side. global portamento- applies to all cv controls.
rear section interface: midi in/thru, cv in, gate in, vco1 cv in, vco2 cv in, vco 3 cv in, vcf cv in, external audio in, cv out, gate out, synth out, power in.
dimensions: 19.2″ width, 15.1″ depth, 2.0″ height. with detachable rubber feet: 2.15″ height.