Batchas @ Micro Contact Festival 2023 [Excerpts]

video upload by batchas

"Excerpts taken from a movie made by Thomas Hémery during the Micro Contact festival: [below]
I played with my Scrotum Lab mini-system and Ciat-Lonbarde Plumbutter & Cocoquantus."

MICRO CONTACT lutherie sauvage et musique expérimentale

video upload by Micro Contact

"Film produit et réalisé par Thomas Hémery dans le cadre du festival Microcontact #2, du 25 septembre au 1er octobre 2023 à Crest, Drôme, FR."

Roland Museum Germany Massive Synthesizer Selloff - Most Gear for Sale in a Single Auction

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

This one in via Marko of Retrosound.de.

26.000,00 Euro gets it all.

via this auction

Someone needs to contact the Guiness Book of World Records. Longest list of gear for sale ever:

CLICK FOR MORE »

Motion FM Synthesizer

Published on Sep 2, 2018 Yuki Kuramochi

Note the following is translated via Google Translate. You can find the original Japanese further below.

"Now, popular microcontroller board 'micro: bit'.

By combining this with YAMAHA 's sound board "YMF 825", I found that it is possible to build very creative sounds using the Python language.

The sound is controlled in real time only with the acceleration sensor of the microcomputer board. The point to be aware of is that the YMF 825 is driven by the SPI signal, not the MIDI sound chip. It is control to write parameters (frequency, algorithm, degree of modulation ...) of the FM synthesizer to the registers to the last. In order to control with MIDI signals, you need a driver to convert from MIDI to SPI, but fortunately the sample program has been published, in which the program corresponding to the driver was included.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Folktek Resonant Garden

Published on Oct 29, 2017 Sir Folktek

"The Folktek Resonant Garden is an acoustic-electronic hybrid instrument. See/read more on Folktek.com
In these first videos, the cv functions are never used and there is no external processing. Videos to come will cover the use of cv as well."

via Folktek

"The Resonant Garden is an acoustic-electronic hybrid designed to create anything from beats and oddities to dense sound scapes. From its inception in 2006, the original garden has gone through many changes and refinements; micro garden, luminist garden and illuminist garden and finally this latest and likely final version.

The garden essentially utilizes three Alter circuits but each equipped with a mic pre-amp, and 4 garden (stringed) panels for generating acoustics. By plucking, rubbing, tapping or even bowing, those micro-acoustic sounds become amplified and effected by the Alter in any number of ways. In essence, the garden is a large microphone designed to pick up vibrations."

EFFECTS
There are two Alter 1 designs and 1 Alter 2. Each Alter 1 has seven different DSP effects which is selected by touching the copper hexagon:

1; long delay (capable of near infinite feedback looping)

2; tight, notated granular delay

3; huge plate reverb

4; shimmering reverb

5; distortion and multi-filter

6; pitch delay

7; stutter glitch

Alter 2 has the following effects:

1; analog delay

2; reverb with infinite capture and lp + hp filters

3; choral reverb

4; palindrome reverse delay - backward/forward repeat

5; time stretch

6; pitch shift (notated semi-tones

7; time stretch glitch

CONTROL
On each of the Alter sections, the following is present:

- control for the gain of the mic pre-amp or any incoming audio.

- controls for mix, X, Y and filter as well as clock.

- all effects have a variation of a filter which may change effect to effect.

- X and Y control various rates.

- clock control adjusts the rate which controls the DSP which can drastically change the effect. In doing so it does slightly lower the quality of the output signal but the results are fantastic. This clock is not for synchronization.

- mix, X, Y and filter all have CV control inputs.

- Each control level or cv input is visualized on the control panel.

ACOUSTICS
Each garden panel is equipped with a contact mic. A contact mic is designed to pick up vibration. The mic pre-amp is specifically designed to deal with the frequencies of the contact mic by boosting certain frequencies and dulling others in order to optimize the sound quality. The mic pre-amp has a gain control so the level can be adjusted according to how you intend to play.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Folktek Resonant Garden w/ Original Box

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

via this auction

"2018 Folktek Resonant Garden Standalone Synthesizer With Strings, Eurorack Patchable.

