Get Your Tabla On - Cynthia

Trip. Looks like Cynthia has Riyaz Master Pro and Tanpura modules. Via Doktor Future in the comments of this post. Thank you Doktor! I never would have even guessed...

Transformer di Robotor - Mac Tune

Dave of umop sent this one it. Title link takes you to a 4.18M mp3 by Transformer di Robotor, using early Mac sounds. It's a good showcase of... Actually, neither of us know what exact system was used, other than itwas an early Mac. If you know, feel free to comment.

Update via Derek in the comments:

"That's the startup chime of a late second/third generation PowerMac... not very early. :)

On a related note, I just sampled a classic Mac's floppy drive. Does someone want to make a song out of this? ;)

http://derek.trideja.com/media/seek.m4a"

Steiner Parker

Absolutely amazing shot of a Steiner Parker system sent my way via Rolf Eichert. Image link takes you to a slightly bigger shot. Title link takes you to the full size shot. Thanks Rolf!

Update from Rolf:
"It is only now - when i have a look at other systems -that the concept really becomes clear. Professional Sound, Bakalit Potis like on the Moogs with enough rooms for tweaking. multiple inputs and outputs for most of the modules. You hardly need any multiples for splitting up outputs and VCO, VCF, VCA all have several inputs so you don`t need mixers. You never have to think "how do i patch it?" Just get going.
THIS is a very BIG difference to all the systems i have seen since!"

Module list

Steiner Parker Synthasystem

1 VCO Type A Sine/Tri/Saw/Square PWM and Hardsysnc
2 VCO Type B Sine/Saw Hardsync
1 VCO Type C TRI Hardsync (mostly vibrato though)
2 VCF LP/BP/HP
1 VCA
2 Frequency Divider Divides 2 - 120 Output Square/divides Triggers as well
3 even dividing/1 odd dividing outputs simulanously
2 Mixers/Selective Inverters Audio or Voltage
2x3ADR Minimoog style but you can add 3 to 1 or/and, a lot of functions... delay/Hold time... a dream to work with
1 Input Amp incl. record player sensitivity
1 Envelope Follower/Slew Limiter
1 Dual S/H
1 VC Phaser 720 deg.
1 Output/Tuner
2 Trigger Gen. VC Trigger/VC Width
1 Sequencer 151
1 Sequencer 161
1 Input Selector/Trigger
2 Ring Mod. can double frequencies->divider = several Squares
1 Noise
1 Frequency Counter
4 Multiples

Get Your Tabla On

"Taalmala Digi-100 - The first MIDI compatible Indian musical instrument. The digi-100 is a state-of-the-art digital musical instrument that has been designed by the pioneers in Indian electronic musical instruments. This instrument has a sampled natural tabla sound along with sophisticated features unmatched by any other model of electronic tabla.


These are:
* 100 thekas in various taals that can be played at any tempo.
* Thekas to suit classical music, Thumri, Ghazals, Bhajans and light music.
* MIDI Compatible -the first Indian MIDI instrument
* Tihayee facility for various thekas.
* FILL-IN facility for all 100 thekas.
* Laggi for selected thekas.
* Ten of the thekas can be modified by the user and stored in memory.
* A multi-functional digital display for indicating taal number, matra number, pitch, tempo and laggi group.
* Digital tuning of pitch with facility for fine tuning within half notes.
* Two settings for bayan (dagga) depth.
* Memory for storing the fine tuned pitch, tempo and bayan setting.
* Two user programmable thekas that can be stored in memory.
* Automatic operation on any voltage from 90-260v or six (‘C’ size 1.5v) internal dry batteries.
* Line-out and Speaker/headphone-out facility (to fit 1/8" jack)"

I remember seeing the Riyaz (pictured below) at a local music shop before, and thinking, hmm, this might be interesting; they kind of look like an old funky SEM type module. Unfortunately the Riyaz did not have MIDI.



Title link takes you there. Via fmasseti.

RCAMARK2 - New Flickr Set

flikcr by dkcaudill. Don't miss this set. Title link takes you there.

RSF Synthesizer Site

Title link takes you to a site dedicated to the RSF synthesizer company. Tons of info and pics.


Now check out the current RSF site. Note the logo is the same. Interesting how companies change over time.

"RSF is a French manufacturer of audiovisual equipment that has more than 30 years of experience in applications dedicated to museums and live shows. RSF produces the largest, most advanced, and most innovative range of audioguides on the market."

