Something New from Propellerheads

See the update in this post.

Axio - Alternative MIDI Control Surface

YouTube via thisfear.

via GB "I designed the electronics and firmware for the chording keyboard in this alternative MIDI controller in the early 90's. It was made using a set of Yamaha DX7 key contacts. These contacts have both make and break contacts which allow for velocity sensing. The firmware was done in 8031 assembler and the source code is posted on my website, www.MusicTechnologiesGroup.com. The project was presented at various conferences and symposiums around the world."
Note the ribbon controller and additional buttons on the joystick.

White x0xb0x Custom B# Edition

via this auction

"Why is this thing called the x0xb0x B# edition? Errr.... if you look at the front panel you will notice an extra key that got printed. This was my plan all along....... That's my story and I am sticking to it."

Moog The Rogue

via this auction

"Hand written serial number #3779"

Moog The Rogue

via this auction

"With 2 VCOs, basic Filter controls, CG/GATE, and a 2 1/2 octave keyboard, this minimal monosynth still offers plenty of usable and familiar Moog sounds."

First Moog Quartet

flickr by Squeakyrat

"Gershon Kingsley's First Moog Quartet, Popcorn, 1972."

Yamaha DX7 Tattoo

See the Synth Tattoo label below for more

Rock On

Update via H in the comments: and a Juno-60

Modding a Gameboy using a www.GetLoFi.com LTC Precision Timer Oscillator Circuit

YouTube via CremeDeMentia. follow-up to this post
"The tiny circuit board you see being added to the Gameboy in this video is sending a counterfeit clock signal to where the Gameboy's crystal originally was soldered. The frequency of that counterfeit clock signal is controlled by the potentiometer attached to the circuit board and the Gameboy's operating frequency changes accordingly. The circuit board and potentiometer are part of the LTC Precision Timer Oscillator kit, available at www.GetLoFi.com/shop. Search the articles at www.GetLoFi.com for more information."

x0x Source

A new x0xb0x site

via the forum

note the host of the site is selling this x0xb0x.

Elektor Formant Modular

flickr by niconoe
(click for more)

Getting to know the Gakken Premium Theremin

Getting to know the Gakken Premium Theremin from make magazine on Vimeo.

"The Gakken Premium Theremin is an affordable and highly playable battery operated theremin instrument. Unlike most theremins, it uses an armband contact instead of a connection to earth ground. It also features -
- coarse and fine controls for both pitch and volume antennae
- master volume
- 1/8" audio output jack
- instrument stand mounting thread

makershed.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=MKGK20

Video & Music by Collin Cunningham"

Music And More (MAM) ADX 1 Demo

YouTube via zibbybone

"Quick demo of a compact and inexpensive drum synthesizer. It has 5 voice channels: Bass, Synth, Snare, Hi Hat and Metal (in ascending order on machine). One cool feature about this machine is that the Snare and Hi Hat channels feature both "open" and "closed" variants. You can here the "closed" snare on notes 5 & 13 (on a typical 16th note Roland x0x style pattern) and the "open" snare on note 8 (same note step I have the "synth" sound programmed on). Only real compaint I have with this instrument is that the MIDI note numbers are fixed and cannot be reassigned. The MIDI Channel is assigned using 4 dip switches on the rear panel. The rear panel has stereo outs (which I used with the front panel pan pots in this demonstration) and individual outs for outboard processing and/or mixing. The LED for the Metal channel is out on this particular unit. The sounds are sequenced via Roland TR-909 External Instrument mode. If you''re craving some fresh drum sounds and cannot afford the Vermona DRM-1, this is a great alternative. The bass on this demo is pretty low and cannot be heard on my crappy lap top speakers. Enjoy and be sure to check out my other videos of synths, drum machines and effects."

VFD SPRINGMODULATOR

YouTube via LofiNinja
"Yeah I forgot the magnet on the VFD.. Shame.."

follow-up to this post

Pure Rs7000; amphetamine jam

YouTube via NachoMargahayu Yamaha RS7000
"After a big night out with some amphetamine up my nose :) this was the result. Made with only the internal sounds from the rs7000/no addition samples or sequencing "

Nord Electro 3

YouTube via MusicmarketingCanada
"The Nord keyboards are built for players. Here is a player playing a keyboard built for players like him."

