The legendary ARP 2600 was first released in 1971. It is a monophonic, semi-modular synthesizer, made to compete with Moogs synthesizer systems throughout the 1970s. The ARP 2600, as one of the first ever portable and affordable consumer-oriented synths, was a direct answer following the large, impractical modular-synth systems of the late 1960s. Its pre-wired internal connections can be overwritten using patch-cords at clearly labeled patch-points, making the synth, and therefore synthesis, easy to pick up and learn. Made from 1971 to 1980, the ARP 2600 had four model-generations, following various revisions for cosmetic, legal, or reliability reasons. Their sound unfortunately downgraded, making the earliest and rarest models the best sounding. It has been famously used for the vocalizations of R2D2 in the Star Wars movies, as well as by artists like Herbie Hancock, Brian Eno, Jean-Michel Jarre, Edgar Winter, Depeche Mode, Stevie Wonder and many more.