MATRIXSYNTH: Thursday, December 28, 2006


Thursday, December 28, 2006

Limor Fried and her x0xb0x Synthesizer


Revver via thewhyy27. BTW, if the video skips too much, hit play, then pause and wait for some of it to load before starting. I'm finding this to be the case with Revver videos so far.

"Limor Fried and her x0xb0x Synthesizer - a conversation between hacker/artist Limor Fried ("Lady Ada") and Joi Ito with Phil Torrone of Make Magazine. Fried talks about her popular x0xb0x synthesizer kits, and the increasing elaborate revisioning of the product that's coming from her users. With Ito and Torrone, she proposes that this is a promising model for "open source physical objects" - extending the permitted hackability of software to hardware. This is an interview from South by Southwest: Interactive, in March 2006; the camera was held by Merci Hammon, the editor was Justin Hall, and Joi Ito was the executive producer - this is part of a series of videos released online from that event under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 license."

Love the Open Source reference. If you think about it, "open source physical objects" goes back to... well, back to the beginning of time. Utensils anyone?

Roland HPD-15

You might remember that I picked up a Yamaha DD55 for Christmas this year. I originally bought it to just drum out percussive rhythms. Well, I've been using the MIDI out to control my synths, and I must say it's surprisingly refreshing. I never really thought of it as an alternative MIDI controller. I've also found that I want to play it more with my hands rather than the included drum sticks. There is a "hand mode" that makes the pads more sensitive, however I haven't gotten accustomed to it yet and my fingers begin to get sore fairly quickly. Enter the Roland HPD-15. I haven't tried one yet, but it does look it would fit the bill perfectly. I'm hearing good things about it over on the Waldorf list. Title link takes you to the Roland product page for the HPD-15. I pulled the image from one of them up for auction. I'm bookmarking this one for later.

Update: Be sure to check out the comments of this post and actually all posts for more. Huppo sent the following to the the Waldorf list where there is some discussion on the HPD-15:

" I also have a Yamaha DD-50
(predecessor to the DD-55 and quite similar) and a Roland Handsonic
HPD-10, The HPD-10 is the little brother to the HPD-15. I only had to
try the Handsonic once at a music store and immediately went home and
ordered one...it's that cool. Like many people, I am a compulsive
tabletop/steering wheel/thigh/knee drummer and the handsonic is made for
people like me. The pads, unlike the DD-50, are very sensitive to even
very light finger tapping. I haven't MIDIed it into my setup yet because
I am having too much fun with it as a standalone instrument. I got it to
add assorted percussive tidbits to my music and it works fantastic for that.

Until you play one it's hard to understand how expressive it can be. If
you play congas, for example, you can mute it with one hand and it will
respond approriately. If you slap onto the 'rim' you will get the rim
shot sound. It has aftertouch, which can be set to do all kinds of
things such as bend the sound or initiate a roll. It has a D-beam at the
top which can be set to trigger a sound or bend the notes or introduce
effects, etc. It has 64 built in 'kits' ranging from regular drum sets
(jazz, brushes, etc) to ethnic percussion like tabla and assorted
African, Asian and drums (the HPD-10 specialty) to electronic sets to
special effects groupings. You can also assemble your own sets, with all
the PCM drum sounds tunable and reassignable to any of the 10 pads, etc.
You can add two floor pedal triggers to the HPD-10 to make itmore like a
drum set, but can NOT play it with sticks.

I got it for a little over $500, new. Cheaper than the HPD-15 but not as
cheap as the DD-55 at about $150. The inportant distinction muct be made
that the Handsonic is to be played with the hands (hence the name..) and
the DD-55 is designed to be played with sticks. The pads aren't
sensitive enough to play very expressively with your hands and are much
too hard! It is fun, though, and in a pinch can be used to imitate a
drum kit since two foot triggers are included. For the money it's a
great toy and tool to have around, but I wouldn't put it in the same
class as the Handsonic offerings.

~huppo"

Roland System 100m Boxes

Image pulled via this auction. Yep. Just the boxes are up for auction. Buy it now of $40. Should have saved your boxes. : )

NES MIDI Synth Module


Note this is the Wayfar Midines. Also note the knobs.

Click here for shots pulled via this auction.

