The Seventh of Four

video upload by davidryle

"A new project idea to use the synthesizers.com Q170 MIDI GATES module to affect broad changes to the composition within the modular system.

The Q170 has eight output jacks for sending 5V gate or trigger voltages to the modular system. I used my DAW (Cubase) to construct timings for various parts of the modular.

The first four outs were used as pulse gates for the Delptronics and TipTop drum modules. The Kick, Snare and Open and Closed HiHats.
The fifth out is to the Q169 vco's AMP input. That vco is used for the bass line so controlling the on-board vca will mute or enable the voice.
The sixth out was to enable the Dove D900 sequencer to run/stop. The sequencer is feeding pitch voltage to the Synthetic Sound Labs Woven Spirits (MI Plaits). This is the chord pad sound. I used the DAW to pulse the gate info when I wanted the sequencer to reset at certain parts.
The seventh out was to send a continuous gate to the STG Soundlabs Time Buffer. The Time Buffer is receiving a sync-bus 24 ppq clock and run signal. I have a panel access to these with jack inputs so I sent the 5V gate to the RUN input. This allowed me to use this to start and stop all sequencer motion from the DAW.
The eighth out is to a Lower West Side Studios triple switch. This switch is used to add an offset voltage to the Woven Spirits Harmonic control.
The other fun part was playing the LWSS triple attenuator. I had three parts run through the module. The pair of STG VMS sequences were percussive background parts switched in and out as needed. The third part was a pulse version of the pad sound.

The Matrix duet in the mid section was clocked from the STG Time Divider module. Both Matrix were set with very closely aligned slider settings but the "Z" sliders were offset for variety. They sent pitch voltage to the TZ-VCO's from SSL. The duet were sent through the STG Post Lawsuit Filter and an Empress reverb/delay pedal.

Other outboard effects were the Meris Hedra for the bass line and the EMX Grand Canyon for the steady pad sound."

A FUNERAL FOR QUEEN MARY, On Analog Synth Purcell

video upload by LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER

"Time to upset some nerds. Programmed the famous clockwork orange, wendy carlos/ purcell piece. A Funeral For Queen Mary. Now with robotic lars ulrich and angry bass behind! Download the wav and mp3 here :- / 127565163"

Synthesizers.com Custom Modular Synthesizer System

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

via this Reverb listing

"It is currently configured to work with up to five notes of paraphony (Grove Audio CV Midi option). There are a few modules from Grove Audio, along with a Time Machine analog delay, and many other modules. Custom stand with glide rails allows keyboard to slide in and out. Custom made stands includes new Wurlitzer reproduction legs on furniture grade plywood top with ballbearing slide hinges so keyboard pulls in and out with ease. Includes the original boxes and all of the original paperwork and accessories. Includes all the patch cords."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Live On Modular Synthesizer - Night Or Day - Look Mum No Computer

video upload by LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER

This one was from a year ago but is from 2033 according to the description.

"Live Version of Night Or Day
Stream/Listen/Buy here :- https://linktr.ee/lookmumnocomputer
LIVE VERSION, VOCAL STEMS AND INSTRUMENTAL WAV DOWNLOAD. HERE TO LISTEN OR REMIX ETC :-
/ night-or-day-new-86628591
/ 86883644
--------
Video Shot Live at Fire Eyeland In Margate on the 26th July 2033"

How To Play Songs On Modular Synths Live

video upload by LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER

SYNTHFEST 2025: "Spherical" Live

video upload by Nr Synth

"Live version of the track 'Spherical' from the album 'Flying Again'. Jean-Luc Briançon (aka Kurtz Mindfields) was in a very good way and did an impressive lead part. Enjoy!"

