The Playroom

A place to enjoy synths

Presentation

The Playroom is the creative space of the smem. Built in 2018 after a successful crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter, the Playroom allows the amateur, the professional and the curious to learn, play and record on some of the rare and legendary instruments of our collection. The Playroom is open every Saturday for the Playroom Sessions and on request for special events, artistic residencies and more. Finally, the Playroom is also the place where we host most of our conferences and workshops.

Playroom
Playroom
Playroom
2022_09_Young Gods Conference
2021_HSLU Workshop
Access map

Playroom Sessions 

A Playroom Session offers everyone the opportunity to discover the world of synthesizers and other electronic music instruments. The sessions last four hours and include an optional tour of the collection of about an hour. For each session, a qualified member of our team will be there for supervision and to provide suggestions, advice and help if needed. Soundcards and headphones are at your disposal but we encourage you to bring your own recording and listening gear if you wish to record your productions.

Practical informations

An entry for a Playroom Session (tour included) costs CHF 50.00 or CHF 25.00 for the reduced price (student, AVS, AI). The Playroom is open on Saturdays and the Sessions start at 13:00 and end at 17:00. To find the Playroom, check the access map in the slideshow above. The Playroom can be spotted on site thanks to its big red garage door. The address is: smem, Passage du Cardinal 1, 1700 Fribourg.

Below, you can find a list of the instruments available at the moment in the Playroom. The selection is regularly updated throughout the year. Please note that we cannot provide other instruments during regular Playroom Sessions. As each of the elements on the list has to go through tests – and eventually repairs – before entering the Playroom, the only way to cover those extra costs and ensure quality is to ask for a special request by filling the form below.

Residencies, rentals and special requests

As mentioned, the Playroom also hosts artistic residencies and can be rented for private or professional sessions. The price are as follows:

  • 1/2 day (4h) : CHF 300.00
  • 1 day (8h) : CHF 500.00
  • 2 days : CHF 900.00
  • 3 days : CHF 1100.00
  • 4 days : CHF 1350.00
  • 5 days : CHF 1600.00
  • 6 days : CHF 1800.00
  • 7 days : CHF 2000.00
  • 8 days : CHF 2200.00
  • 9 days : CHF 2400.00
  • 10 days : CHF 2600.00

For each additional day above ten days, add CHF 100.00. For example, a 14-days rental costs CHF 3000.00 (2600+4*100).

It is also possible to ask for a sound technician to be present during your stay or a part of it. The prices are as follows:

  • For an introduction to synthesis, to a requested instrument, etc. : CHF 150.00
  • For a full presence during your stay : CHF 400.00 per day.

It is also possible to request a specific instrument from our collection that is not available in the Playroom at the moment. The instrument will be fully checked and prepared for you, which implies service costs even for very « cheap » instruments. Please note that, in some cases, the instrument might need some service or repair, which would imply additional costs to complete the request. In that case, you will be informed and asked if you agree with the additional costs before we proceed to the reparation. Of course, we will do our possible to keep those extra costs as low as possible.

The instruments of our collection are divided into three categories of value. Some examples of instrument belonging to each categories are given here to give you an idea of how to situate the instrument you might be interested in. The prices are as follows :

  • Category A : CHF 800.00
    • Note : any instrument from this category requires the mandatory presence of one of our sound technicians (CHF 400.00 per day)
    • Examples : Yamaha CS-80, Mellotron M400s, Fairlight CMI IIx, Roland Jupiter-8, Oberheim Matrix-12, Roland TR-808, etc.
  • Category B : CHF 300.00
    • Examples : Roland Juno-60, Roland Space Echo RE-201, Sequential Circuits Prophet 5, Yamaha DX-7, etc.
  • Category C : CHF 100.00
    • Examples : Boss Pedals, Roland Alpha Juno-1, Casio VL-1, Korg Poly-800, etc.

If you are interested, please fill the form right below.

