Build a Better Synthesizer by Thomas Henry

via this auction

Also on Amazon
From a user review on Amazon:
"This book advocates building your own modular synthesizer as opposed to purchasing a mass-produced instrument. Given the fact that the book was published in 1987 (about three years after MIDI's public debut) and long after polyphonic synths with digital memories had generally displaced modular synths in the public's eye, one is left to question the premise that you could build an instrument that would be superior. I suppose beauty is in the eye of the beholder, though, eh?

This book contains cicuit diagrams for many of the basic components found in a modular synthesizer, but sadly, they are all based around CEM chips (Curtis Electromusic Specialties) which are no longer widely available. Assuming you were able to find a set on Ebay, this hardly seems like an attractive option with all of the companies like Paia, Blacet, Modcan, MOTM, synthesizers.com among others who offer kits and/or pre-built modules.

Overall, an interesting historical read, but of very little practical worth."

Previous Thomas Henry posts

korg ms 2000 b

flickr by micheeky.

Synth-in-a-box

Or rather a CD/DVD spindle. You can find more pics here.

"On a lazy Sunday afternoon, some time back now. I decided to build a synthesizer.
Analogue electronics is not really my thing, I’m much more a digital person but when I found a design online for The #3 Standard WoggleBug by Grant Richter, I just had to build one. Neat circuits, who needs 'emFirst I built the circuit on some veroboard. This thing is controlled by a bunch of potentiometers, there is no keyboard and certainly no MIDI! Then I was wondering what to make for an enclosure. My friend Jasper found an empty CD spindle and you know, it was just crazy enough to work."

ARP 2600 Owner's Manual - To PDF or Not to PDF

Via Way Out Ware:

"The TimewARP 2600 Manual is free and full of information about our product and how to use it.

Even better, the TimewARP 2600 Manual contains an entire chapter on audio synthesis basics written by Jim Michmerhuizen, the author of the original ARP 2600 Manual and Founder and Director of the Boston School of Electronic Music.

Essential reading for anyone interested in the vocabulary and methods of classical analog synthesis."

Update: Originally this post pointed to a pdf download of the manual I found on the web. It was brought to my attention that the author Jim Michmerhuizen was still selling the manual in hard copy. I updated the link to his site instead. I did a search for the manual and found a copy of the pdf immediately. I'm curious what others think of scanning manuals and making them available for download in general. Good mojo or bad mojo?

Update 2: via Sam Ecoff on AH: "I thought I'd weigh in on this as I own two different versions of the ARP 2600 manual. I own the original Tonus version, which I believe was authored mostly by David Friend (somebody please correct me if I'm mistaken) and the later ARP version written by Jim. While both are interesting reads from a historical point of view, they both share the same general weakness in my point of view: unless you already have a solid understanding of modular synthesis, they are a tough nut to crack for a newbie. For those that are interested, I put up a scan of my copy of the Tonus version (which is out of print, btw) here: link."

Also check out Sam Ecoff's Electronic Music Books based primarily on the ARP 2600, also posted here.

Update 3 via loren in the comments of this post: "The ethics of copywrite aside, I thought it should be pointed out that you can download a legit free pdf version of the Arp 2600 manual at the Way Out Ware's website, which you can find here. From my understanding after talking to Jim and the guys at WOW a couple NAMMs back that he gave them permission to use the original manual for their software version."

Update 4: You can find the Boston School of Electronic Music website here. Based on the copyright date of 2015 - 2016, I'm guessing it launched in 2015. If anyone knows otherwise, feel free to leave a comment.

BMW Expander

Hylander Mini Wave Expander.

Title link takes you to more shots and info on Muff Wiggler.

"the Expander is used along with a Blacet/Wiard Mini Wave module, allowing the MW to address a total of 10 ROMs (as opposed to the 2 ROMs that a standard Mini Wave can work with), which ultimately gives your Mini Wave 2,560 individual waveforms. Additionally, the Expander adds CV control over the currently active ROM, and a signal inverter."

Monster Serge System

"The panel on the upper left consists of a bank of 36 custom comb filters and 24 custom VCAs, the 2 panels below it populated with 16 Keyboard Envelope Generators to drive them all. This instrument was made 1977 (as you can tell from the paper faceplates) and is in remarkable condition. Outside of the one mondule shown which is covered with blue tape, everything works perfectly."

via Peter Grenader

STG Soundlabs Radiophonic Accessory System

"While unable to produce diatonic music on its own, this system provides a basic set of tools which any radiophonic composer would find useful in today's modern tape studio. filtering, gain regulation, a noise source, clock oscillator, and two contour generators (capable of manual or remote triggering) are all at your fingertips without having to walk across the studio, touch a razor blade, or repurpose surplus military equipment.

available now from STG Soundlabs for only $1,963 including hardwood cabinet with integrated power system. system components available seperately.

from left to right: Multiples, Attenuators, Noise Buffet, Sample & Hold, Envelope Generator, Post-Lawsuit Lowpass Filter, Envelope Generator, and Voltage Controlled Amplifiers.

the noise, S&H, EGs, and VCA are all based around boards by Ray Wilson (musicfromouterspace.com), and the Post-Lawsuit Lowpass Filter is the initial production version of the Yves Usson (yusynth.net) ARP 4072 filter. all modules are electrically compatible with Synthesizers.com systems and physically compatible with Synthesizers.com or Moog systems. details soon at stgsoundlabs.com."

Yamaha DX7 II FD

Title link takes you to shots pulled via this auction.

Wilson Phillips' The MOOG Source

For the Wilson Phillips fans out there. via this auction:
"I used this monophonic Moog Source synthesizer on the Wilson Phillips tour in 1988. I put it in storage after the tour and haven't touched it until now. It's in excellent physical condition except for small strips of tape on the top that had the band's set list. (I chose not to remove them since I don't have tape remover solvent to clean off any residue.) I had a tech look at it and he said,"It powers up but the key contacts have tarnished and need to be cleaned and the internal battery needs to be replaced so it can hold user programable presets in it's 16 memory slots. His estimate on the repairs was $100.00. This synth is being sold in as is condition. My photos turned out a liitle grainy but be assured this synth is in excellent phisical condition. Local pick up in LA is fine."