The Packrat September 2013

via The Packrat on Facebook

"Keyboard Magazine's September 2013 Packrat comic strip!"

You can find more episodes on http://umop.com

The Packrat August 2013

More episodes at http://www.umop.com.

The Packrat July 2013

via http://umop.com/packrat.htm (click through for more episodes).

X-Men's Dazzler with her Mutant Moog

via Moog Music Inc. on Facebook, via davidsilver on Instagram.

The Packrat - June 2013

via The Packrat on Facebook

Be sure to check out The Packrat Sampler book!

April 2013 Packrat

via The Packrat on Facebook

Don't forget The Packrat Sampler book on  http://umop.com!

The Packrat Sampler Arrives

My copy of The Packrat Sampler  has arrived!  I thought I'd post some pics up along with a note on why this book is extremely special to me.  I started MATRIXSYNTH in blog format back on July 20th of 2005. The first post on The Packrat went up on Halloween of that year  (with two prior references here and here).   The Packrat was with me on year one and has been a staple on the site ever since.  The MATRIXSYNTH Packrat image pictured on the right of the site went up on August 2, 2006, and to my surprise and complete honor it graces the cover of the book!

The Packrat pretty much symbolizes the true inner synth obsessed in all of us.  He took a little hiatus in 2006 and came back in 2007 and has been going strong since.  He brought us synth dreams and Buchla Christmas wishes.  He has a significant place in synth history as the longest running, if not the only running, true synthesizer based comic strip.  Because of that, and because of the awesome coolness of the man behind the strip, Mr. Dave C. Lovelace, who brought us much of the artwork behind Metasonix products as well as his other comic strips, and plays ripping keys in his band Parallax, I highly recommend this book.  Check out that Tron keytar (more here)!

In all seriousness, The Packrat, also featured in Keyboard Magazine, is part of synth history.  Not only does the book feature each episode of the comic, you get the history behind each including interesting tidbits you might miss in the comic otherwise, and you get a 12-page adventure never seen anywhere else (which includes another MATRIXSYNTH appearance).

Seriously, get this book now!  It's dirt cheap, it's synth history, and it is AWESOME!

CLICK FOR MORE »

Limited Edition "The Packrat Sampler" Book Now Available

Our favorite synth comic, The Packrat, is now available in book format. It includes all episodes of The Packrat plus a few extras.  You can pick up a copy here.  Don't miss out!

"Since 2005, The Packrat has been a favorite of synthesizer and rodent fans alike. This potentially brilliant comic strip has been running in Keyboard Magazine monthly since August, 2010 (as well as for a few months back in 2005 - 2006). Now those comics, along with a few surprises, are all collected in one book which you might just cherish more than your whole keyboard collection.

Why, you ask? Because for a limited time this book will be one of 100 signed "Early Bird Editions." The $11.95 price goes up a buck afterward, with signed copies being $2 extra due to potential fulfillment-related logistics. SO GET IT NOW; SAVING THREE BUCKS LIKE A FREE BEER! And here is what you'll get for your twelve bucks:

• Around 50 comic strips which appeared in Keyboard Magazine.
• A few extra drawings & comics only seen only in a few blogs by an inner circle of cool people including probably yourself.
• A MASSIVE 12-page adventure never seen anywhere else, 'Synthesizer Pugilistic Exposition Goes Nuts.'
• 'Early Bird' editions: A signature of David C. Lovelace, me, the guy writing this. The guy who draws a synth-collecting rat for some occasional grocery money. For an extra donated amount of fundage (your call; choose wisely!), I can add a quick drawing to this signature... of whatever you want... I suppose... provided it isn't hateful or too complicated."

The Packrat March 2013

via The Packrat on Facebook. More episodes here: http://www.umop.com/packrat.htm

The Packrat November 2012 - February 2013

More episodes: http://www.umop.com/packrat.htm
https://www.facebook.com/keyboardpackrat

1979 EMS SYNTHI E VINTAGE SYNTHESIZER SN 7137 & SYNTHI-E SAVES THE DAY COMIC STRIP

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

SYNTH-E Saves the Day comic strip and pics of the inside below.

"For your consideration is this vintage 1979 Electronic Music Studios (EMS) Synthi-E analog synthesizer. Experts have estimated that this incredibly rare synth was produced in limited numbers, in fact, most approximate that less than 200 were manufactured. Of those that have been documented, it is difficult to find a better example, especially such a fine specimen with the original matching DKE keyboard (serial number 7137) and original patch cables. While highly collectible Synthi-A versions are somewhat accessible, the Synthi-E is virtually E-xtinct. Do not miss this opportunity own one of the coolest and rarest synths ever made, because it is possible another will not appear available on eBay for years to come.

