ARP2600 License Plate

This one in via Clayton Janes.

Classic California orange on black license plate, with a British flag on a black Jag (Jaguar). Classy. That's some premium synth bling right there.

Michelle Moog-Koussa Featured on NPR's State of Things

via The Bob Moog Foundation

"Earlier this month, our executive director, Michelle Moog-Koussa, was interviewed by WUNC's State of Things about her life path leading to her decision to take the helm of the Bob Moog Foundation. Michelle offers insights into her early childhood with her father and recounts the first moments when she realized that despite his low-key, humble approach to his work, he was a famous and revered inventor.

You can listen to the entire interview here."

Update: I forgot to mention, great license plate! BTW, see the License Plates label below for more.

A Mini With MNIMOOG License Plate

via @soundbrenner

".@moogmusicinc The best license plate for a #musician #keyboardist we have ever seen. #Moog"

KORG Truck

via Connor 'Macleod' Eck on
The MATRIXSYNTH Lounge

North Carolina First in Flight MINIMOOG License Plate

via Michelle Moog-Koussa on Facebook

OSCUL8R Synth License Plate

Spotted in Westwood, Los Angeles by Charlie. See the License plate label below for more.

SYNTH Plate Available in Massachusetts

"The plate was cancelled today, so any quick off the mark Synth-heads may be able to get it at Mass RMV."

via Baikonur

Zon on Korg DS10 & Arizon Synth License Plate

Zon on Korg DS10 by Zon Vern Pyles
"Here's a tune I whipped up on the Korg DS-10 synthesizer app for the Nintendo DS.
Yep - all Korg and Nintendo (and me) on a synth you can fit in your pocket. Enjoy!"

See the license plates label below for more. via The MATRIXSYNTH Lounge

LFOFREQ License Plate

This one in via Nate.

They are out there. See the License Plates label below for more.

MATRIX6 License Plate

This one in via Joshua.

See the License Plates label below for more.

RING MOD License Plate

flickr By helloitabot

"ring mod license plate!"

via Charlie

Check out the License Plates label below for more.

BTW, if the driver of this car sees this pic, send another in. I'll keep it anonymous if you like.

RIP David Hillel Wilson - Curator of the New England Synthesizer Museum

via Jay Williston of Synthmuseum.com

"Dave Wilson, of the New England Synthesizer Museum has just passed away.

Dave was our inspiration for starting the Synthmuseum.com web site some 15 years ago.

So many of us in the electronic music field have made a trip up to see him in Nashua and his amazing collection. He is one of us and will be fondly remembered and missed.


http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/obituaries/836148-225/david-hillel-wilson.html

-Jay (of Synthmuseum.com)"

He was only 49:

"David Hillel Wilson, 49, passed away Friday, August 27th, 2010, in his Nashua home. Dave was born in Bronx, NY, on December 12, 1960, and grew up in Fairfield, CT. He was curator and founder of the New England Synthesizer Museum in Nashua. Dave is survived by his parents, Jay & Vivian Wilson, and his 3 siblings, Rebecca, Ruth and Daniel. A graveside service is planned for August 30th at 1 p.m. at the Agudas Achim cemetery on Reid Street in Fairfield, CT."

I was fortunate enough to visit Dave at the museum and communicated with him off and on via email. You can see all posts featuring Dave and the museum here [update: Blogger search appears to be broken; use the Google search box on the right]. He was extremely kind and gracious. Some might consider him a bit eccentric, but how could he not be. He lived literally surrounded by synths. For what it's worth I consider myself a bit eccentric and most of the people I appreciate in life are as well. The one thing that stood out for me overall though, was that he was just plain nice. It's something I value more than anything else in people I meet. The ability to just be nice to others. He was just one of those guys you liked knowing was out there doing his thing.

He loved synths as much if not more than anyone I've met and he loved ALL synths, not just the rare and the analog. I'll never forget him wailing the Star Wars theme and Emmerson's Lucky Man for me on the Yamaha DX7 with the Rhodes Chroma Polaris by it's side. I remember wondering why he chose those two out of everything else he had in the museum to play for me. I knew many of the pieces needed work, but he genuinely appreciated the DX7 and the Polaris for what they were. He told me a little about the two and the significance of the DX7. Of course he showed me all of the other synths in the museum including the very first ARP 2500 featured here.

