Squidfanny - 'TRANCE-GATE' AMSTRAD CKX100 Synth & Friends (December 2012)

Published on Dec 28, 2012 squidfanny·130 videos

"Lovely 8-Bit Amstrad Synth from 1988, well circuit bent and fitted with my 'Trance-Gate' Step-Sequencer circuit, to provide a Patchable ARPEGGIATOR, Volume GATE & Pitch-Twisting Modulation. There's also a Custom ROM containing a new set of modern beats & Bleepy Squelch sounds.

The Step-Sequencer can Transmit & Receive external clocks, thus allowing tight sync with a MONOTRIBE & other suitable gear.

Also note the beautiful metallic keys :)

Starring -

* AMSTRAD CKX100 Glitch Synthesizer (Coming soon to an Ebay near You!)
* ANALOG ANTI-DRUM (containing a Midi-Trigger Converter)
* 'The mighty' KAWAI R-50 Drum machine
* Ensoniq ASR-X (sequencing & FX)
* KORG MONOTRIBE"

Squidfanny - 'Trance-Gate' Amstrad Ckx100 Glitch Synthesizer (July 2012)

YouTube Published on Aug 1, 2012 by squidfanny

squidfanny (RSS)

"Best part starts @14:30

The Trance-Gate Amstrad contains an integrated Step-Sequencer to provide Pitch-Twisting, Sequenced Gating & Unique Glitch Arpeggiator.
The Sequencer can be integrated with other suitable gear such as my 'Analog Anti-drum'.

There's also a custom ROM in this machine with a new kit of modern beat to replace the Original Kit.

Loads of powerful Glitch Capabilities to Scramble & Disrupt the sound at it's digital level.

it even has shiny metal keys :)"

Three Drum Machines and One cup (and an Amstrad Synth) july 2012

YouTube Published on Jul 17, 2012 by squidfanny

"More fun with Bolt-Bays & DIY Sequencers. This time I get to road test a newly built HR-16 Glitch Machine. . .

So what's going on here then?

Well, firstly the HR-16 Drum Machine has tentacles extended from it's bolt-bay straight into the Amstrad's bolt-bay...... Depending on hows it's patched, all manner of weird , unique and noisy sounds can be generated.
I'm using a computer to drive one of the little yellow drum synths, courtesy of an 'Engineers@work MIDI-TRIGGER converter', using a very basic drum pattern and using mute switches to cut / drop.
The MIDI-TRIGGER is also proving CLICK & RESET tracks to drive DIY sequencer in the synth, and also to Reset the DIY Sequencer in the other yellow drum machine.

The HR-16 Drum Machine also contains it's own little DIY sequencer, which is providing a tempo synced CLICK track to Drive the sequencer in the other yellow drum synth.

Finally, note the REVERSE button on the HR-16 Drum Machine....."

squidfanny on eBay

The Last V8 (Rob Hubbard, 1985) C64 LIVE REMIX [LukHash]

YouTube Published on Jun 17, 2012 by lukhashdotcom

"Live remix of The Last V8 (Mastertronic, 1985) composed by a living legend Mr. Rob Hubbard. Game was released for the Commodore 64, Atari 8-bit and Amstrad CPC.

Thanks in advance for all your comments!

VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE:
http://www.lukhash.com"

AMSTARD CKX100 Glitch Synthesizer

via this auction
squidfanny on eBay

Details and video at the auction and previously posted here.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Squidfanny - Trancegate Amstrad Glitch Synthesizer (Jan 2012)

YouTube Uploaded by squidfanny on Jan 2, 2012
squidfanny on eBay

"Trancegate version of the AMSTRAD CKX100 8-Bit Glitch Synthesizer.

This one has an integrated 8 Step Sequencer which can be used to Gate the sound and modulate the pitch with devious effect....

Loads of weird Glitch, Twisted tones, busted beats and a custom ROM containing a new set of beats and some very lo-fi tb-303 samples.

The Acid sounds have been placed in the 'Hidden' section of the ROM, which usually contains a few sounds which are only accessed in the demo tunes. A little creative re-wiring of the ROM allows the Acid sounds to be accessed with a bank of switches on the right panel. This allows the preset rhythms to act as a very lo-fi Acid synth..... Cool, eh?

