ARP 1040 (1970)
A prototype VCO/Noise/Random Voltage module for the ARP 2500, announced but never produced.
Overview
The ARP 1040 Noisillator was a hybrid module for the ARP 2500 synthesizer. It combined a single VCO with dual noise/random voltage circuits. ARP (AMSynths) announced it in 1970 as part of the original ARP Tonus lineup, and it showed up in the early brochures, but it never went into production. Only a black and white photograph of the prototype exists. The idea was to save space by pairing half of the ARP 1023 Dual VCO with half of the ARP 1016 Dual Noise, and to fill unused panel space in modular systems.
Specifications
| Production Years | Announced 1970, never produced |
| Original Price | $595 (listed in initial price list) |
| VCO Waveforms | Sine, triangle, square, sawtooth, pulse (adjustable width), with off position |
| Frequency Control | Dual concentric pot for coarse/fine tuning; toggle switch for low/high pitch ranges |
| Modulation Inputs | Two frequency modulation inputs with level controls; three 1V/octave inputs |
| Noise Outputs | Two independent noise circuits: white/pink and slow-moving random voltage each |
| Level Controls | No level controls on noise section |
Design
The VCO section uses the same circuit as one side of the ARP 1023 and is identical to the ARP 1004, with a reduced control set. The noise circuit matches the ARP 1016 but leaves out the level controls. The ARP 2500 chassis allows two PCBs to be mounted side by side, and that is what makes the dual-function layout of the 1040 possible. The slide switches and lamps from the original modules stayed on the front panel.
Context
ARP likely developed the 1040 to deal with wasted panel space, since the 1016 took up a lot of real estate for a simple function. Combining a VCO with noise/random voltage gave what was described as a "most unusual module." It was meant to go in unused spaces within the 2500 system.
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Related Models
- ARP 1004-T
- ARP 1004
- ARP 1005 ModAmp (1970–1981)
- ARP 1006 (early 1970s)
- ARP 1023 Dual VCO