He'd often pop up on the AH list with interesting bits of info. He always promptly replied to my inquiries via email. He was just a very kind, giving, and gentle soul. I remember asking him if he ever worried about people stealing from the museum. He told me a story about some kid trying to walk out with an SEM under his jacket. Dave didn't seem angry in telling me the story. It was just something to be aware of. I remember leaving the museum, dropping somewhere for a quick bite to eat and then popping back on the freeway back to Connecticut with my wife. Right as I was heading off a ramp to another freeway, I see a purple PT Cruiser with a SYNTHE license plate driving by. It was Dave! I remember thinking how cool is that! He didn't see me and he continued on while I went on the other freeway. I was hoping to visit him again some day. That unfortunately will never happen. 49 is way too young. Although I did not know him well, I will miss him very, very much. Dave, wherever you are, may the synths be with you. Today's posts are for you.


David Camlin

"The late David Wilson, curator of the New England Synthesizer Museum, discusses his collection of analogue synthesizers."video from October 2007

Note: This post went up at 10:50 AM. I post stamped it at 11:59 PM so it stays on top all day. As this literally was the first thing I woke to, I will put new posts up today below this one. Update via BexElttil in the comments: "Hi, Dave's sister Beckie here.. I would like to shed some light on how Dave died. He was in and out of the hospital since May 20th, they finally diagnosed him with amyloid AL. Basically, and extra protein attaches and grows to internal organs, there was no cure. We, the family did think he was going to beat it with chemo, God had other plans. He ultimately died of a heart attack on Friday afternoon. I guess they needed a really good synth engineer in heaven, and called for the best. If not for his friend checking on him daily and more than once a day, he might have been left there for days instead of hours. The museum does have a board, and my other brother Dan will be contacting them regarding what to do with the machines. Thank you, everyone for your kind words. I am awed by how many have known, loved, and respected Dave. I too, even as his sister, never had the chance to visit the museum. Blessings to you all. Beckie (Wilson) Basehore" Update via RuthsHere in the comments: "Hi there, (the OTHER sister chimes in.)
I hope you are all well. David was a pack rat(a family trait). It was a bit "sanford and son" over there. He knew what was important to him. Lack of funding kept the place in a little bit of a shambles. It's just how it was. Things could have been different, but that's not important anymore.

I am assisting Dan with organizing his material possessions. I had been in the "trenches" before and cleaned there a few times. I had ideas for his museum, but he really just wanted to do it his way.

Nothing is new to me when it comes to David except how much of an impact he has made on the world. I doubt he can ever be replaced, but I hope someone is able to finish repairs he started on some of the machines.

Thanks for everyone for their support and admiration. It's been a very pleasant surprise for his family.

Ruth Wilson"

Parallax - "Ryu." Live synth super-mega colon-blowing keytar soloing!

YouTube via hamsterdunce | July 10, 2010

"More music on umop.com/parallax.htm

Skip ahead to @3:30 for the keytar solo if you're the impatient type.

After uploading a live version of another "VIsit the Entropics" tune last week ("Umlaut" - which I promise to redo as well) and being thoroughly disappointed with its audio quality, I decided to offer up this fun indoors direct-audio performance of "Ryu" that's quite a bit more watchable. I'm basically just playing along with the CD here, and the solo is so incredibly hard to double that I decided to harmonize with most of it instead. The result is an occasionally messy wank that has moments of pure alien bliss.

Korg TR-61, 01/W, and Axis-1 "Axistron" controlling the Roland JD-800 off camera.

The bin boxes all contain Lego blocks; inventory for my Bricklink.com shop. A man's gotta pay the bills somehow."

SYNTH

Cool red Corvette with SYNTH license plate.

via Dave

BTW, if you know of other synth license plates, feel free to comment. Dave Wilson of the New England Synthesizer Museum has one with SYNTHE. You can see it in this post sitting on top of the ARP 2500. And then there's Mike Walters' POLYMOOG plates.

Mike Walters' Geeky License Plate

Mike Walters' of Mystery Circuits sent this shot of his Polymoog license plate in. Nice! I'd be honking my ass off if I saw that driving down the street. : )