VICMOD Synth Night Updates

See the links in the update of this post. Includes video and close-ups of the gear.
Direct links: images, video.

Delfy Creations Red Box

YouTube via robodelfy
www.delfycreations.com

FLOWER ELECTRONICS LITTLE BOY BLUE LBB NOISE SYNTH

via this auction

flowerelectronics.com

MOODY SOUNDS BABY BOX NOISE GENERATOR SYNTH SERIAL: 035

via this auction

moodysounds.com
Moody Sounds on Ebay

Folkteck The Pyra-Bug

via this auction
"The Pyra-Bug By Ben Houston .

This custom piece is part of a folktek series entitled "philanthropoid"". Known simply as the Bug series. Also in the series on the site and around the world is the Mantis, dronescape sequencer,the book of sound, the moth, the growling insect, the bug, the octa-hedra, walking stick, pendulum translator and others. The sound is phenomenol and continues to amaze us. It is a sonic symphony of nasty and grimy sweetness, endless layers of sound possibilities emenating from High quality OSC originally based on high tech speech synthesis. Seemingly random bits can be rediscovered time and time again and then there are those moments that you will most likely never rediscover. Endlessly captivating, this piece WILL provide sounds that you will not find in other synthesizers and will astonish you every time you turn it on.

This particular piece features four patchable knobs, and a twelve point magnetic patchbay. This allows you to determine function and provides tons of flexibility. In addition, two more knobs (global knob control and power kill) , glowing lamp power indicator , 2 folktek button/switches for activate and freeze mode sections, reset, 1/4" output, basic manual of function and layout. You'll be able to cipher through waveforms and textures with extreme sensitivity in thousands of ways. Waveforms (individual, or multiple layers) can be captured and maintained, often intermodulating in beautiful and/or disturbing ways. Super sensitive knobs let you filter through tons of sounds and glitchscapes. Albums are waiting to be created here as the sound is quite different from anything else you'll find.."

Yamaha WX-5 EWI wind synth controller

via this auction

Roland JX-3P

via this auction

"ROLAND JX-3P, analog polysynth, 6 voices polyphony, MIDI, made in 1983"

click on the images for the full size shots.

Strawberry fields for Ella

YouTube via OmenieSoftware
"The challenge - can a ham-fisted non-pianist use Ellatron version 1.3's chord banks to recreate the most recognisable and iconic Mellotron tune of all time?

The answer would seem to be, yes!!!"
Available on iTunes here:

Variable Slope Filter / Phaser Progress

New images of the prototype via JH

"No new sound samples yet (front panel wiring is still missing). Old sound samples and general information is here"

Alien Robot Dance music production

YouTube via se7ense7. misc synth and studio shots.
"I did these tracks for a movie-production company in the Netherlands... they needed some different styles of music to put underneath a 7 minute compilation about the city Eindhoven and to fit certain moods in the clip.

All synth sounds in these clips were made with Roland JX3P, MC303 and Yamaha AN200.
Guitars and basses are real instruments recorded with a SM58 through my alesis IO26"

The Midwest Experimental Electronics Showcase

"The Midwest Experimental Electronics Showcase
Saturday, May 16th, 7 PM
Lizard's Liquid Lounge
3058 W Irving Park Rd., Chicago, 773-463-7599

~NO COVER~

Audio &visual artists and inventors from the Midwest gather to share their recent homemade experimental electronics projects, instruments, videos, and robots at this DIY convention/lab. Circuit Benders, Toy Hackers, Tech Pirates, and Recycling Junkies will have an opportunity to perform, demonstrate, and lecture about their recent work in the fast-growing art of Acquired Technology."

Line-up: Tim Kaiser,Talking Computron,Hey Coma, Thriftstore Boratorium,Créme DeMentia, Roth Mobot,Alex Inglizian,Mike Una,AutoShrimp,djswyll.
via brian c

PAiA synth analog ad sheet 1976 Gnome Oz

via this auction

Barely legible. If anyone has a decent scan of this one, feel free to send it in. That's the Flanger, not the Gnome or Oz. Maybe they are on the back. "This ad sheet went out with their catalogue (which we haven't located) with a few new items & updates. It's a folded 8.5" x 11" sheet, printed both sides."

