Happy New Year From MATRIXSYNTH! - A Look Back at 2014

Happy New Year everyone!

I want to start by thanking everyone that comes to MATRIXSYNTH and helps make it what it is - the readers, the supporters, and of course all the sponsors on the right.

THANK YOU and have a GREAT 2015!!!

This site is a labor of love and a ton of work. This site is ultimately meant to be an testament to everything synth in the making. We have over nine years of daily synth history captured here, 119,983 published posts. I can't wait to see what the future brings us in 2015!

That said, here are a few interesting bits from 2014 in the longest post of the year. ;)



BTW, if you are on Safari or a browser that supports a reader view you can switch over to it for this post if you prefer black on white.

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First, The Major New Hardware Synths of 2014!

I did my best going through old posts.  If I missed anything leave a comment and of course let us know what particularly stood out for you this year. What did you wish to see that wasn't released?  What would you have liked to have seen in general?

This year and likely moving forward I'm going to keep this section relatively short as by this time of the year we are all pretty well aware of what has been released and what each piece of new kit can do. The following is a quick list to refresh the noggin. Let us know what stood out for you this year in the comments section below.  We had the Sub 37, Theremini, Update1: and the Emerson Moog Modular revamp from Moog; the Pro 2, Prophet-12 desktop module and DSM01 eurorack filter module from Dave Smith Instruments; the Analog Rytm from Elektron; Clavia/Nord Keyboard's released the A1 & A1 Rack; Roland released the Aira line and the FA-08 & FA-06 workstations; Buchla introduced the iProgram iPad integration for the Buchla Music Easel, and the Buchla Bento; KORG released the MS20 Kit, TRITON Taktile line, Volca Sample, RK-100S keytar and Gadget, and they surprised everyone by announcing they were making a new ARP Odyssey with ARP founder David Friend;  Behringer is considering a new synth and hinted at an ARP Odyssey as well;  Alesis introduced the Vortex keytar; Waldorf released the Rocket, 2-Pole filter and Streichfett string synthesizer; Dreadbox (Murmox) released a whole slew of synths and pedals; Studio Electronics released a number of new Boomstar desktop synths and a line of eurorack modules with Pittsburgh Audio; Future Retro released the Zillion, Swinx and Mondovox; Arturia brought us the Beatstep, iProphet, and V-Collection 4 with Matrix 12, Solina, Spark 2 and Vox Continental V emulations; Yamaha brought us the Tyros5 Mega Arranger and MOFX synth workstation; Haken released the Continuum Expander; Miselu released the C.24 iPad keyboard; Quicco Sound released their wireless MIDI adapters and announced a very cool looking Bluetooth wireless MIDI controller (which hasn't been released according to their website); MFB released the new Dominion 1; and finally Bastl Instruments released a number of cool little hand held instruments.  Update3: modulus introduced a brand new hardware synthesizer from the creator of the Monowave, Paul Maddox, and MacBeth introduced the Elements touch keyboard synthesizer as a follow-up to the Elements eurorack module.    the prototype was actually introduced in December of 2013.

As for the complete modular and boutique world, iOS, and software, there was just too much to attempt to recap. It's been an insanely busy year. Just take a look at the 131 New Makers section further below and realize each one of them also had something new to add.

That said, I'd like to share what the sponsors of MATRIXSYNTH released this year, followed by a quick recap of NAMM and Musikmesse and a few of the releases that came later in the year. I will miss items, so be sure to share your picks in the comments. The MATRIXSYNTH links that follow will take you to posts featuring demos and pics for each. This should give you an idea of just how much was released this year.

Roman Filipov known for his DIY Buchla & Sputnik eurorack modules released a number of DIY designs at his new ELECTRIC MUSIC STORE as well as introducing a new line of Sputnik modules.

Befaco (MATRIXSYNTH) brought us a number of eurorack modules and DIY workshops throughout the year.

synthesizers.com (MATRIXSYNTH) released new Modular Controllers (announced in 2013) and new cable holders. They also released a cool new 2015 calendar and a brand new website after 15 years!

Innerclock Systems (MATRIXSYNTH) released Grid-Lock (MATRIXSYNTH) for Sync-Gen II.

Bleep Labs (MATRIXSYNTH) released the Thingamagoop2x (MATRIXSYNTH), the Bleep Drum littleBits module (MATRIXSYNTH), 3trisRBG+1c analog video synthesizer and effect, and the Rad-Fi Arduino based delay instrument (MATRIXSYNTH).

