Unique Hinton EMS Synthi Opportunity

via Hinton Instruments

"We have received a complete EMS Synthi MkII card set to check and sell on behalf of the owner who has had them in a box for over 30 years meaning to build them into a synthesizer...

Here is an unrepeatable opportunity to commission a custom rebuild featuring all of Graham Hinton’s Modifications and more built into either rack mounting format or portable in a Zero instrument case. We have an original Sealectro 16×16 matrix or could expand it to a 20×20 Ghielmetti matrix, fully buffered of course. All pots would be conductive plastic with Elma collet knobs. This could be the synthesizer that EMS never built, but should have."

Hinton Custom Synthesizer Systems

via Hinton Istruments

"Our FullPower™ Linear PSUs and Distribution Cards are proving to be popular in large synthesizer systems requiring a reliable high specification power system."

Pictured: "Custom 6U and 3U frames in a 10U Gator case

The above system consists of our standard 3U 84HP Eurorack four rail frame and a custom 6U frame to house two rows of 28HP Eurorack together with four Wiard 300 series modules. A +/-12V FullPower PSU on the rear supplies the Euroracks with >1.5A and a custom +/-15V supply beneath the Wiard modules provides their power. All PSUs are soak tested continuously for two days with over their rated loads. "

custom graham hinton switchmix for serge modular

via marc

"thomas ankersmit's custom switchmix by graham hinton for use with serge modular"

click on the pics for the super size shots.

http://www.thomasankersmit.net/

Continuum Fingerboard and modular synth - eight improvisations

Continuum Fingerboard and modular synth - eight improvisations from Katavist on Vimeo.

"No Midi. The Haken's internal sound "clinical oscillator 1" was routed to the Analogue Systems RS-35 External Processor and Doepfer A-119 to generate pitch cv, envelope and triggers.
Awesome how minimal changes in finger pressure brings about so much voltage control with the Wiard JAG distributing cv to different modules simultaneously. The Blacet Frequency Divider together with Malekko Wiard Noisering and Doepfer Wasp filter made for bass rumbling, f(h) SOS through spring reverb module provided noisy delay patterns, TipTop Z5000 was used for reverb and additional delay. Also: ADDAC Complex Random, Analogue Solutions CVT, MFB Triple Osc, Doepfer LPG, Hinton Switchmix, PlanB M13."

Hinton Custom EMS Oscillator Bank Eurorack

via Hinton Instruments

"Hinton Instruments has provided a custom rebuild of an EMS Board “C” into a 3U 52HP Eurorack format module incorporating all of Graham Hinton’s modifications and more, all within a 40mm depth. This is not a clone, we don’t do clones so don’t ask.

The module is shown here mounted in our new four rail open Euro frame with rear mounted Triple 1A PSU module and our new ModMix module. The combination provides a very high specification, comprehensive modular synthesizer front end.

Please note: this module is neither a product of Hinton Instruments nor EMS (Cornwall), nor is it going to be. It was only possible to produce because a client had a spare vintage EMS pcb, but it does illustrate the type of custom work we can turn around."

Hinton SwitchMix as sequencing utility

Hinton SwitchMix as sequencing utility from katavist on Vimeo.

"Nice 8x8 matrix mixer/multiple for all kinds of duties: Mixing of course, it's also great for gradual building up drones through muting/unmuting etc... Very versatile and sturdily built.

If you use something like the Doepfer A-160/161 Clock Sequencer for the 8 inputs, you get a nice little step sequencer with 8 steps and 8 mutable tracks.

Musically these sketches are embarrassingly outdated and 20 years too late, I know, but otoh, who cares. Take it as a bit of nostalgia :) This channel is not for my musical output anyway, Katavist's videos should serve (ideally) only as a source of inspiration for *your* creativity with all this new modular stuff. Thank you for watching!"

[Re-posted. This one was a casualty of the recent Blogger outage.]

Hinton Instruments Custom DAW Interface for Volta

via Hinton Instruments

"Hinton Instruments has supplied an active multichannel interface for use with a MotU 2408 and Volta, or Expert Sleepers’ Silent Way, that overcomes the inherent limited range problems and the inability to trigger older synthesizers requiring high gate and trigger voltages.

Two of our Quad Line Input eurocards were used to provide balanced to unbalanced conversion, ±10dB (÷3 to x3) level trim with LED indicators and dedicated high level V-trig and Moog type S-trig outputs. Although this particular system was intended for CV outputs the cards may also be used for DAW Output or Input level matching and may be switched between DC coupling and AC coupling with DC servoing.

The Quad Line Input may also be supplied as a Eurocard module or bare pcb to be built into other systems allowing a variety of interfacing functions between DAWs and unbalanced systems to be easily configured."

Hinton Customised 30 x 30 MIDI Routing Matrix and Mergers

via Hinton Instruments

"Hinton Instruments have supplied Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis with a customised version of MIDIX30 Routing Matrix with additional 4:1 and three 2:1 MIDIY Mergers. The unit will route all MIDI control for three theatres from a common machine room.

The MIDIX was chosen for its reliability, serviceability and because it is a hardware router with minimum delays and distortion. The MIDIX30 is equivalent to sixteen of the 8×8 software routers it replaced and which had proven to be too unreliable.

MIDIX is fully RS232 controlled and has many advanced features including MIDI Recall, Illegal routing definitions, Events, Messages and diagnostic monitoring. The mergers are also RS232 controlled and have comprehensive filtering of all MIDI Statuses and large buffers.

All MIDI I/O is on DB25 connectors with 5 ports per connector. Heavy duty tie bars support multicore cable looms."

