READYdot´s A-100 Experiments Vulcanian Dalek Freak Show

YouTube via READYdot

"So here is some really f***ed up patch, creepy as doom. Dalek and Vulcan Modulator play a part, as does the MFB OSC-2, a BBD and the RE-20. The thing was inspired by James Ciglers Dalek Demo."

Emergency Librarian - Rock & Roll Robot

YouTube via robinfry.
Watch the full set here
Emergency Librarian on Myspace

Alesis Ion
Doepfer suitcase with Livewire Dalek Modulator and Dual Cyclotron
Flame MIDI-TALKING-SYNTH
Korg MicroKorg

Circuit bent instruments by David Cranmer

images at this auction
"Here is the latest version of a line of voice modulator effects boxes from nervoussquirrel.com. Plug your synth/drum machine/laptop/gameboy/microphone/guitar etc. into the audio in socket, and receive a pleasant range of flanging/ring modulation-esque/dalek/vocoder/distortion sounds from the output.

Features include:
• Seven different pitch modes
• A switch to automatically cycle through the different pitch modes to create a chaotic sequence of effects
• Input level
• Volume
• LFO rate
• Pitch dial, which works over a very large range
• 'Robotic' and 'wobbliness' modes
• Feedback function, allowing the unit to be played on its own without any input
• Heavy duty extruded aluminium case with power and LFO rate LEDs

The unit is powered by a 9V 'PP3' type battery (not included), accessible via a discrete drawer in the side of the unit.

High-quality switches and components have been used throughout, and build quality/soldering etc. is all very good. The front panel graphics are made from signmaker's vinyl.

Useful for annoying neighbours if used at a high volume. Instructions included.
Again, check out this link to hear what it actually sounds like:
www.nervoussquirrel.com/circuitbent.html"

lecktrow 2

"fun with the dalek modulator and a 606."
via consumed sound via rtopia

The Wobbulator

Note this is a good follow up to this post on The Alchemists of Sound.

via sine in this electro-music.com thread:

"The wooden boxy thing in the front of the picture with the round dail is the workshops wobbulator, the plexi thing on thop of that is the crystal palace, something we woud call a scanner these days."

via Brainstormer in the same thread:
"I've read about one of these devices in a few BBC Radiophonic Workshop related articles. I'm wondering if it would be possible to construct something as unique as this to be used in a modular synthesizer?

I can find very little concise technical information regarding these devices, only application info, so it may be a null discussion point. Unless someone here has a more in-depth knowledge of them?

Here's a few articles that mention the wobbulator:
Quote:
Early on, the Workshop acquired a wobbulator, originally designed for engineering tests but also very useful as a source of raw material. This created a tone whose pitch was continuously varied by a second oscillator, thus providing sweeping waves of sound.
http://whitefiles.org/rws/r02.htm

Quote:
The chief inventor, David Young, came up with contraptions like ‘the Wobbulator’ and ‘the Crystal Palace’ to produce brand-new sound textures, and nothing could ever have been done without the ‘Donotfiddlewith’, a delicate tape-tensioning device made out of Meccano and labelled in felt-tip with an anti-tamper warning.
http://www.timeout.com/london/music/features/4493/Fifty_years_of_the_BBC_Radiophonic_Workshop.html

Quote:
But the 'Ooh-ooh-ooh' isn't me… that's wobbulator, pure wobbulator. That's a piece of test equipment that does wave sweeps.
http://www.delia-derbyshire.org/interview_surface.php

Quote:
The melody notes were also recorded individually, and at half-speed to achieve the desired pitch, while the hiss and windbubble effects were created by carefully filtering white noise through a wobbulator.
http://www.millenniumeffect.co.uk/audio/index2.html

Quote:
They also had a couple of high-quality equalisers (again, test equipment - equalisers, or "tone controls", were not that easy to come by at the time) and a few other gadgets including a "wobbulator" (a low frequency oscillator) and a white noise generator.
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Mark_ayres/DWTheme.htm

Quote:
Wobbulating The World
In the early '60s, synthesizers simply did not exist. Producer Joe Meek was using the monophonic, valve-operated Clavioline but the Radiophonic Workshop, oddly enough, never had one. What they did have, though, was all the test oscillators that they could beg, borrow or steal from other BBC departments. A method was devised for controlling 12 oscillators at a time, triggering them from a tiny home-built keyboard of recycled piano keys. Each oscillator could be independently tuned by means of a range switch and a chunky Bakelite frequency knob.