Division 6 (MATRIXSYNTH) released the Morpheum VCA / Morphing Ring Modulator (MATRIXSYNTH).

EMW (MATRIXSYNTH) launched over 20 eurorack modules!

Tiptop Audio (MATRIXSYNTH) introduced the Circadian Rhythm (MATRIXSYNTH), and released the Halls of Valhalla for Z-DSP, MA808 (MATRIXSYNTH), and RS808 (MATRIXSYNTH).

Mattson Mini Modular (MATRIXSYNTH) introduced their first eurorack module this year, the Eurorack Express.

Thonk (MATRIXSYNTH) who sits somewhere between a maker and a dealer added the following to their list of offerings: the Music Thing Modular 'Mikrophonie' (MATRIXSYNTH), Bugbrand 'WorkshopCrusher' (MATRIXSYNTH), Fonitronik 'Cascade' (MATRIXSYNTH), ALM 'SID GUTS DIY' (MATRIXSYNTH) and TouellSkouarn 'Strakal Brulu' (MATRIXSYNTH).

Audulus (MATRIXSYNTH) received a number of updates including the release of a Windows native version.

Synthrotek (MATRIXSYNTH) released the DS-M Drum Module (MATRIXSYNTH), 308 Distortion Module (MATRIXSYNTH), Vac Pak, Cosmic ECHO Pedal (MATRIXSYNTH), Dual Triple VCA (MATRIXSYNTH), DIRT Filter (MATRIXSYNTH), Voice of Saturn Sequencer 5U Version (MATRIXSYNTH), Either-OR Module (MATRIXSYNTH), Combine-OR Module (MATRIXSYNTH), Sequence-8 (MATRIXSYNTH), and the 1U Momentary/Latching Pass-through Switch Kit.

WMD (MATRIXSYNTH) released the Sequential Switch Matrix (MATRIXSYNTH).

Malekko (MATRIXSYNTH) released the 3hp Mix 4, 2hp Unity Mixer and 2hp Performance Buffered Mult (MATRIXSYNTH), and a number of stomp boxes.

Laurentide Synthwerks (MATRIXSYNTH) created a number of mods for Moog's Werkstatt, the Roland MC-202, and builds of the TTSH.

Evaton Technologies (MATRIXSYNTH) released the RF Nomad (MATRIXSYNTH) & MKAdapter (MATRIXSYNTH).

Animodule (MATRIXSYNTH) released the SOB : Filter / WaveFolder (MATRIXSYNTH), XXX_OR : Triple Analog XOR (MATRIXSYNTH), V9a : VC Sequencer (MATRIXSYNTH), TikTok : Clock Multiplier / Divider (MATRIXSYNTH), Gate_Mod : Dual VC Gate Modifier / Trigger Delay (MATRIXSYNTH).

nw2s (MATRIXSYNTH) released the NW2S::IO (MATRIXSYNTH), and the nw2s::b (MATRIXSYNTH).

synthCube (MATRIXSYNTH) introduced a number of 5U modules from Caleb Condit.

Update2: Ninstrument (MATRIXSYNTH) announced the MKP2 (MATRIXSYNTH), Speak & Read Eurorack Module (MATRIXSYNTH), and Moog WST-E1 Eurorack Module (MATRIXSYNTH).

Be sure to see all the sponsors on the right! Many of the dealers held events this year including the TRASH_AUDIO Muff Wiggler Grand Opening Event, Control in New York, Control Voltage in Portland, Modular Square in France and per above Befaco had a number of workshop events.

A great way to recap everything that was announced in early 2014 is to check out the NAMM2014 channel and the Musikmesse2014 channel.  The following are a handful of eurorack posts that started the year off at NAMM: Tiptop Audio, WMD, Steady State Fate, Harvestman, Make Noise, Noise Engineering, Verbos Electronics, Snazzy FX, Pittsburgh Modular, 4ms, Delptronics.  Outside of the NAMM cycle, Mutable Instruments released Clouds, Elements, Streams and Shelves, and announced they would be ramping down their DIY line; Monome went eurorack; Audio Damage released the Sequencer 1, and Intellijel released Atlantis (announced in 2013). What stood out for you?

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Second, The New Makers (and some vintage) of 2014!

