A few new images of the one and only Performance Music Systems S.W.A.N., aka Syntar Without A Neck! If you are not familiar with this synth, see here. You can find additional posts on Performance Music Systems here, including an interview with the creator of the S.W.A.N, George Mattson. Mattson of course, is the man behind Mattson Mini Modular and the M in Synthrotek's MST line of eurorack modules. The S.W.A.N was his second synth, after the Syntar, the world's first stand-alone synthesizer keytar.
Note this is the one and only S.W.A.N. in existence.
The bottom image further below was taken in celebration of the Syntar's 38th birthday on October 4th of last year!
"To celebrate the new connectivity of music production software, Soundbrenner announces a hidden feature to sync up with the awesome E-RM multiclock at the NAMM Show 2017!
Finally, you can use the power of a professional multi-format synchronisation hub to sync all your analogue gear to music production software and the Soundbrenner Pulse smart vibrating metronome via The Metronome by Soundbrenner iOS app.
Watch Rhythm Man try out this new feature!"
"To celebrate the new connectivity of music production software, Soundbrenner announces a hidden feature to sync up with the awesome E-RM multiclock at the NAMM Show 2017!
Finally, you can use the power of a professional multi-format synchronisation hub to sync all your analogue gear to music production software and the Soundbrenner Pulse smart vibrating metronome via The Metronome by Soundbrenner iOS app.
The multiclock is used in the studio and on stage to seamlessly provide different clock signals for electronic instruments like drum machines, analogue synthesizers or effects via MIDI, Din Sync, LFO or Analogue Clock.
Connect the multiclock via the headphone jack of the phone and enable the multiclock sync signal with a hidden touch interaction. By long-pressing the “Sounds” menu item in the App Settings of The Metronome by Soundbrenner for 4 seconds, the menu changes and displays “Multiclock”.
With the ability to connect the E-RM multiclock to The Metronome by Soundbrenner, we created a reliable bridge for electronic music gear lovers and musicians playing classical instruments to perform on the same track. When connecting a Soundbrenner Pulse smart vibrating metronome to the app, it is easy for analogue musicians stay in perfect sync with the digital world.
As The Metronome by Soundbrenner is compatible with Ableton Link, you can now synchronise the multiclock wirelessly with a plethora of music production apps on iPhone, iPad, Mac OS or Windows. Just enable Ableton Link inside the metronome app when on the same WiFi network with other Ableton Link enabled apps."
Published on Feb 2, 2017 Endangered Audio Research Video
"This is an overview of the custom-made clockable LFO that's making its way into the new Endangered Audio Research Spectravibe analog multi-effects pedal. More sound samples coming soon!
Pre-order yours now at Century Sound Labs with an AD4096 mk2 analog delay and save $50.
"The Endangered Audio Research Spectravibe is an all-analog multi-effect pedal that is about to become your pedalboard's new secret weapon. Based off the retired Gristleizer stompbox, the Spectravibe is a new evolution in modulation and distortion that is destined to become the pulsating heart of your rig."
"'Floating Clouds(浮雲)' performed by Sanpin(サンピン)
written by Yuichi Onoue
Yuichi Onoue(尾上祐一) - Handmade Ribbon Controller
Yuzo Hisada(久田祐三) - Handmade Riq Percussion
Sanpin - Electric&Acoustic self made instruments duo - plays their original song "Floating Clouds". This song has somewhat Japanese style melody, but it is also used all 12 notes and microtones with somewhat psychedelic spacey mood.
Live at Asagaya Ten(阿佐ヶ谷 天), Tokyo on Sep 27th 2015."
"Circuit sequencing Sunrizer and Poison 202 Synths with Modstep firing off the Vocal samples. Recorded to iPhone via a Behringer Xenyx mixer and mastered in Final Touch."
"This contest will be judged by none other than glomag, Chipocrite and Bias ONE (fka minus baby). So, what is the challenge? To create and submit the best version of Devo's classic 'Whip It' using LSDJ or any other Chiptune/8-bit hacked software to create it."
Full details:
"The Chip It Challenge: Join the Chip It Challenge! Sign up to find more information on the competition and download a starting track at https://soundfly.com
What's the Prize?
Grand Prize: Modded Game Boy and flash cartridge, and personal feedback from Chipocrite on your track!
2nd place: Flash cartridge and personal feedback from Chipocrite on your track
3rd place: Flash cartridge
What are the judging criteria?
The overall originality of your version of 'Whip It,' while still being recognizable as "Whip It," as decided by our esteemed panel of judges
Make this YOUR version of "Whip It!"
