At Superbooth 2024, AJH Synth is introducing Hans Zimmer’s RadioPhonic Synth – an all-in-one Eurorack synthesizer that they describe as “the ultimate analogue modular system.”

According to the announcement the collaboration has been specially commissioned by Academy Award-winning film-scoring supremo Hans Zimmer to custom-build The RadioPhonic, which they describe as a one- of-a-kind, everything-but-the-kitchen-sink-style super-synth designed from the ground up as an analogue modular system beyond compare. They say that it is destined to take centre stage in a new Radiophonic Workshop facility set to be recreated back at its original site in London’s iconic Maida Vale Studios as part of a multi-million-pound refurbishment after the BBC sold the world-class complex to a sympathetic partnership that includes the Hollywood hotshot himself.

Here’s what they have to say about it:

“The RadioPhonic System was specially commissioned to take pride of place in the new Radiophonic workshop which Hans will be recreating soon, back at its original site in the Maida Vale Studio, London. We are calling this amazing system ‘The RadioPhonic’, in honor of this accolade.

From its inception in 1958, the BBC Radiophonic Workshop has played a huge part in the history of electronic music. In the early days audio tape would be cut and spliced into sound effects and theme music which was used in BBC television and radio programs.

In the 1960’s, synthesizers were added to the arsenal of instruments, and the EMS VCS 3 and Synthi 100 were two of the earliest synthesizers used there. The VCS 3 holds a very special place in Hans Zimmer’s heart, as it was the very first synthesizer that he ever owned and the beautiful American Walnut and Cherry wood case of the RadioPhonic deliberately channels the VCS3 “Putney” case design. However, the range of modules included takes the sonic possibilities way beyond that of the larger EMS Synthi 100 ‘Delaware’ system, which also saw so much use at the Radiophonic Workshop.

Hans has very graciously allowed us to produce a limited number of exact recreations of the RadioPhonic synth, and each will be individually numbered.”

But that’s not all, of course 🙂

Synapse Audio has launched a new software synthesizer instrument that builds on the legacy of The Legend.

Developed in collaboration with iconic and multiple-award-winning film composer Hans Zimmer, The Legend HZ is an analog modeled synth which is uniquely positioned for use in modern film scoring and music production applications. Most importantly, it retains this position while faithfully recreating the sonic characteristics of the original hardware.

The synth comes with 200 factory presets developed jointly by expert sound designer Kevin Schroeder and Hans Zimmer, providing access to a wide range of cinematic-style sounds.

The Legend HZ has been designed with great care and attention to detail, so that no opportunities were missed to create a software synth which is both highly usable and insanely versatile. It is at heart the product of the combined knowledge of a genre-defining composer and Synapse Audio’s experience emulating an industry-defining synthesizer.

Building on the success of The Legend, we’ve teamed up with Hans Zimmer to mark new ground in analog modeling synthesis. Multiple features have been added to The Legend HZ that were previously unavailable with The Legend. These include an additional three oscillators (and with them an added polyphony setting), a modulation matrix, a 32-step sequencer, an MSEG for added modulation controls, and an expanded effects section.

The Legend HZ features

• 6 high-quality VA oscillators.
• 4 MSEGs (Multiple Segment Envelope Generators).
• Polyphony up to 12 voices, and a new Unison II mode with increased stereo spread.
• Fixed Filter Bank modeled after Hans Zimmer’s personal 914 Fixed Filter Bank.
• Designated Arpeggiator/Sequencer capable of creating up to 32 step/bar sequences.
• Modulation matrix with Drag+Drop support.
• Additional effects on the back panel and more effect parameters.
• Full MPE support.

The Legend HZ for Windows and Mac (VST/VST3, AU and AAX) is priced $179 USD. Existing users of The Legend can upgrade to The Legend HZ for $79 USD. The Legend HZ is patch-compatible with The Legend.

More information: Synapse Audio