Last year I started a new tradition on the site - keeping track of the new synth manufacturers and makers featured on the site.  Throughout the year we get bombarded (a good thing BTW) with new gear demos from the major synth manufacturers.  By the end of the year that new gear has been fully ingrained into our mindset.  What we sometimes lose track of are all the new boutique manufacturers and one off makers just starting out. Some are hobbyists, some have professional goals in mind. In regards to all of them, you never know where their designs and influence might lead them and others in time.  I'll give you my own personal example of someone I once frequently missed which I'm sure many of you will find hard to believe.  Way back when eurorack was just starting to take off, I used to add labels for every single manufacturer featured in a mixed modular system post.  It was challenging because sometimes it can be difficult to identify every single module depending on the quality, angles and lighting in videos and pics. For some posts I ran out of the maximum label space in Blogger!  Because of this I finally resorted to the blanket eurorack label for these posts, only adding individual labels for cases where specific modules are demoed.  Before I started doing this I used to frequently miss adding a label for one particular maker just starting up, and whenever I did I would get a polite email reminding me to add it. Who might that have been you ask?  Tony Rolando of Make Noise.  This was back when he was just starting up.   In time the labels stuck, and in time, of course, Make Noise turned into one of the largest and most respected eurorack manufactures out there. Every brand name you are familiar with now once started out with a new unknown maker. Who from 2014 will be next?

Take a look at some of the names below and see which stand out for you.  Some you might recognize from before 2014, but note this was the year they broke out and formalized a new brand and direction. Verbos Electronics and Ramcur's Pin Electronics are two examples. Roman Filippov & Sputnik was a good example from 2013.

That said, below is the list of new makers in 2014 broken out by month. We had a total of 132 new makers this year! 129 started this year, 3 were featured prior to this year but received their own channel labels in 2014, and 26 were vintage manufacturers previously unknown on the site.

Think about that for a bit. 158 makers were added to the site channels this year alone, and 132 of the 157 are new makers! For comparison, last year we had 113.  26 of the 157 were vintage synth/gear manufacturers previously unknown to us; with the exception of June and December, a vintage synth manufacturer was introduced to us every single month of the year.

The New Makers Added This Year:

January (23 new makers)
nw2s, Amalgamod, Bornhelmser Synth-Assembly, brownshoesonly, Diagram A, MONOpulator, Olo, PJ-X3, LoFi Future, basami sentaku, Twisted Electrons, EPO3, Chez Doc, Baud Rate, Verbos Electronics, Freaqbox, Reloop, Quicco Sound, Pirx Modular, Vintage Vibe, McCray, Eastwick, Akihiko Matsumoto

February (9 new makers)
Ilya Pikin, NONLINEAR LABS, Teia Synthesizers, KissBox, Tatsuya Shinyagaito, pangrus, McBennett, Section Fourteen, ka010

March (13 new makers)
Physis, KlangbauKöln, Modulus, AG-KW, DEADSound.Com, Evaton Technologies, NerdSynth, True Color of Venus, Ephysmus, Ramcur, Pin Electronics, bitluni, Alka

April (16 new makers)
Musikgear, Sismo, Steffensen, Error Instruments, Vedic Scapes, L.C.F Industries, RYO, Quincas Moreira, ATHEUS, audiowerkstatte, Statikstramentz, New Voodoo Design, Audiothingies, Black Market Modular, Retroskoi, Caleb Condit

May: (10 new makers)
G-STORM ELECTRO, Thomas Strauß, ScrewedCircuitz, Le Bart, Analog Ordnance, Brian Peters, Minigorille, Olascary, SSSR Labs, TimeActor

June: (9 new makers)
Buranelectrix, Pieter van der Meer, MrAlgorytmid, Oval Sound, Seeduino, DSP-G1, Liivatera, Entrospec, Mike Peake

July (13 new makers)
Spin Semi, TjimmyChonga, Knoba, Mountainking, Sound Brick, dan a, Tuna Knobs, Sylwester Retrospektive, noizevil, Special Stage Systems, Yocto, Jeff Farr, Scentury Cedar

August (7 new makers)
NESizer, Transistor Sounds Labs, Hikari Instruments, mechanical.animals, LunaKraft, Microlith, Noyzelab

September (5 new makers)
Darkplace Manufacturing, ubld.it, Midibot, Zetangas, ZAQ Audio

October (7 new makers)
Arc Instruments, Psychiceyeclix, AJH, NoisyLittleBugger, Shakmat, TR8060, E-RM

November (8 new makers)
Piti, Yuri Suzuki, Kit Pup, Slow Nova, Random Source, TheWarpSynth, SAKURA, Catherine North Electronics

December (9 new makers)
Lufeiz, In Orbit Laboratories, Palm Sounds, CFM, Gibber, ndlr.synths, Sigma, Seth Kranzler, Update4: chippie461

And 3 new channel labels added in 2014 for makers featured prior to 2014: Synthcube (started 2013), Clarke Robinson (started 2013), David Ingebretsen (started 2010 with the new Steiner Synthasystem - note there were too many synthasystem posts to add David's label to, so that second link will bring up a search for synthasystem which received the Steiner Parker label).

