EML • ElectroComp Model 101
(click to enlarge)
Like the ARP 2600, the EML-101 was a patchable (1/4'' patch cords) quasi-modular synth with a hard-wired voice path. The synth offered 4 oscillators (2 of which could go sub-sonic) with multiple or variable waveforms, a voltage controlled 12 dB/oct multi-mode filter with resonance, 2 envelope generators, ring/amplitude modulator, noise and sample-and-hold. In addition, the synth makes no distinction between control voltage and audio paths allowing just about any source to be patched to any control or audio input in any order. With the 4-oscillator architecture, multi-mode filter, and elaborate patch control the EML-101 was undoubtedly the most flexible of all of the portable patch-synthesizers available at its time of manufacture. It is used by Skinny Puppy, Tommy Mars, Download, Weezer, Foreigner, and Ohm.
The frequency mod you can get from this is super. I do wish that the filters could self resonate, though. Its never going to have the sound of more mainstream common analogue synths like the mini moog, but the wild and dramatic growls that its voices produce are truly unique and I would say would be nearly impossible to replicate in any other synth of the day in its range. It can also be used microtonally as the spacing between notes can be adjusted. I will never get rid of mine.