The Resonant Garden is an acoustic-electronic hybrid designed to create anything from beats and oddities to dense sound scapes.

The garden essentially utilizes three Alter circuits but each equipped with a mic pre-amp, and 4 garden (stringed) panels for generating acoustics. By plucking, rubbing, tapping or even bowing, those micro-acoustic sounds become amplified and effected by the Alter in any number of ways. In essence, the garden is a large microphone designed to pick up vibrations.

EFFECTS

There are two Alter 1 designs and 1 Alter 2. Each Alter 1 has seven different DSP effects which is selected by touching the copper hexagon:

1; long delay (capable of near infinite feedback looping)
2; tight, notated granular delay
3; huge plate reverb
4; shimmering reverb
5; distortion and multi-filter
6; pitch delay
7; stutter glitch

Alter 2 has the following effects:

1; analog delay
2; reverb with infinite capture and lp + hp filters
3; choral
4; palindrome reverse delay - backward/forward repeat
5; time stretch
6; pitch shift (notated semi-tones
7; time stretch glitch

CONTROL

On each of the Alter sections, the following is present:

- control for the gain of the mic pre-amp or any incoming audio.
- controls for mix, X, Y and filter as well as clock.
- all effects have a variation of a filter which may change effect to effect.
- X and Y control various rates.
- clock control adjusts the rate which controls the DSP which can drastically change the effect. In doing so it does slightly lower the quality of the output signal but the results are fantastic. This clock is not for synchronization.
- mix, X, Y and filter all have CV control inputs.
- Each control level or cv input is visualized on the control panel.

ACOUSTICS

Each garden panel is equipped with a contact mic. A contact mic is designed to pick up vibration. The mic pre-amp is specifically designed to deal with the frequencies of the contact mic by boosting certain frequencies and dulling others in order to optimize the sound quality. The mic pre-amp has a gain control so the level can be adjusted according to how you intend to play."

Vacoloco Tron Kits Available

via Vacaloco Ramblings

"I’m pleased to announce that the kits for Tron are available.

The first few kits went to people on the mail-list, so there remains 15 full kits (kit 2) and a few PCB+Micro (kit 1).

Kit 1, is a PCB + Programmed Micro for 21.50 GBP.

Kit 2, is a Full kit, with PCB, programmed micro, all LEDs, switches, knob, connectors, resistors, capacitors, diodes and other chips for 95.50 GBP.

Postage to the UK is 5 GBP,
Postage to Europe is 7.00 GBP,
Postage to the rest of the world is 8.50 GBP.

If you’re interested, please contact me and I’ll reserve a kit for you and pass you details on how to pay."
See Vacaloco link above.

Mystery Circuits Micro Casket

via Mike Walters of Mystery Circuits

"It's a new instrument I finished about a week ago, as a birthday gift for a friend. It's called Micro Casket. The circuits come out of those musical birthday cards, and each had its clock resistor replaced with body contacts. The songs are the ET theme, Superfreak, and Macho Man. The audio causes the red LED to flicker under the jewel lens, and there is a 1/4" output."

Beautiful design, awesome tunes. ;)



YouTube via mysterycircuits
"Built for Nick Speak's 40th birthday. The Micro Casket's sounds come from 3 circuit bent musical birthday cards. The first card plays the E.T. theme, the second plays Super Freak, the third plays Macho Man. Each circuit is identical, and declocked. Touching the metal contacts with the center metal contact affects speed and pitch of each song. Audio controls a red LED under the red jewel lens. The gear controls volume when using 1/4" output.
www.mysterycircuits.com"

Beep Booping Tape Scrubber Module!

video upload by True Cuckoo

uTape Scrubber #001 test

video upload by Beepboop Electronics

See previous posts for Superbooth 2023 demos of the uTape.

via Beep Boop Electronics

"I present the LOFI uTape Scrubber….. based around modified dictaphone including the same replay and AC record circuits used in the upcoming 1U Taperack system!

