Skip to main content
Music Radar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Guitar Amps
  • Guitar Pedals
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Artist news
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Controllers
  • Software & Apps
  • Drums
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About Us
More
  • You Oughta Know
  • Fake AI band
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • Wrecking Crew
Recommended reading
Vaughn Oliver
Producers & Engineers “I probably have that on more records than anything else”: Take a peek inside Vaughn Oliver’s studio
Superbooth 2025
Synths 12 new instruments and effects you need to know about from Superbooth 2025
Behringer Model D
Soft Synths 10 producers share the studio gear they can’t live without
rival
Artists “You end up doing different things with a plugin versus a hardware synth”: Rival Consoles on why he still uses a Prophet emulation – even though he owns the real thing
Wendy Carlos
Artists Watch synth pioneer Wendy Carlos in the studio, working synth and synthesis magic back in 1989
Nadia Struiwigh
Artists Tresor resident Nadia Struiwigh on why she avoids tutorials and keeps things 'loose' in the studio
lone
Computers Lone on how he creates his technicolour, rave-adjacent electronica
  1. Tech
  2. Synths

In pictures: Benge's modular synth collection

News
By Chris Barker ( Future Music ) published 28 February 2013

Take a tour around Benge's Memetune Studios

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Intro

Intro

"My name's Benge and I'm here at my studio in London. I have several modular systems in one place, all connected together. I run Memetune Studios, which is the result of my long obsession with synthesizers and analog/digital recording gear.

"I have pretty much everything all connected to my central patchbays and mixing consoles. I like to think of the studio as one giant system. Some people who come here say 'Oh its like a synthesizer museum!'m but in fact I don't see it as a museum because I actually use all this stuff on a daily basis on my various projects and collaborations."

Page 1 of 7
Page 1 of 7
Buchla 200e

Buchla 200e

"This is a modern modular system made by Don Buchla. It's called the 200e and I've been putting it together over the past few years from various places. I actually got to meet Don at one point when I picked up some modules from him.

"He's a bit of a legend really because he pretty much invented the idea of analogue voltage controlled synthesis (along with Bob Moog who was working independently on the other side of America). What's cool is that Don is still in business having stuck to his guns designing similar systems to this one continuously for 50 years. Actually, I just picked up one of his first generation of systems - a Buchla 100 from the mid-'60s..."

Page 2 of 7
Page 2 of 7
Formant Modular

Formant Modular

"This is a Formant Modular. It was made as a kit project in the late '70s which was published in a German magazine called Elektor. It actually sounds great and has some very interesting features such as the percussion module - this makes killer hi-hat and snare sounds.

"I use it all the time. The whole system kind of does things by brute force - having so many oscillators and filters lined up and ready for action. It also looks cool - like something Darth Vader would blow up a spaceship with."

Page 3 of 7
Page 3 of 7
Serge Modular

Serge Modular

"Here's a Serge Modular from 1973-ish, made in California by hippies. The modules don't have words on them explaining what the controls do - they decided to use abstract minimalist symbols!

"I built the cabinet for this system myself, based on some designs from the '70s. It's hard to describe what this system has going on because the modules have different functions depending on how you patch them. But roughly speaking it has 18 VCOs, five VCFs, two phasers, two reverbs, two sequencers and tons of processors/mixers/VCAs etc. It's pretty mind-boggling."

Page 4 of 7
Page 4 of 7
ARP 2500

ARP 2500

"Here's another very early American modular - the ARP 2500. These are extremely hard to come by and sound wonderful. They were a bit overshadowed in their day by the Moog systems, but to me they sound just as big and powerful.

"There's an awful lot going on with it. It uses a really strange patching system where you line up little sliders to achieve the connections. Apparently Alan R Pearlman had previously worked for NASA on the Apollo and Gemini space missions; maybe some of the components found their way into this synth. It's a nice thought."

