MATRIXSYNTH: Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Kent Spong - Synth Restorer

flickr by Ben Burling

click here for the full size shot
click here for a pdf on kent

"kent spong (ksr restorations). he's the best restorer of cs80s in europe - they say"

Remember the MMM Video posted earlier?

via William of inside synthesis in the comments of that post:
"I posted a much high quality version at insidesynthesis.com, since the YouTube compression hardly does it justice.

Only delay on the lead bits, and a highpass on the hihat were used. No chorusing, phasing, reverb, or compression/EQ, so it's overall a pretty raw sound.

I double-tracked the lead and bass parts for stereo width.

I'll make a more modern, less 80's song later. Assuming I have time - I'm only borrowing the prototype for a few days."

There is also a great shot of George and William in the post. Be sure to check it out.

Korg Polysix Demo

Korg Polysix Demo 1

Korg Polysix Demo 2

YouTube via 123synthland.
"Here's the serviced Korg Poly-6 we just put up for sale. This video shows it playing itself in arpeggio latch mode. We feel the P6 is a terrific sounding synth but unfortunately most P6's you'll find today have been seriously damaged from battery acid leakage. Repairing this problem requires skill - we've seen some really poor amateur attempts that didn't work. Luckily, our tech is quite skilled with P6 repairs! If you've got a P6 with the original factory battery in it, save your patches (if they're still in memory) and clip the old battery IMMEDIATELY. Acid damage can be found above and below the circuit board, so don't conclude that things are OK if you don't notice any corrosion on the top. Enjoy the video, and email us anytime at minime123@onebox.com"

The Synthesiser Museum

The Synthesiser Museum Part 1

The Synthesiser Museum Part 2

YouTubes via Sharpblue. Part 1 here.
"Uploaded by original request, this video features the original music composed and performed by Martin Newcombe on equipment in his Synth museum which sadly closed in the mid 90's"

WSG, Weird sound generator

flickr by f!tO

"Finished modules, great sound and noise making, each one is producing differant sounds which is Great, Individually screen printed.
Would upload sound / video soon."

full size shot here.

Voynich Modified Analogue Yamaha CS-10 Synth

YouTube via Synthasy2000.
"An extra multiple waveshape oscillator is added to this monosynth for extra sonic power"

Yamaha CS 60 demonstration

YouTube via kyleresumevideo. Auction referenced here.

SEARCH /Broadcasting Tijuana Electronic Music to outer space

YouTube via pepemogt.

"Manglano-Ovalle transformed the bullfight ring of Tijuana located at the border in to a Radio telescope searching for "aliens". He suspended an antenna above the building and a receiving dish below, Live Electronic Music was brodcasted in the building, on the web, FM radio and into space. This project makes reference to the social situation of Mexican "Aliens".

In the video Pepe Mogt(Latinsizer, Fussible, Nortec), Ramon Bostich(nortec Collective) and Leslie(Dream addictive) were making music with digital and analog sequencers and synths(Arp Odyssey, Oberheim), the audio out of this machines was sent to Manglano-Ovalle Transmiter in real time in to outer space.

info about synths used:
The ARP Odyssey was and still is a very popular synth because it is a powerful lightweight version of the awesome ARP 2600. It was also ARP's response to the Minimoog and the Odyssey became the most popular synth ARP ever sold! The Odyssey is a 2-oscillator analog synth (with duophonic capability) which sounds really nice; the Minimoog has 3 oscillators and is considered fatter. The Odyssey comes well equipped with all the tweakable features you'd expect: resonant low pass filter, ADSR envelopes, sine or square wave LFO and even a sample-and-hold function. It also added a few new features such as a highpass filter in series with the lowpass, oscillator sync capability and pulse width modulation. It is a very professional and expressive machine that can create nice analog basses, interesting leads and great effects and sweeping sounds or noises!

There were many versions of the Odyssey over the years, each a little different. Pictured above is the Odyssey I (Model 2800). These original white-faced Odysseys used a tinny 2-pole VCF filter design (Model 4023) similar to old Oberheim SEM modules. They also used a rotary knob for pitch bending. These models were produced between 1972-74. Odysseys have been used by ABBA, Bomb The Bass, Ultravox, Gary Numan, LTJ Bukem, Air, Tangerine Dream, 808 State, Apollo 440, Nine Inch Nails, Astral Projection, Chick Corea, George Duke, Josef Zawinul, John Foxx, Vangelis, Elton John, Latinsizer, Jethro Tull, Fussible, Nortec Collective, Jimmy Edgar, DEVO, R.E.M. and Herbie Hancock

TR-808
The TR-808 is a classic drum machine that used analog synthesis to create its sounds. The sounds have a very thin and pure quality and aren't grungy like it's successor the TR-909. In fact, the 808 has become the signature beatbox used in most R&B and hip-hop as well as a lot of dance and techno music. Booming bass kicks, crispy snares and that annoying cowbell sound made famous during the 80's are all part of the 808 and its famous sound.

