SledgeHammer Theme (Zira / JuJu Demo)

"Cover of the Theme tune for 'Sledgehammer' by Danny Elfman.
Zira is doing all the synth parts (multi-tracked)
JuJu is doing the drums!
www.VacoLoco.net"

via Paul Maddox on The MATRIXSYNTH Lounge

"Don't forget Zira is available now, but only whilst stocks last (I only have a limited number of the VCF chips) from http://www.vacoloco.net/order.shtml"

Vaco Loco Ziras Now Available for Order

via Paul Maddox on
The MATRIXSYNTH Lounge

"I’ve tested and setup the next batch of Zira synths, I’ve got one that needs some TLC, but there are 19 ready to go.

I’ve listed the red ones separately, so you have a choice, but remember there are only 4 red ones!

The cost is the same as before, £250 plus Postage and Packaging to your country (£12 for UK, £17 for EU, £20 for the rest of the world). Postage includes insurance and tracking number.

You can buy them now from the Order webpage here - http://vacoloco.net/order.shtml"

Vacoloco Ziras Arrive

via Vacoloco:

"20 brand new, fully assembled, shiny Ziras. I just have to test them and set them up then they’ll go on line.

we’ve tried something new, we’ve got four Ziras in a transparent red perspex. These will be available on a first come first serve basis when they go on sale."

Serotonin Potion

Serotonin Potion from val pastel on Vimeo.

little dirty jam with:
my brand new "Sonic Potions LXR" diy drum machine
dsi evolover
vacoloco gorf -> novation bassstation rack -> BassKick+
all into the mixer where a little reverb was added.
thats it :)

Vacoloco Coming to Synth DIY UK 2013 & Drake Music Raffle

via Vacoloco:

"VacoLoco will be at Synth DIY UK 2013 on Saturday the 27th of July. This’ll give you a chance to have some hands on time with Zira, GorF and maybe a sneak preview of things in the making.

The event is free so why not come along and meet some of the UK Synth makers!

More details on the facebook events page https://www.facebook.com/events/160198740805131/ and the diy.synth.net page – http://diy.synth.net/uk/"

And via Paul Maddox of Vacolo on The MATRIXSYNTH Lounge:

"Quick reminder about Synth DIY UK 2013, we're still after some raffle prizes so if you feel like helping raise money for our charity (Drake Music - https://www.facebook.com/drakemusicorg/) then donate something and/or come along and buy a raffle ticket or 10 :)  https://www.facebook.com/events/160198740805131/"

Vacoloco GorF-XL Beta test Unit

via Vacoloco

"Want to beta test GorF-XL? I have one GorF-XL beta unit left, if you’re interested contact me, you’ll need a Doepfer power bus with +12v, +5v and -12v power rails. You’ll also be expected to help write the user guide and contribute to finding bugs. There is a cost, but it’s basically the cost of the parts and postage."

via Paul Maddox on The MATRIXSYNTH Lounge

Vaco Loco Gorf Now Available Fully Assembled

Prior to now, the Vaco Loco Gorf was available as a DIY kit. For those pressed for time, you can now pick one up fully assembled at Vaco Loco here.

via Paul Maddox on
The MATRIXSYNTH Lounge:

"I’m pleased to announce that GorF is now available as a fully assembled and cased version.

GorF has had a bit of a facelift too, it has a new case which now completely encloses all the parts. This includes the rear which was previously exposed.

I have a few of these to sell, which can be purchased from my web page by clicking on the buy link. I also have two without cases to sell for a reduced price.

My intention is now to move away from selling kits and begin selling fully assembled, ready to use, products so you no longer need to risk burning your fingers to get one of the best sequencers on the market. http://vacoloco.net/synths/gorf/"

VacoLoco Zira Wavetable Synth

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

via this auction

"Very powerful synth... 2 Oscillators with 48 waves each and a Sub Osc going through a Korg VCF/VCA. The same as the DW8000 uses.

Built by the designer so very solid."

Vaco Loco Aurora Audio Demos

via Paul Maddox on The MATRIXSYNTH Lounge

Vacoloco Aurora Audio Tests

"Aurora Waveform test - 4 Oscillators playing with their waves being cycled through and the filter fully open."


