MATRIXSYNTH: Monday, November 2, 2009

Monday, November 02, 2009

SYNTHWERKS

You might recall mention of Synthwerks in the following two posts from the recent PNW Synth Gathering: one, two. They are working on getting their website up and running with more detail. Until then the following along with the image on the left will give you an idea on some of what they will be working on.

"Synthwerks will be focusing initially on making alternate controllers and modules for processing/modifying CVs. We will make some other modules that will be aimed at filling the gaps we find in the available offerings by other companies or to compliment modules they make. Some will just be for fun. In other words you probably won't see a standard VCO or LPF with a Synthwerks logo on it. Those who are on FaceBook, you will find a Synthwerks page there, and you are encouraged to comment on the modules and make suggestions for ones you may want. If interest is high enough, our modules may be offered in kit form. Stay tuned...

Synthwerks
thesynthwerks *at* gmail.com"

Update: modules posted here
via fluxmonk in the comments "some concept pictures available on their facebook page"

Bleep Labs Thingamagoop 2 - Arduino Integration and CV i/o

via Bleep Labs

"The Thingamagoop 2 is coming November 10th.

Arduino + Analog
CV i/o
And much more!

Be the first to know when it’s out! Email Dr.Bleep to get on our mailing list or follow us on twitter."

November 2009 Bob Moog Foundation Newsletter

"November 2009:
Making Waves this Month: Umphrey's McGee Ebay Auction, George Duke Performance, BMF Calendar, Tape Preservation...

Umphrey's McGee Launches Ebay Auction Today
to Benefit the Bob Moog Foundation!
Beginnning November 2, 2009 at 2pm, Umphrey's McGee will hold a week-long auction on eBay to benefit the Bob Moog Foundation. The band is auctioning two signed concert posters from their archives and a signed Mantis Deluxe Edition Box Set. Read more about it here Thanks to Umphrey's McGee for your continued support!

Here are links to the items:
Mantis Delux Ediiton Box Set [LINK]
Poster 1 [LINK]
Poster 2 [LINK]

George Duke to Perform Intimate Concert
and Host VIP Reception Museum of Making Music Exhibit
Funk, jazz and synth legend George Duke and his quartet will perform at the Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad, CA on November 6th, 2009. The up close and personal concert will be followed by a VIP reception. Click here to learn more about the event and purchase tickets.

Presenting Our 2010 Bob Moog Foundation Calendar!
With photos, quotes and information taken directly from Bob's archives, our calendar explores pivotal points in Bob's career as well as many key figures who served as Bob's inspiration. This calendar serves as both a fulfillment of our mission to share Bob's archives and a fundraiser for our projects. Find out more about the calendar here and purchase it on our brand new online store -- it makes a great holiday gift item for the Moog enthusiast in your life.

Preservation of Tapes from Bob's Archives Begins
Thanks to generous funding from the GRAMMY Foundation the Bob Moog Foundation has begun the preservation and transfer process on over 40 of the reel-to-reel tapes in Bob's collection. With the generous $15,000 grant, our preservationist Seva David Ball of Souncurrent Mastering has begun the work at hand, which involves mold remediation, baking and transferring. Read more about Seva's progress here.

Support the Work of the Bob Moog Foundation
Thanks to your ongoing support, the BMF is taking on three major goals. The first is to empower young people to learn science by playing electronic instruments and to inspire them to be innovators at the intersection of science and music. Just like Bob Moog. The second is to preserve and protect Bob's archives to share with present and future generations. The third is to create a Moogseum--a place where people can experience Bob's Archives and join a community of innovators. Please contribute today to help us make an impact on people's lives through electronic music."

Moog Little Phatty Stage II Sweetwater Exclusive Solar CV Edition

"Exclusively from Sweetwater, the custom Little Phatty Stage II combines new features and flexibility along with a new look that's sure to stand out in the crowd! The Little Phatty Stage II is an analog synth with the last sound engine designed by the late master innovator, Bob Moog. Little Phatty Stage II is the realization of Bob Moog's dream to combine his great analog sound with an instrument that is both accessible to most musicians in terms of price, and also designed for live performance. Sweetwater worked closely with Moog Music to find the perfect color for our exclusive edition of this popular analog synth. And to really take it over the top, we've had Moog pre-install the CV Output Option, giving this Sweetwater Solar CV Edition far more control and interfacing capabilities than the standard version. Moog Music Little Phatty Stage II Sweetwater Solar CV Edition at a Glance: * 37-key, true analog synthesizer with Real Analog Control * Exclusive "Solar" orange back panel extrusion * Control Voltage output modification pre-installed at the Moog factory * Multiple interfacing capabilities and universal power supply" more details at Sweetwater. via aves

Tom Oberheim SEMs at Audiomidi.com

Some pics via Audiomidi.com where you'll find even more.

Tom Oberheim unloading SEMs

Pallet of SEMs

"Old friends meet again- audioMIDI.com founder Russ Jones and Tom Oberheim- Russ worked with Tom for years back in the heyday of Oberheim synths in the seventies and eighties."