The uTape scrubber module is easy to set up, use and maintain so requires no previous experience with tape or tape loops unlike the 1U taperack system which will be best suited to people with experience working with tape.

The Bi-directonal motor driver circuit I have designed is a huge improvement over the standard dictaphone motor driver circuit making it possible to scrub the tape back and forth with a single control knob or a Biploar CV signal.

The Pitch knob is used for fine tune control of tape speed, the range of the speed will depend upon the direction/range control.

The direction / range control knob can be used to choose the direction of the tape movement and the range of the overall pitch.

The Pitch CV control knob is an attenuator for the CV input.

The CV input works well with +/- 5V CV signals but for extreme speeds and scrubbing use +/- 10V.

CLICK FOR MORE »

CONDOR SAXOPHONE SYNTHESIZER by HAMMOND

via this auction.
"For sale here is an ULTRA rare synthesizer (the VERY FIRST) for any wind instrument. It was made in the very early seventies buy Hammond (the organ folks). The synth unit is stored in it's own locking carrying case...the key is included. The power cord also stores in it's own locking compartment...the same key locks this too. When performing, the synth unit is locked to the top of the extended carying handle. The synth unit has slider controls for intensity and rate of vibrato, control of treble and bass, tone and volume, sensitivity, mono or stereo signal. It also has organ type switches for Repeat, attack, tremolo/vibrato,sub octave, dyna mute, fuzz, bass sax, tuba, bass clarinet, basson, English Horn, cello, natural amplify, horn, oboe and soprano sax. The front of the unit has a stop bar to cut signal and two micro inputs from the horn's contact mic . It does not include a contact mic. The only missing part is one of the pulls at the side of the unit that release the handle so it can be raised to withdraw the synth unit."

Sequential Circuits TOM SN 03064 w/ TAUNEK Expansion & Cartridge Collection

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

via this auction

This one was spotted and sent in via M Me.

"Sequential Circuits TOM Vintage Drumcomputer MINT Serviced Expanded + Sounds w/ "TAUNEK" Expansion

- Serial #03064
- Made in USA
- fully serviced
- 100% working
- manuals (original) included
- includes 20 cartridges !!!

- Techno Drums
- Hippefex 1
- Atomic Drums
- Brazilian
- Brushes
- Power Drums
- Rock Drums
- Ethnic
- Analog Drums
- Orchestral
- Percussion 1
- Percussion 2
- Percussion 3
- Percussion 4
- Percussion 5
- Percussion 6
- Special Effects
- Contemporary
- Latin Percussion
- Basic Percussion


This wonderful machine has been serviced by our tech and all contact were cleaned or replaced.

Expanding the Sequential TOM to hold 16 "cartridges"

I bought my TOM a few years ago, and had always intended to make some sort of switch-able cartridge for it. I decided recently that it would be nicer to have everything inside the TOM, if possible, and control it using the TOM user interface. There are two advantages to doing it this way:

1) Cartridges can be selected without unplugging and replacing EPROMs, which can get damaged by ESD or bent pins.

2) Both the internal sounds and the cartridge can be swapped out, so all 15 sounds can be changed, not just the top 7. There are two "slots" - internal and cartridge. Any of the 16 "cartridges" can be placed in either slot. If a cartridge has seven sounds in it, and is placed in the internal slot, button 8 will not make a sound. All of the cartridges I have made have 8 sounds. If they are placed in the internal slot, all 8 are available. If they are placed in the cartridge slot, only the first 7 sounds are available.

The board plugs into one of the internal sound ROM IC sockets, after both chips have been removed. It also needs A15b and A16b which are not available in either socket, so two short wires are used. I use A15b and A16b instead of A15 and A16 to avoid connecting to the Wonder chip signals. Luckily there are eyelets on the TOM board right where I needed them to be for these two signals.

