SEIKO DS-310 Digital Synthesizer

images via this auction

Note the lack of jacks in the back and the ribbon connector. According to the auction it's an "add on to the 1980's Seiko Digital Sound System Keyboards." See this post for more details on that synth.

Update via Qwave in the comments: "Right, this is only an add-on for those Seiko Keyboards.
I used to have a Seiko DS202 with this DS310 additive synthesis add-on. You could store 4 sounds only. Each Sound consisting of three user programmable static 16 harmonic waves. The unit got 4 different envelopes to get the various possible crossfades of the spectrums over time and the over all volume envelope. Soundwise it was the pure man's ynclavier or PPG wave ;-)

Well not bad. But no detuning, just static one and a chorus from the DS202 keyboard. There was also a keyboard without the chorus. And the real time sequencer add on was named DS320. See a picture of mine (sorry, long gone) here. The most famous user were J.M. Jarre (see Rendez-Vous) and Robert Schroeder. He also did the demoing (by playing The Beatles "Eleanor Rigby") the year it was first shown in the Frankfurt Musik Messe."

The beamz Music Performance System

Get your laser harp action on. No MIDI - USB Only. Not sure if you can use/mod it to control external gear.

"The beamz system has a "W" shape, with six laser beams spanning the two sections; connect via USB to your PC or laptop, and hook up some speakers. The simple, intuitive computer interface makes it easy to choose any of 30 included songs in 19 musical genres for laying down a complementary rhythm track. The beamz library includes original works in jazz, bluegrass, classical, hip-hop, reggae, heavy metal and more.

Breaking the laser beams with your hands automatically generates pre-authored pulses, streams, riffs or loops of musical notes or sounds from an incredible variety of instruments from around the world — guitars, steel guitar, strings of all types, percussion, keyboards, winds.even cowbell. Sophisticated high-fidelity sounds seem to pour from your fingertips like magic!

# Extraordinary invention fuses the interaction of your hands with laser beams to create the sounds of hundreds of different instruments.
# Breaking the laser beams with your hands automatically generates pre-authored pulses, streams, riffs or loops of musical notes or sounds from a variety of instruments — all kinds of strings, keyboards, winds, percussion. Sophisticated high-fidelity sounds seem to pour off your fingertips like magic!
# Choose a complementary rhythm track from 30 original songs in 19 music genres, including jazz, bluegrass, classical, hip-hop, reggae, heavy metal and more.
# The beamz system has a "W" shape, with six laser beams spanning the two sections; connect via USB to your PC or laptop, then hook up some speakers and you're ready to perform great-sounding music.
# Includes software CDs and USB cable for connecting directly to USB port of your PC or laptop."

more info including pdf at The Sharper Image. Or you can build this. You can find all posts mentioning laser harp here (scroll when you get there).

Future Retro 777

Great green shot via sequencer.de where you will find more. BTW, it looks like sequencer.de is running another update on the site. I'm not putting everything up, so be sure to check out the latest here. If you have an RSS reader, now might be a good time to subscribe.

check out THE WALDORF Q+ versus ALESIS ANDROMEDA A6

Sequencer by Curetronic

click here for a link to a PDF on sequencer.de. You will also find more images of the Curetronic modular.

"1) Sequencer itself with 8 Knobs, Reset, ext. and int. Trigger, CV + Gate out (V/Oct, V-trig)
2) extra Module for Mutes and Gate “length”
3) another for LEDs
4) the pulse out module itself.. see pdf

this is a modular system that started as DIY kits first.."

JMJ 143

flickr by p_c_w
(click for more)

Jean Michel Jarre
Royal Albert Hall

full size

MFOS Wierd Sound Generator WSG

YouTube via tylersplan
"note - pcb and schems came from music from outer space. TO ORDER A COMPLETE UNIT: http://cauchyriemannbuilds.blogspot.com/ TO ORDER A BOARD: http://www.musicfromouterspace.com"

Korg SQ-10 plays the Korg MS-20

YouTube via Newueel
"This is a Korg SQ-10 (analog sequencer) playing a 16-step sequence on a Korg MS-20. The first 8 steps (Channel A) only use VCO1. The other 8 (Channel B) only use VCO2. Channel C controls the HPF (per step). Also each 3rd and 11th step the some white noise is added via EG1 and VCA. The SQ-10 is synced with a Korg Triton (which is only used for a simple drum part) via a Doepfer MSY1. If you're interested in knob/patch settings, let me know (I took some pictures)."

