The Packrat Sampler Arrives

My copy of The Packrat Sampler  has arrived!  I thought I'd post some pics up along with a note on why this book is extremely special to me.  I started MATRIXSYNTH in blog format back on July 20th of 2005. The first post on The Packrat went up on Halloween of that year  (with two prior references here and here).   The Packrat was with me on year one and has been a staple on the site ever since.  The MATRIXSYNTH Packrat image pictured on the right of the site went up on August 2, 2006, and to my surprise and complete honor it graces the cover of the book!

The Packrat pretty much symbolizes the true inner synth obsessed in all of us.  He took a little hiatus in 2006 and came back in 2007 and has been going strong since.  He brought us synth dreams and Buchla Christmas wishes.  He has a significant place in synth history as the longest running, if not the only running, true synthesizer based comic strip.  Because of that, and because of the awesome coolness of the man behind the strip, Mr. Dave C. Lovelace, who brought us much of the artwork behind Metasonix products as well as his other comic strips, and plays ripping keys in his band Parallax, I highly recommend this book.  Check out that Tron keytar (more here)!

In all seriousness, The Packrat, also featured in Keyboard Magazine, is part of synth history.  Not only does the book feature each episode of the comic, you get the history behind each including interesting tidbits you might miss in the comic otherwise, and you get a 12-page adventure never seen anywhere else (which includes another MATRIXSYNTH appearance).

Seriously, get this book now!  It's dirt cheap, it's synth history, and it is AWESOME!

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Roland GR-S V-Guitar Space Effects Pedal Review and Test and Demonstration

Published on Feb 23, 2013 WayneJoness·257 videos

"This is a review of the features and sounds of the Roland GR-S V-Guitar Space pedal. The four modes are reviewed. The GR-S is also tested with a standard guitar pickup, for non-GK guitars."

wogglebugcoder

Published on Feb 23, 2013

4 ms Peg, RCD, VCA Matrix
Analogue Systems RS 360 RS 100
Bananalogue Serge VCS
Cyndustries TZO
Doepfer A 134 panning by Moog MP 201
Make Noise Pressure Points Maths Optomix Wogglebug
Malekko Noisering
Moog 4x freqbox CP251
Roland SVC 350 Vocoder
Toppobrillo Quantimator Sportmodulator TWF
Logic master clock to Kenton Pro 2000
kick snare Ultrabeat
FX Boss VF 1, Lexicon PCM 80 , TC M 3000

New Spectralis Tutorials by acemonvw

Spectralis Tutorial 1: Selecting songs and patterns
Published on Feb 23, 2013 acemonvw·9 videos
See this post for previous tutorials.

"This tutorial goes over the basics on selecting your songs and patterns."

Spectralis Tutorial #2: The part selection
Published on Feb 24, 2013 acemonvw·12 videos

"This basic tutorial demonstrates how to select a part (Asynth, Dsynth, Drums), use the solo, mute, and play buttons. All of these buttons fall under the "Part" section.

Additional note by mcbeth303:
'by pressing shift and MUTE or SOLO when they are blinking all mutes or solos are removed from all tracks'"

Spectralis Tutorial #3: Sequence Editor
Published on Feb 24, 2013

"This is a basic tutorial of the sequence editor on the spectrlis.
NOTE: I don't mention the iteration button, but all that does is move your sequencer line, or 'rotate' it. You can make step 5 be step 1, which would move all other steps back 4 steps as well."

Spectralis Tutorial #4: Saving and initializing patterns
Published on Feb 24, 2013

"This tutorial goes over the basics of saving patterns, what's saved within a pattern, what's saved within a song, and how to initialize patterns."

Spectralis tutorial #5: Trigger groups
Published on Feb 24, 2013 acemonvw·13 videos

"This is a more advanced tutorial, featuring: Trigger groups (and terribly programmed music)."

Waiting for #6...


Spectralis Tutorial #7: Filter self-oscillation
Published on Feb 25, 2013

"Get the internal analog filters to self-oscillate. Not shown here... but in the filter settings you can also apply LFOs to alter the cutoff and resonance and get some interesting results.