TMP-3-03 Vintage Synth TV Series from Benge

video upload by Memetune Studio

00:00 Opening Titles
00:17 Introduction
01:27 Switched On 80s
16:14 Synthesiser Club
19:48 Commercial Break
23:57 Patching Today
35:04 Little Black Boxes
38:53 Video Lab
44:22 Outro

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Episode three of the third series of the TV program from Benge, made at his Memetune Electronic Music Studio

The series explores his passion for vintage synthesiser instruments and studio gear and how he uses them in his productions and collaborations

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

It is divided into the following sections:

SWITCHED ON 80s - This third series takes an in-depth look into six classic 80s synthesisers, selected because of their interesting and unique attributes

SYNTHESISER CLUB - A short musical demonstration of a synthesiser classic or three, concentrating on 'families' of synths

COMMERCIAL BREAK - Some shameless Memetune shilling

PATCHING TODAY - A deep-dive into vintage modular systems and how to set up a patch on them, starting from scratch, this time using Cybersynthesis techniques to bring an element of surprise to the patches

LITTLE BLACK BOXES - A further look at some classic rack mount studio gear of the 80s and 90s

VIDEO LAB - A look at old video equipment and how to create experimental visuals, concentrating on a specific device in each episode

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

In THIS episode:

SWITCHED ON 80s - A detailed presentation on FM synthesis and its history, looking at the DK Synergy (as used on the Tron soundtrack), but mainly the Yamaha DX series of synths

CLICK FOR MORE »

Vintage Moog 921A driver, 3x 921B VCOs with PSU

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

via this VEMIA listing

Click the auction link on top when you get there for additional listings.

VEMIA is Peter Forrest's auction house. He is the author of The A-Z of Analogue Synthesizer Books.

"Four classic mid-seventies modules: one 921A Oscillator Driver, and three 921B Oscillators. Complete with an International Power switchable power supply (now more commonly badged Power One) and a wiring harness / loom wired for five modules - the four 921s here, and a fifth module - until now, the 904 in the previous lot. ***This will need encasing***, and of course the modules will need to go in a simple case or an existing cabinet. In very nice cosmetic condition, and working well. Bought by the current owner in 2003, and since lightly used in a non-smoking home studio. The power supply has a standard IEC mains socket and fused switch with power light. The fuse will need to be changed if the voltage is switched from USA, where it is currently located."

CLICK FOR MORE »

The Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun” - SYNTH PARTS YOU’VE NEVER HEARD BEFORE!

video upload by Anthony Marinelli Music

"I’m going to take you on a quest into one of The Beatles’ most iconic songs, 'Here Comes the Sun', and show you something I recently discovered, that really surprised me. — THERE ARE SYNTHESIZERS IN THIS ACOUSTIC AND ORGANIC SOUNDING TRACK!

I’ll break down the arrangement of this beautiful song and show you how to create all the synth sounds that were used to transcend it's sound. We’ll cover everything from the signature whistle sound, the main lead synth, the intro sound, and the buzzy synth bass that gives the track its vibe. I’ll also discuss the Beatles’ evolution as they started experimenting with effects on traditional instruments, which ultimately led them to integrate synthesizers in ways that completely reshaped what others thought possible.

They used the Moog synthesizer to replace orchestral parts in some sections of the song and to complement the acoustic elements in others. It was all about pushing the boundaries of what was possible at the time but still keeping their unique voice in tact.

What makes this even more special is that I’ve recreated these sounds on my rare, vintage 1969 Moog IIIc — the same model that was shipped just months after The Beatles received their own Moog directly from Bob Moog. This instrument, used on the 'Plantasia' album by Mort Garson, is in fully working order, so it’s my chance to give you a sense of the subtle nuances The Beatles heard when they first explored this revolutionary sound in their music. I’ll bring you as close to the original sound as possible and show you exactly how they used it in 'Here Comes the Sun'.

So, grab your synths (or just sit back and enjoy), and let’s take a closer look at how The Beatles incorporated this groundbreaking technology into their timeless music. You might just discover something new about one of the most loved songs in history and how you can do the same in your music today.

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell so you don’t miss out on any of the synth goodness I have coming your way! Also, check out my course Think Like a Synth to learn the exact method I've used for decades on hit records and films — and still use today.

