1. One Voice: Moog One 1.0.4 New Sounds, Part 1, New Effects
Firmware release 1.0.4 for the Moog One included two new effect types and two new groups of presets. In part 1 we showcase the two new effects, Stereo Flanger and Stereo Chorus by creating an INIT patch and sampling each of the effect presets. Headphone are highly recommended to hear the subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) differences.
Both Stereo Flanger and Stereo Chorus appear as both Master Effects and Synth Effects. We're only showing the Master Effects with Stereo Width cranked up to 200% for maximum effect.
2. One Voice: Moog One 1.0.4 New Sounds, Part 2, New Preset Groups
Firmware release 1.0.4 for the Moog One included two new effect types and two new groups of presets. In part 2 we showcase the two new preset groups. Headphone are highly recommended to fully appreciate the depth of the sounds.
The first group named "1-0-4 LOWGRITT" contains ten new presets: Code Red, Copter Strike, Crown, Diamond, Grey Exit, Horizon, Medicine, Metropolitan, Panther, and Swordfish. The second group, named simply "1.0.4" contains three additional presets; Colour Wheel, Shadowland, and Shared Tale.
"'I conduct, therefore I am'. Using the human body as tempo control. As far as I'm aware we don't yet live in the matrix, therefore wires can't be plugged straight into the back of our heads. Finger contact will suffice until the upgrade.
Neat little trick. Worth a try. You shouldn't blow up.
Naturally, I wouldn't recommend licking the cable, but if anyone tries, please share the results. And if you die, it is a good death for a contemporary musician. "Here lies a contemporary musician, vaporised by the National Grid" is an epitaph we'd all be proud of.
On a serious note, don't lick cables - especially ones emanating from wall sockets.
Tip/ring/sleeve contact will determine tempo (or any parameter you are plugged into). More pressure on sleeve (i.e better contact) = return to default tempo. Cheap man's touchplate, if you will.
Musically, the steps are tuned to the harmonic series. This can be heard when VCO 1 enters.
PS I've been busy working on a number of music projects for clients, hence not as many posts recently. The last project was a folk act: worlds away from electronica! But all good fun.
I'll possibly post dedicated modular content in the near future.
If you are interested in Steve Hunt's Low Frequency Expander for the OB-6 & Prophet-6, he has provided some costs and a timeframe for development. You can find it in the second update of this post (scroll down to Update2 in red when you get there). There are also two new demo videos in the playlist at the top of the post.
You can find a NAMM demo here. The press release follows:
April 18th, 2018, LOS ANGELES, CA - After months of planning, design, and development, Noise Engineering is excited to release three new Eurorack modules: Terci Ruina, a triple distortion; Sinc Bucina, a multimode lowpass gate; and Cursus Iteritas Percido, a performance oriented all-in-one synth voice.
Terci Ruina
Terci Ruina is the first module in our Ruina s eries of distortion modules. The top section, FB, is a two-stage asymmetric-diode feedback topology using high-beta bipolar transistors for gain, creating a nonlinear waveshaper that’s sensitive to waveform symmetry. The middle section, FF, is an asymmetric feed-forward diode clipper using op-amps for gain. This diode clip has just enough asymmetry to make it fun. The last section, FZ, is a high-gain bipolar fuzz. The knob blends between differently phased sections which gives the knob a low-pass to high-pass frequency response as it is turned.
While each all-analog circuit has its own input and output, they were designed to work together and are normalled to run in series for total sonic insanity. This isn’t a distortion for the faint of heart, and it’s all packaged in a small 4 hp package!
Price: $135.00
Availability: Available from retailers worldwide and the Noise Engineering webshop April 18, 2019
Terci Ruina summary and features:
● Three independent analog distortion circuits
● Internal normalization for even crazier processing
● 4 hp size means that TR is sure to find a home in even the smallest system
● Available with silver or black aluminum panel
Sinc Bucina
Sinc Bucina, sequel to one of our oldest modules, is a versatile analog low-pass gate, envelope generator, and slew.
The Ping input offers standard low-pass gate behavior, but with some extra features: first, it’s velocity dependent, so different voltage triggers give different dynamic responses. The Gate in sends a signal to the slew: patch in a gate for an ASR envelope, or send it a stepped sequence and adjust the Attack and Release time for expressive action. Choose VCA or driven filter modes for aggressive, expressive, and versatile sound.
