WELCOME TO PLANET 2500

  
     
         
         
 
 
 
         

ORIGINAL FORMAT 1000 SERIES MODULES BY CMS

UPDATED: 11/26/23

ATTENTION: TO ALL EXISTING OWNERS OF ARP 2500 SYNTHESIZERS:

  
     
 

WE ARE NOW OFFERING, FOR A LIMITED TIME, A SELECT SERIES OF HIGH QUALITY ORIGINAL FORMAT 1000 SERIES MODULES THAT ARE DESIGNED TO FIT THE ORIGINAL ARP 2000 AND 2500 SERIES CABINETS. THESE MODULES ARE SPECIFICALLY SELECTED AND DESIGNED FOR THE 2500 OWNER WHO WANTS TO ADD FUNCTIONALITY TO AN ALREADY EXISTING SYSTEM WITH LIMITED SPACE FOR MODULES.

IMPORTANT NOTE: YOU WILL NEED AN ORIGINAL ARP 2000 OR 2500 CABINET TO UTILIZE ONE OF OUR 1000 SERIES ORIGINAL FORMAT MODULES. WE ARE NOT MAKING 2500 TYPE CABINETS AT THIS TIME. THE MAIN REASONS FOR THIS ARE THE HIGH COST AND THE FACT THAT THE MATRIX SWITCHES ARE UNAVAILABLE.

ALL 1000 SERIES MODULES ARE "PLUG AND PLAY" - THEY CAN EASILY BE INSTALLED INTO ARP CABINETS BY THE USER AND INSTALLATION DOES NOT REQUIRE CALIBRATION.

ADDITIONAL 1000 SERIES MODULES CAN BE INSTALLED IN 2500 CABINETS THAT DO NOT HAVE ANY REMAINING SLOTS WITH MATRIX SWITCHES. IN MOST CASES, THIS CAN BE MADE POSSIBLE BY A CLEVER RE-ARRANGEMENT OF EXISTING MODULES OR SLIGHT MODIFICATION OF CERTAIN EXISTING MODULES. CONTACT CMS FOR MORE INFO ON THIS.

  
     
     
 
 
CMS 1045 VOLTAGE CONTROLLED VOICE MODULE
 
   
     

THE CMS 1045 VOLTAGE CONTROLLED VOICE MODULE IS A REPRODUCTION OF THE ORIGINAL ARP 1045 VOICE MODULE.

IT IS BASICALLY A COMPLETE ARP 2500 SYNTHESIZER IN A SINGLE MODULE. IT CONTAINS FIVE FUNCTIONAL CIRCUITS: THE VCO IS IS FROM THE 1004 MODULE AND IS IDENTICAL TO ALL OTHER 1000 SERIES VCOs. THE VCF IS THE 24DB LOWPASS LADDER FILTER FROM THE 1006 MODULE. THE VCA IS THE PEARLMAN CURRENT MIRROR VCA FROM THE 1006 MODULE. THE 2 ADSR ENVELOPE GENERATORS ARE FROM THE 1003 MODULE.

THERE ARE 2 IMPORTANT DIFFERENCES IN OUR 1045 COMPARED TO THE ORIGINAL ARP 1045. THE LOWER TRIGGER INPUT (7) HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH A DEDICATED FILTER AUDIO INPUT. THE VCO ENABLE SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED BY A FILTER AUDIO INPUT SELECTOR SWITCH THAT ENABLES THE USER TO SELECT BETWEEN THE INTERNAL VCO AND THE EXTERNAL AUDIO INPUT. THIS ENABLES MORE COMPLEX PATCHES TO BE REALIZED SUCH AS USING THE 1047 MULTIMODE FILTER IN SERIES WITH THE 24Db LOWPASS LADDER FILTER IN THE CMS 1045. THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE WITH THE ORIGINAL ARP 1045 MODULE BECAUSE THE INTERNAL VCO IS HARDWIRED TO THE FILTER AUDIO INPUT. MORE DETAILS ON THIS INCLUDING THE ORIGNAL ARP 1045 DATA SHEET ARE LOCATED HERE.

