Ken Stone Interview via VICMOD

VICMOD: Ken Stone interview
(click for the full interview)

"Ken Stone is highly regarded in the Modular Synth business. He is also "the guru" of the DIY synth community.
Ken has been involved with many companies throughout the years from Bananalog, Cyndustries, Elby Design and Metalbox to name a few. He runs his own company Cat Girl Synth (CGS) were you can buy Printed Circuit Boards (PCB)and build up your own system. If you are into modular synths you are sure to have at least one of Ken’s designs in your system.

I caught up with Ken recently at his home, in the outskirts of Melbourne, Australia, a place that resembles only what I can only describe as "The Tardis". I went in and time disappeared. You will see modular synths all around the walls at strange angles, vintage oscilloscopes and wires everywhere. I was convinced when I left his home I had indeed been to another galaxy."

Ken Stone and John Hardy using the TEC-1 microcomputer

Published on Nov 5, 2018

Ken Stone of Catgirl Synth/CGS.

"There are videos etc., that attribute the design of the TEC-1 computer to Colin Mitchell. Colin was the editor/publisher. The TEC-1 was designed by John Hardy. Ken Stone then transformed the prototype into the TEC-1 board as it was produced.
Here Ken and John have a chuckle about it."

H'ven Sent by Ken Stone

Ken Stone is the man behind Catgirl Synth aka CGS.

Ken Stone and MFOS DIY Modules

Two pics via Mitchell Sigman of Celebutante, and Keyboard Magazine. You might also remember Mitchell from these previous posts.

"I have a .com system with modules that I've built from Ken Stone and Music From Outer Space PCB's, and I just finished doing my own silkscreening for the panels (I'm not that good at it yet though... you can see some glitches). I did all the artwork in Photoshop. I got the "tic mark" patterns for the knobs from yusynth.net, who has a lot of his own .com style art on his site.

Here is a single panel with both a Ken Stone CGS31 Digital Noise module as well as a CGS RR Real Ring Modulator (my system needs some passive attenuators to make the ringmodmodule more useful)."





Update: one more image via Mitchell.

Cyndustries Cynthia Modcan A Modules

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

via this auction

Pictured:

Barton Zeroscillator
CGS/Ken Stone Gate Sequencer
CGS/Ken Stone Super Psycho LFO
Buchla Quad Low Pass Gate
CGS/Ken Stone Burst Generator
Blacet Dark Star Chaos

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DIY Modular by Macumbista

You'll find another pic and more at Macumbista

"The modules I've built, from top left to right:

TOP ROW
Two Dual Thomas Henry XR-2206 Voltage Controlled Oscillators (Bugbrand PCB layouts, self-etched)
4x4 Bipolar DC Matrix Mixer (Ken Stone CGS 33 & CGS 04 PCBs)
Blank Panel (singlewide)

MIDDLE ROW
Super-Psycho Modulation Source (Ken Stone CGS 21)
Wave Multiplier (Ken Stone CGS 29)
Blank panel for another Dual Thomas Henry XR-2206 VCO (will complete tonight!)
Blank panel (doublewide)
Two channel DC Mixer (three inputs per channel, large jack outputs)(more CGS 04 PCBs)

BOTTOM ROW
Dual Synthacon Voltage Controlled Filters (Marc Bareille PCBs)
Dual Polyvoks Voltage Controlled Filters (Marc Bareille PCBs)
Blank Panel (doublewide)
Blank Panel (singlewide)
Breadboard Prototyping area (= doublewide blank panel)"

Serge Stone

flickr by cray5656
(click for more)

"Ken Stone created Serge Buchla cabinet"

Ken Stone of Catgirl Synth/CGS

Metalbox/CGS Programmer/Sequencer Test Drive

YouTube via OculoRapido

"Test drive of Metalbox/CGS 16 stage analog CV Programmer/Sequencer module, demonstrating random access to each stage and forward/backward sequencing. Original Catgirl Synth circuit design by Ken Stone, after a basic Serge sequencer. Performed on Blacet/Metalbox/Wiard/Cynthia modular analog synthesizer systems. Downsampled MP4 video converted from Sanyo HD1010 720p recording. Produced by Doktor Bob at Rapid Eye Soundlabs. Gratitude and respect to Michael Ford for designing and building all the brilliant blue Metalbox modules. Copyright 2009 Robert B. Trelease."

via Robert on the AH list:
"Michael Ford (Metalbox) has begun limited production of 8 and 16 stage versions of a classic Ken Stone Catgirl Synth design Programmer/Sequencer. Each version has 4 channels (A-D) of V/OCT CV outputs, up/down ('clock trigger') inputs, common pulse and all event outputs (for summed stage and pushbutton triggers), plus individual stage pulse inputs and outputs. The latter can be used to patch complex loops between stages. Each stage has a combination output LED and pushbutton switch, so stages can be triggered manually. Each channel (A-D) has an individual CV pot for each stage, so there's a tight/neat array of smoothly twisty knobs. http://www.metalbox.com/custom.html

According to Stone's familiar CGS documentation, he expanded on an original Serge sequencer design. http://www.cgs.synth.net/modules/cgs59_prog.html

Michael's Metalbox 16 stage version was custom built for me in a clean 'Wiard' blue anodized front aluminum chassis, 3" deep, 5U height, full width (19") rack mount, 1/8" jacks. Power was provided by a standard Blacet PS-500a connection through a custom DIN cable. As I recall, Michael said that the 16 channel version draws 250 mA."

