Joy of Synths 28: Boston ARPs
Recording vintage ARP synths in Boston in this non-musician’s guide to creating sounds for podcasts, videos, and sampling for music using analog synthesizers.
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BOSTON ARP DIARY
The following is a accounting of events from September 29-October 2, 2024.
9/29/24
In Air to Boston. I bought the tickets for Soul Coughing in June, then booked the hotel using Avios points, then went through the process of booking studio time.
ARPS FOR ALL
I decided on seeing Soul Coughing in Boston because of ARPS FOR ALL at The Record Co. (TRC) studios.
You have to be an audio engineer or hire one to book a studio at TRC. There is also a Zoom orientation to explain expectations and signal flow. The alternative is to book a rehearsal room but there’s no promise of silence. Given this opportunity to play original ARPs and hate of interruption I booked one of the smaller sound contained studios.
IMPOSTER SAYS “I’M POSTER”
Am I truly an engineer? I gained access to the Melrose Center Audio Studio thanks to their training. I’ve recorded percussion and piano there. Hence, I can engineer - set up and record- an analog synth exploration session. This means directly connecting signal out of the synth and into a recorder. The recorder can be a computer or a portable recording device. For this trip I opted for my own Zoom H4N portable recorder.
GAME PLAN
I reserved the following ARPS in order of recording: Odyssey, ARP 2500 and a ARP 2600.
In a sense I’m auditioning these instruments for possible purchase. I already bought and returned B’s 2500 Eurorack modules and 2600. I think some of the ARP 2500 modules were broken because signal was so poor.
I discovered old personal notes that said I returned the B2600 to have cash for the then new East Beast. Kind of a mistake in retrospect given the B2600 was a $400 price drop with 3 oscillators and booming bass. I thought the East Beast woukd be a scaled down SV-1b with the PM filter but it’s its own animal. I did it to write an then up-to-date buyers guide. Live, learn, return.
SO AGAIN
Game plan is 2 hours on the Odyssey, 4-6 hours on the 2500 and if time permits then 2600.
I’m recording direct in to my portable recorder. So I’m bypassing the patchbays and speakers and recording and monitoring that with headphones. I’ve wasted a lot of time getting signal in studios. Forget that and go direct from synth to recorder.
I brought 2 32GB SD cards to record this marathon 11 hr session. That and a lot of rechargeable batteries. And pretty much all my patch cables, having bought 150cm cables for the ARP2500 cabinet. But I have all sizes and colors.
Visual Documentation
Audio recordings of these rare instruments matter more than recording video.
However I did bring a GoPro. It wont be great but it’ll maybe be good enough. I also deleted videos from the iPhone as that is better in lowlight. Priority is photos, then some video. But again, sound recording of ARP explorations comes first.
LUNCH//Dinner
I’ll have to bring snacks and drinks. Energy drinks make me skittish but since this is a special occasion then that might be my option.
TRANSPO
Uber or Lyft was recommended over walking. I have a backpack and suitcase to bring so rideshare makes more sense than a bus or train.
CONTROLLER
The Odyssey and ARP 2500 have keyboards to control the synth. I’m not sure about the 2600. (Yes, it does).
I packed the Korg SQ-64 sequencer in order to have 3 CV and Gate signals. I requested their SQ-1 step sequencer so that will allow out-of-time/ off clock sequences.
Okay. The plane should land soon so I’m signing off for now. The phone is at 76%. That’s some 1volt action!
OCTOBER 1 2024 Recording Day.
OCTOBER 2 2024 6:49 AM
OMIGOSH! The Record Co is amazing! ARPS for all is an amazing program that I’m grateful for its existence. ARP Odyssey, ARP 2500 and ARP 2600 are the instruments I reserved. They also have a Moog Subsequent and lots more instruments.
I had reserved Studio D for a full day in July 2024 for Oct 1, 24. The price is so affordable. They have different spaces available at extremely low price points. I chose a studio for silence so focus could be on recording any sounds I could eek out.
Exploration is the attitude to enter with. These are vintage original instruments. They are there by the goodness of their original owners, Alan R Pearlman Foundation and TRC. There is such joy in playing synths and hearing surprises happen.
