The ARP Chroma is a model of polyphonic synthesizer developed in 1981 by ARP Instruments, Inc. just before that company's bankruptcy and collapse. The design was eventually released by Fender as the Rhodes Chroma, and was one of the early microprocessor-based Analog synthesizers. It was the first commercial synth with a touch-sensitive keyboard, using 64 weighted wooden keys; some units also included a polyphonic pressure sensor under the keys.

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  • The ARP Chroma is a model of polyphonic synthesizer developed in 1981 by ARP Instruments, Inc. just before that company's bankruptcy and collapse. The design was eventually released by Fender as the Rhodes Chroma, and was one of the early microprocessor-based Analog synthesizers. It was the first commercial synth with a touch-sensitive keyboard, using 64 weighted wooden keys; some units also included a polyphonic pressure sensor under the keys. The synthesizer had 16 channels normally used in pairs for 8-note polyphony. It was controlled via a panel consisting of multi-purpose touch switches for selecting sounds or parameters of sound with a single slider for adjusting parameters. This approach was later copied by many more successful synths, such as the Yamaha DX-7. The main microprocessor was a 68B09, and it had a computer interface consisting of a 25-pin D-sub connector – this was before the invention of MIDI). An Apple IIe interface card with sequencing software was released later on. Eventually, a third party came out with a Chroma-to-MIDI converter box. Fender also released a keyboardless version called the Chroma Expander, which could be slaved to the Chroma via its computer interface. The Chroma was rather expensive, and Fender wasn't as good at selling high-tech keyboards as it was guitar equipment, so it didn't sell as well as it might have. Other factors, such as the introduction of the Yamaha DX-7, may also have played a part. However, it developed a dedicated following.
  • L'ARP Chroma est un synthétiseur polyphonique analogique/numérique programmable conçu par la société américaine ARP en 1980, fabriqué et distribué par la firme Rhodes de 1981 à 1983. Le Chroma est un synthétiseur de scène doté d'un clavier à 64 touches et d'un panneau avant comportant de nombreux boutons à membranes, un seul potentiomètre et un afficheur LCD. Son aspect est proche du Yamaha DX7. Très avant-gardiste, le Chroma innove sur différents points : usage systématique de microprocesseurs pour une grande souplesse de configuration (mémoires, routage des modules, accordage), clavier sensible au toucher et pour la première fois une interface à broches dédiée aux micro-ordinateurs, avec un protocole préfigurant le MIDI. Philip Dodds, alors vice-président d'ARP, revend à CBS, propriétaire de Rhodes, les droits du Chroma afin d'éponger la dette de sa société. Chargé de remettre en route le projet, il réembauche l'équipe de recherche et développement (21 personnes, dont Paul DeRocco le concepteur, et Tony Williams, spécialiste en électronique numérique) et construit une première série de 50 exemplaires à Woburn (Massachusetts). La production en série est peu après lancée chez Gulbransen, un fabricant d'orgues malheureusement mal équipé pour la fabrication et le montage de cartes électroniques. CBS décide finalement de transférer la chaîne de fabrication à Fullerton en Californie. Environ 3000 exemplaires du Chroma (dont sa version rack le Chroma Expander) seront fabriqués jusqu'à la fin de l'année 1983. Suite à de nombreux désaccords avec CBS, l'équipe d'origine quitte le projet, le Chroma Polaris, une version simplifiée équipée d'une interface MIDI et d'un séquenceur sort en 1984.
  • L'ARP Chroma o Rhodes Chroma è un sintetizzatore musicale analogico polifonico e politimbrico. Nel 1982, la ARP Instruments, Casa produttrice americana con grande tradizione di attenzione all'innovazione e all'impiego di alta tecnologia negli strumenti musicali elettronici, mise sul mercato un prodotto notevolmente innovativo, denominato Chroma. Si tratta dell'ultimo strumento fabbricato dalla Casa americana, che avrebbe dovuto risollevare le sorti dell'azienda, pesantemente minacciate dall'alto costo della ricerca e sviluppo dei propri prodotti. Ma anche lo sviluppo di questo strumento risultò costoso e costrinse i manager a cedere azienda e prodotto alla Fender, che lo commercializzò per poco tempo, decretando la fine del marchio.
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  • 1982 (xsd:integer)
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  • Apple II interface
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  • ARP Instruments, Inc. Logo
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  • 64-key weighted
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  • 16 (xsd:integer)
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  • Chroma
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  • 2 (xsd:integer)
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  • The ARP Chroma is a model of polyphonic synthesizer developed in 1981 by ARP Instruments, Inc. just before that company's bankruptcy and collapse. The design was eventually released by Fender as the Rhodes Chroma, and was one of the early microprocessor-based Analog synthesizers. It was the first commercial synth with a touch-sensitive keyboard, using 64 weighted wooden keys; some units also included a polyphonic pressure sensor under the keys.
  • L'ARP Chroma est un synthétiseur polyphonique analogique/numérique programmable conçu par la société américaine ARP en 1980, fabriqué et distribué par la firme Rhodes de 1981 à 1983. Le Chroma est un synthétiseur de scène doté d'un clavier à 64 touches et d'un panneau avant comportant de nombreux boutons à membranes, un seul potentiomètre et un afficheur LCD. Son aspect est proche du Yamaha DX7.
  • L'ARP Chroma o Rhodes Chroma è un sintetizzatore musicale analogico polifonico e politimbrico. Nel 1982, la ARP Instruments, Casa produttrice americana con grande tradizione di attenzione all'innovazione e all'impiego di alta tecnologia negli strumenti musicali elettronici, mise sul mercato un prodotto notevolmente innovativo, denominato Chroma.
rdfs:label
  • ARP Chroma
  • ARP Chroma
  • ARP Chroma
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