MATRIXSYNTH: Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Felt Calculator Synth

Yep. Title link takes you to more info on Music Thing.

YouTube via worrydream.

"A little jam on the Alesis Micron. Leave a note if you like it, and I'll record more!

For the curious: This is all a single setup I made, called "Sunset", using stock programs. Here's what's inside:

Part A (lower octave): "SunsetPad" 4-bar pattern using "Solar Wire" program.
Part B (lower octave): "SunsetBassline" 4-bar pattern using "JacoInTheBox" program.
Part C (upper octaves): "Sandpaper Lead" program. Z-knob is mapped to fuzz pedal level.
Part D (upper octaves): "Arp Answering" arpeggio pattern using "EP? OK!" program.
Part E: "HH Hardcore" drum program, overriding drum B in the beats.
Part F (low D): "PR Squirch" drum program.
Beat A (low C): "Minimal 1" rhythm, latched.
Beat B (low C#): "Roll 01" rhythm.
Beat C (low D): "What Up 4" rhythm, latched"

Justin Timberlake & Timbaland's SexyBack on Alesis Micron

YouTube via andrewgobel.

vactrol pattern synthesizer

YouTube via cretin4321. via cliplead where you will find more info on it. It gets really good about 2:10 into.

buchla 200e rock n roll

YouTube via blindoldfreak.

Yes, I did previously post this here. Why am I posting it again? Well, at the time I did post it I was asked to keep the source anonymous. I can know reveal who this is, but instead of doing so I thought I'd let people guess first. If you already know who this is please do not ruin it for others. Feel free to guess in the comments.

Analog Sweden

Bookmarking this one for when it goes live. Title link takes you there.
via Fredrik Segerfalk's sig in the previous post.

ARP 2600 repair

YouTube via segerfalk.

"This is how a tech should do it. Fix the stuff and keep you amused. This is one of many videos I got from my tech when he fixed my ARP 2600"

via:
Fredrik Segerfalk
www.segerfalk.com
www.analogsweden.com

Krakli Free VSTis

StringZ2
"A new and much 'Improved' version of StringZ, we present StringZ2. Now much more capable of providing pad ensemble sounds as well as the PM sounds that StringZ was famous for. This version boasts the keyscale controls first introduced in Rticul8r. Here they can be used to good effect to fine tune the filter or harmonics across the keyboard. This version also has a reverb unit built in that can become part of the voice architecture. Complete with a full bank of 128 presets which have been kindly contributed by Tim Conrardy and Himalaya showing the full range of this distinctive keyboard."

mp3 demo

Title link takes you to the rest. via gearwire.

Roland Jupiter-8

Title link takes you to some tasty shots of the Roland Jupiter-8 on the Matrixsynth Forum via cynep.

Synth Jam

Title link takes you to a synth jam by Dennis featuring the following:

Roland TR-606 as clock and drummachine.
RSF Kobol for the whoom.
Livewire Dual Cyclotron for the melodie trough an Analogue Systems scale programmer.
Wiard VCO + 2 Classic Borg Filters
Cynthia Zero Oscilator + Dual Wasp Filter.
Wiard Sequantizer for the weird slides and transposes.

Zymurgy

Awesome synth art via Dave of umop and The Packrat. And... It's green. Mmmmm....

Vaco Loco

Click here for Paul Maddox's Vaco Loco. You'll find tons of synth content including info on the Defender, Monowave, Monowave II, Phoenix, PolyDAC and Midi2SDS, some of which have been featured here before (btw, the Search box up top and to the right are your friend).

The Formicarium

Studio shot via The Formicarium. Check out the site for audio, info and a few more shots. There are some really good soundscapes.

Synth Gear Pictured:
Elektron Machinedrum
Sherman Filterbank
Elektron Monomachine
Latronic Notron Sequencer

ARP 2500 NOODLE

Title link takes you to an ARP 2500 track sent my way via ben.

