Microfreak Oscillators // Visually Explored and Explained

video upload by Jorb

"Microfreak Oscillators // Visually Explored and Explained // Part 1

0:00 Intro 1:36 | Oscilloscope Intro X axis is time, y axis is amplitude. The more vertical a change is, the more harmonic content you'll hear. Think about that difference you hear between harmonically rich saws & squares, as opposed to the even low end & strong fundamentals of a sine or triangle.

4:59 | Basic Waves - Does what it says on the box, one oscillator & a sub MORPH will blend between wave types ; Square, saw, and a double saw PULSE will change your pulse width, or change the relative position of the 2 saw waves(this will change volume of relative harmonics.) SUB controls the volume of a sine wave one octave below your normal oscillator.

*Apologies for the lower volume

8:45 | Super Wave - Several duplicates of your original wave shape, all mixed WAVE switches (doesn't blend) between Saw, Square, Triangle, and Sine waves DETUNE increases the amount of pitch variation between all the oscillators VOLUME increases the volume of your duplicate / higher frequency oscillators

*My example of relative pitches interacting gets a little muddied with the actual behavior of the detune in this algorithm. I merely mean to highlight how interacting pitches look and sound, and how that can help us understand detuning.

12:55 | WaveTable - Offers different tables of multiple waves, that can be smoothly blended between TABLE switches (not blends) between tables, which are separate collections of waves POSITION blends (not switches) between the waves in your selected table CHORUS introduces a vibrato'ed copy of your original signal.

22:40 | Harmonic - Allows you to blend in higher order harmonics, and shift the bias of those harmonics higher or lower. CONTENT lets you decide which harmonics are going to be controlled by sculpt. The higher you turn the parameter, the more upper harmonics and fewer lower harmonics will be present in your final output SCULPT will increase the volume of your chosen harmonics CHORUS introduces a vibrato'ed copy of your original signal.

26:51 | Karplus Strong - Simulates the physical interaction of a resonator (drum head, string of a guitar or violin etc) and an exciter (pick, finger, mallet, etc) holy shit BOW constantly excites the resonator. This is complex. Introduces more distinct frequencies, has their volumes increase and decrease relative to eachother and change, and eventually will lead to overdrive. POSITION simulates the position of your exciter, close to the edge of the drum head, or nearer to the bridge of your 'guitar'. Introduces more high frequency content DECAY will increase the decay of the sound, not just an amp of filter change over time, the waves / harmonics decay as part of the algorithm

34:34 | Virtual Analog - 2 virtual Oscillators, implemented in an interesting way DETUNE (on the WAVE KNOB) changes the pitch of your first oscillator, range is a few octaves up from your keypress SHAPE (on the TIMBRE KNOB) intrudeces, and changes the shape of your second oscillator, low pulse through squares, through weird high frequency sync stuff WAVE (on the SHAPE KNOB) blends your first oscillator between saw square and pulsewidth. *The manual is honestly hilariously bad at explaining this, and is less of a standard VA than basic waves, for example. Should be named differently and explained better.

40:34 | Wave Shaper, complex waves available by means of wave folding and variable asymmetry. WAVE bends between a "popov wave"(real name?) through a sine, into what I called a super sine, but might be better described as an already-folded sine wave. FOLD AMOUNT introduces wave folding. Think of this as a complex overdrive, in that the harmonic changes happen when your wave moves beyond a specified 'headroom' but instead of clipping, the portion of the wave beyond the threshold comes back down over the top of your wave, subtracting that portion of its shape (The scope is great for helping to explain this) the folded portion of a wave can even reach the bottom of its headroom, and be folded upwards again. This is more dramatic with lower pitches, and is something I might revisit in a part two. ASYMETRY will shift your wave to one side, sine eventually becomes a sawtooth

I found the oscilloscope to be invaluable while working through the oscillator types, and more than worthy of sharing.

Microfreak has really impressed me, and I haven't even spent much time with it yet.