The Previously Unknown Vintage Synth/Gear Makers Added This Year (26 Total):

January (3)
sisme, Hybrid Arts, Videonics

February (2)
BEIGEL SOUND LAB, Rotberg

March (1)
Klangwerk

April (4)
Rotel, Joyo, Maas-Rowe, THB

May (2)
TRAK, Tombo

July (2)
Tünker, Elex

August (5)
Minami, Číslizvuk, Robert Schroeder, Anvil Synthesizers, Microskill

September (4)
J Company, Digital Music Systems, Digelius, Systech

October (2)
SKYSLIP, Greengate

November (1)
Chase


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Third, The Top 10 Posts of 2014 By Traffic!

It's worth noting these are posts viewed directly vs. viewed in the main-page post-stream.  These are likely posts people came directly to via RSS, Twitter and Facebook, and those that clicked through off the main page for longer posts.  Regardless these are the individual posts that received the most hits.

What's even more interesting is that the overall top ten in traffic for 2014 included posts from previous years, two from 2010!  I ended up making two top 10 lists. The first is for posts published in 2014.  The second is for the top 10 in 2014 regardless of publish date.  It's fascinating how some of the most seemingly obscure posts from the archives ended up being the most viewed in 2014. Likely a sign of the influence of social networks. Only five from 2014 made the overall list.  The oddest post to make the list, imo?  TB-303 Shoes from 2010 came in number 3 in 2014!

The top 10 by traffic published in 2014:

1. AIRA -- The evolution of the Roland TR-808 Rhythm Machine

2. New MOOG SUB 37 Paraphonic Polyphonic Synth Coming to NAMM?

3. The Synths of Jodorowsky's Dune (2014)

4. Pittsburgh Modular Unleashes a Fire Breathing Dragon & More

5. Buchla Music Easel Clone by Roman Filippov

6. AIRA -- The evolution of the Roland TR-808 Rhythm Machine

7. Roland's AIRA Officially Unveiled - Massive Pic Gallery, Details, Videos

8. OTO Machines Announces 3 New FX Boxes

9. New Studio Electronics Boomstar Eurorack Modules - 3003, 4075 & 5089 Filters & AMP / VCA Overdrive

10. Teenage Engineering Unveils New PO-12 $50 Drum Machine

And the top 10 by traffic in 2014 regardless of publish date:

1. AIRA -- The evolution of the Roland TR-808 Rhythm Machine

2. New MOOG SUB 37 Paraphonic Polyphonic Synth Coming to NAMM?

3. TB-303 Computer Controlled Custom Pro Keds Lo Top Shoes - From 2010!

4. New York School of Synthesis - Intro to Synthesis - From 2012

5. 1976 GODWIN GUITORGAN VINTAGE SYNTH GUITAR - From 2010

6. New York School of Synthesis T-Shirts Now Available! From 2013

7. The Synths of Jodorowsky's Dune (2014)

8. Pittsburgh Modular Unleashes a Fire Breathing Dragon & More

9. BOSS KM-60 – 6-channel vintage mixer SN 985423 - From 2011

10. Buchla Music Easel Clone by Roman Filippov

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Fourth, The Exceptional (and Some Bizarre) Posts of 2014!

These are the posts that stood out for me in the sense that they essentially made me completely pause and think, wow that's something you never see. They are not all exactly my favorite posts of the year, but rather those that stood out after putting up post after post, day after day. Some are oddities, some are brilliant, all are exceptional bits of synth history. These go out to my fellow synth diehards out there.  What stood out for you? If you'd rather see these all at once click here and scroll through the 2014 posts. You can continue on to previous years as well if you like.

