Conbrio Synthesisers (1978)
THE ADS (Advanced Digital Synthesizer) 100 was a high end (there was no given price when the 100 system was introduced) analogue synthesiser, probably most well known for providing the sound effects for 'Star Trek' TV series. The first model 100 system was a dual manual splittable keyboard (microtonally tuneable) ,a video display for envelopes, 'control cube' disk drive with computer hardware, and a multi-coloured buttoned front panel for 64-oscillator additive synthesis and real-time sequencing.
The smaller, and commercially viable ($30,000.) compact ADS 200 had a four track sequencer combined with CV and gate interfaces , phase modulation, frequency modulation, nested phase and frequency modulation controlling 64 oscilators
In 1982 Con Brio relased the ADS 200-R a 32 voice (expandable to 64) featuring a 16-track polyphonic sequencer with 80,000 note storage capability with 'editing functions' available from the scoring screen.
The end of the Con Brio company came in the early 1980's when they failed to exploit the digital evolution and the simplicity of digital design that more comercial companies such as Yamaha created with their DX Synthesiser range.
The Con Brio ADS 2000
(image courtesy Kevin Lightner:www.synthfool.com )
The Con Brio ADS 2000
(image courtesy Kevin Lightner:www.synthfool.com)