EML ElectroComp 101

Back in 1972, this synth made waves by folding in half like a briefcase, letting musicians tote serious analog power anywhere without breaking a sweat.

At its core, it's a duophonic beast with four voltage-controlled oscillators—two doubles as LFOs in low-frequency mode—delivering continuously variable waveforms for rich, phase-tuned tones that span deep lows to piercing mids. A standout 12dB/oct multimode filter blends lowpass, bandpass, and highpass via a clever three-tap pot, while two ADS envelopes (with switchable release) and a dedicated sample-and-hold with its own clock oscillator add rhythmic flair. Semi-modular design means 43 patch points let you rewire the normalized signal path, plus CV/gate, trigger in, external audio input, and dual high/low-level outputs for flexible integration. The removable keyboard and compact three-board layout under a sturdy lid keep it road-ready.

Players love its overdriven grit and vast timbral range from those four oscs, often calling it a sweet spot between the Minimoog's heft and ARP 2600's patchability—though some note the filter's resonance drops volume and lacks full self-oscillation musicality. Around 1000 were made, cementing its cult status in vintage circles.