MATRIXSYNTH: Saturday, August 12, 2006

Mixing Beats on Music Thing

Title link takes you to a slew of beat videos on Music Thing. My picks:

Set The Beras Free - Masaaki Yoshida from Tokyo, Japan.

Just Blaze on his MPC 4000

Both via YouTube

Soothing Sounds for Baby III - New Flickr Shot

flickr by echslectir

"These are actually 1999 re-issues. The original records were released in 1964. It contains really cheesy and psychedelic synthesizer music by electronic music pioneer Raymond Scott" "This music was created to sooth babies but I think it's more effective for brainwashing or creating some sort of mental disorder (especially for the parents). It's fantastic!"

Oakley Modular Re-issues Limited PCBs

"Oakley Modular are proud to announce the re-issue of a limited number of modular synthesizer PCBs designed by Tony Allgood of Oakley Sound Systems. Short production runs of these popular boards will be offered on a first come, first served basis. Depending on the popularity of this first run of boards, further PCBs from the Oakley range may be offered."

Note it's Oakley Modular and not Oakley Sound Systems. Via Oakley Sound Systems News:
"I have formed a new partnership with two individuals to allow PCBs and hopefully ready made modules to become available again.

Oakley Modular is the newly formed company that is handling all the merchandising of the modular PCBs and parts.

This week they started shipping the first batch of re-issued boards. Depending on sales, we will then look at introducing new versions of some of the obsolete modules, and perhaps some new ones too.

The new Oakley Modular website can be found here. Please note that although the website is fully functional, we still have plenty of things to add to it. We hope to update all the User Guides and give you new pictures of the new RoHS compliant PCBs and parts.

Tony"

This one via Sjaak Thanks Sjaak!

Synth P*rn via Sequencer.de

Three synth p*rn posts in via sequencer.de: 1, 2, 3. This shot of a Matrix-12 and DX1 is classic. Matrix-12s are pretty sizable synths. Now check out the size of the DX1. Massive.

Sonic Palette

Looks like we are in an alternative MIDI controller run. Next up, the Sonic Palette. Via this electro-music.com post (there is a sample in the post).

• 84 arrayed (7 by 12) pressure sensitive pads
• Completely portable seven octave range
• 2 pitch bend sensors, 2 pre-set or assignable knobs
• Multi-channel MIDI set-ups
• Custom set-up options
• Hand finished wood body
• Superior ergonomics
• Play standing, moving, or sitting
• Professional quality
• Easy to learn system

Star Labs Custom MIDI Controllers

Never thought I'd put up a shot of one of these on this site. Title link takes you to Star Labs, home to a number of custom midi instruments including this one, the Z6. There are some interesting controllers worth checking out including the Kurzweil EventStation 1.0. "We have released to Kurzweil Musical Systems the beta-run of the EventStation MIDI percussion controller and event-processor. This is a new type of MIDI drum-brain that combines a fast, responsive percussion controller with robust support for Continuous Control functions, two sequencers, and multiple looping and stacking features."

via Awakened_Yeti in the comments of this post.

The VCS4

This one is in via Frédéric.

"A design study for a follow up to the VCS3 case containing the same boards.This was believed lost until it recently appeared in Sound on Sound Oct 97/p190. When this was being considered some engineers from the EMS factory arrived carrying a briefcase which turned out to be the prototype Synthi A. There was no contest."

See http://www.ems-synthi.demon.co.uk/emsprods.html for more.

Update 5/29/21: unfortunately the link no longer works. I'm no longer sure if this design was ever designated as a VCS4. You can find two known models of the VCS4 in additional posts here. If anyone does know, feel free to leave a comment below.