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Velvet & Voltage

Velvet & Voltage Studio

Your synthesizer deserves more than a parts swap.

Boutique restoration and calibration for musicians and collectors who understand craft. Analog instruments brought back to sonic life with obsessive precision.

Book a RestorationSee Our Process

Repair is not restoration.

Mass-market shops swap components and ship boxes. We listen to what your instrument is telling us—through signal paths, oscillator drift, and the subtle voice of age. We recondition, recalibrate, and restore. A Moog from 1973 doesn't need new guts. It needs someone who understands its original intention and brings it back with surgical precision. That's us.

How Restoration Works

A methodical approach to bringing analog instruments back to their best selves.

  1. Diagnostic Assessment

    We power on cold, measure voltage rails, trace signal paths, and document baseline behavior. Every synth tells a story in its numbers. Before we touch anything, we know exactly what we're dealing with.

  2. Component Analysis & Recapping

    Electrolytic capacitors fail. They always do. We identify stressed or failed caps, source period-appropriate replacements, and resolder with care. We replace what needs replacing—nothing more.

  3. Oscillator Calibration

    Pitch stability is everything. We tune VCOs to spec, verify temperature tracking, and ensure your instrument stays in tune across the performance envelope. Accuracy to within 1 Hz.

  4. Output Tuning & Final Calibration

    We sweep the full range, stress-test filters, verify envelope tracking, and listen to the instrument the way you will. Only when it breathes right do we call it finished.

Primary narrative

Why We're Different

Quick-fix shops see instruments as inventory. They treat every problem the same way because speed matters more than sound. We see every synthesizer as a unique sonic object with a history and a voice worth preserving. Your 1976 ARP Odyssey isn't a 'broken synth.' It's a time capsule of analog design, deserving of an engineer who gets that distinction.

Supporting detail

The Real Cost of Cheap Repair

Hot-glue approaches hide problems instead of solving them. Replacing filter stages instead of diagnosing the actual capacitor causing drift. Shipping instruments across the country when a local expert could fix it in a week. We'd rather spend 40 hours getting one synth right than churn through ten half-measures.

Our Services

Full Restoration

Complete diagnostic, capacitor replacement, oscillator calibration, filter tuning, and cosmetic restoration. Bring your vintage synth back to factory spec and beyond.

Preventive Maintenance

Annual wellness check. We verify oscillator stability, check for aging capacitors, and address small issues before they become catastrophic.

Vintage Recap

Electrolytic caps are your synth's Achilles heel. We identify and replace failed or failing components with precision timing.

Custom Modifications

Expand your instrument's voice. New CV inputs, extended filter ranges, improved envelope behavior—designed and installed with surgical care.

Oscillator Calibration

Tune VCOs to spec, verify tracking across the keyboard, ensure temperature stability. Obsessive frequency accuracy.

Circuit Analysis & Consultation

Understanding what's wrong is half the battle. We provide detailed reports on your synth's condition and recommended path forward.

By The Numbers

Instruments Restored
300+
Years Combined Experience
20+
Instruments Returned Uncalibrated
0
Days Average Turnaround
7–14

Questions From the Bench

How long does a full restoration take?
Typical turnaround is 7–14 days depending on complexity. Vintage recap alone might be 3–5 days. Full restoration with oscillator calibration can run 10–21 days. We prioritize correctness over speed. If it takes longer to get it right, it takes longer.
What synthesizers do you work on?
We specialize in analog and early digital synthesizers: Moog, ARP, Minimoog, Prophet, Oberheim, Korg, Yamaha, Buchla, and lesser-known vintage instruments. If it has discrete oscillators, VCAs, and filter stages, we can work with it. Bring schematics if you can.
Do you ship instruments across the country?
Yes, we accept instruments by mail or courier. We pack with obsessive care—double-boxed, foam-lined, fully insured. You pay shipping both ways. We recommend UPS or FedEx for anything over $2,000. Local Portland pickups and drop-offs available by appointment.
What's the pricing?
Diagnostic assessment: $150 (credited toward repairs). Preventive maintenance: $300–600. Vintage recap: $400–1200 depending on component count. Full restoration: $1500–5000+ depending on instrument and required work. We provide a detailed estimate before proceeding.
Do you offer warranties on repairs?
Yes. All repairs carry a 2-year warranty on parts and labor. If a recapped capacitor fails, or an oscillator drifts out of spec due to our work, we fix it free. Wear items like switches and potentiometers are covered for 90 days.
Can you modify my synthesizer?
Absolutely. New CV inputs, extended filter ranges, improved envelopes, custom panel modifications—we design mods in collaboration with you. Every mod is documented, reversible if possible, and tested to spec. Modifications are bespoke; we'll discuss your sonic goals and build it right.

Send Us Your Synth

Tell us about your instrument and what you're hearing (or not hearing). We'll respond within 24 hours.