Schmidt Analog Synthesizer Overview

In this official video, Axel Fischer explains the features of the Schmidt Analog Synthesizer.

The Schmidt Synthesizer is designed to be a ‘no compromise’ analog synthesizer. The synth is a analog eight-voice polyphonic synthesizer with unison and true multitimbrality mode. It sports full MIDI implementation with USB port and complete programmability. The signal path is fully analog with precise digital control.

Every single parameter – even for complex modulation routings  – can be accessed directly using dedicated front panel controls and switches.

All sounds in this overview were made with the Schmidt Synthesizer. No effects were used. The CS80 style patch in the intro part was programmed by the Mr Firechild.

Details on the Schmidt Analog Synthesizer are available at the Schmidt site.

18 thoughts on “Schmidt Analog Synthesizer Overview

  1. You lost me at Digitally Controlled. VCOs sound great and digital oscillators sound great but digitally controlled analog oscillators just are so lifeless. They ruin the fun. I like analog for analog and digital for digital……but that’s just my opinion.

    1. Hang on. Every single analog polysynth has digitally controlled analog oscillators (well, ignoring things like old organs and string synths with divide down oscillators).

      The Prophet-5, the Jupiter-8, the Memorymoog, the OB-8 and dozens of others have digitally controlled VCOs in which the pitch of each oscillator is driven by a control voltage generated digitally using a microprocessor.

      You’re not honestly trying to claim that all of these brilliant classic instruments sound lifeless, are you?!

  2. The ones you mentioned aren’t DCO’s but rather digitally controlled pitch CV’s. The pitch CV’s are tuned/skewed before a S&H and then to VCO CV summing amp. This is VERY different different than when you have a digital clock resetting the actual VCO core ramp.
    The oscillators are still running freely (analog comparator etc..) only the CV is skewed to (somewhat) correct tune & scale. DCOs’ on the other hand, the DCO cores are reset digitally and at the same time.
    Later synths (Xpander etc.. and current VCO analog) also have a bunch of calibration CV’s but this still has nothing to do with DCO’s.

  3. Schmidt Analog Synthesizer or MatrixBrute? If one can afford Schmidt one can easely afford MatrixBrute as well…if not, is MatrixBrute only.

    1. I was very surprised with the Matrixbrute when I went into the store and played it. The reason I was surprised is because the prototypes they kept dragging to trade shows were not very impressive. The gain staging, filters, control etc.. lots of things weren’t tweaked for prime time and it missed the spot (IMO). I was extremely happy I took the time to play a production unit in a store and I realized they truly tweaked every aspect properly before production. it’s got a wide sweet spot w/ all kinds of useful range. Also the price is quite ridiculous for what it is. I don’t need one but will pick when up one of these days when have some money.

  4. What a kitchen sink beauty, eh? Its one of those bleeding-edge 70s-80s dream synth designs come to life. Those hopefuls croaked because part of the tech was still too new & dodgy (bubble memory, *cough*) and the marketing of the time was too “boutique,” but its great to see a few like the Schmidt actually come to life. I turned into such a softsynth hound that I wouldn’t sit at this beast nearly enough to justify owning it now, though. I got to play a few heavy hitters like the CS-80, so I understand the fan frenzy. With a range from Volcas to Schmidts, synths are one hell of a sci-fi franchise and they’re real… mostly.:P

  5. I firmly believe that part of the joy of using a synth is that it should be easy & intuitive to program – as demonstrated by the various Moogs & Nord synths for example. This thing is an absolute monster, 9 envelopes and truck loads of LFOs – we’re into DX7 territory here, probably completely unmanageable.

    Anyway I don’t have $20k to find out, so not really a problem 😀

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