Introduction:
A few years ago, one of the developers of the original Zyklus MPS-1, a commercially available sequencer that Vangelis used for a few concerts and recordings, offered to share the software and schematics of that device with whoever wanted to play with one. Of the original, only some 40 were sold, and it mostly flopped. However, due to Vangelis, it gained a bit of a cult following. The mystery surrounding Vangelis’ custom devices helped boost interest as well.
Vangelis didn’t continue to use the Zyklus for long, but it did spark discussions and ultimately led to the creation of a new, custom device for Vangelis called “Direct” (though it had various other names, such as Decade or VRS – Vangelis Rhythm System). This machine was created by mostly the same developers as the Zyklus. The device received several updates over the years it was used, but due to technical limitations from that era, there were some issues.
The main operating system software, the part that received the most updates based on Vangelis’ input, was backed by batteries. When the batteries ran out, the software was lost.
Two sets were made, and by now, both sets are no longer functional. Vangelis sent them to Bill Marshall, one of the original developers, a few years ago for restoration. One was successfully restored, while the other was damaged due to battery leakage. That unit is still in Bill’s possession, as Vangelis didn’t want the defective one back. From what I’ve seen, it’s still fixable. The other unit is believed to be in Paris and susceptible to the same damage if the batteries are not removed.
The source code for various versions still exists, though as far as we can tell, not for the later or latest versions. I believe the latest version was 1.85, but the last available version is 1.5.
From talking to the various people involved, there was never an official NDA, but there was a gentleman’s agreement in case Vangelis decided to commercialize this machine (which never happened).
Vangelis used Direct from around 1988 to 1993, and then it was part of his setup in 2008, as seen in some videos from the Journey to Ithaca. I believe Vangelis wanted to have the machines working for the Blade Runner re-issue.
As a concept, Direct was designed for ease of use, with no menus, just direct button functionality. As a sequencer, it had fewer features than others available at the time, but it was suited to Vangelis’ way of working.
Having said all this, there are a few things I want to focus on:
- Direct, as an extension of the Zyklus, has garnered a lot of interest in the Vangelis fanbase. There’s a lot of myth and misinformation circulating.
- These two units are iconic to Vangelis in the sense that they laid the foundation for his later custom systems and featured on some iconic records (The City, 1492, among others).
- As a result of the above, I personally, as a fan, feel it is useful, sensible, and necessary to preserve these machines as best as possible. They are part of the tools of one of the greatest composers of our era and may be studied by scholars years from now.
And that brings me to a few points I would like to address:
- We are cloning the Zyklus MPS-1 with the intention to open-source it. There is no commercial interest from any of us doing this hobby project.
- We want to enhance what we have, and one of my ideas is to give it a “Direct” mode, where it functions as the Direct system.
- I want to try to preserve the originals.
As for [1], this is in progress and nearly done.
As for [2], I need to find out if I can use an older version of the software (1.4 or 1.5) and port (translate) it to our system. I’m not sure if there is still an Intellectual Property holder. Nothing was officially or legally arranged during the development, and it would be hard to find someone who cares at this point… However, I want to pose this question to Vangelis’ management or legal representatives. If approved, this would mean that not the original software gets released, but rather my rewrite of it into our clone. It will be based on the functionality of the original. I would like to be able to do this freely, so I need to find out if I need permission from…?
And as for [3], there are a few things to consider.
Getting the devices up and running in the original way is no longer possible due to the lack of equipment, but since the source code is available for fairly late versions, there are alternatives these days.
Getting technical, in the original, the software source code was compiled into binary form and then uploaded to battery-backed RAM. Using ROMs would have been a hassle due to frequent software updates and changes.
These days, older types of computer CPUs can be emulated using microcontroller-based computers like the Teensy. We actually have this working on the Zyklus as well.
One can upload the compiled code to this Teensy, using predefined ‘virtual’ RAM, thus bypassing the need for cross-compilers and hardware to use the memory cards, including battery-backed RAM.
The code itself was written in C and will compile easily on modern platforms.
I would like the opportunity to do this on one of the machines. I know that the broken one Bill has sustained battery corrosion damage, but given the relative simplicity of PCBs from that era, this can be fixed with patience and some tender loving care. I’m not aware of the status of the machine in Vangelis’ estate, but I assume it to be in better shape—or similar, if the batteries have started leaking.
Below is a description and some imagery of Direct and Zyklus.
The ‘mixer’-like white unit below the Emu II is the Direct cotnrol box.
There is also a secondary unit – a ‘transposer’ unit. It may be a stand-alone device that works in conjunction with Direct but not controlled from Direct:
This shows part of the PCB of one of the Direct units, lots of corrosion. The batteries have been removed, but before that, they leaked and caused damage to various parts of the board. It is, at this stage, still repairable.
For further reference, this is the Zyklus MPS-1 I got from Casey Young (which was the unit Vangelis used in Athens Studio) – I have replaced the display but other than that it is completely as it was.
There may still be one unit in Vangelis storage.
