Audiopad

I remember when this first came out. I haven't looked it up for some time. The site has been revamped with more info, pictures and video. Man, I want one.





"Audiopad is a composition and performance instrument for electronic music which tracks the positions of objects on a tabletop surface and converts their motion into music. One can pull sounds from a giant set of samples, juxtapose archived recordings against warm synthetic melodies, cut between drum loops to create new beats, and apply digital processing all at the same time on the same table. Audiopad not only allows for spontaneous reinterpretation of musical compositions, but also creates a visual and tactile dialogue between itself, the performer, and the audience."

Polishing Scratched Keys

In via AH. Ever think about cleaning up those scratched keys? I have. Someon on AH asked and the following came up. One of these days, I'm definitely going to have to give this a try.

"In the plastic shops you will find a product called Novus. It comes in
grades 1,2,&3, with 3 being coarse and 1 being fine. It is for polishing
and or removing scratched in plastics like plexiglass display cases. You
might try a 2 grade. Its sold in small bottles. Any sandpaper would be
likely to scratch things and open up the sealed plastic finish, so I'd go
with the novus if you have to. Lorne in Canada We use it in a museum on
display cases but we use glass cleaner for daily fingerprint problems.
Lorne in canada"

Korg Legacy Digital

No *free* upgrade path for current Legacy Wavestation users. More info and demos via title link.

Update: A couple of comments in that the upgrade path will be $99 for current owners. I think the gripe for some will be that there is no option to just update the Wavestation free of charge.



"Introducing the KORG Legacy Collection – DIGITAL EDITION; stunning software versions of two Korg digital synthesis masterpieces – the M1 and WAVESTATION – plus the MDE-X multi-effect plug-in."

Jomox M-Resonator Filter Box

Via Music Thing.



"The M-Resonator has a true differential envelope follower and 2 Filters that can be fed back in every way. The filter distorts smoothly...Audio samples come very soon."

YMO

Two great YMO performances from the early 80s. Analog synth heaven.

YMO Technopolis Live


YMO Day Tripper Live


Update (reworded and prompted from the comments below, thanks CM!):
I heard about YMO in the 80s, but never followed up until recently. They were somewhat known. However, the guy in the yellow suit playing the majority of leads and getting a fair amount of camera action is Ryuichi Sakamoto. Do a search for him and you will find a LOT of stuff he has done including the soundtrack to The Last Emperor. He worked with David Sylvian of Japan fame, Iggy Pop, Thomas Dolby, David Byrne (whom he co wrote the score for The Last Emperor), Bootsy Collins, and Tony Williams. He is an artist's artist, so to speak. He has an amazing body of work. See http://launch.yahoo.com/ar-262586-bio--Ryuichi-Sakamoto for more.

Another bio: http://www.sonyclassical.com/artists/sakamoto/adbio.html
Official Ryuichi Sakamoto Website: http://www.sitesakamoto.com/
Wikipedia on Ryuichi Sakamoto: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryuichi_Sakamoto
Wikipedia on YMO: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YMO

Update (via comments. Thanks Ron!):
"I've been a fan of YMO for some time now. If you want to see what the other two are up to (Yukihiro Takahashi and Haruomi Hosono), do a search for band called Sketch Show. The are on Mr. Hosono's label, Daisyworld. The have 3-4 disks out, and a DVD of a live performance. Excellent stuff -- highly recommended."

Electronic Sound Maker CD

Click through for more including downloadable samples of the Ensoniq Mirage, Yamaha TX816, and PPG Wave.



"Electronic Soundmaker and Computer Music was a magazine published in the UK between 1982 and 1985 to compete with Electronics and Music Maker (E&MM). The magazine features bands of the time, the gear of the time and readers’ musical efforts.

From October 1984 to September 1985 it also came with a C60 cassette"

Micro Live

Update: The order form in the US can be flakey. If you want to order this, just send Chris Strellis and email. You can reach him at Chris @crystalvision.tv (space intentially put there to prevent spammers from picking it up).

Click here for more.

"The BBC transmitted a weekly computer music program called Micro Live around 1984 and 1985. It featured the BBC Micro, Sinclair Spectrum, C64 and the like. They made a special about synthesisers past and present. Bob Moog demonstrates the last ever made Minimoog."

Vintage Synth Videos

Click through and explore. : )



Videos include:
Yamaha CS-80
Yamaha CS-15D
Korg 700s
Korg 800dv
Roland sh-3a
Roland sh-1000

Lazy Blue Octopus - Vintage Synth Docs

dar Jedville of Lazy Blue Octopus just added some user manuals to his site including the commonly sought after Oberheim OBXa and Oberheim Cyclone user manuals. Awesome of him to scan and put them up. Via AH.

I just love this picture. : )

Vintage Synth Docs on his site:

Oberheim OBXa User Manual (pdf format)
Oberheim OBXa Service Manual 1st Edition Text (pdf format)
Oberheim OBXa Service Manual 1st Edition Schematics (pdf format)
Oberheim OBXa Service Manual 3rd Edition(pdf format)
Oberheim OBXa Factory Patches
Oberheim DSX Owners Manual (pdf format)
Oberheim DSX Service Manual (pdf format)
Oberheim CYCLONE Midi Arpegiator User Manual (pdf format)
MOOG Sonic 6 Service Manual part1 (zipped gif files)
MOOG Sonic 6 Service Manual part 2 (zipped gif files)
MOOG Sonic 6 Operations Manual (zipped tif files)
MOOG MICROMOOG/MULTIMOOG Service Manual (zipped gif files)
ARP SOLUS Operations Manual (PDF)
ARP QUADRA USER Manual (PDF FORMAT.)
ARP QUADRA SERVICE Manual - TEXT (PDF FORMAT.)
ARP QUADRA SERVICE Manual - SCHEMATICS(PDF FORMAT.)
Sequential Circuits Prophet5 Service Manual,Rev 3.3 (pdf format)
DR CLICK Operation Manual (pdf)
KORG MS10 Service Manual (zipped .jpg files)
Music Percussion Computer User Manual (pdf)
Music Percussion Computer Schematics (pdf)
EML101 OWNER’S MANUAL
EML101 SERVICE MANUAL - TEXT
EML 101 SERVICE MANUAL - SCHEMATICS
DIGISOUND ADSR, VCO, VCA Build Notes - (schematics, calibration - pdf)
SSM Datasheets 2030 VCO, 2020 VCA, 2040 VCF, 2050 VCTG (pdf)
DIGISOUND PRICELIST Jan 1980 (pdf)
DIGISOUND PROJECT 80 CATALOGUE ~1984 (pdf)

Forat Custimizations

Hit the goldmine of custom work. Click through title link for more. Mostly Akai MPCs, but a few others including this green beauty. Wow. I always wanted a green synth. This Yamaha Motif is absolutely stunning. Via reptar on Vintage Synth Explorer.



click here for more, larger shots and matching MPC.