Buchla 200e

I have come from a Serge modular background and while I was waiting for my 200e to arrive I read as much as I could. My mind turned to mush when reading some instructions and reviews so I was scared off a bit but once the 200e arrived I found it to be very easy to understand ( I have never been a instruction manual fan)

Presets? ha ha its modular you start from scratch!

There is a manual but I am going to see how far I can get just experimenting.

It has midi and patch memory havent really tried it out as yet

The Sequencer is great fun :-)

Its a Buchla and its really looking towards the avant electronics background , but its not hard to make standard synth bass sounds etc.
I have heard people say it sounds like a cross between a typical Buchla sound and a Waldorf wave or similar.

I really enjoy experimental sound so this is going to be a dream machine.

No onboard effects unless you buy the phaser module.
I intend to get the 222e Kinetic Port next year to take the 200e to another level.

I havent had any issues with it at all.

I will gig with it

I have spoken to Don Buchla direct and he has been fantastic with support...no problems at all.

Overall Rating : 9/10 Why only 9/10 It is expensive.

Would I buy it again, probably not, but I dont keep synths once I have used them enough. I move on.
However I do expect to keep my 200e for 10 years or more.

I love it because I love modular synthesis and this can get sounds I cant get out of Serge, EMS etc. As most people know all synths have their own sounds, unless its an Andromeda A6.

It is close to a Serge modular but its way more advanced, and it has way more lights :-) which really does help in knowing what is going on under the hood.

Anything else I wish it had? Not really its great as it is.

If you have always dreamed of owning a 200e like me and dont have cash to buy it, sell off synths that you dont use and get one. If I havent used a synth for a year I sell it to get newer synths, so that way I am never short of new things and I never miss anything I have sold, well apart from a EMS VCS3 but I got a Synthi last year.
Synths are like lovers you love em and leave em, nice memories but you move on.

I have come from a Serge modular background and while I was waiting for my 200e to arrive I read as much as I could. My mind turned to mush when reading some instructions and reviews so I was scared off a bit but once the 200e arrived I found it to be very easy to understand ( I have never been a instruction manual fan)

Presets? ha ha its modular you start from scratch!

There is a manual but I am going to see how far I can get just experimenting.

It has midi and patch memory havent really tried it out as yet

The Sequencer is great fun :-)

Its a Buchla and its really looking towards the avant electronics background , but its not hard to make standard synth bass sounds etc.
I have heard people say it sounds like a cross between a typical Buchla sound and a Waldorf wave or similar.

I really enjoy experimental sound so this is going to be a dream machine.

No onboard effects unless you buy the phaser module.
I intend to get the 222e Kinetic Port next year to take the 200e to another level.

I havent had any issues with it at all.

I will gig with it

I have spoken to Don Buchla direct and he has been fantastic with support...no problems at all.

Overall Rating : 9/10 Why only 9/10 It is expensive.

Would I buy it again, probably not, but I dont keep synths once I have used them enough. I move on.
However I do expect to keep my 200e for 10 years or more.

I love it because I love modular synthesis and this can get sounds I cant get out of Serge, EMS etc. As most people know all synths have their own sounds, unless its an Andromeda A6.

It is close to a Serge modular but its way more advanced, and it has way more lights :-) which really does help in knowing what is going on under the hood.

Anything else I wish it had? Not really its great as it is.

If you have always dreamed of owning a 200e like me and dont have cash to buy it, sell off synths that you dont use and get one. If I havent used a synth for a year I sell it to get newer synths, so that way I am never short of new things and I never miss anything I have sold, well apart from a EMS VCS3 but I got a Synthi last year.
Synths are like lovers you love em and leave em, nice memories but you move on.

Even if you are fluent with analog modular synthesis , this instrument can still be a bit confusing. Buchla has their own way of doing and naming things , but with a little patience , you would be on your way. It's modular , so there are no presets , but it is hard to imagine a better interface for sound design. The manual is helpful , but again , this instrument is for an experienced musician and the manual follows suit.

The most obvious feature is that it will remember almost every knob , and switch setting as a preset , which , as far as i know , is the only modular that will do this. Of course , you have to note where your patch cables are because it wont remember that. Its a really interesting feature though , as with a pulse , you can make it change presets by itself. And you can choose with modules respond to preset changes with a switch. It's really amazing when you start to wrap your head around the possibilities. With the onboard MIDI interface you can convert incoming MIDI into any voltage you want , so it really works with the computer well. I have never once said to myself , "i wish i could....." because you can do anything you can imagine ...

The overall sound quality is excellent. It is not really made to do standard synth sounds. Others are better for that. It is excellent for raw sound design. I've used them all , and nothing sounds even remotely similar to the Buchla. In no time , you will finding sounds you never knew existed.

I've had it for almost a year , and i've only had one issue which was repaired at once. If you call there , there is a good chance that Don Buchla himself will pick up the phone. He is a bit eccentric , but then again , normal people don't build things like this.

as above , they always pick up the phone , or call you back.

I would definitely buy it again. There is nothing else really like it at all. I would say it is worth the money , absolutely. I've been using modular synths since they were new in the early 70's.
I didnt want to spend the money at first , and i bought a Modcan , which was great , but after playing my friends 200e , i sold the Modcan , and bought the Buchla. Never looked back. The most inspirational musical instrument i have ever owned. By far.