Hainbach: The Coolest LFO I Have Ever Seen

video upload by Hainbach

The Relay by Electronify

Ciat- Lonbarde Din Dadin Dudero

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

via this auction

"Yes it is a stereo filter but because it is based on the Rungler it is also capable of flights of aleatoric synth sound. Because of this it can stand alone or paired with other Ciat-Lonbarde devices. Watch Hainbach's THE BIZZARE BEAUTY OF THE STUBER [posted here] for more info and tips on how to approach this device."

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Physical Synthesis Cicada Acoustic Vibration Synthesizer & Nymph Eurorack Module Update

video upload by Physical Synthesis



You might remember the Physical Synthesis Cicada - Acoustic Vibration Synthesizer posted back in April of 2021 - you'll find a playlist of demos there. The initial run was sold out. They are now teaming with USA-based distributor Electro Distro on a new run of Cicadas as well as a Nymph eurorack module.

The press release follows:

NEW YORK, NY, USA: having sold out of its initial production run, unique products-producing hardware startup Physical Synthesis is proud to announce that it is working with San Clemente, CA, USA-based distributor Electro Distro’s growing global network of dealers (https://www.electro-distro.com/dealers) to bring its game-changing Cicada — an ‘acoustic synthesizer’ that transforms electronic signals into physical vibrations that can be fully manipulated before being reconverted back into a new, never-heard-before electronic sound — to a wider audience in advance of Nymph, its upcoming Eurorack module…

It is fair to say that every once in a while, a moment comes along whereby human interaction with sound changes completely. Cicada is effectively one of those moments — one of those new instruments that moves the needle in music technology. Indeed, it is pioneered by unique products-producing hardware startup Physical Synthesis as an ‘acoustic synthesizer’ that transforms electronic signals into physical vibrations that can be fully manipulated before being reconverted back into a new, never-heard-before electronic sound. Says company founder Spencer Topel: “Cicada was the first step in introducing physical synthesis methods to the synth community; it is an award-winning interface that really lets musicians explore microscopic sounds with precise control.” Clearly, Cicada made musical waves when winning the Judge’s Special Award at the Guthman Musical Instrument Competition 2022, hosted by Georgia Tech School of Music — one of the few schools in North America that offers Music Technology as a major in undergraduate, graduate, and Ph.D levels of study — as an annual event dedicated to identifying the newest and greatest ideas in music.

Musical waves notwithstanding, ‘noise' is a subjective term; while electromechanical devices like speakers or headphones try to minimise the distortion inevitably introduced in physical systems, Cicada is designed to precisely exploit these distortion products as the basis of a new kind of synthesis. Cicada converts voltages to vibrations in a mechanical oscillator to create intermodulation — the addition of frequency content in a nonlinear system — in place of typical analogue or digital oscillators. By bringing the signal chain into a physical space, Cicada allows users to shape such content with natural, tactile gestures that truly transcend twiddling with a knob or pushing a slider. “As a violinist and composer, my experience of creating sound is highly physical,” proclaims Spencer Topel, adding: “With Cicada, I wanted to make an instrument that connects these elements, allowing musicians to produce complex, compelling sounds, but through tactile interaction.”

Insofar as actually doing what it does, Cicada receives two Eurorack-level signals that drive oscillation in a cantilevered Bridge positioned atop a Soundboard at an adjustable height. Digging deeper, distortion caused by the Bridge-Soundboard interaction adds frequency content to the input, determined by the specific qualities of the system. Self-explanatory Polycarbonate Soundboard, Foam Soundboard — made of EVA (Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate) foam, and Wood Soundboard — made of Birdseye maple — options each provide a range of resonating/filtering properties that combine uniquely with the likes of the Coral Wing Bridge — tip made of solid oak (resulting in a bright, clear tone), Coral Dual Tip Wing Bridge — tip made of premium rubber (allowing for a hard, precise attack with a balanced low-end), and Grey Wing Bridge — tip made of soft neoprene foam (resulting in a mellow, balanced acoustic effect); each pairing opens up a portal to a distinct sonic universe.