There was also the versatile 'wobbulator', a sine-wave oscillator that could be frequency modulated. It consisted of a very large metal box, with a few switches and one very large knob in the middle that could sweep the entire frequency range in one revolution. They were used in the BBC for 'calibrating reverb times in studios' apparently. And as far as the Workshop's electronic sound sources went, that was it!
Yet, curiously, it is the work produced in those early years that the Radiophonic Workshop's reputation still hangs on. The Doctor Who theme was first recorded in 1963, and still there are fans who insist that the original is the best of many versions made over the years. What's more, some of the sound effects made for the first series of Doctor Who are still being used! When the newly revamped Doctor Who appeared in 2005, hardcore fans recognised the original effects and wrote to Brian Hodgson: "How nice to hear the old original Dalek Control Room again, after all these years!"

Brian's 'Tardis' sound, dating from 1963, is also still used. "I spent a long time in planning the Tardis sound," says Brian. "I wanted a sound that seemed to be travelling in two directions at once; coming and going at the same time." The sound was actually made from the bare strings of a piano that had been dismantled. Brian scraped along some bass strings with his mum's front-door key, then set about processing the recordings, as he describes it, "with a lot of reverse feedback". (By this, I assume he means that tape echo was added, then the tape reversed so that it played backwards.) Eventually, Brian played the finished results to Dick Mills and Desmond Briscoe; at their insistence he added a slowly rising note, played on the wobbulator.
http://musicandculture.blogspot.com/2008_03_01_archive.html

synthesizer eye dee m

YouTube via cray56
"Plan B VCO,LPG,Heisenberg, Livewire AFG,Dual Cyclotron,Dalek, Vulcan, CGS Steiner Filter, Doepfer WASP filter"

Tyme Sefari as a bit reduced CV recorder

YouTube via dkimcg
"I tried using the Harvestman Tyme Sefari as a CV recording module a little more seriously last night. I was able to get it to record some LFOs that sounded rhythmic and have the frequency CV of the Tyme Sefari control the playback rate of the recorded gesture. Too bad I didn't record it, because it sounded better than what you're watching. This video is purely technical experimentation, it kind of annoys me actually, which might be good. I have the TS record the Dalek Modulator which is being modulated by the Dual Cyclotron. The CV if the ringmod out of the Dalek is recorded by the Tyme Sefari, and the DLY out send it off to the PlanB Model 15's FM input, fully cranked most the time. The CV's also sent to the Polivoks filter's frequency CV input and attenuated. That goes through the M13 and is controlled by the M10 which is triggered by the M24 Heisenberg. The M10 also triggers the playback of the Tyme Sefari at points in the video too. The Heisenberg is also sending the stepped output into the Tyme Sefari. Finally, the LFO is turning on and off the recording and panning (which you probably don't hear). That's about it for the patch. You don't actually "hear" the Tyme Sefari. It's basically FMing the M15 and the Polivoks VCF."

Livewire & PlanB (and a dash of Doepfer)

YouTube via dkimcg
"Making more fertilizer from some very nice modules two brainiac of sound designers made, but I'm just trying out two more new modules, the Livewire Dual Cyclotron and Dalek Modulator. The Dalek FMs the M15, the M28 is the master trigger device, which is reading the phase of the Doepfer LFO. The Cyclotron modulates a bunch of crap, and the M10 gates and also modulates and triggers other crap. And the M24 generates the freq CVs. I like the Livewire modules I got a lot. I have much more to explore with them. This patch almost sounds good, not quite a turd of a patch this time. Or am I wrong?

