Trove of Nyle Steiner Documentation and Images Available via Analogue Realities

Analogue Realities wrote in to let us know they have made a trove of Nyle Steiner documentation and images available on dropbox via his site.

"Nyle has given me permission to share this with the general public. Please, please give credit to Nyle whenever you use this information. If you make money off of his genius and work, please consider sharing something with Nyle. He is one of the truly nice, gentle, humble, and generous people in this world.

The organization is not the greatest, but I’m sure you’ll have many happy hours trying to figure out why I put things where they are :) The archive is very big, more than 4.6 Gbytes so be sure you have room."

P.S. Analogue Realities remade the Steiner Synthasystem. See the Analogue Realites label for more.


Pictured left is Nyle Steiner holding his Steiner EVI. The image was also featured back in 2015 from Analogue Realities, on a documentary being made on Nyle Steiner (see this post for the completed film). I thought this would be a great image for a new post on a trove of his historical works.

The 1979 Steiner filter.

The filter was used by YuSynth (featured posts here) and made its way into Arturia synths starting with the Minibrute designed by Yvves Usson of YuSynth.

1975 Steiner-Parker SynthaSystem Controller Keyboard

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

via this auction

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Steiner - V.C. Hi-Lo Pass Resonant Filter & V.C. Trigger Generator - Prototypes 1975

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

via this auction

"FS: N.A. Steiner (Pre-Steiner Parker) - V.C. Hi-Lo Pass Resonant Filter and V.C. Trigger Generator - Prototypes

Here is another unusual listing from my collection. 2 very early synthesizer modules designed and hand built by Nyle Steiner in 1974 or 75 before the formation of Steiner Parker.. The Filter is perhaps THE ORIGINAL resonant multimode VCF designed by Steiner for his Synthasystem Modular System (also used in later used in other designs such as the Synthacon).

I have owned these pieces for almost 20 years, they are unmodified and have never have been repaired.. both still work and the filter sounds incredible.

This is a very rare chance to pick up a piece of vintage audio history, which you can also use musically!"

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Vintage Synth Eye Candy

Published on Sep 29, 2019 Todd Barton

Aries 300 & Steiner-Parker Synthasystem.

"A closer look at all the modules in my vintage systems from my previous post: [Red Panel meets Vintage S&H posted here]

Join my Patreon at
https://www.patreon.com/synthtodd"

Red Panel meets Vintage S&H

Published on Sep 27, 2019 Todd Barton

"A deep dive of this patch at my https://www.patreon.com/synthtodd
This patch is generated from a single Aries 300 S&H source offset and processed through 4 different oscillators/filters: Aries 300, Red Panel 158, Steiner-Parker Synthasystem & Microcon."

Steiner Parker Synthasystem Sketches

Published on May 19, 2018 Todd Barton

"I've been getting back into exploring my Synthasystem and posting sketches on my Instagram https://www.instagram.com/synthtodd/
Here are the collected 6 sketches. Oh, the delay used is an old DeltaLabs Effectron II"

For a fun look back, check out Todd Barton's Synthacon videos posted here on MATRIXSYNTH back in 2006 and 2007.

Manhattan Analog - Steiner Synthasystem VCF

Published on Feb 16, 2018 DivKidVideo

"After my first patch jam video earlier in the week [posted here] here's the full video demo with the Steiner Synthasystem VCF from Manhattan Analog. As you'd expect, it's a fantastic sounding filter! Details and timing index below.

I should say this is an official re-issue of the Steiner VCF, to quote Jason from Manhattan Analog "this is a faithful (and officially licensed) re-issue of the Synthasystem VCF, built largely from the original schematics which Nyle was generous enough to share with me."

TIMINGS / INDEX
00:51 Intro / feature run down
01:58 Low pass sweeps (varying res and drive / input level)
03:50 Band pass sweeps
04:20 High pass sweeps
04:57 Envelope modulation
06:03 Bassline synth riff
08:39 Complex input signals (pitch tracking, modulation etc)
13:07 Audio rate modulation
15:44 Filtering drum sounds"

Manhattan Analog - Steiner Synthasystem VCF *FIRST PATCH*

Published on Feb 14, 2018 DivKidVideo

"When you hear that Jason from Manhattan Analog is making a new filter you stop and take note. His MA35 [video here] and SVVCF [video here] are both fantastic so I knew this would be too. The Steiner Synthasystem VCF is gorgeous based on Nyle Steiners work with the Synthasystem and brought to life authentically in euro rack format."