Users can dynamically change the system (and, therefore, how it is transforming signals) by adjusting the Bridge height, changing the region and degree of contact between Bridge and Soundboard, or applying pressure to either — effecting real-time, tactile timbral control, in other words. With that being said, premium vibration damping materials, such as Delrin, and custom circuitry minimise unwanted noise, allowing the intermodulation products to shine, while the output, captured by a pickup microphone positioned beneath the Soundboard, can be monitored directly, processed modularly, or recorded into a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation).

With behaviours akin to those exhibited by a traditional acoustic instrument, Cicada is highly responsive to differences in the excitation mechanism — the input signal, in other words. As an example, striking a snare drum with a stick or using it with brushes produce vastly different-sounding results; driving Cicada with quiet or loud, spectrally simple or complex, or bass- or treble-heavy signals similarly yield very different timbres.

Though Cicada is designed to work with a Eurorack setup out of the box, one of its strengths lies in its inherent flexibility. Indeed, it can just as easily receive signals from a DAW, boosted to the appropriate 5-10Vpp level via an outboard mixer. Moreover, the choice of input is completely left open to the user: an Ableton Live loop run through Cicada acting as a physical filter to provide timbral variety over time, for example; an LFO (Low Frequency Oscillator) from a Eurorack module, generating rich percussive tones on the maple Soundboard as the foundation of a beat; or a harmonically dense signal — similar to the output of a Max/MSP FM patch (which many would, without doubt, prefer to navigate physically rather than digitally) — made by moving the Bridge around the Soundboard to amplify certain harmonics and suppress others, finding a grittier sound with the Bridge barely touching or coaxing a more ethereal tone with it centred and depressed.

Endless exploration possibilities are a given, guaranteeing that any sonically-ambitious Cicada user is likely to while away the hours playing with input signals, system configurations, gestures, modulation combinations, and more.

It is hardly surprising, then, that Physical Synthesis sold out of its initial Cicada production run, really hitting a home run by counting luminaries like renowned electronic music composer and performer Hainbach — citing Cicada as being “The Tesla of electro-acoustic workstations, miles ahead of standard piezo and solenoid boxes...” — and Ableton CEO Gerhard Behles amongst its fan base, and has now turned to working with US-based distributor Electro Distro’s growing global network of dealers to bring its game-changing ‘acoustic synthesizer’ to a wider audience. “I want to bring acoustic synthesis to a wider range of musicians,” maintains Spencer Topel, before ending on a high note: “We are building some really exciting expansions of Cicada to different formats, including a Eurorack module called Nymph, which is coming soon.”

Physical Synthesis’ ‘acoustic synthesizer’ is now available as Cicada Founders Edition Extended — encompassing two dual AMPs, one PRE, one Actuator, five Bridges, three Soundboards, three Meanwell power supplies, three custom SATA Cables, and one custom Nanuk 935 Flight Case — for $2,700.00 USD or as Cicada Pro Series individual modules — starting at $79.00 USD — via San Clemente, CA, USA-based distributor Electro Distro’s growing global network of dealers (https://www.electro-distro.com/dealers) or directly from Physical Synthesis’ online Shop (https://shop.physical-synthesis.com).

For more in-depth information, please visit the dedicated Cicada webpage here: https://www.physical-synthesis.com

Homage To Malta | TR-606, Juno60, SH-2, Fluss, Fieldrecordings

video upload by

"Still buzzing from the last concert of the year in Malta, I went into the studio and recorded this piece. The pads are made from field recordings of Malta harbor and slowed down Nagra loops.All are processed and played with my new instrument Fluss. Bass is Roland SH2, melody Juno60 through a wire recorder, harmonies are Fluss processing the Juno. Drums are a modded TR-606. Thanks to https://circuitsmalta.com for hosting me and showing me around!

Find this track on my Patreon: http://patreon.com/hainbach
Fluss with Bram Bos is out now: https://apps.apple.com/ch/app/fluss-g..."

