MATRIXSYNTH: Saturday, November 29, 2025

Saturday, November 29, 2025

Sid Station driven by Lightreft Monolit exploring SID textures and grit


video upload by HANJŌ

"Afternoon exploration session with 3 silver boxes, the Elektron Machinedrum handling the beat and the classic SID Station led by the Lightreft Monolit on the 2.0β firmware.

Machinedrum keeps things tight and mechanical while the SID Station focuses on texture. Bit-grit, noise edges, and shifting timbres.

Just experimenting, seeing how far the monolit can take Midi Automation over an IDM groove. #machinedrum #sidstation #idm"

####

The LightReft Monolit made its first appearance on the site earlier this month in another video by HANJŌ.

The following is a playlist featuring dditional demos, followed by some pics and details further below.

Lightreft Monolit Sequencer Demos

video uploads by Sasha DZA

Playlist (in most recent order - video 7 is from one year ago):

1. Monolit Sequencer

2. Machinedrum + Monolit : Simple Setup

3. MONOLIT x DECKARD'S DREAM MK2

4. Monolit: Quick Tips for Hardware Users
In this video, we demonstrate how Monolit connects seamlessly with synths, grooveboxes, and samplers — no computer needed.
No deep menus, no distractions — just a clean interface and immediate control.

We explore different scenarios where Monolit shines: real-time MIDI control, clock generation, note and CC mapping, automation, and even gamepad integration.
Hand-built in Japan, Monolit is a minimal yet powerful tool for artists seeking intuitive, hands-on control.

Chapters:
00:00 — Intro
00:23 — Octatrack MK2 DJ setup ideas
02:42 — Scratching on Octatrack MK2
03:07 — Note-sliders / Quantisation
03:56 — Monomachine Drone
04:45 — External controller macros setup
05:08 — Double Monolit setup
05:47 — Retro game controller
06:36 — Advanced Game controller
5. Monolit Firmware 1.2.0: Unlocking New MIDI Control Features!
In this video, we dive into the new features introduced in Monolit firmware v1.2.0. From advanced MIDI routing to external slider control and dynamic button functions — Monolit just got a serious upgrade. We’re showcasing a dual-Monolit setup, where one unit controls the other, which is connected to an Elektron Monomachine.
6. Monolit × Octatrack — Live Performance Control Demo | LightReft

7. LightReft - MONOLIT v.1.0.0
00:00 - INTRODUCTION
04:36 - EDIT MENU
07:22 - CC MODE
13:12 - NOTES MODE
17:26 - LFO MODE
20:33 - MOTION MODE
23:07 - SETTINGS
24:53 - PRESET MANAGER
26:13 - MAX/MSP
30:26 - TOUCHDESIGNER
33:29 - EURORACK MODULAR
41:29 - MODEL:SAMPLES
45:02 - CONCLUSION

Welcome to the first tutorial on the MONOLIT device! In this 40+ minute video, you’ll get acquainted with the essential settings, programming, and MIDI control on MONOLIT, while exploring the device’s unique capabilities. This session covers the key aspects of working with MONOLIT, making it an ideal guide for musicians and producers who want to master its full potential.

Main topics covered:
Initial setup and connecting MONOLIT
Programming and MIDI control
Using functions and operational modes

Dive into the world of sound with this introduction to MONOLIT! Tutorial by Tim Shatny.


"MONOLIT by Light Reft

A smart, modular MIDI computer built for live performance and smooth integration with any setup. ​

Monolit is not a controller you map once to forget.
It is a playable instrument - a physical interface that lets you shape sound through motion, record gestures as automation, and turn parameters into something alive. ​

Designed for those who don’t just adjust sound, but perform it.

WHY MONOLIT?

A motion driven MIDI instrument for live sound shaping, expressive sequencing, and gestural automation.

8 banks with 64 controls per preset
Real-time MIDI automation and parameter morphing
Seamless DAW + hardware integration
USB, TRS-MIDI, external device support

Customizable, minimal, and fast.

MEET MONOLIT, YOUR NEW MULTIFUNCTIONAL MIDI COMPANION!

MONOLIT by Light Reft is a cutting-edge, multifunctional MIDI-computer that transforms your music production experience. Designed for musicians who seek precision and flexibility, MONOLIT offers seamless integration with all DAWs and hardware devices, customizable presets, and an intuitive interface for effortless control and creativity.

Whether you're diving into your DAW or jamming out with external hardware instruments, MONOLIT has you covered. An endless library of presets at your fingertips—each one offering 8 banks, with 8 sliders and 8 buttons per bank. That's a whole lot of control!