____________________________________
ABOUT ANTHONY

Anthony's musical touch as both composer and performer is connected with some of the most influential creative minds over the last 40 years. He’s composed and conducted original orchestral scores for over 80 feature films including Young Guns , Internal Affairs , The Man From Elysian Fields , 15 Minutes and Planes, Trains & Automobiles , been commissioned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic for his symphonic work 'In the Family Way', written over one thousand TV commercials in a myriad of musical styles, co-founded Levels Audio Post (LA's premiere post production facility) and performed and arranged on big-box-office films and influential hit records such as Michael Jackson's Thriller .

His extensive work as a young arranger, orchestrator and performer for Quincy Jones , Jack Nitzsche , Lamont Dozier , Arthur Rubenstein and Giorgio Moroder was vital in launching his own career. His early years pioneering modular analog synthesizers along with his wide-ranging music scholarship positioned Anthony at the center of the music technology revolution. He attended the University of Southern California School of Music as a piano and composition major.

Website - https://www.anthonymarinellimusic.com"

Mu Phrogs Analog Filter as a mono synth

video upload by flavio mireles

"3 Mu VCO's setup as super Saws. Going into 1 Phrogs Analog Filter. Basic Mono Synth configuration."

Mu Phrogs Analig Filter in Wave Folder Mode.

video upload by fAVc2LaqacM

"Wave Folder distortion was activated on the separate VCA mixer. This feature is found on the Mu Phrogs Filter."

Additional demos posted earlier here.

Bluelantern Mu Format Phrogs Analog VCF Poly Patch. Low Pass adventure.

video upload by flavio mireles

"Poly patch on a fully blue lantern modules Mu format system. I use (4) Phrogs filters, (4) VCO's, and a Yarns midi to cv. The fx are done using external behringer racks, connected to the soon to be released 4 channel Mu Mixer. Phrogs analog filter has an on board simple decay envelope generator, and a vca. You can easily make a poly patch. External modules used for control: BLM Active Multiple, BLM Joy rider Euro Format Joystick, and BLM MegaClite Digital LFO.

Low Pass filter output is demonstrated.

Each voice was panned left or right. This is done on the up coming Mu format 4 channel stereo mixer. One the lower (bass) voice, I added a Mu Format ADSR. Gate was daisy chained through the ADSR and into the Phrog's trigger input. In the video it has a large green square led."

Mu Format Phrogs Analog VCF 4 Voice Poly Patch. High Pass saga.

video upload by flavio mireles

"High Pass output is demonstrated. Filter output mixing: band pass, high Pass, low pass is also used.
Each voice was panned left or right. This is done on the up coming Mu format 4 channel stereo mixer."

Update:

Mu Format VCO demo

video upload by flavio mireles

"I use (2) VCO's to demonstrate CV's and the two sync's. An Mu Format ADSR was used for the sync. It has the square green led. The output was patched through the Mu Format 4 channel mixer. There are AC capacitors on the Mixer, this gives some slew to the wave forms. You can see the slew on the scope.You can't hear this distortion by ear to the waveform. Just about all audio gear has AC coupling, no big deal."

CLUB OF THE KNOBS COTK C901ABC osc/ C902 vca / C938 5U MU

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

via this VEMIA listing

Click the auction link on top when you get there for additional listings.

VEMIA is Peter Forrest's auction house. He is the author of The A-Z of Analogue Synthesizer Books.

"5 x COTK modules 1 x COTK to Synthesizers.com busboard (rare and hard to find)

A solid foundation for a Moog-style modular setup—just add a filter and an envelope generator.

Club Of The Knobs COTK C901ABC Oscillator MU/.com Dotcom / 5U /Moog 901 Clone

This is a Moog 901 clone from COTK The Moog 901 came out in the late 1960's .. possibly 1965 to 68 ?? It's what is called a first generation VCO. You can use this as a VCO & VCLFO (voltage controlled LFO) It's a classic, and arguably this oscillator has influenced all VCO designs..... not just of Moog, but of synth manufacturers from around the world.

