Rejuvenating and Expanding a PAiA 1550 Stringz'n'Thingz

[stefanv]

Back in February, I made my first post to this forum (in the Modular Synthesis sub forum), asking for some advice for simultaneous LFO and ADSR modulation of VCAs. That was for a project I was working on to rejuvenate, and expand the capabilities of, a PAiA 1550 Stringz'n'Thingz string synthesizer.

Well, the project is now finished after about 6 months of evenings, and I spent another few evenings writing it all up on my web site, with photos, schematics, and audio samples (and a lot of words). Here's a link to the article:

Rejuvenating and Expanding a PAiA 1550 Stringz'n'Thingz Synthesizer

Briefly, what I ended up with is a Stringz'n'Thingz with:

44-key Yamaha keyboard (7 additional notes) in a new case.
Octave-switchable crystal-controlled master oscillator.
Separate cello and violin level controls.
Switchable string chorus modes.
Split keyboard for the piano.
Proper circuitry for the high C note block.
Polyphonic flute voice (almost sine waves).
Effects section operating on the flute voice:

Wave folder to add harmonics (an "unfilter"), modulated by an LFO and/or envelope generator.
LFO modulated VCA to provide tremolo.
Envelope generator modulated VCA to provide attack-decay.

Overall volume control.
Fused AC voltage and a safer power switch (no AC on 1550C board).

Enjoy!

[kkissinger]

Wow... gorgeous work!

Will you post a track?

[stefanv]

Thanks!

I'm not a very good player, but there are a few excellent keyboard players here at work, and I hope to record something tomorrow.

If you're ever in the area, you're welcome to come play it.

[richardc64]

VERY impressive enhancement and, especially, re-packaging! I always thought the original case was stupid ugly.

[Dan Lavin]

Wow,this is really great! The PAIA Stringz was my first keyboard synth. During college in the very late 70's and very early 80's, I used to gig with nothing more than one of these and an Oberheim SEM with EML CV-gate keyboard. (Well, OK, I also borrowed a Telecaster guitar and a Wurly electric piano from time to time, too!). I'd ride my volume pedal and get those mid-period Genesis string swells.

I had added a PAIA CEM3320-based LPF and SSM ADSR to mine plus I used a Small Stone phase shifter and was as happy as a lark! If I could've add all these features, I probably would still have it! The last I saw of mine was handing it to a keyboard-playing childhood friend when I bought my DX-7.

Excellent craftsmanship, by the way!

[stefanv]

Thanks for all the positive feedback!

I just picked up the September issue of Keyboard Magazine, which has Devo on the front cover, and a quarter-page blurb on page 11 about my project, complete with a link to my article!

[Danno Gee Ray]

Thank you for sharing this. Well done!

[kkissinger]

Congratulations on the article.

Enjoyed browsing your website -- it combines electronics and aviation which happen to be interests of mine, too.

You mentioned that if you'd worked on your airplane instead of the Stringz and Thingz you'd be flying.

There just never are enough hours in the day and, indeed, when I get deeply involved in a project other things tend to slide.

Good luck to you with all your music-making and flying gadgets.

[ericcoleridge]

This is amazing, I was thinking doing the very same thing as these keyboards are still around pretty cheap-- but it bothers me that there's no vibrato. There's no vibrato right?

[Dan Lavin]

You can do a vibrato with the chorus set at a fast rate. Another thing that could be done is to replace the master oscillator with one that would accept CV input and add a simple LFO...should be a simple weekend project. Maybe just a single Saturday morning and afternoon.

The stock Stringz is fairly versatile as-is. I used to gig in the early 80's with nothing more than this and an Oberheim SEM and my DIY CV-gate keyboard. A couple of examples:
1. Dust in the Wind string voices
2. Toccata and Fugue in D mi with the chorus set slow as a flanger to simulate pipe organ.
3. Aerosmith's Dream On using the piano voice to play the guitar part..it's almost the same timbre.
4. Rod Stewart's Do You Think I'm Sexy? with the high string part
5. The piano run thru a distortion pedal made a great hard rhythm guitar part for many songs
well...those are the ones I can remember. I also had a E-H small stone phaser and I did add a LPVCF and ADSR too.

[stefanv]