Voice of the Cylon - Battlestar Galactica, The ARP 2500, and the EMS Vocoder 1000

Published on Nov 20, 2019 supajc

Amazing series sent my way via John L Rice. Playlist and descriptions for each video in the playlist above, directly below. Enjoy. ;)

See here for previous posts featuring Battlestar Galactica.

Playlist:

1. Voice of the Cylon Pt. 1 The Synthesizer [ARP 2500]

Battlestar Galactica fans & synthesizer community, rejoice! For the first time in history the mysterious sound of the Cylon voice is revealed. I tracked down probably the last person alive who knows the entire formula, very private individual still works in visual arts. To him it was just a job he did 40 years ago, to me it's one of the most mesmerizing sounds in musical/sci-fi fx history. 6 parts to this series as of 11-2019.

2. Voice Of The Cylon Pt. 2 the Voice Recording

My contact told me "they brought us the voices" on Nagra III and IV tape machines. Vocoder recorded back to Nagra for film sync. Voice actor Micheal Santiago was hired to do the voice, but didn't, telling youtube user intromix later that "they ended up getting someone cheaper" to do it. One actor did all the voices, for consistency, reading the script in a lifeless, monotone voice as to not shift the frequency spectrum in the vocoder.

3. Voice Of The Cylon Pt. 3 The Vocoder [EMS Vocoder, specifically the Vocoder 1000]

Finally it is known exactly which vocoder was used for the Cylon voice. Universal Studios had rented the EMS and Sennheiser, and when sound designer Peter Berkos was asked about it circa 2008 he mis-remembered due to having the Sennheiser manual still. Youtube user intromix has owned both and tested oscillators, it could not have been the Sennheiser but now we know for sure anyway.

4. Voice of the Cylon Pt. 4 the Phaser & Distortion [Countryman Associates Type 968A Phase Shifter]

The rare, quirky effect box that was used as an impromptu distortion device. My contact told me that they floated the idea of using a guitar amp and/or pedals, but did not even try it once they found this. ** Also, he told me NO Marshall Time modulator was used as it hadn't even been released yet.

5. Voice of the Cylon Pt. 5 Recording Gear

Two main pieces of studio recording gear that were present at Universal Studios in 1978 that had a big impact on the sonic character of the Cylon voice recording. Big thanks to Ken from Electrodyne for all his advice, as well as https://vintageking.com/ and http://petesplaceaudio.com

6. Voice Of the Cylon Pt. 6 Audio Demos & Credits

Resurrecting the sound of the Cylon Centurion from the original Battlestar Galactica 1978 using the original equipment. Once the vocoder was recorded, it was further altered/degraded by multiple tape transfers in the video editing process, post-production techniques (EQ and reverb, to "place" the character in a big room, spaceship, etc) My contact said there were just pieces of tape on the gear to place knobs/switches back where they were; and that the synthesizer frequently sounded very different from day to day or after a power outage. In the series there are wildly differing Cylon tones, tiny movements in gain or EQ settings (especially the ringy ARP 2500 filters) radically alter the vocoder due to the ultra-harmonic richness of the tone. So many preamps and transformers involved, it was hard for THEM to make the Cylon voice consistent. Supposedly sound designer Peter Berkos wrote notes on the process, Universal Studios couldn't locate any info at all, it likely all burned down in the great fire of 2008 as well as the golden ARP 2500 oscillator used all throughout Galactica 1980.
Preamp was running a bit hot in this demo, didn't catch until after, so this tone sounds extra crunchy in this example. I sampled my tones with lowpass filter a bit too low, hope to get another chance with the real thing some day.

7. Gold Cylon Voice Vulpa [extra video]

Recreating the lower voice of the Gold Cylon commander. There are so many steps and factors to re-creating the Cylon voice even the original crew could not make it consistent on a day-to-day basis. Out of hundreds of test files this year I'm only really happy with about 5 of them but will keep working to recreate it perfectly.