901a is the controller 901b is the oscillator 901c is the output module basically moog 901s (and clones) have a lower amplitude sound that you can amplify/ slightly distort (usually with a CP3 transistor style mixer) before running them into a moog filter but with 901c output module you also get outputs in modern modular format audio level. (and you can use them as the worlds most expensive LFO i suppose)

Condition: Used, some rack rash (previous owner), small scratch on the 901A module—see photos for details.

Club of the Knobs COTK C902 VCA This is a Moog 902 VCA clone from Club of the Knobs. Its on MU/5u/Dotcom format. It does what it is supposed to do. This module is a simple transistor based voltage controlled amplifier with either linear or exponential response. But simple doesn't mean boring sounding. This is one the workhorse VCAs of SynthLand. If you are looking at this you probably know how nice it sounds. Condition: Fully functional, but the (LIN/EXP) switch has a soft feel. Given its age (10+ years), this is reflected in the price.

COTK C938 Reversible Mixer The C 938 is a reversible mixer with attenuated inputs and a master gain multiple output. It can combine both AC and DC voltages. very useful attenucerter & mixer modular utility module Module in pristine condition Power & Compatibility:

All modules have COTK power connectors. You can power them if you:
- Have a COTK busboard (included in this sale) to connect to an MU/Dotcom case
- Use a COTK system
- Have a Moon Modular case that supports COTK power connections - all COTK cables to connect to busboard are included and a dotcom cable to connecto to you dotcom case.

A solid foundation for a Moog-style modular setup—(just add a filter and an envelope generator or two)"

CLICK FOR MORE »

muSonics Continuo - Chord Mode Demo

video upload by suitandtieguy

"I decided to record a short demo of chord mode on the Continuo development hardware. Controller is a Roland A-49 and the synthesiser is a Waldorf Iridium Core with one of my presets.

This is still in development but it's working well enough I can totally make music with it. I've never used an arpeggiator as fun as this and we don't even have external time control (stage advance from gate input and such) working yet.

If you wish to participate in the public beta program, check it out at musonics.com. If you've already bought in, I will be finishing your modules the first week of April."

MOTM / Synthesis Technology's Paul Schreiber Has Passed Away

Paul Schreiber at CONTROL in 2018


It has come to my attention that Paul Schreiber has passed away.

Pictured: Paul Schreiber at the 2006 NAMM show. Top from this previous post (pic by fr1zz), and bottom from this post (pic by Synthtopia) - this is the first image of Paul on the site. There is one comment in that post: "He's a good guy." Indeed.

Readers of the site should be familiar with his work. He was the man behind MOTM and Synthesis Technology.

To say Paul was one of the greats to influence the synth community would be an understatement. He was pivital to the rebirth of modular synthesizers. He started when modular as we know it today was in its infancy, as one of a very small group of large format DIY modular manufacturers along with Blacet, Modcan, Cynthia, Wiard, Oakley, STG, Catgirl/CGS, Tellun/Lower West Side Studio YuSynth, Jurgen Haible, and of course DIY staples like Thomas Henry/ MFOS, Ray Wilson and PAiA (see this post for some modular formats back in 2007). I focused mainly on those offering DIY. There were other manufacturers including Synthesizers.com, Club of the Knobs, MOS-LAB, Moon Modular, MacBeth, CMS, and more. Feel free to mention others in the comments. This post is about Paul, but I think it's important to reflect on some of the large format modular manufactures he was amongst at the time.

Paul created the MOTM format of 5U modules in 1998. MOTM stood for Module of the Month offering monthly DIY kits. From Wikipedia: "MOTM was created by Paul Schreiber in 1998. The system was created in part due to the renewed interest in large-format analog modular systems that occurred in the late 1990s. Between 1998 and 2021, over 8000 modules were sold. The company, Synthesis Technology, also offered a limited number of modules in Eurorack[2] and Frac[3] format."

