This one was sent in by a good friend of mine, Carla. I can't believe I hadn't heard of this one before. There's some prime synth spotting in the trailer alone. It's currently streaming on Amazon Prime. Note this is an actual movie, not a documentary. The film features music by Human League, Devo, Throbbing Gristle, Marc Collin, Clara Luciani, Jean-Michel Jarre, Cerrone, Aksak Maboul, Suicide, and Julie London.
In the trailer: Roland CompuRhythm CR-78, Moog modular, ARP 2600 orange & black, and a Yamaha CS80. Vintage Maestro Phase Shifter as well.
Description for the trailer above:
"FRANCE, 2019 / 84 MIN / FRENCH
In the Paris of 1978, old formulas do not charm listeners anymore and new music must arise. In a male-dominated industry, Ana uses her electronic gadgets to make herself heard, creating a new sound that will mark the decades to come: the music of the future.
WITH
Alma Jodorowsky from 'Blue is the Warmest Color'
(Cannes 2013); Philippe Rebbot from 'Gauguin' (2017);
Clara Luciani and Corine, both French singers
Produced by Nebo Productions, The Perfect Kiss Films
and Sogni Vera Films"
Published on Sep 23, 2018 Christian's Sonic Spaces
Here's something you don't get to hear often. The EVS-1 rackmount synthesizer by Evolution Synthesis. There have only been two previous posts featuring the EVS-1, one, an auction with some pics, and the other a link to Rolamtech featuring various synth demos.
"This is the first song with my latest addition, the Evolution Synthesis EVS-1. It's a 16-voice polyphonic, 8-part multitimbral, digital synthesizer featuring 4OP FM, 4OP Phase Distortion, Ringmodulation, Waveshaping, etc. It wasn't very successful when it came out in the early 90s. The reasons might be that one need a computer software to programm this synth, the sounds contain significant digital artefacts and it hasn't any filter and effects. But thanks to the 4 6-stage envelopes and 2 LFOs which all can be freely routed to each control two different parameters of the synth engine including LFOs themselves AND the "wavetable", it's a beast to create crispy, wobbling, glitchy, drony, weired, industrial-like soundscapes. The aliasing is here a significant part of the sound design ;-) I'm really impressed how versatile and "freshh" it still can sound.
BTW, all sounds I used for this song I've created myself ;-)
I used for the recording the following FX chain:
Evolution Synthesis EVS-1 - Alesis Ampliton - Pigtronix Echolution 2 Deluxe - GFI System Specular Reverb 2 - Alesis 3630
The signal goes via a small Behringer mixer straight into the pc.
To create the complete song I recorded consecutively several stereo tracks. The final song was then mastered with just a bit compression on some tracks and some limiting on the master track. Please note that I didn't use any filter and EQ for this song."
Here's and interesting bit of synth history if it is indeed legit. If anyone from KORG sees this and can verify, please do. This one was spotted and sent in via Ajgersten.
Details via the listing:
"This is as rare as it can be. Your only chance to own the mother of all korg M3;The prototype used by Korg's engineers to develop the famous Korg M3.
This unit has not been modified in any way. It has the original version loaded. All functions just like the final M3 production unit. It could be upgraded to newer software versions Just like any regular M3.
It is in good shape and everything works. Talked to the engineer that was assigned to develop this unit to confirm authenticity. You can as well.
"Andrei Smirnov demonstrates Leon Theremin's Rhythmicon (Ритмикон) - electronic musical instrument originally developed and produced by Leon Theremin in 1931. This particular machine was made in 1965. Shot 24 december 2014 at 'Pioneers of Sound' exhibition held at Vinzavod in Moscow."
"1981 Buchla 300 Electric Music Box. A quick demo of the process of loading Patch IV, setting up the 221 controller for 300 control, and a walk through the various programming screens."
"This particular Buchla is from 1981, one of the last modular systems Don would have made before he introduced the 200e 20 years later."
No audio, but that is a rare bit of synthesizer history right there. You can find the Buchla 300 featured in the following posts in order of appearance:
"First of a series of events to introduce members that integrate this strange band.
Primero de una serie de episodios para presentar a los miembros de este extraña banda.
TECHNICAL DATA:
Oddysey acquired in Dec 2011.
Restaured in Feb 2012. Incorporating internal microcontroller with MIDI and additional features (additional buttons too) as MIDI velocity modulation, MIDI tempo sync LFO, and more. The original keyboard works by taking precedence over midi input when played.