Ken Stone Sequential Switch for Eurorack

Published on Jan 10, 2014 littlem4tt·44 videos

"First (and not so great) demo of this fabulous circuit from Ken stone. Ken.....your a genius!!"

July 21st Serge Negative Slew Workshop at Robotspeak

"Directly across the street from where the original Serge Modular Music Systems store was on Haight st. in the 70s and 80s Robotspeak is celebrating its 10th year anniversary as a store and independant center for music technology learning. With encouragement from Ken Stone and Serge him self the second official Serge module building workshop at Robotspeak will focus on the Serge 1973 Negative Slew. One of Serge Tcherepinin's many contributions to the art of music and synthesis. The Negative Slew is the perfect example of a multi use Serge module. The predecessor and the back bone to what became west coast synthesis. It can be an Envelope Generator, an Envelope Follower, a Voltage Controlled Oscillator, an LFO and a Slope Generator. This multi functional approach to producing modules was an integral part in the design of the circuits being built at robotspeak. An innovation made 40 years ago by Serge Tcherepinin's and celebrated today with Ken Stone's recent re-release of the original 1970s circuit on PCB. The monthly organized group of builders at Robotspeak affectionately named The Church Of The Super Serge are dedicated to the preservation of the lower haight area's rich synthesizer history and the revival of the modular synth hey day in the district. Catch one of these workshops any 3rd saturday 589 1/2 Haight Street San Francisco, CA"
http://www.robotspeak.com/

Serge1973VCF Demo

Published on Jul 9, 2014 davidryle

"A MOTM format build of the famous Serge 1973 VCF. This is a Ken Stone pcb from Cat Girl Synth and is numbered CGS77.

The additions are the Hi and Lo Q resonance settings and a "low frequency" mode for slew of control voltages (DC).

The panel graphic maintains the Serge philosophy with a printed paper laminate on a metal panel. The obvious difference is the MOTM (Synthesis Technology) format.

This demo only demonstrates the 2 pole -12dB Low Pass mode. The filter also has a -6dB band pass and -12dB high pass mode which are very nice as well.

There are some background voices which I decided to include for temporal flavor. Everything is from the modular synthesizer except the echo delays which are a Lexicon and T.C. Electronic rack units after the modular.

Thanks to Ken Stone at CGS
http://www.cgs.synth.net"

Elby Designs Ken Stone CGS721 Super Psycho LFO

via this auction

"This listing is for the Elby Designs Super Psycho LFO designed by Ken Stone in Eurorack format. You can see rack rash around the screw holes."

Ken Stone CGS Serge Not Quite Quad Slope

via Appliancide where you'll find additional shots and details.

"Like most modular synthesizer users and builders, I suffer from Serge envy. Thankfully for all of us, Ken Stone licensed some of Serge's designs to sell as CGS PCBs.

Here is my first module using these Serge designs"

Bottom pic: "Here's a picture of the project supervisor."

Making the Serge Paperface Synth - 1 - The Panel

Published on May 31, 2013 DJjondent·199 videos

"The time was 1973.

Moogs, ARPs & Buchlas ruled the day .... all were very expensive and beyond the reach of most electronic musicians. Only rock stars or those with access to a well heeled university could use synthesizers.

Then along came Serge Tcherepnin (at CalArts) who had the vision to make synthesizers available to everyone. His first ones were handbuilt d.i.y. kits.

The first 1973 machine was used by William Jackson on a Greenpeace anti-whaling vessel (1975) .... to make whale sounds. It was taken on a boat to the Pacific Ocean and used to warn the whales (about humans ???). They were more idealistic & innocent times.

It's this beautiful vision of a time long past which I'm trying to recreate,.... keeping this as low tech as possible & using everyday materials.
The early Serge Synths were designed for the common man to be the "People's Synth".
I hope Serge Tcherepnin would have approved.

This first video shows how I'll make the face plate/panel.
Its just a metal sheet with 1/4 inch holes cut into it in a fixed grid.
A lovely simple design.

Onto this is attached a paper template with glue.
This is covered with transparent adhesive film.
It the old days they used mylar.

Future videos will cover installation of the PCBs,trouble shooting & final tests.

