"Gorf is a simple 8 step sequencer. It isn't as clever or complex as the Sequentix P3 nor as expensive as certain other sequencers.
I was bored one sunday, and wanted to build a simple sequencer I could use to test Defender and other synths I was building."
snip on Defender:
"Defender is my current project, and as such, is a work in progress, so please, don't ask for schematics, code or if you can buy it.
The synth is broken down into three parts,
1. The Voice Card, which holds the filter, oscillators, EGs and LFOs
2. Controller Card, which handles midi, voice assignment and patch storage
3. Front Panel card, which handles the rotary encoders, pitch wheels, etc, etc"
Update via Lord Avon in the comments:
Video demo of GorF (playing Monowave II skin on the SoundArt Chameleon)
Video details:
"GorF is a minimal step sequencer.
I built it to help testing my synth designs.
It sends MIDI notes and velocity on a user selectable Midi channel along with two MIDI CC's (user selectable) and of course has variable sequence length.
You can turn steps on and off using the buttons, but I forgot to show this feature. When I do the next video I'll be sure to show this feature.
It's still in the early stages of development, and has one or two little bugs in it.
The sound is coming from the MonowaveII sound skin.
"I came across this album in a dilapidated Leeds (UK) record shop for just a couple euros and have held onto it for dear life — BBC Radiophonic Workshop on vinyl doesn’t sell cheap. The standout track for me is easily Vespucci, a funky saunter with a very sampleable cool synth melody. The abstract cover from this 1973 release looks quite a bit like a CD exploding, perhaps another ahead-of-their-time move from these old-timers."
"starts with Novation Drumstation into spring reverb, adds some Track Team Aetherweave for ambiance, then the mopho shows up , at the 1 minute mark the t-resonator is turned on and the LFO in that starts to do its work, hence the volume ups and downs on the mopho then I twist t-resonator knobs, which is the source of the squelches, near barks, etc. the t-resonator is really touchy and goes crappy way too fast unless you move knobs real slow and very little at a time, at the 3 minute mark, the T-res is turned off and its fade out time" a note from baghead on this: "this turned out tamer than I expected, I thought the mopho and the t-resonator might get a ltlle more edgy ...maybe its the drums ...borders on boring ....... sigh ....but its late and its what will happen for tonight ....everything is one take at this house" If you don't like the piece, focus on the sounds. You can really hear the drumstation on this one. I like it.
YouTube via snazelle. follow-up to this post. "the final video before it left my home...i was trying to show off some of the freakier sounds but the batteries died again. this one is the best for showing sustain mode"
ark and hold.MOV
"more ark...freakier sounds... this video shows the SUSTAIN mode in a little more detail..batteries die on the camera though"
“The original Octave Cat was a beast. Some features included a four-note sequencer patch, in which using the sub-oscillator on VCO-1 and the additional pulse, were allowed to form steps. Switching the sample and hold to VCO-1 could accomplish pseudo '4-step-sequencing' on VCO-2. More important than flashy tricks was the ease of use associated with Octave instruments. The machine was carefully and logically planned out, with ADSR and AR located on the upper left hand side (this arrangement allows for easy release or attack variations, which should be considered quite nifty). Unfortunately, the pitch bend slider seemed to be in poor review with many users (in the Cat's defense, the pitch slider is equipped with a "dead zone" in which any position 4 millimeters above or below the center hardly affects the pitch. This is probably achieved with the use of diodes). The original A-1000 of 1975 lacked voltage control, and had an external fuse. An updated version included CV control, but retained the external fuse. What I believe to be the final A-1000 revision places the fuse internally, and seems to be the most common of the A-1000 Cats. (Apparently VCO-1 has a different circuit design than VCO-2. It seems that VCO-1 has a better circuit design, so side by side comparisons will be made in the audio sample section.)
Three waveforms with two sub-oscillators offered a pleasing variety of waveforms and a ripping sound. Audio frequency pitch modulation was available, along with cross modulations of VCO-1 & VCO-2 and vise versa. Four envelope destinations along with the squirmy discrete A-1000 filter were enough to bring a smile to any synthesist of the era (a terrific November 1977 A-1000 Octave Cat ad can be seen here).