Who are the judges?
Chipocrite, our fearless host, instructor and humble
Glomag emerged from the NYC chip music scene around the dawn of the 21st century, writing music on Game Boys and performing local shows. His has two releases on 8bitpeoples, DaMaGe and Roland and The Lamprey, and with the 8 Bit Operators on Astralwerks Records as well as on various compilations. He has performed in and around the U.S. and Europe.
BIAS ONE (formerly known as minusbaby), Richard Alexander Caraballo began his minusbaby project in 1999 to explore the diversity of a lo-fi, compositional aesthetic and has since progressed experimentally in its scope to include elements guided by those roots and a sonic language representative of his influences, namely, the art of bass and how it moves butts. Also, he has covered "Whip It.
How is it going to work?
In short, make your own version of "Chip It." You can use Chipocrite's version as a guide, and we have even provided you with a .sav file of Chipocrite's verison. So, get into the nitty-gritty of Chipocrite's decisions, understand his choices, and then create your own piece! (Or skip the .sav file and create your own version from scratch.)
Your piece should have the same structure as Chipocrite's. It should include the intro (the first 12 bars of the song, or the first 18 seconds of Chipocrite's version), the verse (bars 13-29, or from :19 to :41 of Chipocrite's version) and a chorus (bars 30-46, or :42 to :57 of Chipocrite's version)
When are submissions due?
February 15th, so get moving!
What can’t you do?
You can’t just re-submit the .sav file we give to you with little tweaks. Make it your own!
You shouldn't use just a sprinkling of LSDJ (or chip-based sounds) and then beef the track up with a whole bunch of other synths and drum machines and stuff. Keep it chip. All submissions will be accepted and reviewed, but you probably won't get too far if you don't keep it chip!
Additionally, if you post your track on Soundcloud, Facebook, or Twitter and tag @learntosoundfly and use the hashtag #chipit, we'll share your work with all our followers.
"I processed some field recordings with Mutable Instruments Clouds which is getting modulated randomly by the Make Noise Wogglebug, Make Noise Function and Mutable Instruments Peaks, creating a constantly evolving ambient patch. Perfect for meditation !"
"First play with Korg's excellent new Volca Kick, mere minutes after unboxing. No additional processing.
This is a more diverse instrument than I first expected—I initially purchased it just to add some extra thump to my nanoloop mono sessions (video to come), but it is capable of a lot more than just kicks.
Video starts to pick up about halfway through, where I realise how to actually record motion sequences. I've left it un-edited though, just to show how quickly it can be picked up without reading the manual."
"This 303 has the Social Entropy 303 Quicksilver mod installed which adds a lot of extra functionality and full MIDI via the mini USB jack. See the Social Entropy 303 Quicksilver website for more info and the manual. This 303 has the latest firmware/OS installed for the Quicksilver mod."
"Live improvised composition using synthesizers and drum machines.
Starts off slow like a loco but soon gets up to speed...
'I'm playing all the right notes but not necessarily in the right order'"
No synth list, but some cool synth spotting in this one.
"One used Metasonix KV-100 Assblaster serial number 13 - a rare item, out of production and from a limited run. Barely used maybe 20 hours, virtually mint with power supply."
This one in via Brian Comnes:
"Reluctantly I am selling my Metasonix Assblaster. It's just not being used and I can use the bucks for some other items. Gotta like those graphics however. 8-)
So if you had achoice between adding an Eventide H9 pedal or getting asmall Linnstrument keyboard what would you choose.
When Buchla raised the price of the Easel AUX expander from $499 to $799 I dropped interest in that, sheesh you can get a lot of good synth stuff for $800."
512 Tones can be stored and edited. It is also possible to temporarily edit any Tone
Tones are stored in Flash memory so no battery is required.
MidiCC & Sysex support for all parameters and Midi Sysex support for Tone Dump & Load
PG-800 Support for Control of Parameters
Patch Editor support
Key Assign Modes are Poly Single, Poly Dual, Poly Triple, Unison & Solo
Each Key Assign mode can have Rotate/Reassign, Staccato/Legato, Steal/No Steal with five steal modes (Highest, Lowest, Oldest, Newest, Quietest)
Portamento in all modes
DCO Key Assign Detune available in all key modes except Solo.
In addition there is a 'Analog Feel' parameter that add an adjustable small random frequency to each note. Detune is best used with Poly Dual, Poly Triple or Unison keying modes for greatest effect
Three independent envelope generators. These are traditional ADSR type and are modeled on the Original JX-8P. Each ENV Mod can select from ENV 1 - 3 and has an Inverted or Normal modes. These are faster than the traditional JX-8P envelopes
Here's an interesting item sent my way via Sergey Gerasimuk. It is featured on his site here. You'll find a few more pics there. It might have a SIMMONS badge on it, but it appears to be from the Ukraine? It's also featured on ruskeys.net here. If you know anything about this unit, please share.