Update: also see the MIDIX16 Professional MIDI Routing Matrix

Hinton Instruments: Switchmix

flickr by Analogue Haven
http://analoguehaven.com/
"We have just ordered a good quantity of Switchmix Eurorack modules from Hinton Instruments, to be delivered in April. The Switchmix is a compact switched routing matrix for both audio and DC-coupled control voltages. We are getting both the 8x8EJ and the high-precision 8x8PEJ versions. We will add these to our site as soon as possible. More details can be found at the Hinton Instruments website. LINK"

Simian Mobile Disco's synth-loaded studio

More shots on Music Radar

"With two studio albums and a slew of remixes behind them, Simian Mobile Disco (AKA James ‘Jas’ Shaw – pictured left – and James Ford) are one of the most-talked-about production duos of the past few years (Ford has also produced for Arctic Monkeys and Klaxons). Future Music recently headed over to the rented London studio that spawned 2009’s Temporary Pleasure long-player, and discovered that SMD’s reputation as synth-heads is well-deserved."

Regarding the modular:
"The Wardrobe is the name given to Jas Shaw’s most recent eBay purchase, a unique modular synth built by Steve Urquhart. “He had a gig at T in the Park Scotland and as I live in Aberdeenshire, his guys picked it up for him,” says Steve."

via http://twitter.com/nsputnik

Update via Yusynth in the comments: "This modular is mainly based on Jurguen Haible's, Steve Thomas', Graham Hinton's, Derek Revell's and Yves Usson's designs as it is stated in the Future Music article. It is nice to see artists acknowledging the contribution of the SDIY community."

Update via Seppe in the comments: "It's a very late comment, but I just discovered a better look at the studio here" [video]

Early Hinton Modular

via Graham Hinton Hinton Instruments: "Briefly, it was developed in the early 70s as a very high spec instrument while I worked in a nuclear physics laboratory. I actually believed that the major manufacturers' published specs were true, so I met or bettered them. (It was quite a disappointment when I later worked in a studio with a Synthi 100 and found that it didn't come close by a long way. Same again years later when I got my hands on a large Moog modular.)

Brief spec:
Fully modular, hot pluggable 4U 19" rack mounting.
Every input has a voltage 3.5mm jack AND a summing Lemo 00 connector. So any input can have more inputs added as needed, mixers or the big matrix can be added. Or both with a Lemo T-piece.
Open collector (wire-OR) logic control on the rear panels. That's like Moog S-trig for Gates, but there were counters and other logic modules too. The Envelope Generators gave out logic pulses at each stage so two or more could be locked together at a particular phase or cascaded.
By '75 it had a 256 step digital sequencer programmed from an eight voice digital keyboard scanner, both built in discrete TTL. (It pre-dates microprocessors and synth chips.)"

Update: a close-up of the modules.

NOT NAMM: HINTON INSTRUMENTS NOW SHIPPING SWITCHMIX

"HINTON INSTRUMENTS NOW SHIPPING SWITCHMIX: A TRUE SUMMING ANALOGUE PATCHING MATRIX FOR AUDIO AND CONTROL VOLTAGES

Somerset, England, 19 Jan. 2010 - SwitchMix is a compact, true summing patching matrix of illuminated switches, designed for use in modular synthesizer systems, and for other specialized audio interfacing applications.

Signals are routed through fixed precision resistors, with all the necessary buffering and support circuitry to provide true summing of audio or DC coupled control voltages. Only one operation is required to make a connection, and the illuminated switches provide immediate visual feedback.

SwitchMix can be shipped with either balanced or unbalanced compatible inputs and outputs. Balanced inputs make it a suitable choice for Silent Way and Volta users to easily interface a DAW with an analogue synthesizer system.

An 8x8 matrix designed to fit within the popular Eurorack format is available as a standard product.

Prices start at £399. Larger 12x12 or 16x16 SwitchMix systems can be custom built to customer specifications, either in Eurocard format, or on custom panels.

ABOUT HINTON INSTRUMENTS:
Hinton Instruments has provided a range of audio engineering services for the professional recording, broadcast, film, and entertainment industries since 1984.

For further information or to place an order, please contact Graham Hinton at Hinton Instruments:

Email: enquiries@hinton-instruments.co.uk

Phone: Int. +44 (0)1373 451927.

Web: http://www.hinton-instruments.co.uk/switchmix"

Hinton Instruments SwitchMix

via Hinton Instruments where you will find more info.

"A compact switched routing matrix for both audio and dc coupled control voltages. All the advantages of pin matrices without the problems.

SwitchMix may have balanced or unbalanced compatible inputs and outputs, extending its use beyond synthesizer patching to other audio routing applications including multitrack and effects routing and headphone mixes. The balanced inputs make it suitable for interfacing DAW sound cards into a synthesizer for Silent Way and Volta users.

Two Eurorack versions of the SMX8 are available, with or without front panel jacks. Rear connections are via DB25 sockets conforming to the Tascam balanced analogue pinout. The SMX8EJ (shown) has front panel 3.5mm unbalanced jacks for synthesizer connections and occupies 42HP of Eurorack space. The SMX8EB has balanced Bantam/TT jacks. Other combinations and custom normalling are possible.

We can custom build different sized SwitchMix systems with different features, but have engineered an 8×8 matrix to fit within the popular Eurorack format. Larger systems can be made in Eurocard Rack format, incorporating our Eurocard interfacing modules, or on custom 19″ or other sized panels. Prices start from £399, EC orders received before 1st January 2010 will be charged with 15% VAT (don’t forget it increases to 17.5% after that).

For further information or to discuss custom orders please contact us."