You can also make melodic parts using filter self-oscillation. It can be an extra sine-wave source, but you may lose a trigger group."

Spectralis Tutorial #8: Groove Edit (creating a basic rhythm)
Published on Feb 26, 2013

"This tutorial goes over using the groove edit section. Basically: how to create drum parts and how to add some dynamics to the beat."

Spectralis Tutorial #9: Filterbank Rhythms
Published on Feb 26, 2013

"Filterbank Rhythms. Noise generated from the Spectralis can be routed to the filterbank and sequenced using specific FB frequencies. Sequencerlines 1 - 10 come with the default setting of opening those frequencies when activated (i.e., you create a step/envelope).

Note, you can do some even cooler things when you sequence oscillators through the filterbank and not allowing the noise volume through. This will be in a future tutorial."

Rare Vintage 1988 PLAYTIME BEAT BOX Solid Gold Rock Star DRUM MACHINE

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
via this auction

SN 1361

"Unique and awesome 80s sounds - Start your own Noise/Dance group with this rare piece of equipment...

"This is a monophonic but 4 parts multitimral drum machine - WEIRDEST SOUNDS EVER from any drum machine! The bass drums are something like medium 909 bass drums tripped up with distortion, snares and hihats, creating strange pieces of noise, also with some truly bizarre space sounds to make some really weird and hard breakbeats! I don't know exactly how these sounds are made, there is one custom IC inside the machine. My guess is that the sounds are sampled from somewhere with lousy sample rate and re-created with a square wave oscillator. Don't know. Anyway, the sounds are very weird, original and great, and I'm now looking to get some more children's drum machines - the pad controlled ones are easy to convert for trigger pulses. Never underestimate children's gear!"

Update via Julia Truchess in the comments: "I designed this product. The sounds are generated algorithmically by a 4-bit microcontroller and my firmware; no samples are used."

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Moog Minimoog Voyager White (Performer Edition)

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via this auction

"Moog Music presents the award-winning minimoog Voyager Performer Edition, an all analog performance synthesizer incorporating virtually all of the functions of the original minimoog synthesizer, produced from 1971 to 1984, and a number of new features that makes this the minimoog for the 21st Century.

This investment will last you a life-time. The Voyager is paneled in ash with a stunning custom finish. Features include 3 ultra-stable oscillators, dual moog filters, 4-stage analog envelope generators, flexible modulation busses, and much much more...

If you want THE Moog sound, this is it. Period. This has Bob Moog's legendary synthesizer design expertise in its circuits. Say no more. It sounds amazing, looks amazing, and feels amazing. There is no substitute.

The Voyager has been awarded a "Key Buy" award from Keyboard magazine, a "Platinum Award" from Future Music magazine, an "Excellence Award" from Music Tech magazine, a TEC award from Mix magazine, and the "2003 Editor's Choice award" from Electronic musician magazine.

Wait...

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Studio Electronics SE-1 Analog Synthesizer SN 1078

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Chimera BC8

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via this auction

"This machine is amazing, it has three modes.
1) single shot, press the black button and it makes the sound once.
2) repeating oscillations.
3) programmable mode.

It only has eight knobs, but even for that you can make very unique sounds. It contains an array of oscillators, effects and other weirdness. What's more it runs off three AAA's and fits happily into your pocket, all the better for scaring people whilst your on public transport."

pulsing the 100

Published on Feb 23, 2013 Todd Barton·85 videos

"just using the Buchla 140 to drive a few other 100 modules"

chaos 100 raw

Published on Feb 23, 2013

"another brief exploration of a few Buchla 100 modules -- pushing the limits of ramdomness.
for better audio go to: https://soundcloud.com/user7621213/chaos-100-raw"

Devilfish and ARP2600 Ring Mod

Published on Feb 23, 2013 vcf4012·18 videos

Modular Synth Patch 10 : Cool and Calculated by XidZeta

Published on Feb 23, 2013 broembach·25 videos

Drums at at 1:28

"improv modular synth patch. Downtempo/ IDM/ www.xidzeta.com for free music"

ANYSYNTH DISTANT MONOSYNTH

3 Korg monotrons + mods & sequencer in one shell.

This is currently a one-off custom analog desktop module by Distant Visions/ Dmitry Distant aka ANYSYNTH.