The planned Serge modules for this panel are:
Peak/Trough
Dual processor
Triple wave shaper
'73 Filters
Gate/VCA
Mixer

I'm trying to keep the modules as close to the early 1970's designs as I can.
.... using mostly Ken stone PCBs.

Thanks to Ken Stone for the PCB's
http://www.cgs.synth.net/

& Dmitri of COA for his help.

http://www.youtube.com/user/DmitriSFC
http://www.coa-modular.com/2012/06/03..."

CGS Multi Tempo Patch

Published on Feb 19, 2013 otherunicorn·38 videos

otherunicorn is Ken Stone of CGS

"I don't know how many years it is that I have been working towards getting a decent sized patch going. Too much building, too many interruptions, too many times having to pull something apart to answer questions. So over the last couple of weeks, my intentions got a little further than just being that, and a managed a couple of rudimentary/experimental patches. Finally today I spent a few hours putting this together. I don't know how many years I've wanted to do this particular type of patch, but it's been a lot. The basis is the C Am F G chord progression. VCO 1 is playing those notes, VCO 2 is playing harmony at twice the rate. VCO 3 is playing a 15 step sequence at 4(?) times the rate again, while VCO 4 is playing the "lead" at 1/2 the rate of VCO 1. The lead uses a Doepfer Phase Locked Loop to break up the tone a bit. This was just quickly recorded with the camera to make sure I have a record of it. At the moment there is no audio recording equipment in the room! Oh - the Serge isn't part of the patch. It is still wired up as per the last video."

Downloadable audio here:

Ken Stone CGS x4 in Eurorack

via Paul Appliancide on The MATRIXSYNTH Lounge

"Still testing and debugging this one. Four of Ken Stone's designs behind one euro panel = one powerful and complicated beast."

by Uglysound Electronics

DIY analog synth project (Steiner Parker "Type" VCF The Final Tweak)

Published on Nov 7, 2017 Adamski Ajull

"Hey guys back again with yet another modified Stiener Parker type 12db per oct VCF, this based on a mashup of Ken stone and Yves Ussons schematics.
I have increased the diode ladder from 10-12, and also the size of the capacitors in the ladder and also my own tailored trimming for keyboard tracking.
There is also a trimmerble diode pair in the resonance network , which can at some points sound like a nice distortion pedal and tames the wild resonance. i have also changed values in the Freq Cut and Res potentiometers resistance to ground to compensate for the bigger change in top end content.
PLEASE USE HEADPHONES OR SPEAKERS TO CATCH THE LOW END PROPERLY ;-).
Again many thanks to Yves Usson and Ken Stone for their inspirational circuits."

New Triadex Muse Converter Proto

Published on Sep 15, 2018 otherunicorn

"Second generation of the Triadex Muse converter during development. A collaboration between Nathan Thompson and Ken Stone. [Ken Stone of Cat Girl Synth/CGS]

Basic test only: 3 VCOS, one following the octave slider, one following the standard output of the Muse and one controlled by the slide pots, each being selected by the 3 bit address generated by the note sliders on the muse. Slider tuning is slightly off - a hazard of all analog sequencers.

If only the original Muse had sounded like this...."

---
Also check out this other homemade Triadex Muse here.

Lower West Side Studio Introduces M122 Master Divider Module

Lower West Side Studio - 2 Minute Tour - M122 Master Divider

"A quick video demonstration of the M122 Master Divider by Lower West Side Studio

The M122 Master Divider is a clock divider which splits the incoming signal into divisions of 2, 4, 8 and 16. Each division is then broken down into 4 phases.

It provides an easy, flexible way to break up your clock signal and produce interesting polyrhythms.

The M122 is a licensed reengineered version of Ken Stone’s CGS22 Master Divider

For more information visit lowerwestsidestudio.com"

via Lower Swest Side Studio

"M122 Master Divider $330 $290

The M122 Master Divider is a clock divider which splits the incoming signal into divisions of 2, 4, 8 and 16. Each division is then broken down into 4 phases.

It provides an easy, flexible way to break up your clock signal and produce interesting polyrhythms.

The M122 is a licensed reengineered version of Ken Stone’s CGS22 Master Divider

As a special introductory offer we have reduced the price of the M122 Master Divider from $330CAD to $290CAD until December 18th!"

Detailed Internal Pictures of Roland MC8 SN 670704

These in via Loscha. You can grab the zip here.

"This Roland MC8 has been in Australia for all of it's life, it seems. We don't know who owned it until the late 90s when it came into the hands of the current owner. The 'Sidecar' is safely in storage (so safe, the owner can't remember exactly where), and, like many people, we don't have the 60 pin Hirose cable, but they are now available online.

I hope everyone enjoys this amazing piece of technology.

The album I had on whilst opening it up and documenting it was Dare, by The Human League. They used an MC8 on this album, programmed by engineer Martin Rushent, who sadly passed away in 2011."

Image names match what you are looking at for each.

Update: additional pics of the MC-8 Interface via Ken Stone added below.

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