MATRIXSYNTH: Saturday, January 24, 2009

Saturday, January 24, 2009

A CS80 Bass noodle.

YouTube via noddyspuncture
"This is the same patch as the first noodle video.. only this time there is no RingMod and I am playing with the filter levers and footages, whilst trying to maintain a 'sequence' or 'arpeggiator' like line... (patting the head and stroking circles on the belly springs to mind...;^) The sound is *Fat* - not Moog *Fat* - but *Fat* in it's own right... you gotta love it..!"

CS80 a quick noodle.

"Just a quick CS80 noodle. Using just the *Piano* and *Bass* patches - with some RingMod giving some shimmer. This '80 needs a tune up... I only just got her working. Tuning is next on my to-do list..!"

Another quick CS80 noodle.

"Here's another noodle - I'm always in awe of the beast when a new patch - (in this case I just changed footages from the last one) - suggests a different riff to me..."

4th Brandenburg Concerto on the MoPho analog synthesizer

YouTube via syntesen
"After having realized other Bach pieces on very diverse gear, I decided to try and do a full scale electronic realization of a movement of a Brandenburg concerto on the Dave Smith Instruments MoPho analog synthesizer, in the style of Wendy Carlos.

This is the result - the third movement of the fourth concerto.

The MoPho was controlled by a Novation ReMOTE 61SL, and everything was recorded straight into Ableton Live 7 as audio (24-bit, 48 KHz) - no MIDI sequencing. Effects (mild phasing on some sounds, reverb and delay), equalization and mastering was also applied in Live.

All the patches were programmed by me, and there is a lot more timbral variation to the individual instrument voices than in my earlier realizations."

Analogue Systems rs110 Multimode Filter Trick

YouTube via bigcitymusic
"The Analogue Systems rs110 Multimode filter has the unique ability to process the resonance externally.

Bob Williams with Analogue Systems showed us this trick where we send the "Notch Out" back into the "Res In". Sending the filter resonance to a phaser or some modulation effect can yield very cool results.

We're using the Low Pass output to our speaker."

Serge Creature Scarey Alien Space Sounds

YouTube via b3nsf
"I made this outer space freaky alien squeals and rumbles patch, and I dig it. Check it out!! Serge Creature and Quad Slope M-odules..."

Serge Creature and Quad Slope Fun patch

"Me and Judah tweak the first patch on my serge, very fun stuff!!'

Integrated Circuits for EDP Wasp Synth - Complete Set

via this auction
"You're looking at a complete, new set of integrated circuits which will enable the life of your EDP Wasp to be sustained well into the future. This comprises 47 parts in all, including all of the digital and analog devices, power regulator, and amp IC. Some of these ICs, in particular the CA3080's, 4006 and 40174 are now obsolete and becoming increasingly difficult to source within the UK. Alternatively you could just add a few resistors, capacitors, pots, and make your own Wasp from scratch."

OBERHEIM TWO VOICE TVS-1

via this auction
"Specifications * Polyphony - 2 voices * Oscillators - 4 VCO's (2 per voice) with sawtooth or variable-pulse waveforms * LFO - LFO is triangle wave only * Filter - (x2) Lowpass filter with cutoff and resonance. Can be modulated by the LFO, envelope or external sync * VCA - (x2) Attack, Decay and Sustain * Keyboard - 37 keys * Arpeg/Seq - Mini Sequencer (with 8 steps and 2 voices) * Control - CV / Gate * Date Produced - 1975-1979"

Oberheim OB-X

via this auction

"BONUS ITEMS:
1. Calzone case is included.
2. Two factory tape cassettes – both sides contain factory patches, plus patches that I created
3. The original owner's manual, First Edition July 1979
4. A copy of the service manual, Second Edition Feb 1980 Second Printing June 1980
5. OBX pin – the actual size is 2cm X 2cm, and is best viewed small.

HISTORY OF THE OBX ACCORDING TO VARIOUS INTERNET SITES

The OBX was the first fully programmable polyphonic synth built by Tom Oberheim. This machine was only in production for about 12-months, from 1979 until late 1980. It is estimated that less than 1000 total units were produced in 4, 6, and 8 voice configurations. The 4 voice originally retailed for $4595.

