Look Mum No Computer explores the Powerrtan Transcendent Polysynth, a vintage DIY Synthesizer you built from a magazine in a new video.
I recently published an article about vintage synthesizers you built from magazines. The always entertaining YouTuber Look Mum No Computer has a video series online on the subject. The Elektro Formant and Digisound 80 were among the first synth from this video series.
Over the weekend he released a video about the Powertran Transcendent Polysynth that was published in the Electronics Today International (ETI) magazine from December 1980 to March 1982. Alternatively, it was available for purchase later as a kit or fully assembled from Powertran.
Powertran Transcendent Polysynth
Tim Orr created the PTP Synthesizer. It was a 4-voice analog polyphonic Synthesizer with 2 analog oscillators with per voice control, sync, noise generator, filter, two ADSR envelopes, and more. Very simple compared to Polysynth from that time. It used CEM ICs in its core.
Sonically, it is a polysynth with a very rich, full analog sound in my opinion. For today’s times, it would be a bit too simple in the synth engine and also too big in design
More information here: Look Mum No Computer
Very enjoyable read. It takes me back to my own diy synth experience way back in 72-73. It was simpler back then. Resistors, capacitors, diodes, with diagrams you could understand. As time progressed I had anxiety when it came to handling ICs. Is my body grounded?, Did I burned it up the soldering iron? But it’s a great learning experience.