Here is a photo showing the newer version of the pcb, which has a third wire. The original two wires are connected exactly as before, while the third wire attaches to the lower end of the 10K resistor near the battery. I have added a small circuit which should allow inserting a cartridge (for testing) into the TOM while the TOM16 is installed. In this case, the only sounds available would be the ones on the cartridge, as the TOM16 EPROM is disabled.

How does it work? I added code to the TOM V1.6 OS firmware (the final SCI version) to allow selecting cartridges using the std user interface. Once the selection is made, these values are sent using the Wonder chip in a special way to a PIC micro-controller on my board. That chip presents the two cartridge select 4-bit codes to a dual 4:1 mux that feeds the correct one to an 8 Mbit EPROM. I do not plan to release the PIC code, or provide the source for my version of the TOM OS at this time. The only changes that I made to the TOM OS firmware were for TOM16 support. No other changes were made.

I am currently offering fully assembled pcb's for $105 including Priority Mail shipping to USA addresses. If you are outside of the USA, please contact me for the additional shipping cost. In order to install the board in your TOM, you will need to upgrade the (socketed) firmware EPROM with one that I supply. You will also need to remove the two (socketed) sound ROM chips I610 and I611. And finally you will need to carefully solder three wires, (which I will supply) into small holes in the TOM pc board and in my board."

CLICK FOR MORE »

The Heels of Love - live

YouTube Uploaded by TheDiscosafari on Oct 17, 2011

"Video recorded during an amazing night in Milan (the name of the party is "Niente"). Crazy location and crazy crowd
The Heels of Love played with TR-707, TR-606, Sequential Pro-One, Korg Mono/Poly, Korg Micro, Doepfer Dark Time, LEM DD-1000 and no computers.
find out more on The Heels of Love on Discosafari Agency website: http://discosafari.com
for booking please contact info@discosafari.com"

The full set:

The Heels Of Love - Live Jam by The Heels Of Love
"Live set made with TR-707, TR-606, Sequential Pro-One, Korg Mono/Poly, Korg Micro, Doepfer Dark Time, LEM DD-1000 and no computers."

TEM micro Jam Session with Volca Beats

Published on Feb 16, 2018 Jan Zatloukal

"TEM micro is 100% analog synth inspired by Moog Mother 32. Made by experienced synth maker in Czech Republic.

If you are interested with this great synth, contact Martin:
martin@adsr.cz, we can send it worldwide."

More videos here.

Ambient Music w/ Prophet-10, Gong & Stones | Lost in the clouds 2025-05-11 by atnr

video upload by atnr

"A piece created with stones, a gong, and a ‪@SequentialLLC‬ Prophet-10. A contact microphone is placed beneath the gong; stones and small bells are moved across its surface to produce sound, which is then blended with synthesizer textures and effects.

Prophet-10: Routed through a blueSky for deep reverb.

Gong setup: A contact mic feeds into ‪@ChaseBlissAudio‬ LOSSY → GENERATION LOSS MK II → ‪@HologramElectronics‬ MICROCOSM.

LOSSY EQs out excess low end.

GENERATION LOSS MK II adds subtle tape coloration.

MICROCOSM supplies reverb and records/plays back micro-loops.

Ableton Live: All parts are recorded, duplicated, and augmented with additional spatial processing via VST effects."

2016 Synth-Fest Coming to Nantes / Frankreich with Yves Usson, Deep Forest and More

I received the following invite in German via email. You can find the Synth Fest 2016 site in French here and Googlish here. You'll find a Googlish translation of the email below:

"Die französische Organisation Patch Work Music (www.asso-pwm.fr) organisiert zu Ostern 2016 das dritte Synthesizer Festival "SYNTH-FEST"

Es gibt wieder Gelegenheit viele Gerätschaften anzutesten oder vorgeführt zu bekommen (z.B. auch die Laser Harp).

Yves Usson, der Erfinder des MiniBrute und MicroBrute wird genauso auf dem Festval erwartet, wie Michel Geiss, Frédéric Rousseau, die bekannt sind als Musiker und Techniker für Jean-Michel Jarre/Vangelis.

