PAiA Electronics Inc. develop and sell kits for the musician and electronic experimenter.[1]

A DIY PAIA 4700 modular synthesizer.

PAiA Electronics was founded in 1968 by John Simonton in Oklahoma City, USA, as a company dedicated to providing synthesizer kits to the do-it-yourself electronic musician.[2] In 1975 PAiA's users group magazine became Polyphony magazine, later renamed as Electronic Musician.[1]

PAiA pioneered the Frac rack system[3] and in the West Coast style keep CV and audio signal connectors distinct from one another.[4]

Module supply voltages

The control voltages is 1V/octave with a 100k ohm input impedance and nominal signal level is approximately +10dB. The modules are designed for an ±18V unregulated power (with on module regulation where necessary) although ±15V regulated supplies can be used.[5]

Synth DIY products

From/until Product Designer Published Key components Comments
1972 - PAiA 2720 modular synthesizer John Simonton Radio-Electronics, May to Oct 1973 Uses Hz/V instead of V/octave
1974 - 1982 PAiA 4700 modular synthesizer
1974 - 1982 PAiA Gnome aka PAiA 3740
1975 - 1983 PAiA Programmable drum set
1976 - PAiA Oz
1976 - 1983 PAiA 8700 computer/controller 6503 for the 4700
1976 - 1983 PAiA Drum
1978 - 1983 PAiA Proteus 1
1978 - 1983 PAiA Stringz 'n' things
1979 - 1984 PAiA Organtua
1997 - PAiA 9700
1980s - PAiA Ekx modules
1983 - PAiA Veloci-touch
1994 - PAiA Fatman
1995 - PAiA Theremax Electronics Now, Feb, Mar 1996

[6][7]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b About PAiA at PAiA.com
  2. ^ Obituary of John Stayton Simonton, Jr.
  3. ^ Analog Notes
  4. ^ Fw: John Simonton, SDIY list, Grant Richter, 30 November 2005
  5. ^ P9700S Series Analog Synthesizer Modules
  6. ^ Vintage Synthesizers by Mark Vail, Miller Freeman, 1993, ISBN 0-87930-603-3, pp. 236-245
  7. ^ The A-Z of -Analogue Synthesisers Part Two: N-Z by Peter Forrest, Susurreal Publishing, 2003, ISBN 0-9524377-3-2, pp. 47-53

Further reading

  • Electronic Music Circuit Guidebook by Brice Ward, Tab Books, 1975, ISBN 0-8306-5743-6 - includes PAiA 2700 and Gnome circuits

External links