"I thought you might like to hear a little "ARP 2500 NOODLE" i did yesterday [actually its nearly 7 mins long]. It's an arp going through an ibanez AD-80 delay pedal. It's in mono. The arp is set up to play a simple sequence [notice it is 10 steps long] and I tweak the pitch etc as it goes. I also tweak the delay repeat/time/blend knobs. Note that this is an analog delay pedal from the 70s, using the amazing Panasonic MN3005 bucket brigade delay circuit"

GRS VCO.3 and H.R. Giger

via Nikos-Greece

"a picture I found in a Taschen book about the famous Swiss artist H.R. Giger.(see "Alien" and ELP'S "Brain Salad Surgery" cover) Well, in the picture, you can see behind the couple(?) the rare Italian synth GRS VCO.3. According to "A-Z of Analogue Synths" by Peter Forrest,only 30 of them were made,and it is reported that it was a great sounding synth. So maybe in the 'famous users list' of A-Z, could be added this couple of engineers. An (Eminent) Solina can be seen also, under the VCO.3.

You can also find a photo of the GRS VCO.3, in Sequencer.de site, as it's featured in the swiss synth "Synthorama" collection."

jimmy tamborello

Title link takes you to jimmy tamborello's website. When you get there click on Other followed by Studio, put on your bib and click play. Jimmy's projects include DNTL, James Figurine, The Postal Service, Figurine, and Dublab.

Analog Solutions Vostok pictured

via Andrew

circuit bent drum toy (a.k.a. HarshDrum) - circuitbend.it

YouTube via eraser801. Sent my way via EraSeR. Also check out circuitbend.it.

Watch your volume levels on this one.

"It has 5 buttons: 4 to trigger the usual drum sounds, 1 for
a demo pattern.I've also add a LFO circuit to trigger a
sound or the demo, for looping sounds.
Bends controls are:
-Slow motion
-Fast motion
-Chirping sound"

SYNTEZATORY.PRV.PL

http://www.syntezatory.prv.pl

If you've been coming to this site for some time, you no doubt have enjoyed the video and images of wc olo garb, aka jexus(youtube), aka polaranta(flickr). Well, I just realized that although I link to his site in each post, I've never put up a post exclusively on his site. Well, here it is. If you haven't taken a look at his site recently, do check it out. If you like synths, you will not be disappointed. Also check out the links above for his brilliant videos and some outrageously funny shots. Wc Olo Garb rules.

Algorithmic VSTi Music Systems by H.G. Fortune

Update: some of these are FREE.
ProtoPlasm21 Synthesizer
"The upgraded ProtoPlasm 21 has been reworked at a great extend and has become nearly a completely new synth. With it's new features like Super Modulation Morphing (SMM), key-control on Delay (LKO), LFO modulation matrix and a dedicated Attack Oscillator it enhances it's main purpose as synthesizer for vivid textures, soundscapes and pads. Even more with SMM and LKO there is a highly improved realtime control now." See the video at the end of this post.

STS-26 Synthesizer
Wave-Transition method for absolute unique atmospheres, soundscapes, pads & textures. This synth adds a stunning new dimension and motion for evolving sounds changing completely it's characteristics. Completely new set of 128 wave + 21 loops."

X-Wheel of Fortune 3
"(X-WoF 3) is a multipart integrated algorithmic VSTi music system for creating tracks based on 8 instruments-parts. Each patch/preset may be a complete musical track, a track for backing a live performance etc. This can be arranged in using the algorithmic Wheel mode for free floating or the Scale step mode for harmonically prestructured tracks."

"This is a stunning video leading You into space by sound & vision. The track is done using HGF's new ProtoPlasm 21 VSTi Synthesizer plus some additional wavefiles fed into it's oscs. Enjoy and have fun!"

Title link takes you to there. via Sonic State.

Chemical Brother's Gear

According to sequencer.de

Roland System 700
ARP 2600
Doepfer

Clavia Nord Lead 3

Title link takes you to the demo with details by cynep on the Matrixsynth forum.

Hot Dog Machine (Experimental Lab Setup)

YouTube via drewtoothpaste. Previous synth vids by drewtoothpaste.

"Shown in this video is a lab-scale thermal depolymerization unit. It uses steam to break food waste up into its components. We don't use moldy or rotten food for this, but leftovers are perfect, and you can use anything from meat and eggs to coffee grounds, vegetable peels/greens, bread, etc.

The demonstration I did in this video was using takeout rice and tomato sauce with meat, which were leftovers from two separate meals. The resulting hot dog from a feed of this size and type(135 g, mostly grains) is typically around 40g. The rest of the mass ends up in a liquid waste stream of amino acids and simple sugars, which makes an excellent fertilizer for the garden. There is a bit of waste oil/fat left over, which is simply thrown out, but in a larger scale, could certainly be used as a biodiesel source.