Drums performed by drum synth 'Macchina di Rumore'. [mini pic below - if anyone has better pics let me know!]
All MIDI sequenced and live mixed with FX."
"He usually worked with Jean michel Jarre, he use the MDB polysequencer to control all his synth set, that's the pleasure of the hardware machine instead of nowaydays plugins."
This is the first post to feature the MDB Polysequencer.
This one was spotted on Craigslist and sent in via Kaden Harris. I don't believe I have ever seen one of these before. You will find two demos and a pic of the inside below.
From the listing: "I have this one of a kind guitar synth from about 1965. I've emailed many different gear professionals and none have ever seen one. I even got replys from Roger Mayer, Tom Oberheim, and guitar world. I was told it is a hand built prototype and I believe this could actually be one of the first guitar synthesizers ever made. I received it without the original power cord and guitar pickup. It has an obscure cinch jones 12 pin input so I bought the appropriate adapter and had a quarter inch jack connector installed. It has a new power cable. The unit passes signal and it has a bass octave tone that works. It has several organ tones but I can't seem to get them to do anything. Ideally it could use a modern synth pickup adapted to it and other work to get it going. I'm looking to trade it for a high end guitar. Here's a couple links for a demo https://www.instagram.com/p/BZYtezUA1eM/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BY9v6OYggKW/"
I have this one of a kind guitar synth from about 1965. I've emailed many different gear professionals and none have ever seen one. I even got replys from Roger Mayer, Tom Oberheim, and guitar world. I was told it is a hand built prototype and I believe this could actually be one of the first guitar synthesizers ever made. I received it without the original power cord and guitar pickup. It has an obscure cinch jones 12 pin input so I bought the appropriate adapter and had a quarter inch jack connector installed. It has a new power cable. The unit passes signal and it has a bass octave tone that works. It has several organ tones but I can't seem to get them to do anything. Ideally it could use a modern synth pickup adapted to it and other work to get it going. I'm looking to trade it for a high end guitar. Here's a couple links for a demo https://www.instagram.com/p/BZYtezUA1eM/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BY9v6OYggKW/.
"This is the prototype of the Moog Prodigy, called the Moog Prodigy Xpander. This is the ONLY one I've ever seen.
This tabletop module was going to compete with the Oberheim SEM, but Moog Music in the late 70's decided to go with the keyboard version of the Prodigy, and many of them are still in service today.
It works perfectly, sounds incredibly fat, and it's oscillator sync sounds so much better than other analog synths.
I was a rep/dealer/consultant in the 70's and 80's to many golden age companies including Moog Music, (Williamvsille, and Buffalo factories,) Polyfusion, Sequential Circuits, Oberheim, Pearce Amps, and was a consultant to Les Paul.
Owning this for synthesists, is analogous to being a guitarist and owning Fender Stratocaster 001.
Most Moog experts weren't aware of this prototype, but being a rep, and living just 10 miles from the Moog factory, gave me an advantage to obtain rare pieces like this. Tony Marchese was the head engineer on this rare piece.
I met Bob Moog at the age of 19 in 1973, and he became my mentor, helping me in those early days to learn all I could about electronic music.
You'll need a MIDI to CV convertor to use this.
Obviously, this is for true Moog fans, and collectors."
"This wonderful professional analog synthesizer from non-smoking studio is aprox. 40 years old. Good optical and working technical vintage condition. Synthesizer has some scratches. See pictures. Some knobs and potentiometers could be cleaned for bether working without "scratches". The device can also be picked up without any shipping costs in 65183 Wiesbaden, Germany.
Built 1976
Type: analog
Hybrid: no
1 Voice / Stimmen
1x Multitimbral
no Memory
Synthesis: subtractive
OSC Features pwm
Wave Shapes tri saw pulse morph
1 OSCs
2 Filter lpf self reso + 16 step resonator bank 4 Pole
2 LFOs square tri
2 Envelope Generators 2x AR
"Ultra rare italian synthesizers, made by Mario Maggi (the man who invented the Elka Synthex). This unit belongs to Patrizio Fariselli from Area!"
Apparently only three were made. It is monophonic.
The following are some details via synthmuseum.com from the MCS 70 brochure:
"FEATURES:
Memorizes all parameters of all user-defined control panel settings
Groups of up to 64 memorized settings available at any one time
Instantaneous change time from one memorized sound to any other
Non-volatile integrated circuit memory modules, no tape, nothing mechanical
No loss of user's memorized sounds, even unplugged or with module removed, until user himself memorizes a new sound.