He was also helped design the Moog/Realistic MG-1. From Wikipedia: "In 1980, Moog Music was seeking to contract manufacture a mass-marketable synthesizer which could be sold via a large retailer. Moog representatives secured an appointment at the Radio Shack corporate offices for a 5-minute demonstration. Radio Shack approved the concept, and Paul Schreiber (then employed by Tandy Systems Development) worked together with Moog on the synthesizer's design to achieve Radio Shack's price requirements.[2][3]"

He later joined the eurorack scene with Synthesis Technology branded modules. FYI, his site for MOTM was always http://www.synthtech.com/, short for Synthesis Technology. The first post to mention Paul and MOTM was posted just under twenty years ago here on MATRIXSYNTH back on August 26, 2005. If you click through you will see it was a post announcing the MOTM/synthtech.com site was going down for the weekend. He announced he was retiring from the synthesizer business in August of 2023.

I beleive the first synthtech eurorack module was the MOTM E340 Cloud Generator. The first demos were posted on July 14, 2009, followed by a mockup of the front panel on July 20. The first post to mention Synthesis Technology was an Epic Son track by John L Rice in August of 2011. Since then there has been approximately 845 posts to feature MOTM, and at least 398 Synthtech.

You can find a number of interviews with Paul in previous posts here.

It's worth repeating, Paul Schreiber was one of the key figures that brought modular back to the masses. He was both respected and loved by the synth community. It's impossible to overstate his influence. He will be missed.

The following are the first the last video interviews with Paul to be featured on the site:

The SynthSummitShow Episode 2: Paul Schreiber (Synthesis Technology) and A.Dapt (music producer) ...

Streamed live on Oct 2, 2015 Flux302 of Fluxwithit.com. Details previously posted here.

SysEx Dumpster - Episode 44 - a conversation with Paul Schreiber
video upload by Sysex Dumpster on Jul 30, 2023. Details previously posted here.

The first videos to feature Paul presenting a module was back on January 3, 2010, and the first interview on SoundCloud in 2013, and he was of course featured in the modular documentary film I Dream of Wires.

3/13/25 SSL 1660 1310 + .com Q173 Q150 + acVOKS + FSFX 103 + muSonics Vanilla Env & Mixer + CXM 1978

video upload by Cfpp0

"3/13/25 SSL 1660 The Matrix & 1310 Digital Delay + Synthesizers.com Q173 Gate Math & Q150 Ladder filter + Analog Craftsman acVOKS + FSFX 103 Lopass Gate + muSonics Vanilla Envelope & Mixer + CXM 1978

The 5U consolidation continues, but today was an another good day for the STG muSonics Vanilla Envelope and Vanilla Mixer, which have been moved to the SSL racks. The Analog Craftsman acVOKS Bandpass output is running through the Synthesizers.com Q150 Transistor Ladder Filter into the Free State FX 103 Lopass Gate, for triple resonance."

Abandoned Prairie Town

video upload by davidryle

"A Vector Sequencer project running the large format modular.
The slow pace was the experiment basis and the Vector Sequencer really handles that perfectly. I also added the Jack Expander module to the Vector so I had four sequence lines this time to send to the modular.
The drone bass is a Mos-Lab clone of the Moog 901. No need for a sequencer there as it is a single pitch.
The opening sound is the pair of Matrix modules. This sound effect is heard again at the closing passage.
The opening slow pad note sequence is the STG vco's and G294A filter through a Strymon Blue Sky pedal.
The swell pattern is two Q206's to the Q150 filter. The stereo signal is routed through a Lexicon MX200 for pitch shift and chorus.
The distant ghostly piano sounding sequence is two lines from the Vector to a pair of TZ vco's and the Yusynth Arp 4072 filter. The final effect chain is the Stasis Leak delay module and the Z-DSP signal processor.
The flutter sounding noise is the Dove WTF to a Tau Pipe phaser and an Oakly SVF in high pass mode.
The wind effects were the West Coast Noise Source to the MOTM 440 filter and the Q110 noise module to the Dove D502 filter in band pass mode."

Switchback Descent

video upload by davidryle

"The great Vector Sequencer from Five12. I am using it for a pair of simple 16 step sequences to the 5U modular by way of CV and Gate.

