You might remember the Division 6Multiplicity XV from this post. It looks like a smaller module, the Multiplicity VI [left in image] will be available as well. According to Scott Rise's MODD3D, both will be available soon. Early June for the XV and Late June for the VI. Scott Rise is the man behind Division 6 who also brought us MIDIfy.
"The Multiplicity line of buffered multiples for Eurorack is almost ready to go. Both modules regenerate your CV or audio signal for each and every output jack so there is no degradation. The inputs are cascaded so you have flexibility in your signal routing; one signal can be sent out all the outputs or you can have several signals with a few outputs each."
On the Multiplicity VI: "(2HP) gives you 2 inputs and 6 outputs and is perfect when you have just a little space left over in your rack that you don't want to go to waste. Available from dealers: Late June" http://www.division-6.com
YouTube via TheSynthFreq — June 02, 2010 — "Hi! Our new song "chasing the storm" is an up beat 80s synth-pop song. I am playing the background track on the Roland Alpha Juno-1 using an original programmed patch that I wrote for it. The Alpha Juno-1 is a very warm, 1 DCO synth that really shines in this song. I love my Juno-1! :) My sister is playing the lead sound on the Motif-6 and she is rockin it. :) Please enjoy!!! Please comment, we value and appreciate them all. :)
P.S.: if you want the patch parameters for the Juno-1 patch, let me know and I can post it on my Flickr account for you to view it.
YouTube via plague1715 — June 02, 2010 — "the low frequencies are only what the camera mic picked up!
Starring an all-star cast of: AFG, Vulcan Modulator, Dalek Modulator, QMMG, Plague Bearer, Sound Of Shadows, Anti-Oscillator, Borg Filter, and many more!"
YouTube via gregbaumont — May 30, 2010 — "Xplorer - An Oberheim Xpander software programmer (currently under development). The Xplorer's goal is to control in real-time all of the 226 parameters of a Xpander tone. No release date planned. news, sounds and more: http://xplorer.programmer.free.fr I'll try to upload a better quality in the next days.." You'll find the Xpander revisited MIDI Specification here.
YouTube via davidryle — June 02, 2010 — "Sometimes machinery have ghosts, other times the little buggers are more easily understood.
Synthesizers played are: Arrick Robotics modular Ensoniq FIZMO Clavia Nord Lead 2X Korg Kaossilator 3 GForce Mtron XLN Audio Addictive Drums
Guitar is Gibson Les Paul Special.
Video editing and mangling done in Apple Final Cut Express. Music recorded into Steinberg Cubase 4. Robotic monkeys with cymbals are helpful drummers in case you need them.
The machinery is a Gray vertical turning systems (VTS) CNC lathe with a CamSoft custom control by Texagon Industries. A General Electric M1050 control with a punch tape reader and a General Numeric tape puncher/reader.
The tape punch technology is many decades old but still reliable. It is unique in that not many working CNC factories still use this out dated media. We still have it in case of a failure with the normal PC based part program storage and retrieval. Recently I had to use this as a backup method and I made a video of it for posterity.
The Gray machine was the last of a series of super heavy-duty massive turret lathes, built after Warner & Swasey bought them out. There are only a hand full of these giant lathes still in use. The one we have is currently in a state of rebuild and retrofit with newer drives and controls, but this video displays it at a time when the PC based control and older glitchy servo drives (HiAk) were running. The machine was entirely unpredictable and would do very unexpected things. A very dangerous and nerve racking enterprise if you consider a 2,000 pound steel part ejecting out of the glass door at a high velocity. Not many machinists are willing to operate such a hazardous machine. The operator is very skilled (and brave) to perform this on a daily basis. We are glad to be able to update this to a much safer machine tool.
Just a piece of history along with a few home videos of my grand daughter learning to patch a sound system. I have gremlins at home too!"
YouTube via potterpaint2000 — June 02, 2010 — "an improv featuring the great Dimitriy's Corvax and Volfram synths processed through a Doepfer Dark Energy. http://etherra.blogspot.com/"
YouTube via neutron7 — June 02, 2010 — "Just a quick demo of how the unison and second oscillator part can do a fake "supersaw" type thing.