Zudem gibt es CDs zu kaufen, eine Tombola und die Möglichkeit mit Musikern sich auszutauschen.
Das Synth-Fest ist offen für jeden, der sich für Vintage Geräte und neue Synthesizer interessiert.
Vorführungen von Vintage Keyboards und auch ganz neuer Technologie werden an allen drei Tagen auf der Bühne präsentiert.

Deep Forest gibt ein Konzert am Samstag.

Wann?: 25. - 27. März 2016
Wo?: Dix, 10 place des Garennes in Nantes, Frankreich
Eintritt: 1,- Euro Das Deep Forest Konzert kostet 5,- Euro

Weitere Infos bei den Veranstaltern Olivier Briand und Bertrand Loreau:
http://asso-pwm.fr/synth-fest-2016/

contact@pwm-distrib.com

Vielleicht interessiert euch das selbst oder ihr könnt das an Interessierte weitergeben?

Danke und Viele Grüße

Lambert Ringlage
www.sphericmusic.de"

Googlish:

"Hello,

the French organization Patch Work Music (www.asso-pwm.fr) organized at Easter 2016, the third synthesizer Festival "SYNTH-FEST"

There is another opportunity to test or demonstration to get (as well as the Laser Harp) many equipment.

Yves Usson, the inventor of Minibrute and Micro Brute is just expected on the Festval as Michel Geiss, Frédéric Rousseau, known as a musician and technician for Jean-Michel Jarre / Vangelis.

There are also CDs for sale, a raffle and the opportunity to musicians to exchange ideas.
The synth festival is open to anyone who is interested in vintage equipment and new synthesizer.
Demonstrations of vintage keyboards and also completely new technology will be presented on all three days on stage.

Deep Forest a concert on Saturday.

When ?: 25 - 27 March 2016
Where ?: Dix, 10 place des Garennes in Nantes, France
Admission: 1, - EUR costs The Deep Forest Concert 5, - Euro

Learn more at the organizers Olivier Briand and Bertrand Loreau:
http://asso-pwm.fr/synth-fest-2016/

contact@pwm-distrib.com

Maybe you interested either itself or you can pass that on to interested parties?

Thanks and best regards

Lambert Ringlage
www.sphericmusic.de"

Admin: Updates via Twitter

This is just a heads up that you can get updates to old posts on http://twitter.com/matrixsynth.

Every now and then updates for old posts come in. Sometimes I put up a new post here to let you know, and other times I just update the post with a red Update:. I'll try to put the latter up on Twitter like I just did for this post.

I just started using Twitter and I'm getting the hang of it. I realize I don't have to post every little detail, like when I decide to go use the restroom. I will be posting little bits that don't quite fit here on MATRIXSYNTH and I'll be calling out posts that interest me in one way or another for those on Twitter that may not following the site closely. An example of what I posted there but not here is this wireless remote monitor I picked up off of Ebay for $108. It's called an AirPanel and it's made by ViewSonic. In about 2003 Microsoft came out with remote wireless monitors. The project was called Mira. It bombed because for about the same price you could get an actual laptop. The idea was that you could remote into your desktop and work on things at your leisure. I thought... hmm... wouldn't that be useful in the studio. I could remote into my desktop and I'd have a wireless touch screen monitor to control all of my software synths and sequencers. I had some trouble getting a network card that works with it. Yes, the remote wireless V100 comes with no wi-fi. Go figure. I couldn't get on my network with a Cisco Aeronet 350 which was supposed to work, but I did manage to get on with a D-Link 650 with some help from this forum. Now that I'm on, it works great. I was able to sequence my hardware synths using Techno Toys SEQ-303, while playing some soft synths at the same time. The cool thing about this is that the interface is completely wireless and it's a touchscreen! Having that direct interaction with the controls of a soft synth makes a big difference. Being able to walk around with a wireless monitor makes a huge difference.