If there's anything else you want to see in a format like this, I'd love suggestions.

I've had this little fantasy where I have a hardware oscilloscope and hardware spectrum analyzer on screen in every video...we'll see if its worth it!

Wish the microfreak's screen was in focus, but my eyes are too bad to notice on the camera display. I'll work on it!"

Roland's SK-88 Pro // A Sleeper 90s Synth, & a Gift from Early Gaming

video upload by Jorb

"I really do love this sucker, want to hang it on my wall.
**Yamaha did a lot of CARDS based on FM, and a good share of Modules based on samples, like the MU I show on screen. My caption correcting that was lost by upload, and I do not want to reupload the whole video.


0:00 Intro / The Sound Canvas Line
3:03 General Midi Introduction
5:45 Horrible Sub Pitch, you can skip it if you sub
6:41 The SK-88 Pro In Detail
16:05 SK-88 Instrument Examples
23:34 Drum Kits?
25:30 Layer Too Many Sounds
26:40 MultiTimbre Jam (its fine)
29:05 Price / Alternatives"

Nord Lead 2 // Are 90's Synths Still Relevant?

video upload by Jorb

"One of the keyboards I can hardly imagine ever getting rid of, been meaning to do a bit on it for awhile but could never find the right angle, it just does so much.

Watching now, after rendering, the zoomed in view of the controls is a bit out of focus, if I plan on doing that, I'll look into my options to record in a higher quality on the camera.

I left in more than normal flubs, because they're funny.

Following up soon with a less-talking walkthrough of the built in prophet patches, stay tuned.

This was the 4th attempt at recording this, trying to tighten it up each time, and its STILL 40 minutes and I feel like there was plenty left out.

I still don't feel like I gave ring mod a fair shake, and there's an insane diversity of analog patches I didn't have time to demo.

A few things I should've highlighted but didn't:

-Oscillator sync
-The insane range available on the second oscillator
-LFO shapes and their insane range
-The dx7 imitating power of combining FM with extremely high LFO rates
-Loads of others

I intentionally left out the other products in the Lead line, there are enough differences that I would rather not touch on it without first hand experience.

Appreciate the time, thanks for watching."

16 VOICE PROPHET 5?! (Under $1000!)

video upload by Jorb

"Something About Us" // Live Looped Daft Punk Cover


"'Something About Us' off of Daft Punk's 'Discovery'' has always resonated with me.

I view it as a truly timeless love song, and is one of the tracks that proves that the duo was so much more than dance music.

Bit unusual content for me, so as a compromise I'll talk about the gear involved.

Drums are samples on the mpc, first chords are the Yamaha Reface CP on its wurlitzer sounds, controlled with part D of the Nord Lead 2 which is programmed to make no sound.

This is routed through the Mpc 1000, running jjos, receiving multi timbral midi, so different midi channels in, get routed to different tracks on the mpc.

Each of the other 3 synth parts are from the nord, you'll see my left hand quickly change parts (b, c, a) throughout.

I mute the drums for a bit on the mpc, and other parts at the end.

Appreciate the watch, back to more educational synth content on Sunday!"

Korg EX-800 // All Compromise, or All Character? // Walkthrough & Demo

video upload by Jorb

"Another quirky one, the oscillators, the envelopes, the polyphony, all weird.

*Had a mid-editing software crash that led to a few strange things, I left in two takes of the filter triggering modes, and some of the images are doubled. Apologies!

I got this on reverb for a great deal as non functioning, all it really needed was a new battery & the patches restored, and I don't believe it to be that unusual. Tons of models from the 80s experience the same thing.

Hope this helps someone make a decision, or helps explain the way this freaky little guy works.

I never mentioned the sequencer, but it works the way you would expect it to, very simple."

Roland GR-700 Guitar Synth // Demo & Walkthrough

video upload by Jorb

"The more I think about this one, the more I laugh about the fact that I ended up with one.

Would love to hear about someone actively using one of these, so much respect for that.