This demo only uses one of the oscillator pairs, and hardly any of the other controls. everything has been left "wide open" to make the scope trace clearer."
"Rare, Japanese-language video from some time in the 1990's, taking the viewer on an odyssey through Korg's many instruments, from Korg's synthesizer museum at its Tokyo headquarters.
Two other videos were produced in this series, 'The Vintage Synth - Volume 1: Moog and 'The Vintage Synth - Volume 2: Roland'"
Part 1: "This clip features an interview with Korg's co-founder Tsutomu Kato and footage of the rare DA-20 Doncamatic drum machine (1963) and an early appearance of Korg's famous 'Traveler' filter control - on an organ! (late 1960's.) More to follow."
Part 2: "This clip features the Korgue organ from 1968, as well as Korg's first synthesizer, the Mini Korg 700 from 1973 (here shown in its expanded 2 oscillator version, 1974's Mini Korg 700S.)"
Part 3: "This clip features the Synthesizer 800DV (1974), Synthesizer 770 (1975), and the PE-1000 (1976)."
Part 4: "This clip features the polyphonic, patchable, part-modular and extremely rare PS-3300 (1978)."
Part 5: "This clip features part one of the MS series (1978-79), focussing on the wall-mounted 'education' MS-20 as well as some other early analogue products."
Part 6: "This clip features the MS-20 and MS-50 synthesizers, VC-10 vocoder and SQ-10 analog sequencer (1978-79) in more detail."
Part 7: "This clip features the Delta strings synthesizer, Trident polyphonic synthesizer, and BX-3 analogue organ (1980-81)."
Part 8: "This clip features the first part of an in-depth look at the Polysix synthesizer from 1981."
Part 9: "This clip features the second part of the Polysix synthesizer feature and the one on the Mono/Poly."
Part 10: "This clip features the Poly-800II and the DW-8000 (1985)"
Part 11: "Computer-control of MS instruments (or is it the 05R module?) with 700S, original Korg Wavedrum, as well series conclusion."
Note the giant educational MS20 in the background of the first video. It is functional. Click here for all posts featuring it including pics and one other video.
YouTube via retrosound72 — June 02, 2010 — "vintage synth demo track by RetroSound
"'The Best Of Both Worlds'
digital pads, voices, lead (+aftertouch function) and fx sounds: Ensoniq SQ-80 Digital Synthesizer
sample/hold bass: Roland Jupiter-4 Analog Synthesizer
drums: Roland TR-808
fx: a little bit delay and reverb (Lexicon MPX)"
Assault the source.m4v YouTube via schlachthof1 — June 02, 2010 —
"Cover of the John Carpenter song. Made with Moog Source- Bass, Futureretro XS-Drums and additional synth sounds Gmedia string machine triggered by Dsi Evolver key."
YouTube via Arturiaweb — June 02, 2010 — "This week we've also added another fascinating video to our Artists and Arturia series. Pop-music master Stephen Lindsey from the UK agreed to take some time out and chat with us about his favorite Arturia instruments and how he uses them on his productions and film scores. Lindsay has been behind numerous chart topping bands and has penned quite a few scores as film composer as well. But he did have a little help from our products."
via this auction
"Rare, early ARP 2500 modular synthesizer in very good cosmetic condition and working 100%. A friend of mine bought this one from Phil Cirocco of CMS/Discrete Synthesizers in late 2007 and it's still working solid. As you can see, this is an earlier 2002 cabinet with a 3000 series keyboard.
It includes the following modules-
1002 Power Control
1003 Dual Envelope Generator
1004T VCO
1005 Ring Mod / VCA
1006 Lowpass filter / VCA
1016 Noise / Random Voltage
1023 Dual VCO
1027 3 x 10 Sequencer
1033 Dual EG with delay
1036 Dual S/H, Clock
1047 Multimode Filter"
Cosmetically- The veneer on the cabinet does have some chipping here and there, but overall it still looks very good. Some of the modules have a former owners name and the serial # etched in on the corners.