Update you can find images of the patch via Newueel here.

Roland Jupiter-6

images via this auction

Farfisa TS 600 Organ Synthesizer

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
images via this auction

"FARFISA TS 600 electronic organ that has a double keyboard and built in speakers.This keyboard has an array of instruments that can be played on either keyboard by simply pressing a series of buttons.There is also a section for Rhythms,Auto accompaniment,sequencer,special features,manual programming etc.Each keyboard row can be tailored to suit the right sound you require and the bottom keyboard has the auto accompaniment section.

This is a good size and measures 42 inches wide x 18 inches deep x 7 inches high"

And a bottle of milk.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Oberheim OB-Xa Master LFO Board

via this auction

Voice Board on MATRIXSYNTH-B

MOOG Taurus 2

images via this auction

Electronic Music Synthesis

images via this auction
"Electronic Music Synthesis: Concepts, Facilities, Techniques" book.
Written by Hubert S. Howe, Jr: Associate Professor of Music at Queens College of the City University of New York.

First Edition.
Printed in 1975. Hardcover.

263 pages of information on Electronic Music, Analog and Modular Synthesizers, Tape Machines, Effects, Amplifiers, and Computers!

Amazing pictures of vintage synthesizers and synth pioneers like the Moog Modular Synthesizer 55, Moog Sonic 6, Mini Moog, Robert A. Moog, Buchla Electronic Music System, Buchla Synthesizer, ARP 2500 Synthesizer, ARP 2600 Synthesizer, ARP Pro Soloist, Synthi 100, Synthi VCS 3, Synthi A, Synthi BK1, and more!


This book is a very long and informative read for people interested in making electronic music with analog synthesizers! It goes over just about any form of analog equipment you can think of. There are many diagrams to help explain the different contents.

This book is in amazing condition for being 33 years old"
see this post for the book sleeve cover.

Oberheim Two Voice

images via this auction
"very early production Oberheim Two Voice synthesizer. Serial number 0246. It's made up of two Oberheim SEM modules along with an Oberheim Mini-sequencer. The issues with this TVS-1 is that one of the SEM's are not working and it has no top lid. The SEM could be an easy fix. Everything in the SEM is discreet and nothing that you really couldn't find at any good electronics store. It's not like later CEM based synths that have lots of rare and hard to find chips"



mp3

Satellite - Circuit Bent Silver Rocket

images via this auction
"'The SATELLITE', a sound device that houses two identical circuits that you can layer or play separately. You can combine a voice from the Left side with a voice from the Right side and layer them at different pitches or different volumes to create totally new sounds. When the sounds are pitched and layered you get really thick, intense sounds, perfect for your sound arsenal or unique sampling. With 3 pitch-knob controls and 4 body-contact controls per circuit (or side, if you will), this unit is really versatile. Add the voice-alternating push-buttons and it soars!

This unit is exactly like the other silver boxes that I had previously listed (Like the Galaxie, Comet, Mercury, Mercury ll, 2000, Electra, and the Meteor), EXCEPT that it has steel-ball turners instead of knobs on the pitch controls, AND I replaced the Voice Selector knobs and the Volume knobs. ALSO, the Output Jacks on the back operate intuitively, the Right side becoming a mixed output if nothing is plugged into the Left.

EACH SIDE has 8 voices, that are:
* Square Wave
* A 34-note diminishing pattern ending in distortion,
* Two alternating tones like a European siren (devils interval),
* A repeating strike & white-noise pattern,
* A rapid, repeating white noise pattern,
* A 3-note diminishing sequence,
* A Sine Wave,
* A 34-note RAPIDLY diminishing pattern ending in distortion.