The Step Sequencer opens up a whole new world of synthesis capabilities, especially when combined with the Glitch Mods and the new Acid sounds. Sequencer can be synced to the Rhythms by using the flashing 'downbeat' LED to reset the sequence. Can also be reset by keypress, for more complex performance.

Glitch section on the right side of the machine allows access to a world of weird twisted dark and sinister sonic forms. Check out previous video for a more detailed look at the full glitch capabilities.

Another beautiful metal paintjob on the keys, using a few different shades of metallic Blue, Green & Gold.

Beautiful Green PCB courtasy of STICKLEBACK MANUFACTURING."

Squidfanny - Circuit Bent AMSTRAD CKX100 With ACID ROM (for Hunter)

YouTube Uploaded by squidfanny on Dec 9, 2011

squidfanny on eBay

"Amstrad CKX100 Wicked 8-Bit Techno / Psy Glitch Synthesizer
Custom ACID ROM allows the preset rhythm patterns to act like an 8-Bit tb-303. Killer Glitch allows a whole world of unique sonic features, and weird modulations.

Too many mods to list, check previous vids for more examples of Chord / Accompaniment / Instruments.

Finest Green PCB from STICKLEBACK MANUFACTURING."

Rare AMSTARD CKX100 Glitch Synthesizer By Dave Squidfanny

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
via this auction

Prior videos here and here.

"The Amstrad CKX100 is a rare digital artefact from the late 1980's made by home computer manufacturers Amstard. It has a distinctive lo-fi sound and uses WAVETABLE synthesis to produce a warm, pleasing and ultra-harmonic sound which is quirky and very unique.

The CKX100 has grainy Digital Drums with preset Rhythms & Accompanyment, Electronic Sounding Instruments & Lush Chord with some very useful 'Computer Aided Harmony' Features (similar to the OMNICHORD).

In addition to it's very likable sound, the machine has a simple 'Play & Record' sequencer and a 'tape save' function for storing recorded data on a cassette tape (remember those?). It also has a MIDI output which allows the Keys, and the Computer Chord functions to control other MIDI gear.

Of course the real power of the CKX100 is only revealed after some serious Circuit Bending.......

Needless to say, various new circuitry and dynamic new features have been added to the the CKX100 to upgrade it's sonic capabilities well beyond what was imagined by the original engineers.

This machine works perfectly and can be used 'as stock' if required.

Internal Speakers have been removed and replaced with a stunning array of new Custom Knobs, Switches, Buttons and Flashing Lights. New Controls are mounted of beautiful Green PCB (circuit board), and adorned with Shiney Metal Pieces, Round Washers and a Black Metal Cog.

Glitch-Punk Style......
Metallic Keys are professionally painted in various shades and multiple colours of top quality Metallic Paint. The paintwork has been performed with a speckled effect on the white keys in multiple shades of Titanium, Green & Blue. Black Keys are now Gold.
Paintwork is sealed with high quality gloss lacquer to protect the finnish.

Obviously the machine looks fantastic, but the real power is in the stunning array of unique sounds which this Amstrad is now able to produce. The machine's Ultra-Harmonic WAVETABLE synthesis engine creates a warm, pleasing sound, which when combined with the array of Digital & Glitch Mods, produces distinctly electronic tones which range from dreamy Psycedellic to Sinister darkside, and from 'Aphex' style beat juggling to insane Glitch & Dischord and eventually going way beyond the realms of conventional synthesizers, and often beyond description. This is the power of Glitch...

The new Knobs / Switches / Buttons & Lights are mounted on Thick Green PCB (circuit board), and the Flashing LED Lights above are mounted on a Rusty Matel Piece with Chrome LED Holders.

The Mods are activated and controlled by an assortment of Rotary Switches, Metal Toggle Switches and Push buttons -

Large Rotary Knob - On the right of the panel is a large Silver Rotary Knob, with a toggle Switch below it and a Bi-colour LED Light in a chrome bezel. This knob contains 22 flavours of Digital Ring Mods, Weird Distortion, Digital Filtering and Frequency Oscillation. Use the (on/off/on) Toggle Switch to activate the sounds, the LED light will Glow Red/Green to indicate that the mod is active.

