The Giant Theremin in Melbourne

Giant Theremin, Melbourne - a brief introduction

Uploaded by MelbourneCityCouncil on Dec 15, 2011

You might remember this one from this post.

"Move to your own groove! Let your feet create the beat! The Giant Theremin is a super-sized musical instrument controlled by movement rather than conventional touch. Fun and easy to play, step inside the activation zone and hear your movement control the sound. Run, dance and jump about to create a symphony of movement.

Inspired by Russian inventor Lev Termen's original 1928 theremin, Melbourne's artist Robin Fox has designed a Giant Theremin capable of sounding like all sorts of musical instruments (or indeed any sound) and can be played by up to eight people simultaneously. Bring your friends and your video camera.

The Giant Theremin was installed in Melbourne's Northbank precinct in November 2011 for Melbourne Music Week and will remain playable every day until February 2012.

http://melbourne.vic.gov.au/gianttheremin"

This Sunday at Dorkbot Melbourne, Australia

*4pm, Sunday 28 September, 2008
Level 1, 124a Johnston St Fitzroy 3065 (just east of Brunswick St).

This Sunday Dorkbot Melbourne, Auatralia.

::: Ross Healy (aka Cray) :::
::: VICMOD - Melbourne DIY Modular Synth Builders :::

Ross will provide a glimpse into the world of VICMOD, a group of musicians and synthesizer enthusiasts who meet monthly in the Melbourne CBD to discuss and construct modular analog audio synthesizers. Each month the group builds a different module, often those designed by Ken Stone (http://www.cgs.synth.net/). Ross will also demonstrate some of the modules which have been built at VICMOD over the past couple of years.

Experimental electronic artist Ross Healy has been an active member of the Melbourne music scene since 1988 and has released recordings around the globe with projects such as This Digital Ocean, Amnesia, 56k Siko Spunji, and Horaku . These days he releases and performs under the 'Cray' moniker, making music with his 95 module modular synthesizer as well as software instruments.

::: Ross Bencina (aka Mulchwerk) :::
::: AudioMulch 2.0 progress report :::

For the last 2.5 years Ross has been working on a new version of his AudioMulch software musical instrument ( http://www.audiomulch.com ) which is now reaching the final stages of development. Ross will provide a preview of what he's been working on and will discuss some of the details of the AudioMulch 2.0 development process.

Ross Bencina is a composer, performer, software developer and digital instrument maker, with a strong interest in improvised electroacoustic music. He has performed solo and with collaborators around Australia and internationally. Ross is the creator of AudioMulch interactive music studio - software for electronic music performance. In 2004 and 2005 Ross collaborated with researchers at the Music Technology Group, Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona where he contributed to the development of the reacTable musical instrument. Ross is the director of Sonic Fritter Pty. Ltd., which sells AudioMulch and provides software development and consulting services for audio-related applications.

http://www.audiomulch.com/~rossb"

NINA SESSIONS featuring THE NIGHT TERRORS

video upload by Melbourne Instruments

https://www.melbourneinstruments.com

"Performing 'TRANCE ENCOUNTERS' and 'DREAMBOAT' using NINA Synthesizers and Theremin

THE NIGHT TERRORS are a Melbourne-based electronic music duo consisting of Miles Brown and Sarah Lim. Often billed as 'Australian Electro Goth Legends', The Night Terrors recently released their fourth album titled 'HYPNOTICA - Composition for Theremin and Electronic Music Synthesizer' featuring Miles on Theremin, Synthesizer and Programming, and Sarah on Synthesizer. For this recording we asked Miles and Sarah to choose two compositions from the new album to perform using two NINAs, and of course Miles' Moog Theremin.