Anyway, back to Twitter, if you are new to it, think of it as micro blogging. A perfect place to note little things like the above that may not make sense for a full blown post. You just put up little bits of stuff that interests you. You can post like crazy or you can post once a week, whatever and whenever, it's up to you.

Currently I'm adding anyone that follows me, but I'm not sure how long that will last. Quite a bit does come in and I don't keep up with it all, so if you have something for the blog, still send it in here via the comments of any post or contact me directly - my contact info is on the bottom right of the site.

JLR Live On KSER.org 90.7 FM - March 6 2020

Published on Mar 21, 2020 John L Rice

"This was basically a random collection of some old and new ideas I had been working on and 'arranged' in real-time live on air. ;-)

If you found this or any of my other videos helpful or entertaining, please consider tipping? Thank You! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/JohnLRice

Gear Used:
32" Paiste Earth gong with AKG C411 contact mic and processed with the following gear:
Hotone A-Station mic pre pedal with effects loop
MXR 10 Band EQ pedal
Electro Harmonix Ravish Sitar pedal
TC Electronic Flashback delay pedal
TC Electronic Hall Of Fame reverb pedal
Mackie 402-VLZ3 mixer

Rav Vast Onoleo B steel tongue drum with AKG C411 contact mic and processed with the following gear:
Mackie 1202-VLZ4 mixer
Walrus Audio Julia tremolo/chorus pedal
MXR Octave Fuzz pedal
Strymon DIG delay pedal

Vermona PerFOURmer MkII quad analog synthesizer processed with the following gear:
Mackie 1202-VLZ4 mixer
Meris Mercury7 reverb pedal

Roland RD-64 piano/synth keyboard processed with the following gear:
Mackie 1202-VLZ4 mixer
Meris Mercury7 reverb pedal

Mellotron Micro keyboard processed with the following gear:
Mackie 1202-VLZ4 mixer
Meris Mercury7 reverb pedal

Synthetic Sound Labs Radio Music module processed with the following gear:
Mackie 1202-VLZ4 mixer
Walrus Audio SLO reverb pedal

#JohnLRice #electronicmusic #experimentalmusic"

Korg Micro Masterpiece Video Contest Entry

Published on Apr 30, 2014 Charlie Malone·3 videos

"This is my entry for the 'Korg Micro Masterpiece Video Contest'.

All the sounds in this song (including the drums) were created using only a MicroKorg. The sounds were layered and mixed in Ableton Live.

Contact me at:
Charlie@SupernovaSound.com"

Percussa Launches Limited-Time Slacker Backer Offer

via Percussa:

"PERCUSSA Completes Succesful Super Signal Processor Eurorack Kickstarter, Launches Limited-Time Slacker Backer Offer

Los Angeles, California - PERCUSSA completed its succesful month-long kickstarter campaign last Sunday, September 3rd, at 8AM PDT, reaching a total of $62,849 (314% funded, based on its original goal of $20,000), unlocking multiple stretch goals with additional features such as USB MIDI MPE support, and 10 additional DSP modules, including a powerful granular sound synthesis processor.

The kickstarter campaign it completed is for its new Super Signal Processor (SSP) Eurorack Module, for which development will begin immediately, and for which the first units are planned to ship in April 2018.

The SSP will be based on its PERCUSSA Engine and PERCUSSA Remote products, which were first presented last Winter NAMM 2017 in Anaheim, CA. Engine is a sound synthesis platform based on a powerful quad-core ARM Cortex A17 processor, delivering over 20,000 DMIPS, paired with high end AKM ADCs and DACs capable of 192khz sample rate and 32 bit resolution, and a full colour 1600x480 LVDS display. Remote is a professional USB control surface with high quality switches and encoders. Both Engine and Remote feature aluminium machined (CNC) housings and knobs.

