Jupiter-8 Demo - Arpeggiator Madness

Title link takes you to details on Mok's Twango space.

miJam Minis

I skipped posting this the first time I heard about these as I dismissed them as silly toys you hook up to your mp3 player to play along with, but then it occurred to me, why limit it to that. You could technically run anything through these and play them as preset instruments; you might even be able to play them directly. Might also make for some good circuit bending if they are too drab out of the box.

"Each mi Jam Mini can be played using headphones or with external speakers.

The mi Jam Mini Drumpad has icons for snare drums, bass drum, tom tom and cymbals In standalone mode you can just turn it on, plug in your headphones or external speaker, activate the built-in rhythm, set the tempo and volume and tap away at the icons with your fingertips to create your own sound. Or plug in your music device and play along with your favorite music…either way ..its your music ..your way.

The mi Jam Mini Keyz is a miniature keyboard with key icons. It can also be played as a standalone keyboard or with a music device. Just turn it on, select the built rhythm, tempo and volume and tap the keys to create your masterpiece. Or plug in your music device and play along with that.

The mi Jam Mini Guitar is a mini guitar which plays riffs and chords. Each sound is built-in and like the other mi Jam Minis. The guitar can be played standalone or with a music device. The mi Jam Mini Guitar is played by placing a finger on the mini fret board and then strumming the strum bar to produce a sound…the strum bar works in two directions and can play a chord or a riff.

Last but not least is the mi Jam Mini Mixer. This is a super DJ mixer right in your pocket with a range of built in sound effects. Just like the other mi Jam Minis, the Mixer can be played on its own or with a music device and with headphones or external speakers. The mi Jam Mini Mixer is played by switching it one, selecting the effects and the scratching the two discs in either direction with your thumbs or fingertips."

Title link takes you there. Via CDM where you will find more thoughts.

Roland System 100 x 4 + More

via this auction.

2 x Expander 102
2 x Mixer 103
2 x Sequenzer 104
PPG Sequential Switch 313
+ Clocked Sequential Control 314
1 x Keyboard
Patchbays, several cable

via sequencer.de

Continuum Control of the Moog Voyager

Title link takes you to more info including audio.

"In these audio examples the [Haken Audio] Continuum is being used through the CVC to control the Moog Voyager without the use of Midi. A collection of STS Serge CV modules were used to process the voltages coming from the CVC before they were sent to the Voyager. This approach allows unique blend mixtures of the Gate, X, Y, and Z voltages from the CVC into the voltage inputs of the Voyager."

Popforge TR-909

Title link takes you there. It requires the latest version of Flash. When it loads, just click start, followed by the instrument you want to edit and program away. What's trippy is you can actually save and load your patterns right here. Must be stored in you cookie for the site. via brian comnes

reKon audio Nord Editor

"Total Control Where You Need it Most... in the Host!

The reKonT VST Nord Editor is a realtime MIDI synth editor that allows you full control of every sound shaping parameter found on the Clavia Nord Lead rack and keyboard synthesizers. Control your Nord from within your DAW to build lasting and meaningful patches that will bring new life to your Nord, and more importantly, your music. You also maintain all your patches on the computer itself without the hassle of manual dumps. All parameters are fully automatable and you can even use your favorite VST host (see Important Host Information for support), This ability to model your synth patches in realtime, inside your main music production environment is part of what makes the reKonT VST Nord Editor unique when compared to other hardware synth editors.

Now available is the ability to save and load your patches to and from the editor in the native, standard sysex format. Load up all your old libraries and recraft them with visible control!"

Title link takes you there. You might recognize them via their Access Virus and Waldorf Pulse editors.

Acid Jamming

YouTube via RobbieNerve.

"Jamming with the Akai MPC2000xl, Roland TB-303, Future Retro 777 and some FX"

NOTRUF

flickr by doctorgonzo.

Skinny Puppy's Prophet 5 signed by Cevin Key

I was checking out PLAN B on MySpace. No, not the modular synth company, Plan b, but Alex Productions music project. I was looking at the gear pics and noticed the Prophet 5 was signed. I asked Alex and he replied with the following:

"That and the minimoog belonged to Skinny Puppy. The Prophet, was Dwaynes, and the mini was Cevins. Cevin signed the P5. They are a huge influence for me, so it really was amazing to have that done. :)"

In the shot:
Sequential Circuits Prophet-5
Oberheim Matrix-6
Korg Prophecy

The Last New MacBeth M5 in the US - Priceless

At Analogue Haven.

via Andy_Squirrel.

Top 20 Wierdest Instruments On Sonic State

"Voting starts today as we countdown towards our next IPTV series, the Top 20 Weirdest Instruments. And it's not just synths - you can vote for acoustic instruments, outboard effects, circuit bendery, software, even toys - in fact anything that makes a sound and is truly strange will be considered for the shortlist.

Sonicstate.com has featured lots of strange instruments in news stories and videos from NAMM and MESSE, as well as frequent visits to Jack Waterson's Future Music shop in LA. So what is the attraction of weird technology? "Everyone is fascinated by odd-looking gear that makes weird and wonderful noises," says Simon Power who produced the recently broadcast 'Top 20 Greatest Synths' IPTV series, "when you hear something new and different on a recording it really makes you sit up and listen. We'll be featuring some very leftfield gear in this show. And now that it's possible to emulate lots of these sounds, I think it's interesting to see the hardware origins. Hopefully the programme will inspire the viewers to seek out some of these amazing instruments."

The series will feature more exclusive interviews with producers, musicians and users as well as instrument demos and film footage. "This series is less chart-based than 'Top 20 Greatest Synths'. It will have a different feel to it with a lot of emphisis on the instruments," says Power. "We've already lined up some interviews that I'm really excited about. I can't wait to get started. It's great fun putting these series together for Sonic."