The clock is derived from the Moon Modular 553 Midi to Clock module. I used the 1/96th division and a start gate to tap the sync24 feature in the Vector. I do have an STG bus but the sync bus cable wouldn't reach out of the cabinet to the Vector. The other clock pulses are from the STG Time Divider.

The first patch is run to a pair of Q206 VCO's and the Q150 filter and then on to the Echo Fix tape delay. Stereo panning was from the Q158 VCA++ and a Mega Ohm LFO. The Ian Fritz Hypster by Synthetic Sound Labs is a modulation source for the decay stage of the STG Envelop Generator.

The bass line patch is a pair of STG Oscillators to a pair of Mega Ohm MA20's in low and high pass series. The SSL Tube VCA is used to add some drive. The Frequency Central Stasis Leak stereo chorus finishes the patch chain.

The third patch is a drone pad line from the Dove D900 sequencer to the WTF Oscillator and the Oakley SVF in Notch mode. The slow center frequency modulation from a second Mega Ohm LFO does a nice job of combing through the upper mids of the complex waveforms out of the WTF. The last part of the patch is through the Empress Reverb in green ghost mode.

The Vector is the first edition mk1 but still has quite the feature set. I was using a modulation lane for transpose to the pair of pitch sequences. This same transpose sequence was replicated on the Q960 with a second Q960 as a divider. The pitch voltages for the WTF were combined in the unity mixer of the STG Active Multiples module. I did use the Q171 Quantixer Bank for precision stepping from the Q960.

All sounds captured at once in a single take to Cubase 12. Video edited in Final Cut Pro.

Special thanks to Ron Sunsinger for the loan of the Vector and Adam Fritsche for the Stasis Leak module."

Lisa Bella Donna - “Our Children Deserve a Warless World” (in-studio session).

video upload by Lisa Bella Donna

"Studio session, instant composition with the Moog Sound Studio and a few spices from the large modular system.

A simple piece and prayer of kinder days for our kids coming up in this world. Children are the true believers in the dreams of our future. Let’s leave something more for them…

In love & music,
Lisa Bella Donna"

Busy Bezaleel

video upload by davidryle

"5U modular synthesizer song. Using the LinnStrument 128 and synthesizers.com Q174 MIDI Interface to play into the modular. The main voice was a pair of Synthetic Sound Labs TZ-VC Oscillators and a Yusynth ARP 4072 Filter. Bass line was the Q960 step sequencer to DOve D100 and D110 VCO's on to the Drove G294A filter. A kick drum is from the SSL Woven Spirits.The FX fluttering sound is the Dove D900 sequencer to a pair of STG Oscillators. The noise chuff sounds are the WCRS module into a MOTM 440 filter and delay.

The mid-section is the LinnStrument in arpeggiator mode for the bass line (a pair of Q106's through the Q107 filter) and for the upper arpeggiation (the TZ-VC osc pair through an Oakley SVF. The offbeat sequence is the Dove D900 through the STG oscillators and the Dove D502 filter. The pad sound is generated by the STG Voltage Mini Store to a pair of Q206 vco's and the Q150 filter to a Canyon Delay pedal."

JLR's Stand-in Test

video upload by John L Rice

"Because I'm stubborn and silly, I made a 'stand-in' to try to get better focus when recording video of myself. It's silly because I have decent auto-focus lenses and my cameras have good face tracking BUT my most expensive lenses are manual only cinema lenses that aren't well suited for doing solo operator work in front of the camera, but because I think they are cool and I invested a lot of money in them I insist on using them, even when it's not practical! 🙄😆

The music here is from beta test I did last year for a new Synthesis Technology E430 VCF that is now in production. "

Fat analog bass synth sound with the Hell Modular in 5U size

video upload by Cornel Hecht

"The filter consists of the resonant LP filter and a static HP filter. The resonance can of course be increased up to the natural oscillation of the filter. In addition to the envelope, the filter is also modulated with a synced LFO. #hellmodular #modularsynth #modularsynthesizer #analogsynthesizer #analogsynth #5umodular"