"With the right firmware mod (that’s right – no mysterious hacky soldered in dials) for old board Roland EM-101 machines, the EM-101 is no longer a preset machine. Often billed as a cutdown Juno 106 restricted to just 24 presets, this box previously had some interesting uses but didn’t really deliver as an anlogue beast in my arsenal. It was too restricted. Until now. Due to the amazing work by Ryan (Plutoniq), the EM-101 has been give a new lease of life and transformed into a strong addition to my music making and since the parameters can now be controlled over midi CC, I have written an editor to load in presets from the Juno 106 and MKS-7, extended to a new Roland EM-101 format with naming and created a preset saving system and librarian for patch recall. It’s not a Juno 106 but it is a very nice sounding a machine with it’s own character sharing a lot of parallels. If I have understood correctly (there could be inaccuracies!), it has a M5232RS tone generator chip with 36 (I think) waveforms that are beautifully shaped by Roland analogue fitters. A good example is the IR3109 VCF filter, found in a the Jupiter 8 or M5241L VCA found in the MKS-70. If you look at the chip list, there are lots of shared electronics that overlap between Junos, Juipter and other quality Roland gear of it’s time, giving it character. Notably, the MN3009 and MN3101 chorus chips shared by the Juno 106 chorus. It has interesting analogue effects on board but the chorus particularly shines due to the much greater CC control (as you can see from the screenshot). That chorus is gorgous, adds that analogue sheen and processing. I spent last night building up a preset bank for the EM-101 to release with the editor (and check bank functionality) and got lost inside this little beauty."
Mitch Shiner plays the 'Adams Marimba' sample on the Pearl malletSTATION EM PRO. This malletSTATION is equipped with the optional EMSC sound card, making it a standalone instrument.
More from Mitch here: https://shineymusic.com
Pearl malletSTATION EM Pro is an expandable, premium quality professional electronic mallet instrument utilizing a modern 32-bit multi-processor architecture and Muse Kinetics Smart Fabric Technology. Built around two separate components that work seamlessly together – the EMC two-octave control unit and optional EMX one-octave expansion unit – EM Pro is all about raw power, ultimate performance, and expandability.
Get more for your money with an exclusive Pearl malletSTATION EM Pro bundle from Kraft Music. These package deals include the accessories you'll need to get the most out of your new electronic mallet controller instrument, all for one low price. If you have any questions, please contact us. Our knowledgeable sales advisors will be happy to assist in choosing the bundle that's right for you!"
Mitch Shiner plays the "Jazz Vibraphone" sample on the Pearl malletSTATION EM PRO. This malletSTATION is equipped with the optional EMSC sound card, making it a standalone instrument. More from Mitch here: https://shineymusic.com
Pearl malletSTATION EM Pro is an expandable, premium quality professional electronic mallet instrument utilizing a modern 32-bit multi-processor architecture and Muse Kinetics Smart Fabric Technology. Built around two separate components that work seamlessly together – the EMC two-octave control unit and optional EMX one-octave expansion unit – EM Pro is all about raw power, ultimate performance, and expandability.
Get more for your money with an exclusive Pearl malletSTATION EM Pro bundle from Kraft Music. These package deals include the accessories you'll need to get the most out of your new electronic mallet controller instrument, all for one low price. If you have any questions, please contact us. Our knowledgeable sales advisors will be happy to assist in choosing the bundle that's right for you!"
"midiphy proudly presents: zetaSID for eurorack, an expandable powerful SID voice covering a wide range of tones and textures, from classic chiptune staples to sounds you might not expect from a SID chip. The legendary sound engine that defined the Commodore 64 era and shaped the childhood memories of a whole generation of musicians turns out to have plenty left to say. What started as three humble oscillators in a home computer back in 1982 still has a unique character that nothing else quite captures. And zetaSID is here to make sure that sound keeps finding its way into music for years to come.
Here are some selected audio demos, some of them use external FX, some are dry, directly recorded from the bare metal.
The legendary SID chip reimagined as an expandable modular synth voice: powerful synthesis engine, animated OLED display, and polyphony-expandable.
zetaSID is a powerful eurorack modular synthesizer voice packed into just 4 HP, expandable via the new midiphy phybus backplane link. Start with a single monophonic voice controlled via CV/gate and scale it to a full polyphonic MIDI synthesizer with up to six stereo voices with MIDI control. At its core lies the legendary MIDIbox SID synthesis engine, featuring six LFOs, dual envelopes, quad wave sequencers, eight modulation paths with dozens of sources, algorithmic operations, and an extensive trigger matrix.
