The ARP 2600 is a partially modular, subtractive, analog synthesizer that was first made by ARP Instruments between 1971 and 1981.

History

The ARP 2600 was created by a team led by Alan R. Pearlman and engineer Dennis Colin. It was introduced in 1971 as the replacement for ARP's first instrument, the ARP 2500, and cost $2600 when it was first sold (which would be about $21,200 in January 2026).

Unlike fully modular synthesizers like the ARP 2500, which needed separate parts to be bought and connected by users, the ARP 2600 is semimodular. It has a set of basic synthesizer parts already connected inside, but these connections can be changed using patch cords. The instrument has clear labels and diagrams on its front panel that show how different sections work and how signals move between them. When it was first released, it was strongly promoted to high schools and universities.

Features and architecture

The ARP 2600 includes three voltage-controlled oscillators, a 24 dB/octave low-pass filter, a voltage-controlled amplifier, a ring modulator, a sample-and-hold unit, a white/pink noise generator, a microphone preamplifier, a spring reverberation unit, two envelope generators, and a four-octave keyboard controller.

In 1973, Tom Oberheim, who was an ARP dealer, created a kit that changed the keyboard into a duophonic keyboard. This type of keyboard can play two different oscillators at the same time. The 3604 keyboard used the same circuit board as the earlier 2500 keyboard, but ARP did not include the parts needed for duophonic features. The next year, ARP added these improvements and released the Model 3620 duophonic keyboard. This model also had a low-frequency oscillator for vibrato and features for single and multiple triggering.

All versions of the ARP 2600 made through 1976 used ARP’s 4012 filter submodule. This was a copy of Robert Moog’s transistor ladder filter. This led to a patent dispute that was resolved outside of court. Afterward, ARP replaced the 4012 filter with its own design, the Model 4072.

Models

Model 2600 "Blue Meanie" (early 1971): The first 2600 synthesizers were built in a small workshop on Kenneth Street in Newton Highlands, Massachusetts, during ARP's early development. These models had a bright blue and light gray aluminum case with a keyboard connected to the synthesizer. This version was initially called the "Blue Marvin" after Marvin Cohen, ARP's CFO, but is now most commonly known as the "Blue Meanie."

Model 2600C "Gray Meanie" (mid-1971): The 2600C was made in ARP's factory and had a gray control panel and an updated keyboard model 3604C. Only 35 units of the "Gray Meanie" were produced.

Model 2600P (late-1971): The 2600P was placed in a suitcase-style case covered in vinyl and wood, making it easier to carry. The V2.0 version of the 2600P replaced older parts, such as ARP 4011/4017 VCO submodules, with more reliable ARP 4027 submodules. It also replaced unreliable Teledyne opamps with chips from National Semiconductor for a short time in 1972. This was later replaced by the 2600P V3.0, which was produced until 1974 and used ARP 2037-1 VCO submodules with a new G-clef ARP logo. In 1974, the 2600P V4.0 version introduced the Model 3620 duophonic keyboard with an LFO.

Model 2601 (1975): The 2601 V1.0 improved the jacks and slider controls of earlier models but still included the controversial Model 4012 filter. In 1977, the 2601 V2.0 version introduced ARP's new Model 4072 filter and used the orange-over-black design theme found in other ARP synthesizers. A final version, the 2601 V3.0, was made during ARP's last years of operation.

Impact

The first important person to use the ARP 2600 was Edgar Winter. He connected the keyboard controller of the 2600 to the main unit using a long cable, which allowed him to wear the synthesizer around his neck. Stevie Wonder was another early user of the 2600; he had a unit labeled in Braille. Other early users included Pete Townshend, Joe Zawinul, and Herbie Hancock.

Sound designer Ben Burtt used an ARP 2600 along with his own voice to create the voice of R2-D2 in the Star Wars films. Burtt also used the 2600 to create the sound effects for the Ark of the Covenant in Raiders of the Lost Ark.

An ARP 2600 was used to record the bassline for Madonna's 1984 hit "Borderline" and several sounds on the 1983 Michael Jackson song "Thriller."

An ARP 2600 was used by Flood for the song "The Becoming" by Nine Inch Nails.

Reissues and recreations

Beginning in 2013, a Swedish DIY synthesizer designer named the Human Comparator created several versions of 3/4-scale PCB kits. These kits include circuitry and front-panel designs that match the ARP 2600 (without the keyboard). Called the TTSH (Two Thousand Six Hundred), this project lets hobbyists build their own synthesizer for much less cost (US$499 for a panel and PCB set) than the original.

On January 10, 2020, Korg Inc. of Japan released a new version of the ARP 2600 called the ARP 2600 FS. This version is a true copy of the original 1972 gray model. It includes new features, such as the ability to choose between the 4012 and 4072 filter types from the 1970s versions, balanced XLR outputs, MIDI support, a basic sequencer/arpeggiator, and a flight case for travel. The keyboard uses the original 3620 design, which now includes aftertouch.

In 2020, Behringer released its own updated version. Unlike the original ARP or Korg's version, Behringer's model has different or new features:
• An 8U 19-inch rack chassis
• No built-in speakers
• Digital spring reverb simulation instead of a physical spring tank (Behringer also makes "Blue Marvin" and "Gray Meanie" versions with a physical spring tank)
• LED faders
• VCO3 can produce sine or triangle waves and has a PWM patch point
• VCO2 and VCO3 can sync to VCO1
• Both VCF versions are available, selected with a switch

In 2022, Korg introduced a smaller version of the 2600 called the 2600M. This version was the same as the FS but 40% smaller.

Software companies, such as Arturia and Way Out Ware, created software versions of the ARP 2600 for use with modern music equipment, such as MIDI devices and computer sequencers:
• Arturia ARP 2600 V
• TimewARP 2600
• Cherry Audio CA2600
• Air TIMEWARP 2600

On July 19, 2024, Korg released a software version of the ARP 2600.

Gallery

• ARP 2600P V1.0 (1971) or V2.0 (1971–72) with 3604P keyboard, introduced after the 2600 Blue Marvin (1971) and the 2600C Gray Meanie (1971)
• ARP 2600P V3.0 (1972–74) or V4.0 (1974) with 3620 duophonic keyboard (1974–?), new G-clef logo
• ARP 2600P V3.0 (1972–74) or V4.0 (1974) panel details
• ARP 2601 V2.0 (1977–80) or V3.0 (1980, last 100 or so) black-on-orange model