AVAILABILITY - NOW, LIMITED STOCK

PRICE - $2400.OO USD

INTRODUCTORY SALE PRICE - $2199.00 USD
     
 
     
 
     
CMS 1034 TRIPLE VOLTAGE CONTROLLED OSCILLATOR
     
   
     

THE CMS 1034 IS A COMPLETELY NEW MODULE DESIGNED BY CMS. IT CONTAINS 3 VOLTAGE CONTROLLED OSCILLATORS THAT ARE ELECTRONICALLY SIMILAR TO THE VCOs USED IN ARP MODULES 1004, 1023 AND 1045. THEY ARE PACKAGED IN A 1045 STYLE CONFIGURATION COMBINED WITH A HIGH FIDELITY 3 INPUT AUDIO MIXER. THIS ENABLES AN EXISTING 2500 OWNER WITH LIMITED SPACE REMAINING, TO SIGNIFICANTLY EXPAND THE CAPABILITIES OF THEIR 2500 SYSTEM. ARP 2500 WING CABINET OWNERS WITH EXTREMELY LIMITED SPACE CAN ALSO BENEFIT BY INSTALLING ONE OF THESE SPACE SAVING MODULES.

AVAILABILITY - SHIPS BY 12/15/2023

PRICE - $2500.OO USD

INTRODUCTORY SALE PRICE - $2299.00 USD
     
 
     
 
             
   
CMS 1046 QUAD ENVELOPE GENERATOR W DELAY
  
             
           
             
 

COMING SOON: THE CMS 1046 QUAD ENVELOPE GENERATOR MODULE IS A COSMETICALLY AND ELECTRONICALLY EXACT REPRODUCTION OF THE ORIGINAL ARP 1046 MODULE. PRODUCTION WILL START IN EARLY 2024. THE PICTURE ABOVE IS OF OUR PROTOTYPE MODULE USING AN ORIGINAL ARP 1046 FRONT PANEL SO PLEASE CHECK BACK WITH THIS PAGE FOR UPDATED PHOTOS OF THE EXACT ANIMAL.

AVAILABILITY - AVAILABLE IN 2024

PRICE - TO BE DETERMINED

 

    
             
 
     
     
             
 
EXPERT REPAIR AND RESTORATION OF ARP 1000 SERIES MODULES AND 2500 SYSTEMS
  
             
           
             
   

CMS offers a full array of repair, restoration and calibration services for the ARP/Tonus 1000 series modules. CMS has extensive experience repairing and restoring ARP 2000 and 2500 systems. CMS has restored many of the 2500s that are still being used today for teaching at major colleges across the United States such as Brown University and the University of Georgia. CMS has restored ARP 2500s for famous artists like Peter Townshend of the "Who" and Vince Clarke of "Depeche Mode" to name a few.

ARP 2500 circuit boards are particularly delicate and can be easily damaged by a novice tech. This can actually cost you more money in the long run. We have seen this damage quite a bit lately when we go to perform estimates on 2500s and 2600s. Don't let the local tech ruin your valuable vintage instrument. CMS has in stock, custom replacement boards for several 1000 series modules.

The other typical situation we see with 2500s coming into the shop is incorrect calibration of the 1000 modules. This is usually due to a tech guessing at the calibration process. This problem is compounded by the encapsulated sub-modules used in the 2500 system. CMS has a custom made ARP 4000 series sub-module tester so we can test your sub-modules as part of the initial diagnostic procedure. CMS also makes a high quality line of replacement sub-modules for all the ARP 2500 modules.

Unlike other ARP synthesizers, there never was a service manual published for the ARP 2500. The official story is that they never got around to it. ARP discontinued the 2500 in 1976. The 2500s were made so well, ARP did not get many service requests in the 1970s for 2500s. ARP was out of business by 1981.

Over the years, CMS/Discrete Synthesizers has created, and is still writing, it's own extensive and detailed service manual for the 2500. We plan to publish this sometime in the 2020s.

Send your 2500 system to CMS for a free detailed estimate, proper service, and more importantly, proper calibration. See the link below for 2500 packing tips. Call or email Phil at CMS to send in your 1000 series modules, or your entire system for repair, restoration and calibration.

