Title link takes you to a post on Sendling, on the Destroyer by Trogotronic. I wasn't going to put this up as I already posted on Trogotronic, but when I saw this something immediately came to mind. Thomas Dolby and his custom MIDI controllers: one, two. The difference is these actually produce sound. Note this is not a slight on Thomas Dolby. I think it's pretty cool that he turns old devices into unique MIDI controllers. Hmm... with all the buzz around circuit bending and DIY, you'd actually think there was more modding of old non-synth equipment out there. P.S. Don't miss the sample of the Destroyer on Sendling. No offense, but that is one of the most annoying sounds I have ever heard. Wow. : )
Hey I can get that most of those sound with my Radio Shack Weather Radio looking for a station..yep it really is annoying 8-)
ReplyDeleteGood for clearing the audience out, you have to say.
ReplyDeleteI remember when electronics were done by engineers and music by musicians.
ReplyDeleteTimes sure have changed.
Now all you have to do is *think* you're talented, avoid practice and turn out crappy work.
Kind of expensive for gear that can still readily found for very little cash. I picked up a similar heathkit sine/tri frequency generator and a built-in variable power supply for $2 at a flea market. No lack of such things.
ReplyDeleteA couple resistors (if needed) and an audio jack, and you're sorted. Some of those boxes ALREADY are audio level. Be careful though - some of them ARE NOT, and can put out 70+ v or more. :)
Anyways - a lot of that test gear type of stuff isn't really that musically useful in terms of external control. You can sweep the frequency, but there are no envelopes or anything else. It's pure tones too. None of that stuff was intended for music - it's old test equipment. You CAN get some sounds out of it, but nothing that the most simple analog synth couldn't beat. Those Thingamaboop things are a good example. I'd much rather have one of those than any number of the 'Trogotronic' vintage boxes.
Yeah, actually I'm going to sell old Ratshack boxes and call them the 'Eviltron 7300' and jack the price up. ;)
I don't understand what everyone's issues with Thomas Dolby's use of the controllers I made. I think they're a hell of a lot more interesting to look at than a plastic m-audio controller. And who cares if they don't make sound? They control software that does. If the looks is not important to you, stick to your Behringer. If you think it's more fun or inspirational to sweep filters in Reaktor with a chunky old metal box, then hey - they're not hard to make, just time consuming. :)
Besides - Thomas Dolby... Blinded by Science? That's his whole damn schtick, remember? :)
I bought a 20 pound vintage filter (big LCR), high-pass and low pass on ebay the other day. UPS is delivering it today. Curious to see how it will sound.
ReplyDeleteI love old junk. Old junk is great.
Boo to hi-fi.
I will slam Dolby for tearing up old gear to make midi controlers of very limited function. What he is doing with vintage gear that should be in a museum is pretty appaling. If he wanted some sort of cool, custom controler why not use old knobs and create something new and functional that takes it's look from old gear. I'd be a lot more impressed if he were using something that looked like it was ripped out of a B52 cockpit than i am with him using a handful of controler with 5 or 6 knobs each. What Dolby is doing shows both a lack of imagination and an excess of money. From my point of view, gutting a load of 50 year old testing and audio gear to control a Virus should be looked at as a crime. But maybe i'm just pissing into the wind with this, i certainly seem to be alone in finding this pretty distasteful.
ReplyDelete"What he is doing with vintage gear that should be in a museum is pretty appaling"
ReplyDeleteI'm no expert, but I think synths are meant to be played and not stored in museums.
it's not the synths, it's all the 50-70 year old testing gear and other electronics that he has had turned into his controlers that i see as a huge waste, at least.
ReplyDelete