Buchla Systems

This is a list of different Buchla system configurations that were released by Buchla over the years.

System 200-081 (8 panel units)
AKA: The Music Easel

Modules:
208 - Programmable sound source
218 - Keyboard

Case: 208-08
PSU: 214A

The catalogue price for this in 1972 was $2850 USD
Taking into account inflation

$2,850 in 1972 → $17,162.18 in 2019

My easel came in a 10U case.

Of course BEMI released their version only recently:

And a recent config of the Easel which I like is the Easel K

The modules consist of :
218 Touch Keyboard Controller
225e MIDI Decoder / Preset Manager
223e Multi-Dimensional Kinisthetic Input Port/Tactile Input Port.
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System 200 - 141 (14 panel units)

Modules:
206 - Dual Mixer
208 - Programmable sound source
218 - Keyboard
248 -1602 - MARF
265 - Source of Uncertainty

Case: 208-18
PSU: 215A

The catalogue price for this in 1972 was $4990 USD
Taking into account inflation

$4,990 in 1972 → $30,048.87 in 2019

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System 200 - 181 (18 panel units)

Modules:
206 - Dual Mixer
208 - Programmable sound source
218 - Keyboard
248 -1602 - MARF (with expander in this case)
265 - Source of Uncertainty
257 - Dual Control Voltage processor
258 - Dual VCO
291 - Dual bandpass filter
292 - Quad Lowpass Gate

Case: 208-18
PSU: 215A

The catalogue price for this in 1972 was $6960 USD
Taking into account inflation

$6,960 in 1972 → $41,911.85 in 2019

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System 101 (10 panel units)

Modules:
258 - Dual VCO
212 - Dodecamodule
237 - keyboard

Cabinet : 200 - 10
PSU - 215

The catalogue price for this System 101 in 1972 was $2850 USD
Taking into account inflation

$2,850 in 1972 → $17,162.18 in 2019

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System 151 (15 panel units)

Modules:
258 - 2 x Dual VCO 
212 - Dodecamodule
237 - keyboard

245 - sequential voltage source

295 - 10 channel band pass filter 

Cabinet : 200 - 15
PSU - 215
The catalogue price for this System 151 in 1972 was $4050 USD
Taking into account inflation

$4,050 in 1972 → $24,388.36 in 2019

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System 161 (16 panel units)

This doesn't have the 10 channel filter. The cabinet was a special design (22" x 10 " x 37")

Modules:
258 - 2 x Dual VCO 
212 - Dodecamodule
238 - keyboard (8U, 5 octaves)
245 - sequential voltage source

Cabinet : 200 - 16
PSU - 215

The catalogue price for this System 161 in 1972 was $3,940 USD
Taking into account inflation

$3,940 in 1972 → $23,725.96 in 2019

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System 241 (24 Panel Units)
The 212 dodecca has gone. In its place we have six oscillators (3 x 258s), a SOU (265),
a 16 stage sequencer (246), reverb (275), 4 pre-amps (module 270), 4 gates & 4 function generators (292 & 280), plus a dual band pass filter (291).

Modules:
206 - dual mixer
258 - 3 x Dual VCO 
230 - Triple envelope detector.
246 - 16 stage sequencer
238 - keyboard (8U, 5 octaves)
245 - sequential voltage source
265 - SOU
270 - quad pre-amp
275 - dual reverb/equalizer
280 - Quad EG
292 - Quad low pass gates
291 - Dual band pass filter

Cabinet : 200 - 24 (27"D, 15" H, 37" W)
PSU - 215
The catalogue price for this System 241 in 1972 was $6,330 USD
Taking into account inflation

 $6,330 in 1972 → $38,118.11 in 2019

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System 200 - 242 (24 Panel units available)
The 238 keyboard has been dropped in favour of a 218.
We also now have a 227 System interface & a MARF 248-1606
(The 246 sequencer & 280 FG have been dropped from the System 241).

The Buchla Catalogue for the MARF  states that it's offered in several versions of different densities but identical function, and that expansion to larger versions can be done at any time.

Version Number     Stages     Outputs
248-1602                16            2
248-1606                16            6
248-3206                32            6
248-3210                32            10

I have never seen a MARF 248-1606. I'm more familiar with the 248-1602.
I can only imagine that the 248-1602. had an extra output board ... maybe 2U panel size ??