For each slider and button, we present a range of versatile options. You can record MIDI automation, set delay times for slider movements, send notes and LFOs, and adjust various parameters directly within the device. This flexibility ensures that you have complete control over every detail of your setup.

But it doesn't stop there. MONOLIT is as versatile as you are, allowing you to connect other devices like Gamepads, Keyboards, Monome Grid , or any MIDI device you fancy. This means you can take command of your entire setup, all through one sleek, powerful interface. Whether you're crafting the perfect beat, tweaking synths, or anything in between, MONOLIT is the tool that brings your musical ideas to life with ease and style.

Designed and assembled in Japan, MONOLIT is ready to be shipped worldwide.

PlantsSystem-Mazeppa(Franz Liszt Transcendental Etudes No. 4)


video upload by plantssystem

"This is a cover of Franz Liszt Transcendental Etudes No. 4, 'Mazeppa'.

Mazeppa is a masterpiece combining overwhelming technique and drama, left behind by Liszt, one of the most representative composers of 19th century Romanticism.

The energy and scale of this masterpiece are captured using PlantsSystem unique sound approach, making full use of the Prophet-5."



"Recording equipment"

Conductive Labs Newsletter - NDLR On Sale



via the Conductive Labs newsletter:

"Hello lovely peeps, thank you for subscribing to our newsletter!
This issue brings news of an incredible The NDLR deal (and sweet new color scheme), availability and instructions for accessing the special edition The NDLR Rev1 to Rev2 upgrade kit, and a little bit of rehash of previous news.

Black Friday? Cyber Monday? The NDLR is On Sale Now!
The NDLR is currently on sale for the lowest price we've ever offered, at conductivelabs.com/shop and at Amazon.com, and Amazon.ca (colors vary by location and availability).
And is available at select retailers worldwide. See The NDLR product page at conductivelabs.com for a list of retailers, including Perfect Circuit, Thomann, Juno UK, Control Voltage, Moog Audio and more. [check dealers on the right]

If you have a The NDLR Rev2 with the red base, be sure to check out the Release 3 firmware at conductivelabs.com/download if you don't already have it. There's a fresh manual for it too.

The NDLR Rev1 to Rev2 Upgrade Kit
We did an upgrade kit crowd funding to enable NDLR Rev1 to have all of the great new features we've added to the Rev2 hardware with Version 3 firmware. We've fulfilled most of the crowd funded kits and have some left to offer to those who missed it.

This is a limited edition, 1 per person/NDLR/household offer. Proof of ownership by providing your NDLR Rev1 serial number is required.

Novation Circuit (OG)


video upload by Kuritar

"Novation Circuit Jam.

Thank you for watching.
I have gotten Circuit Tracks, but I still love to play the OG.
I set the exposure incorrectly, so the screen is dark. Sorry."

Dubreq Stylophone CPM DF-8 Unboxing and Demo #stylophone #synth


video upload by I Love Cats and Synths

"The Dubreq Stylophone CPM DS-8 Analog Dynamic Multi-Filter is out. In this video I unbox and demonstrate it.

00:00 Unboxing
00:38 Bella inspects the box
01:54 Gen R-8 Filter Notch mode
02:44 Gen R-8 Filter Highpass Mode
03:12 Gen R-8 Filter Bandpass Mode
04:02 Gen R-8 Filter Lowpass Mode
04:35 2045 Filter Lowpass Mode
05:10 2045 Filter (w/Gen R-8) in BP+ Mode
05:40 2045 Filter (w/Gen R-8) in Notch+ Mode
06:22 2045 Filter (w/Gen R-8) in Bandstop+ Mode
06:54 Making Percussive Sounds
08:05 Looping Envelopes
08:45 Tweety Bird!
08:53 UFO sounds w/Delay
09:08 Frankenstein?
09:39 Pew! Pew! Space Lasers!
10:17 Combining with the CPM DS-2
10:43 Sample & Hold
11:10 Stereo Mode
11:45 Envelopes through S&H
13:20 Fly like an Eagle?
14:05 Synthesizing Wind"

The Unique Superpower of the MONOPOLY's MICROTONAL DRONES


video upload by Element433 (a.k.a. Pere Villez)

"Full, deep dive into creating paraphonic microtonal drones on the Korg and Behringer Monopoly paraphonic synthesisers. This creates deep, mesmerising tones and textures. It's a ticket to space.