Siggi's Super Formant Synthesizer - Sound Monster
Vintage PPG Videos by Wolfgang Palm
HYBRID ARTS ADAP SOUNDTRACK SAMPLER ADAP-1 SN 350683
The Akai ADR15 (MPC60) - Synth History with Mike McRoberts
Else Marie Pade - fordømmelse (1962)
Akebono - Koto Synthesizer Demo
JoMox at Modularsquare
soundmachines Bl1 Brain Interface - Control Your Modular with Your Mind
David First - Electronic Works 1976-1977 on Buchla 100
Light Face KORG RCA Victor Tribute M-500 Micro-Preset Vintage Analog Synth
HorriblerAlien2 - Hybrid Music 5000 Software on BBC Model B
Delta Music Research Polyphonic Modular System 1100 SN 003
KORG to Release New ARP Odyssey
Rare BEIGEL SOUND LAB Envelope Controlled Filter Rack Effects Unit
Atari 8-bit music demo - The Rotberg Synthesizer From the Creator of Asteroids
PPG Wave 2.3 PRK FD Waveterm Wavetable Synthesizer SYSTEM
SECRETS OF ANALOG AND DIGITAL SYNTHESIS | Steve DiFuria | VHS instructional course | 1985
December 1978 E-Mu Modular Catalog
Nyle Steiner - Interview 2010 / Bach Toccata
Evergreen Emu Modular for Auction
In The Loop - EMU Systems Episode - The History of EMU with Dave Rossum & Scott Wedge
Simo Lazarov-40 Years Bulgarian Electronic Music-2014
Vintage CON BRIO ADS100 Brochure
1982 Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 Demo Flexi Disc
An Interview with Electronic Music Pioneer Richard Teitelbaum and the First Moog to Arrive in Europe
1984 Klangwerk Audio-Operator Digital Sampling Keyboard German Ad
Kraftwerk Rockpalast 1970
1967 R.A. Moog Modular # 1019 For Sale
The Synths of Jodorowsky's Dune (2014) 
Rotel RZ-8 Drum Machine
Practical Electronics P.E. Sound Synthesiser
Serge Tcherepnin at Robotspeak
Detailed Internal Pictures of Roland MC8 SN 670704
Philips pmc100 Demo Video
Improvisation 1973
1972 Synth Class Sheet at Univ of Md Featuring Arp, Buchla, EML, EMS & Moog
Kraftwerk's Florian Schneider Studio Sale
Eltra Unitra Eltronic 109 Synthesizer Overview
The Beatles - Here Comes The Sun - Strings and Synth
Rare Vintage Moog 959 XY Controller
Vintage One Off THB Synthesizer by Thomas Bredenfeld
Rare Vintage Maas-Rowe Vibrachord Electronic Carillon Keyboard
EMS Synthi 100 Assembly in The 1970s
Octave The Cat SN 1315 with Original Brochures, Warranty Card & Switched On Flex-Disk Guide & More
YAMAHA SY-1 with Original Guide Book
R.A.Moog 901 oscillator tuning demo
Moog Apollo Solo - Erik Norlander
Synthesizer System "Le Bart" - Patrick Mimran
ST-S01 Sequencer app plays PPG 1002 and PPG Wave Generator
Mick Jagger on a Moog Modular in 1970s Film Performance
Synthpro's Polymoog Prototype 203a
TRAK TD-1 ELECTRONIC DRUM PAD SYNTH with 2 ROMs '80s Japan RARE
The “Abominatron,” Bob Moog's First Prototype Modular
EEH BANANA ANALOG SYNTHESIZER "SOUNDTRACK" FROM "BRAINAURA-MUSIC"
Akai VX600 SN #1
Tom Erbe Entered Into The Grove Dictionary of American Music
Tangerine Dream's Edgar Froese RA Moog Modular Sequencer 960 for Sale
Sonic TALK 361 - Axel Hartmann Synthesizer Designer - Interview
Como funcionan los sintetizadores - Documentary w/ KORG 3200, 3 Racked 800DVs & DIY Drum Synth
Vintage Maas-Rowe G-123 Grand Symphonic Carillon Electronic Keyboard
Stephen Howell and the Subharchord
Dave Smith Talk on the History of Synths Tomorrow at Stanford University's CCRMA Open to the Public
Bob Moog Foundation Archives - The Moog Apollo Synthesizer Videos
Rare Prototype Roland PG-200 with Misprints
cellF 23july2014
Moog Musonics Vol 1 (1967-1969) | SCV Podcasts Vol 193 - The First Commercial Moog Recordings
Rare Italian ELEX Vintage Analog Synthesizer SN 173 62
ARP RHODES CHROMA - MEXICO CHA CHA MAMBO - VON BRAINAURA MUSICC
Anne Graham at Serge L.A. in the Early Days
1970s Yamaha EM-130 Mixer w/ Beatbox Demo
1970s Hinton Instruments Music Lab Pin Matrix
Vintage Moog Schematics Hand Drawn by Bob Moog Himself
Vintage CON BRIO Vintage digital synthesizer brochure
Vintage STRIDER Vintage digital synthesizer brochure
Czechoslovakia's 1977 Modular Synth, the Číslizvuk
More Pics of Noyzelab's Hinton Instruments Music Lab Modular
Robert Schroeder's Vintage DIY Synth Designs
Anvil Synthesizers "The Anvil" Digital Percussion Synthesizer Circa 1985
The Microskill AS32 Synthesizer - Britain's Answer to the PPG Circa 1985
noyzelab's afx dsp box commission for Richard James of Aphex Twin
Rare Vintage Prototype Moog Minitmoog Number 001
Vintage Korean "Moog 75" Vinyl LP
Bootsy Collins, Bernie Worrell Rare Chrome KORG MINI-KORG 700s
EML Electronic Music Lab Synthesizer Modules SUPER RARE
Baldwin Fun Machine Polyphonic Synthesizer Demo Overview Video
The HELMHOLTZ SOUND SYNTHESIZER. HELMHOLTZ, HERMANN VON. 1821-1894.
1982's Digital Music Systems DMX-1010 Computer Sound Processor with $35,300.00 Price Tag
The Digelius DIMI Music Instrument, Computer, Synthesizer, Studio, Rabbit
Sequential Circuits' First Product, The Model 600 Sequencer and Complex Wave Generator
Rare Vintage Synth Scans via Brian Kehew
Video Demo of the Rare Peavey Paradox Analog Synthesizer
The Weather Warlock - Weather Controlled Analog Synthesizer
GODWIN SISME P 32 RHYTHMAKER
Bob Moog at AES 1964
"Setting Up You Moog Synthesizer" Operations Guide for Synthesizers I, II, & III
1985 Greengate DS:3 German Ad
ELI CR-7030 Preset Drum Machine - 1st Compurhythm Beat Box
"Sequence" for Moog Synthesizer (1970) - Don Muro & Music Concrete Study Excerpt (1969)
Super Rare Clear Gleeman Pentaphonic Synthesizer
PPG Waveterm A - waves and wavetables
1974 Vintage 1974 RMI KC-1 Keyboard Computer SN 509 with Punch-Out Card Reader
New Synclavier³ In the Works
Vintage Synthesizer 3-83 UNISONO from Czechoslovakia
The Crumar Compac Synth
The First YAMAHA CS15 Monophonic Synthesizer - SN 1001 For Sale?
Chase Bit 99
TSI / Waldorf: Schloss Ahrenthal 2002 [Waldorf in 2002]
Buchla Christmas by Warner Jepson
Roland CR-78 CompuRhythm with Rare Future Retro Sync Box (One of Two Made)
First Look: GForce Software Oddity2 Synthesizer [The Elusive ARP Centaur & ARP Poly Guitar Synth]
Pics of The ARP Centaur VI Polyphonic Guitar Synthesizer System


