Synth collection at Studio Bell

[Luke W]

I've recently returned from a rather delayed honeymoon, part of which was spent in Calgary. Whilst we were there my lovely wife took me to the National Music Centre at Studio Bell, where they have, amongst lots of other cool things, an entire floor occupied by old synthesizers, audio equipment and other instruments.

There's a good collection of the obvious classics, along with some weird and wonderful bits and pieces and one-off custom instruments. I spent quite a long time wandering around, reading things and taking photos, and thought that there's probably people on here who'd be interested in said pictures.










The last picture is the view into part of the tech team's workshop, full of things that are presumably either going to end up on display or are being restored/repaired for use in the studios there.

A very cool place.

[Folderol]

That's quite a collection. One could spend a lot of time there

[BJG145]

Great!

[muzines]

Stereo Minimoog..!

[nathanscribe]

Ooooh, nice!

[Arpangel]

I've recently returned from a rather delayed honeymoon, part of which was spent in Calgary. Whilst we were there my lovely wife took me to the National Music Centre at Studio Bell, where they have, amongst lots of other cool things, an entire floor occupied by old synthesizers, audio equipment and other instruments.

There's a good collection of the obvious classics, along with some weird and wonderful bits and pieces and one-off custom instruments. I spent quite a long time wandering around, reading things and taking photos, and thought that there's probably people on here who'd be interested in said pictures.










The last picture is the view into part of the tech team's workshop, full of things that are presumably either going to end up on display or are being restored/repaired for use in the studios there.

A very cool place.

That Buchla box, I’d be up for a one synth challenge if I had that, or was lent it.

[Martin Walker]

Wow - there are some mighty unusual synths in those photos!

[muzines]

Wow - there are some mighty unusual synths in those photos!

And an M1!

[Arpangel]

OK, who’s up for a visit? clubs, society’s, etc etc, they sometimes have outings, an annual "jolly"
All of us synth fans could all chip-in and go visit this place, it would be "immense fun" (understatement) or do I need to take my medication?

[MarkOne]

OK, who’s up for a visit? clubs, society’s, etc etc, they sometimes have outings, an annual "jolly"
All of us synth fans could all chip-in and go visit this place, it would be "immense fun" (understatement) or do I need to take my medication?

I used all my air miles (blew the lot, 20 years of business travel) a few years ago, And even an economy ticket might be a stretch for a boys weekend away to Calgary

But it does look like a fun place to visit.

[BigRedX]

I hope all those instruments get used regularly and aren't just on display for synth geeks to gawk at.

[Luke W]

I hope all those instruments get used regularly and aren't just on display for synth geeks to gawk at.

There are definitely some that look like they're permanently set up for geeks-a-gawkin', but there are also some studios there that seem to be putting lots of nice things to good use.

[Arpangel]

I hope all those instruments get used regularly and aren't just on display for synth geeks to gawk at.

I can never figure out, even in a lot of working studios, why people put keyboards on high stands, you certainly can’t play properly at that height, and any form of in-depth knob twiddling is definitely out.

[Drew Stephenson]

Maybe just off camera there's one of those mobile set of stairs like they have in libraries?
Only with a set of LEDs taped to the side to make it blend in...

[Arpangel]

Maybe just off camera there's one of those mobile set of stairs like they have in libraries?
Only with a set of LEDs taped to the side to make it blend in...

That’s one hell of a good idea, Mr Drew.

[MarkOne]

I hope all those instruments get used regularly and aren't just on display for synth geeks to gawk at.

I can never figure out, even in a lot of working studios, why people put keyboards on high stands, you certainly can’t play properly at that height, and any form of in-depth knob twiddling is definitely out.

In my stranger moments I've thought of a multi-tier keyboard stand that had the top tier keyboard about 30cm above head height, with the keyboard itself mounted vertically (so with a Moog form-factor the knobs would angle down towards you)

[Arpangel]

I hope all those instruments get used regularly and aren't just on display for synth geeks to gawk at.