Small Rotary Knob - In the centre of the panel is a small silver Rotary Knob, along with a Toggle Switch and a Blue LED Light in a Chrome Bezel. This knob contains 9 x Instrument / Chord Glitches which provide Beuatiful Complex Arpeggios, Strange Echos, Luch Chords and Extrended Envelope Effects. Use the Toggle Switch to activate the mod. The Blue LED Light will Glow to indicate the mod being active.

6 x Glitch Switches on the left of the panel - Use these switches on the Chord / Accompanyment for Dark Electronic Techno-esque rhythm Accompanyment and de-tuned chords. Use with the drums for weird pitch shifting and drum shifting Rhythmic effects.
Glitch Buttons - Scramble the Digital Circuits with dramatic sonic results. . . Use with the drums for Granular Effects and Grinding 'Aphex' Style Rolls. Use with the Chord / Instrument to generate Chorded Drones, Digital Noise, Instrument/Drum Cross Modulation & General Havok and Glitch Chaos.....

RESET BUTTON - Small Green Button below the right corner of the panel is used to Instantly reset Glitched sound back to it's normal state. This button allows the user to completely Scramble, Mangle & Corrupt the audio beyond recognition, and then instantly return the sound again.

Flashing Lights - 3 x Flashing LED Lights above the panel will pulse and flash along with the sound. The lights are housed in chrome bezels and mounted on a rusty piece of engineered metal..... Modern LED's are used, the colours are BLUE, WHITE & GREEN. The White LED also indicates the instrument's Vibrato when active."

Néboa jamming with the -hard plAYer-

Uploaded by Tolaemon on Jun 12, 2011

"8bit artist Néboa jamming with the - hard plAYer-. He improvises with an analog Korg keyboard and the Commodore 64 over a loop played by the AY-3891x based synth -hard plAYer- . Sorry, the quality of the image and the sound is not perfect, this video was recorded with a standard compact photo camera."

via Tolaemon: "Hard plAYer is a hardware synthesizer based on the AY-3891x chip. This chip was used in the 80s on some popular home computers like Spectrum ZX, Oric, Amstrad CPC, MSX , Vectrex or Atari ST. Despite AY-3891x has not all the features SID has, it also produces a very rich and characteristic 80s "8 bits sound"."


YouTube Uploaded by Tolaemon on Jun 12, 2011

"8bit artist Néboa jamming with the - hard plAYer-. He improvises with his vibraphone and an analog keyboard, over a loop played by the AY-3891x based synth -hard plAYer- . Sorry, the quality of the image and the sound could be better, but this video was recorded with a standard compact photo camera."

The -hard plAYer- finished and working

Uploaded by Tolaemon on Feb 16, 2009

"In this video you can see how the -hard plAYer- looks after having mounted it into it's new case. You can also see most of it's functions working."

Squidfanny - Amstrad CKX100 April 2011

YouTube Uploaded by squidfanny on Apr 4, 2011
squidfanny on eBay
"Final Amstrad ckx100 for a while, as I've got no more left :(
Back to ebay I guess....

Beautiful 'Darkside' Glitch Synthesizer. . .
+Lush Digital Chords, Scrambled Waveforms, Granular Drums + Superb Glitch.
+Precision Oscillator & LFO Circuits for Modulation.
+'Nuff Trippy Flashing Lights to induce Psychedelic Synesthesia.
+Stunning Metal Keys (Sadly Camera Won't Capture The Detail).

The CKX100 is still my favourite digital machine. There's something very, very likable about it's sweet quirky sound. And it's great for Chaos & Havok sounds too."

AMSTRAD CKX100 Synthesizer

via this auction

Video at the auction and posted here. Also see this post.

"Rare and Unique Digital Midi Synthesizer from 1988, Beautifully Circuit Bent & Modified in all the right places by Dave Squidfanny...

Awesome looking Synthesizer has new knobs, Buttons and Switches mounted on High Quality Thick Green PCB (Circuit Board), and adorned with shiney Metal pieces and round Metal washers for Wicked Glitch / Manga Look.......

Fantastic Looking METAL KEYS painted with expensive metallic Auto Paint and finnished with high quality Lacquor for a professional finnish. Keys are Painted in multiple shades of Metallic GREEN, BLUE & GOLD.