In the two songs featured here Miles uses NINA's 12 voice 4-part Multi-timbral ability to control three layers via DAW and one layer via Keyboard controller (Novation SL61). Throughout the performance Miles is using DAW automation to Morph the A/B patches of each layer. Sarah controls the second NINA with her trusted Korg Krome EX 73, using multi-timbral splits and layers. The Theremin is doing it's own thing - not connected to NINA or any other devices. To get that 'hypnotic vintage horror synth' feel, Miles and Sarah created their own NINA presets as well as using original factory presets. With the exception of the Theremin and some percussion, all sounds are generated by the two NINAs used during the recording.

For this session, the songs were performed and recorded live at Fitzroy's iconic NIGHT CAT venue over a single afternoon. The final mix you're hearing is as it was played - without overdubs or post effects. (headphones on!)

NINA is one of the newest and only synthesizers to embrace a paradigm shift in synth control and sound design, whilst the legendary Theremin is the world's oldest and most mysterious electronic instrument. Bringing these two instruments together is a wonderful pairing, and it's made even better with the dark ethereal sounds of The Night Terrors.

ABOUT NINA:
NINA is the world’s first fully motorized analog synthesizer. Synth players have dreamt of this feature for decades, and now it’s finally available. Instantly recall your presets and layers, see exactly how the sound was created, and easily pick up from where you were last working. Musicians, Producers & Sound Designers can now enjoy the flexibility of Soft Synth control from a real, physical instrument.

Learn more at:
www.melbourneinstruments.com/features

Nina Presets:
Exclusive HYPNOTICA Presets available at: melbourneinstruments.com/presets"

Melbourne NINA 12 at NAMM 2022

video upload by MusicPlayer Network

"That synth you’ve been hearing about with all motorized knobs? This is it, from startup Melbourne Instruments. It features three oscillators: a genuine VCO, a virtual analog oscillator they describe as like the UDO Super Six, and a digital wavetable oscillator. Those knobs, though. You can see how responsive they are in the video — especially to MIDI commands e.g. from a modulation wheel on a controller."

NINA SESSIONS featuring DANIEL MOUGERMAN, ANGUS RADLEY & GRAEME POGSON

video upload by Melbourne Instruments

https://www.melbourneinstruments.com/

"Welcome to the second instalment of NINA SESSIONS, featuring Melbourne-based musicians Daniel Mougerman (The Bamboos, Kylie Auldist, Ella Thompson), Angus Radley (Bermuda), and Graeme Pogson (GL, The Bamboos, Kylie Auldist, Bermuda). Once again we have two NINAs in the mix, but this time the second NINA serves primarily as Synth Bass, complimenting the lead synth and Graeme on drums, Simmons and MPC. The MOOG Subsequent 37 and NORD Stage you see in this clip are being used as controllers/keyboards only. All sounds (except percussion) are from the two NINAs. Nina is a Desktop Synth module, and requires a USB or MIDI keyboard for performance.

This session features two songs - the first, 'Swimming' is an original composition by Mougerman, Pogson & Radley, written exclusively for this recording and features Graeme on live drums. The second tune is 'Textures', composed by Herbie Hancock for his 1980 'Mr. Hands' album, and was selected by the band as a piece they thought was a great opportunity to showcase Nina. For this tune it's programmed drums from from the MPC5000, along with miscellaneous percussion from Graeme. Both songs use a mix of factory presets, and the artist's own presets/sound design.

Both tunes were recorded live at Swimming Pool Studio in North Fitzroy over a single afternoon session. 'Swimming' is almost 100% live with no overdubs aside from minor percussion, and minimal post production. 'Textures' features minor overdubbing recorded with NINA in a later post production / mixdown session. Post production and mastering has been kept minimal to give a true representation of NINA's sound and range.

ABOUT NINA:
NINA is the world’s first fully motorized analog synthesizer. Synth players have dreamt of this feature for decades, and now it’s finally available. Instantly recall your presets and layers, see exactly how the sound was created, or pick up from where you were last working. Musicians, Producers & Sound Designers can finally enjoy the flexibility of Soft Synth control from a real, physical instrument.

