606 DAY 2025 #synth #vintagesynth #tr606

video upload by Alex Ball

"Quick TR-606 spank to celebrate 606 day."

Musicaid Simmons Drum Synthesizer SDS 3 top right.

TR-909: The Beat Goes On

video upload by Alex Ball

"An in-depth look at Roland's classic TR-909 from 1983.

Beaotic discount code: ALEX909
This gives buyers 50% on their entire order, including the XT-909 mentioned in the video. The code expires 31 Aug 2025.
https://beaotic.com/

For sample packs, Q&As and more:
www.patreon.com/AlexBallMusic

0:00 Intro Jam
0:58 History
6:18 Demo 1: Monsieur Donk
7:17 808 vs 909
10:23 Demo 2: Just 303 and 909
11:28 Ext Inst
12:57 Demo 3: Friday 1992
14:12 What now?
15:46 Outro Patron Jam"

ALAN R. PEARLMAN FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES INAUGURAL CELEBRATION OF THE CENTENNIAL BIRTHDAY OF ARP SYNTHESIZER FOUNDER, ALAN R. PEARLMAN

Press release follows:

ALAN R. PEARLMAN FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES INAUGURAL CELEBRATION OF THE CENTENNIAL BIRTHDAY OF ARP SYNTHESIZER FOUNDER, ALAN R. PEARLMAN, JUNE 7 AT THE MUSEUM OF MUSIC TECHNOLOGY

Kingston, NY - May 20, 2025 - This year marks the 100th birthday of the late inventor of the ARP synthesizer, Alan R. Pearlman. In honor of his pioneering innovations in electronic music, the Alan R. Pearlman Foundation will launch ARP@100: A Centennial Celebration of Alan R. Pearlman’s Legacy with EMEAPP at the Museum of Music Technology. A gala event kicks off a year’s worth of commemorative ARP centennial activities and takes place at EMEAPP, located in Harleysville, Pennsylvania, from 7 -10 pm.

June 7th Centennial activities at the museum include:

A live interview with the ARP Foundation’s director, Dina Pearlman-Ifil

Video excerpts from musicians, former ARP employees, and filmmaker Alex Ball’s celebrated ARP films

Performances on vintage ARP instruments by music pioneer Don Slepian and modular synthesist Ombient

The ability to try out a variety of synths

EMEAPP will unveil, at its Museum of Music Technology, a haven of vintage ARP history in which visitors will encounter an epic collection of ARP synthesizers, including the majestic ARP 2500 and a rare, early ARP 2502 with a cherry drop matrix. The iconic ARP 2600 Blue Meanie will be proudly displayed alongside an array of other ARP classics: the versatile Quadra, the expressive Soloist series, multiple iterations of the legendary Odyssey, the innovative Avatar, the powerful Chroma, the punchy Axxe, the compact Little Brother, and even a remarkable 16-Voice Electronic Piano – many of which will be playable!

Countless composers, musicians, and filmmakers worldwide have incorporated the ARP 2500 and ARP 2600 into their work, including early adopters Pete Townsend (in the “Who’s Next” album) and Elton John (in “Funeral for a Friend”). Stevie Wonder, an early adopter of the 2600, had his control panels labeled in Braille. The ARP 2600 was also responsible for the voice of R2-D2 in Star Wars films, and the 2500 was used to communicate with aliens in Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

Alan R. Pearlman’s legacy as an engineer and inventor began at an early age. A fascination with sound occupied his interest, and he spent time as a child building amateur radios. In 1948, as a student at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, he wrote, “The electronic instrument’s value is chiefly as a novelty. With greater attention on the part of the engineer to the needs of the musician, the day may not be too remote when the electronic instrument may take its place as a versatile, powerful, and expressive instrument.”

Attendees may reserve a spot at this exclusive celebration and fundraising event with a tax-deductible donation of $150 per ticket. The contribution includes complimentary wine/beer/other beverages, a selection of snacks, and a swag bag. Parking is Free.

The Museum of Music Technology/EMEAPP is located at 45 Mainland Road, Harleysville, PA 19438, just a short drive from the PA Turnpike Lansdale exits."

Korg's Abandoned Music Computer

video upload by Alex Ball

"A look at Korg's abandoned music computer system from 1985, part of which was found in Italy recently after being lost for 40 years.