"PWM test for Aurora, single oscillator with PWM
The all four oscillators with PWM"

via Vacoloco Ramblings

VacoLoco Gorf V3 Taster

Published on Dec 28, 2012 VacolocoSynth·17 videos

"A very quick taste of some of the new features in GorF.
Including note skip, gate length and the improved user interface.
Here GorF is in my modular and is providing CV and Gate outputs, with the velocity routed to filter cutoff."

via Paul Maddox on The MATRIXSYNTH Lounge

Gorf-XL Update

via vaco loco:

"It’s about time I posted an update on GorF-XL. For those who don’t know, GorF-XL is a euro-rack version of GorF with CV outputs. Note CV, Velocity CV, CC CV and gate output.  It has all the same features of the original GorF but with a few extras, coding is nearing completion with one more feature to add, then it’ll be time for some testing.  My hope is that these will be available as ready made, ready to go modules. No assembly, just plug it in and off you go!"

You might remember the Gorf-XL from this previous post.

New Vacoloco Aurora VCF Tests

"More Filter tests, following tweaks to polesweep and resonance.
High pitched whine is from having wires everywhere whilst testing.

no resonance (0 seconds)

pole sweep at 4pole
pole sweep between 4 pole an BP
polesweep at BP
pole sweep between BP and 1P
pole sweep at 1P

A little resonance (34.5 seconds)

pole sweep at 4pole
pole sweep between 4 pole an BP
polesweep at BP
pole sweep between BP and 1P
pole sweep at 1P

Half resonance (1:09)

CLICK FOR MORE »

New VacoLoco Aurora Hardware Polysynth Filter Test Demos

VacoLoco Aurora Filter Tests 20121204
"Various tests for the VCF in Aurora (my poly synth project), the whine is from the oscilloscope and my phone that was sat next to it whilst recording

0:00 - 4 Pole filter sweep
0:30 - a little resonance
1:00 - more resonance
1:30 - full resonance (not quite enough yet)
1:44 - Bandpass mode
2:13 - 1 Pole mode
2:44 - 4 pole mode again, with a little over drive
3:14 - a bit more over drive
3:43 - Full over drive"

via Paul Maddox on The MATRIXSYNTH Lounge.  Some details on the synth captured here.

Vacoloco Working on Aurora - New Polyphonic Hardware Synth

via Vacoloco

"So, What is Aurora?

Well, my band (Her Dark Embrace) recently went into the recording studio to record our EP. The Engineer was very into electronics and synths and we had some great chats. He asked the question “So, you play keyboards and you build synths, so why don’t you use your own?” Really good question I thought, I replied “Everything I play is chords/pads and I’ve only built monosynths, I’ve never built a polysynth.” to which he asked “why not?“, I had no answer.

So I thought about it and I’d had the basics of a monosynth design on the drawing board so to speak, so whilst on holiday I finished the design and when I returned ordered some PCBs

Over the last month I’ve begun building a single voice board, first an oscillator, then I ported the code from the oscillator chip in Zira and modified the code, so I have two oscillators with 56 waveforms a piece, with hard sync and adjustable mix..."

Mono synths on a single board stacked for polyphony much like the vintage synths of yore. The Oberheim OB series come to mind. Very, very cool.

vacoloco Gorf-XL in Eurorack

via VacoLoco on Facebook

"Here you go, this is the new project, a euro rack version of GorF with CV/gate outputs. There's a few extra features To be added yet. And this should be available to buy ready made and set up."

http://www.vacoloco.net/

rezfilter's 8-Step Sequence Wins Vacoloco GorF Contest

You might remember the contest from this post. It looks like rezfilter won with his "An 8-Step Sequence: Analogue Solutions Oberkorn & Telemark-K (Keyboard)" posted above and previously here.

via Vacoloco on Facebook: "The "win a gorf" competition has been extremely hard to judge, but sadly there can only be one Winner. In the case I've chosen Jason Subtractive's entry (below). Thank you again to all those entered, I can safely say that judging this competition was considerably harder than I was ever expecting. The quality of entries was just outstanding."

http://www.vacoloco.net/

OTO Biscuit DER OTO Monosynth 8 Step Sequence Vacoloco Competition

YouTube Published on Jul 29, 2012 by Allen Weldon

"Here is an 8 step sequence using the monosynth from the OTO Biscuit, dubbed DER OTO. I've been wanting to release a video demonstrating the madness that this machine has to offer.The sequencer has adjustable steps from 1-16, I just used 8 for the competition. This is a video submission for the Vacoloco Gorf 8 Step Sequence Challenge."

