Mos-Lab E-Mu Modular System is available now: a clone of Dave Rossum's modular synth

Mos-Lab has released the E-Mu Modular System, an authentic clone/replica of Dave Rossum’s modular Synthesizer from 1974.

Sebastien Moumon, aka Mos-Lab, is a French developer who has already revived many modular classics, including the Moog Modular, ARP 2500, and Kobol Expander 3. Not mass-produced, but handcrafted and in its original size,

For five years now, Mos Lab has been working on its clone/replica of the legendary E-Mu Modular. This was announced at the virtual SynthFest France 2021. Five years later, the day has finally arrived: the Mos Lab E-mu Modular is available now.

Mos-Lab E-Mu Modular

What began as a personal project has now become an official Mos-Lab product. Also, the E-Mu Modular clone is not a mass-produced Synthesizer, but is manufactured in smaller quantities.

The E-Mu Modular range includes 21 modules, a power supply, and two cases: a small and a large one. The modules are 1:1 clones/replicas with the same feature sets and sizes as the original E-Mu Modular.

Here is an overview of all 21 available modules:

2000 VCA: an exponentially and/or linearly controlled amplifier for envelope shaping or control functions
2010 Quad VCA: an array of four independent linear two-quadrant multipliers perfect for spatial modulation and VC mixing
2100 VCF LP: an exponentially controlled 24dB/oct lowpass filter with variable Q
2120 Universal Active Filter: a VCF with simultaneous highpass, bandpass, lowpass, and notch outputs.
2140 Resonant Filter: an audio filter with an output mixer capable of producing virtually any two-pole pass characteristics

2145 Filter Controller: voltage control of the frequency of two banks of 2140 Resonant Filters
2200 VCO: a complete, four-waveform, exponentially and linearly controlled oscillator with an output mixer.
2220 Triangle/Saw/Pulse VCO: 3-waveform, exponentially voltage-controlled oscillator with features of the 2200 VCO
2240 VC LFO: a new multi-wave LFO module to complement the functions of the E-mu modular replica
2340 CV Lag Processor: it’s a control voltage processing module

Early Sequencer Modules

2350 Dual Transient Generator: it contains two independent four-phase electronic music transient generators in a single module.
2400 Noise Source: it produces random audio and control signals for use in electronic music
2410 Sample & Hold: it’s a classic sample & hold generator (it acts as an analog memory for Synthesizer signals)
2430 Ring Modulator: aka balanced modulator
2455 Mixer: a four-input, stereo-output mixer with pan for use within the Em modular system.

When the E-Mu Modular was released, there were no highly sophisticated sequencers like those we have today. To achieve the functionalities of early sequencers, the developers built various modules, including the 2500, 2510, 2520, and 2560.

2500 VC Clock: is a low-frequency sawtooth/ pulse VCO with special gating capabilities.
2510 8 Pos Address Generator: an eight-position (3-bit) up/down presetable, cascadable counter
2520 Voltage Source Output Unit: 4 by 8 potentiometer matrix
2560 Analog Switch: it’s an analog sequential switch with the selection between two, three, or four signal inputs
2906 Multiples: module with eight four-wide multiples
2910: KOV Interface MIDI to CV/gate: interface designed to communicate internally with certain modules via a system bus

First Impression

The development process was lengthy. Nevertheless, I’m delighted to see that this epic project has finally been completed. It’s pricey, but to be honest, I expected even more, especially since the E-mu Modular is a very niche, special-interest modular system.

To answer questions or comments directly: I don’t expect a low-budget E-Mu Modular clone from Behringer, as interest in this modular synth is rather limited, and it wouldn’t be financially worthwhile.

It’s great that anyone who wants an E-Mu Modular now has the opportunity to get an authentic clone/replica at a significantly lower price than an original.

Availability

The Mos-Lab E-Mu Modular is now available upon request. Individual modules range in price from 130€ to 590€, an extra power supply costs 40€, and the cases with built-in power supply range from 390€ to 490€

Mos-Lab has also listed two different example systems: the small TOP System has 11 modules for 3620€, and the large MAIN System has 19 modules for 6340€.

More information here: Mos-Lab

Article from June 6, 2021

We continue with another news from SynthFest France 2021. Again, from a small company. The French developer Mos-Lab in France is known to some for its authentic Moog Modular replicas/clones. These are in their original size. He offers the modules individually as well as in the known systems: Model 15, 15 + 960, Model 10, and Sequencer Complement A/B.

A Model 10 replica starts at 4200€, which is certainly not a bargain but is significantly cheaper than the official re-releases from Moog. At SynthFest France 2021, he shows his latest development, aka reproduction work. It is a clone of the ultra-rare E-Mu Modular System by Dave Rossum from the year 1974.

First Info

The E-Mu modular system consists of different oscillator modules, unique filters, modulators including LFO, DADSR envelopes, sample & hold, VCAs, as well as utility modules.

The system should compete with the well-known ARP 2600 or Moog Modular. This mission didn’t work out for Dave Rossum and E-Mu. But that didn’t harm the E-Mu Modular System.

It went down in history as one of the most special modular synthesizers ever built. Mainly because it was different in many ways from his competitions at the time.

For example, the E-Mu Modular System is capable of creating unique timbres thanks to its special modules, such as the resonant formant filter, and others.

Interesting, Mos-Lab did not replicate the well-known 61-note CV/gate keyboard but just the legendary bright silver/blue modules. According to

Mos-Lab did not replicate the well-known 61-note CV / Gate keyboard. Just the iconic bright silver/blue modules. Currently, it is only a project in itself. But he is ready to build more units on request.

It is not known what the whole system will cost.

And we remember: Uli Behringer asked Mos-Lab for a collaboration in 2019. The French developer rejected this offer. But Uli could try again now and convince him of an E-Mu Modular System in Eurorack, which would be something.

More information here: Mos-Lab

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