Synths in the playroom

 
Brand
Model
Year
Brand:
Roland
Type:
Synthesizer
Model:
D-50 Digital LA Synthesizer
Year:
1987
Brand:
Roland
Type:
Drum machine
Model:
TR-808 Rhythm Composer Digital Drum Machine
Year:
1980
Brand:
Oberheim
Type:
Synthesizer
Model:
OB-8 Analog Polyphonic Synthesizer
Year:
1983
Brand:
Oberheim
Type:
Synthesizer
Model:
Matrix-1000 Analog Sound Module
Year:
1987
Brand:
Roland
Type:
Drum machine
Model:
TR-909 Rhythm Composer Analog Digital Drum Computer
Year:
1984
Brand:
Sequential Circuits
Type:
Synthesizer
Model:
Pro-One Synthesizer
Year:
1981
Brand:
Yamaha
Type:
Synthesizer
Model:
CS-50 Analog Polyphonic Synthesizer
Year:
1976
Brand:
Roland
Type:
Controller
Model:
PC-160 Midi Keyboard Controller
Year:
1996
Brand:
Soma Laboratory
Type:
Synthesizer
Model:
Soma Lyra-8 Synthesizer
Year:
2019
Brand:
Eventide
Type:
Effect
Model:
DSP 4000 Digital Ultra Harmonizer
Year:
1988
Brand:
Roland
Type:
Synthesizer
Model:
SH-101 Analog Monophonic Synthesizer
Year:
1982
Brand:
Alesis
Type:
Drum machine
Model:
HR-16 High Sample Rate 16-Bit Drum Machine
Year:
1987
Brand:
Boss
Type:
Effect
Model:
DM-1 Delay Machine Pedal
Year:
1977
Brand:
Boss
Type:
Effect
Model:
DD-6 Digital Delay Effect Pedal
Year:
2002
Brand:
Arturia
Type:
Drum machine
Model:
Drumbrute Drum Machine and Sequencer
Year:
2016
Brand:
Roland
Type:
SynthesizerSequencer
Model:
MC-303 Groovebox Synthesizer / Sound Module and Sequencer
Year:
1996
Brand:
Boss
Type:
Effect
Model:
PH-2 Super Phaser Effect Pedal
Year:
1984
Brand:
Playtime Engineering
Type:
Synthesizer
Model:
Blipblox Toy Synthesizer and Drum Computer
Year:
2019
Brand:
Roland
Type:
Controller
Model:
Roland PC-160A Midi Keyboard Controller
Year:
2000
Brand:
Novation
Type:
Synthesizer
Model:
Peak 8-Voice Polyphonic Desktop Synthesizer
Year:
2017
Brand:
Boss
Type:
Effect
Model:
DF-2 Super Feedbacker & Distortion Effect Pedal
Year:
1984
Brand:
Sequential Circuits
Type:
Drum machine
Model:
Drumtraks 400
Year:
1983
Brand:
Roland
Type:
Effect
Model:
SVC-350 Analog Vocoder Rack
Year:
1979
Brand:
Sequential Circuits
Type:
Synthesizer
Model:
Prophet VS Rack Synthesizer
Year:
1986
Brand:
Boss
Type:
Effect
Model:
DM-100 Analog Delay Machine
Year:
1980
Brand:
Erica Synths
Type:
Modular Synthesizer
Model:
Custom Modular System
Year:
2018
Brand:
Erica Synths
Type:
Modular Synthesizer
Model:
Graphic VCO Module
Year:
2018
Brand:
Erica Synths
Type:
Modular Synthesizer
Model:
Pico Voice Module
Year:
2018
Brand:
Erica Synths
Type:
Modular Synthesizer
Model:
Pico VCF Module
Year:
2018
Brand:
Erica Synths
Type:
Modular Synthesizer
Model:
Black VCA Module
Year:
2018
Brand:
Erica Synths
Type:
Modular Synthesizer
Model:
Black Dual EG/LFO Module
Year:
2018
Brand:
Erica Synths
Type:
Modular Synthesizer
Model:
Black Modulator Module
Year:
2018
Brand:
Erica Synths
Type:
Modular Synthesizer
Model:
Pico Multi Module
Year:
2018
Brand:
Erica Synths
Type:
Modular Synthesizer
Model:
Pico Random Module
Year:
2018
Brand:
Erica Synths
Type:
Modular Synthesizer
Model:
Pico Trigger Module
Year:
2018
Brand:
Erica Synths
Type:
Modular Synthesizer
Model:
Pico Drums Module
Year:
2018
Brand:
Erica Synths
Type:
Modular Synthesizer
Model:
Black Stereo Mixer Module
Year:
2018
Brand:
Erica Synths
Type:
Modular Synthesizer
Model:
Black Hole DSP Module
Year:
2018
Brand:
Erica Synths
Type:
Modular Synthesizer
Model:
Pico Output Module
Year:
2018
Brand:
Novation
Type:
Controller
Model:
61SL MkIII Keyboard Controller
Year:
2018
Brand:
Mutable Instruments
Type:
Synthesizer
Model:
Custom Modular System
Year:
2015