It ships with 100 carefully crafted patches in its ROM bank, ready to use as-is or as inspiration for your own creations.
zetaSID is an expandable powerful SID voice covering a wide range of tones and textures, from classic chiptune staples to sounds you might not expect from a SID chip.
Disclaimer I have marked this video as Paid Promotion although I was not paid to make this or any video, I was sent these to test before release.
The zetaSID modules are based on the legendary Midibox Sid Synthesizer.
They contain the lead and drum engines from the Midibox Sid and use Hermits (creator of Sid Wizard tracker) Sid emulation.
Each zetaSID contains 3 voices and filter as you would expect from an Sid chip ( The Sid chip is the sound chip from the legendary Commodore 64 home computer from the 80's )
So each zetaSID is a like one commodore 64. If you have multiple zetaSID's they can be linked together with supplied ribbon cables internally to add them to the Phybus, midiphy's way of having all modules being able to talk to each other. They then can work in unison, as stereo pairs, monophonically or for polyphony so a lot of different ways to use them. Of course I wanted to test how I could use them multitimbrally, and in this example I have them unlinked (not physically you can do it from the menus)
The midi module is Nexus Midi by midiphy and allows you to control the zetaSID's via regular midi over the Phybus (they do support cv gate also)
zetaSID 1 is using the drum engine, here I have split, kick, snare and hats over different voices on a single zetaSID, so indeed you can play a kick, hat and snare at the time time if patched this way.
zetaSID 2 is the lead sound, it is going through some hall reverb in this example. It shows off legato bends and using the impressive wave sequencer to increase vibrato over time (like tables if you are familiar with trackers)
zetaSID 3 Uses the Arp to provide classic c64 Arp sounds, I am just sending chords to this module over midi and it is handling the arps itself. It actually has 3 arpeggiators, one per voice, so a stereo pair of zetasids can run SIX arps with completely different settings at the same time from a single patch, impressive.
zetaSID 4 Is using one of the factory presets Den of Saws, I've just high passed it a bit since we are using a lot harmonically rich voices in this song.
This was midi sequenced via a Dirtywave M8 Tracker.
I will show more of the zetaSID's, as they are very powerful and very deep, the amount of modulation they have is outstanding even has Logic Gates, you can literally XOR lfo's together and I need to say if you are seeing this video and thinking you want like to write songs on these that program change isn't currently implemented, but is a high priority on the roadmap.
If you like my music I have a bandcamp here https://avrilcadabra.bandcamp.com/
And you can find me on streaming services and socials also."
"Two Pasco Scientific 9301 dual function generators are functioning (themselves and each other). The lower function on the right 9301 is modulating the top of both 9301s. We had our WA-9307A Fourier Synthesizer modified with a tuning knob, which I am turning back and forth in the first clip (chasing two pencil lines). The WA-9307A is being modulated through the right 9301. The spring reverb, panning, and a little EQ is from the Yamaha EM-100 mixer."
"A patch for this old school rompler synth i recently made. Tune Em Up patch download https://drive.google.com/file/d/18dOL...
The Yamaha CS2x is a sample-based synthesizer released by the Yamaha Corporation in 1999."
"Step inside RetroSound Studio for an in-depth studio tour focused on classic analog string machines from the golden era of the 70s and 80s.
In this video, I showcase my collection of vintage string synthesizers, legendary analog ensemble keyboards that shaped the sound of disco, prog rock, synth-pop, ambient, and early electronic music. These iconic instruments are known for their lush chorus effects, warm analog tone, and unmistakable vintage character.
From rare string machines to well-loved classics, this studio tour is a deep dive into the history, sound, and vibe of analog synth technology that continues to inspire modern music production today.
Whether you’re a synth enthusiast, producer, collector, or just love retro sounds, this tour of RetroSound Studio highlights why analog string machines remain timeless.
Stringmachine list:
0:07 Logan String Melody 2
1:30 Roland VP-330 Vocoder Plus Mk2
4:38 Crumar Performer B
7:53 Korg EPS-1
10:03 ARP Quadra
13:50 Rmif Opus
15:29 Elektronika EM-26
"A pair of Pasco Scientific dual function generators are clocked by the Roland SBX-80. Spring reverb and additional drive from the Yamaha EM-100 mixer."