I've set this unit up to make hot dogs by incorporating a molding unit. The high-protein DC stream is primarily used to form the hot dogs, and I currently have the unit set to add 9% fat and 2% carbohydrates. The liquid mixture is heated and agitated to form a hot-dog slurry, using the steam exiting the decomposition process, in order to remove some of the latent water.

The mineral content of the feed leaves with the waste amino acids and sugars. Inside the machine is a 250mL vessel with a solution of salt and natural flavorings that is added to the slurry immediately before the molding stage, to replace the mineral content and adjust the taste.

The finished product is nearly indistinguishable from a store-bought hot dog, and hey... at least you know what it's made of.

I'm not a chemist (professionally) anymore, but I do make comics every day. You can find the comics at http://www.toothpastefordinner.com and http://www.marriedtothesea.com . You'll like them. Even if you don't like hot dogs." Oberheim Xpander

Thelonious Moog

Dave M wrote in to let me know I haven't put up a post on Thelonious Moog. I did a quick search and sure enough, I haven't! Well, here it is. Title link takes you there. You will find a number of small but drool-worthy shots and the story behind the making of Thelonius Moog.

"The vintage analog synths used during this project are the key to these arrangements. Many of the stylings are a direct result or influenced by a particular synth sound or patch or rhythm. There are too many items to cover in depth, so I'll just touch on a few that were crucial to the sound of the disc.

A lot of the leads and most of the synth bass parts were done by the old standby Minimoog. A real no-brainer there. I would have to say the real "stars" were the RMI Keyboard Computer 1 (it gave its life for this recording – RIP, dear, sweet RMI, along with a Prophet Five that can actually be heard dying on Beshma Swing!), an Arp 2600, an EMS Synthi AKS, a pair of newly aquired Moog 900 series modulars, and a modular from a new analog synth company, Synthesizers.com. We also used a couple of extremely rare Buchla synths, the Music Easel, and a Series 100 modular. The goofy rhythms were supplied via an old Acetone beat box and something called a "drummer." I have to say that these pieces were the "stars," and we just played the melodies. The studio has many other traditional keyboards – piano/organs/clavinets and such – so we just threw the damn rulebook out that first night."

Creamware Prodyssey ASB - bass presets - part 1

YouTube via triumphthruxton.

"Creamware Prodyssey is a hardware replica of the ARP Odyssey with an ARP and Minimoog filter. This video shows some tweaking with the preset bass patches. We really like it! www.clickpop.net."

Miniatures 13 & 14

flickr by danmcp.

Marsona 1200

"Vintage Marsona 1200 sleep aid device. This unit is actually an analog white noise generator, such as you would find on many old analog synthesizers. The white noise is modulated to simulate rain, waterfalls, and surf. There is a knob to select between these sounds, as well as knobs to change the surf rate, surf range, tone, and volume. There is an onboard speaker, or the sound can be amplified (or run into effects pedals) through the 1/4"output. Everything is in perfect working order and the power cord is intact. This would make a nice addition to any drone/noise musician's rig, or it can help you catch some Z's."

Looks like something by danmcp or devowski.

The SBC+ Super Bus Converter Plus Version 2.0

Click here for shots via this auction. There are videos at the auction.

Details:
"00, GR-300, GR-700, GM-70, G-202, G-303, G-505, G-707, G-808, VG-88, VG-99, GI-10, GI-20, GR-30, GR-33, GR-50 and More!

The Link Between Vintage, Modern and Future Guitar Synthesizer Technology

Combines Roland US-2, US-20 and BC-13 Technology in One Rack-Mount Unit, with Internal Hex Fuzz, CV Pedal Inputs plus more!