This is just a wild stab at what one would look like.
Please email me if you have one or can help me out on these details

Modules:
206 - dual mixer
258 - 3 x Dual VCO 
230 - Triple envelope detector.
248 - MARF
218 - keyboard
265 - SOU
285  - frequency shifter
292 - Quad low pass gates
291 - Dual band pass filter

 

202  portable case (Haliburton Zero)
215 PSU
The catalogue price for this System 242 in 1972 was $9700USD
Taking into account inflation

 $9700 in 1972 → $58,411 in 2019

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System 200 - 361
Getting pretty big ! 36 units available using two 203-18 cases

206 - 2 x Dual mixers
219 - Polyphonic Keyboard - Compound Touch-Controlled Voltage Source.
227 - System Interface
230 - triple envelope detector
248 - 3206 MARF
257 Dual CV processor
258 - 4 x 258 VCOs
265 - SOU
270 - Quad Pre-amp
280 - Quad EG
285 - Frequency shifter / modulator
291 - Dual VCF
292 - 2 x Quad Low Pass gates
294 - 4 channel filter
295 - 10 channel filter

Cases: 2 x 203-18
PSU: 2 x 215A
The 203 case looks like this:

 The 248 - 3206 MARF is something I'm not familiar with.
So this pic is my idea of what it probably looks like ... please write to me if you have one or knows what they do look like.

" A 3206 is a normal 1602 unit with an additional 4 space panel added to it. The expander adds another 16 stages of sliders and memory as well as 4 more output channels. The 6 total output channels can address the 32 steps in any way.". (Buchla tech)

The Buchla Catalogue for the MARF  states that it's offered in several versions of different densities but identical function, and that expansion to larger versions can be done at any time.

Version Number     Stages     Outputs
248-1602                16            2
248-1606                16            6
248-3206                32            6
248-3210                32            10 

Anyway the catalogue price for this System 361 in 1972 was $14,200USD
Taking into account inflation

$14,200 in 1972 → $85,509.82 in 2019

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System 321 (32 Buchla Units)
This system incorporates the 204 for the first time. It's a Quad Spatial Director.

The 204's features include:
4 electronically isolated 2-dimensional joysticks with output voltages proportional to lateral and vertical displacement. Generally used to control sound location, but may be used to control other parameters.
4 gain controls for signals applied to inputs. Control voltages may alternatively be used to control amplitude.
Control voltage inputs for defining positions of sounds. Increasing voltages move sounds from rear to front and from left to right. Voltages are generally (but not necessarily) derived from adjacent joystick outputs.
Monitor switches for use in conjunction with the Model 226 Quad Monitor Interface.

226 Quad Monitor interface.... (I haven't seen one of these so don't know what it looks like). .... probably something like a small 227 ??? I'm guessing the module occupies 3U.
It's used for monitoring, interfacing, and final program  formatting in four-channel systems.
There is built-in provisions for quad mixing, duplications, and overdubbing
 simplify the manipulation of quadraphonic material. (Vintage synth E)

It was the time when 4 track studios were the rage.
The MARF is replaced by two sequencers (245 & 246)

204 - Quad Spatial Director
206 -  Dual mixer
217 - Keyboard
226 - Quad monitor Interface
230 - triple envelope detector
245 - 5 stage sequencer
246 - 16 stage sequencer
258 - 3 x 258 VCOs
264 - Quad sample & hold
265 - SOU
270 - Quad Pre-amp
284 - Quad EG
285 - Frequency shifter / modulator
291 - Dual VCF
292 - Quad Low Pass gate
294 - 4 channel filter

Cabinet: 200-32
PSU : 215 x 2
Possibly the cabinet would have been 4 rows of 8U

The catalogue price for this in 1972 was $9,940 USD
Taking into account inflation

$9,940 in 1972 → $59,856.87 in 2019

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System 401 ( 40 Buchla Panel units)

204 - Quad Spatial Director
205 -  Matrix mixer
206 - Dual Mixer
226 - Quad monitor Interface
230 - triple envelope detector
238 - keyboard
245 - 5 stage sequencer
246 - 16 stage sequencer
256 - Dual CV adder
258 - 4 x 258 VCOs

265 - SOU
270 - Quad Pre-amp
275 - Dual reverb/eq
284 - Quad EG
285 - Frequency shifter / modulator
291 - Dual VCF
292 - Quad Low Pass gate
295 - 10 channel filter

200-40 Cabinet (5 rows of 8U)
PSU : 215 x 2

The catalogue price for this in 1972 was $11,050 USD
Taking into account inflation

$11,050 in 1972 → $66,541.09 in 2019