"The EK-22 is an analog polyphonic programmable synthesizer from Elka. Its cousin, the EK-44 is a digital and expanded version of the EK-22. Although the EK-22 is analog, the oscillators are digitally controlled (DCOs) for better stability and programmability. The keyboard can be split and there are 16 performance patches to store any split, tuning and patch settings. There are 64 preset and 32 user sound patches of purely Italian style analog synth sounds.
Oscillators are very programmable with syncing, individual tuning, level and modulations. There are two six-stage envelope generators for total control of dynamics. The EK-22 is a capable synth similar to the Prophet 600 in programmability but more like the Matrix 6 in its look and push button style programming interface. The EM-22 is a keyboard-less desktop module version of the EK-22.
It has a very similar sound to the Oberheim Matrix 6 (and Matrix 1000) and the Prophet 600 Sequential, as it features the famous Cem3386 filter.
The synthesizer is in excellent condition; everything works properly buttons, sliders,Chorus (Juno 60 style) volume, audio output, and headphones, including the pedal inputs on the rear panel.
Aftertouch is also active, although it's a bit harsh; you have to press the keys quite hard to hear its effect, most likely because it hasn't been used in the last 30 years! A small strip of foam has been inserted inside the front control panel to dampen the plastic noise, but this does not affect its functional or aesthetic behavior."
"Instrumental hip-hop group OMA spend two hours with Orchid and write a song from scratch for an upcoming release. Filmed and recorded at at British Grove Studios."
This was a test from earlier this month of a rack we installed above the Metasonix D-2000. There are two Make Noise Maths and a Gieskes Starving Binary triggering the D-2000. The D-2000 is heard as is, but it is also heard through the DBX 119, which gates the signal, and also gates a drone from the ElectroComp EML 200, which is fed through the DBX 119 at the same time. The Roland SH-101 is played manually, through a Peavey 1310 delay into a Yamaha EM-100 mixer, with the preamps cranked up and the internal spring reverb on. Everything has some Alesis MIDIVERB II."
"(c)2007-25 by RetroSound
supported by UVI: http://bit.ly/retrosound-uvi
One of my favorite tracks from the early 80s.
Human Nature by Michael Jackson from the album Thriller (1982)
Written by Steve Porcaro (Toto)
I used the Roland Juno-60 for the arpeggio and bass (original Jupiter-8), the Oberheim OB-Xa for pads, strings and horn sounds and the Emulator II for the Rhodes and guitar sounds."
synth tees: https://retrosound.creator-spring.com
Bandcamp: https://retrosound.bandcamp.com/
em
"With the Cyber Week on Reverb Sales Event, musicians can save up to 80% off select gear, shopping the over 300,000 deals available on the marketplace—including $675 off a Yamaha Montage-M8X.
Dates: Today (Monday, December 1) through Friday (December 5)... although you should be on the lookout for a twist at the end, as well as some exclusive "get 'em while they're hot" deals launching on the 4th.
% Discount: Up to 80% off select gear. Yes, eighty percent.
Amount of Discounted Gear: Over 300,000 pieces of gear available for sale—and counting.
201 PATTERNS & 500+ SOUNDS ACROSS GENRES — A LIFETIME OF SOUND DESIGN IN ONE PACK
A massive collection of 201 patterns spanning Techno, Nu Skool Breakz, Drum & Bass, Jungle, Techstep, Big Beat, Psytrance, IDM, Electro, House, Trance and more — crafted over many years of production and finally compiled into one essential pack.
From deep basses and Breakbeat chaos to hypnotic Psytrance grooves and solid Techno jams — this pack delivers the full spectrum of the Electribe EMX-1’s power.
Built on the legendary MMT synthesis engine — with FM, VA and multiple advanced algorithms that make the EMX-1 one of the greatest grooveboxes ever — HERITAGE offers 201 patterns and hundreds of custom sound.
HERITAGE CONTENT:
HERITAGE is the definitive sound pack for the Korg Electribe EMX-1 — a massive archive of creativity built over many years of sound design and production.
201 original patterns covering a huge range of genres: Techno, Nu Skool Breakz, Drum & Bass, Jungle, Techstep, Breakstep, Big Beat, Psytrance, Goatrance, IDM, Electro, House, Trance, Funk… and more.
500+ unique new sounds — powerful basses, expressive leads, intricate drums, and experimental tones.
Includes some faithful recreations from the classic EA-1 and EM-1, blending Electribe legacy with fresh modern punch.
Powered by the MMT engine with FM, VA and multiple synthesis algorithms, unleashing the full creative potential of the EMX-1 — still one of the best grooveboxes ever made."