The TWO SETS of 8 voices are divided Left and Right on the control panel. Both Left and Right sides have the following controls:

* On/Off Knob & Master Pitch control
* Volume
* 8-Voice Selector Knob
* Pitch Control Knob 1
* On/Off for Pitch Control Knob 1
* Pitch Control Knob 2 (fine tune)
* 4 Body Contacts (effects tone just by touching them)
* Green On/Off LED lights

You can combine a voice from the Left side with a voice from the Right side and layer them at different pitches or different volumes to create totally new sounds.

ALSO, it has two push-button controls on the right that, at the flip of the switch on the back, allow you to play the two selected voices alternately or together, on & off, like a keyboard, while operating the Pitches & Volumes in real-time. These add to the overall playability of this box, whether through separate channels to a mixer, or mixed straight into an amp.

* OUTPUTS: This unit has a number of 1/4" output options, controlled by the switch on the back, which allow you to mix the two voices together through one output OR discreetly through two outputs, each mixed by their own volume controls on the control panel. The separate outs allow you to run effects separately as well.

It runs off two AA batteries batteries.

It comes with an instruction sheet to help you get started with the functions of this box.

I housed it in a chromed truck mirror with formica laminate for a base. All components are top-notch, and it’’s named "Satellite" after the vintage metal car-script gracing it's face.

I NOW HAVE SOUND SAMPLES AVAILABLE AT THESE SITES:
(click on the Galaxie or Comet to hear the exact same circuit as the Satellite)
http://montyman1.googlepages.com/home OR http://home.earthlink.net/~montyman1/

The 'Satellite' sounds exactly the same as the 'Galaxie', 'Mercury', and 'Comet'. The samples are recorded straight, with no extra effects."

Elvertronics WSG

via this auction
"You are looking at the very first synthesizer to roll off the line at Elvertronics. This fine piece of hand wired music history is based on the WSG design by Ray Wilson of Music from Outer Space fame. From filtered out bass drones to high pitched resonance feedback squelches, oscillator tuned waves of bliss, and all sonic possibilities in between.

Specs:
Power: Single 9 V Battery (Included)
Height: 3.125
Width: 5.875"
Depth: 5.25"
Output: Single 1/4" Jack

Audio:
Clean-
Filter Sweep
Tuned Drone
Bleeps

Processed-
Drone | Reverb
Drone | Grain Delay - Compression
Drone | Top Secret Ableton Plugin Chain
Elvertronics Demo Song | All sounds except for beats made using this unit

About Elvertronics:
Elvetronics is a new electronics company based out of Elverson,PA. Focusing on small run hand built music machines inside of a small desktop form factor. A three person team with eyes boldly set on quality craftsmanship, hand picked parts, aesthetics and usability."

UNIVOX MINI KORG II

images via this auction

Note the red and blue switch dials are reversed in this one.

OBERHEIM SEM

images via this auction

VINTAGE NDK SYNTHESISER

via this auction

"MEASUREMENTS:

LENGTH of the unit is approx. 96.5 cm Long
DEPTH when packed up is approx. 19 cm deep.
HEIGHT of the synthesiser is approx. 42 cm. wide
HEIGHT of the unit when standing on legs is approx. 90.5 cm tall.

Each of the 4 corners of the lid & the base of the unit have a silver metal protector cap (I think it may be chrome). There are also 4 metal silver chrome protections on the inside of the lid corners & on the inside of the base corners for protection.

There is a metal music stand which clips into the top of the unit to stand sheet/book music on. This unclips when finished & is stored inside the unit also.

There are colour coded button choices BLACK - BASS; RED - ACCOMPANIMENT; WHITE- SOLO. Each section has own volume / fine tune turn dial knob from soft to loud.
BASS BUTTONS: are Wood 16' ; Brass 16' ; String 16' ; Wood 8'.
ACCOMPANIMENT BUTTONS are: Wood 16' ; Wood 8' ; Brass 8' ; String 8' ; Wood 4' ; String 4'.
SOLO BUTTONS are: Bass Cla. 16' ; Trombone 16'; Flute 8'; Trumpet 8' ; Piccalo 4' ; Violin 4' .