If you know of other synths that can do this please comment below and I will update this description for everyone.

Getting into Microtonality:
One of the easiest ways to enter the microtonal sphere is to learn to make microtonal paraphonic drones. Once you have the basics, there is an infinite number of microtonal texture to explore, either scales or chords. The Monopoly GUI architecture is unique amongst synthesisers for being able to doing this because of its "chord" store function. If you know of any other synths that can do this too, please comment below and I will update this description for everyone.

Inspired by the drones from the Tanpura and Shruti in Indian music and other cultures, which use drones.

WARNING!!! Once hear this, you can never unhear it.

Effects used on examples: Valhalla SUperMassive reverb
Recorded on location on a small planet off the arm of Orion

Gold listening:
Wendy Carlos 'Beauty in The Beast'
Terry Riley 'Harp of New Albion' (microtonally tuned acoustic piano)

Gold Resource: Scala ( Scala microtonal app on every platform )
https://huygens-fokker.org/scala/

Tutorial Steps
-----------------------

Electrocomp EML 400 401 Sequencer

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.


via this eBay listing

Additional Tone Tweakers Listings

"This unit was previously modified to include an audio output jack for vco2. This allows frequency modulation (FM) of the oscillators or filter which nicely expands this examples sonic palette beyond a stock 400's.

We did the following work to this unit. The items at the top of the list are things we consider normal servicing. The ones at the bottom labelled preventative are future-proofing measures that other sellers rarely take (they often don't even service them either).

Cleaned inside and out.

Replaced power cable.
Cleaned and lubed switches and pots.
Replaced jack washer nuts.
Replaced some screws.
Replaced all electrolytic capacitors - preventative.
Calibrated vco1 vco2 cv exp cv - a must after a recap.
Replaced IC socket (14pin x 16) - preventative.
Replaced all pins inside multipin connectors on unit and inside connector cable - preventative."

Fender Rhodes Chroma Polaris II SN 500336

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.


via this eBay listing

Additional Tone Tweakers Listings

"This Polaris 2 was fully electronically restored and is now in like new perfect working condition. And yes, of course the membrane panel that always breaks has been replaced with a brand new one so you won't have to worry about replacing it. We don't mess around here.

sn50033x

Here's what we did to this unit to make it perfect, along with some preventative stuff other sellers rarely do...because we want this unit to hopefully outlast others.

Replaced power supply electrolytic capacitors (future-proofing)
Reflowed some solder points as a preventative measure.
Cleaned unit inside and out.
Replaced membrane panel (we consider this a necessity even in the rare cases where they're fully working, as they eventually break - panel cost is $250 + installation labor, which is of course embedded in our price)
Cleaned and lubed all slide pots and levers.
Cleaned jacks.
Cleaned key contacts.
Removed original battery and replaced with new lithium battery (3v D type)
Recalibrated.
Replaced high and low output jacks.
Replaced operating system eproms with latest version 11 (originally was version 5)

This process took 11 hours of highly skilled vintage synth tech time, plus parts costs. The result is a perfectly working instrument that's ready to play, without having to pay another tech to do what we did and to wait months to years for another tech to do it."

Akai MPC Key 37 Standalone Production Keyboard

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.


via this listing

Additional Perfect Circuit listings

Akai MPC Key 61 Standalone Production Keyboard

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.


via this listing

Additional Perfect Circuit listings

Akai MPC Live II Music Workstation



via this listing

Additional Perfect Circuit listings

SOMA LABORATORY COSMOS DRIFTING MEMORY STATION DELAY PROCESSOR (ORANGE)

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.


via this listing

Additional Signal Sounds listings

KODAMO ESSENSEFM DIGITAL FM SYNTHESISER

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.


via this listing

Additional Signal Sounds listings

"Manufacturer's description
The EssenceFM is a powerful 300-voice polyphony 16-part multitimbral FM synthesizer with a modern touchscreen interface, built-in effects, separate outputs and more. It turns FM synthesis into a fun and enjoyable experience. Create your own sounds faster than on any other synthesizer!

With its incredible sound layering capabilities (up to 128 layers per note), the EssenceFM excels at rich sound textures. Each voice also has its own digital multimode filter and 6-slot modulation matrix that allows real-time control over 200+ parameters."
Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.


via this Reverb listing

"The K4 from Kawai can be thought of as a warm and fuzzy digital synthesizer. A sample-based digital synth, its sounds are those typically weird industrial type sounds that can still be useful in lo-fi, big-beat and trip hop music styles. The sounds are 16-bit preset PCM samples of acoustic instruments. However, unlike its predecessor the K1, the K4 adds a welcomed digital filter section. This truly makes the K4 more flexible, fun and useful for today's filter tweaking music effects!