It's called Integrated Memory Control. The result is the first completely programmable electronic music synthesizer. The programs are the user's own sounds set up with the front panel parameter controls.
The MCS 70 Memory Controlled Synthesizer represents a new concept in total integration of analog and digital operating systems allowing complete digital memorization of all parameters of the signal generating and processing modules.
Operating in the Panel mode, the audio result is determined directly by the variable panel controls. In the Memory mode the audio is determined by the previously defined and memorized panel settings.
A sound is memorized simply by pushing a button which cuases a digital code corresponding to the parameter control positions to be stored at the selected address (one of 64) of the memory modules.
Any sound may be instantaneously (5 milliseconds) recalled, even years later, after memorization, by pushing the corresponding memory address button.
Two memory modules each with a capacity of 32 programmable settings, are inserted in the rear of the instrument. Removing the module or unplugging the instrument has no effect on the contents of the memory. No setting is ever lost until the user decides to change the program at a given address. There is virtually no limit to the number of times the same address may be re-programmed.
Each module can be quickly removed and substituted by another containing 32 entirely different programs. Several sets of programs can be used, for example, during a concert. Each song can have its own characteristic sounds. There is no set-up time delay, and the performer can even change sound instantly in mid-phrase.
"FOR SALE SUPER RARE SYNTHESIZER KEYBOARD BY ELECTRONIC MUSIC STUDIOS - EMS POLYSYNTHI !!! SYNTH IN WORKING CONDITION. THIS UNIQUE SYNTHESIZER. UNIQUE SOUND STRUKTURES, - FX PSYHODELIC SOUND SYNTH... THIS IS THE BEST SYNTH WHICH I HAVE. INCREDIBLE SOUNDING POLYPHONIC VCS-3 SYNTHI VERSION SYNTH. FOR THE SOUND TRACK IN THE CINEMA AND SOUND PRODUCED PRO-STUDIOS. . MOST MUSICAL IMAGES HE CAN BORN. A LOT OF COMPLEX AND INCREDIBLE MONUMENTAL SOUNDS AND POWERFUL BEAUTIFUL SOUNDS. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO TRANSFER ALL EMOTIONS THAT WILL SUPPORT THIS SYNTH. = ONLY YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF USE WITH IT WILL GIVE YOU UNDERSTANDING AND DISCLOSE THE MAGIC OF SOUND THESE SYNTH!"
Remember to go through eBay for their buyer protection when purchasing anything through them. If you take the purchase offline to save a buck, you risk losing it all.
"Found this in my old box of 45s and figured I'd stick it up here since it doesn't seem to exist on YouTube as of this date."
Sequential Circuits MAX Flexi-Disc Demo by John Bowen
Published on Dec 22, 2017 peahix
Not sure that's John's voice in this one. If it is, he sounds different! :) That is his voice in the Multi-Trak demo above. According to the flexi-disc, the music on this one, though, is his.
"Found this in my old box of 45s and figured I'd stick it up here since it doesn't seem to exist on YouTube as of this date."
Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
Note the listing states this was the first electronic sound synthesizer, but that of course is subjective. There were others. You can find a list by year on 120 Years of Electronic Music.
A Helmholtz Sound Synthesizer, manufactured in Chemnitz by Max Kohl after the design by Hermann von Helmholtz, ca 1905.
Estimate 25,000 - 35,000 USD
Wood, brass and steel sound synthesizer, signed " Max Kohl, Chemnitz, 1/8", 39½ x 29", mahogany base fitted with 11 steel tuning forks signed MK, each fork stamped with corresponding note and frequency in vs (vibrations per second, i.e. hertz). Forks 1-10 fixed between pairs of electromagnets and mounted vertically onto wooden platforms (numbered 1-10) along with brass Helmholtz resonators, each pair ranging in size according to their graduating frequencies, each platform with "Aus/Ein" [on/off] switch. 11th fork (marked UT 2 256 vs) mounted horizontally onto wooden platform with electromagnetic coil mounted between tines, adjustable mercury cup below lower tine; one end of board fitted with 2 anodes and 2 cathodes for connection to external 20 volt power sources; other end of board fitted with keyboard of 10 keys (8 ivory, and 2 non-mammalian replacements), each corresponding to 1 tuning fork/resonator pair (UT 2 256 vs; UT 3 512 vs; SOL 3 768 vs; UT 4 1024 vs; MI 4 1280 vs; SOL 4 1536 vs; 1792 vs; UT 5 2048 vs; RE 5 2304 vs; & MI 5 2560 vs). All 11 platforms connected together in series with wire filaments from the horizontal tuning fork."