Fluss - Kinetic Granular Synthesizer By Bram Bos and Hainbach

video upload by HAINBACH

"It took one and half years, but now it is finally here - Fluss, my latest collaboration with Bram Bos. It is a granular playground for iOS devices - a synthesizer and a processor that is inviting to play yet can give you complex results. The kinetic interface gives you a fun and musical way to interact with it, as your gestures become the speed and depth of the modulation.

Fluss is available now in the Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/nl/app/fluss-g..."

The Touring Musician's Dream Synth? +GIVEAWAY (USA)

video upload by HAINBACH

"Thanks to @PerfectCircuit for sponsoring this video and giving away an OP-1 Field to one of my treasured viewers (US residents only). Follow the instructions in this link (live at 10 AM Pacific) to enter the contest: https://bit.ly/3gL5AI5

I did not like the OP-1 Field at first glance. I travelled around the world with my ten year old battered original OP-1 and played it in countless shows, songs, and soundtracks. I used it like a Swiss Army knife - at home I have instruments that do each individual job better, but on the road the OP-1 is a wonderful combination of tools. It became one of my most important instruments. When the newest iteration came around it felt strange - I was very attached to my OP-1, so I did not want to give the Field a real chance. But when I took it with me on tour and travels over the past months, that changed."

The Prettiest Analog Synth (That Also Sounds Fantastic)

video upload by HAINBACH

"If you like the synth sounds of Boards of Canada, Plaid and other early Warp acts, and you appreciate beautiful design, the Mutuca FM by Arthur Joly [Reco-Synth] is for you. Arthur send me it a while with no strings attached, and when I finally found time to play with it, I was amazed by its sounds and decided to record a video on it. The Mutuca has a warm and rich tone, almost like it was already processed on tape. Not a synth for every situation, but basses and leads it does charmingly well.

SOUNDPACKS, MUSIC and LOVE: http://patreon.com/hainbach"

This Analog Synth Arrived Broken...

video upload by HAINBACH

"When I first heard the Crumar DS-2 I was enchanted: it sounds absolutely wonderful and is, like most Italian synths, a true player's instrument. I get why Sun Ra dug it so much. But it is a risky synthesizer to buy: according to vintagesynth.com it is one of "the most unreliable on the used market". And mine was no exception. The seller claimed that "you can make music with it" and he was not wrong, even though he did not say it was this messed up. I was very close to sending it back, but then I started really playing it. This is what happened.

Get the tape and book of my DS-2 album 'Tagwerk':
https://industrialcomplexx.bandcamp.c..."

Hainbach is the paradigm of the revaluation of outdated material and the reconditioning of machines destined for other purposes that have nothing to do with sound, although his work as a researcher is currently much broader, his technological mastery is possibly one of the most advanced of our era.

Tagwerk is an album that honours Hainbach's way of working. It is recorded on a Crumar DS-2, an early Italian synthesiser he acquired and which began to malfunction shortly after he started it up, hence the title. This album is about embracing the broken and letting it inspire you. Much of it was recorded in two days, not even daring to open the window or turn off the synthesizer for fear that inspiration would escape or that it would break completely. He recorded 22 tracks in this marathon state, and the ones on this release are the ones that survived. There is a sonic magic in that era that is unsurpassed.

Tagwerk is accompanied by a book that tells the story of this German producer and also discusses many of his machines and working techniques.

Dials: Vintage test-equipment channel strip from AudioThing and Hainbach

video upload by CatSynth TV

"We take a detailed look at Dials, a new effect plug-in from AudioThing that re-creates two pieces of vintage test equipment used by electro-acoustic musician Hainbach as a channel strip: a German measurement instrument for radio repurposed as a preamp/compressor, and an Alison Labs test-signal filter repurposed as an audio filter.
To find out more, please visit https://www.audiothing.net/effects/di...