Learn more at:
www.melbourneinstruments.com/features"

Keith Humble's Optronics Workstation

video upload by Robotussin Vintage Synths

"This is the Optronics Workstation, an Australian synth made for composer Keith Humble around 1970. It could be controlled by brainwaves…

The Optronics Workstation contains an EMS VCS1 – you can see the controls in the bottom right corner. Yes, a VCS1, not the VCS3 that EMS eventually marketed. The VCS1 was the first synth made by British company EMS. Three were created, the original, known as the Don Banks Music Box, can be seen above in the last image. It was made in 1968, predating the VCS3 by 12 months and many say it was the commission from Don Banks that led to the formation of EMS, so perhaps without it, there would be no other EMS synths.

Humble’s Optronics was built by an engineer called Graham Thirkell around the VCS1. It is perhaps the world’s first electronic workstation, containing a mixer, a synth and FX, all of which are inter-patchable.

In the centre is the 'Mindreader' or 'OmniVoila'. Players attach an electrode to their temples and this device read the signals and turned it into voltage to produce sound or modulation. On the left side is a three-channel mixer for three external line inputs, plus a send for a delay. Top right is a patch panel where voltages can be routed to create sound or modulation. Above that you can see two ring modulators. It also has an in-built spring reverb.

Humble was a huge early proponent of electronic music in Australia. He founded the Electronic Music Studio at Melbourne Universities’ Grainger Centre and the music school at La Trobe University, Melbourne.

The Optronics Workstation is now in the collection of MESS, the non-profit Melbourne Electronic Sound Studio. They are fantastic people who preserve and restore vintage instruments and encourage people to come in and play with them. Humble’s Optronics still works, so if you’re in Melbourne or near there, drop them a line and go say hello.

They were going to send me some video of it in action but I think they’re too slammed. I’ve included the only audio I could find that might be the Optronics in action. It might not be, though. But it was made by Keith Humble about a year after he started working with the Optronics and given that it was his only synth at the time, I think there's a good chance the audio was made with the Optronics."

Motorized synth knobs: Gimmick or Gamechanger? // NINA by Melbourne Instruments Review and tutorial

video upload by loopop

"Want to play sounds from this synth at home? Check out multisampled patches, available on my Patreon, along my book packed with electronic music ideas, tips and insights:

► https://www.patreon.com/loopop

TIMELINE:
0:00 Intro
1:35 The knobs
5:10 The synth
6:20 Workflow
7:30 Build & I/O
8:30 Morph
11:45 Layers
12:10 Drum synth?
13:15 Multi synth
15:30 VCOs
16:10 Sub osc
16:30 Osc sync
16:50 Wavetable
18:30 Noise/XOR
19:20 Drive
19:35 Filter
21:15 Pan/Spin
22:50 Effects
25:05 Mod matrix
29:00 Arp
29:35 Sequencer
30:45 Unison
31:40 Settings
32:10 Pros & cons
35:30 Outro
35:55 Twenty-five presets"

See the Melbourne label below for more.

Nina Hybrid Polyphonic Synthesizer Module Sound Demo No Talking

video upload by Perfect Circuit

"The Melbourne Instruments Nina is a hybrid synthesizer with an astonishingly wide palette of sounds, from lush ambient tones to thick, in-your-face basses and leads. But, awesome sound aside, it's quite the technological marvel: its fully motorized knob interface allows for instantaneous visual recall of parameter settings when switching presets. Moreover, their haptic response allows for all sorts of unique, interesting behaviors—and the patch morphing capabilities allow you to continuously interpolate between multiple sounds.
This multi-timbral powerhouse must be seen and heard to be believed—and we're sure we'll keep finding new uses for years to come.

Check out Melbourne's Nina in our online store: https://www.perfectcircuit.com/melbou...
Read more about Nina on our blog, Signal: https://www.perfectcircuit.com/signal..."