It is without doubt that the Octave Cat is a "special" synthesizer. Many mid to late 1970's synthesizers fit into this category as well (Crumar DS-2, EML Electrocomp 500, Powertran Transcendent 2000, KORG 800DV, Roland SH-1, Jen SX-1000, etc etc). These are the synthesizers that really never received the exposure of Arps and Moogs. The Cat has been considered a knock-off Arp Odyssey, and unrightfully so. Various sources claim that Arp took Octave Electronics to court, but the reality is that Arp dropped charges, and they were no strangers to "borrowing" ideas themselves. Comparing the Arp Odyssey to the Octave Cat is completely beside the point; they are both amazing instruments of the 20th century.
The Cat electronic music synthesizer has strong metal sliders. They feel very comfortable and precise. Unfortunately Arp opted for plastic sliders, which often feels stiff and hard these days. A good portion of the Cat is sliders, and perhaps 1/3 is knobs. The Cat is a synthesizer that rarely becomes boring, and new original sounds can always be developed. The actual sound of the Cat is unique as it is relatively indefinable, partly because no one has popularized it like the Minimoog.”
Text from- octavecat.homestead.com. The link isn't working for me. If anyone has any ideas, feel free to comment.
"1) This is an original 1970 Ludwig 4 page catalog brochure showcasing the new Ludwig Phase II. 2) Along with the catalog is a dealer order form and discount structure that would be folded into a mail-in addressed envelope to Ludwig Electronics, Chicago, IL. 3) There is also dealer letter expaining the whole package and more. The sizes of each of the 3 items are approx. 8 1/2 inches by 11 inches."
"The Prophet '08 SE was limited to a run of 300 instruments total, with unique features such as leopardwood end panels and lighted pitch and modulation wheels. The best part is the commemorative nameplate, hand-signed by Dave Smith on the right end of the front panel - commemorating 30 years between the original Prophet 5 and the introduction of the Prophet '08." DSI Prophet'08 Product Page
# Prophet '08 SE Analog Synthesizer - Serial # 41
# Power Cable/Adaptor
# Original Prophet '08 Manual
# "Instrumental Innovators" DVD documentary on Dave Smith
# Original Box
"original box/plastic. I am including the the manuals/text that came with the Moog as you can see from the pictures. The serial number is 4255 which is on the box as well as the instrument and the model is 336A."
"Auditorium is about the process of discovery and play. There are no right or wrong answers; there are many ways to solve every puzzle. To get started, fill up the first audio level. We hope you enjoy the demo of Auditorium." What is it? Go to Play Auditorium and click anywhere in the center screen to begin. It's pretty cool, intuitive and very addictive.
"Your favourite handheld lo-fi in gleaming Cupertino chrome. Introducing the Buddha Machine iPhone application. Works with iPod touch also! Get it now on the iTunes App store!"
YouTube via lfradkin. via fischek "Les Fradkin, from the Original Cast of Beatlemania, presents "Lift Off" from his "One Link Between Them" CD.
This album has received wide acclaim in publications such as Keyboard Magazine and across the Internet.
Les, who is classically trained, is moving at Hyper speed. In this video, he's playing the Starr Labs Ztar MIDI Guitar in a Neo Classical Shred meets Bach influenced style on his own composition.
The Ztar can be strummed with string triggers or tapped with one or both hands as seen in this video.
The main lead sound is the Arturia Moog Modular V and the Logic ES2. Background sounds are from an M-Tron, Roland XV-5080 and Arturia Soft Synths. The sounds at the intro are made with Propellerhead Reason.
YouTube via jetdaisuke. I thought this was pretty cool. The train is analogous to the sequencer. "http://webdog.be/archives/0... beat making in the Shinkansen super express train. MacBookとKORG nanoKEYがあれば新幹線DTMが可能に。"
Update via Robert: "you remember this great old chemical brothers track? the video is very similar in concept to the train sequencer post... but in this case, the footage kinda graphically reflects the notes, drum hits, and progressions...check it out... and i actually think the great Michel Gondy directed this video..."