Sonicbytes

I'm still in research mode looking for the best PC sequencer (btw if you have any recommendations for the PC feel free to comment - unfortunately I don't have a make yet and can't afford one at the moment).

I want something similar to miniMusic's beatpad to use with a small tablet PC.

So, back to Sonicbytes. I heard about them via Sonic State News. The post was on Phrazor Preview #3, a fully functional "virtual synthesizer workstation" with sequencing. I decided to check it out, but the sequencer looked like your standard piano roll - not what I'm looking for. However they do have a dedicated sequencer called ERA (pictured) that I will check out.

Their products as of this post: EST - Sampling Groovebox VSTi, Gat'R - Trancegate MultiFX, ERA - Midi Step Sequencer VSTi/MFX, Phrazor - Virtual Synthesizer Workstation.

Title link takes you there.

Hillybilly - New Flickr Shot

flickr by stigeredoo. Korg Polysix.

Modularsynth.net

New forum for modular synthesis. Title link takes you there.

Arturia Prophet V Review on CDM

Title link takes you there.

An Afternoon with George, James and Greg

Update: George sent me an MP3 of one of our jam sessions and I just put up a post here with details.

George Mattson, creator of the Syntar, invited me, James(Carbon111), and Greg (Alpha Wave Movement) over for an afternoon jam session and get together. We had a great time, and I finally got to see and hear the Syntar along with George's EML semi-modular. We spent most of the afternoon in a "tangerine dream" playing along to Greg's rhythms and a very nice sequence George patched up on the EML. After the session we had some delectable sandwiches and brownies made by George's wife Celeste. Thank you Celeste! We had a great time. Definitely not a bad way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Title link takes you to a ton of shots I took and a couple of short AVIs; unfortunately the audio did not come out. George has promised to send us a few mp3 of the session, so I'll put them up when I get them. Apologies for the quality of some of the shots - the room was dimly lit (great atmosphere), but the tranlsation was lost in many of these shots.

That's James in the Green T, George by the EML and Greg up front.

George and Syntar Prototype #2

Syntheasy.com

Title link takes you to Syntheasy.com, home to a few miscellaneous items including MX4 patches, docs on MIDI timing on a Mac, Studio Electronics Omega 8 samples (focused on features), and upgrade tutorials for the Omega 8 and SE1/SE1x (image of an Omega 8 voice board to the left).

Timex Synclair - One Bit Music

via Mister Beep, a site with music created by the Timex 48Kb Synclair and it's beeper. Samples onsite. Watch the volume level. : ) This one via phloem.

Korg MS-10 & Crumar Bit-99 - New Flickr Shot

flickr by Elektrofant.

Algorithmic Arts

Title link takes you to Algorithmic Arts, makers of some interesting software midi tools including SoftStep, and BankStep sequencers. Two more I need to check out for coming UMPC.

SoftStep (Pink Flamingos!)


BankStep


Update via the comments:
"The most amazing soft sequencer i ever tried. Lots of wicked and unique features. The idea of the bouncing "ball sequencer" recently released as a VSt Plug In originates from Softstep. John Dunn the mastermind of algorithmic arts is a very helpful guy and has a long history as a developer (he did eg the sounds for some old Atari 2600 console games back then)

Softstep is now replaced by Artwonk.
The application has a steap learning curve and might not be suited for beginners, but the online documentation and tutorials are very good.

So, if you have never been satisfied with the features of your standard stepsequncer or ever wanted to turn DNA sequnces or Pitcures in to Midi controllers
give it a go."

Casio FZ-1 - New Flickr Shot

flickr by Sameli.

Aliens Project 360 Take 2

Remember this post? Title link takes you to another Quicktime 360 by the Aliens Project. This one is of thier "Walhalla" modular. Via Digital Music Mag.

Fruity Loops Resource

Editor posted a link to his Fruity Loops Resource, in the comments of this post. What's interesting is that it's a blog! I don't think I've ever seen a resource site dedicated to a given instrument as a blog before. I think it's a great idea as you can subscribe to it and get udpates over time. Pretty cool. BTW, I'm thinking of replacing my Palm running miniMusic with a UMPC/Origami so I have more room and more software to sequence my synths with. Fruity Loops is on my list for it, so this blog will come in handy. Title link takes you there.

Yamaha RX7 Drum Machine Mod

Title link takes you to the post on GetLoFi including video.

A6 Unison Sample

Title link takes you to an A6 unison sample on VSE by Bitexion. The sample is a recreation of a Prophet 5 preset.