EMS1971MonoModular / Patch-Only$$$$Collector-Grade($3,000+)
EMS Synthi 100
Institutions and serious collectors wanting one of the rarest, most historically significant modular systems ever built.
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No MIDI on the EMS Synthi 100? Here's how to bridge it
Free tool — see exactly what kind of converter connects it to a modern MIDI setup.
Strengths
- Nicknamed 'The Delaware,' one of the most famous large-format pin-matrix modular systems ever built, with genuine studio-defining historical significance
- Built-in digital sequencer section was remarkably advanced for an early-70s analog system
- Extraordinarily rare — only a handful of surviving units exist worldwide, each with real documented history
Trade-offs
- Effectively unobtainable and priced accordingly — this is a museum and institutional-collection piece, not a working producer's tool
- Pin-matrix programming across a system this large has a genuinely steep learning curve even by modular standards
Full Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | EMS |
| Model | Synthi 100 |
| Era | 1971 |
| Typical Price Tier | Collector-Grade ($3,000+) |
| Voice Architecture | Modular (voice count depends on configuration) |
| Polyphony | Monophonic |
| Oscillator Type | Analog (varies by module) |
| Filter | Analog (varies by module) |
| Keys | None (module/sequencer only) |
| Built-in Sequencer | Yes |
| MIDI Equipped | No |
| Patching | Pin-matrix routing (dual matrix, fully modular studio system) |
A relative used-market guide, not a live quote — real prices vary by condition, region, and timing. Check the Reverb/eBay links on any item for current listings.
Similar Modular / Patch-Only
Match Score Explorer
Weight what matters to your workflow. Every deck is re-scored live against your priorities, benchmarked against the EMS Synthi 100.
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This deckEMS Synthi 100
Match36
Flexibility98
Portability3
Ease of Use12
Tonal Neutrality30
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