As has been written in prior newsletters, record EVERYTHING!
HERE ARE TIPS:
Start with the Odyssey. This is the later iteration of ARP instrument, intended for learning. So it’s in theory the simplest to sort though the ARP 2500 is amazing if you’ve toyed with sequencers and arpeggiators.
This is to say each instrument offers its approach to playing and exploration. The Odyssey is completely self contained with a connected keybed.
Odyssey output requires a mono instrument cable. The stereo TRS cable I brought would not pass signal. Sound came through once I swapped stereo for a mono TS interconnect cable.
ARP 2500 FINAL NOTES
In comparing the ARP 2500 to the Behringer modules, well, the modules did help me focus on what mattered to me. I’m not going to buy the Behringer modules again to try to recreate the ARP 2500 cabinet magic. I’d rather return to Boston and TRC and record, as I am not a live performer for an audience who needs the B modules at home.
Travel is a better return on investment, as you have a much cleaner sound for cacophony with real ARPs. That’s what amazed me. The growl was defined and not muddy like an over-driven Stylophone gen-r8. You can always muddy it with software filters but its too frustrating to clean up mud. You only wish that the signal was cleaner.
I’m not down on Behringer. I own four of their cloned instruments. But I am canceling the B. 2600 in favor of keeping a second much smaller Pittsburgh Modular SV-1b for cross pollination. They share similar features and again, $480 after tax is better spent on travel and recording at TRC Boston.
The ARP 2500 collection of modules are a lot of fun. It’s a single cabinet that requiresthe front and back to be removed. Because it’s one cabinet you dont have to use patch cables to send signal across cabinet A to B.
The wiring is simple. Its sliders on a numbered grid. I was very conservative given the delicate nature of 50 year old slider switches. PLEASE HANDLE WITH CARE. Speed is force and I could see the parts snapping off if moved suddenly. Slow and steady wins the race.
I never did sort the VCA. The switches would have to travel too far for my comfort. Anyways, I was happy with the recordings.
PLAYBACK BREAKS
TRC studios have great playback controls. Since I was recording direct to a Zoom H4N, I would eject the SD card and transfer recorded files to an solid state drive. I did not erase the SD cards as these are my archival master.
Listening through the studio speakers was great. The metering on the H4N proved to be accurate though the overload light kept flickering on the H4N. Playback confirmed the recordings matched what I hearing on my headphones. This helped me move on from one instrument to the next.
ARP 2600
The ARP 2600 generated great recordings but it would take more learning time to control it. Still, its fun as heck with the built in speakers and spring reverb.
Given that I was nearing 12 hours in studio, I called it a day at 10pm though they had me reserved until 11pm. If I lived in or an hours drive to Boston then a 4 hour session with one ARP at a time might be enough if you spread out sessions through the month(s).
October 2 2024
I listened to ths ARP 2600 recordings. Damn it sounds good! Lots of texture with no mud.
OCT 27, 2024
It is near a month out. Not sure what has been keeping me from editing the ARP audio and video recordings. I’m grateful for the experience. I still have to go thru and pull samples.
The ARP originals are so perfect as they are. Such that I’ve lost interest in owning a current day clone. Anyways, while the Blue 2600 is in stock the Grey 2600 is an estimated 5 months until arrival. Getting familiar with the 2600 has no benefit as I already recorded an ARP 2600.
While I could do better with the instrument if I had access to playing it more, I’m happy with the recordings and would rather book more studio time in The Record Co. than finance an ARP clone.
And, yes, Soul Coughing was a good concert in a larger venue. YouTube has a few videos of Boston and other shows. Glad we booked travel to see their reunion show versus Jane’s Addiction, who ended their reunion tour after their Boston fight.
OCTOBER 29, 2024
The Grey 2600 clone arrived at the retailer! My debit card declined so they notified me of that issue. I cancelled the order given insufficient funds. Someone on waitlist now has that instrument, so me not paying for it has paid the joy of synths forward.
END NOTE
Happy Daylight Savings Time! One more hour of life to create stuff. Or take a breather. Next issue of Joy of Synths releases November 15!
All Content Copyright 2024 Anthony Torres, All Rights Reserved.