There is a speed (slow & fast) fine tuning knob / dial and there are Vibrato & Vibrato Full - knobs. Another knob you can use for Bass solo, Acc. Solo or Solo. The keys on the left at the base end are black (to use for Bass) then going up change to grey in colour then White in colour. The top keys are White in colour, then change to black in colour. On the panel above the keys, is a black line whith the word Bass - this shows which keys you can use for the bass. Then there is a red line which shows all the keys you can use for accompaniment with accompan. word on the panel & all other keys can be used for whatever.

The whole unit can be packed up & sits in a sturdy solid wood case, covered in black vinyl. It forms a nice rectangular shape which is easy to transport. There are 2 silver metal locks / clips which close the unit up (& 2 metal hinges at the back that the lid sits in to close it up)."

Simmons SDS 400

images via this auction
"The unit uses CEM (Curtis Electro-Music) IC’s from the mid-80’s. These chips contain VCO’s, VCF’s, etc, that synthesize sounds and alter them with highly controllable subtractive sythesis techniques.

Trigger sensitivity is high and works with several different brands the unit was tested with. Pads, peizo, some mics, etc. will work. The modules are called “toms” and it is possible to simulate tom drums with the unit, but that would be a sad use of the unit. It’s beauty is the ability to add highly distinctive envelope control over the filter, an odd ring-modulation-like device called “second skin”, and perhaps most interestingly, the “Run Generator” modulation, which can control pitch and other factors in a number of novel ways. You can think of it as a quasi-controllable arpegiattor, in that it can cascade up/down, and other permutations, all with an unusual amount of control."

Simmons SDS 800

images via this auction.
"The unit uses CEM (Curtis Electro-Music) IC’s from the mid-80’s. These chips contain VCO’s, VCF’s, etc, that synthesize sounds and alter them with highly controllable subtractive sythesis techniques.

Trigger sensitivity is high and works with several different brands the unit was tested with. Pads, peizo, some mics, etc. will work. The modules are called “toms” “bass” and “snare”. It is possible to simulate specific drums with the unit, but that would be a sad use of the unit. It’s beauty is the ability to add highly distinctive envelope control over the filter, an odd ring-modulation-like device called “second skin”, and perhaps most interestingly, the “Run Generator” modulation, which can control pitch and other factors in a number of novel ways. You can think of it as a quasi-controllable arpegiattor, in that it can cascade up/down, and other permutations, all with an unusual amount of control."

Sequential Circuits Prophet 5 Rev. 2.0

flickr by JoelKiel82
(click for more)

full size

1972 Ideal "Bing Bang Boing" Commercial

YouTube via daftmahatma

"I believe the Moog synthesized music to this Bing Bang Boing commercial to be "Chicken On The Rocks" from Jean-Jacques Perrey."

Chicken On The Rocks

YouTube via doctorpopular.

Jean Jacques Perrey is actually playing the Ondioline.
"Footage from Jean Jacques Perrey's August 27th show at Recombinant Labs in San Francisco. JJP is on the left, Dana Countryman is on the right. More info on my blog www.DrownRadio.com"
http://www.jeanjacquesperrey.com/

Philadelphia 2006 Boredoms and their "Eye Ball" MIDI Controller

YouTube via shagasss. "eYe's Balls" via Alex:
"The two light bulbs have each a chip with a few sensors; the sensors detect movement, XYZ, shaking, velocity and proximity from each other. All these senses transmit this data as control messages to a laptop running unknown software. As the control messages trigger different sounds and events, it also sends corresponding electrical voltages back to the light bulbs, making the light bulbs react to the different movements. Really cool stuff!! I heard that a guy in Japan makes these, they're custom and only a few exist. As far as I know, there is no website for these things."

Jarre's Oxygene in Birmingham

see the write-up on Sonic State.