Meng Qi DDDM2 + Grassi

flickr By Meng Qi

"2 CL instruments in one case, with touchable banana jacks for easy patching / touching fun, also you can connect it with other CL gears!

mengqimusic.com
ciat-lonbarde.net"

FiveG Tokyo Japan

Some FiveG synth pics in via Asia Synth Station.  Click through for more.

Manda Synth Cat and the World's Smallest Synthesizer

These in via Marie Haddad

"Manda the kitty decided to help me write a song today. Somebody needs to get this cat a mic!"

Anyone ID the tiny synth?

Akai Remix-16 Sampler 18 MB RAM, SCSI & Iomega 250 Zip Drive

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via this auction

via the seller / listing:

"This is not our run of the mill Remix 16 ------

-Original owner-
Fully loaded with everything you see in the photos.
Iomega zip250 drive, power supply ,SCSI cable and 100 MB Blank zip disk.

The condition is used but very good... It has seen better days but it is built like a tank and like a tank shows its battle scars and can withstand the rigors of punishment. It has been tested and operates as it should. All controls ,knobs, sliders,input /output , MIDI and SCSI connectors are operable. I am sorry there are no factory disks included... However, There are only 4 factory disks and they are not needed to use the Remix 16..


Sample Compatibility: Can load samples from Akai S900, S1000, S1100, S2800, S3000, S3200, S2000, S01 samplers... This machine can be used by all genres of artists not just DJs. Its a Sampler. I used it in experimental electronic music with effects as a MIDI sequencer, looper and resampler and it served me very well. This thing is the Bomb and its built like one 2."

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Confetti Bomber - New Waldorf Rocket Demo

Published on Feb 23, 2013 Richard Schmitt·10 videos

"A short demotrack produced with a prototype of the Waldorf Rocket
synthesizer.
Multitracked and mixed in Cubase 5, some delay added on a few tracks."

Follow-up to this post.

SMS A4: Sunday Morning Snow with the Analog Four "Snowflakes"

Published on Jan 20, 2013 freelanderride·12 videos

"SMS A4: Sunday Morning Snow with the Analog Four: "Snowflakes"

Very cold outside, storm, freezing and snow... so I make a short song with the same rhythm off the falling snowflakes...

You only hear the great A4 with a little piece off the Tempest. (DSI)

Enjoy !"

Elektron on eBay


Elektron Analog Four goes ANALOG FUNKY
Published on Feb 11, 2013

"Only two voices from the A4 with a little Tempest plays a funky song (with some arp)
At 2.05 you hear the second voice. (careful with your ears (and speakers) the A4 is producing a extremely sound)"

More: https://www.youtube.com/user/freelanderride/videos

KORG MS2000 Custom Sounds Video

Published on Feb 22, 2013 JackOasys·40 videos

"23 febbraio 2013 - Suoni programmati sul Korg MS2000 per il prossimo album della band

Custom sounds programmed on MS2000 for the next CD of my prog-rock band

Le cose che più apprezzo e sfrutto in questo sintetizzatore:
1) controlli in tempo reale delle principali fonti di modulazione del suono
2) il controllo in tempo reale del delay (purtroppo solo quello)
3) il controllo delle modulazioni attraverso tre parametri programmabili sul sequencer
4) l'estrema facilità di apprendimento e uso dello strumento
5) la configurazione dei program, fino a 16 per banco, immediatamente disponibili in live"

Update:

KORG MS2000 custom sounds (part 2)

Published on Feb 24, 2013

"25 febbraio 2013 - Suoni programmati su KORG MS2000 (Parte 2)"

CRITTER AND GUITARI VIDEO SCOPE SYNTHESIZER OSCILLOSCOPE NIB

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via this auction

"The new and improved video synthesizer produces colorful oscilloscope style patterns on a television or projector. It reacts to audio input and works particularly well with simple bassy tones.The Video Scope has two knobs. One knob controls the input gain, and the other knob selects the display mode. There are now 4 modes: line, color shifter, trapezoid, and randomizer. The randomizer function randomly selects one of the other 3 modes at an adjustable rate. This is useful for hands free operation, and keeps the display always changing. Since it responds to an audio signal -- the sky is the limit with the different kinds of patterns you can get.
Features:

Sturdy aluminum enclosure (3.2" x 2.2" x 1.1")
1/4" audio input jack
RCA composite video output jack (NTSC only)
9 VDC wall-wart power adapter included"

CRITTER AND GUITARI KALEIDOLOOP SOUND RECORDER / SAMPLER

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via this auction

"The Critter & Guitari KALEIDOLOOP is a social, portable sound collector. It’s designed to be taken anywhere and everywhere to gather and manipulate all kinds of sounds. Record sounds from your kitchen, the recording studio, and campfire jam.

Use several KALEIDOLOOPS to build up layers of sound, pass a sound from one to another and play with resonance, invent new musical games, practice speaking in reverse, alter playback speed and explore new harmonies, carry sounds around the room... the list is endless. Best of all the KALEIDOLOOP stores everything it records, so you have a rec rd of your sound journey.

The KALEIDOLOOP features simple controls for recording, navigating sounds, and altering playback speed and direction. The included microphone and built-in speaker make the perfect pair, with enough clarity and volume to recreate sounds with alarming realism. You can also remove the microphone and use the 1/4" input and output jacks instead.

Features

High quality sound recording: 16 bit / 22050 Hz
Record thousands of tracks
Record times: 1.6 hrs on 256 MB card, over 5 hrs on 1 GB card
Removable SD card for sound download (256 MB card included)
LOUD 3W speaker
1/4” input and output jacks
Included electret microphone
Sturdy aluminum and wood construction
Powered by 4 AA batteries or 9VDC Power Supply
Instructions PDF"

Quasimidi Sirius Synthesizer Workstation

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via this auction

"Polyphony: 28 voices
Oscillators: 2 osc per voice : 128 synth waves, 365 drum and percussion samples
Filters: 24dB and 12dB slopes, Hi and Low pass filters with resonance and overdrive
Effects: FX1: reverbs, stereo delays. FX2: chorus, flanger, delays
Vocoder: 16 vocoder presets, 11 band programmable settings. ** mic not included **
Arp/Sequencer: 16 pattern arpeggiator / 7 track sequencer with tap tempo
Keyboard: 49 velocity sensitive keys
Memory: 384 patches (288 presets on banks A, B & C and 96 user on bank "U"), 16 vocoder patches, 20 percussion kits
Control: MIDI has 7 parts; 3 synth and 4 drums - each with separate midi channels. - This means it's like having THREE! THAT'S RIGHT 3! It's like having 3 synthesizers AND a drum machine all in one unit!"

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Mutable Instruments Anushri Synthesizer

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via this auction

"Anushri is a monophonic synthesizer with an all-analog signal path, paired with a lo-fi digital drum synthesizer. These two sections are controlled by an on-board sequencer/arpeggiator, featuring generative drum pattern sequencing. Anushri is open to the modular world thanks to its analog patching area."

Korg Delta DL-50 Vintage Analog String Synth SN 285888

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via this auction

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Yamaha CS 10 SN 4704

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via this auction
abertronix (RSS)

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ROLAND SH-09 with Original Roland Stand

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via this auction

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CRUMAR STRATUS with Patch Sheet Overlays

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via this auction

E-mu SP-1200

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via this auction
Perfect Circuit Audio (RSS)

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Akai Roger Linn MPC 3000 SN 79525-00586

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via this auction
Perfect Circuit Audio (RSS)

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Forat F16 Vintage Sampler w/ Remote

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
via this auction
Perfect Circuit Audio (RSS)

"JUST COMPLETELY SERVICED BY BRUCE FORAT HIMSELF. BACKLIGHT IS BRIGHT ON THE REMOTE.

COMES WITH SIGNATURE SOUND DISK AND MANUAL"

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Yamaha CS-10 "Solar Machine Rhythm" (1979)

"My first recording steps with the Yamaha CS-10 monophonic analog synthesizer, and with only two cassette decks (ping pong recording). 100% original from tape, no EQ or noisereduction."

