ÉuCuE xxvii - Jan. 2009 - "Plugged"

"Concordia University’s Music Department (Electroacoustic Studies) and Concordia Electroacoustic Studies Student Association (CESSA) are happy to announce EuCuE "Plugged" - a series of six electroacoustic and multimedia concerts taking place between 28 and 30 of January 2009."

I'm obviously a bit late posting this, so my sincere apologies. I like to keep posts focused on specific synths vs. synths in general and I completely missed this one. That said there are still performances tomorrow including Alessandro Cortini (Blindoldfreak, formerly NIN) and his Buchla 200e. You can find more info on the event here.

Note there will be follow up concerts for Blindoldfreak on Feb 1st in Québec, 2nd in Ottawa and 7th in Montréal. Kakihara 079 of Ögenix will be playing with the system pictured in this post (Sid the cat), with slight module changes (AFGs, Frequensteiner, less Doepfer, etc), Max MSP and a Novation remote 25SL controler. You can find more info on the shows on Blindoldfreak. If you are in the area, this is a great opportunity to see some of this equipment used live.

Sequencer Development (Last Stage)

YouTube via nathanielscott
"So, I have about got the kicks worked out of my first sequencer. Everything works from the start, stop, step push buttons, to the Portamento control, though the portamento is a bit glichey (I need to research way to build that bit with more control).

The video shows some toy keyboards that I hacked to gain gate control over the onboard sequencers. The Casio SK-1 may not really be a total toy but the little grey Lonestar keyboard totally is. I paid three bucks for it at a thrift shop a couple of weeks ago.

I still need to build a better VCO. I have done very little research in this area and I feel that a good VCO would go a long way to a better performance feel, thereby giving better user experience in playing music. (just a thought)

The last bit of the video has music recorded with the sequencer but the VCO is run through a large amp and miked, and also DIed, so are the other keyboards wich include my Poly-61 and Crumar Performer."

TRITONE APC and SK-1

YouTube via 3rdness

"The Atari Punk Console with tricolor LED. Run through a bent Fab Echo for delay.
Accomp by my SK-1.
bent by 3rdness aka Noam Schatz
http://www.mobiusband.com/blog
http://www.myspace.com/3rdness"

Prosthetic beatbox

YouTube via timexile. :)

MPC500/microKORG - DnB Test #2 (Live)

YouTube via encode84
"Please welcome my new DnB station - MPC500+microKORG"

Making a CR-78 grittier using stompboxes

YouTube via RothHandle. You can find more videos from RothHanle here.
"Yesterday I was working on the mix for the track Apple (weird working title but there you go..) The artist is a very talented guy from Poland called Antkowiak and we have recorded a full album that will hopefully be released this spring. A great blend between odd sounds and great songs.

This little snippet was shot at the Roth Händle studios in Stockholm. If you are curious about the studio please visit www.roth-handle.nu for more info, booking et.c"

NORTEC: PERCUTER S + TB-303 + TR-606 + CLAP TRAP with QMF

video upload by Ramón Amezcua

YouTube via bostich1

"Dr. Bostich having fun with the ROLAND TB-303 , TR-606, SIMMONS CLAP TRAP , Dinacord PERCUTER S , SHERMAN QMF Quad Modular Filter , using a Shuffle Generator.

http://www.myspace.com/tijuanasoundma..."

Roland JX-8P Analog Synthesizer + Programmer PG-800

YouTube via retrosound72

"vintage synth demo by RetroSound

Roland JX-8P Analog Synthesizer + Programmer PG-800
(demo of various filter and envelope settings, oscillator-sync, crossmodulation, VCF and DCO modulation and more); The JX-8P is triggered by the MFB Step64 step sequencer and sync with the Roland TR-707

This video demo is not a musical statement, only demonstration of the sound possibilities of the instrument."

Circuit Bent Speak and Spell + MIDI - SPEAKING BETA 2

YouTube via radial77. Part 1 here
"Once again being triggered with Live. I threw this one together to provide a rough second example. For a slightly better shot of the setup, see my first one"
The rhythm kind of reminds me of Ultravox's Alles Klar mixed with The Thin Wall.
Update: up for auction here.

Doepfer Sequencer Novation ReMotezero SL with Ableton

YouTube via inbetweenmovements
"used ableton to trigger NOTES and VELOCITY through a scale. Controlled by Remote Zero SL. 15 steps generate a interesting pattern together with 8 steps triggered by midi clock controlling the a-120 VCF and A-121 VCF2 Filters. drums by er 1 through sherman filterbank and line 6 echopark, some kaoss effects in the end on the drums"

Vermona Perfourmer + TB-303 (video 2)

YouTube via DeathByDinSync. video 1 here
"Video 2 of the Perfourmer / TB-303 combo...
In this video, I have Synth 2 being controlled by CV/Gate from my TB-303 (out of frame). Synth 1, 3 & 4 are being controlled via MIDI, on the different channels, by Ableton Live. Synth 3 & 4 are using melodic oscillators, where Synth 1 is using white noise.

The TB-303's actual audio is brought in later, through my mixer... (around the 4:55 time)

Bass drum is from a TR-606 sample in Ableton

More of my music:
http://www.deathbydinsync.com
http://www.archive.org/details/Random...
http://www.rusuden.com"

YAMAHA VL1

via this auction.

Note this is the one from this video.
not the best shots, but you don't see these often.

"1994 Yamaha VL-1 Virtual Acoustic Synthesizer (Serial N. KH01347)
This excellent biphonic synth is designed to reproduce incredibly realistic wind instrument sounds, as well as analogue style lead synth, distorted guitar and much more, as you can see in the youtube video (here) that I shot today, using the actual unit in auction here.