YAZOO RECONNECTED

flickr by Neil Vance

full size

Old machines meet new

YouTube via Thirstmonkey. via Nusonica.
"Dubstep-esque techno jam with Vermona DRM-1 MK2, Futureretro FR-777, Roland TR-909, System100, TR-606, Ensoniq KT-88,Roland JX-8P DIN SYNC & Midi to synths via ableton live 6. Some sources are warped courtesy of the Schippmann Ebbe & Flut or passed through the effects channel of the ASR-10 sampler."

Technosaurus Microcon II analog synthesizer

YouTube via halmcgeevideo.

via Nusonica.
"This is my Technosaurus Microcon II analog synthesizer. Check it out as I take you on a tour of its features."

DSC_0147

flickr by percussa

Inside a Percussa Audio Cube

Switched-On Bach - Track List

flickr by timotheus.newberg

full size

"Switched-On Bach 1968

Trans-Electronic Music Productions, Inc. Presents. Virtuoso Electronic Performances Electronic Realizations and Performances by Walter Carlos with the assistance of Benjamin Folkman

1. Sinfonia To Cantata # 29 (3'24)
2. Air On A G String (2'31)
3. in F Major (0'39)
4. Tow Part Invention in B-Flat Major (1'28)
5. Tow Part Invention in D Minor (0'47)
6. Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring (2'58)
7. Prelude And Fugue # 7 in E-Flat Major (7'12)
(from Book I of The Well-Tempered Clavier)
Side 2
8. Prelude And Fugue # 2 in C Minor (2'43)
(from Book I of The Well-Tempered Clavier)
9. Chorale Prelude "Wachet Auf" (3'37)
Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G Major
10. Allegro (6'30) 11. Adagio (2'51) 12. Allegro (5'10)
(Total time 39'45)

Carlos Moog Modular Synthesizer

Bought the LP 24.10.1969 24 mk S:joki
To CDr 12.9.1999 (1st CDr from LP)
- MP3 24.9.06 (128) (3.3.08)
Cover photo Horn /Griner
Production: Rachel Elkind, Benjamin Folkman
CBS 63501

Can't remember anymore how I originally got any info of this legendary record, but I do remember how I found it at the Seinäjoki record Store and how I listened it before buying it. Even the trip to the city, dark evening and then how I was there with my 2 brothers, and how they left me into the record store and went to their businesses - and forgot me there... And how I was a bit scared when I realized that. (I was 17) And how they finally came to pick me up. (the last long Bach's Prelude nr 8 here - brings those memories over and over again...)

This record was very important many other ways. I took it with me to school and played during the music lesson and my music teacher liked it very much, so much that she wanted to play it in the morning prayer through the loud speakers to the whole school. That was amazing a moment for me!

Then I played it in our teenager dancing party at our school. Between the pop songs. Still remember how people were amazed to hear in-between Rolling Stones & Beatles something like this.

Trivia: The 1st LP I ever digitalized into CDr in 1999.

Trivia2: There's another version of the cover pic, where the wigged-headed "Bach" is standing."

Voyager close up

flickr by allert

full size

Siel Orchestra

images via this auction
Inside a Siel Orchestra
"These are quite rare , built by well known Itallian manufacturer SIEL in the late 70's . SIEL also manufactured these for ARP which is know as the ARP Quartet, which is exactly the same except the paint job.It is missing a few of the coloured caps.

Good if you want analog string sound and basic sawtooth sounds for cheap"
via ben

Some Notes on the Little Phatty ARP

via Amos on the AH list. This is in reference to the ARP demos in this post.

"Hi all; thanks for listening.The arpeggiator is a firmware feature of Little Phatty OS 2.0, which is currently in progress; I am testing it as we develop it.
It will start shipping with the new LP Stage edition version II, which should be out next month.
Once that's done we will release an update for all LP Stage Editions which will give them the new features; after that we plan to port it to the Tribute Edition as well.
Joe & other Tribute owners: it's looking like the new OS adds enough code that it won't all fit on the Tribute's smaller memory.
We'll make sure that TE owners can upgrade their memory so they can run the full v2 OS, and I'll see if we can do a "lite" v2 with as many features as will fit in the original memory.