Its 16 drum sounds include the famous boomy low kick, snappy snares, low/mid/hi toms, low/mid/hi congas, rimshot, claves, hand clap, maracas, cowbell, cymbal, open hihat, closed hihat and accent. All of the sounds can be edited and/or tuned and have individual outputs. Unfortunately it is not MIDI equipped but it does use Roland's DIN Sync.

The TR-808 was OK in its time. It just didn't sound like real drums. When the Linn Drum machines appeared, the 808 seemed doomed. But its unique sound and analog allure have found it a long-lasting home in many forms of music. Clearly the 808 has been one of the more important and famous drum machines in the history of music, spawning imitators (ReBirth, DrumStation) and band names (808 State). Famous users include Orbital, Uberzone, Download, Aphex Twin, 808 State, BT, Bomb The Bass, Sense Datum, The Prodigy, Josh Wink, Faithless, Skinny Puppy, Bushflange, Jimi Tenor, A Guy Called Gerald, Eat Static, Dr. Dre, Jimmy Edgar, Nortec Collective, Freddy Fresh, Richie Hawtin, Jean Michel Jarre, Cocteau Twins, Bostich, Marvin Gaye, Latinsizer, Luke Vibert, Ice Cube and Puff Daddy."

slot machine logic

YouTube via dnnny.
"slot machine sequencer driving a pinball sequencer"

Loops and Arpeggios

YouTube via demerzel242.

"Here is some pretty noise for my various boxen."

Kawai Synthesizer 100F / Teisco S-100F

images via this auction

"The Synthesizer 100-F is a very good and classic single-vco monophonic analog synth. It has a small but usable 3-octave, 37-note, C-C keyboard. Sawtooth, square and noise waveforms and external sounds can be run through the synth's filters and envelopes and mixed with the oscillator. Also made under the badge of Teisco, the S-100F has a single oscillator with a very wide range, selected via a 7-position knob (2', 4', 8', 16', 32', 64' and "low").

Although there is only one oscillator, there's plenty of modulation ability to really liven up the sound. There's an LFO which can modulate the VCO, VCF and VCA. The VCF resonant filter is good and can be modulated by the LFO, Envelope 1, the external input or even the VCO! There's also a VCA section with Attack, Decay, Sustain and Release controls and finally there's a Hi-Pass filter. There is also a portamento effect for that final crucial analog synth effect! A typical analog synth with just about all the features and functions you'd need. It's got the classic wood side panels and a front panel layout that leads to very straight forward programming resulting in good analog bass, lead and synth sounds.

The Kawai Synthesizer-100F is a single VCO monophonic analogue synthesizer with a .

A slider controls tuning within the octave. Available waveforms are sawtooth and square, which can be mixed with either noise or an external audio signal. The VCO can be modulated by either envelopes or the LFO, with a slider controlling delay. The VCF section has sliders for cutoff frequency and resonance (called "peak"). The filter can be modulated by the LFO, Envelope 1, the external input, or the oscillator (sawtooth or square waveforms).

The amplifier can use its own envelope generator, Envelope 2, or a simple keyboard gate, and has its own gain slider in addition to the main volume slider. A simple high-pass filter is also available at the end of the audio chain, with a slider controlling filter cutoff. Both of the envelope generators have a three-position switch for envelope type and a slider for attack and one for decay. The first switch position creates a simple AD (attack decay) envelope. The second turns the envelope into an ADS (attack decay sustain) where the sustain is set at about 75% and there is no release value.

The third creates an ASR (attack sustain release) envelope where the sustain is at full value. A switch between both envelope sections chooses between keyboard and LFO triggering for both envelopes. There is a three-mode portamento (not sure what the modes are) with a slider controlling lag amount. The LFO section has a slider for rate and is switchable between sawtooth, triangle, and square waveforms."

Linn Drum LM-2 Demo w/ Powder Trail

YouTube via 123synthland

"Here's the Linndrum with Forat MIDI we just put up for sale. Excuse the white powder trail - the pharmacy was out of powderless gloves and I only perform in character. :) Enjoy, and email us anytime at minime123@onebox.com"

MOOG Memorymoog

images via this auction.

60's EKO ITALIAN Electric Piano Trainer SN 0714

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

this auction

"Rare 1969 Vintage Italian Electric Keyboard: Electro Trainer, Model 5000, Serial 0714, Run/Lot 1. This appears to be a super rare piece, we checked all over and could not find another example of this vintage keyboard anywhere. Truely a collectors prize, this awesome vintage keyboard shows some use as pictured. The power cord is included and can be seen coiled up and stored inside the top cover area in it's proper storage spot. We did test this unit and it worked perfectly during our testing producing clean audio output through it's onboard speaker. We have included plenty of photos so colelctors can view the item thoroughly. You can see the the internal workings in the pics as well. All keys worked fine and none appear to be broken when checked during our testing. The unit has some scuffs to the outer surfaces from normal use as pictured. Overall a fantastic rare Italian vintage 60's electronic keyboard. If you are a collector of fine vintage instruments or are looking for a uniquie vintage 60's sound then grab this Italian made keyboard while you have a chance since you will likely never find another one available. Item out of a recently closed affluent estate. (This is a heavy unit and shipping is set as such)"

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