MOOGERFOOGER: origins of the name - Electronic Voyager outtake w/Edd Kalehoff

Published on May 24, 2019 Waveshaper Media

"Electronic Voyager on Indiegogo: https://igg.me/at/electronicvoyager

Ever wonder where the name MOOGERFOOGER came from? Here’s the story behind the name for Moog’s line of beloved effect pedals, c/o the man responsible for the name - television composer Edd Kalehoff.

MUSIC: The Godfather of it All - by Matt Morton (Milan Records)"

Bostich - Realistic Source (Ramón Amezcua)

Published on May 6, 2019 Ramón Amezcua

"Bostich - Realistic Source (2004)

( Ramón Amezcua )
From the Original Film Soundtrack 'Moog'

2004 - plexifilm - ZU33"

On Amazon: soundtrack | movie

Electronic Voyages: Early Moog Recordings 1964-1969 - Compilation LP Preview

Published on May 4, 2019 Waveshaper Media

Update: see the second embed further below.

"Available exclusively from our Bob Moog documentary Indiegogo campaign: https://igg.me/at/electronicvoyager

Electronic Voyages: Early Moog recordings 1964-1969
(Waveshaper Media - WSM-03 vinyl LP)

A1. Robert Arthur Moog - The Abominatron (1964)
A2. Herbert Deutsch - Jazz Images, A Worksong And Blues (1967)
A3. Joel Chadabe - Blues Mix (1966)
B1. Lothar and the Hand People - Milkweed Love (1968)
B2. Intersystems - Changing Colours (1968)
B3. Ruth White - The Clock (1969)
B4. Max Brand - Triptych (1969)
B5. Paul Earls - Monday Music (1968)

In support of their forthcoming Bob Moog documentary Electronic Voyager, Waveshaper Media have produced a compilation LP of Moog recordings from the 1960s. The first compilation of its kind, Electronic Voyages: Early Moog recordings 1964-1969 contains tracks by Robert Arthur Moog, Herbert Deutsch, Joel Chadabe, Lothar and the Hand People, Intersystems, Ruth White, Max Brand, and Paul Earls. All of these tracks, released here on vinyl in an edition of 1000 copies, have been scarcely heard and difficult to track down, with all but three of them previously unreleased on vinyl.

Bypassing the Moog synthesizer’s backseat appearance on key pop recordings by the likes of the Beatles, the Doors, and the Beach Boys, Electronic Voyages aims to highlight the diverse approach of 1960s musicians and composers who adopted the Moog as their primary instrument; these recordings all feature the Moog synthesizer front and centre. Beginning with an “audio letter” (The Abominatron) from Bob Moog to his musician-muse Herbert Deutsch, demonstrating some of the first Moog synthesizer prototype’s capabilities, Electronic Voyages veers from avant-garde and electronic soundscapes, to psychedelic madness and summer-of-love pop. In the 1960s, the Moog synthesizer was a new, groundbreaking instrument, and its use was completely uncharted territory. The pioneering use of the Moog on all of these recordings sounds fresh today - you can sense the wide-eyed exploratory delight unfolding, and the disparate results range from endearingly naive (Lothar and the Hand People, Paul Earls) to downright eerie (Ruth White, Intersystems).

The musicians and composers behind these Electronic Voyages may have been among the first to adopt Moog synthesizers, but the fact that they so readily found within them expressivity, heart, and a means to translate their wondrous sense of discovery, speaks far more to Bob Moog’s visionary invention and enduring legacy."