This Rare Gem from the 80's has a Warm and Pleasing Lo-fi sound generated by Digital 'WAVETABLE' Synthesis.. The result is an Ultra-Harmonic and very likable sound which is quite different from the usual Casio and Yamaha Keyboards.

Original Features include -
Warm, Pleasing Digital Instruments, Lush CHORD & Accompanyment.
Grainy Lo-Fi Drums with loads of preset patterns and Demo tunes.
Very Cool and useful CHORD Management features like the OMNICHORD
MIDI Output.
Simple Internal Sequencer with Tape Save Facility.
Auto Harmony, Sustain & Vibrato.

'Computer Aided Harmony' feature works by re-arranging the keyboard Scale according to which Chord is being played with the left hand. Dis-Harmonious notes are replaced with Harmonious notes, thus allowing an untrained musician to instantly create pleasing sounding music. Combine this feature with the Arsenal of Glitch Modifications for complex and dynamic new sounds previously un-imagined by conventional synthesizers.

'Computer Aided Harmony' Mode Also works when using the MIDI Output, making this machine a useful addition to any MIDI studio.

A Stunning array of powerful modifications open up a new world of Sonic capabilities for this vintage digital machine."

Squidfanny - Circuit Bent AMSTRAD CKX100 November 2010

YouTube via squidfanny | November 06, 2010

"Another Killer Amstrad CKX100..... Going up on ebay in a day or two.

Unique & Lush sounding 1980's WAVETABLE synthesizer.

Ultra-harmonic digital sounds, Complex Arpeggios, Lush pads and textures, Chord effects, Delay effects, Pitch modulation, Punk LFO, Gate, Granular Drums, Superb GLITCH, Instant Reset button, Light sensor/photo-clit, LEDs with the switches to indicate what's active & Flashing Light array. What more could you want?

Also note the METALLIC KEYS..... Painted with 5 colours/shades of metallic Blue, Green & Titanium. Looks much better than Black & White....

Love ckx100"

AMSTRAD CKX100 Wavetable/Glitch Synth

via this auction

video previously posted with more details.

Squidfanny - Circuit Bent AMSTRAD CKX100 (may 2010)

YouTube via squidfanny — May 12, 2010 — "Lush sounding Wavetable/Glitch synth from the 1980's. Now modified well beyond it's factory specifications.............
I love this machine, but there's a whole pile of them in my workshop patiently awaiting some tender 'bending, so this one's going up for sale on ebay in a day or two.....

+36 Glitch mods (with instant reset button) housed on rotary switches, toggles and push buttons to make to best use of the limited space.
+Precision oscillator with 2 x LFO's, Sweep knob, Fine tune knob and Photo-cell.
+An array of flashing LED lights, and LED's next to each switch so that you can see what you're doing in the dark.

The Amstrad CKX100 is a great vintage machine with loads of character and a unique sound. It has chord managment features like an Omnichord, Grainy digital drums, simple sequencer and loads of rhythms, accompanyment, auto harmony, Strange midi output, tape save and 10 electronic instruments which obviously sound nothing like their acoustic counterparts."

Update: via this auction.: "First part of demo is Glitched Drums with a little bit of instrument.
3:54 Shows Pitch Modulation, LFO's and Light Sensor played with the GLITCHED Chord.
5:14 is a quick run through of some of the GLITCH arpeggios and other strange effects played with Chord and Instruments.
6:57 Shows the Auto Accompanyment being GLITCHED/Downgraded to bare digital Noise.
8:03 Shows how to completely destroy an Abba song.......
(It's possible to record your own sequence into the CKX100 and destroy it in a similar manner)"

"AMSTRAD CKX100 is a sweet sounding digital machine with a warm and pleasing LO-FI sound.
10 electronic instruments with Vibrato and Sustain, Grainy and Rough digital Drums, Lush Chord with OMNICHORD style features, Rhythms with Accompanyment, Auto Harmony, Single Finger Chord, 8 high quality corruptable demo's and a simple 'Play and Record' Sequencer with Tape Save facility and a strange MIDI OUT.

36 Glitch modifications and a bunch of new circuitry expand this classic wavetable synth into a Bitchin', Pitchin', Glitching Digital Mega-Beast.

