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this auction"Apple ][
Alpha Syntauri
Mountain Computer Music System
Complete Apple //e based setup
Fully working, with lightpen, monitor, disk drive, manuals
This auction is a genuinely rare chance (I hate the phrase, but I haven't seen one of these on auction for a year at least) to obtain a Mountain Computer Music System based AlphaSyntauri. This is a digital synthesizer and sequencer package dating from 1979-1982 in terms of hardware - they went out of production in 1985 or so. It is very similar to the Passport Soundchaser system. The complete setup consists of:
AlphaSyntauri "Pratt & Reed" based 61-key velocity sensitive keyboard, which I have rebuilt and cleaned with new bushes. It would benefit from replacement of the foam damper strip along the base below the keys which has disintegrated with age, but this is largely a cosmetic component. This is the same key mechanism used by many classic synthesizers. There is also an interface card for the keyboard.
AlphaSyntauri's preferred bundle of the "Mountain Computer Music System" voice cards - 8-voice (technically 16 oscillators) stereo sound generator and interface board with lightpen, with wavetable synthesis. This has the original box, in poor condition, and manual (no original disks). The system was also available with three-voice square wave cards from A.L.F, which are very limited.
An Apple //e unenhanced system. To be chronologically correct, this should have a ][+ or //e, this is the nearest I can get to a ][+. Enhanced //e models have timing issues. This is equipped with a duodisk disk drive and interface card, and a Philips monitor of suitable persistence for the lightpen to work. It is also equipped with a higher-output, better cooled AE PSU which should make it rather more reliable despite being 25 years old. In the picture, an 80 column card is visible - this is included in the auction but will not be fitted, as it appears to cause minor timing issues with the synthesizer (I added it to the system to include with the auction then remembered why I removed it!).
Software, including the B3 wavetable generator. This is quite complicated to use, but the results are impressive. To be fully useful, the software needs Apple II paddle controllers - either the later, 9-pin D-sub connector type or earlier ones that connect internally. I no longer have a set of these, but will attempt to locate some before the auction ends. They sell for a few bucks on eBay US when they come up.
It's hard to really fully explain how main "MetaTrak" system works, but it features a sixteen track sequencer, is multi-timbral, and quite flexible. By 1979 standards, it was absolutely stunning. Rather than try and explain what it sounds like, here's a link to a recording of a demo track provided with the system called
Galaxy Gap [player above] - this has been played back directly from the system for sale, recorded by myself. It is not multitracked or processed in any way. During playback, the notes are represented on screen in a similar style to the panels on "Close Encounters" - when using other software modules, they are bar-graphs showing velocity.
You can play live over an existing track in MetaTrak. Other software has different features; documentation for the Mountain Computer Music System is included but I had to dig around the internet to find out how to use a lot"
Also see
this post.
I had a little trouble installing my copy of Cakewalk's Rapture on my laptop. I have an old Sony Vaio VGN-S270P running Vista and the DVD drive just kept spinning. I tried rebooting and the same. I then tried Safe Mode by pressing F8 on boot and I was able to successfully install there. No problems whatsoever. I thought I'd put up a post in case anyone else runs into problems installing any software. I couldn't find anything on the net regarding install issues with Rapture, so I'm guessing it was just my system. I've had similar problems with it in the past. So... the tip is if you can't seem to install or read from a CD or DVD, try it in Safe Mode. It just might work.
"This document explains how to change the lithium battery on a Korg EX-800. I believe it also applies to the Poly-800.
heliospace put up a post on the Matrixsynth Forum. He needs help with his MC3000d. More details there along with more images. If you don't have an account and don't want to create one but you can help, shoot me an email. It's on the bottom right of the site.
This should give you an idea of how big (or small) the Waldorf Blofeld is. Click the image for a larger shots.
images via this auction
via this auction. via Inteliko.
ALSO, you have CV in and out and clock in and out for control. With using the same CV converter I use for my Roland TB 303 and modular synth it plays just fine. Also I have stepped the sequencer in sync with my TR 606. So both sync of sequencer and CV playability are possible. This is a very rare item."
"This piece of equipment was owned and used by Vince Clarke FROM ERASURE. It has been regularly serviced. The equipment was part of his studio that has been relocated to the USA. There is no reserve on this item. The Fairlight CMI (Computer Musical Instrument) was the first polyphonic digital sampling synthesizer. It was designed in 1978 by the founders of Fairlight, Peter Vogel and Kim Ryrie, and based on a dual microprocessor computer designed by Tony Furse in Sydney, Australia. It rose to prominence in the early 1980s. This particular unit unfortunately was in a flood and got a bit wet.... It is being sold as untested."
images via this auction.
via this auction
you that elastic bass sound. There are external clock inputs for the sequencer and arpeggiator, CV/GATE inputs and outputs and a CV hold pedal. Unfortunately there is no patch memory storage and although it has no MIDI there are upgrades available for it from many analog service companies that will allow you to incorporate it into any MIDI studio environment. It can also be controlled by MIDI using a CV/MIDI converter. It's great for bass sounds or bubbly analog effects. They come in three different flavors - gray, blue or red (there was a VERY rare white version too)!"