Update: Playlist of releases in different order:



Robert Arthur Moog - The Abominatron (1964) - from "Electronic Voyages" LP
Ruth White - The Clock (1969) - from "Electronic Voyages: Early Moog recordings 1964-1969" LP
Intersystems - Changing Colours (1968) - from "Electronic Voyages" LP
Lothar and the Hand People - Milkweed Love (1968) - from "Electronic Voyages" LP
Joel Chadabe - Blues Mix (1968) - from "Electronic Voyages: Early Moog recordings 1964-1969" LP
Paul Earls - Monday Music (1968) - from "Electronic Voyages" LP
Max Brand - Triptych (1969) - from "Electronic Voyages: Early Moog recordings 1964-1969" LP

Electronic Voyager: Retracing Bob Moog’s Sonic Journey - OFFICIAL TRAILER

Published on Apr 30, 2019 Waveshaper Media

"Electronic Voyager is slated for release in 2020. Now in the final stages of post-production, the film is raising finishing funds via Indiegogo.

From Waveshaper Media, the Toronto-based production company behind the pivotal electronic music documentary I Dream Of Wires, seen widely on Netflix, comes Electronic Voyager. Electronic Voyager is a new feature-length documentary on electronic music pioneer Bob Moog – his story recounted through the eyes of his daughter, Michelle Moog-Koussa. In Electronic Voyager, we follow Michelle on an emotional road trip journey across North America and Europe, retracing her father’s groundbreaking footsteps. Michelle’s voyage is an effort to reconcile the father she knew, with the world-famous icon. Michelle’s father is the late Dr. Robert Arthur Moog (1934 - 2005), inventor of the iconic Moog synthesizer. Moog’s archetypal synthesizers defined electronic music in popular culture, and revolutionized the sound of music across genres. The “Moog” brand became, and remains, the “Kleenex” of synthesizers, and a key part of that branding is Bob Moog himself; iconic photos of a young Bob, looking confident, determined, and surrounded by his own inventions, loom large in contemporary Moog Music marketing materials, and at Moogfest, one of North America’s biggest music festivals, dedicated to Bob’s legacy.

Growing up, Michelle had an inkling of her father’s fame, and of the importance of his innovative work, but had no idea of the depth and magnitude of his influence; he was, first and foremost, dad. When Bob passed away in 2005 after a brief fight with cancer, the curtains were pulled back on Michelle’s dad, and at the age of 37, Michelle was introduced to Bob Moog. Thousands of people came forward at that time with testimonies about how Bob’s instruments had inspired them, leaving their lives transformed. Discovering the monumental significance of her father’s life and accomplishments was the turning point for Michelle, and she’s gone on to dedicate her life’s work to preserving and celebrating Bob Moog’s legacy, as founder and Executive Director of the Bob Moog Foundation.

Electronic Voyager takes the shape of a road-trip journey, where the viewer is looking over Michelle’s shoulder as she travels to the places where Moog history happened, and meets the people whose lives were changed by Bob and his inventions, including legendary musicians like Rick Wakeman, Gary Numan, and Jean-Michel Jarre. Michelle hopes to uncover clues about who her father really was, and how his work not only impacted the world, but had consequences for her and her family. Every person that Michelle meets, who knew Bob, offers another piece of the puzzle that Michelle is driven to complete. For herself, and for the world, Michelle wants to reveal a full picture of who Bob Moog really was, the man behind the iconic Moog brand.

Electronic Voyager not only recounts the fascinating story of the most pivotal figure in electronic music’s history, but also sheds light on the personal and financial struggles endured by one of America’s true great innovators; it’s a universal story highlighting the difficult relationship between creativity/innovation and business/commerce."

How the Escape From New York music was made (feat. Alan Howarth)

Published on Apr 20, 2019 Alex Ball

Another great bit of synth history from Alex Ball who brought us Land of the Rising Sound | A Roland Retrospective.

"In 1981, John Carpenter and Alan Howarth worked on their first film score together; Escape from New York. This was the genesis of a fruitful decade of collaboration.

The film has gone on to become a cult-classic, but the score has taken on a life of its own and had great influence upon many musicians.

I was planning to break down how some of the cues were made and decided to try to contact Alan Howarth to ask him some questions. Amazingly, he responded and was gracious enough to be interviewed for this film.

A rare treat, we hear from the horses mouth how the whole collaboration came about, how the music was composed, what equipment was used and how on earth they sync'd things up in a pre-digital world.

