SynthFest UK 2024 - Iconic Drum Machines

video upload by Sound On Sound magazine

"Oli Freke from Synth Evolution takes us on a guided tour of some of the most iconic drum machines that shaped music in our time.

He'll be joined on stage by Michael Eden who will demonstrate some of the drum machines in his collection.

Chapter times:

00:00 - Introducing the hosts
00:50 - What is a drum machine?
03:30 - The Wurlitzer Sideman from 1959, the first drum machine?
04:35 - Wurlitzer Sideman demonstration
08:15 - The Sideman's valve mechanism in action
09:52 - Legal problems and use by home organists
11:21 - Transistor-based Keio Donca Matic DE-11 from 1966
13:34 - Donca Matic DE-11 demonstration
15:15 - Keio becomes Korg
16:17 - Ace Tone Drum machines from 1967
17:15 - Keio Mini Pops 7 from 1967
20:47 - Famed use by Jean-Michel Jarre on Oxygene (Note: YouTube has muted the music clip)
23:12 - Inclusion of Quijada/ Jawbone sound
24:24 - Robin Gibb, Sly & The Family Stone drum machine firsts
26:29 - Paia Programmable Drumset from 1975
28:06 - Paia Drumset programming demonstration
32:16 - Use by Peter Gabriel
34:01 - Roland TR-808 from 1980
37:29 - Roland TR-808 features and demonstration
41:00 - Programming a beat on the TR-808
43:48 - Pioneering new genres of electronic music
47:13 - How does the TR-808 make its sounds?
48:14 - Recreating the 808 bass drum
50:39 - Recreating the 808 snare drum
52:22 - Recreating the 808 clap sound
53:48 - Recreating the 808 hi-hat sound
56:17 - Recreating the 808 cowbell sound
57:38 - Comparing the digital model with the original TR-808
58:29 - Outro

Oli Freke may be contacted via his website.
https://www.synthevolution.net"

PAIA DIY MODULAR SYNTH w/ Docs

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Paia Programmable Drum Set

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Pics of the inside below.

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confined spaces #4 - PAiA Moroder

video upload by wildchurch

"Triggering/syncing a PAiA 9700s synth with a Boss DR-220A drum machine, plus a few other things.

While prat-arsing around with the PAiA, using the trigger out of the DR-220 to 'animate' its filters, I got a Giorgio Moroder sort of sound that I quite liked so worked it into a sketch as basis for some future development.

It's a self-playing system thanks to a Kawai Q80 MIDI sequencer running everything, with some MIDI to CV conversions here and there. Rather than detail all the patching, which isn't particularly exciting, here's a list of the gear involved:

Sound sources:
- PAiA 9700s
- Boss DR-220A
- School Rhythmer
- Fred's Lab Buzzzy!

Sound Effects/Processing
- DBX-160X compressor
- Elk EM-13 Analog Echo
- Korg SDD-3300
- Zoom Studio 1204
- Rocktron ProRax CE1 compressor/expander
- Homemade filter box

Clocking/Sequencing
- Kawai Q80
- Audiowerkstatt trigger2midi2trigger
- DIY multiples, clock dividers, ADSRs, trigger to gate convertors

TRIGGER WARNING!
The video is just various clips randomly cobbled together so isn't always in aligned to the sounds, i.e. the lights aren't necessarily flashing at the right moment."

PAIA Modular Synthesizer with Keyboard, Cables, and Documentation

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"This is a mid 70's PAIA Modular Synthesizer, these were originally sold as build it yourself kits, and all of the modules were sold separately. Included in this build is a wide variety of modules that PAIA had available at the time.

There are manuals and instructions sheets for all of the modules, and the keyboard. Also included is many of the voltage and audio patch cables.

Both devices power on, however when looking it over I tested with a volt meter and found the voltages to be low. For example: They power supply is supposed to output 9V and 18V on two separate outputs - but my test showed 5V and 13V out.

That is all the testing I did and concluded that this Synth needs some servicing. Either a transformer or power rail issue apparently."

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Memetune studiopan

video upload by Memetune Studio

"A Lot of modular synths for you to look at (music from the Roland corner)"

You can find Memetune posts here.

Paia 4700 1970's horror vibes

video upload by Tinfoil Cat

"Just using raw oscillators without a filter, good to have three of them. The bass is a Minikorg 700S, I think. Drums probably PO-32. Sorry for the reverb hum, have to shield that tank..."

Paia Oz Vintage Poly Synth Rare VGC Working

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Pics of the inside below.

PAIA Oz synth from the 70s. It’s a cool, portable, battery powered synth organ with full sized keys, 5 octave selectable, trigger out, built in speaker and apparently used by DEVO. I soldered in a new battery holder as the old one looked flimsy and wasn’t making good contact. The ribbon controller is working but it’s more a gimmick and not a true pitch bender. All keys function and all functions work except I haven’t tested the trigger outs. This unit is pretty clean inside and out but it is a vintage DIY synth that’s rare so I’m selling as is and as described. Awesome piece to display in your collection and totally playable. I would imagine that adding a nine volt power supply would be extremely easy as well as adding an audio line out. This kind of begs to be modified into something more but I never got around to it."

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Paia 2720 + 4700 (1970's DIY modular synthesizers)

video upload by Tinfoil Cat

"I've been telling myself for too long that I should post more Paia videos. This is an old video shot before I fixed the keyboard on the 2720 (broken sample and hold as you might hear). The main part is 4700, the 2720 helps out with a fourth VCO. The spring reverb is a little noisy.