This one's in stereo, can you figure out how to watch it in stereo?"

Yet Another Assy Modular Patch

YouTube via dkimcg
"One of the first "drones" I've patched together that I liked enough to record and use my camera phone for your viewing pleasure. The drone is heavily influenced by the M38 Wavesplicer, and ring modulation. Randomness is the M24 controlling triggering and the length of the M10 notes. Longer notes drone, shorter ones don't. I also got a Doepfer VCADSR in there helping out in the drone. BTW, the M10 is using the inverted output (-, not +), and is being used more for timing than with a VCA. Envelopes are the ADSR and the Triple timer going through the CV Processor and mixed with the M10's inverted (to be positive) envelope, and the ADSR, and a new Doepfer LFO. More modulation sources, yay. I have a Cyclotron, a Dalek Modulator, and another Wavesplicer on the way too."

First vid try Dual Cyclotron, Dalek and Doepfer modules

YouTube via pristak777
"My first try at a video using Dual Cyclotron, Dalek and some Doepfer modules. Not quite up to the quality I like for Church of the Apocalypse, but it is close at the end."

Frostwave Blue Ringer Ring Modulation Pedal

via this auction
"The Original FROSTWAVE Blue Ringer guitar pedal!

This is the prototype that Paul Perry made back in the early days before the production model you see today in their & other stores. All Frostwave production has halted for a while so get this while you can.

This pedal has controls for:
* gain on the main input (top left)
* gain on the main output (top right)
* wet/dry mix (top middle)
* frequency (big centre radio knob)
* an extremely sturdy on/off stomp switch

Inputs:
* Main
* Secondary / B input (for ring modulating one audio signal with any other of your choosing)
* Control Voltage (CV)

Output:
* Main

Case:
* Bulletproof (well bloody strong anyway) steel casing.

About the Blue Ringer
Bands such as Radiohead and countless others are putting ring modulation
into their recordings. Ring Modulation is a distinct incredibly versaltile effect that can be used creatively on almost any instrument.

One of the most classic examples is it's use as a vocoder like effect on voice.
The ring modulator was used as the voice of 'The Daleks' on the cult Sci-fi British TV show Dr Who.

The ring modulator uses an internal oscillator and balanced mixer to generate new harmonics that correspond to the sum and differences of the frequencies of the input signal and the local oscillator.

For example, if the input signal from a guitar or keyboard is 800 cps and the local oscillator is at 600 cps then the output will be two frequencies of 200 and 1400 cps. The level of the output signal tracks the level of the input, so the original signal is transformed into new frequencies.

The Blue Ringer has a balance control which allows the ratio of original signal and new harmonics to be varied. Thus, it is possible to have totally new harmonics or just to have a small amount of eg add a percussive edge to a keyboard sound.

By changing the local frequency - as the unit is operating - it is possible to change the generated frequencies in a unique way. This can be particularly effective with the lower notes of a drum machine.

Generate super intense tremolo! The Blue Ringer can be used as a high quality tremolo unit. In this mode, the balance control acts as a depth control and the frequency control adjusts tremolo speed.

Differences between this and the Blue RInger V2 from Frostwave:
No gain control for the second input and no MIC input. This pedal works either with an OSC or B input for modulation. It produces killer sound whether using it as a straight up ring mod or modding 2 of your own signals togther. The best example I herd using this was a bowed double bass ring modded with a sweet female vocal. Very cool & eerie audio result!"
via brian c.