Forgive the playing, you should see the takes that got cut, YIKES.

This is a post about fixing the chips , very helpful: http://synthtweaks.com/roland-juno-10..."

JX-3P // The Best Vintage Roland (That you can actually afford)

video upload by Jorb

"Want to get better at these, where I sit down and give a walkthrough / impressions of one synth, let me know what works well and what doesn't.

If it wasn't going to kill my margins on resale, I would love one of these with upgraded midi, or even the kiwi mods. But for me, there's better options out there for a 2 oscillator poly.

Hope this is helpful to someone on the fence, or maybe you heard a sound in here that proved to you this synth is worth your time."

Good Gear - Juno 106 - Can Gear be Good?

video upload by Jorb

A take on AudioPilz Bad Gear

"This was another exercise in learning to edit, tons of respect for the creators that nail it.

I cant imagine spending this much time on a 7 minute result ever again.

I don't plan on doing any more of these, and other than it not being my own personality, copying his style, especially this thoroughly, beyond a joke would feel like plagiarism."

AudioPilz Bad Gear posts

Korg Poly 61 // Underappreciated or Undervalued?

Korg Poly 61 // Why I'm Selling // Underappreciated or Undervalued? video upload by Jorb

"The second installment of "Why I'm Selling", this time focused on the Korg Poly 61. A keyboard that in today's market, can feel like a compromise, but never short on sounds.

I'll be sad to see it go, but can't justify a slow to program midi-less keyboard taking up any precious realestate.

Here's the link to the reverb page for the reproduction boards, what an excellent service : https://reverb.com/shop/andrej-shensh...

Here's a link to a website with details on the filter mod : http://voiceofsaturn.blogspot.com/200...

A quick search of 'Poly 61 Mods' will yield plenty of other strategies for inspiration.

Thanks again, and cheers."

RESONANT SCREAMS // A Chilling Tale of Haunted Synthesis // Starring : Akai's AX60

video upload by Jorb

"R E S O N A N T S C R E A M S

The (mostly) true tale of what it took for me to get my haunted Akai AX60 back home and working.

This was intented to be a halloween special, but I missed the deadline and now its a Friday 13th special, this also serves as my 200 subscriber special.

For a technical break down of the AX60, I walkthrough what makes it unique here : [posted here]

With a few exceptions, the whole soundtrack was made with the AX60, an RE201, and the stock compressor available on reaper. Samples for drums of course, and a few screams.

Something lighthearted that took a lot more time to create, as a way to say thanks to those who think I'm worth their time. Thank you."

AKAI AX73 & AX60 Overviews

Akai's AX73 // Modern Features, Vintage Sounds // 1986 Seems Dope video upload by Jorb

"An overview of my new favorites analog poly, Akai's AX73.

Akai AX73 Parameter Magnet : https://reverb.com/item/45506569-akai...

0:00 Intro / Overview
3:40 Patch Demos
11:42 Oscillator Programming
14:14 CEM3394 Mention
14:43 Pulewidth on EVERY WAVEFORM?!
18:14 Filter Programming
22:11 Envelope
25:13 Amp & LFO
28:05 Voice Modes
31:25 Midi Splits
34:03 Chorus
35:36 Conclusions"

Akai AX60 // What Makes it So Unique? // Patch Walkthrough & Breakdown

video upload by Jorb

"A hands on patch breakdown of the Akai AX60, one of my personal favorites.

Its a powerful, yet finnicky keyboard, and I do my best to demonstrate some of its most interesting qualities to help any interested parties. Hope it is of use to you!

I consider this to be sort of a technical companion piece to my Horror movie special, Resonant Screams : [posted here]

I mention the Tauntek mod, here's a link to where you can get it. I'm thinking of getting this, if you have any insight please share it! : http://www.tauntek.com/AX60.htm

I mention the sampler connectivity, here's a link to a video where espen craft covers this synth, and that function in detail : [posted here]"