The Amazing NINA synth - Must be heard to be believed!

video upload by School of Synthesis

"Watch Tristan from School of Synthesis make a track using only the incredible Nina Synth in morph mode! It’s exciting to see some truly compelling synthesis innovation coming out of School of Synthesis' home town Melbourne Australia. In this video, Tristan explores the expressive sounds of the Melbourne Instruments NINA synth with its morphing functionality and hybrid analog/digital oscillator section. It’s also extremely helpful from an educational / sound design perspective to see exactly how each parameter is changing as a sound morphs from one layer to another thanks to NINA’s trademark motorised knobs.

Check out the Nina here: https://www.melbourneinstruments.com

0:00 Intro
0:53 Making a Track on the Nina with Presets and the Morph Feature
4:03 Exploring the Morph Feature"

Melbourne Instruments #Nina with arthurjoly #Recodrum 🙌🏽. Sequenced with Oxi Instruments #oxione🦾

video upload by zivkode

Melbourne Instruments NINA Demo & Review

video upload by musictrackjp

DEMO by Katsunori UJIIE.

NAMM 22 - NINA Motorised Synth Sounds Only Demo

video upload by sonicstate

"No denying it, the NINA synth from Melbourne Instruments is the release that has interested you the most - the numbers don't lie - its our top video. So we were happy that Jim (Earmonkey Music) was able to get a little time with it to check it out.

NINA is going to be launched on Kickstarter soon and we suspect it might surpass its goal, keep up to date with developments at:

https://www.melbourneinstruments.com/"

ESK - Soundscape Improvisation

video upload by Metunar

"Soundscape improvisation in the art of an old science-fiction movie with an Erica Synths Bullfrog, Infradeep PVX-800 + GRP V22 Vocoder, Vermona Perfourmer + MXR pitch transposer and a Melbourne Instruments Nina Synthesizer. All recorded live, with soft mastering.

http://www.metunar.ch"

Nina Synth by Melbourne Instruments Sound Demo #4 '2010' patch #shorts

video upload by TONELAB

New Melbourne Instruments Delia Keyboard Synth Coming to Superbooth

Looks like a keyboard version of the Nina is coming to Superbooth.

No additional details, just the pic for now.

29 #Jamuary 2024 — Natural

video upload by Cutestory Actual

"Melbourne Instruments Nina—3 voices to Meris LVX to Meris Mercury X, fourth voice to Death by Audio Rooms. Sequenced with Squarp Hapax feeding notes into Midicake ARP."

https://www.melbourneinstruments.com/

Melbourne Instruments NINA mit Motorknöpfen - Analog Synthesizer im SequencerTalk Monolog

video upload by SequencerTalk

"Wir sprechen über #Synthesizer, #Sequencer und Musik.
Wer verwenden Neuigkeiten als Idee, spinnen und „philosophieren“ aber meist die Themen weiter und machen Hands-On und generelle Gespräche über alles zum Thema.
Unterstütze uns: https://sequencertalk.synthesizers.de
bzw. dort kaufen bei Bedarf: https://shop.synthesizers.de
Dean & Moogulator

Inhalt
0:00 Counter
1:00 Einleitung"

Melbourne Instruments Delia - sounds from #superbooth 2024

video upload by Perfect Circuit

https://www.perfectcircuit.com

A history of synthesizers with Melbourne Electronic Sound Studio | Art Works

video upload by ABC Arts

"Melbourne Electronic Sound Studio (MESS) holds the largest collection of electronic instruments in the Southern Hemisphere. It’s home to 1400 synthesizers, drum machines and other electronic making equipment.

We zeroed in on two synthesizers in particular, the ARP 2600, which provided the iconic voice of R2-D2 in Star Wars, and the Fairlight CMI, which was made in Australia and changed synthesizer history."

You can find additional posts featuring the Melbourne Electronic Sound Studio here.

Nina Synth by Melbourne Instruments Sound Demo #2 'Ferocious' patch #shorts

video upload by TONELAB