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Fifth, Those We Unfortunately Lost This Year:

Inventor and Berkeley's Director of CNMAT, David Wessel, Has Passed Away
RIP Mark Bell of LFO
RIP Stephen Howell of Hollow Sun
RIP Nash the Slash
Something's Comin - RIP Mickey Rooney
RIP Frankie Knuckles - The Godfather of House Music
RIP Thomas Kurzhals 

All greatly missed.  Big thanks to Alzabo for getting Mickey Rooney on the list.

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And Finally, Some Changes for MATRIXSYNTH in 2014

2014 was a year of consolidation and getting back to basics on MATRIXSYNTH.  I decided to put MATRISYNTH-B and MATRIXSYNTH-C on hiatus and focus solely on the main site.  With that, we saw the launch of MATRIXSYNTH CLASSIFIEDS.  We saw the end of the Featured label, as the bar for what gets posted went up and the label no longer made sense.  Finally, I also started a new Patreon support page for those who value the site and want to help contribute to it.

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In Conclusion

Simply put, 2014 was a massive year in the world of synthesizers. We saw some great product releases from the majors and the boutique synth world is booming. 157 channel labels were added to the site in 2014. It's easy to gloss over and miss the shear magnitude of what transpired over the year when viewing posts daily, but when you pause and look back, you begin to realize just how massive it was. And this post only focused on the new items for 2014. Think of all the user contributed videos and demos posted throughout the year. We had a whopping total of 16,048 posts on the site last year. That's an average of over 43 (43.967 to be exact) posts a day.

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below. What were the stand out items and disappointments for 2014 for you?

Happy New Year and thank you again everyone!

On to 2015!