e:m:c (electronic music components) — German distributor of several key
electronic musical instrument brands, including Mellotron (Sweden), Moog (USA),
Vintage Vibe (USA), and MIDI Solutions (Canada) — recently announced that it is
taking orders on a second self-financed (and final) 25-unit build run of the exclusive
(and expensive) Schmidt Eightvoice Polyphonic Synthesizer, surely one of the most
ambitious analogue synthesizer projects ever undertaken…

The no-expense-spared Schmidt Eightvoice Polyphonic Synthesizer was, without
doubt, a showstopper when namesake hardware and software designer Stefan
Schmidt’s hand-crafted first prototype unit debuted at Musikmesse 2011 in
Frankfurt, Germany. Within a year it was being shipped Stateside for its first proper
public airing at The NAMM Show 2012 in Anaheim, California. Indeed, it is
somewhat fitting that following a repeat performance at The NAMM Show 2013 that
same super-synth prototype made its way over to Santa Monica for an audience
with none other than Hollywood hotshot Hans Zimmer, one of the most successful,
influential, and prolific film composers of all time with a sumptuous synthesizer-
filled studio setup second to none. It’s still there… the rest, as they say, is history.

But bolstered by those tradeshow successes, supported by his partners at e:m:c,
Schmidt set about putting his dream synthesizer into (build-toorder) production. A
limited run of 25 units was admirably announced. Anyone arguing about its “second-
tier’ five-figure price point probably couldn’t afford one. But bear in mind that those
that could were buying into a thoroughbred analogue eight-voice polyphonic
synthesizer with a fully-analogue signal path (with precise digital control) that’s
truly a sound designer’s dream machine.

Today, though, with 25 instruments already hand-crafted in Germany and duly
delivered to seriously satisfied owners around the world, e:m:c is proud to
announce that it will be building a final batch of 25 more. Maintains Stefan Schmidt:
“I feel really honoured that musicians around the world love the Schmidt Eightvoice
Polyphonic Synthesizer, which started simply as a small-scale bass synthesizer
project before I took the chance on building the synthesizer of my dreams. That
e:m:c has decided to build another 25 units of this exclusive — and expensive —
instrument makes me proud!’

The Schmidt Eightvoice Polyphonic Synthesizer will be being demoed and displayed
on BS176 at SUPERBOOTH16, March 31-April 2 in Berlin, Germany, and Hall 9, Level
1, Booth 31 at Musikmesse 2016, April 7-10 in Frankfurt, Germany. Go catch a
classic and rare instrument in action… before it’s snapped up by another seriously
satisfied customer.