MusicRadar

The Telemark's front panel is certainly well-spaced.

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• Review

Analogue Solutions is a British company that specialises in the manufacture and modification of analogue synth-related gear. It produces a range of synths, all utilising different architectures and methodologies, some of which emulate the design of classics from the past.

The Telemark is an expanded version of the earlier Semblance synth, which in turn was manufactured as a newly recreated and MIDIfied version of the original Oberheim SEM (Synthesizer Expander Module) from 1974.

The Telemark builds on the Semblance by adding a right-hand panel full of signal patching points. This in effect turns it into a semi-modular design, and means it can be interfaced to other modules and synths very easily.

So, why resurrect a synth design from over 30 years ago? The original SEM was initially intended as an extension module for other synths. The architecture was a relatively simple two-oscillator affair, with two envelope generators, an LFO and a single filter.

While the Minimoog – the benchmark for most non-modular monophonic synths – had three oscillators and a beefy 24dB/octave low-pass filter, the Oberheim's two oscillators and 12dB/ octave filter seemed a bit lacking on paper. The SEM made a name for itself, however, partly because the filter design also allowed high-pass, band-pass and notch filtering, but also because it eventually become associated with a certain type of sonic smoothness.

The SEM was also used en masse in some early polyphonic Oberheim synths that are still highly sought-after and hugely expensive.

Overview

The Telemark is a sturdily made white metal wedge, populated on the left side of the panel by lots of knobs and a few LEDs. The right side is devoted to a series of 1/8-inch sockets designed to provide access to core points in the synth's signal path.

The back panel has a small socket for the supplied external PSU (a bit of a shame, but not a major problem), MIDI In and Thru, as well as 1/4-inch jack sockets for the main audio output and two external audio inputs. So, from the outset you get a piece of hardware that looks the part – and what's more, it's made in the UK.

"The filter may lack the bite of steeper-cutoff designs, but the synth still transmits warmth and drive."

Our first impression when just using the fixed architecture is that the Telemark is an easy-to-use and fine-sounding synth. Despite the relative simplicity of the envelopes and other modulation options, it is capable of a wide range of sounds.

The filter may lack the bite of steeper-cutoff designs, but the synth still transmits warmth and drive. Using the patch panel adds another dimension and offers some great options for processing external audio as well as transforming the internal palette.

The MIDI spec is basic, but does give the Telemark the ability to respond to both note on/off and velocity information for VCA and VCF sections. The patch panel allows you to route these elsewhere should you need to, and a MIDI controller can be assigned to modulation duties should you wish.

It is unusual to get so much space on a front panel, and it does make life a lot easier. Remember also that there are no sub-functions or hidden parameters as far as the synth programming goes – what you see is what you get – as the knobs are hard-wired.