Alan is still active and working on new scores and new technology, so we also get to hear what he's up to in 2019 and even get a peak at his current studio where some gear from Escape from New York still resides.

Massive thanks to Alan and thank you for watching."

Land of the Rising Sound | A Roland Retrospective

Published on Apr 4, 2019 Alex Ball

"Land of the Rising Sound: A Roland Retrospective.

The story of Roland is one of the most expansive and influential in the world of music technology. This feature length documentary sets out to tell it through their iconic inventions.

General Thanks:

First of all, a huge and heartfelt thank you to some anonymous synth experts who not only leant me a jaw dropping array of rare equipment, but who also gave up time from their busy schedules to show me how to use it and who even helped record it on location. I owe you a debt of gratitude, but the entire community at large does too. Thank you!

I also need to thank Gordon Reid for answering my tedious questions and for helping with the explanations of some trickier technical aspects. Furthermore, both Gordon and Sound on Sound need crediting for having already gone the whole 9-yards on the subject: https://www.soundonsound.com/music-bu..."

Patch.CV Screening Event at Perfect Circuit This Saturday March 23, 2019 in LA

RSVP here

Date And Time

Sat, March 23, 2019
3:00 PM – 6:00 PM PDT
Add to Calendar
Location

Perfect Circuit
2405 W Empire Ave
Burbank, CA 91504


See this post for previously featured Patch.CV interviews here on MATRIXSYNTH.

Resynator Documentary Coming to Kickstarter

Published on Nov 14, 2018 Alison Tavel

There have only been two previous posts featuring the Musico Resynator below here. Alison Tavel wrote in to let me know she is working on a documentary on the Resynator which was actually created by her father, Don Tavel. The trailer for the film is above. You might recognize a few people. :) The Kickstarter campaign for the film launches in six days. It's looking to be a great documentary.

The Official Moby Drum Machine Reverb Shop Preview & History of Drum Machines

Published on Oct 4, 2018 Reverb

"Moby's obsession with analog drum machines is no surprise for fans of his beat-driven electronic music, but now he's ready to share the wealth and will be listing hundreds of these treasures on Reverb. 100% of Moby's proceeds will go to the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.

Check out the Moby Shop Preview

Browse Moby on Reverb LP

For more on Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine: https://www.pcrm.org"

Interesting, he never owned an 808.

Electric Rhythm: The History of the Drum Machine | Reverb

Published on Oct 4, 2018

"Leon Theremin. Sly & The Family Stone. Prince. Drum machines have influenced our music and the way we perceive rhythm since the Rhythmicon popped onto the scene in the 1930s. Join William Kurk as he gives us a run-down of the evolution of the incredible drum machine.

Read more on Reverb"

SYNTHESIZE: An analog love story // Short Film by Matthew Edison feat. Synths When

Published on Sep 7, 2018 Brothers DePaul

"A short film about our connection to living and breathing synthesizers.

Synthesize is a fictional story about a Ukrainian musician who travels to Canada to meet the one repairman she believes can resurrect her beloved father’s synthesizer, a Polivoks. This film is written for and created by synth lovers, featuring Jay Lemak (Toronto's top synth repairman) and a soundtrack made with 98% analog synthesizers.

http://synthesizefilm.com

======

Written & Directed by Matthew Edison
Produced by Natalie Novak, Chris DePaul, Miles DePaul
Soundtrack by Peter Chapman
Featuring Jay Lemak & Lena Burmenko"

The premier of SYNTHESIZE was featured at Knobcon this year.

"Synthesize" Short Film to Premiere at Knobcon

via Knobcon

"Synthesize is a fictional story about a Ukrainian musician who travels to Canada to meet the one repairman she believes can resurrect her beloved father’s synthesizer, a Polivoks. This film is written for and created by synth lovers, featuring Jay Lemak (Toronto's top synth repairman) and a soundtrack made with 98% analog synthesizers.

http://synthesizefilm.com

======

Written & Directed by Matthew Edison
Produced by Natalie Novak, Chris DePaul, Miles DePaul
Soundtrack by Peter Chapman
Featuring Jay Lemak & Lena Burmenko

======

Playing throughout the weekend in both lecture halls between workshops."