00:13 History and Background
00:50 Overview
01:36 Filter (with sawtooth source)
03:52 Preamp, Compressor, and Filter with piano source
07:24 Voice over
07:46 Pinging the filters with impulse sources
09:01 808-like drum machine built with dials
09:45 Hainbach's filter bank with drums
10:40 Factory Presets

Hainbach's introduction to the Dials channel strip can be found here:

Drum example by G Calvin Weston at soundscaperecordinglab.com

____________
Please consider supporting this channel to help us bring you more synthesizer tutorials and other content.
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/catsynth
Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/catsynth"

AudioThing Dials - The Massive Sound Of Vintage Test Equipment

video upload by HAINBACH

"You all have been asking me about making a test equipment based filter plugin, and now its here! Together with @AudioThing I developed DIALS, an experimental channel strip. Based on a classic American passive band-pass filter and a modified German broadcast transmitter, DIALS brings you the massive sound of test equipment music in plugin form. Whether you want to mangle signals in broad strokes or finely sift through frequencies, DIALS has you covered. If you desire to tread further, it becomes an instrument unlike anything else.

INTRO PRICE: 49$/€ REGULAR 79$/€ (offer good until end of October)
BUY NOW: http://audiothing.net/effects/dials
HAINPACK: https://www.audiothing.net/bundle/hai..."

"Take a trip to the outer reaches of music production with the Hainbach Bundle. LoFi radiations from a Cold War wire recorder, the rotating madness of the Radiophonic Workshop, metallic resonances from 1930s France, Stockhausen-esque feedbacks, or a trip through Noise in all its forms, the Hainpack is as steeped in history as its full of modern music tools."

Seiko's Forgotten Synthwave Dream Machine

video upload by HAINBACH

"In 1983 Yamaha released the DX7, which became the most successful synthesizer of its time. To much less acclaim, Japanese watch-maker SEIKO put out the DS-System in the same year. All but forgotten today, the DS is rather strange - it consists of a home keyboard that can be expanded with an additive synthesizer and a sequencer module. A complete flop when it came it, but rather charming for today's Vapor- and Synthwave schooled ears.

Soundpacks, Music and Love: http://patreon.com/hainbach

*CHECK-OUT ROBERT SCHRÖDER HERE*: https://www.news-music.de"

Playing Live With The Dream Collection At Willem Twee

video upload by HAINBACH

"After my first visit at Willem Twee Studios in Den Bosch I knew I had to come back. And I did, this time for a live gig at the Toonzaal. Rikkert had the idea I had secretly hoped for - to involve the studio in the live show. So I setup a patch, to which Hans Kulk and Rikkert Book added beautiful tape processing and effects. Additional concert footage by Joline LeRovan.

NEW ALBUM 'SYN-KET STUDIEN': http://hainbach.bandcamp.com [see this post for video]
Soundpacks, Music and Love: http://patreon.com/hainbach"

You can find additional HAINBACH's SYN-KET posts here.

DISTRACTIVICIOUS / a piece for several bandpass filters / eurorack

video upload by BRiES

"I watched a video by Hainbach and I felt the sudden urge to start routing a sound through several bandpass filters.

The main sound here is made by Rings (with a lot of modulation coming from - mainly - Pamela's New Workout). I've used one output and routed this in parallel through a few filters.

I added a subtle kickdrum (triggered by the first stage of STEP 8) and some noise-percussion to the sides."

Hainbach - Syn-Ket Studien (Full Album)

video upload by HAINBACH

"My album "SYN-KET STUDIEN" as it was recorded at the Museo Del Synth Marchegiano. Pre-order one of the limited run vinyl now or buy the digital: https://hainbach.bandcamp.com/album/s..."

"Syn-Ket Studien (German for „study“) is as much an exploration as its a love letter. When I tried to coax music from this wonderful but not always perfectly working instrument, I was under the spell of the beautiful Marche region and the hospitality I encountered at the Museo. The album cover by Zé Burnay reflects that - the countryside and culture frames the session.

Having only a few days with the Syn-Ket, I needed to work effectively. I decided it would be the tempo that would guide my interaction with the instrument. By setting the speeds of the modulators first I learned quickly what the instrument could do and what I could do with it. Every piece is the result of a learning curve, the struggle of playing an undocumented instrument and the joy of its incredible rich and powerful sound.