0:00 Intro Jam
1:03 History
3:18 Demo 1: Imaginary Sitcom
3:51 MU-5000 Sounds
7:42 Demo 2: MU & MS
8:42 Why was it abandoned?
10:05 Outro Jam

Huge thanks to Riccardo Pietroni, Korg Japan, Adam Douglas and Hideki Ishikawa"

Introducing Oberheim TVS Pro by GForce Software

video upload by GForce Software

"More info at https://www.gforcesoftware.com/produc...

In 1975, Tom Oberheim revolutionised synthesiser design with the original TVS – Two Voice Synthesizer. By combining two SEMs and a keyboard, he introduced true duophony to the world—enabling musicians to play two independent voices simultaneously and explore harmonically rich, evolving soundscapes. It was a bold step forward, embraced by visionaries including Martin Gore, Adrian Utley, Peter Baumann, Lorn, The Prodigy, and Nils Frahm.

Decades later, the TVS Pro modernised that vision, adding a built-in sequencer, extended modulation, and refined controls—all while staying true to its unmistakable sonic DNA.

Now, with the GForce Oberheim TVS Pro plugin, this landmark instrument enters a new era. Developed in collaboration with Oberheim, this recreation captures not only the depth, warmth and character of the original, but also the spirit of innovation that made it extraordinary.

Credits
Alex Ball - audio & video production and narration
Çağatay Çetin - 3D animation"

Oberheim TVS Pro by GForce Walkthrough

video upload by GForce Software

00:00 - Intro
00:45 - Overview
03:30 - SEMS 1 & 2
10:13 - Output Mixer
10:57 - Keyboard Modes
17:21 - Sequencers A & B
22:04 - Keyboard Controls
23:44 - Effects
27:02 - Saving A Patch
28:33 - Patch Browser
31:10 - Collections
31:56 - Settings
32:41 - CC Mappings
33:19 Undo/Redo

GForce Software Oberheim TVS Pro Review

video upload by Molten Music Technology

"GForce pulls the two-voice, duelling SEM, sequence and keyboard-driven TVS Pro into the software realm. It's effortlessly retro, sumptuously old fashioned and plays very differently to regular synths." Oberheim TVS Pro Synthesizer by GForce Software (No Talking)

video upload by Elektronick Musick

"In 1975, Tom Oberheim revolutionised synthesiser design with the original TVS – Two Voice Synthesizer. By combining two SEMs and a keyboard, he introduced true duophony to the world—enabling musicians to play two independent voices simultaneously and explore harmonically rich, evolving soundscapes. It was a bold step forward, embraced by visionaries including Martin Gore, Adrian Utley, Peter Baumann, Lorn, The Prodigy, and Nils Frahm.

Decades later, the TVS Pro modernised that vision, adding a built-in sequencer, extended modulation, and refined controls—all while staying true to its unmistakable sonic DNA.

Now, with the GForce Oberheim TVS Pro plugin, this landmark instrument enters a new era. Developed in collaboration with Oberheim, this recreation captures not only the depth, warmth and character of the original, but also the spirit of innovation that made it extraordinary.

Whether you’re a long-time Oberheim fan or new to SEM-based synthesis, TVS Pro is a tool you’ll return to again and again—for its tone, flexibility, and sheer playability.

Key Features

The most authentic duophonic TVS Pro experience available

The most playable SEM ever – full of character, now with an additional 3rd VCO

Over 635 patches, with 220+ new sounds and 400+ adapted SEM patches

Powerful dual 16-step sequencer

Stereo delay, phaser, reverb, undo/redo, extend & flip modes

SEM presets can be exported to and imported from OB-E and SEM

Extensive velocity and aftertouch modulation

Categorised patch librarian

Designed in collaboration with Oberheim"

https://www.gforcesoftware.com/products/tvs-pro/

MC-202: The Awkward Sibling

video upload by Alex Ball

"A look at Roland's MC-202 from 1983."

0:00 Intro
1:12 History
3:31 Demo 1
4:30 The difference between a 101 and 202
6:38 Demo 2
7:30 Tubbutec 2oh2 / Demo 3
8:52 Legacy of the 202
10:10 Sample pack and Summary
10:42 Outro Jam

Alex Ball's Best Sounding Synth

video upload by Alex Ball

"Of the synths I know intimately, this is the best sounding; The Oberheim Two Voice from 1975."