These were available as kits from Paia starting in the 1970's. The 2720 is closely related to the 2700 that arrived on the market over 50 years ago!"

Interesting side note via sdiy.info:

"Frac rack, FracRak or Frac, from Fractional Rack, is the modular synthesizer format designed by John Simonton of PAiA. It has a mainly USA following largely through the popularity of Blacet modules.

Like the Eurorack format, Frac is considered a 3U format..."

Paia Custom Analog Synthesizer 1972

via this auction

"Here we have a one of a kind custom PAiA built into an old suitcase built By Steve Alcorn the vice president of engineering at Linn, the synth is an expanded 2700. It inludes original 1/4" patch cables, suitcase has a key and there is another key to power the synth on. Comes with every pamphlet for each module used. Steve also signed the outside of the suitcase.

Steve pre-wired it up like an Arp Odyssey It is still completely custom-patchable as well. Modules include:

Voltage-Controlled Oscillator (3)

Voltage-Controlled Amplifier (2)

Voltage-Controlled Bandpass Filter

Voltage Controlled Low Pass Filter

Envelope Generator

Control Oscillator / Noise Choice

Power Supply

Glide Retro Fit

Envelope Follower / Trigger

Sine Converter / Pulse Width Modulator

Balanced Modulator

Envelope Generator

In addition, all the original manuals are included for the above modules, plus a few other of PAIA's products.

The unit is designed to be easily ported to gigs, where in a few seconds the keyboard can be lifted out of the case cover and the case cover detached, giving you a Moog-like setup. It was a fun performance instrument. I remember generating the crashing waves for Riders on the Storm during a gig in 1973!

This unit has not been powered since the late 70s. Prudence would suggest a thorough inspection of all the electrolytic capacitors, for starters. But this would be a dream project for an electronics tinkerer, and gives you a very large collection of very rare PAIA circuits as your starting place."

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Vintage 1970s PAiA GNOME MICRO SYNTHESIZER KIT

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Vintage PAiA 6780 Polyphonic Organ/Synthesizer

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PAIA Mini Organ 3760

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Pics of the inside below.

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Vintage PAiA Gnome Analog Music Synthesizer w/ Docs

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"Besides the Synthesizer equipment, this set includes EXTENSIVE historical documentation:

Original, 2 manual, Kit Assembly Instructions and Warranty sheet documentation, plus directly related period supplemental Catalog and synthesizer programming Patch and Analog Synthesizer theory book- see photos

Includes original 1973 Assembly manuals, Illustrations, Warranty sheet, patch / definitions, and a Patch Template sheet

Includes original 1970's era PAiA Electronics Music Kit Sales Catalog Sheet showing an option to add the Oz music keyboard to the Gnome

Includes added, original, 110+ page, related book: The Source (1st Ed, 2nd Printing 1979) a collection of analog synthesizer programming and patches for the PAiA Gnome, collected from Polyphony magazine

This Gnome Synthesizer is of interest to early Analog Music synthesizer collectors / analog music design historians / technicians / repair technicians, or music kit collectors, or musicians that prefer to adjust sounds continuously with analog knobs, instead of digital controls"

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Vintage 1970s PAIA 5700 The DRUM Module

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"Definitely Crudely Constructed on a Budget with 2 x 4 & Plywood Case -open 1 Side.

My Guess is that it was a Functioning Unit at One Time from All the Effort Put Into Making it!

Roughly: 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" x 9 1/2" "

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PAIA 2700 4700 8700 MODULAR DIY Analog Synthesizer Parts

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PAiA 4700 Vintage Modular Synth

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(3) 4720 VCOs (Oscillators)

(2) 4740 EGs (Envelope Generators)

4730 VCF (filter)

(2) 4710 Balanced Modulators

4711 Mixer

4712 Reverb

(3) 4770 Watt Blocks (one with connecting cable)

4761 Wing (with power cable)

4780 Sequencer

Control Oscillator with Noise (no number)

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PAIA 3740 GNOME VINTAGE ANALOG MICRO TOUCH RIBBON SYNTHESIZER

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Pics of the inside below.

"This vintage beauty was put together from a kit by an electrical design engineering professor who held a Ph.D. in computer science at Berkeley. It appears to be a nice soldering job and these older units are getting harder to find. Countless hours of work went into this build. I believe it is in the original shipping box from Southwest Technical Products in San Antonio, Texas. I have installed the 2 required 9 volt batteries, but I could not get the unit to function. It powers on, but no sound comes through the test amplifier. Only a pop when it turns on..."

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A Tiny House Studio

Mind-Blowing Tiny House on Foundation w/Music Studio - built w/TRASH! video upload by Tiny House Expedition

This one was spotted and sent in via Russ of Evaton Technologies. There's a peek of the studio in the begining followed by a segmant starting at 18:24. Cool to see a PAIA FatMan in there. It might be the longest running DIY synth still in production. If you know of another feel free to leave a comment. You can find them at https://paia.com.

Video description:

"Meet Christo, a musician & DIY builder extraordinaire. He built a truly awe-inspiring tiny house on foundation using mostly reclaimed wood and salvaged & recycled materials. Initially, he planned to build on wheels but pivoted when the zoning of his land changed. This allowed him to build wider & taller, so he added an epic recording studio!"

Synthspotting:

Access Virus B
Behringer DeepMind 12
Behringer TD-3
PAIA FatMan
Roland JX-08
Korg Minilogue
Arturia KeyStep 37

Video Chapters:

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VINTAGE PAIA 3740 GNOME w/ Original Box

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