Price: $155.00
Availability: Available from retailers worldwide and the Noise Engineering webshop April 18, 2019
Sinc Bucina summary and features:
● Three filtering modes: 12db, resonant 6db, and plain VCA
● Ping and Gate ins can be used separately or together
● Environmentally friendly vactrol-free design
● Huge range of decay times: 200 ms – 7 s
● Envelope output easily ties SB to other components
● 4 hp
● Available with silver or black aluminum panel
Cursus Iteritas Percido
Cursus Iteritas Percido takes the core synthesis of our most melodic oscillator, the Cursus Iteritas and adds an envelope generator to make it a complete voice. Three synthesis algorithms provide an abundance of sound generation possibilities. Three modes allow full control of the envelope: trigger it, loop it, or use free running mode to reset without affecting volume. Route the envelope to the pitch and tonal parameters via attenuverting sends. Sends then go through the Master Blaster, a master attenuverter designed with performance in mind. CIP is our largest module ever, weighing in at 24 hp, but for good reason: CIP can really do anything. Huge basslines, gentle melodies, percussion, noise, and more are all to be had from this beast of a voice module.
Price: $595
Availability: Available from retailers worldwide and the Noise Engineering webshop April 18, 2019
Cursus Iteritas Percido summary and features:
● Full voice: patch up your sequencer and you’re ready to go
● Three envelope modes
● Three synthesis algorithms for sonic diversity
● Unique Master Blaster macro offers expressive and performable control
● Envelope and Master Blaster outputs tie CIP to the rest of your patch
● 18 CV inputs
● 24 hp
● Available with silver or black aluminum panel
AIR® MUSIC TECHNOLOGY RELEASES EXCITING NEW DRUMSYNTH 500 LIVE & STUDIO PERFORMANCE SOFTWARE
Newest drum synthesizer software from Air—renowned creator of the industry reference Strike for Avid Pro Tools—delivers total control of all electronic drum sounds with simple, intuitive interface.
Cumberland, RI USA (April 16, 2019)—AIR Music Technology (airmusictech.com), a developer of premium virtual instruments, today announced the immediate availability of Drumsynth 500, a virtual instrument of electronic drum sounds for use with any DAW or as a Standalone application for live performance.
Building upon Air Music Technology’s heritage of creating Strike—considered “The reference Drum Instrument” for Avid Protools—Air has teamed up with music legends Akai Professional and Alesis Drums to carry on this legacy of excellence.
In the style of the popular 500 series synth modules comes an all new software drum synthesizer that delivers full control of all electronic drum sounds in an easy-to-use, comprehensive interface. Drumsynth 500 from AIR Music Technology has everything needed to create an endless variety of custom electronic drum sounds for all styles of music.
"The Alesis Fusion is a synthesizer workstation packed with features for the modern keyboardist. Released in 2005, Alesis managed to cram four powerful synthesis engines and an 8-track, 24-bit hard disk recorder into the Fusion's sleek, silver frame. The types of synthesis on offer include Sample Playback, FM, Virtual Analog (VA) and Physical Modeling – all powered by three floating-point Texas Instruments digital signal processors. It comes in 61-key synth action (6HD) and 88-key weighted (8HD) versions.
The Sample Playback engine lets you create four oscillator patches from either ROM multisamples or your own custom samples. Your samples can be recorded in through the dedicated stereo port, or loaded in via compact flash/USB; you can then edit and store them on the Fusion's large hard drive (40 or 80 GB). Import of WAV and SoundFont is supported, opening up a massive world of sounds. With 64MB of RAM, expandable to 192MB (and tricks available to double the usable amount of RAM) you won't fit a massive orchestral library in this synth, but for most sound design and live applications it will be plenty. Your samples can then be shaped using the Fusion's plethora of filter types, envelopes, and its massive mod matrix – nearly anything can be routed anywhere!
"The Grp Synthesizer was developed to offer the enthusiasts of analogical sound a more affordable synth in terms of price and dimension in comparison with the precursor model A8, without renouncing to the quality and performance that characterize our synths. Being featured with the same step sequencer used for the Grp A8, this synth is able to guarantee nearly infinite sound combinations due to the new characteristics which have been implemented in the instrument, with the possibility to filter out external signals and to manage all the important parameters of the analogical generation chain.
