Future Retro 512 touch keyboard plays the EMS Putney, Minimoog Model D, EML 101, & Eurorack

Published on Jun 3, 2016 FutureRetroSynths

"Just a quick video to show the Future Retro 512 can play the EMS Putney, Synthi, VCS3 just fine with their .32V/Oct CV standard. All you need to do to make this happen is route the 1/8" gate output of the 512 to the Gate In of the Putney's Keyboard-In cinch-jones connector, and the 1V/Oct CV out of the 512 to the Control In 1. You can then adjust the Control 1 level to scale this CV so the oscillators in the EMS track properly. Start with Control 1 level at "4" then play octaves to dial in the oscillator tracking.

Notice I could have routed the 512's mod wheel, velocity, or aftertouch to Control 2's input to add even more control over the EMS"

Future Retro 512 touch keyboard plays the Minimoog Model D

Published on Jun 3, 2016

"Quick test to show that the Future Retro 512 can play the older Moog synthesizers with their S-trig type gate inputs. For the 512 to control the S-trig synthesizers, you simply need a 1/8" to cinch-jones connector with a transistor and resistor wired into the cable. Simple to do, schematics can be found online."

Future Retro 512 touch keyboard plays the EML 101

Published on Jun 3, 2016

"Quick demo of the Future Retro 512 playing the EML 101 synthesizer. Although the EML does not follow the 1V/Oct CV standard you can trim the 512's CV output to conform to the EML CV standard, and have your oscillators track pitches correctly."

Future Retro 512 touch keyboard plays a Eurorack modular

Published on Jun 3, 2016

"Here's a quick video to show the Future Retro 512 keyboard can play all the various Eurorack modular gear as well.

Special thanks to Switched-On music store here in Austin for setting up this Doepfer system for us, and their time and space while we shot this video in their store."

Follow up to New Future Retro 512 Touch Keyboard Playing the Arp 2600 & Buchla Music Easel

Future Retro Introduces the 512 Touch Keyboard Playing the Arp 2600 & Buchla Music Easel

Future Retro 512 Touch Keyboard Playing the Arp 2600

Published on Jun 2, 2016 FutureRetroSynths

"Simple test to show the Future Retro 512 keyboard controlling the Arp 2600 modular synthesizer."

Update: New video with the Buchla Music Easel added:

Future Retro 512 touch keyboard playing Buchla Music Easel:

Published on Jun 2, 2016

"Simple demo of the Future Retro 512 keyboard controlling the Buchla Easel. The 512 has an adjustable CV output so you can achieve .469V to 1.34V per octave control voltages to control a wide variety of synths including the common 1V/Oct synthesizers, and this 1.2V/Oct Buchla. Works with EML and EMS synthesizers too!"

New demos here: Future Retro 512 touch keyboard plays the EMS Putney, Minimoog Model D, EML 101, & Eurorack

Previous posts featured the assembly of the new 512 Touch Keyboard from Future Retro. We now have details and what it looks like completed.

Details via Future Retro

"The 512 is a capacitive touch keyboard, packed with a unique blend of truly musical features to enhance your creative experience. The 512 is available with or without the optional rack ears that allow it to fit in a standard 19" rack enclosure, taking up only 4u spaces.

Why is capacitive touch better? Quite simply, eliminating mechanical moving parts found in traditional keyboards makes a product that will never wear out, as mechanical keyboards do. No more intermittent key contacts, or failed aftertouch circuits to worry about! In addition, capacitive touch provides a much faster response time for playing notes, and allows multiple forms of expression to be executed by the performer.

There are five main functions of the 512. It can act as a keyboard, arpeggiator, sequencer, MIDI to CV converter, and MIDI to MIDI converter. The 512 can control both MIDI and CV/Gate synthesizers simultaneously. Pitch, Pitch Bend, Mod Wheel, Gate, Velocity, Aftertouch, and Clock are all available in both their MIDI and CV form. CV's follow the 1V/Oct standard with positive polarity Gate signals, allowing the 512 to control the majority of analog synthesizers both past and present.

KEYBOARD
The 512 provides 9 octave ranges for the 29 full-sized keys (although shorter in length than typical keys) with response to Velocity and Aftertouch. Users can define one of five different Velocity and Aftertouch curves to apply to the keyboard, and dial in the range for each curve to customize the response. The Pitch Bend provides positive and negative pitch bends, and the bend range can be adjusted for full or half range. Mod Wheel is also provided as a modulation source.

ARPEGGIATOR

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Future Retro 512 touch keyboard Arpeggiator Overview and Tutorial

Published on Jun 7, 2016 FutureRetroSynths

"In this video we will discuss the Arpeggiator section of the 512 touch keyboard, and cover topics including: Playing the arpeggiator, using the Hold mode, Transposing arpeggiations, applying Scales, applying Chords, and how Chords are applied while in the Poly mode, as well as changing the MIDI channel on the fly."

Future Retro 512 touch keyboard Sequencer Overview

Published on Jun 7, 2016

"In this video we take a look at the 512's sequencer, show how to select different sequences, apply Scales, Transposition, Chords, change the MIDI channel, direction and octave reiterations, and write our own sequences."

FutureRetro 512 Touch Response Adjustments & Interface Cables for Moog, EMS, & Buchla

Making 512 touch response adjustments. Future Retro

Published on Jun 24, 2016 FutureRetroSynths

"All 512 owners should watch this video, as I describe 3 hidden adjustments you can make to the touch response for aftertouch, mod wheel, and pitch bend… that is not explained in the owner's manual.

The 512 provides more personalization parameters than any other touch keyboard we know of. With it's Velocity and Aftertouch Curves and Ranges, Pitch Bend and Mod Wheel response rate, and now touch response sensitivity adjustments for Aftertouch, Mod Wheel, and Pitch Bend."