Internally- According to Phil's description when he sold it, the power supply had been upgraded about 2 years prior to my friend buying it to a 1.5 Amp, low noise high performance unit. The separate 12v lamp power supply had also been rebuilt around that time.
The keyboard works great as well as all of the knobs, switches, matrix sliders, etc. No scratchy pots whatsoever! Phil obviously took care of this thing. I did notice that one of the LEDs on the sequencer has since burned out, but if this is an issue I can have it replaced.
This is not a plug in and play unit like an Arp 2600. Patching is required if you want sound. Please be aware of this."
"History of "The Key": The key was developed by Lonestar Technologies, a company based in Hicksville New York. It was marketed as an "Interactive Musical Instrument" and came out in 1994 with an MSRP of $400 and above. For the time, the technology was ground breaking, and included design help from rock & roll guitar legend Randy Jackson. "The Key" has a far out design and in itself is a guitar synthesizer, where the frets are key like and strings are "veins". What made the instrument so appealing was the fact it was MIDI compatible and expansion units called "SONGPAC" catridges could be purchased. "SONGPAC" catridges included licensed songs (i.e. Stone Temple Pilots - Vaseline cartridge included in the auction) which allowed "The Key" user to play along (rather easily) with their favorite songs. You could "CD Sync" the instrument when you had the CD of one of the songs included on the "SONGPAC", playing in sync with your favorite song. There was also an option where you could play along with your favorite music videos that were specially encoded for "The Key" through your VCR or LaserDisc player. Believe it or not, "The Key" also had networking capabilities. Through a 4 wire telephone cord, you could connect two units together and send information. WOW!
Unfortunately, the technology was ahead of its time. "The Key" did not sell many units, maybe due to its hefty price. It went the way of the LaserDisc. However, "The Key" was the predecessor for the ever popular "Guitar Hero", which has now become the medium for interactive musical entertainment.
Using "The Key": Though "The Key" was initially introduced to the public as high tech home entertainment, the capabilites of the instrument were far superior. With the ability of MIDI, you can use "The Key" as 'keytar'. I have personally used the instrument in live performances before, and you will achieve very unique and distinct leads through the instrument. As a synthesizer alone, it has a great sound. The built in speaker does not do the tones you can achieve justice, and you can record some great riffs through the Out line. Something really awesome a friend of mine was able to achieve was using "The Key" as a MIDI controller to a vocoder, creating something similar to a 'talkbox' effect as heard on Daft Punk - Discovery.
The unit runs on a 9V AC adaptor or 6 D Cell batteries. It also includes connectors where you can attach your guitar strap.
These guitar synths rarely appear for sale anywhere. Today it has become a collectors item."
via this auction "(Taken from an old advertisement) When you want to heat up the beat with electronics, get Drumfire. It's the only add-on mixer/synthesizer for drums. Drumfire works with any drum set, even practice pads. Its five piezoelectric transducers attach easily to your drum head or rim. Each tranducer lets you set a separate, chngeable electronic drum sound. A kick sound with punch, hand claps, synth sounds, and more. In fact, Drumfire gives you an almost limitless variety of synthesized drum voices. All for about one third the cost of an electronic drum set!
Drumfire gives you the best of both worlds- advanced electronics that enhance your acoustic drum sound. When you like it hot, play with fire. DRUMFIRE.
The Drumfire mixer/synthesizer has 5 separate channels to let you pre-set 5 different electric drum voices....synth sounds, hand claps, super kick, gunfire and more.
Each channel has 8 controls to let you find just the sound you want: SENSITIVITY: controls pickup sensitivity OSCILLATOR DECAY: controls decay time of oscillator sound NOISE DECAY: controls decay time of the noise sound SWEEP: alters oscillator frequency. PITCH: changes oscillator pitch BALANCE: controls balance between oscillator and noise level VOLUME: controls output PAN: a right or left balance control, also allows dual output on rigth and left jacks
Each channel has an input jack for the pickup, and an output jack for individual outputs to a P.A., mixer or amp. There's also a master volume level control, a left channel and a right channel."