“Steiner’s Workshop”

"Steiner's Workshop" from Hounds & Wolves on Vimeo.

This one in via Arturo, via The Playlist.

"'Steiner´s Workshop' is a documentary portrait of a forgotten genius. Part mad scientist, part inscrutable musician, Nyle Steiner is a singular presence in the world of underground inventors.

Beginning as a trumpet player in the 1960s, Steiner's creativity led him to experiment with sounds and machines, developing a series of instruments, including the EVI or Electronic Valve Instrument, a brass-style electronic synthesizer. The EVI's haunting sound and Steiner's expert playing ability sparked the interest of Hollywood and filmmakers like Francis Ford Coppola who invited him to be a part of the recording of Apocalypse Now's soundtrack. For more than 40 years Steiner has been working in his Utah workshop assembling, modulating, destroying and understanding anything he can get his hands on.

In 'Steiner´s Workshop' we get to know the man behind his unusual inventions by spending intimate moments with him and watching his curious mind at work."

Note the Analogue Realities eurorack Synthasystem at the nine minute mark.

Nyle Steiner Documentary In the Works

via Analogue Realities

"Nyle came by today, which is always a treat. The occasion was there is a documentary being made about him and his life. Part of that life crossed mine and so I got to be a small part, too. When the documentary is finished, I'll post a link if it's allowed. It was a lot of fun. Nyle played his EVI hooked into my Synthasystem. Then, Nyle (and I) played around with it having fun (mostly Nyle tweaking the knobs). The photo on top is just a sort of long shot while the crew was setting up lights. The one at the bottom is Nyle himself in front of my Synthasystem."

Analogue Realities worked closely with Nyle Steiner on bringing back the Stiener Synthasystem to DIY and eurorocack.

Update: you can find the completed documentary “Steiner’s Workshop” here.

Happy New Year From MATRIXSYNTH! - A Look Back at 2014

Happy New Year everyone!

I want to start by thanking everyone that comes to MATRIXSYNTH and helps make it what it is - the readers, the supporters, and of course all the sponsors on the right.

THANK YOU and have a GREAT 2015!!!

This site is a labor of love and a ton of work. This site is ultimately meant to be an testament to everything synth in the making. We have over nine years of daily synth history captured here, 119,983 published posts. I can't wait to see what the future brings us in 2015!

That said, here are a few interesting bits from 2014 in the longest post of the year. ;)

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Oberheim SEM VCF Clone Module for Eurorack Format Modular Synths

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

via this auction

"Oberheim SEM 2pole state-variable filter clone professional built using audiophile grade components.

Some highlights on the controls:
Variable notch control
4 inputs for fading and mixing
bipolar attenuator for cut-off frequency as well as a simple attenuator of frequency
Resonance control

Built with the following component "upgrades":
Original spec'd FETs (2N4302)
Conductive plastic pots
silver mica filter cap
Elna Silmic II caps
Screened cable on outputs and twisted pairs on inputs to reduce on noise.
3.5mm Lih-sheng jacks

Mint...This was racked once for testing and calibration. Listing as used due to this being built in by a professional and not manufactured in a larger scale facility. Power cable is included with sale. Requires +/-12V power supply (Euro power headers)"


According to modulargrid: "Oberheim blessed SEM Voltage Controlled Filter pcb by Jeff Farr. Panel design by Clarke Robinson (clarke68)."

Side note: I created new Clarke Robinson, Jeff Farr, SynthCube & David Ingebretsen channel labels. David does not appear to be involved in this design, however I found him looking up Clarke Robinson in previous posts and decided to create a channel for him. David Ingebretsen is the man behind the new Steiner Synthasystem. He worked with Nyle Steiner on recreating the modules for the new system.

