New Moog Specs are Up

In case you missed the update to this post. Title link takes you to the full list on Moog's website. Scroll when you get there.

Pi Sequencer on Voltage Controlled

Too cool. Title link takes you to the post.

My First Step Sequencer

Title link takes you there.



ndc Plugs has released My First Step Sequencer, a simple 16-(or 8-)step sequencer aimed at children. It comes with a shuffle mode and a note randomize button, as well as a scale-forcing control, to make it so that you can only select notes within a particular scale.

The notes are represented by animal heads in the carriage windows, with the velocities being represented by flowers on the carriage doors. The octave can be changed by clicking the body of the engine. A signal at the bottom right is a global mute - setting it down will stop the plugin from outputting MIDI data. The arrow at the bottom left can be used to display a number of advanced options, left to right:

Shuffle.
Number of steps (16 or 8).
Scale: lets you ignore certain notes, to enforce a particular scale.
Notes: Switches between displaying the notes as animal heads, or their actual values.
Random: randomizes the note values.
My First Step Sequencer is available for free as a VST effect plugin for Windows and Mac OS X and it is open source, so the source code is also available.

AHMW 2006

Just a reminder that AHMW 2006 is this Saturday, March 25. Title link takes you to more info.

AHMW 2005

New Moog - Initial Specs Leaked

Update: Moog put up the official specs: http://moogmusic.com/news.php?cat_id=107 (scroll down when you get there).

A spec list was leaked on the Moog forum and posted on AH as follows. Amos of Moog jumped in and stated that the spec list leaked was not complete. We know it's a synth so... Here are some basics sent my way via Dylan. I also saw the specs on AH. So if that list gets to see it, so do you. ; )

-----

It was posted at address (now forbidden) :

http://moogmusic.com/detail.php?main_product_id=3D227

specs for the new synth : "Little Phatty"

Little Phatty Tribute Edition

Here are some specifications:

Sound Sources:
Two ultra-stable analog VCOs.

Sound Modifiers:
VCLPF: 24 dB /Oct Moog Ladder filter,
Overload control
Single Output VCA.

Envelope Generator section:
Two ADSR EGRs:
One to modulate the Filter (Filter EGR)
One to Modulate the VCA (Volume EGR).

For each EGR, the parameters are:

Attack
Decay
Sustain
Release

Modulation section:
4-waveform LFO
1x1 Mod Buss
6 possible mod sources
4 possible destinations.

User Interface section:
Fine Tune (for both Oscillators)
Glide On/Off
Octave Down
Octave Up

Output section:
Master Volume control
Output On/Off switch
Headphone Volume control
Headphone output jack (1/4?

I/O Panel Section:
AC In (100-250VAC, 50-60 Hz)
Power On/Off
Audio Out
Ext. Audio In
Pitch CV In (1 V/Oct)
Filter CV In
Volume CV In
Keyboard Gate In
Midi In
Midi Out

the price was briefly posted as $1479

(info from analogue heaven mailing list btw)

Keep up the good work
dylan

NitroTracker

Another reason to get a Nintendo DS. Title link takes you there.

Sun Ra Interview

An interesting and sometimes humorous interview of Su Ra and his synths (only 2.2M mp3). Some details below posted by elmacaco on AH. BTW, elmacaco is looking for the real scoop behind what happened to Sun Ra's Minimoog Model B prototype. Rumors have it that it was destroyed in a pawn shop fire but then interviews mention it went missing. If you know, please post in the comments.




"Hi everyone,

Well I've been getting kinda deep into Sun Ra since watching Space is the
Place, and have gotten my hands on a few recorded interviews. THis one in
particular is titled "Sun Ra Speaking at Oct. 1971 Rehearsal" and the link
below takes you to where you can download the mp3.

He starts off talking about an analog sequencer, with the lights chasing,
and how you can change the speed, etc. Then he talks about a synth you play
by touching a copper strip instead of keys, and how he couldn't play it
because his skin resistance was different, that he had to wet his fingers to
be able to play it. He says this was produced "around here" and I have
references to Sun Ra rehearsing in Oakland in 1971, So that could place
"Around here" in Buchla or serge range geographicly, but it seems a bit
early for serge. Anyone know anything about this encounter? Perhaps
someone who knows him can ask Don if he knows something about it? I

He also talks about the people at Moog calling him to have him return the
prototype, swap it for a new one, or pay for it :D. He says something about
a lawsuit or something, but he may be building the mystique around the Model
B, since he is talking to his band, and saying that no one has the one he
has, that they just made it for him when he went by there one sunday.

Sorry for all the detail, but the link only lasts a week, so it makes some
good archive info.

I've combed the archives here and in other places, and there doesn't seem to
be a lot of good information on Sun Ra and his instruments. The best I can
piece together about the Fate of the Model B is that it was destroyed in a
pawn shop fire, but in other Sun Ra interviews I see him mention that it
went missing. If anyone knows the real scoop, or just has some more
mythology, please share it.

Even general Sun Ra anecdotes are welcome, as he was a really interesting
guy, but particularly synth related stuff, as there isn't enough of that,
and it's on topic ;')"

elmacaco

Gnostic Rocket Live in Toronto

Update2: Via Doktor Future in the comments:
"Here are some pics of a recent Ambient Ping performance up on this page:

http://www.paulsop.com/gallery/February2006?page=2

(near the bottom)."

Update via Gnostic Rocket in the comments:

"Hey Matrix,

Thanks for the link. There has been a bit of a change to the events planned for next Tuesday.

I will not be performing musically, but will however be featured as one of three "human canvases" who will be painted throughout the planned musical performance."

Note the following is no longer current (see above). Just saving this for posterity.
Gnostic Rocket/Phil Ogison will be performing live Tuesday, March 28th at Ambient Ping (at the Hacienda Night Club) in Toronto Canada.

"The event is part of Ambient Ping, a weekly experimental/ambient music event held at Toronto's Hacienda club (located at 794 Bathurst Street in Toronto - on the northwest corner of Bloor and Bathurst). We will be onstage at around 9:45pm.

I'm thinking about a more atmospheric, and less rhythmically driven set for this show. Will definitely bring the Springboard Dub, Casio CZ1000, Theremin, circuit bent Speak and Math by fastmatt, and probably my lap steel guitar and my Korg X911 guitar synth."

Title link takes you there. Sounds cool. Wish I was near Toronto.

Voltage Controlled

Joshua Greenberg just started Voltage Controlled. His first post is a salute to Music Thing, Create Digital Music, Matrixsynth, and all the others. Definitely honored to be on that list. His first content post is on an auction for a Synthi 100. Title link takes you there. I'm subbed and look forward to see what else comes. I also added Voltage Controlled to my blog roll on the right. Thanks Joshua!

New Buchla 200e Shot

Title link takes you to the full shot on VSE.