"One of the first [UK] companies to make its mark in the field of electronic music," Electronic Music Studios (EMS) was founded by Peter Zinovieff. "The majority of the designs during EMS's most successful and influential period were done by Dave Cockrell." EMS started manufacturing modular synths in 1971. "EMS's most famous product [was] the [Cockrell-designed] VSC3, which probably did more to change the face of British electronic music than any other synthesizer."

Datatronics purchased EMS in 1979, and in 1982, "the reins of EMS (as well as the rights to the name) were taken over by Robin Wood," who had been with the company since it was 6 months old. EMS still exists today and manufactures "VSC3's and Synthi AKS's by special order, and reconditions and sells older models."

[excerpted with permission from the book Vintage Synthesizers by Mark Vail, copyright Miller Freeman, Inc]