Worth a whopping 6'000 dollars when it was first released by Yamaha in 1993, the VL-1 features a stylish wooden front and back panel, a strong built chassis, 3 wheel assignable controllers, nice and solid keyboard, large backlit display, stereo out, MIDI in/out, 2 foot controller in and 2 foot switch in, headphone out, breath control in, octave up/down, floppy drive, built in 220-240 V power supply.

Dimensions (W/D/H) 914mm x 380mm x 105mm (36" x 14-7/8" x 4-1/8")
Weight 12.5 kg (27.6lbs)

CLICK FOR MORE »

Metasonix Wretch Machine All Tube Synthesizer

via this auction

click the image for the full size shot.

Synare Sensor

via this auction
"vintage 1970's Synare Sensor Drum synthesizer in its original box with 16 page booklet and insert for adapter should you need it. Made by Star Instruments Stafford Springs Ct. USA. 9 Volt battery required. The unit attaches to any drum rim and is run through a amp, P.A. or headphones. I had alot of fun with it doing weddings and Disco gigs in the late 70's and early 80's. It has many different sounds and adjustments to make it last long or short. Triggered when you hit the drum."

Access Virus TI2

It looks like the Access Virus TI2 series is now available.

Auctions via Novamusik:

Virus TI2 Keyboard

TI2 Desktop

Virus TI2 Polar

CLICK FOR MORE »

Alesis A6 Andromeda

via this auction

Electronic Music Labs EML Poly-Box Analog Synthesizer

via this auction
"Poly-Box is a pitch following variable chord generator controlled by your synthesizer and Poly-Box's own keyboard with built-in memory. Poly-Box takes a single pitch from your synthesizer and creates two banks of pitch sources. Each pitch bank contains 13 simultaneously available pitch sources at precise semitone intervals - covering an entire chromatic octave. The pitch banks may be in the same or different octaves, and can cover the range from one above to three octaves below the synthesizer oscillator."

KORG Prophecy

via this auction

Korg MonoPoly Mono Poly Synth w/ Case Modded Blue LEDs

via this auction

"New wood sides (solid oak) have been manufactured for this particular MonoPoly to replace the cheap particle board that the original ones have making it much more sturdy."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Moog Memorymoog Plus

via this auction

Synclavier II SS7 Stereo Synthesizer card

via this auction

"This is a New England Digital Synclavier II SS7 Stereo Synthesizer card that is being sold as-is because it does not work properly. This card is complete with connectors, DACs, high quality machined IC sockets, the SS7 ROM and everything else, it just doesn't work. This is one of a few that I might be selling that have audio problems. These are proprietary and there are no schematics available anywhere, but this would be an easy fixer relative to some other bad cards because it is a mixed signal card and the problems most likely lie in the analog stage. It doesn't prevent booting, or crash the machine or cause it to hang, it just makes bad audio. My brief rejection notes will be included.

This is the kind of card you DON'T get in a fully restored Synclavier II or Synclavier from Synhouse. Every restoration I do kicks out a lot of bad cards during the extensive burn in process that each of my systems goes through before shipping, and I have accumulated quite a lot of them in recent years. I am cleaning up and organizing my stock this year and might be selling off some of this stuff that I can't use, but please be clear on this, this is not to be confused with the fully restored/guaranteed Fairlight/NED stuff I am known for selling, this is what I don't sell and can't sell because it is bad. The only guarantee I can give you on this card is that I guarantee that is is not working properly. I can't put 10 hours into reverse-engineering and trying to fix each bad card I end up with, as I always have a lot of good stock and the 55+ hours that goes into every machine (not including shipping or support) is quite enough already, so I'll be selling some surplus on eBay.

Please see my other auctions now and in the next few days for a Symbolic Sound Kyma Capybara sound computation engine/sound design system, and a fully restored Synclavier II will be ready to be listed in a few weeks."

Folktek "The Magnetic Insectarium"

via this auction
"The Magnetic Insectarium By Ben Houston.
This extra custom piece is part of a folktek series entitled "philanthropoid"". Also in the series on the site is the Mantis, dronescape sequencer,the book of sound, the moth, the growling insect, the bug, the octa-hedra, walking stick, pendulum translator and others. The sound is phenomenol and continues to amaze us. It is a sonic symphony of nasty and grimy sweetness, endless layers of sound possibilities emenating from High quality OSC originally based on high tech speech synthesis. Seemingly random bits can be rediscovered time and time again and then there are those moments that you will most likely never rediscover. This piece WILL provide sounds that you will not find in other synthesizers and will astonish you every time you turn it on.

This particular piece features four patchable knobs, and a twelve point magnetic patchbay. This allows you to determine function and provides tons of flexibility. In addition, two more knobs (global control and power kill), glowing lamp power indicator , optional light sensitive control, 2 folktek button/switches for activate and freeze mode sections, reset, 1/4" output, basic manual of function and layout. You'll be able to cipher through waveforms and textures with extreme sensitivity in thousands of ways. Waveforms (individual, or multiple layers) can be captured and maintained, often intermodulating in beautiful and/or disturbing ways. Super sensitive knobs let you filter through tons of sounds and glitchscapes. Albums are waiting to be created here as the sound is quite different from anything else you'll find.."

"For information regarding Folktek artists including portfolios, sounds and many more works please visit: folktek.com

For a link to our youtube videos check http://youtube.com/user/benpumpkin

For a direct link to the"Magnetic insectarium" page of the folktek site including more information, and more photoes please visit Here"

Moog Prodigy

via this auction

Alesis Andromeda A6

via this auction

Sequential Circuits Multi-trak

via this auction