Page 5 of 7
Page 5 of 7
EMS VCS3

EMS VCS3

"Here's the EMS VCS3, which is a very early (1969) British semi-modular synth. I love this thing: it has so much character and is really flexible and compact. This little thing has got three oscillators, a filter, a noise generator, envelopes, ring modulators, inputs and outputs - it's even got a spring reverb. Oh, and a built-in Dalek."

Page 6 of 7
Page 6 of 7
Moog 3C

Moog 3C

"This is mostly a Moog 3C system from 1968. However, the top two rows are Moog-format modules made by current manufacturers synthesizers.com, COTK, Cynthia and SSL. It's great to see current companies keeping the Moog format alive - I think in a way it's my favourite format because I like using 1/4 inch jacks and big spacious panels.

"The Moog gets used pretty much every day and it just sounds so good. I don't think the filter has ever been bettered and in some ways the power and overall sound of this beast has never been bettered. Bob Moog just got it right straight away in his very first product, and everything else since has been a compromise on the purity of his system. I wish Moog would start making modules again - you should write to your local MP about it."

Page 7 of 7
Page 7 of 7
Chris Barker
All-access artist interviews, in-depth gear reviews, essential production tutorials and much more. image
All-access artist interviews, in-depth gear reviews, essential production tutorials and much more.
Get the latest issue now!
More Info
Read more
Vaughn Oliver
“I probably have that on more records than anything else”: Take a peek inside Vaughn Oliver’s studio
Superbooth 2025
12 new instruments and effects you need to know about from Superbooth 2025
Behringer Model D
10 producers share the studio gear they can’t live without
rival
“You end up doing different things with a plugin versus a hardware synth”: Rival Consoles on why he still uses a Prophet emulation – even though he owns the real thing
Wendy Carlos
Watch synth pioneer Wendy Carlos in the studio, working synth and synthesis magic back in 1989
Nadia Struiwigh
Tresor resident Nadia Struiwigh on why she avoids tutorials and keeps things 'loose' in the studio
Latest in Synths
AlphaTheta Chordcat
"Inspiring sequencing ideas, paired with an underwhelming sound engine": AlphaTheta Chordcat first look
microbrute
"The same pocket-sized powerhouse that earned a cult following, recast for deep-space missions": Arturia's MicroBrute returns from the cosmos in limited-edition UFO version
Forever89 Visco 2
Visco 2.0 turns Forever89's boundary-pushing drum machine into a polysynth – hands-on
Fors Pivot
Pivot is a ‘no-nonsense’ FM synth plugin from the designer of one of our favourite hardware instruments
Odin 2
Fantastic (free) plugins and how to use them: The Wave Warden Odin 2
Excite Audio Bloom KSHMR
Excite Audio collaborates with KSHMR to create a new Bloom instrument that brings the sound of Indian music to any DAW, and you can grab the Lite version for just $5
Latest in News
Fender Custom Shop Ariel Posen Stratocaster: Posen's new signature model was inspired by the Jazzmaster and has custom-wound AP-90 pickups. Check out those cupcake-style control knobs.
Ariel Posen’s new Custom Shop signature Strat is A) stunning and B) inspired by a… Jazzmaster?
Daron Malakian of System of a Down performs live in a wide-brimmed had with a custom Flying V with an open-book Gibson headstock.
Daron Malakian on how synth leads the guitar on his new album and why he doesn’t stick to one style
Spinal Tap, with David Kaff, centre
“He always had a kind word and a quick wit”: Bandmates pay tribute to Spinal Tap’s David Kaff
Fred Armisen
Fred Armisen says that the late Steve Albini was “instrumental” in the creation of his new album
Damon Albarn performs with Africa Express at Pohoda Festival on July 10, 2025 in Trencin, Slovakia
“I’ve been incredibly busy making music...”: Damon Albarn teases a new Gorillaz album
Mesa/Boogie Mark IIC++: the super-rare holy grail metal amp used by the likes of Vivian Campbell and Metallica has been officially released by the Gibson-own amp brand.
‘Crunch Berries’ are on the menu! Mesa/Boogie releases holy grail Mark IIC++ Metallica amp

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...