It's the direct successor to the famous SEM based units. The secret of the OBX is that it still has the old discrete 12db SEM-filters (instead of 24db filters). Each voice card in the OBX is in essence an expanded SEM controlled by a common user interface. All later units such as OBXa, OB8 and Matrix as well as many competing products made the use of the more sterile Curtis filter chips. The OBX has a warmer sound than the OBXa and OB8 (which are both CEM based). Tom Oberheim also said that the OB8 is too perfect, lacking the earlier models' grit, and that he prefers the sound of the earlier Oberheims (the SEM and OBX) to the later models. In addition, the Polymod (Xmod, Crossmod) feature never came back on the later machines.

WHAT USERS SAY ABOUT THE SOUND OF THE OBX (WHY YOU WANT IT!)
The OBX blows away every single virtual analog or modern digital synth ever made. It sounds huge, wonderful, and very much alive. It has so much more life, character, and sonic power than any of the modern synths I've owned or heard, I swear it's got a life of its own! I can just mess with it for hours, totally captivated by the sounds it can make. Comparing the X with the Xa in 12db mode the X sounds less transitory and closed in with better bottom end warmth and sweeter resonance. Don’t expect an Xa in 12db mode to give you an OBX. Knocking the Xa into 24db mode gives that famous Xa Punch no doubt helped by its faster EG’s but still gives that "Curtis 3320 VCF " pinched effect despite OB doing an excellent job of making the best use to date of a mediocre chip. OBXa is NOT smooth, it’s agressive and ballsy. The OBX sounds like true Oberheim, not like a "Jump"ed up Prophet 5. For big lush pads and Sweeps IMO the OBX trashes the OB-Xa every time. OBX is one of the smoothest, warmest, biggest sounding synths out there. The sound of the OBX is absolutely superb. It's crystal clear, full and very open. The sound of the filters is second to none - no other programmable polyphonic analog synth will give you such rich sweeps. The fact that every voice board's settings differ a bit from each other makes the sound very lively - a chord never sounds stiff. In short words: the OBX is THE pad-monster."

inside an OB-X

VINTAGE 70S MOOG MINIMOOG D SYNTHESIZER CIRCUIT BOARDS

via this auction

CLICK FOR MORE »

yr3wk32 with john sinclair

yr3wk32 with john sinclair from longcat on Vimeo.
via longcat on the forum
"the return of john sinclair to the longcat weekly improvisation...

me on moog & hammond organ...

john on the poems, "fatboy" and "scuze me while i kiss the sky" for the 1940's atom bombs and for jimi hendrix respectively...

recorded the day after the inauguration of barack obama x"

"moog opus 3 and the creamware B4000 ASB Hammond Organ module.."

Update: moving this one up for the afternoon.
You can find more info on John Sinclair at his official website and of course Wikipedia.

Marc Marc TD Cross Generator

"The TD Cross Generator is a modular analog device based on classical synthesizer techniques and featuring 'rare' options which intend to stimulate the joy for exploring experimental concepts in electronically generated music. This application is fully hand made (BTW: a XX Cross Generator also can be made with dull colors ;-)." More info on Marc Marc. via Tipper via Boing Boing Gadgets.

Roland D-Beam Insanity

YouTube via RetroSoundsDA
"[-I'm Not A Skilled Keyboardist-]
Messing Around With The Roland Fantom G6's D-Beam (On "Solo-Synth" Mode) At The Local Guitar Center. Also, A 'Suprise' To All Those Van Halen Fans Out There ;)

Notice All The Other Keyboards/Synthesizers In The Background :D ."

Voyager OS with FreqBox

YouTube via hvrhd1000u
"This is Voyager OS routed through the FreqBox and Roland GP-100 Guitar Effects Processor."

KORG DS-10: How to change chords in 1 looping pattern

YouTube via jetdaisuke
"I tell you the way to change chords in only 1 loop pattern. very easy.

At a SYNTH PATCH, connect a SQUARE WAVE to a PITCH IN. And synchronize a MG to BPM.

http://webdog.be/archives/09124_19334...
KORG DS-10 ひとつのループパターン内でコードチェンジする方法。
矩形波をピッチINとつないで一定間隔ごとに音程を変化させ、ループしているパターン内でのコードチェンジを実現する。"

BOSS DR-55 by S-CAT

YouTube via PHONICPOTION S-CAT/PHONICPOTION on Ebay
"CIRCUIT BENT (PROTOTYPE) WITH 8 MODIFICATIONS... 1. TOTAL OVERDRIVE, 2. SNARE SNAPPY, 3. KICK DECAY, 4. KICK TUNE, 5-8. INSTRUMENT MUTE"

The Electric Dice and the tiny Audio Level Meter.