Roland's Rarest Phase Shifter (1978)

video upload by Alex Ball

"A look at Roland's rarest phase shifter, the PH-830 from 1978.

0:00 Intro
1:03 History
3:10 Demo 1 - Captain Belcher
4:08 What is a Phaser?
4:56 Difference Between Phasing and Flanging
7:36 Demo 2 - pH Level
8:30 How the PH-830 works
11:15 CV sequencing and Mix sequencing
12:08 Vintage FX Matthias Fuchs
13:09 Summary and Sample Pack
14:23 Outro Jam"

UJAM Announces Vox Humana Plugin to Benefit Bob Moog Foundation

via The Bob Moog Foundation

"We are excited to share that our friends at UJAM, creators of countless plugins and sample libraries, released a Vox Humana plugin today to benefit the Bob Moog Foundation!

Vox Humana is a standalone virtual instrument that faithfully recreates the Polymoog's legendary Vox Humana setting, which is regarded as one of the most recognizable and coveted synthesizer sounds, most notable for being prominently featured in Gary Numan's iconic 'Cars'.

The plugin is built on the sampled sounds of the Polymoog 280A, meticulously captured by composer, producer, and lauded YouTube synth educator Alex Ball. With these recordings as the basis, the Bob Moog Foundation partnered with UJAM to transform them into a fully realized virtual instrument. Utilizing UJAM's proprietary Gorilla Engine, a platform widely used by top plugin manufacturers, the team designed an interface that is both intuitive and faithful to the instrument's original character.

The Vox Humana plugin features include:
Authentic Recreation — Sampled directly from a vintage Polymoog 280A to preserve the signature Vox Humana sound

Four Timbral Modes – Original, Bright, Hollow, and Octaves

10 Factory Presets – Ready-to-use sounds with the option to save custom user presets

Envelope Control – Attack and Decay sliders for precise dynamic shaping

Built-in Effects – Integrated Chorus, Phaser, and Delay for added depth and movement

Standalone Plugin – No additional software required, available as a VST3, AU and AAX plugin

The plugin retails for $19/22€, with 100% of the proceeds benefitting the Bob Moog Foundation's important work in education, archive preservation, and the operation of the Moogseum, located in downtown Asheville, North Carolina.

UJAM and its distribution partners are waiving all fees to ensure that every dollar directly benefits the foundation's mission.

Get all of the details here: https://www.ujam.com/voxhumana"

When Moog Made a Keytar

video upload by Alex Ball

"A look at the Moog Liberation from 1980

0:00 Intro jam
0:57 Keytar History
2:30 Musical Interlude
3:24 What is The Liberation?
7:23 Impact and Summary
7:57 Sample Pack
8:20 Outro jam and Patron Shoutout"

Super Gemini - From a Musical Perspective

video upload by Alex Ball

"A look at UDO's flagship synthesizer, Super Gemini.

As the tech spec of this synth is easily found on the internet (and the brilliant Loopop already worked his magic in that regard: • What’s new? UDO Super Gemini vs Super... ) [posted here] I thought I'd approach it from the perspective of a musician making music.

This is a sponsored video, which is something I occasionally do when I am personally interested in the product in question, but I would always encourage you to try products for yourself and form your own views.

If you got the Miss Millies / Staple Hill reference, a high five to you my friend.

0:00 Intro
1:16 Talk 1: What's the big deal with the panel?
2:48 Demo 1: Do the funky ribbon
3:40 Talk 2: Pick your kind of stereo
6:44 Demo 2: Geminae
7:33 Talk 3: Timmy Palette
10:33 Demo 3: Sandwich Jazz
11:27 Talk 4: Poly AT & Ribbon
13:23 Demo 4: Sky State
14:22 Summary
15:24 Outro"

Dina Pearlman - The ARP Synth Legacy | Podcast

video upload by Sound On Sound magazine

"Alan R Pearlman was responsible for some of the greatest sounding and most intuitive synthesizers of the modern age, many of which are still highly sought after or emulated to this day. Inspired, as so many were, by hearing Wendy Carlos’s 'Switched on Bach', he founded Tonus in 1969, a company that would soon become ARP Instruments, and began producing synthesizers such as the legendary ARP 2500, 2600 and Odyssey.