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Eurorack Moog 914 Fixed Filter Bank Clone

via dingbre on electro-music.com

Moog 905 Reverb & Tuner Monitor in the rack as well.  Note the Steiner logos.  I'm assuming they are for looks.  The filter bank has the Analogue Realities logo.

Update via dingebre in the comments: "The typeface is not Moog'ish. It's in a muchh larger Steiner-Parker Synthasystem and I wanted the panel to fit in with the others I did. Nyle [Stiener] helped pick the type face for his modules to match the original typeface."

Some additional info in the comments below.

Caleb Condit MU Format Modules for Synthcube

http://synthcube.com/

row1: microcon, SEM filter, Jupiter Storm, Galilean Moons, 266 source of uncertainty

row1: 258j, manual voltage processor, dual function gen, tripple lpg, voice of saturn

row3: dual mirror core, gene splicer, ultraflop, pt dual digital osc, synthasystem vcox2

Caleb Condit 5U Stiener Microcon Synthesizer Voice & Additional Steiner Synthasystem Modules

Avialable at Synthcube (note Synthcube will build to order as well as provide kits).

Left: "This is a full kit to build the classic steiner microcon voice module in dotcom/mu format

designed by nyle steiner, with a new PCB release from david ingebretsen

panel design by caleb condit, 2u wide

the voice includes vco, vca, vcf, lfo and eg"

Below: additional Synthasystem modules from Caleb Condit.

David Ingerbretsen worked directly with Nyle Steiner to resurrect the Steiner Synthasystem. See this post from back in 2010 at the first Salt Lake Modular synth meet with Nyle Steiner looking at David's reproduction, and see this post for some videos.  A search on Synthasystem will bring up additional posts.

DIY Steiner Synthasystem FM noise & Sync

Published on Jun 11, 2013 MrPalebluedot·38 videos

"Just a noisy FM patch."

DIY Steiner Synthasystem sync

Published on Jun 12, 2013

"off screen a minibrute is providing the sequence and clocking the synthasystem sequencer which is sweeping the frequency of the synched oscillator."

Final Set of A-Z of Analogue Synthesisers

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

via this auction

The listing is from the author Peter Forrest who states this is likely the last set.  These are great books and imo the most comprehensive.  Click on the pics to get an idea of what they are like.  Peter also has other items listed including The Museum of Synthesizer Technology and Synthesizer von Gestern II.

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Yusynth Steiner-Parker VCF SN 20131 with Original Box

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

This is the filter the Arturia Minibrute filter is based on. It is based on the filter used in the vintage Steiner-Parker Synthasystem modular and Synthacon keyboard [video here]. On a related note, Nyle Steiner recently worked with Analogue Realities on a new Steiner Synthasystem modular. See this post for videos, and this post for the announcement of it's completion.

"The Yusynth Steiner-Parker VCF Clone is an aggresive filter that pays homage to the classic 2 Pole design. This multimode filter is capable of traditional gentle Lowpass filtering, big beautiful "barberpole" style phasing when in Allpass Mode, and many flavors in between. The Steiner-Parker VCF Clone is a versatile filter capable of handling the low end, even with resonance dialed up. A true "must have" filter for every serious synthesist.

Assembled with:

Custom Engraved Front Panel by FSFX / Front Panel Express
Shallow Module Depth of 2 inches (measured from rear of Front Panel)
4 Way Mode Select Switch: Lowpass, Highpass, Bandpass, Allpass
Frequency Control
Resonance Control
(2) 1/4" FM Inputs (Frequency Tracks Exponentially, NOT 1V/Octave)
(2) Frequency CV Level Controls
Audio Input Level Control
1/4" Audio Input
Audio Output
Switchcraft Jacks
24mm Alpha Pots
Polyester Film Capacitors
Metal Film Resistors
Runs on +/- 15 Volts
Hand Signed and Numbered
Ships with one (1) 20 in. long MOTM to .com Power Cable"

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Steiner Duophonic Keyboard Module

via Analogue Realities where you'll find additional pics and details.

"The Duophonic Keyboard PCB is fully working and it is sweet. This was the first "module" I built when I originally started this project in the mid 1970s, so it is fitting it is effectively the last module in this [Steiner Synthasystem] resurrection project..."