Interface cables for Moog, EMS, Buchla with Future Retro 512

Published on Jun 24, 2016

"In this video we take a look at the V-trig to S-trig cable for Moog synths, the Keyboard cable for EMS, and talk about 1/8" to banana cables for Buchla and trimming the V/Oct output."

Future Retro 512 main PCB surface mount component assembly

Published on May 15, 2016 FutureRetroSynths

"Here's a quick look at the surface mount components being placed on the Future Retro 512 main PCB."

Perfect track for the video.

Future Retro Officially Releases

We saw the videos, we now have the official release details.

via Future Retro:

"Today I am excited to announce the official release of our brand new 512 touch keyboard.

The 512 is much more than just a touch keyboard, and provides control over both MIDI and CV/Gate synthesizers simultaneously, with note on/off, pitch, velocity, aftertouch, mod wheel, pitch bend, and clocks. With many unique and very musical features such as user definable scales, different forms of scale mapping, defining scales from external MIDI notes, octave/linear/scalar note transposition methods, user definable chords with chord inversion, changing MIDI channels on the fly and much, much more. All of these features can be applied to any of the 512’s different modes of operation including: operating as a keyboard, arpeggiator, sequencer, MIDI to CV and MIDI to MIDI converter, or while using the Poly modes allowing you to play up to 16 monophonic synthesizers polyphonically.
The 512 also offers the ability to define user preferences including velocity and aftertouch curves and ranges, CV vs. MIDI octave offset, definable response times for pitch bend and mod wheels, as well as touch sensitivity control allowing each user to tailor their unit to the desired response.

The 512 MAP price is $800, and officially begins shipping today."

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Talking Synths, Episode 63: Jered Flickinger Of Future Retro

video upload by Syntaur

"Talking Synths is a weekly podcast where Syntaur's crew chats about all manner of synthology. In this special episode of Talking Synths, Syntaur's Carlos Morales sits down with Jered Flickinger of Future Retro and takes a sneak peek at the soon-to-be-released Vectra synthesizer. Future Retro was founded by Jered in 1997, and has released a host of unique products like the 777, Revolution, XS, Mobius, 512, and now the Vectra."

Future Retro 512 touch keyboard Capture MIDI Scales

Published on Jun 17, 2016 FutureRetroSynths

"Here is a simple demo of how the 512 can be used as a MIDI to MIDI converter. The Orb sequencer is generating the patterns, the 512 processes this MIDI information and sends it to the XS. The 512 can create a custom scale based on the notes received from the Orb (or any external MIDI devices), and this scale can be used to perform scalar transpositions, or applied to other sequences. You can also apply other forms of transpositions, add mod wheel, pitch bend, aftertouch, chords, or change the MIDI channel on the fly. This allows you to add new functionality to your existing sequencers and patterns you have already created."

Future Retro 512 touch keyboard in Poly Mode

Published on Jun 17, 2016 FutureRetroSynths

"In this video we show a couple examples using the 512's Poly mode to play individual monophonic synths polyphonically. Up to 16 monophonic synthesizers can be played polyphonically using the 512's Poly mode."

Future Retro 512 touch keyboard Overview and Tutorial

Published on Jun 5, 2016 FutureRetroSynths

"In this video we will discuss the features of the 512 keyboard and how to use them. Including getting started with connections, selecting scales, scale mapping, writing scales, using the Hold function, selecting and writing chords, chord inversions, using linear, octave, and scalar transpositions, setting the MIDI channel, velocity curves, aftertouch curves, bend range, turning aftertouch off/on, and even touch on the Poly mode.

Other tutorials will cover the arpeggiator, sequencer, MIDI to CV conversion, and MIDI to MIDI conversion."

Future Retro 512 touch keyboard Layering MIDI and CV synths

Published on Jun 18, 2016 FutureRetroSynths

"The 512 allows you to play MIDI and CV/Gate synthesizers simultaneously. In this video we show some of the possibilities."

Future Retro 512 touch keyboard Sequencer Overview

New tutorial video added to this post.

Droner

Published on Oct 17, 2016 Sounds Like Joe

"First time patching a new 6U layout. Mostly Braids and STO through the Three Sisters... some Rings and Clouds... triggered via Future Retro 512"

Future Retro 512 Touch Keyboard - Gold & Purple

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

via this auction

"Want to turn your Shared System into a Buchla Music Easel? Here's just the thing! Excellent condition, wonderful syncable arpeggiator... You will love the flexible control this offers you for controlling your modular in all kids of exciting ways."

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Future Retro 512 Touch Keyboard

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

via this auction

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Future Retro FR-512 Jack Board SMT assembly

Published on Apr 25, 2016 FutureRetroSynths

"Production has officially started on the 512 keyboard. Here you can see the SMT parts being placed on the 512's jack board.
All FR products are manufactured in Austin Texas."

Switched On Austin - Synth studio & store tour | Austin, TX

synth4ever

https://www.switchedonaustin.com

A synth studio and store tour of Switched-On in Austin, Texas -- including the Switched On synthesizer showroom, walk-through of the Switched On synth store and brief highlight of the synthesizer repair area.

During a trip to Austin in early 2020 I had a chance to revisit the Switched On synth shop I first toured in 2018 [video bellow]. Switched On have since moved from their original location to a new spot and are under new ownership, so it was a great opportunity to see the new synth store.

This synth studio and store walkthrough showcases Switched On's extensive record collection, tape machines, various synthesizers, modular gear, classic vintage synths, rack units and more. To learn more about Switched On, visit https://www.switchedonaustin.com

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