Synth Bling to Benefit Upcoming "Electronic Voyager" Documentary on Bob Moog

via Waveshaper Media, the people behind the I Dream of Wires documentary on modular synthesis.

"Electronic Voyager"

Our forthcoming documentary that retraces synthesizer pioneer Bob Moog's sonic journey through the eyes of his daughter, and Bob Moog Foundation's Executive Director, Michelle Moog-Koussa.

All proceeds from these purchases go towards funding our forthcoming documentary about Bob Moog, "Electronic Voyager" - currently in post-production.

"Electronic Voyager" T-Shirts: Available in color or black+white styles with Bob Moog logo on front + "Electronic Voyager" text on back. Sizes avail = Small ---> 3XL + Women's sizes Small ---> XL.

Minimoog neckties by CYBEROPTIX.COM (limited stock!)

Minimoog scarves by CYBEROPTIX.COM (limited stock!)

Gary Numan SIGNED 8"x10" photo print (limited stock!)

You can find them all in the Waveshaper Media shop here.

CLICK FOR MORE »

The Delian Mode - Delia Derbyshire Documentary

Published on May 5, 2015 mprobs

"The Delian Mode (Kara Blake, 2009) is a a short experimental documentary revolving around the life and work of electronic music pioneer Delia Derbyshire, best known for her groundbreaking sound treatment of the Doctor Who theme music. A collage of sound and image created in the spirit of Derbyshire’s unique approach to audio creation and manipulation, this film illuminates such soundscapes onscreen while paying tribute to a woman whose work has influenced electronic musicians for decades.

http://thedelianmode.com"

And a couple of videos from the Delia Derbyshire YouTube channel:

Delia at Queen Elizabeth Hall on 18 1 1968

Published on Sep 23, 2015 Delia Derbyshire

"Delia Derbyshire starts the computer playing Zinovieff's "Partita for Unattended Computer" at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London on 18th Jan 1968"

Max Träger's "diagrams" video of Delia Derbyshire's papers

Published on Aug 31, 2015 Delia Derbyshire

"This is a first demo version of a video Max was doing in July 2011 to display some scans of Delia's diagrams and diagrammatic scores for her electronic music.The accompanying music is "The Wizard's Laboratory" from the album Electrosonic.

Questa è la prima versione dimostrativa di un video che Max stava facendo a luglio 2011 per presentare alcuni scan dei diagrammi e degli spartiti diagramattici preparati da Delia mentre componeva la sua musica elettronica. La musica che l'accompagna è "The Wizard's Laboratory" dall'album 'Electrosonic'."

Check out previous posts featuring Delia Derbyshire in the archives here.

Patch: Controlling Voltage Documentary Series

"This documentary focuses on the rapidly growing Modular Synthesis movement and the diverse group of artists using these machines to create soundscapes of emotionally charged content, as well manufacturers who are pushing the boundaries of sonic platforms with their creations. Our story presents to the public the emergence of thriving brick and mortar stores, intimate and attentive live venue performances, and the modular-driven compositions that are rapidly transforming the soundtracks of modern film and network productions. Capturing the creative process from patch to pulse will be the foundation of the film."

PATCH.CV - redstripedown from Patch: Controlling Voltage on Vimeo.

CLICK FOR MORE »

KORG microKAST Ep#21 A KORG Odyssey

Published on Mar 13, 2018 KORG microKAST

Educational giant sized KORG MS20 in the background.