I can never figure out, even in a lot of working studios, why people put keyboards on high stands, you certainly can’t play properly at that height, and any form of in-depth knob twiddling is definitely out.

In my stranger moments I've thought of a multi-tier keyboard stand that had the top tier keyboard about 30cm above head height, with the keyboard itself mounted vertically (so with a Moog form-factor the knobs would angle down towards you)

It’s very tiring, and makes my arms ache reaching up all the time.
I think about pipe organ manuals, on large organs, they never seemed to bother me, the height and distance was never uncomfortable, an organ console is a perfect layout, you never have to strain, a keyboard studio should be the same.

[The Elf]

I can never figure out, even in a lot of working studios, why people put keyboards on high stands, you certainly can’t play properly at that height, and any form of in-depth knob twiddling is definitely out.

Because (as in my own case) they are being driven from another keyboard and editor. A good example is/was my Yamaha reface series keyboards - never meant to be played from their own keyboards, or edited from their own controls, so they can go way up high out of the way.

[Drew Stephenson]

I did think of your set up Elf and wondered how you managed.
Your explanation explains everything!

[Sam Inglis]

Is that the collection that belongs to the Audities Foundation? If so I think they also have the red wraparound Helios console from 10CC's Strawberry Studios and a bunch of other very cool recording equipment. I hope it all gets used.

[Arpangel]

I can never figure out, even in a lot of working studios, why people put keyboards on high stands, you certainly can’t play properly at that height, and any form of in-depth knob twiddling is definitely out.

Because (as in my own case) they are being driven from another keyboard and editor. A good example is/was my Yamaha reface series keyboards - never meant to be played from their own keyboards, or edited from their own controls, so they can go way up high out of the way.

This is the main thing that stops me from having lots of keyboards, I have to have everything within reach at all times, comfortably, for playing and programming, otherwise, it would never get used, my space has to be like a cockpit, it’s very frustrating sometimes fitting everything in, but it works for me.

[The Elf]

I can never figure out, even in a lot of working studios, why people put keyboards on high stands, you certainly can’t play properly at that height, and any form of in-depth knob twiddling is definitely out.

Because (as in my own case) they are being driven from another keyboard and editor. A good example is/was my Yamaha reface series keyboards - never meant to be played from their own keyboards, or edited from their own controls, so they can go way up high out of the way.

This is the main thing that stops me from having lots of keyboards, I have to have everything within reach at all times, comfortably, for playing and programming, otherwise, it would never get used, my space has to be like a cockpit, it’s very frustrating sometimes fitting everything in, but it works for me.

That's my point. I also like to have everything within reach that *needs* (and is useful) to be - and my space is also like a cockpit (those that have seen me on camera know this). As mentioned, I was *never* going to use my refaces' own keyboards, so no need to be able to reach them. No need to access my MiniTaur's front panel from one month to the next, so out of the way it goes.

Space is at a premium, so I have to get smart with choices. My space and choices work well for me.

Building upwards is often a good option.

[BigRedX]

In my stranger moments I've thought of a multi-tier keyboard stand that had the top tier keyboard about 30cm above head height, with the keyboard itself mounted vertically (so with a Moog form-factor the knobs would angle down towards you)

In the mid 80s there was a band called The Basking Sharks who had a vast array of home-made or modified keyboards and other electronic sound-making devices, and keyboards mounted exactly as you have described.

And here is a photo showing those keyboards in action:

[Luke W]

Is that the collection that belongs to the Audities Foundation? If so I think they also have the red wraparound Helios console from 10CC's Strawberry Studios and a bunch of other very cool recording equipment. I hope it all gets used.

Quite possibly, yes. There's a Helios console from the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio in one of their control rooms, along with a Trident A-Range in another, as well as a console sourced from Olympic Studios. All of them seem to be in use according to the website.

There were some modules from the Olympic getting some TLC in the workshop. I was quite keen to speak to a tech to find out more but I suspect if they were there, they were probably trying as hard to avoid me as I was to find them.