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!!!
www.studioelectronics.com