"The Avalon bassline synthesizer, from Abstrakt Instruments, is a high quality analog synth with a built in sequencer. The circuit is based off of the revered TB-303 bassline synthesizer, but with updated and improved digital control for extreme precision. For a quick timbre shift, the Avalon has an innovative filter cartridge mechanism that allows one to swap filter styles with just a circuit card. As accessories, there are SEM, Ladder, JP, Wasp, and 4075 style filters."
"The first "test drive" of my 2 ARP synthesizers synced together. The Odyssey (2 oscillators) and the Little Brother (single oscillator) provide me with a 3 oscillator ARP - not too shabby!"
"Twisted Electrons' AY3 is an excellent 8-bit synthesizer based on two AY-3-8500 soundchips. It comes in a tiny package, but boasts a large number of features.
"This is the last of Roland's fully analogue synths. Very fat sound, wide palette of sounds can be created, it has the power of two JX-8P at your finger tips. Also, the MKS-70 has a unique "chase-play" function which allows programmable delayed repeats of voices from either of its tone modules. See my other auction for the optional PG-800 programmer. The MKS-70 has a fairly complete MIDI implementation allowing you to save an load patches from your computer etc., this is not the case with the JX-10. Nice unit and fully functional. Includes rack brackets (not shown)."
Roland TB-3 with TR-08 Drums
'Ambient Slicer'
Gear Used:
Roland Aira TB-3 Bass Synthesizer
Roland JD-XI Synthesizer
Roland Aira TR-08 Analog Modeling Drum Machine
"After experimenting with a few sounds I made for the Volca FM I ended up with a dulcimer patch and some oriental tune which I combined with two 303-acidlines and some disco-foundations, and hence got to an Acidhouse-Disco-Oriental crossover. Hope you like it!
Gear in this track:
Cyclone Bassbot TT 303: acid line 1
MAM MB33 retro: acid line 2
DSI Mopho: Bass
Volca FM: oriental dulcimer-like sound (at times: played live with Electribe pads)
Waldorf Streichfett: strings (played live with Electribe pads)
Waldorf Blofeld: additional sequence sound
Korg Electribe Sampler 2: Drums, percussion, wah guitar; sequencing the other synths
Effects: Lexicon MX 200 (delay on aux send); TC Electronic M-One XL: reverb on aux send; TC Electronic M-350 (delay+reverb on aux send), TC- Alter Ego X4 Vintage Echo & TC Dark Matter distortion on TT 303)"
- Select waveform, and move the slider.
- Tap the pad at bottom, you can play.
iPhone/iPodTouch only (In iPad, please use +/- buttons.)
- When you tap the label to the left of slider, the value is reduced by one.
- When you tap the label to the right of slider, the value is increased one.
New features
- Support recording with Inter-App Audio host app.
"This is a MIDI capable Arduino controlled monophonic semi-modular analog synthesizer. It has 4 VCOs (2 Audio, one Sub-audio and one hybrid that switches between either), a 4-pole low pass filter, a Voltage Controlled Amplifier (VCA) and two envelope generators (AR1 and AR2). It also has an arpeggiator built in to add some videogame-esque sounds. My awesome wife printed out the decals using the Silhouette Cameo and transferred them onto the wooden control panel with a layer of Modpodge to make it scratch resistant. I never really sat down to figure out how many octaves it can work with before the tuning goes bonkers, but it appears to handle six octaves pretty well.
I hope you enjoy the video. I had a really great time learning about this stuff and actually getting to build a working synth.
Tech Stuff: The VCOs, LPF and VCA cores are all built around the LM13700 OTA using mostly datasheet schematics with component values adjusted to work on +-9V supply. Also, since the synth uses the LM13700 for all VCOs and VCF, all exponential current sources use PNP transistors. I added in my own design for input CV signal mixing to the modules and output signal normalizers (to produce both CV and audio signals). I attempted to design my own CV generator using the Arduino and while it works more-or-less, I learned first hand about the challenges with using the PWM analog signals produced by the micro-controller as CV signals for the synth modules. I don't think I would do anything differently in this project, but next time I'll use a 16-bit DAC for analog CV signal generation rather than the Arduino."
Spotted this one over on Ask.Audio where you'll find some additional words from creator Guenther.