The XD5 is an awesome drum synth module that has 256 waveforms, four of which can be combined to create a drum sound. It also has great resonant lowpass filters and envelopes for shaping the sounds and is excellent for techno, electro and industrial drums. For effects, a delay type effect is possible as well as a ring-modulator. It also has stereo outputs plus 6 individual outs for the studio pros. Mouse On Mars might use it.

The MM16 is a multi-purpose MIDI data processor with 17 front panel faders. Each of the sliders can be assigned for continuous controller information over any one of 16 MIDI channels, a "velocity mode" that uses the 16 sliders to become a "graphic EQ" for velocity data, and a system exclusive mode for transmitting system exclusive information to control individual synthesizer functions. Setups are included for Kawai K1, K4, K5, Yamaha DX7, and Roland D50. The MM16 can merge two MIDI signals, and can perform MIDI channelizing. You can also use it as a control surface for DAWS"

Kawai K5000S SN 592701

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.


via this Reverb listing

Elektron Sidstation

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.


via this Reverb listing

Moog Messenger - Ambient Sequence


video upload by Alba Ecstasy

"After a couple of 'unboxing' posts, I’ve been asked, by my friends, if it can sounds in my Berlin School style, or can make some ambient sounds.
So, here it is, on my second day with the Moog Mesenger, my sequencing style, PART ONE. I already made a few custom patches, (and updated it to the latest firmware - and now my volume knob works also for the main output! 0_o), so it’s gone rain with demos of it!

How does it feel? Like a Moog, of course: sturdy metal enclosure, no flimsy knobs, great keybed.
🎹 Want some ambient patches?! 👉 https://www.albaecstasy.ro

My opinion: grab one while the price is low, you won’t regret!
At least, Moog never drop in value!
Tell your wife, your girlfriend, your mother, that is an investment!"

Alesis Andromeda A6 | Playing some awesome custom patches


video upload by xu.sounddesign - dirk rohde

"XU Sounddesign
Dirk Rohde
Studio Xeniaturaba
Location: Northern Germany
Contact: xu.sounddesign@gmx.net

Alesis Andromeda A6 ... playing some of my awesome custom patches with some external reverb and delay effects."

Diatonic 2-Voice Ambient Buchla Music Easel


video upload by Akihiko Matsumoto

"Buchla Modular Synth Sample Pack https://akihikomatsumoto.sellfy.store...
An inquiry into timbre shaped by the circuitry of a singular electronic instrument
A system built for exploration
From the earliest prototypes crafted by Don Buchla, these instruments were conceived as tools for acoustic research. Instead of following keyboard based conventions, Buchla systems were designed as laboratories for voltage relationships, spectral motion and dynamic control of timbre. Performers were encouraged to treat sound as a fluid material. Each patch functioned as an experiment in how signals could bend, collide or dissolve within a responsive electronic environment.
xemptyz
This sample pack carries that spirit forward through recordings made with the Buchla Music Easel Modern. It offers a survey of sonic behavior, inviting listeners to study the subtle warmth that emerges when complex oscillators interact. It highlights the characteristic percussive transients of low pass gates. It captures broadband noise shaped by minute spectral movements. It presents drones formed by slow feedback interactions and microscopic frequency shifts. The goal is to provide raw material for creators who wish to work closely with the textures that define this family of instruments."

E-mu Drumulator with MIDI + LinnDrum kit eproms kit

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
video upload by ohm_studi_ohm



via this eBay listing

Pics of the inside below.

"Classic 80s 8bit PCM drum machine, used in countless hits.

This particular unit was serviced:

- all electrolytic capacitors were replaced

- switches and pots were cleaned

- latest firmware eprom was installed (3.0)

- factory patterns were loaded

- MIDI interface was added, built using the original E-mu design. This allows you to trigger the 12 sounds over MIDI dynamically

- comes with 4x additional eproms containing the famous LinnDrum LM2 sounds. I made a video a few monthes ago comparing 2 drumulators with stock and linnDrum kit if you want to hear the difference (youtu.be/k_EuRlCi_Vk)

Works perfectly. Cosmetic it is in quite good condition with some scuffs here and there, and also 2 holes were drilled in the back from a previous owner (no idea what was the reason). Unit is 230v."

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