The Leicester Synthi 100: Difference between revisions
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{{ | {{InfoBox project | ||
| image = The Leicester Synthi 100.jpg | |||
| project = The Leicester Synthi 100 | |||
| team = [[Paul Mazzitelli]], [[Mark Towers]], [[Sean Clark]] | |||
| status = Active | |||
| funders = [https://www.heritagefund.org.uk National Lottery Heritage Fund] | |||
}} | |||
== | == About this project== | ||
'''The Leicester Synthi 100''' was acquired in 2018 by Krafthaus Arts CIC in Leicester through a grant awarded by the [https://www.heritagefund.org.uk National Lottery Heritage Fund]. Although not fully | '''The Leicester Synthi 100''' was acquired in 2018 by Krafthaus Arts CIC in Leicester through a grant awarded by the [https://www.heritagefund.org.uk National Lottery Heritage Fund]. Although not fully functional and in need of internal restoration, it is largely complete and in surprisingly good physical condition. | ||
* [[The history of the Leicester Synthi 100]] | |||
== | == Project goals == | ||
Our primary goal for this project is to return '''The Leicester Synthi 100''' to an operational state and use it as the centrepiece of our R10 Electronic Media Studio in Leicester. It will be a unique resource for education and music creation, and, to the best of our knowledge, will be the only Synthi 100 available for regular use by musicians and the general public. | |||
== | ==Condition survey== | ||
In 2025, Krafthaus Arts CIC was successful in obtaining further funding from [https://www.heritagefund.org.uk National Lottery Heritage Fund] to undertake a comprehensive condition survey of '''The Leicester Synthi 100''' in order to produce a detailed restoration plan. This took place in April 2025, and we are happy to report that the survey was generally positive. The next step will be to obtain additional support to undertake the repairs and bring the synthesiser back to life. | |||
* [[The Leicester Synthi 100 condition survey (April 2025)]] | |||
==Photograph gallery== | |||
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
File:P5160119.JPG | File:P5160119.JPG | ||
| Line 27: | Line 39: | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
== Research | == Research interviews == | ||
We have been conducting research into Electronic Media Studios (EMS), their products and, in particular, the Synthi 100. An important part of this research is a series of interviews with EMS experts, restorers, researchers and users of the Synthi 100. Interview questions we focussed on gaining insights into the history of EMS and the importance of the Synthi 100 and the value of our restoration project. So far, we have interviewed: | |||
* Professor Simon Emmerson - Composer and academic | |||
* [https://www.gardnercomposer.com/ James Gardner] - Musician and composer | |||
* Christopher King - | |||
* Dr Frances Morgan - Researcher and author of [https://researchonline.rca.ac.uk/4730/1/FrancesMorgan-LibrarySubmission-RedactedCopy.pdf Electronic Music Studios London Ltd (EMS), the Synthi 100 synthesizer and the construction of electronic music histories] (PhD thesis) | |||
* Nicola Sutcliffe - Widow of Alan Sutcliffe, Synthi 100 software programmer | |||
* Marcus West - Artist and Synthi 100 user in Cardiff in the 1970s | |||
This work is ongoing, and we will be adding more people to the list as our community expands. There will be a draft research report when the next phase of interviews has taken place. | |||
== Resources == | |||
* [[EMS Synthi 100 Resources]] | |||
Latest revision as of 19:12, 26 May 2025
| Project | The Leicester Synthi 100 |
| Team | Paul Mazzitelli, Mark Towers, Sean Clark |
| Status | Active |
| Funders | National Lottery Heritage Fund |
 | |
About this project
The Leicester Synthi 100 was acquired in 2018 by Krafthaus Arts CIC in Leicester through a grant awarded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Although not fully functional and in need of internal restoration, it is largely complete and in surprisingly good physical condition.
Project goals
Our primary goal for this project is to return The Leicester Synthi 100 to an operational state and use it as the centrepiece of our R10 Electronic Media Studio in Leicester. It will be a unique resource for education and music creation, and, to the best of our knowledge, will be the only Synthi 100 available for regular use by musicians and the general public.
Condition survey
In 2025, Krafthaus Arts CIC was successful in obtaining further funding from National Lottery Heritage Fund to undertake a comprehensive condition survey of The Leicester Synthi 100 in order to produce a detailed restoration plan. This took place in April 2025, and we are happy to report that the survey was generally positive. The next step will be to obtain additional support to undertake the repairs and bring the synthesiser back to life.
Photograph gallery
Research interviews
We have been conducting research into Electronic Media Studios (EMS), their products and, in particular, the Synthi 100. An important part of this research is a series of interviews with EMS experts, restorers, researchers and users of the Synthi 100. Interview questions we focussed on gaining insights into the history of EMS and the importance of the Synthi 100 and the value of our restoration project. So far, we have interviewed:
- Professor Simon Emmerson - Composer and academic
- James Gardner - Musician and composer
- Christopher King -
- Dr Frances Morgan - Researcher and author of Electronic Music Studios London Ltd (EMS), the Synthi 100 synthesizer and the construction of electronic music histories (PhD thesis)
- Nicola Sutcliffe - Widow of Alan Sutcliffe, Synthi 100 software programmer
- Marcus West - Artist and Synthi 100 user in Cardiff in the 1970s
This work is ongoing, and we will be adding more people to the list as our community expands. There will be a draft research report when the next phase of interviews has taken place.