A total of 53 Modifications (yes I did say 53!) have been made to the original machine, including a new Precision oscillator circuit for ultra-stable pitch modulation. New Punk LFO circuit, Light Sensor (Opitcal Theramin) and 11 Flashing LED Lights.

Internal Speakers have been removed and replaced with 16 new Knobs, Toggles and Rotary Switches to access the full array of brand new weird and wonderful sounds...
New controls are mounted on nice shiney green PCB (Circuit Board), and gleefully adorned with rusty metal, round washers and shiney pieces of engineered steel for cool Industrial Glitch/Manga look......

* 4 GLITCH Buttons and a toggle switch drive Granular Drum synthesis (similar to those Aphex Twin sounds heard in modern electronic music)on the drums and all kinds of mangling and destruction when used on the chord or instruments. Use the toggle switch to LOCK the Granular effect in place leaving hands free.

* 2 x 6 way Rotary Switches contain 12 Increasingly dramatic GLITCHES which allow a Range of complex Glitch Arpeggios, Textures, distortion, Flanging, Echos, Noise and Extra Oscillation. Each Rotary Switch has a Toggle next to it to allow the Glitch to be turned instantly ON or OFF. The Glitches can be combined for increasingly complex sounds.

* Another Silver Rotary Switch and a 2 way toggle switch contain 18 Ring Mod Glitches which provide tonal filtering when used with the instruments and Ring Mod effects when used with the drums.

* Instant Reset Button allows the user to completely Glitch & destroy the sound and then instantly return it to it's normal Non-Glitched state by pressing the button. This can be done LIVE as it doesn't Crash the machine or Stop the music (mutes the sound only for the duration of the button press).

* Punk LFO's are selected using a 2 way toggle switch and modulated using the soft touch knob next to it. The Toggle switch has 2 Flashing LED lights below it to indicate which LFO destination is active.

* Fine tune knob

* Big Pitch sweep Knob, which is also used to set the low pitch for the light sensor.

* Light Sensor (Photo Theramin) is used to modulate the pitch of the machine with light and shadow. It also modulates the machine's Tempo, which is handy for DJ effects.

* Light sensor Switch, used to activate the Photo theramin, and has an Orange LED light to indicate ON or OFF position.

* An array of very nice WHITE and BLUE Flashing LED lights which dance along with the sound.

* Most of the switches have LED lights next to them.

This AMSTRAD CKX100 is Very Reliable and totaly stable. It doesn't ever crash or Lock up and the addition of an Instant Reset Button means that the machine never needs to be re-booted or powered off.
Although some of the machine's Glitching is chaotic, it is also very predictable, and as such is easy to work with making this machine a powerful live performace instrument."

Squidfanny - Circuit Bent AMSTRAD CKX100

YouTube via squidfanny. via this auction
"One of my favourite circuit Bent synthesizers, the very rare AMSTRAD CKX100 chaos Glitch Synth....

Fist part of the vid focusing on drums and GLITCH / CHAOS.

Second part is Punk LFO, Pitch modulation and photo-clit / optical theramin.

Final part shows the excellent new CHORD and INSTRUMENT sounds.

Built in the late 80's, AMSTRAD were famous for crap hi-fis and even crapper computers. This machine however is a real gem..... Lush chord + warm, sweet pleasing tones.

It's a digital 'wavetable' synth with grainy (but nice) lo-fi drums and some cool features such as midi out, play and record sequencer, Auto Harmony and 'playright' function which re-arranges the keyboard scale according to which chord is being played (just like an Omnichord).

Loads of chaotic glitching, an instant soft reset button, sweet and stable glitches to alter the tone and shape of the instrument and chord, Glitch arpeggiator, LFO with 4 possible destinations and loads of pitch modulation thanks to precision oscillator (from GETLOFI).

Damn, I love this machine.............:-)) "

Glitch Chaos from a circuit bent AMSTRAD CKX100

"A chaotic bit of dirty glitch madness from one of my favorite circuit bent synthesizers..... AMSTRAD CKX100"

AMSTRAD CKX100 by S-CAT

YouTube via PHONICPOTION
"21 MODIFICATIOINS OF CRACKPOT MADNESS from... SPACE-CAT AUDIO TECHNOLOGIES"