Auction to be held at Musician's Hall of Fame & Museum, Nashville, on November 19
An incredible collection of more than 450 artifacts from the life and career of Florian Schneider, co-founder of the pioneer electronic band Kraftwerk."
Pics and videos featuring some of the gear below, and his Lederhosen for good measure (thanks greg!).
Update: the post has been fully updated with all the synth related gear. This may just well be the longest post to be featured on the site. I wanted to capture all the pics for all of the details including notes, scuffs, and of course serial numbers. It's an interesting look into what he used, the condition he keped his gear, in some cases, how he actually used his gear. Note the phonetics on the keys of the Casio CZ-101 and DX-100. Note the Midi Switch Box with a built-in speaker? What's that about? Note the camouflage key strap on the Korg RK-100 Remote Keyboard. Did he pick it out himself or did the keytar just come with it? Note the repeat midi controllers and the MIDI saxaphones. Wind was his primary instrument. You'll find a ton of the acoustic gear he used in the other listings. This is a fascinating insight into both what and how he used his gear.
Side note: there is no affiliate compensation for this post. The note at the top automatically shows for all posts with the Auction label.
Rack Mount Sennheiser VSM-201 Vocoder
Starting Bid
$5,000
Estimate
$20,000 - $40,000 USD
A late 1970s Sennheiser VSM 201 Vocoder with no serial number from the personal studio and collection of Florian Schneider of Kraftwerk (see images). While it’s said that only a few dozen of these Vocoders were produced, a few examples made it into the hands of forward-thinking musical artists including Herbie Hancock, Daft Punk, and of course, Kraftwerk, who used a VSM-201 like this on their albums Man Machine (1978) and Computerworld (1981). The VSM-201 has an intelligible sound that has not yet been bested by modern gear. Includes power cable. This VSM-201 has been removed from its wooden enclosure (which bears the serial number plate) and modified with a metal rack mount casing, presumably for live use. Requires 240v, IEC power cable not included.
Dimensions: 19 x 9 x 9 inches
Category: Kraftwerk, Equipment
Provenance: PROVENANCE From the Estate of Florian Schneider
"Transposing a sequence on the Roland SH-101, with it’s audio output running though a Peavey 1310 delay, with one output panned center in the Yamaha EM-100 mixer, with the EM-100 internal spring reverb. The other 1310 output runs through another Peavey 1310 delay, which also runs through the EM-100, panned left, with spring reverb and a hotter impedance. There is also a little bit of stereo reverb blended on the CXM 1978.
"Soviet Analog Synthesizer Ambient (SASA) space launched!
Thanks to our great master Alex Taber for advices, Repair, midi mods and tuning for this lovely old USSR machines.
Maybe it's a first time in history when these rare machines are collected, restored and played and filmed in one authentic video.
By Nick Klimenko
We want to show that Soviet analog instruments Are not odd or noisy unfinished boxes, but perfect and beautiful instruments with its own spirit and history.
This cosmic ambient soundtrack played and recorded with:
"With the right firmware mod (that’s right – no mysterious hacky soldered in dials) for old board Roland EM-101 machines, the EM-101 is no longer a preset machine. Often billed as a cutdown Juno 106 restricted to just 24 presets, this box previously had some interesting uses but didn’t really deliver as an anlogue beast in my arsenal. It was too restricted. Until now. Due to the amazing work by Ryan (Plutoniq), the EM-101 has been give a new lease of life and transformed into a strong addition to my music making and since the parameters can now be controlled over midi CC, I have written an editor to load in presets from the Juno 106 and MKS-7, extended to a new Roland EM-101 format with naming and created a preset saving system and librarian for patch recall. It’s not a Juno 106 but it is a very nice sounding a machine with it’s own character sharing a lot of parallels. If I have understood correctly (there could be inaccuracies!), it has a M5232RS tone generator chip with 36 (I think) waveforms that are beautifully shaped by Roland analogue fitters. A good example is the IR3109 VCF filter, found in a the Jupiter 8 or M5241L VCA found in the MKS-70. If you look at the chip list, there are lots of shared electronics that overlap between Junos, Juipter and other quality Roland gear of it’s time, giving it character. Notably, the MN3009 and MN3101 chorus chips shared by the Juno 106 chorus. It has interesting analogue effects on board but the chorus particularly shines due to the much greater CC control (as you can see from the screenshot). That chorus is gorgous, adds that analogue sheen and processing. I spent last night building up a preset bank for the EM-101 to release with the editor (and check bank functionality) and got lost inside this little beauty."