The A4 has been derived from an audio section of the Grp A8 (of which it takes over the structure) and it results more versatile and eclectic passing from smooth and extreme clean sonorities to harder sounds thanks to the two distortion installed in the synth (one for each filter) and due to the possibility to make interact synth, ring modulator, external signals and step sequencer in only on mechanism with an immense sonority power. Furthermore, the Loop EG function enables the conditioned and unconditioned repetition of the envelope, in order to reach particular and temporal articulated sonorities."
"For your consideration, please excuse the pun, but this is The ONE you've been waiting for! Moog One, 8-Voice polyphonic programmable analog synthesizer. As new, with only six (yes, 6!) hours of use. Plastic clings still cover all display screens! This is as close to NEW as one may find in a "used" instrument. This package contains all things as new....The One Synthesizer, Power Supply, original paperwork, Moog pencils(?), original box, and original shipping carton..."
This is one of thirteen user-made patches we're showcasing! The Organelle is full of possibilities waiting to be explored and shared. Each patch in this series is a unique approach to an instrument or effect - the result of the contributor working with the Organelle to make their vision a reality! The icing of this musical cake is that the patches have been shared so others may explore and create! Thanks to all the creators making the Organelle more than we hoped it could be!
It's Pow Pow's Polybeats but the samples are loops! There are multiple pages to adjust sample playback, sequence editing, add swing, and add effects. We played some loops and adjusted the swing and effects to show what this guy can do.
Some info on the K-20 below. Curious how a previously existing name for a synth can be trademarked. The trademark was actually revealed December 2017, but you can see filing from Music Group IP (Behringer's parent company) below published in 2018. You can also find the initial list of synths on Behringer's radar here, including trademarks. The Pro-1, MS-101, and VC340 are readying release, and there was the Jupiter-8 tease here.
"I'll be honest, I love Korg mono synths. One of my all-time favourites is the Korg 770, this little guy's older sister. First off I'm amazed at the form factor in such a small footprint. This thing sounds awesome. Having a high pass and low pass with adjustable peak is amazing for fine tweaking tones. My 770 doesn't have that. One could get lost for hours just patching to different places and finding an endless sea of sounds. I never had an MS-20 so this was a learning experience of wonderment and at times pure awe. What a flexible little monster. Most definitely a generator of sounds from outer space. Add some tape delay and I'd go missing for hours on end. Wonderful job on this guy."
On the WASP Deluxe:
Wasp Deluxe – based on the rare EDP WASP synthesizer:
Legendary analog synthesizer with dual OSC design allows for insanely fat music creation
Authentic reproduction of original “Wasp Deluxe” circuitry with matched transistors and JFETs
Pure analog signal path based on authentic OSC, VCF and VCA designs
3 variable oscillator shapes with pulse / ramp and enhanced mode for ultimate sounds
Switchable, multi-mode VCF with Lo, Hi, Band and Notch modes
Flexible LFO with 4 waveform shapes, frequency and pitch modulation control
2 analog Envelope Generators for modulation of VCF and VCA
Noise generator dramatically expands waveform generation
16-voice Poly Chain allows combining multiple synthesizers for up to 16 voice polyphony
Complete Eurorack solution – main module can be transferred to a standard Eurorack Case
29 controls give you direct and real-time access to all important parameters
"Wow, really wow! That's my initial impression of the Stereo Dipole from SSF (Steady State Fate). The raw sound of the filters, the control, layout and options ... honestly it's massively impressive and that speaks to the work Andrew at SSF does (he doesn't know I'm doing this, or writing this so hi Andrew if you're reading!)
This first patch makes use of the all four filter peaks oscillating to create a 4 part chord tone, then outputs are sent to the FM of the other filter side for some cross modulated (X MOD) FM and then other outputs feed the inputs which gives all sorts of guitar amp distortion, clipped overdrive type bass overtones."
"A clip from my full review (coming soon) of the Analogue Solutions Impulse Command showing how the two filters work in relation to each other and the stereo field."
"The first ARP synth to ever appear on my channel, and not a bad place to start! This is a straight performance video rather than a demonstration or talk through, but the 2600 will appear again.
Huge thanks to Ian Livingstone for the loan of this rare instrument.
http://www.ianlivingstone.net/
There were nine different iterations of the 2600 between 1971 and 1980 and this is the penultimate model, the 2601 v2. That puts it as having been built somewhere around 1977 - 1979.
If you don't know, the 2600 is a semi-modular monosynth with three oscillators. There's a normalled signal path that can be defeated with patch cables if required with various modulation possibilities, but you can setup loads of sounds without having to reach for the spaghetti.
I think the Roland System 700 is the only comparable synth from the era in that regard, but let me know if you can think of any others.
