Image: Victoria and Albert Museum, London, CC BY 4.0 — via Wikimedia Commons
ARP String Synthesizer
| Category | Electronic (string synthesizer) |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | USA |
| Classification | synthesizer, synthesizer model |
| Wikipedia | en.wikipedia.org |
| Wikidata | Q4653902 |
Overview
The ARP String Synthesizer is a 1970s electronic instrument from ARP Instruments that combines a fully polyphonic “string section” — a divide-down circuit that lets the player hold full chords with sustained, ensemble-like timbres — with a separate monophonic synthesizer voice for solo lines. The instrument was originally manufactured for ARP by the Italian firm Eminent and is closely related to the well-known Solina String Ensemble.
Origin & History
In the early-to-mid 1970s, full polyphony was costly to implement in synthesizers, but the divide-down architecture used in electronic organs could support full polyphony cheaply by deriving every note from a single high-frequency oscillator. Several manufacturers used this approach to build “string synthesizers” — instruments dedicated to massed string-ensemble timbres. ARP introduced its String Ensemble in 1974, manufactured under licence from Eminent in the Netherlands. The ARP String Synthesizer extended this concept by integrating ARP’s monophonic synthesizer technology, allowing players to layer ensemble pads under solo lines from a single keyboard.
How It’s Played
The keyboard is split or layered between the polyphonic string section and the monophonic synth voice. The string section produces violin, viola, cello, brass, and other ensemble registrations through fixed presets with chorus or ensemble effects. The monophonic synth voice provides oscillator, filter, and envelope controls for soloing. Players combine the two for the wide-screen sound that defined disco-era ballads, progressive rock, and orchestral pop arrangements of the period.
Cultural Significance
ARP string synthesizers, like the Solina, are among the defining sounds of mid-to-late-1970s pop, rock, and disco production. Their lush, slightly chorused ensemble pads remain instantly recognisable. The ARP String Synthesizer in particular extended that vocabulary by letting players combine ensemble and lead voices on a single instrument.
Related Instruments
- ARP 2600 – ARP’s flagship semi-modular synth
- ARP 2500 – ARP’s modular system
- – the closely related string machine
- Mellotron – tape-based ensemble alternative of the same era
- Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 – the next-generation polysynth
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it the same as the Solina String Ensemble?
Closely related — both originate from Eminent’s divide-down string section — with the ARP version adding a built-in mono synth.
Is it polyphonic?
The string section is fully polyphonic; the synth voice is monophonic.
Is it still made?
No. Surviving examples are vintage instruments.