Details:
"This auction is for a custom modified nintendo NES synthesizer which takes MIDI input from either a midi keyboard or from sequencing software (FL studio, cubase, sonar, etc), and all of the NES's sound settings are programmable via MIDI CC's (control changes). This is implemented using the lastest midiNES cartridge (1.1.0).

The sound is taken directly from the processor and is broken into two sound groups. One group consists of two channels of squarewave [which most often are used as the main 'lead' instrument in NES music] and the other group includes the triangle wave channel [often used for melodies and basslines], the noise channel [used for drums and effects], and the sample channel [used for drum samples, sound effects, etc.].

The two groups of sound have independent volume controls, and a mix on/off switch gives the option of having the two sound groups mixed (ie: all sound runs through either of the outputs), or separated (ie: drum/triangle/noises go through one output and the squarewaves go through the other).

The midiNES cartridge includes two main performance modes. . one which generates random graphic effects and one which doesn't. The start and select buttons on the front of the NES switch between these modes. [The graphics mode is very neat when the NES is hooked up to a television or monitor. . but for precise studio work, it is better to disable the graphics option.] A controller can be connected to the NES to adjust additional settings for fine studio work.

Here are the main features of the NESsynth :
- The original RCA and RF outputs on the nintendo don't really provide the cleanest signal. The sound is much better direct from the processor and through high quality 1/4" jacks.
- The volume controls and separated audio outputs will provide you with more control over your volumes and mix! [In fact, this is the only way to overcome the drawback of having the 5 channels pre-mixed.]
- The front-panel start and select buttons make the unit an entirely self-contained module! There's no need for a NES controller or monitor! You could play a live show with just a laptop, this NES, and a couple of cables!
- Most importantly, all of these modifications have been thoroughly tested and revised to ensure that the console should last a lifetime."

Previous MIDI NES posts

DSI PEK

Title link takes you to shot's pulled via this auction.

Rhodes Chroma

Title link takes you to shots pulled via this auction. Apologies for not getting to this one before it ended.

Edd Kalehoff At the Moog Synthesizer Keyboard (Schaefer Beer)


Revver via maxkalehoff. Note this video was put up by Edd Kalehoff's son and is an excerpt from the Moog Documentary.

Todd Barton - Analog Horizonings


"a very mellow collection of ambient soundscapes featuring the EVI-2000 along with the S-P Synthacon, Buchla, Serge and JP-8"

http://cdbaby.com/cd/toddbarton

"After four decades of exploration Todd Barton is still delving deeply into the ever-expanding frontiers of musical expression: from his DNA derived Genome Music to his innovative scores for plays at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival; from performances of Zen Shakuhachi Meditation Music to avant-garde music for electronic synthesizers and computers; from performing with luminaries of jazz and poetry to lecturing on music and composition from the Middle Ages to the 21st Century.

Todd's music has been heard on NPR’s Morning Edition, Westcoast Live, and the Curve of Wonder.

Since 1979 Todd has been exploring electronic systhesis and computer-based music. His love for vintage analog synthesisers continues to this day.

Over the years Todd has collaborated with a variety of jazz musicians and poets including Anthony Braxton, Zakir Hussein, William Stafford, Ursula K. Le Guin and Lawson Fusao Inada.

analog horizonings: ambient soundscapes for vintage analog synthesizers.

all music composed, produced and performed by todd barton"

Note Todd also goes by the alias vgermuse. You can see previous posts featuring vgermuse here and one more here. You might remember him from the Steiner Parker Synthacon and Buchla 200e demos.

Roland CMU-800R MIDI Conversion Kit


Remember the CMU-800R? The biggest "problem" with it is that you need an Apple II to use it. Well, not anymore. Title link takes you to a site with info on a MIDI conversion kit for it. The site is in Japanese, however, you can find a Google translated version here .

"MIDI conversion KIT specifications

At the time of MIDI conversion remodelling, concept and the specifications were done as follows.