The 2600 is probably most famous for providing the voice and sounds of R2-D2. Hence the reference and recreation of the sounds in my video.
I also setup a snappy bass sound, ticking sequence and sequenced sample and hold thing. There's a singing lead sound, some chords (created by tuning the oscillators into triads), synth drums, loads of FX and textures etc. But the whole point (for me) is always making a piece of music, so hopefully it's enjoyable on that front.
The video also contains some footage from this Creative Commons video that tied-in nicely as the lady in the video was showing off a brand-new Star Wars t-shirt. This was probably filmed around the time this 2601 was in a factory being built."
"Used the Prophet Xl, Techno System plus custom erica modular and Deepmind 12 for this one.
Wanted to see how they played together. Just a short loop :)"
"An in-depth store & synth studio tour of Noisebug in Pomona, California -- including the Noisebug synthesizer showroom, modular synths, and synthesizer music event / performance space.
Join me on this journey into Noisebug's storefront location with Blake Griffith, General Manager & musician. Noisebug is owned by Chuck Oken, Jr. and the current space was the original Analogue Haven location, which was started in 2005.
Blake was kind enough to provide me with a Noisebug synthesizer studio and store tour, and gives great commentary and insight into the history of the store, various analog, digital and modular synthesizers, and the synth industry as a whole.
Noisebug stocks keyboards, synthesizers, drum machines, electronic percussion and desktop modules from all over the world. They specialize in Multi-Format Modular Synthesizers, including Moog Format (MU), Buchla Format, Eurorack, Serge, 5U and beyond.
0:00 - Intro
1:04 - History of Noisebug
2:16 - Record collection
3:22 - Grooveboxes, effects pedals, pocket operators
4:23 - Showroom floor - Arturia Drumbrute Impact, Lyra-8, Dreadbox Medusa
6:56 - Moog Mother 32, Elektron Digitakt & Digitone
7:50 - Dreadbox Erebus
8:18 - Passion for synthesizers & modular
10:57 - Exclusive modular partnerships - Moon Modular, Suit & Tie Guy Eurorack, Free State FX, Buchla
12:20 - Elby Designs Pixie
12:54 - Analogue Solutions Vostok (Deluxe)
13:55 - Jomox Alpha Base
14:10 - Vermona DRM1
14:22 - Nord Piano 3, Nord Lead A1
14:40 - Sequential Prophet X
14:51 - Yamaha MODX
16:10 - Kurzweil PC3K7
16:48 - Korg Arp Odyssey, Moog Sub 37, Moog Sub Phatty
17:14 - DSI Rev 2, Korg Prologue, Arturia Matrixbrute
17:32 - Studiologic Sledge, Roland System-8
18:35 - Modular loft
19:12 - Roland System 500, Elby Serge
19:30 - Analogue Systems Apprentice
20:14 - Eurorack
20:37 - GRP A2
21:11 - Doepfer A100 Eurorack system
21:22 - Waldorf KB37
21:36 - 5U large format modular - Free State FX, Analog Craftsman, Synthetic Sound Labs, Noise Engineering, STG,
22:07 - Moon Modular 10-year Anniversary "System X"
23:04 - Gert Jalass (Moon Modular founder/owner)
23:36 - Moon Modular 5U system
23:42 - Buchla 200e
24:14 - Intermission
25:03 - Performance space intro
25:27 - Noisebug synth performance space
25:47 - Moog One
26:00 - Chuck's personal synth collection - Theravox, Serge modular TTSH, Arp 2600 clone, GRP A4, Waldorf Q+, Waldorf XTK, Roland V-Synth
26:35 - 5U large format modular systems
26:44 - How artists can perform at Noisebug
28:07 - Blake's music
29:00 - NAMM 2019 - Haken ContinuuMini, Le Bois de Luthier
30:53 - Moog One
32:18 - Shipping/Warehouse area
32:26 - Online business
32:58 - Famous artists
34:18 - Synth industry trends & future outlook
"I had to chance to sit down with Cenk aka Dataline during Thomann Synth Reactor 2019. If you enjoy talks like this support over on Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/bobeats"
"Demonstration of the Delptronics Thunderbell in a Cowbell.
We go through the basic functionality, then process it through Metasonix modules while driving it from a Make Noise Rene and Tempi. Finally, we set a basic quarter-note groove and do some funky improv using the Nord Stage electric piano.
