The Infamous ARP Avatar

A look at the infamous ARP Avatar from 1977. This is the first proper guitar demo of it to be uploaded to YouTube!

0:00 Intro
1:48 The Guitar Setup
2:28 Hex Preamp, Hex Fuzz, Special Effect
5:15 Pitch to CV
5:53 Here's the problem
7:10 Workarounds
9:22 Use as just a synth
10:26 Summary
11:41 Feature Song "Right Back Round"

Further reading and watching:
My Avatar pages
https://www.alexballmusic.com/arp-avatar
  / arpavatar  

Alan R Pearlman Foundation:
https://alanrpearlmanfoundation.org/

Thanks: Dina Pearlman, Dave Friend, Bill Singer, Rick Parent, Mary Lock, Paul DeRocco, Bob Hoffman, James Martin, Nathan @ Synthchaser, TC and Phil M.

Music that used the Avatar:

Drew Schlesinger and David Torn - Summer of 78
https://drewschlesinger-davidtorn.ban...

Baird Hersey - Have you heard (1978)
   • Have You Heard?  

Psychedelic Furs - Fall (1980)
Guitar solo
   • The Psychedelic Furs - Fall (Audio)  

Paddy Kingsley - Radiophonic Workshop
From 4:17
   • The New Sound Of Music 1979 (part 2)  

Rough Boys - Pete Townshend
   • PETE TOWNSHEND - Rough Boys  

Ace Frehley - Ace Frehley 1978
   • K͟iss͟ ͟A͟ce͟ ͟F͟r͟e͟h͟ley͟ full albu...  

Genesis - Man of our times
Genesis - Cul de sac
Genesis - Duke's travels / Duke's End
   • Genesis - Duke (Full Album, Non-Remas...  

Escape from New York - Howarth / Carpenter
   • Escape From New York Soundtrack  

Avatar Specs:

Guitar Interface:
Guitar Hex Preamp (stereo / mono)
Guitar Hex Fuzz (stereo / mono)
String Selection
Trigger Sensitivity
Portamento
Envelope follower normal or inverted or pedal

VCO 1:
Waves: Pulse / Saw
Mod: PW / PWM / LFO Sine / LFO Square / S&H / Envelope
Special: LFO Mode

VCO 2:
Waves: Pulse / Saw
Mod: PW/ PWM / LFO Sine / Envelope Follower or Pedal / S&H / Envelope
Special: Sync

LFO:
Square / Sine with frequency

Sample & Hold:
Mixer:
VCO 1 Saw or Pulse
Noise or VCO 2 Pulse
Clock: String trig or LFO
Other: Output lag

Audio Mixer:
Special Effect (pink noise or guitar)
Ring Mod
VCO 1 Saw or Pulse
VCO 2 Saw or Pulse

Filters:
Lowpass: 24db with resonance
Control:
String CV or Envelope Follower or Pedal
S&H or LFO Sine
ADSR or AR Envelope
Highpass: Manual w/o resonance

VCA with gain / ADSR or AR control

Envelopes: ADSR and AR
Triggers / Gate: String or LFO / String Repeat or Auto Repeat

Outputs:
Mix high / low jack and XLR
Studio guitar stereo (EAD + GBE)
Mono guitar jack
Mono synth jack
External Audio In jack

Control:
CV, Gate and Trig in and out

Footswitch Jacks:
System On/Off
Portamento On/Off
Sustain Latch
Pedal In