Brand:
Mutable Instruments
Type:
Modular Synthesizer
Model:
Yarns Midi Interface
Year:
2015
Brand:
Mutable Instruments
Type:
Modular Synthesizer
Model:
Links Multiples and Mixing
Year:
2015
Brand:
Mutable Instruments
Type:
Modular Synthesizer
Model:
Plaits Micro-Oscillator
Year:
2015
Brand:
Mutable Instruments
Type:
Modular Synthesizer
Model:
Tides Tidal Modulator
Year:
2015
Brand:
Mutable Instruments
Type:
Modular Synthesizer
Model:
Warps Meta-Modulator
Year:
2015
Brand:
Mutable Instruments
Type:
Modular Synthesizer
Model:
Ripples Liquid Filter
Year:
2015
Brand:
Mutable Instruments
Type:
Modular Synthesizer
Model:
Kinks Mingling and Mangling
Year:
2015
Brand:
Mutable Instruments
Type:
Modular Synthesizer
Model:
Mutable Instruments Veils Quad VCA
Year:
2015
Brand:
Mutable Instruments
Type:
Modular Synthesizer
Model:
Ears Contact Microphone
Year:
2015
Brand:
Mutable Instruments
Type:
Modular Synthesizer
Model:
Elements Modal Synthesizer
Year:
2015
Brand:
Mutable Instruments
Type:
Modular Synthesizer
Model:
Blinds Quad VC-Polarizer
Year:
2015
Brand:
Mutable Instruments
Type:
Modular Synthesizer
Model:
Clouds Texture Synthesizer
Year:
2015
Brand:
Doepfer
Type:
Modular Synthesizer
Model:
A-143-3 Quad LFO Modulation Oscillator
Year:
2018
Brand:
Roland
Type:
Synthesizer
Model:
System-100M Custom System Modular Synthesizer
Year:
1978
Brand:
Roland
Type:
Modular Synthesizer
Model:
System-100M 191-J Modular Synthesizer
Year:
1978
Brand:
Roland
Type:
Synthesizer
Model:
System-100M 112 Dual VCO Modular Synthesizer
Year:
1978
Brand:
Roland
Type:
Modular Synthesizer
Model:
System-100M 110 VCO/VCF/VCA Modular Synthesizer
Year:
1978
Brand:
Roland
Type:
Modular Synthesizer
Model:
System-100M 140 DUAL EG/LFO
Year:
1978
Brand:
Roland
Type:
Controller
Model:
System-100M SY-184 Polyphonic 4CV Synthesizer
Year:
1978
Brand:
Boss
Type:
Effect
Model:
CE-1 Chorus Ensemble Pedal
Year:
1976
Brand:
Teenage Engineering
Type:
Synthesizer
Model:
PO-12 Rhythm Pocket Operator
Year:
2018
Brand:
Teenage Engineering
Type:
Synthesizer
Model:
PO-14 Sub Pocket Operator
Year:
2018
Brand:
Teenage Engineering
Type:
Synthesizer
Model:
PO-16 Factory
Year:
2018
Brand:
Teenage Engineering
Type:
Synthesizer
Model:
PO-20 Arcade Pocket Operator
Year:
2018
Brand:
Teenage Engineering
Type:
Synthesizer
Model:
PO-24 Office Pocket Operator
Year:
2018
Brand:
Teenage Engineering
Type:
Synthesizer
Model:
PO-32 Tonic Pocket Operator
Year:
2017
Brand:
Teenage Engineering
Type:
Synthesizer
Model:
PO-33 KO! Pocket Operator
Year:
2018
Brand:
Teenage Engineering
Type:
Synthesizer
Model:
PO-28 Robot Pocket Operator
Year:
2018
Brand:
Teenage Engineering
Type:
Synthesizer
Model:
PO-35 Speak Pocket Operator
Year:
2018
Brand:
Behringer
Type:
Pedal
Model:
HA400 Micro Amp 4 Channel Headphone Amplifier
Year:
2000
Brand:
Moog
Type:
Synthesizer
Model:
Minimoog Model D Analog Monophonic Synthesizer
Year:
1971
Brand:
Korg
Type:
Synthesizer
Model:
Mono/Poly MP-4 Analog Synthesizer
Year:
1981
Brand:
Korg
Type:
Synthesizer
Model:
Monologue Monophonic Analogue Synthesizer
Year:
Brand:
Electro-Harmonix
Type:
Drum machine
Model:
DRM 32-03 Digital Rhythm Matrix
Year:
1978
Brand:
Arturia
Type:
Drum machine
Model:
Drumbrute Impact Analog Drum Synthesizer
Year:
2018
Brand:
Korg
Type:
Drum machine
Model:
KR-55 Rhythm 55 Drum Machine
Year:
1979
Brand:
Arp
Type:
Synthesizer
Model:
Odyssey Mark II Analog Synthesizer Model 2811
Year:
1975
Brand:
Korg
Type:
Synthesizer
Model:
MS-20 Analog Monophonic Synthesizer
Year:
1978

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