"We're back with all the regular features including KORG News, Gear Goggles, Downloads & a special Kronology Edition featuring the history of ARP & the Odyssey!! #brew

0:00 Intro
1:50 KORG News
12:34 #brew with ARP Odyssey Module Ad
13:28 KORG Kronology featuring the ARP Odyssey
32:21 #brew with ARP artist video
33:21 1972 facts
41:05 Gear Goggles
46:54 #brew with ARP FS video
48:05 Downloads with Ian
1:01:24 Close with ARP Odyssey Make Worlds video"

Update:

ARP 2500 invoice for Close Encounters of the Third Kind mentioned after 15:00 above. Apparently the system resides at Cantos. See this post for a video of the scenes that featured the ARP 2500.

You can find posts mentioning Close Encounters of the Third Kind here. Kind of a "one degree of separation" run of posts in the archives. :)

Museum Of Synthesizer Technology DVD B-Roll footage

Published on Feb 27, 2018

"Taken from the limited edition DVD of Mr. Martin Newcomb's Museum of Synthesizer Technology mid-1990's. The DVD's were hand-made."

Note the plaque in the opening reads: "This Museum Was Opened By DR R.A. Moog On 29th July 1994"

The New World of Synthesizer in Osaka Documentary

Published on Dec 12, 2017 ビデックスJP

Two pics via Amazon. Note Risa aka Synthesizer Girl.

"『ナニワのシンセ界　～Ｔｈｅ　Ｎｅｗ　Ｗｏｒｌｄ　ｏｆ　Ｓｙｎｔｈｅｓｉｚｅｒ　ｉｎ　Ｏｓａｋａ～』はビデックスJPで配信中！
http://www.videx.jp/detail/cinema/v_c...

■あらすじ
ツワモノ揃いのミュージシャン、気鋭のシンセ開発者、巨大なマシンを操るシンセ女子、電子音がなり響く蕎麦屋、コタツのある楽器店など、２０１４年の大阪を舞台に展開される、世界でも唯一無二の超個性的なシンセサイザーシーンに体当たりで挑んだ渾身のドキュメンタリー映画。

(C)スタジオねこやなぎ/大須賀淳

※リンク切れになる場合は販売を終了した作品となります。
ご了承頂けますと幸いです。"

Googlish:

"Synopsis
It is the only one in the world to be deployed in Osaka in 2014, such as musicians that have a group of Tsumono, an acclaimed synth developer, a synth woman who manipulates a huge machine, a buckwheat noodle that echoes with an electronic sound, a musical instrument store with a kotatsu Documentary film of whole body that challenged with per body on super-unique synthesizer scene.

(C) Studio Nekomonagi / Osuka Jun

※ If you become out of the link it will be a finished work.
We appreciate your understanding. "

ChamberTron-RE Rack Extension for Reason & The History of the Chamberlin & Mellotron

Published on Sep 26, 2017 GForce Software

"ChamberTron-RE is our Rack Extension for Propellerheads Reason users and is based on the sounds of Chamberlin Tape Replay instruments.

Effectively, the forerunner to the Mellotron®, Chamberlin instruments were conceived and built between the 1950s and 1980s by a US inventor of note, Harry Chamberlin.

Because of a dislike of Rock & Roll, Harry recorded instruments that (with the exception of the shared Three Violins sound) differ markedly from those of the Mellotron, and many claim that the Chamberlin recordings are more 'open' and 'natural' sounding

ChamberTron-RE combines the best tapes from the archive of original UK tron makers, Streetly Electronics, together with those from the GForce Chamberlin instrument collection. All in an easy-to-use and highly versatile Reason, Rack Extension instrument."

Synthposium: Vyacheslav Grigoriev

Published on Aug 29, 2017 INRUSSIA

"Moscow-based synth designer and engineer Vyacheslav Grigoriev runs a unique workshop that comes to life only at night. http://inrussia.com/synthposium-vyach...

Credits:
camera: Sergey Kostromin
edit: Rostislav Smirnyagin
sound: Ivan Merkulov
interview: Sergey Shpilevoy
producer: Yana Krylova

music by RITM-2, Vlad Dobrovolski (Kotä Records)"