Rare Technics SY-1010 analogue synthesizer (1979)

via this auction
Not the best shots, but you don't see these often.

"A light weight synthesizer manufactured by technics in 1979. It's all analogue, with no battery for memory or anything like that, so it's probably still quite clean inside, and has survived in good condition for nearly 30 years.

It is compact (roughly the same size as a technics SL-1200 turntable)

Typical Oscillator+Noise->Filter->VCA monosynth setup with LFO.

The LFO can go up to quite high frequencies (i'm guessing around 100hz or maybe higher), so it can be used as an FM effect.

There is also a tuning knob for the main oscillator, which has a range of less than 100hz, up to somewhere above 10000hz.

There are no inputs at all to this synth. But i guess someone with experience could add cv/gate inputs, and probably even midi too, if that was required."

Maestrovox tube synth

via this auction
"Up for sale is a rare Maestrovox tube synthesizer keyboard instrument, one of 17 known to exist, and a unique model. These first went on sale in 1952. Much information on these, including schematics, can be obtained by visiting the following website, which belongs to the granddaughter of the inventor of the Maestrovox:
http://www.debbiecurtis.co.uk/id99.html

This Maestrovox is a special instrument because the keyboard's facade (rocker switches, entirely black paneling, etc), is imitative of the Clavioline, while it still maintained the same speaker/ amp cabinet as the regular Maestrovox Consort model. It has mounting stand. I think the way this Maestrovox was supposed to work is that you place the speaker/ amp cabinet on the ground, which brings the keyboard to playing height if you are in the sitting position. Quite a unique, cool set-up.

This Maestrovox is cosmetically in very good condition. The keyboard itself is in excellent condition. The speaker/ amp cabinet is missing its original grillcloth (a green replacement grillcloth has been mounted to the front with thumbtacks), and the tolex if pealing in a few places.

This Maestrovox MIGHT be completely functional, but my power converter does not provide enough wattage to adequately test it. It runs off of 220V/240V, because it was invented in Australia, and the only converter I could find locally that would support that voltage was at Radioshack, and it only could provide 44W of power, which is only enough for a small appliance (I have included a picture of the converter I used to test it). So, because of that, the Maestrovox could not be properly tested. From my albeit insufficient testing, the upper two octaves definitely worked, and the lower octave did not work. That is likely a simple fix because the Maestrovox, like the Clavioline, used three-octave dividers to derive all the pitches from a single top-octave tone generator. The sound is somewhat weak, which is also likely due to the insufficient wattage. It could even just be a bad tube, or perhaps the lack of power resulted in only two of the octaves working during testing. Why did Maestrovoxes, Claviolines, Ondiolines, and Solovoxes have only 36 notes? Because adding a 37th note would have required a fourth divider. This Maestrovox has an octave switcher with three positions immediately to the left of the rocker switches, and two tuning knobs on the left and right side of the keyboard front. The same thing happens one each octave setting: the lower octave of the keyboard does not play anything. With the schematics, it should be very easy to bring this to perfect functional condition, if it is not functioning perfect already when properly powered (I'm not able to test it sufficiently, as described below).

Further information on the history and function of portable and mountable tube synthesizers (namely the Clavioline, but also the Maestrovox, Ondioline, and Solovox) can be found here
And another Maestrovox-related webpage"

Yamaha SK20

YouTube via abertronic. via these auctions
"A lovely sounding organ / strings / polysynth . Early yamaha Digital FM for the organ , strings and polysynth are analog. String sound is comparable to the Roland RS 202 and you can build up more complex sounds because of the 3 sections. PItch of the organ/string section can be detuned against the pitch of the polysynth. It contains an excellent ensemble effect in addition to vibrato and tremelo effect. Its a little heavy so best suited for studio use!
The analog section strings/polysynth sound , to me , is very beautiful ; grainy ., a very physical real sound .
One note ; the polysynth section contains a selection of wavetypes 4'saw down to 16'pulse . If you place the switch in between to wavetypes you get a mixture of those 2."