At home in my Berlin studio I left the sound as raw and unedited as made sense musically, adding only a touch ambience with an old stereo spring reverb."

Hainbach, Berlin, 2022

A Short History of The Syn-Ket

"The Syn-Ket is a truly exceptional instrument: developed in Italy at the same time that Robert Moog and Don Buchla set out to write instrument history, Paolo Ketoff created what is probably the first portable synthesizer.
Born from the experience of making the huge Fonosynth and inspired by the works of Harald Bode, Ketoff worked closely with musicians and composers of the American Academy of Rome (John Eaton, Bill Smith) to create an electronic instrument that would allow live performances without tape playback.
Shunning mass production, the Syn-Ket was only produced in nine custom pieces, starting in 1963, all tailored to the musician that ordered it. And those lucky few got a lot, despite the compact size: three voices with tube oscillators, two filters and an LFO, an octave filter bank and three output modulators (a mixture of LFO/Envelope/VCA). All is controlled by a very expressive three row pressure sensitive keyboard.
It found widespread use in Italian movies of the times. Little wonder, as one Syn-Ket was famously owned by Ennio Morricone"

- Riccardo Pietroni, Museo Del Synth Marchigiano, 2022

released August 23, 2022

See the Synket label below for more.

Syn-Ket: Portable and Powerful In 1963

video upload by HAINBACH

See the Synket label for more.

"In 1963, when synthesizers were wall-sized, Paolo Ketoff designed a portable yet sonically rich electronic instrument, the Syn-Ket. Created for film scoring and experimental musicians, the Syn-Ket became a classic of Italian film scoring, with Ennio Morricone being one of the early adopters. Only 8 or 9 where made, and I got to play the only one that is known to work @Museo del Synth Marchigiano .

GET THE ALBUM 'SYN-KET STUDIEN': http://hainbach.bandcamp.com

Soundpacks, Music and Love: http://patreon.com/hainbach"

Making Music With a Swiss Power Grid Messenger

video upload by HAINBACH

"In which I use a Landis & Gyr Rundsteuerung transmitter to make music. Originally, this was meant to transmit commands over the power grid. Applications were manifold, but always custom engineered: control grid strength, set street lights, railway control or even as an alert for the fire department.

Soundpacks, Music and Love: http://patreon.com/hainbach"

Is This the Best Mixer for Synthesizers?

video upload by HAINBACH

"The Arp Minus Noise Mixer Model 8 from 1976 seems like it's designed with synthesizers in mind unlike any mixer today. It has many creative features that I see making most sense with people that enjoy experimenting with sound. It can be clean as whistle and dirty as a Metalzone. In this video I explore its features and give my thoughts why I consider it the best mixer for synths."

100 MODULAR SYNTH OSCILLATORS - Plus more! Synth Diaries 2022

video upload by LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER

"Testing 100 modular VCO's and looking at the trip to barcelona! with @True Cuckoo and @HAINBACH at Sonar with Patreon. i got to road test the kosmo eurorack modules! and experience some sick @Befacosynth DRUMS"

HAINBACH Bought The Worst Synthesizer

video upload by

"On a warm summer evening, after a few glasses of Riesling I went on Reverb and made an offer of 666 EUR on one of the most-disliked synths of all time, the Davoli Davolisint. Not thinking it would come through, as the seller wanted 1050EUR originally, I was surprised in the morning that I had actually bought it. People claim it is not even a synthesizer, but does it deserve its horrible reputation? Let's find out!"

An Extensive Overview Of Vintage Italian Drum Machines

video upload by HAINBACH

"I visited the Museo Del Synth Marchigiano again and had a look at all the drum machines they have in their huge collection. According to Riccardo Pietroni of the Museo its a good 80% of all rhythm instruments produced in the Italy. Featuring machines by Elgam, Eko, Farfisa, Viscount, Crumar, Godwin and many many more. Patrons get a huge soundpack, so sub over here: http://patreon.com/hainbach"