"We always try to push the boundaries a bit, but we were really surprised by the popularity of the show, adds series cameraman and Sonicstate co-founder Andy McCreeth. "It was interesting to see how passionate some of the chatroom discussions about chart positions were too We'll be interviewing more musicians, producers, and hopefully some of the inventors behind some truly oddball instruments - I'm really looking forward to it."

As usual the shows will be presented by 'Professor Marc Norris' who's eccentric comments and links became a feature of the recent Top 20 Synths series. But how did he get involved with Sonic State? "Those fine fellows at Sonic found me on YouTube drifting around in Cyberspace," said the Professor (AKA actor and comedian Marc Norris), "I've always had a great passion for electronic music and I was very excited about being asked to present the show."

The Top 20 Greatest Synths links were recorded at the Sonic offices in a single day as Marc was due back on stage for an evening performance. "It was all a bit of a rush, but I had great fun working with Simon and Andy. We had a script but we sometimes just wandered off to see where it would take us."

And what can we expect from the professor in the new series? "I think we'll be seeing more facets of the professor's twisted personality. He's a great character to play with, but leaving him behind at the studio is becoming more and more of a struggle for me!"

The weird instruments to be included will be decided by a combination of voting and the choices of the people interviewed. There will also be suggestions from the Sonic staff and a few unexpected surprises thrown in for entertainment value!

So vote now for your top 3 weirdest instruments of all time, and remember, it's your vote that counts!

Links
Weirdest Instruments Voting
Top Twenty Synths"

Sequential Circuits Prophet 10

Title link takes you to more shots and interesting bits of info including bodhisattva, butteryfly and gnome silkscreens on the PCBs.

via Stephen

Hands Off 2007

"Some news from the UK... A group of UK thereminists have organised a weekend-long theremin get-together for the end of July just outside London, and have now made tickets available.

Cost is £150 for the whole event, which includes meals and 3 nights' accommodation.

So far we have got the great Lydia Kavina booked to do a masterclass, as well as Jon Bernhardt (of The Lothars - who has a nice 'Video Killed The Radio Star' on Youtube), Barbara Bucholz and Carolina Eyck appearing in concert. There will be demonstrations by commercial theremin makers, workshops and individual tuition available. All in all a must for anyone serious about the theremin - beginners and experienced players alike.

And just to sweeten the pot - anyone booking before June (with a 50% deposit) will be entered into a prize draw for a Prosonus Firepod!

Full details at - http://www.theremin.org.uk"

via Jonathan Bisset.

keybdwizrd - NightLife (original composition)

YouTube via keybdwizrd

"Instruments used: Virus TI Polar, Moog LP, Roland JV1080, Waldorf Micro Q, MOTU MachFive Sampler."

Roland JX-8P

Title link takes you to shots via this auction. I chose these for the post to show an interesting accessory that came with both the Roland JX-8P and JX-10 - a magnetic strip that you could place virtually anywhere accross the surface of the synth. The strip on the JX-8P contained the "Preset Sound Chart" while on the JX-10 it contained the "Edit Map" for setting up the dual synth engines in the JX-10. The JX-10 is virtually two JX-8Ps although many who have had time with both state they sound different - the JX-8P being warmer and more raw, and the JX-10 cleaner and more refined. If you have had experience with both, feel free to share your opinion on this in the comments. Both synths had the "Tone Edit Map" printed on the surface of the synth containing individual voice parameters including OSC, Filter, ENV, and LFO settings. You can see this in the second image. Note this was not a magnetic strip and was actually printed on the surface. BTW, I checked my image archives and couldn't find any real close-ups of either the magnetic strips or the "Tone Edit Map." If you know of any feel free to comment.

KORG Wavestation Expansion Cards

Title link takes you to shots of various KORG Wavestation Card Sets via these auctions. Pictured is the WSC-3S "SYNTH and TIME SLICE" 2 Card Set.

Details:
"These card sets are rare and highly sought after because of the PCM waveform data they contain. This is the easiest way to add new Multisounds to your synth and thus increase it's sonic capabilities.

The SYNTH and TIME SLICE Sound Card Set consist of a WSC-3 (PCM) card and a WPC-3 (Program) card. The cards contains 49 Performances, 34 Patches, and 31 Wave Sequences."

The others include:
WSC-1S "Piano"
WPC-15 "DANCE/TOP 40"
WPC-14 "ANALOG & VS"
WPC-13 "PERFORMANCE 3"

All contain 49 Performances, 34 Patches, and 31 Wave Sequences.

I'm guessing these were released for the original Wavestation and included in the ROMs of the later Wavestations and the newer Korg Legacy Wavestation. If anyone knows, feel free to comment.

Tyco Hot Keyz

Title link takes you to shots via this auction.

Lightning Bolt Keytar. The buttons and volume knobs remind me of Waldorf. I love the old album, cards and speaker in these shots as well.

Yamaha SK50D

images via this auction

Roland Jupiter-4

Title link takes you to shots via this auction.
Details:
"The synth's oscillators are switchable between sawtooth, square and square with PWM waveforms. and include a sub-oscillator and noise generator. All 4 oscillators can be stacked together for a fat, monophonic sound. In the filter section, the Jupiter-4 offers a hi-pass VCF, as well as a resonant low-pass filter. There are two ADSR envelope generators - one for the VCF (invertable) and the other is for VCA. The LFO features sine, square and ramp up/down waveforms, with sample/hold. It can be routed to the VCO, VCF, VCA or PWM. The Chorus button doubles the fatness of the synth sounds..."