Hans Zimmer Partners with AJHSynth to Rebuild Legendary BBC Synth Setup

AJHSynth, a UK company that designs and builds high-end analog synthesizer modules, has announced the limited release of an incredible new synthesizer system called The RadioPhonic. This unique system was originally commissioned by legendary film composer Hans Zimmer as a modern recreation of the famous synthesizers used at the BBC Radiophonic Workshop in the 1960s and 70s.

The Radiophonic Workshop was a pioneering studio at the BBC that produced groundbreaking electronic music and sound effects for TV shows, films, and radio plays. It helped kick off the entire field of electronic music production. The iconic EMS VCS3 and massive EMS Synthi 100 synthesizers were central to the Workshop’s revolutionary sound.

Hans Zimmer, the acclaimed composer behind scores for films like Dune, Inception, and The Lion King, has amassed one of the world’s largest collections of synthesizers over his storied career. He became enamored with AJHSynth’s ultra high-quality analog modules a few years ago, and began using them extensively on major film projects.

When the opportunity arose to purchase the historic Maida Vale Studios in London, where the original Radiophonic Workshop was located, Zimmer jumped at the chance to recreate the legendary studio setup and its amazing synthesizers. However, he wanted a modern interpretation that expanded on the sonic capabilities while retaining the unique character and sound quality.

To make his vision a reality, Zimmer commissioned AJHSynth to design and build The RadioPhonic – an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink modular system packed with over 40 individual analog modules spanning oscillators, filters, envelopes, effects, mixers, and more. The beautiful wooden case was inspired by the look of the classic EMS VCS3.

All modules included within the RadioPhonic are listed below:

Here is a bulleted list of the modules included in The RadioPhonic synthesizer system:

Top – Row 1

• Glide Noise Glide / Noise Module – Glide up and down, CV buffering and splitting, White, Pink and Red Noise Source
• 3 x MiniMod VCO – The best sounding Analogue VCO based on the early RA Moog circuitry.
• 2 x MiniMod Transistor Ladder Filter – An absolute legend, based on the early MiniMoog filter.
• Gain Switch Multi – Controls Overdrive of the adjacent MiniMod VCF and VCO, and six way passive multi
• Discrete Cascaded VCA – two stage VCA using early MiniMoog circuitry
• V Scale Buffered Multi – For active buffering of Pitch CV’s and scale correction
• Dual Contour Generator – two independant envelopes using Model D transistor circuitry
• Low Fat HP Filter Module – 6dB and 12dB High Pass Voltage Controlled Filter
• Muting Mixer and VCA – A mixer, distortion FX and a Linear / Exponential VCA combined
• 2 x DH-ADSR Envelope – ADSR Envelope with added Delay, Hold and invert features.

Top – Row 2

• Glide Noise Glide / Noise Module – Glide up and down, CV buffereing and splitting, White, Pink and Red Noise Source
• 4 x MiniMod VCO – The best sounding Analogue VCO based on the early RA Moog circuitry.
• 2 x Sonic XV – Vintage style Diode Ladder filter and Wavefolder
• Gain Switch Multi – Six way passive multi
• Ring SM – Our award winning Ring Modulator, Dual Sub Bass generator and five channel CP3 based discrete transistor mixer
• Muting Mixer and VCA – A mixer, distortion FX and a Linear / Exponential VCA combined
• Discrete Cascaded VCA – two stage VCA using early MiniMoog circuitry
• V-Shape – Wave Twister and Wave Folder

Bottom – Row 3

• Chance Delay Gate generation, pulse stretching and controlled random pulse generation
• CV Mixer with VCA – mix, invert, amplify and attenuate CV voltages
• 2 x Tap Tempo LFO – Amazing Voltage Controlled LFO with Tap Tempo, 16 waveforms and VCA
• 2 x Dual LFO with VCA – Provides two multi waveform LFO’s along with a DC coupled VCA for extra level control
• Triple Cross – 3 x Cross faders and panners combined, for both Audio and Control Voltages
• Gain Switch Multi – Six way passive multi
• Dual RVG – An recreation of the original EMS Random Voltage Generator with randomised time variation
• Sample Hold and Slew – Sample and Hold, Track and Hold, Linear and Exponential Slew plus Coloured Noise generator
• Multi Burst Envelopes – Generates a burst of between 1 and 40 envelopes with 8 different shapes, rising or decaying in level
• CV Mixer with VCA – mix, invert, amplify and attenuate CV voltages
• Precision Voltages Module – Transpose and mix pitch CV’s wth excellent accuracy to keep everything perfectly in tune

Bottom – Row 4

• Chance Delay Gate generation, pulse stretching and controlled random pulse generation
• DH-ADSR Envelope – ADSR Envelope with added Delay, Hold and invert features.
• Dual Contour Generator – two independant envelopes using Model D transistor circuitry
• Next Phase Phaser – 12 Stage Phaser based on a much expanded EH Small Stone, with selectable Emphasis switching
• Entropic Doom – Tuned Noise Generator with CMOS Ring Modulator
• Wave Swarm – Twelve channel (2 x 6) Wave animator
• Gain Switch Multi – Enables or disables self resonance on both Gemini VCF channels, and six way passive multi
• Gemini 2412 Dual VCF – Dual VCF based on Oberheim SEM VCF, with central mixing and cross fading bus
• FFB914 Fixed Filter Bank – Twelve fixed BP filters in 2 x 6 stereo configuration with cross fading and wet/ dry mixing

According to Zimmer, “One of my ambitions is to recreate the Radiophonic Workshop in its original place…it seemed like the perfect way to start was by commissioning a system from AJHSynth because of their no-compromise attitude and passion for sound quality.”

While The RadioPhonic was built as a unique, one-of-a-kind instrument for Zimmer’s revived Radiophonic Workshop, the composer has granted AJHSynth permission to produce a strictly limited number of exact recreations of the system. These will be available for purchase by extremely lucky musicians, sound designers, and studios around the world.

The first completed unit, System Number 001, will be unveiled by AJHSynth at the SUPERBOOTH24 music technology convention in Berlin in mid-May. Attendees can get up close with this sonic marvel and meet AJHSynth founder Allan J. Hall in person. To know more about the Radiophonic, click here.