Facilitate demo of circuit bent gear

Published on Feb 19, 2013 andrew hlynsky·23 videos

MacBeth In Development!

via Ken MacBeth on Facebook where you'll find some discussion and additional details.

"The plan is for interchangable keyboards- touch v real!

This is still very experimental- I've just made the circuitboards over the last week! I want the user to be able to interchange as they like the standard keyboard assembly with the touch one. They may even be sold as one outfit. The filter is an interchangable block too...OTA Dual SV v Dual Transistor Ladder Low Pass.....there are a ton of other tricks mapped out for this one! The APEM joystick controller is well useful and cute- it will go well with the modwheels!"

Buchla gglplxx

Published on Feb 23, 2013 cray56·150 videos

"Throw a violin ,some glass and stones into a bucket. Throw it over your roof while its raining. Mic up the roof with PCM's and you get the same result."

[track] Birdie

Published on Feb 23, 2013 Trooper Starship·14 videos

"used gear:
DomX, Leipzig-S, Mox6, Xoxbox, Octapad, GrooveAgent, Cubase Artist 7
Vocals: Cobalt"

PlanBx2

Published on Feb 23, 2013 kuxaan sum·126 videos

Roland Integra 7 Demo

Published on Feb 23, 2013 esersound1·16 videos

"Had this box for 3 days, so tried to make something showing what this module is capable of. This thing is Giant!

Enjoy!
Hunart©"

The Moog Sub Phatty Part 2- The Filter

Published on Feb 23, 2013 AutomaticGainsay·141 videos

"Here is a demonstration of the sound and functionality of the Moog Sub Phatty's filter section.

Previous to the shooting of these demo videos, I set all of the "under the hood" functionality to settings that would cause the synthesizer to act most like a vintage synthesizer. In the process of shooting, the synthesizer was turned on and off a number of times. A couple of times, I found that certain obvious settings had been reset (like the LFO pitch tracking feature, which kept coming on). When it didn't affect the subject I was shooting, I didn't reset them to my tastes. It appears that I should have, because it now seems likely that this video was shot with the filter in 18 dB or12dB per octave mode, despite the fact that I had set it to 24dB per octave before starting the series of shoots. Keep that in mind! (sadly, I no longer possess the unit, so I can't reshoot!)"

Added to Part 1 here.

minibrute+monotribeOSVer 2 1

Published on Feb 23, 2013 ryouichi harada·40 videos

"いろんな裏技が必要なので、リスクが高いのでライブとか向きではない構成です＾＾；。"

Minibrutes on eBay
monotribes on eBay

Devilfish and ARP2600 - polyphony

Published on Feb 23, 2013 vcf4012·17 videos

Devilfish and ARP2600 some polyphony
vcf4012·17 videos

Furthrrrr generator and serge

Published on Feb 23, 2013 DrOctave1·236 videos

"Endorphines furthrrrr generator and tkb and wad screaming"

Late night sequence (Doepfer analog modular system)

Published on Feb 23, 2013 GruithuisenCityMan·419 videos

"Hello ! My name is Frederic Gerchambeau. I have made this movie and this music. The music has been made using a Doepfer analog modular system. Enjoy !"

ARP Odyssey + Oberheim OB-X "70s Disco"

Published on Feb 22, 2013 retrosound72·220 videos

"(c) 2012 vintage synthesizer demo track by RetroSound
"70s Disco"

bass and sequencer sounds: ARP Odyssey Mk III Analog Synthesizer from the year 1980
all other sounds: Oberheim OB-X Analog Synthesizer from the year 1979
recording: multi-track without midi
fx: a little bit delay and reverb"

Cello random notes (Sep 2012)

Published on Feb 22, 2013 palaires·17 videos

"keyboard pico 1 pressure output to cello rig 1 bow velocity (create a new output in the gateway) filter 18 (so key 18 is the "trigger base note")
adding [[1.9],[1.9]] and [[2.9],[2.9]] to the main keygroup
- cello rig 1 scaler 1 - curve to 3
- cello rig 1 scaler 1- key bend range at least 0.1 or higher

Play changing tonics and scales - gives a 10 note cycle... and hypnotic ramdomness"

Eigenharp on eBay