The SSP will bring the same powerful sound synthesis capabilities to the eurorack format, and will feature 16 input channels and 8 output channels, USB host and device ports, and a micro SD card slot. It will also feature 4 high quality encoders and 18 durable switches, and the same 1600x480 full colours IPS LVDS display. The input and output channels will be provided using 3.5mm connectors, DC coupled, to support both audio and control voltage signals. The same high end AKM ADCs and DACs will be used for the inputs and outputs.

The kickstarter campaign is now over, but PERCUSSA has opened a limited-time only 'slacker backer' period, starting today, September 5th, and ending Friday September 15th, at 8PM PDT. Artists who wanted to back the campaign but did not have a chance to do so in time, can still pre-order an SSP module at the slacker backer price of $1650 + shipping. To do so they should contact PERCUSSA through the website at https://www.percussa.com/contact

After September 15th, this “slacker backer” offer will no longer be available, and the SSP will be offered for pre-order through PERCUSSA’s online store, and through select dealers, at a higher price point, to be announced in the next weeks.

For more information about the PERCUSSA Super Signal Processor (SSP) Eurorack Module, please see https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/percussa/percussa-super-signal-processor-eurorack-module"

Folktek Luminist Garden By Artist Arius Blaze

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

"Here's a rare opportunity.A Folktek Luminist Garden soundboard/synth/effects whatever you want to call it.To get one if these you have to import it after a wait for it to be made then pay VAT on top once delivered in a month or two.It's signed by the artist who makes them,Arius Blaze of Folktek.This one has a 9 volt adaptor for 240v UK too to save the hassle. Just take a look and listen on YouTube to experience it. Mine is a 2010 model signed Folktek '10 on one side and Arius Blaze on the other.Be aware though,these are handmade even if advanced circuit bending,quirky,don't always do as they are told but tremendous fun and very capable in the right hands.Fully working but sold as seen,any trial welcome,possible swap outside this place for analogue or modular gear,contact me for that.This would make a great sound source for a modular too.Cash on collection or Paypal and post.UK bidders only please.Website is www.folktek.com ,Write up below from website ; The Luminist Garden created by Arius Blaze - one of the finest and sweetest sounding folktek works. This work is an expanded version of the Micro Garden, capable of making lush choral waves and entire compositions as a standalone work. The expanded soundboard has multiple pick ups that run into the delay - which offers time settings from extremely tight notated repeats to about 1.5 seconds with near infinite undecaying feedback that essentially acts as a looper allowing one to make beats by tapping the board and plucking or rubbing the strings. The delay runs into a very lush and unusual "wave reverb" that has the ability to act more as a wave generator, creating waves that can endlessly extend - based on the original note but with the ability to pitch shift the feedback, resulting in something like what is called "convolution". The result is rich electronic music from an accoustic source. Sweet ambience and micro musical. Stereo out, custom lamps and switch, runs on 9v DC power adapter (standard plug jack and power rating)."

Ralph Dyck's 1970s DIY Synth Recovered From Pawn Shop

You might remember Ralph Dyck as the Godfather of the Roland MC-8 MicroComposer. His home-brew sequencer served as the basis for the MC-8. See this post for a video featuring a track he wrote titled "Odd Rhythms" that was included in the MC-8 manual. Ralph Dyck was also featured for his DIY modular work in this 1972 news article.

via Pea Hicks on the Roland MC-8 Micro Composer blog:

"A couple years ago, Ralph mentioned to me that in the early-70s he had built a couple of custom analog synthesizers for local schools – UBC and Carson-Graham Senior Secondary. I attempted to contact the music departments of both of these schools. The UBC music department still had theirs, but the Carson-Graham synth was missing in action. Fast forward to a few weeks ago, and I get an email from Ralph that an acquaintance of his in Vancouver recognized Ralph’s handiwork in a craiglist ad for a homebrew synth- it was the long-lost Carson-Graham synth!

The asking price was only $75, but try as he might to recover it, Ralph was too late, and it was purchased by a young guy interested in making 'bloopy synth sounds.'"

Click here for the full story including audio and pics.

Side note: Pea Hicks aka peahix who wrote the article is also the man behind Optigan.com.