VACO LOCO ZIRA

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

"The 7-Bit Sound NAND Drone Synth is ballistic Lo-Fi synth box that packs a heavy punch, with 4 internal gated oscillators

NAND Drone synth is easy to use and is controlled in the following ways:

· The First knob controls oscillation frequency of the number 1 oscillator that is gated to the number 2 oscillator

· The Second knob controls oscillation frequency, by turning the First switch we open or close the gate.

· The Third knob controls oscillation frequency of number 3 oscillator that is gated to number 4 output oscillator which is also gated to the number 2 oscillator

· The second switch controls the gate between number 3 and number 4 oscillator.

The Vaco Loco Zira came out of an idea to see how small a fully equipped and versatile synth could be built.

The Zira features Two oscillators, each with 48 waveforms that were favourites from the Monowave. A sub oscillator, linked to oscillator one. The Sub oscillator has a level control, oscillators one and two can be switched on or off. Note offset for Patch +/- two octaves, second oscillator has note detune of +/- two octaves and fine tune. Hard Sync of oscillator two to oscillator one's pitch.

The Zira is based on the Korg NJM2069AD Filter/VCA chip. This 4-pole low pass filter is the same filter chip used in the Poly800, DW8000, DW6000 and DSS-1

Zira comes fully assembled in a clear acrylic housing, and is a very limited edition release, never to be seen again once stocks are sold out.

Features:
· Two oscillators, each with 48 waveforms
· One Sub oscillator
· Hard Sync of oscillators
· Two ADSRs, one VCF, one VCA
· One LFO
· Multiple routing options
· 64 patch memories
· MIDI updatable firmware

Specifications:
· 2 Oscs: Each with 48 waveforms, I picked 48 of my favourites from the Monowave. A sub oscillator, linked to oscillator one. The Sub oscillator has a level control, oscillators one and two can be switched on or off.

Note offset for Patch +/- two octaves, second oscillator has note detune of +/- two octaves and fine tune.

Hard Sync of oscillator two to oscillator one's pitch.

· VCF: The Korg NJM2069AD is used in the prototypes for the filter. This 4-pole low pass filter is the same filter chip used in the Poly800, DW8000, DW6000 and DSS-1

· VCA: Very high signal to noise ratio and incredibly clean sounding, again, the prototype uses the NJM2069AD.

· EG's: One for Filter and one for VCA, both are ADSR type. They have Linear attack and exponential decay and release curves.

These go from very quick (~3mS) to a many seconds for each stage (~48 Seconds).

· LFO: The LFO has 4 wave forms, Sinewave, sawtooth, square and random. the LFO is routable to oscillator pitch, filter cut off and filter resonance.

A delay parameter allows the LFO to come "fade in" with an adjustable delay.

It also has a key sync mode, when on the LFO is forced to reset when a new key is pressed and when the LFO cycle has finished it rests at that value.

· Display: The display uses four 7 segment displays, the same as GorF and Tron.

· MIDI: MIDI CC for each parameter, receipt of Patch change (64 patches).

· I/O: The Connections could not be simpler, power in (6 to 12V DC), MIDI in and Audio out.

Video Demos:"


YouTube Published on Apr 16, 2012 by VacolocoSynth

"A quick run through of Zira and it's features."

Zira Demonstration

Published on Apr 16, 2012 by VacolocoSynth

"A quick run through of Zira and it's features."

New Boot Loader

Uploaded by VacolocoSynth on Feb 23, 2012

"Quick demonstration of the new, faster and more reliable, boot loader. This demo shows an update for Zira, but the same boot loader will be used for all new projects from this point forward."

Win an Assembled GorF sequencer!

"The competition is simple, compose a single pattern, using a sequence that is 8 notes long, each note can be any length you wish (you can have a different length for each note should the desire grab you).

The winner will receive an assembled and cased GorF MkII and their pattern will be used as the "default" for future GorFs.

Entries to be received by July 31st, the winner will be chosen by myself and announced on the 6th of August!

To post an entry, simply post a link on the Vacoloco Facebook page. What could be simpler?"

via Paul Maddox on The MATRIXSYNTH Lounge