I believe this is the first time some, if not all, have appeared online. They include a flyer for the Waldorf Wave, a Preliminary Wave info sheet, and TSI Musikmesse flyers. TSi GmbH were the distributors for Waldorf. They later distributed Access Music and Novation as well. Wolfgang Düren, the chairman of Waldorf, was the man behind TSi. He partnered with PPG before Waldorf. See this post for some additional details on him.
Saga - Jim Gilmour Demo - Musikmesse Frankfurt 1993 1992 Published on May 12, 2013 MadSevenFilms
"Jim Gilmour ( Saga keyboardist) in a demo at the Waldorf stand during the musikmesse in Germany.
Humble Stance, Wind Him up, Don't be late, Careful where you step, On the loose,etc ...."
Update: according the swissdoc, these videos are actually from 1992. That would make the appearance of the prototype Wave in 1992, not 1993. This post has been updated to reflect that. Note swissdoc's write-ups are from 1993 as you can see in the datestamps for the links, and I believe the production model Wave was indeed released in 1993.
Here's a blast from the past featuring a bit of Waldorf history in via swissdoc. This may very well be the only Waldorf footage from the event. Check out the non-working prototype of the Waldorf Wave in the background. 1992 was the year it made its first appearance to be released in 1993. Note the Microwave rack was released earlier in 1989. Further below you will find some notes on Musikmesse 1993 (the following year after these videos) from swissdoc, followed by a transcription of the Wave flyer. This is a fascinating look back on synth history. But first, one more video from the 1992 Musikmesse.
Update2 via swissdoc: "In addition, for those who can read and understand German, there is a big series of three articles available for download (email has to be provided) from the German Keyboards magazine. Inside Wave. Amazing level of detail plus in part three an interview with developers and users plus additional interviews with the people behind the Wave.
Update3: The following scans have been added to the bottom of this post:
Messe.1992.TSI.Messeinformation
Messe.1992.Preliminary.Wave.Info
Messe.1993.TSI.Show.Information
Messe.1993.Wave.Flyer
Saga - Jim Gilmour Scratching the surface - Musikmesse Frankfurt 1993 1992
Published on May 13, 2013 MadSevenFilms
"Jim Gilmour ( Saga keyboardist) in a demo at the Waldorf stand during the musikmesse in Germany.
Scratching the surface"
---
The following is a Musikmesse 1993 recap via swissdoc aka George Mueller, who attended, from way back in 1993 (you'll find a transcript of the Waldorf Wave flyer text further below). P.S. for a quick look at the gear released at the 1993 Musikmesse see here and here, both from swissdoc.
"Before I go into this Wave stuff, I'd like to tell you a little about the Frankfurt Musik Messe. Those restless gear junkies, skip the next 24 lines.
The Frankfurt International Music Fair was held for the 14th time and was attended by a record number of exhibitors: 1194 from 40 contries. So it's the leading event for the music business.
The Messe Frankfurt has 10 halls of different sizes, three of them are used by the Musik Messe. Hall 9.0 is the most interesting, it's for electronic instruments, 9.1 is for guitars and amps, 9.2 is for stage light, sound and mixers. These halls are middle in size, rows range from A to F, with booth numbers up to 90 each. Hall 8 is for acoustic instruments and publishers; it's funny, all that noise from test-playing violins, flutes and so on. This is the biggest hall, rows from A to P. The monster booth of Yamaha is in the back of this hall with all their synths, FXs and personal keyboards. So it's a long walk to Yamaha. It's a bit risky in this hall, if you enter one booth, browse thru the pages of some book, after talking to the salesman you probably lost your orientation. Hall 10.1 is reserved for grand pianos and uprights. No elctricity allowed there.
It's funny, when you change from 9.0 to 9.1, all those long haired heavy metal guys. One amp or guitar company has a Hard Rock Cafe at their booth, evertime overcrowded with guys drinking cocktails or beer.
So, here we are, the promised report on the TSI shows WAVE MUSIC DEMO and INSIDE THE WAVE.
