Transanalog Synthdrummer SN 008

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via this auction

"Transanalog brand Synthdrummer module. Drum trigger to analog synth interface. A very rare model. Some scuffing (see photos). Power adapter standard but not included. Can also run on battery power (I tested the battery included & it still has some juice). Underside is left open (see photos) to allow for easy battery change, but could easily be covered if desired."

I'm guessing this is from the same Transanalog last posted here in 2011. I realized I did not have a channel label for them, so I added one with this post. A search for Transanalog will bring up previous posts.

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Multivox Basky II MX150

via this auction

"* Model Number MX-150A
* Serial Number 070386
* Japanese made – estimate mid- 1970's
* Dimensions are 24’ x 17’ x 5 ½’
* 13 foot pedals
* Dials/effects include:
· low and high octave channels
· hold, sustain and expand effects
· attack, percussion & mute"

Update via transanalog in the comments: "In case you ever wanted to see inside of one of these: http://www.flickr.com/photos/transanalog/sets/72157607133187209/"

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Hillwood Blue Comets 73

flickr set by transanalog (click for more including shots of the inside)

"WWW.TRANSANALOG.COM This is one of the rarest and most unique vintage synthesizers I own. It's one of those rare finds in that it broke back when it was new then put in storage for 30 years until it finally changed hands. it is in excellent condition, not only for it's age but also considering how awful Hillwood products were made. The Blue Comets is a single oscillator monosynth with a 12db filter. The osc has both sawtooth and square wave that can be selected individually or combined with the four rocker switches simply labeled "Wave 1", "Wave 2", "Wave 3" or "Wave 4". It can be modified with 7 presets assignable with rocker tabs labeled "Effect 1", "Effect 2", etc. There are no descriptions to the tabs as to what they actually sound like. Luckily there is a tab labeled "Control" that allow you to tweak the sounds with the control panel to the left of the keyboard. Not that any of this helps. This synth sounds aweful. The keyboard tracking is so bad that Hillwood included a knob labeled "Slope" so you can almost keep the keyboard in tune as you play. The filter only has decay, and the AR VCA is very limited. But it does have some charm. Select all four "Wave" tabs and it will randomly distort. Add in noise and "Growl" and it can get downright nasty.

The circuitry of the synth is definitely amusing! The circuit boards look hand made and the components look cheap, even by 1970 Japan standards. Each board is held by only two screws so I can't imagine any of these staying functional or in tune very long in a gigging environment. Still, if you want something very unique for ambient lo-fi bleeps and bloops, you can't go wrong with one of these."

How to pack a synth

flickr set by transanalog
(click for more)
"www.transanalog.com

I put this together because I've come to expect a certain amount of shipping damage when I receive a synth in the mail. It's as if the person who sent it to me thinks that the delivery people will treat packages as they were made from their mother-in-laws antique china or something. In reality most delivery people, ESPECIALLY UPS, seem to want to see how high they can drop a package on it's side. The result is a damaged synth if it's not packed properly. So, spend a little extra cash - hell, I'll SEND you a little extra cash - buy the packing stuff and pack it like it's going to be dragged from Cousin Bubba's 1978 Dodge Ram 4X4.

I've been packing synths like this for years and I've never had a customer report any damages.


A quick note: If you use that expandable foam in a bag packing stuff then you probably already know what you're doing and can ignore this. That stuff is awesome!"

KORG MicroPreset pictured

My Note: Remember, DO NOT TAPE THE BUBBLE WRAP TO THE SYNTH. Tape it to the bubble wrap when it overlaps. I once picked up a beautifully wrapped ARP Odyssey MKIII, until I got down to the synth. The bubble wrap was taped to the side panels and the Orange font. I managed to get it off one panel and the font without a problem, but on one panel a fingernail sized bit of the finish came off. Scared for life...

moog rotary pot

flickr by transanalog

full size

Transanalog - Moog Opus 3

flickr set by transanalog

"Www.Transanalog.Com
What the hell is this, anyway? Synthesizer? Organ? Stringer? Sort of. The Opus 3 was Moog's late entry into the string synthesizer market. I guess it's not bad but I can't say it does anything uniquely well. All Opus 3's (and Rogues and MG-1s and Taurus II's, etc...) had that miserable foam which melted into the panel circuit board which makes them a real pain in the ass to work on. For some reason I got two in at the same time so I couldn't resist grabbing mine and snapping some photos of 'em all. One is an early version around S/N 1000 and it has a slightly different panel material than the other two (S/N in the 5000's). One thing surprising: they all have all their knobs and sliders."
Inside a Moog Opus 3

BTW, do check out Www.Transanalog.Com. They do synth repair, have service manuals / docs, and they have a few items for sale including a MIDI kit for the Casio SK-1. theremins and more. Casio SK-1 kit previously posted here. They are also listed on Ebay here.

Crumar Orchestrator 035

flickr by transanalog
(click for more)

cool retro buttons

Inside an ARP Pro-Soloist

flickr by transanalog
(click for more)

Transanalog Casio SK-1 MIDI Retrofit

via TRANSANALOG
"Works for SK-1, SK-5, SK-8, SK-10, and DM-100 (top keyboard). Available soon for PT-1, VL-1, Yamaha VSS-30 and many others.

All features accessible from side of keyboard!

User selectable MIDI channel or set it to respond to all MIDI channels. Can also be set to respond to the first MIDI channel received after reset.

SK-MIDI retrofit turns on and off with the keyboard. Will not drain the batteries.

Responds to MIDI notes 53 to 84.

Optional out of range loop feature allows the SK-MIDI to respond to MIDI notes 0 to 127.

Best of all - the internal speaker is retained!"

ARP Axxe 2310 (Old Version)

flickr set by transanalog
(click for more)

"WWW.TRANSANALOG.COM

The original version of the ARP Axxe in surprisingly good condition. Has the Moog type ladder filter that caused all the patent infringement problems for ARP. Part of my personal collection."

inside an ARP Axxe

Sequential Circuits Pro-One

flickr set by transanalog
(click for more)

Be sure to see these full size by clicking on "All Sizes" when you get there.

Inside a Sequential Circuits Pro-One

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Hohner Symphonic 30N

flickr set by transanalog

"Let's just say the Germans are very methodical. The build quality is top notch and it doesn't sound all that bad - kind of like a tamed down early 70's Japanese organ. To accomplish separate footings it uses glass neon tubes instead of transistors. Because of that there is a distinct high pitch whine emanating from the unit separate from the audio signal. Also since it uses neon tubes it can shock the living piss out of you if you're used to working with solid state circuitry."

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Paia Oz

flickr set by transanalog
(click for more)

"Very basic polyphonic organ with built in speaker. Has a really neat capacitive touch pitch bend plate that salvages an otherwise useless piece of gear. This one has been modified with an AC adapter."

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Inside a Yamaha CS60

flickr set by transanalog
(click for more)

"I purchased this from a classified ad back in 1996 for $75. Great sounding synth but almost impossible to keep 100% functional. Part of its "charm" I guess. Part of my personal collection."

Inside an ARP Axxe

flickr by transanalog
(click for more)

full size

synare3_pcb_front

flickr by transanalog

full size

Inside the Synare 3

Synare 3 back

steinerevihornguts

flickr by transanalog

full size

Inside a Steiner EVI

CS01_osc

flickr by transanalog
(click for more)

Inside a Yamaha CS01

Inside a Yamaha SY-1 25

flickr by transanalog
(click for more)

full size

Inside a Moog Minimoog

flickr by transanalog
(click for more)

full size