YouTube via kipptumor http://percussa.com/ "We set up at the loft and shot this video. The final version will be posted as soon as it is edited. These are shots from just the two stationary cameras. The handycam footage has yet to be converted to an editable format. I'm working on it. The soundtrack is unedited and from a live feed from the digital DJ system, so what you hear is the exact music coming from all those gadgets on the table there. -Kipp"
some typical self-made and factory sounds from the Yamaha DX7 II FD FM Synthesizer;
some patches are triggered by the MAM MAP-1 stand-alone arpeggiator module"
YouTube via Synthasy2000 "Another Poly 800 to been improved by this simple and effective modification"
Follow-up to this post on the KORG DW-8000. via the AH mailing list where Voynich (Chris Strellis) wrote in regarding discussion of the Poly-800 and DW-8000: "Check out my song "The Power of Nine" to hear the bass line made with a DW8000 in unison.
For the money I'd get a DW8000 hands down, no contest. Cheap, great filters, digital delay-ay-ay-ay and many of the parameter can be controlled over MIDI.
You might remember this post on STEIM potentially losing their structural funding from the government (see that post for more). Well, it looks like they are safe!
"Dear friends,
We have good news: STEIM is safe for now and will be able to continue doing her work.
The Dutch Council for Culture has reversed their initially negative decision. They were without a doubt impressed by the well over 1000 insightful, eloquent, personal letters of support from all over the world, which we received in just under two weeks. This, as well as some other factors, played a large role in opening their perception of STEIM's importance and contribution to our community and field.
We cannot thank you enough. You helped us realize again how extensive and faithful the network around us is. We are excited and thrilled that we can keep working with you and continue to build collaborations, connections and exchanges.
STEIM is bound for change, but we will fight to keep its spirit intact. Michel Waisvisz has left us, but along with his legacy of inventions and a very human 'touch', he has left a dynamic team behind. Under the guidance of our new director, Dick Rijken, our task is now to create a new structure that will honour both our history as an institution and look forward into the future. STEIM is what STEIM does: supporting a wide community of artists and composers, musicians and other performers in their search for great art, on stage, in the studio, in gallery spaces and on the streets. We will continue to be a safe house for an international community, bringing people together in our guesthouse and studio's.
Together with you, we aim to remain both the oldest and the youngest electronic institute in the Netherlands and are thrilled to continue working with you.
via till.com where you will find the full article.
"There was a discussion on synth-diy a while ago about the problems of building a voltage controlled oscillator with a sawtooth wave output whose duty cycle (the ratio of ramp-up time to ramp-down time) is adjustable with a seperate control voltage.
This is a very hastily written description of my proposal for a circuit that will implement this by warping the waveform of a regular sawtooth wave VCO."
"Front Panel of my modular synth - effect created by long exposure while manually turning the zoom on the lens. No digital editing except for contrast.
"JP VIDEO’S NEW RELEASE
via Dinasaur Gardens where you will find more.
EMS SYNTHI 100
“The original Octave Cat was a beast. Some features included a four-note sequencer patch, in which using the sub-oscillator on VCO-1 and the additional pulse, were allowed to form steps. Switching the sample and hold to VCO-1 could accomplish pseudo '4-step-sequencing' on VCO-2. More important than flashy tricks was the ease of use associated with Octave instruments. The machine was carefully and logically planned out, with ADSR and AR located on the upper left hand side (this arrangement allows for easy release or attack variations, which should be considered quite nifty). Unfortunately, the pitch bend slider seemed to be in poor review with many users (in the Cat's defense, the pitch slider is equipped with a "dead zone" in which any position 4 millimeters above or below the center hardly affects the pitch. This is probably achieved with the use of diodes). The original A-1000 of 1975 lacked voltage control, and had an external fuse. An updated version included CV control, but retained the external fuse. What I believe to be the final A-1000 revision places the fuse internally, and seems to be the most common of the A-1000 Cats. (Apparently VCO-1 has a different circuit design than VCO-2. It seems that VCO-1 has a better circuit design, so side by side comparisons will be made in the audio sample section.)
images at this auction
images at this auction
images at this auction
images at this auction
"Auditorium is about the process of discovery and play. There are no right or wrong answers; there are many ways to solve every puzzle. To get started, fill up the first audio level. We hope you enjoy the demo of Auditorium."
"Your favourite handheld lo-fi in gleaming Cupertino chrome. Introducing the Buddha Machine iPhone application. Works with iPod touch also! Get it now on the iTunes App store!"
via till.com where you will find the full article.
flickr by Geert Veneklaas
flickr by Maschinenraum