Look at that image. Were these meant to be propped on the key hinge cover of a piano? :)
"Quite rare soviet machine Manual. Synth/organ sounds with juicy drum machine with the possibility to mix rhythms .Check how it sounds on the video with exactly this piece. Fully working condition. Works both with the line output and internal loudspeaker. The unit has non standart construction and somehow you can instal it on the piano fall board...anyway, I never tried it :)"
"Amazing 90's "groove-synth"/workstation with:
Fast and fun sound design: plenty of knobs, including ADSR macros for Amp and Filter envelope. Modulation wheel can map up to 5 knobs.
DTE ("difficult to explain") synthesis somewhere between virtual-analog and rompler sounds.
28 voice polyphony across 7 tracks: kick, snare, hi-hat (2 voice), percussion (12-voice kits), and 3 parts for mono- or poly-synths.
expressive 11-band Vocoder, allowing any combination of internal or external parts to be carrier and/or modulator
Quick Pattern-based system, stores 16 songs, where each song has 8 Parts (as wells as 4 Fills and 4 Variations) that assign programs and pattern motifs across to the 7 tracks. Mix and match for quick variety.
2 assignable FX busses: apply any track to either effect, including choruses, flangers, reverbs, and delays. Mix and match for wild ambiances.
Tons of sounds: 3 banks of 96 Rom, and 1 bank of 96 User Patches (for EACH Track-type), divided neatly into 6 categories 16 patches with nice direct-jumping between patches. Also has 1-touch Patch Randomizer for endless inspiration.
Pattern sequencer allows creating custom patterns by step or real-time recording, with random remixing of new sounds and motifs."
"Scales is an 8hp dual-channel note quantizer and step sequencer. Fundamentally, it takes an input voltage, quantizes it to notes in a user-defined scale, and sends that quantized voltage to an output, where you can use it as a melodic pitch source for oscillators or any other module that expects to see discreet note values at its input.
Scales goes far beyond the fundamental, allowing you unprecedented control of the pitches and intervals hiding inside your control voltages; turn LFO’s into arpeggiators; random voltages into harmonic counterpoint; and unquantized external CV sequencers into chromatically tuned note sequencers.
Quantization can be locked to an incoming trigger. There are a number of trigger output options as well, ranging from no triggering (good for pitch shifting drones); through triggers that sync with either of the two outputs (or both); to a trigger or gate transmitted in sync with one sent to the module’s TRIG input."
The Sonicware ELZ_1 synthesizer is a powerful synthesizer with a particularly distinct sound. Sonicware has developed their own synthesis engines which include FM, 8-bit wave memory, noise-engine, and granular all from the ground up. For a fresher look at the world of sound creation and design. This incredibly original synthesizer allows you to develop your own defined voice, the way you want to.
The ELZ_1 is very portable and allows you to synthesize any type of sound - from the beautiful to the gritty, from the wide to the focused. The ELZ_1 features a wide array of 17 different send effects from distortions, to delay, to reverbs. Any sound that you imagine, you can now create."
"I bought a magneto for an "effects" skiff to use with and without modular. I've been having a lot of issues with mine and decided to return it, but not before I have one last noodle. This is the result of a little sit down last night! Volante shall take its place"
"Teaser track showcasing the unreleased Pittsburgh Modular Voltage Research Laboratory eurorack format synthesizer.
The soundtrack to this video was created as a self running patch. Once the initial setup was complete, the synthesizer performed the piece without any additional input by the artist. An extended version of the recording is available on Soundcloud through the link below."
"Next up in the #2hpTuesdays series of videos on the 2hp Eurorack modules is the VCO module. It's a Curtis CEM3340 based analog oscillator with triangle, pulse and saw outputs, FM, hard sync and PWM and of course tuning and 1v/oct control."
It has 16 steps x 4 pattern sequencer built in. There are four scale keyboards that can edit the pitch.
Sequencer allows octave up / down and slide input, so you can create a wide range of sequences.
Sound
It has a monophonic virtual analog sound source. 1 VCO / 1 VCA / 1 VCF.
The VCO can switch waveforms.
Built-in delay and saturation effect.
Sync
It has a 3.5mm TS or TRS SYNC input.
Tempo synchronization with common SYNC output is possible.
The voltage range is from 1 V to 15 V.
2 PPQN (Volca, PO) or 4 PPQN can be switched.
Power supply
It is equipped with a USB-C connector and operates with 5 V from the USB power supply.
Current consumption is 40 mA.