YouTube via denha

The Touchables

YouTube via analoguecrazy4
"Here is my cover of 'The Touchables' by 'The Human League. This song is off thier second album 'Travelogue'. All sequencing by Roland W-30 and all sounds except drums from Roland Jupiter-4."

Handmade Music Night

YouTube via Popscivideo. via brian c
You can find some previous posts on the event here.
"Part party, part mixer, part Science Fair, and part performance, this is an informal chance for geeksters and the geek-curious to come together, relax, and discover new sounds and drink complimentary cheap beer. The evening is a gathering of inventors of new instruments and music technology. Featuring circuit-bent toys, custom software and patches, interactive digital and visual instruments, custom electronics, electricity-powered noisemakers, DIY robots, and new acoustic instruments. And it's open to everyone from hard-core hackers and newcomers to music lovers who want to learn about the DIY music scene."

Tr909 in the back of a nice car

via Gabriel

makes you wonder how many synths are floating along the highways at this very moment.

Volta Quadrature LFO

Volta Quadrature LFO from Matthew Davidson on Vimeo.
"Volta can be used to create a quadrature LFO. A quadrature LFO has four outputs with the phase shifted in 90 degree increments. This produces the sine, cosine, inverted sine and inverted cosine. A quadrature LFO is useful for frequency shifters, barberpole effects, quad panning, phasers and so on. In this demonstration, we'll use our quadrature LFO to modulate the waveform animation section of a Livewire Audio Frequency Generator oscillator, then we'll play with the LFO waveforms to create some syncopated timberal animation - all in sync with our project."
via the Volta blog.

Update: also see this post

Interactive Installation - Doubles

YouTube via SungHeng. "Taiwan" via wire to the ear

Patch of the Day - Quad Event Timer

via navs.modular.lab where you'll find the audio.

"This patch was inspired by the Plan B Triple Event Timer and marks a bit of a departure for me: it was realized using the Clavia Nord Modular 2 Demo."

Update via Peter Grander of Plan B in the comments: "this is wild because the Model 17 inspired form a software module which used to be part of the Reaktor set.

What goes around comes around, huh?"

Livewire AFG vs Cwejman VCO-6

via navs.modular.lab where you can find the samples.

"Livewire's AFG goes head-to-head with Cwejman's VCO-6, two similarly priced and spec'd high-end VCOs. They both sound great, but do you need both?"

current system

flickr by pac209

"www.sendspace.com/file/pizr56 some sound"

full size

Note the Acidlab Bassline and modded TR-707

NAMM: WNAMM09: Indamixx NetBook Linux Powered DAW

see the write-up on Sonic State
At the end of the video he mentions it's available now at Amazon.com. I checked and sure enough it's there.

Jona Bechtolt of Yacht

Read this post on Jona Bechtolt.

Synth content? Simple. If people don't pay for their software, the software companies don't get paid. If the software companies don't get paid they cease to exist. If they cease to exist they can't make us our synths.

The biggest issue I have with this is not him "trying out" pirated software before buying, but him glorifying it. He's promoting it whether he realizes or not. If he has an audience, he has a fan base. Fans typically respect the musicians they like. Fans may be inclined to take similar actions. BTW demos are for trying before buying not pirated software.

On his teamyacht public website he states the following:
"I use pirated software. I'll be the first to admit that. The certain audio software of my choice has been historically hard to crack and has been sort of an unreliable program to use due to its "I could stop working for you at any time" nature. They are smart over there in Germany. No one knows why it stops working. No one knows how. It's not calling home to the internet and shutting itself off. It's not creating an invisible file that tells it to stop working. It's not even embedding some sort of copyright violation code into the song files... I don't know what it's doing, but it stinks."

see for yourself

Is this any of our business? If you want companies that make tools that you use to continue making those tools, then I would probably say yes. Now you know why anti-piracy USB dongles exist. The software we use is probably more expensive because of this as well...