* At low cost and simple.
* It makes MIDI conversion KIT, the substance build in completely, decreases remodelling the substance as much as possible.
* CV, it makes 1~8ch of MIDI 1~8ch of GATE CORRESPOND.
* Melody of the built-in sound source, the base and the cord/code (4 sounds) it makes 1~6ch of MIDI CORRESPOND.
* The rhythm sound source uses MIDI10ch and the GM map.
* You do not use TEMPO [kontoru] of CMU-800.
* In order to be able to control MC-4 and TR-808 etc, DIN SYNC output is acquired. (In MIDI timing clock same period)"

via altemark.

Udpate via altemark in the comments: "Another japanese resource, seems to be an older version of the mod, not using a PIC? the page also has gif-files of the routing of the digital board among other things [link]"

When You Patch Upon a Star

via Mattias.

Squeeze - Tempted


video upload by Riff1977

A little Prophet 5. Sent my way via Brian Comnes.

Bob Moog Foundation Newsletter #4

"A Tribute To Bob Moog from The Caring Bridge

Dear Bob,

Thank you for finding the noise within the circuits.
For releasing the sound which resides in electricity.

For cutting a hole in the universe and poking your soldering iron around, making the future possible.

For making the future sing its electric lullabies.

You are immortal. You will always be here.
Your sounds reaching into the heavens and bouncing around for all time, kissing the stars goodnight and waving to faces in far away places.

For all time Moog shall sing.

Bill Hansen
July 24, 2005

The tribute above was sent to the Moog family by a man named Bill Hansen. I was so touched by its poignancy that I read it at my father's memorial service.

How has Bob Moog touched your life? Whether it's through the music you play or the music you listen to or whether it's the inspiration of encouragement you received from meeting him, consider the impact of this giving, humble genius of on your life.

The Bob Moog Foundation is nearly four months old. Your donations at this time are forming the building blocks of our efforts. We are depending on your generosity.

To those of you who have donated, we say a very grateful thanks. To those of you who haven't, we ask you to help us support Bob Moog's legacy of innovation, curiosity and inspiration.

To find out our goals for the Foundation, check out our Statement of Objectives at our website.

Wishing you peace, love and lots of great music this holiday season with warm regards,

Michelle Moog-Koussa
Director, The Bob Moog Foundation

Foundation News

The Bob Moog Foundation goes to NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants)!

From January 18th to the 21st the Foundation will be in Anaheim, California among hundreds of manufactures of musical instruments making waves and spreading the word.

For any of you who will he there, please come visit us at the “Friends of Music” section in Exhibit Hall D.

Got Feedback? We want to hear from you!!

What do you think of the Bob Moog Foundation. What do we do well? What could we do better? Share your thoughts with us at...

feedback@moogfoundation.org
The Bob Moog Memorial Foundation for Electronic Music
PO BOX 8136 Asheville, NC 28814 | 828/683-7261 | info@moogfoundation.org"

Quick Links:
Official Website
Donate Now

Previous Newsletters:
Bob Moog Foundation Newsletter #1
Bob Moog Foundation Newsletter #2
Bob Moog Foundation Newsletter #3

Synth Mantra Session II Video


video upload by SoNiCbRaT

Remember this post? Looks like SoNiCbRaT put up a video. Enjoy.
via SoNiCbRaT, where you'll find more info and shots of the session.

G2ools - Nord Modular v1 to G2 patch converter

Title link takes you there. via sequencer.de.

Akai AX80

flickr by Mike Peacock2005.

Title link takes you to more.

European Modular Event 2007

Via this electro-music.com thread:

"This is the official announcement for the European Modular Event 2007, the successor to the Nord Modular Events from the past. The Event also encompasses the European part of the "electro-music.com 2007 Event".

The Event will be held in a beautiful chateau in the Belgium Ardennes, from July 31 to August 6. For a full week the chateau will be transformed into a sonic heaven for electronic musicians; meaning a place where you can jam and improvise from dawn to dusk and dusk to dawn with like-minded musicians.

The main theme of the Event is sharing our music: sharing musical ideas, techniques and knowledge to inspire each other. It is the perfect place and time to meet the fellow musicians you communicate with on e.g. electro-music.com and other forums and email lists. It is possible to present your work, do a performance or build an installation by yourself or together with others, present or attend a short workshop on some subject, etc. Details and program will be worked out in the next months. The organizers would like to keep the program open for a lot of ad hoc jamming and improvisation."

Nice location.
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