   
             
     
 
 
ARP 2500 UPGRADES AND MODIFICATIONS
2500 / 2000 SERIES CABINET SERVICE
 

MAIN POWER SUPPLY REBUILD -------------------------------------325.00

Much of the noise and cross-talk in a stock 2500 is due to the age of the power supply, not due to the matrix switches! The power supply in your 2500 is 33 to 40 years old. Linear power supplies have an average shelf / operating life of about 20 years. Chances are that your power supply is not up to factory specification. This can result in excessive noise, ripple, and instability rendering the instrument useless in a modern digital/midi studio. Without any de-soldering, you can disconnect your existing 2500 power supply and send it to CMS for a complete rebuild to ARP factory specifications.

 

LAMP POWER SUPPLY REBUILD------------------------------225.00

The 2500 features a separate 12V regulated lamp power supply that we can service also. Minimal de-soldering is required to send in your lamp supply. Lamp supplies that are malfunctioning can actually affect audio performance.

 

1000 SERIES MODULE SERVICING

EXPERT REPAIR AND RESTORATION OF ARP 1000 SERIES MODULES
 

O.E.M. PARTS STOCK

We have an extensive stock of hard to find, original equipment manufacturer parts to restore your modules to brand new ARP factory specifications.

We also manufacture a complete line of high quality ARP sub-module replicas for the ARP 1000 series modules.

 
 
 

EXPERT FACTORY CALIBRATION SERVICES

Many of the calibration points on the ARP 1000 series modules do not have trimmer potentiometers. Calibration of ARP 1000 series modules involves a process known as "component selection calibration." It starts with testing the module to see if it passes ARP factory test parameters, selecting specific components, and soldering them in place; then re-testing the module to see if it meets factory specifications. CMS uses the original ARP factory test documents and blueprints directly from the ARP engineering department for the selection and calibration process.

Send your 2500 to CMS for a free detailed estimate, proper service, and more importantly, proper calibration. See the new 2500 packing tips page for detailed information on packing and shipping an ARP 2500.
 
 
 
 
     
 

ARP 2500 AUDIO CLIPS

 

Since the ARP 2500/2000 is so rare, here are some sound samples to illustrate this great sounding synthesizer.

 

"Pre incision"

This cut shows off the the ARP 2500 sequencer, ring modulator, and using the matrix switches to "play" the instrument. By the way, the stories about the matrix switch cross talk are grossly exaggerated and are mostly used to rationalize not owning a 2500.

 

"Countdown Warning"

Here is another track where the ARP 2500 matrix switches are "played" by selecting different modulation routings in time with the music. The bass uses the 1047 multimode filter.

 

"Multiple Madness"

This insane and raw clip might also make you smile a bit. The ARP 2500 sequencer coupled with a madman at the keyboard produces this. Not recommended for the ears of "people on the edge."

 

"Searchlight 7"

This track is from my band National Razor. I wanted to include this because it features a Roland TR-808 being processed by ARP 1047 multimode filters from the ARP 2500, in stereo.

 

older clips:

"2500 Duet in stereo" - 2/10/06

This is a live cut - no overdubs. The thick bass sound is a 2515 main cabinet with 7 vco's. The surprisingly realistic piano sound is a 2508 wing cabinet with 3 vco's and 3 multimode filters. The controller was a Rhodes/ARP Chroma via a Kenton Pro-2.

 

Ennio Morricone's - "Once Upon a Time in the West"

This was quickly arranged on a PC using sonar. This uses the same 2500 patch as above. I added some 2600 percussive rhythms and a Roland 808.

 

More sound clips to come

©2006 - 2023 Phil Cirocco

  
     
   
 
       
 
ARP 2500 PHOTOMUSEUM
  
 
 

 

1023 variations, replica

 
 
 

1026 replica
 
 
     
 
     
 
   
       
   
 

ARP 2500 RESOURCES

 

This early version of the ARP 2500, the 2002 was made in 1970

2500 Matrix Switch Color Code

Running a ARP 2500 / 2000 from a MIDI converter

ARP 2000 / 2500 PACKING AND SHIPPING TIPS
 
e-mail: filter@discretesynthesizers.com
phone: 912-727-2195 ©2023 Phil Cirocco