Should I ban Anonymous Comments

It's that time again....



NOTE: If you do not have an account on blogger/gmail, this means you will need to sign up for one to comment. I'm curious how people feel after the slew of comments over the last week.

The MMM Mattson Mini Modular DEMO

YouTube via redmartian. Volume is a bit low on this, so turn it up, and don't forget to turn it down.
"Mattson Mini Modular Portable Modular Analogue Synthesizer demo"

The MMM Mattson Mini Modular TAKE 2!

YouTube via redmartian.
"Mattson Mini Modular Portable Modular Analogue Synthesizer." Follow up to this post.

Mystery Keyboard

via this listing.

"ORGUE DE QUALITÉ SUPÉRIEURE (( impeccable ))"

Anyone know specifically what this is?

via JB.

An Interview with Peter Grenader

"There are three Peter Grenaders. The first one is a renowned composer, whose works have secured wins at several festivals all over the world and whose artistic friends include some of the greatest names from the field of electronic music: Morton Subotnick, Steve Roach, Barry Schrader and many others. The second one is an instrument designer and Head of Plan B, a company producing modular analogue synthesizers. This Peter Grenader enjoys the immediate interaction between these machines and the performing musician, the way in which they allow a composer to have his instruments really do what he wants them to. Customers of his have included Nine Inch Nails and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers - again among many others. The third and final Peter Grenader is a former student at CalArts, now, retrospectively, probably considered the most important faculty of experimental media in the USA at the time. With stars like Harold Budd and John Cage working closely together with students, this was an exciting era of departure, of fresh beginnings and of discovering new technologies, timbres and tools. As a CD project and a string of new Plan B products are approaching, the first and second Peter Grenader are sure to make headlines soon. But until then, we're sitting down for a chat with the last one, talking about the "good old times" and life as a student at CalArts in the 70s."

click here for the full interview on Tokafu.

Elektrolysis Assemblage

click here for a track featuring the Elektron Machinedrum by Mr. Array.

Commodore 64 with Prophet 64 cartrige and SID2SID

images via this auction.

"Commodore 64 synthesizer
Very early model of the C64. Ideal for someone who is starting out modding and soldering. Most of the work has been done for you. It comes with the following

A PSU, A cable for connecting the commodore via RF, Prophet 64 cartridge, Keyboard Cover, SID2SID adaptor (second SID is needed)

the following mods have been done
fitted SID2SID hole cut out of metal box, metal box re-applied and fresh heatsink compound applied
4 x Analogue pots added for direct control of the Prophet 64's software parameters
jack added ( has not been soldered in, this is used for the second SID or it could be soldered to the first for direct sound from the first)"


YouTube via clackbeetle.

MMM Phoenix Series Samples

click here for some samples and templates. You will need to download Serif DrawPlus to view the templates.
Update: Looks like the links changed: samples, templates

Wacky Wonky

via Dennis, aka mono-poly.

"Fridaynight i did this noodle witch is completely generating it's own melody and variation. Sorry for the boring beat but it's just a little idea with this noodle.

Drums DR55 trough an EMT 266 limiter
Noisering used for the melody generation
Clockdividers for dividing clock signals.
Logic module to merge the clock from my dyn sinc with the noise ring clock.
Slope generator for envelope firing to the noisering inputs.
Wiard vco to modulate the Cyndustries Zero oscilator."

The MMM Mattson Mini Modular

YouTube via redmartian.
"Mattson Mini Modular Portable Modular Analogue Synthesizer"

MMM Faceplate Decals

via Guy D2.
"Been following the Mattson Mini Modular thread intensely for the last week, and saw the whole thing coming together nicely on George's new website...

Fascinating stuff.

The faceplates are designed in Illustrator, and I reckon they're fairly accurate (the holes and dimensions), give or take a few pixels. Since I've set up a rigid template, it is now very easy for me to design and re-design new decals... I can do one module in less than half an hour or so... Done the VCO and EG so far...

If there is any interest in this, I will finish the rest of the modules, and make them available [in different printable formats] for free. Right now I am not able to fullfill any requests for other decals designs, since I'm a bit overloaded with (paid for) work. That might change later though.

If everything works out ok, I will make the template available to the public for free (in different, editable formats), so to make the enthousiastic musician-designer's life just a tad more easy.

Cheers,
Guy D2"

Episode 2: Sequencing drums and melodies using LFOs

YouTube via williamenroh of inside synthesis.

"Not many synths have a mod sequencer like the Korg MS-2000 (demonstrated in Episode 1). But that doesn't mean you can't use LFOs to trigger drumbeats and melodies.

This video features an ESQ-1. While it has a sequencer, it doesn't have an arpeggiator, or any decent internal drum sounds, and certainly no way to key-trigger those sequences. This tutorial will show how to get decent drums and even simulate an arpeggiator, all dynamically triggered via the keyboard.

Plus, the techniques are relevant to almost any synthesizer."

Oberheim Two Voice Demo Part 1

YouTube via therealretrosynth.
"Noodling on the Oberheim Two Voice to demonstrate its sonic abilities."

Roland JX-8P and PG-800

images via this auction.

"Six voice, two oscillators per voice. Poly, Unison, and Solo modes. Unison operates with all 12 oscillators firing on one note or 6 oscillators firing on each of two notes or 4 oscillators firing on each of 3 notes, etc. (depending on the number of keys held down) The Solo mode is 2 oscillators on a single note. Because the JX-8P has extensive cross-mod capabilities you can get really fat bell timbres - anything from melodic to clangorous illness

Future Retro Revolution

via this auction. Interesting choice of knobs.

Roland MC-202

more images

Livewire Electronics Audio Frequency Generator

"General info regarding the new Livewire
Electronics Audio Frequency Generator:

- The AFG is planned to go into production in October 2007 (next month)

- The target US retail price is $395.00 USD

- There are 2 FM CV inputs, both switchable between linear & exponential

- There are a total of 9 CV inputs, all of which have attenuation knobs
except for the 2 1v/oct inputs

- The AFG will only be offered in Eurorack format initially

- The AFG has 9 output waveforms, including 2 switchable sub-octave
waveforms

- The Harmonic Animation section of the AFG offers a type of timbral
modulation unseen on any other modular VCO

More information will be available soon at the main Livewire website and on the Livewire Yahoo group.

Thanks for your interest!

Mike Brown
Livewire Electronics

Metasonix TX-1D Agonizer

image via Deviant Synth