The Synthi-E was designed by Tim Orr as an educational version of the Synthi that had a complete teaching course built around it for use in schools. It was intended as a teaching aid into the principles of sound synthesis and electronic music. Small, housed in a brief-case and D-battery powered, the Synthi E was perfect for the student or teacher on the go! Simple as it may appear, it actually has some sophisticated features:

-Input Amplifier with low (Microphone) and high (line) level inputs
-Envelope Follower providing a voltage proportional to the amplitude of the input
-Oscillator 1 with true exponential voltage control of frequency and three simultaneous output waveforms (sine, triangle and voltage controlled pulse)
-Oscillator 2 for slow control voltages such as glissando or vibrato
-Filter/Oscillator 3 with v.c. low, high and band pass filter or pure sine wave
-Modulator for envelope shaping or ring modulation
-Noise Generator
-Trapezoid Generator for multiple simultaneous trapezoid waveforms. These may be used for envelope shaping (trigger mode) or for low frequency waveforms (free run mode)
-Manual-Slide tape Controllers (2) for obtaining control voltages. One slide-tape is stepped and may be used as a keyboard and the other for variable control. One provides a trigger pulse. Both may be temporarily marked or written on
-Inverter to invert control voltages or signals
-Monitor Amplifier and Loudspeaker with two input mixer faders
-The optional 3-octave keyboard for controlling the Synthi E. This unit is a mechanical keyboard which plugs into the Synthi E. It provides the correct pitch voltage and trigger signal for the Trapezoid Generator. A switch on the Synthi E selects internal or external keyboard operation.

Modules:
- VCF 144/1 (Issue F)
- VCF 144/2 (Issue F)
- L.F. OSC 144/3 (Issue E)
- Input Amp Env followr 144/4 (Issue E)
- TRAPZD GEN 144/5 (Issue F)
- VCA O/P AMP 144/6 (Issue G)

This unit is in excellent working condition, and it sounds incredible."

CLICK FOR MORE »

EDP Wasp Synthesizer Manual

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

I love the comic book feel of these. I wonder if the artist was into synths.

via the listing: "My beloved Wasp synthesizer was stolen on xmas day, 1978 :-(
But.. they didn't steal the manual and here it is. It's got a little worn over the years and there's a tear along the seam, half way up, but it's in reasonable condition. If you can't find/afford an original Wasp synth then at least you can own the manual."

Wednesday Jams with Lee-Ann Lovelace & The Latest Packrat

Wednesday Jams with Lee-Ann Lovelace - "Judith" by Perfect Circle - with Dave & Cam!

YouTube Published on Apr 11, 2012 by lucyzeke12

"Occasionally, Lee-Ann plans on kicking you square in the nutsack with her Wednesday night jam. Along with Dave on his wireless wankadelic keytar, this installment gleefully depicts one of those occasions. "Judith" by Perfect Circle is a favorite of L-A and Dave, performed live along with a sequence. lalovelace.com is still in its early stages, but keep checking back. Also check out Dave's stuff on umop.com and his rokkin' cover band Driven at drivenbandct.com."

And April's episode of The Packrat


Click to read.

"Upgrading software isn't that easy."

More episodes here.

The Packrat October 2011 - March 2012

"What happens when the keytar's time circuits are amplified by a spherical array of 61 speakers?"


November 2011 - Packrat hits a time-traveling analog speed bump in the 1980s."


December 2011 - "Our hero gets a massive analog boost at a notable 1985 synth concert. Where will he end up next?"


January 2012 - "Welcome to the year 2112!"


February 2012 - "Packrat finally arrives home to realize his whole journey was one big joke on him."


March 2012 - "Packrat's time-traveling days are behind him, but it looks like he's still living in the past."

More episodes and Cool Pacrat shwag here.

A search for The Packrat on MATRIXSYNTH will bring up every post where The Packrat gets a mention.

Scooby Doo & Hex girls

YouTube Uploaded by alexfox101 on Oct 27, 2011

"from Scooby-Doo And The Witchs Ghost (1999)..."

The Packrat October 2011

More episodes at http://umop.com/

The Packrat - December - May

Looks like the last Packrat I posted was back in November. Here's December through May. You can find previous episodes going back to Frebruary, 2005 here. BTW, if you scroll down the right side of MATRIXSYNTH you'll find a custom Packrat for the site by Dave.


"Can Packrat learn from his nightmares? Does earwax float? Wait, I don't know the answer to that, either."


"Packrat's new invention ushers in an invention of my own: a continuing plotline!"


"At the 1939 World's Fair, Packrat meets the inventor of the 'Voder.'"


"Packrat appears in 1955, where he gets some scientific advice from a certain learned sage."


"Packrat meets Dr. Hugh LeCaine, inventor of the first voltage-controlled synthesizer."


"Dr. Lecaine helps Packrat complete part of his time-traveling journey home."

The Packrat Returns

via Dave, the man himself:

"New Packrat toons are starting up; this one will appear in the August edition [of Keyboard Magazine] (should be on shelves now or soon)."

Yes!

BTW, this one is a bit close to home. :) See the third pic when you get there. Also scroll down the right of the site and see if you can find a little something Dave made for the site years ago.

Synths in manmachine

via royce

"there are lots of synths in Book 2 of manmachine. Attached is a jpeg that shows bits of some synths in the background.

in book2 are more synths in the background. . . sort of like Where's Waldo.

And all of the soundtrack music is synth based (Move D, National Wrecking Company, Mystified).

Here is a link, for your thanksgiving entertainment." Enjoy.

Hamsterdunce #41

via Hamsterdunce

"The client is actually a renowned German company called Sidsonic; they want to use some of my artwork for their planned Kontakt soundbank/library of Metasonix noises. Pretty cool!"