The Atari 400 Synth
This wild looking analog synthesizer gets its body from a classic Atari 400 computer – but none of its brains.
Created by Paul Rothman’s Fridgebuzzz Electronics (yes, that’s supposed to have 3 “z’s”), the simply named Atari Synth has more buttons and knobs than you can shake a stick at.
The Atari Synth is a polyphonic 12-oscillator, 3 modulator square wave synthesizer that’s controlled by arcade-style pushbuttons and potentiometers. Just press any of the 12 arcade buttons to activate the corresponding oscillator, the use the knobs to dial in the sound you’re looking for.
Presumably because the old Atari 400’s POKEY chip was too limited, they’ve gutted the old 8-bit computer and given it a brand new set of sound-producing circuitry. Ironically, the noises the Atari Synth produces sound decidedly 8-bit to me.
Fridgebuzzz doesn’t list any pricing information for this custom synth, but you can find more information and get in touch with them over on their website.
We were not able to rescue you in time little 400. Be not afraid though, you have not been totally destroyed, our operatives are at this very moment planning for your rescue. Stay strong little 400!