RIP Tristram Cary

Tristram Cary passed away this week at the age of 82.
Pictured: In Tristram's studio
http://www.tristramcary.com/
"While serving as a wartime naval radar officer in 1945, he independently conceived the idea of electronic and tape music, and is thus a world pioneer in this field. His contribution to concert and entertainment musical repertoire in every genre from pure electronic music to instrumental solos and orchestral and choral works covers the entire second half of the 20th century, and is now moving actively into the 21st."

via wikipedia:
"Cary was educated at Westminster School in London, England and is the son of a pianist and the novelist, Joyce Cary, author of Mister Johnson. While working as a radar engineer for the Royal Navy during World War II, he independently developed his own conception of electronic and tape music, and is regarded as amongst the earliest pioneers of these musical forms. Following the war he created one of the first electronic music studios, later travelling around Europe to meet the small numbers of other early pioneers of electronic music and composition.
His concert works of note include a Sonata for guitar (1959), Continuum for tape (1969), a cantata Peccata Mundi (1972), Contours and Densities at First Hill for orchestra (1972), a Nonet (1979), String Quartet No. 2 (1985) and The Dancing Girls for orchestra (1991).
Cary is also particularly well known for his film and television music. He has written music for the science fiction television series Doctor Who, as well as the score for the Ealing comedy The Ladykillers (1955). Later film scores included Quatermass and the Pit (1967) and Blood from the Mummy's Tomb (1971), both for Hammer.
Cary was one of the first British composers to work in musique concrète. In 1967 he created the first electronic music studio of the Royal College of Music.

He provided the visual design for the EMS VCS3 synthesizer, the first portable synthesizer, though not the first to be attached to a keyboard, designed by Bob Moog a year later in 1970.
Cary received the 2005 lifetime achievement award from the Adelaide Critics' Circle for his contribution to music in England and Australia."

WHAT THE FUTURE SOUNDED LIKE

YouTube via VCS3DOCO.


"Film teaser for the documentary What The Future Sounded Like - the story of the Electronic Music Studios and their impact on music history. www.myspace.com/whatthefuturesoundedlike"
"Tristram Cary (Director: 1969 - 1973) Pioneer of classical electronic music during 1960s and composer for film and broadcast with musical credits on the first Dr.Who & the Daleks series, later scored the Ealing comedy The Ladykillers as well as a few Hammer films. Pipe smoker, tune writer, gun-for-hire, classical composer, navy man. Role at EMS was as resident composer and artist and as the most musically experienced. Co-designed VCS3. Built wooden cabinet, wrote hand-book. Left to become Professor of Electronic Music at the Royal College of Music. Since became Professor of Music at the University of Adelade. Retirement is not an option." Alos see CDM and Califaudio. This post will remain on top for the rest of the day out of respect. New posts if any will be below.

Dalek Synth?

for the Doctor Who fans out there.

flickr by mgmd1982

full size

Waldorf Pulse+Doepfer MAQ 16/3+A-107 Filter+Dalek

YouTube via DavideModu.
"Waldorf Pulse+Doepfer MAQ 16/3+A-107 Filter+Dalek"

Deep Bass Nine-Doepfer A-107-Dalek-MAQ16/3--3

YouTube via DavideModu.
"Deep bass nine process sound in Doepfer Module and Dalek,Note control and Gate Doepfer MAQ 16/3,Gate control Morphing Filter A-107"

MAQ 16/3+Doepfer+Dalek----3

YouTube via DavideModu.

Livewire Dalek Modulator Demo

video upload by jamescigler

"A not-as-brief-as-hoped demo of the Livewire Dalek Modulator. http://felixinferious.blogspot.com/"

MAQ 16/3+Pulse+Doepfer+DAlek

MAQ 16/3+Pulse+Doepfer+DAlek+2

YouTube via DavideModu.

Livewire Dual Cyclotron+Dalek+Doepfer

YouTube via DavideModu.
"Livewire Dual Cyclotron+Dalek+Doepfer+Drum VST!!!"

bit traffiker

via phil on AH.

"quick Malgorithm demo DL for mp3.

basic: M15 saw, at 2:15 in change to Sine, modulation provided by Dual Cyclotron and M10 into Malgorithm and Dalek Modulator into M15. that is all.

then into JoeMeek MC2 then Chameleon Labs 7602s into FireFace 800.

tweaking M15 freq and Dalek some, most changes are from adjustments on the Malg. esp. the volv switches. An amazing module!"