* Use ONE Vintage Roland Guitar Controller to play Three Guitar Synths: a 24-Pin Vintage Roland Guitar Synth and two 13-Pin Modern Guitar Synthesizers
* Special GK-1 Mode for GK-1 Users
* Built-In Hex Fuzz adds G-202 Style Hex Fuzz to ANY Vintage Roland or Ibanez Guitar Synth Controller
* Dedicated Switches for 13-Pin Systems
* Interface Vintage Roland Gear with OTHER Analog Synthesizers and Control Voltage Devices.
* Footswitch Control over 24-Pin Output, 13-Pin Output, and Direct Guitar Output or Auxiliary 13-Pin Output
* Additional SW1/SW2 Latching Footswitch Assignable to Primary or Auxiliary 13-Pin Synth
* 4 Electronically Buffered Rear Panel Inputs for Control Voltage Pedals
* 6 Front Panel Control Knobs for 24-Pin String Output Levels - No Need to Adjust Tiny Trimpots for Level Control!
* 4 Front Panel Control Knobs Selectable as Control Voltage or Volume Level
* 2 Front Panel Switches for Volume and Mute Assign
* 6 Rear Panel Individual Outputs for Each String
* Individual Output for Hex Fuzz Sound
* Selectable Internal or External Hex Fuzz sound
* 13 Front Panel Function Switches
* 10 Front Panel LEDs Show Mode Status of all Control Knobs and Power Supply
* High Quality Internal Power Supply
* Rack mountable or Desktop Operation
* Elegant Design

"New to Version 2.0 are individual outputs for each guitar string. The output level is controlled by the six output control knobs on the front panel. The output of the hex fuzz is fixed. In addition to the four CV pedal inputs, Version 2.0 has a new 7-pin Mute jack. The new 7-pin jack contains both the Mute functions and S1/S2 functions. However, the 7-pin connector is backwards compatible with the Version 1.0 and 1.1 5-pin footswitches. And the S1/S2 input jack allows use of the Version 1.1 S1/S2 auxiliary footswitch that used momentary footswitches instead of the latching footswitches found on the new consolidated footswitch.

Finally, one detail note: the input on Version 2.0 has been moved to the front panel. Also, the front panel input does not include a locking ring, but an additional locking ring is included with the unit. I simply found it faster and more convenient to skip the locking ring connection on the front. The primary outputs are still on the back, but the auxiliary output is on the front.

The SBC+ V2.0 has an unprecedented level of documentation. The 81-page General Design and Construction Notes is divided into three sections: Design and Build Notes, Reference Schematics and Reference Specifications.

The first section, Design and Build Notes, explains in detail how to use the SBC+ V2.0, along with example applications. Next are four pages explaining how the circuitry actually works, related to the four pages of electronic schematics that follow. In addition there are two full page color photos of the circuit cards, followed by part layout pages identifying each part and how it is wired on the color photo pages. And then there many pages of addition notes. The second section, Reference Schematics, includes schematics of circuits used as a reference for the design of the SBC+ V2.0, such as the GK-2, the IMG2010, US-2, US-20 and more. And finally, there is the Reference Specifications section, which reproduces technical information on critical components, like the LM13700 chip used for the internal VCA, and NTE 2355 digital transistors used for muting functions.

This spiral bound technical manual is basically a collection of all my plans and notes on how I made the SBC+ V2.0. This is made available exclusively to the owner, so that they can understand how the unit works, or modify the unit if they choose. If the unit needs service, and for some reason I am unavailable, then a basic electronic technician will be able to easily repair any problems.

I modeled this reference manual after the original GR-300 service notes, that not only gave technical data, but also explained in detail how the GR-300 works in clear English."

Link to the videos while they are up.

Octave the Kitten

Title link takes you to shots via this auction.

Details:
"The Kitten is a classic analog synthesizer from 1977 (before the days of digital synths, sequencers, built-in disk drives, and MIDI cables). Manufactured by Octave as a competitor to the leading synths of the late '70s (from vendors such as Moog and ARP), this baby is a streamlined version of Octave's more powerful synth called the Cat (hence its youthful name).

The interface is very clean and friendly, thanks to its straightforward and well-labeled layout. The knobs and sliders all move well. The keys are all in great condition, as is the case, trim, and power unit. There are slight visible signs of wear over the years but the unit has no significant scratches, chips, dents, or other physical ailments.

This handy little synth is extremely useful as a lead machine. It purrs a great tune, and is awesome at space bleeps, bloops, and sound effects that are the best this side of Forbidden Planet. And what's even better is the massive sub-oscillator (actually, the two sub-octaves are independently controlled!) that fattens up the sound! We're talking serious bass here!"