"Now available for pre-order at http://www.optigan.com/shoptigan/inde... is our brand new Optigan disc: SURF ROCK! When we've reached 15 pre-orders, we'll go to press with the limited run of 25 discs.
Surf's up! It's time to wax the board and catch a wave! Optigan.com is proud to present Surf Rock , featuring the vintage sounds of the 1960's surf scene. For this music program disc, we've gone into the recording studio with a couple of SoCal's best surf rockers.
Reverb enthusiast Matt Quilter is one-half of the guitar assault from the award-winning Reventlos http://www.reventlos.com/ whose quirky instro albums alternately intrigue and horrify surf music purists. In addition to his duties on guitar, he co-produced the documentary feature Pounding Surf! http://www.surfdrums.com/surfdrums.html an insider's look at the SoCal surf music scene from 1961 to the present day. For the Optigan session, he chose from his arsenal a Fender Stratocaster played through a blond Fender Tremolux and Reverb unit, both from 1963.
Lee "Kix" rarely strays from playing Death-Surf / Afro-Billy music with the Reventlos. However in days past he has recorded with world famous instrumental guitar gods, The Ventures. As a veteran of many Linn Drum sessions, Kix is no stranger to having his drums sampled for posterity. The Optigan session was recorded with vintage 1960's Oaklawn Camco drums, 20x14 bass drum and 14x5.5 metal snare. T he 12x8 and 14x10 toms used in the session were obtained when Kix was a Los Angeles Camco endorsee in the mid-70's.
Guitar and Bass played by Matt Quilter.
Drums played by William Lee "Kix".
Music arranged by Matt Quilter and William Lee "Kix".
Music produced, edited, and mastered by Pea Hicks.
Engineered and Mixed by Jon O'Brien. Recorded at The Music Box Studios, Garden Grove CA http://themusicboxstudios.com/
Disc creation software, disc production cover artwork and jacket layout by Robert Becker .
Cover artwork by Mark Crafford.
RHYTHMS: 4/4
LEFT HAND: Bass, guitar, and drums.
RIGHT HAND: Tremolo electric guitar.
SPECIAL EFFECTS SWITCHES: 1. Guitar Gliss, 2. Drums, 3. Tom-
Toms, 4. Snare Fill, 5. Guitar C Chord.
Be sure to check our other videos for a mini-documentary of the Surf Rock recording session!"
Making of the Optigan SURF ROCK Disc
"peahix — June 01, 2010 —
Here's a mini-documentary of the recording session for the Optigan SURF ROCK disc, shot and narrated by Pat Quilter, co-founder of QSC Audio Products http://www.qsc.com
Featured are Matt Quilter (Pat's brother) on bass/guitar and Lee Kix on drums. Matt and Lee are both members of The Reventlos http://www.reventlos.com. Also appearing are Pea Hicks (optigan guru), Robert Becker (new optigan disc guru) and Jon O'Brien (sound engineer).
Please see our other videos for a demo of the Optigan disc that resulted from these sessions, and visit http://www.optigan.com/shoptigan/inde... to order a copy of the disc."
YouTube via zackdagoba — June 02, 2010 — "me and steve dagostino setting up the synths at a rehearsal space in the roundhouse in camden in preparation for the john foxx gig on saturday. more on myblogitsfullofstars
YouTube via kenzie2029 — June 01, 2010 — "Home made diy synth from two getlofi 555 timer kits. Added sync, triangle square switch, volume, photo resister, RCA and 1/4"outputs, and some what of a lfo mode."
YouTube via retronyms — June 01, 2010 — "Playing around with Synth for iPad and a Korg Kaossilator. I was tweaking a custom patch with the new patch editor, and stumbled upon a cool rhythmic LFO sound that I thought could use some drums. http://retronyms.com/synth"
"Basically, it is a simple monophonic synthesizer with some presets which can be modified and a polyphonic section. These two sections can be also combined and slightly detuned (intervals are also possible) to sound like a 2-VCO monophonic synth."