On the features: "This particular module acts like a MIDI to Duophonic Keyboard converter, but there is no reason you can't just build the Duophonic electronics into a dedicated keyboard, or even an external module.

The Duophonic Keyboard was pushing the technology at the time when most others were still using monophonic keyboards. The Duophonic was both a low note priority monophonic keyboard and a two note keyboard.

There are some interesting "features" of this particular keyboard. The upper voice tracks the lower voice when an upper key is not pressed; there is no sample/hold for the upper voice due to the way it's generated.

Next, you can either have a new trigger/gate on each low key press event, or only a new trigger/gate when the previous key is released before the next key is pressed. Nyle calls this legato or lift playing respectively. The upper voice does not generate a gate/trigger.

There is a pitch bend knob. I chose to make this a big knob with a finger spinner to make it easier to turn. Also, because the pot is not spring loaded, I chose one with a center detente to make is easier to feel when I was back to center. Nyle added an electrical dead spot in the Pitch Bend, too so if you miss the detente, you will still be OK.

There is a Portamento knob, and I added a jack for a normally closed foot switch so I could dial in a Portamento and then hit a foot switch to activate it.

There is also an Auxiliary Scale which can be tuned for other scales and it can be switched in and out.

There is a reverse switch reverses the keyboard, and a Range switch lets you shift the keyboard output up or down by octaves."

NAMM: Arturia NAMM 2012 Teaser - The MiniBrute?

YouTube Uploaded by tomesoTV on Jan 17, 2012
[New video below]
"Arturia NAMM 2012 Teaser
More information on Thursday January 19th
Weitere Informationen am Donnerstag den 19. January"

Update:

The Arturia MiniBrute Hardware Synth?

"Key features:

Voltage controlled oscillator
25 key keyboard with aftertouch
Steiner-Parker multi-mode filter
Innovative analog Ultrasaw , Metalizer , Brute Factor technology
14 faders and 29 knobs
Rich interface, CV , Gate , USB , MIDI
Advanced arpeggiator
Rugged metal housing"

via KVR, via hpsounds.



Arturia MiniBrute Tour
YouTube Uploaded by Arturiaweb on Jan 18, 2012

Steiner Parker filter, and according to hpsounds, "the analog design was made by on of the french SDIY specialist Yves Usson. [aka Yusynth]" Nyle Steiner, Yusynth & Arturia. Amazing.

via hpsounds

Update: some additional pics including CV Ins & Outs via an anonymous reader:

Update 1/18/12 5:37 PST: Flyer scans added (click on each for the full size shot):

Update 1/18/12 8:30 PM: I should note The MiniBrute is an appropriate name. Listen to the Steiner-Parker filter in the original Synthacon here. The filter is also popular in the modular community include clones by various manufacturers and the new Steiner Synthasystem modular by Nyle Steiner himself. See the Steiner Parker label below for more.

Update: 1/19/12:

Introducing Arturia MiniBrute Analog Synthesizer

Uploaded by Arturiaweb on Jan 17, 2012

"MiniBrute is Arturia's new analog synthesizer. With a pure analog signal path and innovative new features it sets a new standard for what a hardware synthesizer should be. The pure analog, multi-wave oscillator combined with a huge sounding classic multi-mode filter, and wide range of modulation capabilities will bring new life into your recordings and stage performances. Add to that outstanding features like the Ultrasaw, Metalizer, Arpeggiator, LFO with sample & hold, full USB/MIDI/CV connectivity; all of which are housed in a rugged metal enclosure and it is almost too brutal to think about!"

ProAudioStar.com First Look : Passion Pit on The Arturia MiniBrute !

Uploaded by proaudiostar on Jan 18, 2012

"We check in with Passion Pit while working on their new album to see what they think of Arturia's brand new all analog synth. Arturia lent us a demo and once we showed it to the guys with Passion Pit we knew we werent getting it back. They liked it so much they had to put it on some of the songs they were doing and even re-recorded some bass parts with it. With is robust sound and ease of use this keyboard will no doubt be a must have!"