The new v2 features include the arpeggiator, and tap tempo and MIDI sync for both the arpeggiator and the LFO. The arp can have its own internal clock, or MIDI sync with many different clock divider options, or you can clock the arpeggiator from the LFO. The LFO can now sync to MIDI with its own clock divider separate from the arpeggiator's (meaning a 16th-note arpeg synced with a 2-bar filter sweep, for example).

The arpeggiator has the following specs:

Patterns: UP, DOWN, ORDERED. (Random is planned but not yet implemented)
Modes: LOOP, OSCILLATE
Octaves: -3, -2, -1, 0, +1, +2, +3
Latch on/off

This provides a lot of flexibility. Here is how it works:
Modes: LOOP means that the pattern is played from beginning to end, and then again from beginning to end (equivalent to a ramp wave driving a sequencer). OSCILLATE means that the pattern is played from beginning to end, and then in reverse back to the beginning (equivalent to a triangle wave driving a sequencer).
The Octaves setting is used to repeat the pattern at sequential octaves away from the original notes; 0 plays only the original notes entered, +1 plays the original pattern and then repeats it one octave up; -2 plays the original pattern and then repeats it one octave down, then repeats it two octaves down.
So, you can get the classic "Up/Down" pattern by setting Pattern = UP, Octaves = +1, Mode = OSCIL. "Down/Up" would be Pattern = DOWN, Octaves = -1, Mode = OSCIL. However, the fact that these settings are distinct from one another means that you can get some novel patterns also; for example you can have the notes you enter play back from highest to lowest (pattern = DOWN) but repeat this downward pattern an octave higher, and then again an octave higher (Octaves = +2)... and then reverse, playing the notes low-to high but repeating at descending octaves.

Pattern = ORDER is very nice also, as it allows you to arpeggiate notes in the order you play them, for more interesting melodic phrases. This also works in OSCIL mode, so that the arpeggiator will play a phrase in the order you enter the notes, and then in reverse order."

Stribe controlled by MIDIbox based Firmware

YouTube via ucapps
"More informations about the Stribe project: see http://www.stribe.org"
It's nice to see Stribe coming along. Check out the label below for previous posts.

Synthomania Messing Around In Studio

YouTube via Synthomania
"This is a live performance in my studio. I Filmed with a standard Digital videocamera, and put the line recording from cubase over it. Nothing special, just a little jam vith my gear."

Machinedrum & sampling

YouTube via electronicvibes
"This afternoon I was playing with my wife's voice and Machinedrum..."

Jarre at Mancs

click here for the full set by The Untrained Eye

ARP 2500
ARP 2600
OSCar
Oberheim Two Voice
Spot the rest

Aliens Project Toy of the Month - EMS Synthi AKS

click here for the April Aliens Project Toy of the Month. You will find more images and samples.

Sequential Circuits Pro-One

images via this auction

Casio CZ-101

images via this auction

Oberheim Xpander XP-1

images via this auction

Inside an Oberheim Xpander

Tyco Hot Keyz

images via this auction

"The TYCO HOT KEYZ is an Awesome Toy KEYTAR / SYNTHESIZER from the 1980's, and a Popular Choice for the Ultimate Circuit Bending Project. Do a 'Google' search and read all about it on the web and check out the many 'YouTube' videos, then come back and consider buying this one! You won't be disappointed!"

Well... I did a YouTube search for it and found the following two videos below. Enjoy.


tyco hot keyz keytar
YouTube via RobotTickleFight
"HOT KEYZ RULEZ

the 8-note keyboard can play three different scales-- this one is a pentatonic that takes notes 1 2 4 5 6 from the major diatonic scale.

It has two-note polyphony.

There are three envelope presets- this one is long attack + long release.

The sound is being recorded through my noisy little laptop mic, which accounts for the buzz you hear. The Hot Keyz has one on-board speaker, with stereo output via the 1/8" headphone jack."


Computer Tech Club Advertisment (Keytaur Version)
YouTube via Zoasterboy
"Computer Tech Club kids jam out in the streets on a keytaur."

Alesis Andromeda

images via this auction