Tom individually signing each box.

Rhodes Chroma - Test

YouTube via JAZZWINDOW. Not the best video but you don't see the Chroma often.

Thomas White Lopass Gate PCB's are shipping again

via Thomas White on the AH list:
"LPG boards are shipping out as promised. They are filtering out this week so be on the look out for a mail informing of your shipment.

I have less than 100 extra boards now and they are going fast. Expecially with most people ordering 5 or 6 meaning only about 25 potential customers left. If you want in, if you have not ordered and have been on the fence about it... now is the time my friends. My wife and I have a child on the way so I don't know that I'll have time for any batches in the future, although I hope to still be on some sort of projects like this.

$15 per board Order at: http://www.naturalrhythmmusic.com/lopass.html"

LAURIE ANDERSON - LANGUAGE IS A VIRUS

YouTube via stockhausen. via brian c. Luarie on Synclavier II and Prophet-5 in background.
"from HOME OF THE BRAVE 1984"

And my personal favorite. According this post, the vocoder was a Roland VP-330.

Laurie Anderson - O Superman

1982 Moog Catalog and the Moog DSC

via Retro Synth Ads where you'll find the full catalog and a write-up.

On the DSC:
"DSC - To meet the need of performers demanding the versatility and freedom that can be attained with a sequencing device, Moog introduces the Digital Sequential Controller (DSC).

The DSC is an intelligent controller - it stores information played on a synthesizer keyboard and reproduces and manipulates that information in musically useful ways.

The DSC has three recording modes: normal, metronomic, and expanded. In the normal mode, all keyboard technique (key depressions, slurs, etc.) - is recorded exactly as played. The metronomic mode disregards timing information and assigns the same time value to each event. The expanded mode stores anything that can be played on the synthesizer (including pitch bend, vibrato, and glide).

Four sequences can be stored (total storage: approx. 800 notes). The DSC will send the sequence information back to "play" the synthesizer. Sequences can be "chained" for playback in any particular order. Playback can be stopped and continued, or run in "single-step" mode. Notes within a sequence can be edited and corrected.

A "transpose chain" can be programmed and stored to produce automatic key changes. Output pulses can be programmed on any note or notes to trigger an external synthesizer, start or stop a tape recorder, etc. Glide can be added to any recorded sequence; in addition, recorded glide can be converted to quantized glissando.

The DSC generates a SMPTE - compatible sync signal for synchronization with tape or additional controllers. All DSC information can be saved on a standard cassette for later re-use.

The DSC is more than a "sequencer", it is the most versatile controlling device available.
DSC ... $895"

DIY - Toy Synthesizer Controlled Animatronic Frankenstein Robodog

YouTube via SpillerNo
"How to controll a frankenstein robot dog with animatronics using a toy synthesizer.

Fra programmet «Tekno» som går mandager 21:30 på NRK 2"

DroneStation Demo

YouTube via Cranda11. via Analog Industries where you'll find some screenshots and more info.
"This is a quick demonstration of DroneStation, my new app for the iPhone/Touch. A 2-oscillator synth, with an unique multi-touch interface that will hopefully make it more playable than trying to peck away at a little keyboard."

Arp Solus Synthesizer

via this auction

Kawai K5000W

via this auction

"The K5000 was Kawai's flagship additive synth. It combines additive synthesis along with PCM playback, plus effects. The K5000W has additional patch memory that the K5000S [with knobs] does not, along with sequencing and workstation functions. The PCM sounds allow for sharp, percussive transients, while the additive portion allows for complex, evolving sounds.

The keyboard is a high quality Fatar unit, the same as used in the Access Virus Keyboard and Virus Ti. The black notes are textured and gently rounded, and the white keytops have a gentle rounding as well, facilitating glissandos. It is a weighted synth action, slightly heavier than most, but not so heavy as to preclude fast playing. The keybed has soft, felt-like feel. You really have to feel it to appreciate it. It's worth buying for the key action alone. I have a Novation Remote SL61 and it's not as nice as the action in the K5000W.

The chassis is all metal, with hard plastic end caps. This is a very well made, high quality, piece of hardware.

The additive and PCM combine to make a really unique sound, and the added effects are high quality. The Formant filter is as fat and powerful as any analog filter. Programming is complex, but there plenty of patches available on the net. An owner's manual is NOT included, but can be downloaded directly from Kawai.

The OS was updated to the final, 4.0.x version."

Waldorf Micro-Q Synthesizer

via this auction

"There is no functional difference between this model Micro-Q (including Phoenix Edition) and any other, save for color. The specs have remained the same throughout it's production. It's a great sounding synth, in a real compact format. Unlike the Blofeld, you also get inputs directly into the filter, so you can use the Micro-Q to process other sound sources."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Yamaha VSS-30 Sampling Keyboard

via this auction

Classic Sampling keyboard. Far superior to the SK-1 or SK-5. Definitely do not get fooled by the small package. Looks like a toy but it truly is a legit synth. Check the links [videoss] below"