Since his passing in 2019 at the age of 93, his daughter, Dina, has been building the Alan R Pearlman Foundation, an organisation that seeks to preserve her father’s legacy and enable as many people as possible to get hands-on with his inventions.

As with all not-for-profits, Dina has faced numerous challenges, but with the help of the likes of Jean Michel Jarre, Herbie Hancock and many other fans of Alan’s work, the Foundation is beginning to realise its objectives with great success.

Chapters
00:00 - Introduction
01:18 - The Alan R. Pearlman Foundation
06:52 - The Main Aims Of The Foundation
09:12 - Women In The World Of Pioneering Synthesis
12:45 - Childhood Memories During The Early Days Of ARP
14:54 - Unearthed Footage Of The ARP Factory
23:27 - About ARPS For All
30:23 - The ARP Paradigm
34:27 - Collaborating With Bjooks
38:55 - Google Arts & Culture: Music Makers & Machines
40:47 - The Future For The Alan R. Pearlman Foundation

https://www.soundonsound.com/people/a...

Dina Pearlman Biog
Dina is the only child of Alan and Buena Pearlman and grew up with ARP Synthesizers as a backdrop for her childhood, travelling extensively and being exposed to innovative and cutting-edge technology. In her early years, she spent time playing in rock and roll bands, as well as dance and theatre. For the past thirty years, she has worked as a versatile visual arts and design professional, creative director, and educator. She has also worked extensively in photography, graphics and web design for several decades, and has a broad understanding of visual communications media.

In the last few years before his illness, Alan Pearlman started to re-examine the brave new world of synthesizers that exists today, many decades after his iconic and groundbreaking 12 years as the inventor and founder of ARP Synthesizers. During this time, he brought his daughter into the conversation. After his death in January 2019, Dina realised the need of keeping his legacy and passion alive, and with the help and encouragement of many of his former colleagues as well as the wonderful Michelle Moog-Koussa, she started the Alan R. Pearlman Foundation and ARP Archives.

The Alan R Pearlman Foundation - https://alanrpearlmanfoundation.org/
All music composed, performed, recorded and performed by Alex Ball"

NEW 2025 Panoptigon Disc - POLYVOX

video upload by optigandotcom

"Now available exclusively at https://www.quilterlabs.com/collectio...

POLYVOX is the famous Vox Humana preset from a classic 1970s polyphonic synth. We simply gave it a different name to avoid confusion with the vintage Optigan disc of the same title. Try it with the Panoptigon’s hall reverb turned up, and the main volume knob turned all the way down, to simulate a slow attack rate.

POLYVOX can only be played on Panoptigon, and is not compatible with Optigan or Orchestron.

Recorded and mastered by Alex Ball @AlexBallMusic
Edited and mastered for Panoptigon by Pea Hicks
Disc design and mastering by Robert Becker

Important Note:

All discs are subject to the following licensing arrangement.
You MAY use any and all sounds on our Optigan/Orchestron discs to create derivative works for commercial or private use without any further licensing fee beyond the original purchase price of the discs. No credit to optigan.com is required. If your Optigan/Orchestron resides in a commercial studio which you operate, this license also extends to your clients.
You MAY NOT simply copy the sound contents of the discs and distribute the material directly as sample loops, either commercially or privately.
You MAY NOT make physical copies of the actual discs themselves, other than for private use/experimentation.

Compatibility
Panoptigon disc players"

The Synths Behind Don't You Want Me

video upload by Alex Ball

Check out Peahix's cover here, and a few others here.

"A complete recreation of The Human League's biggest hit, Don't you want me, using as many of the original instruments and techniques as possible.

0:00 Intro
0:30 Detective Work
1:49 Bass Line
4:16 A Problem
6:45 Drums
9:09 System 700 Perfect 5ths
9:57 System 700 16th Pattern
11:00 Secret instrument
13:21 System 700 verse diads
14:39 System 700 chords
15:13 The chord of whoops
16:13 System 700 ostinato
17:05 String Synth
18:47 Poly Synth
19:22 Summary
20:32 Full Remake"

Depeche Mode Synth Bass

video upload by Alex Ball

"A look at the bass line to Depeche Mode's classic track 'Enjoy the Silence' and how it was created with the Roland System 700.

0:00 Intro & History
1:37 Recreating the Sound
4:46 Making your own version
6:07 Sample Pack
6:38 Cover of Enjoy the Silence

Huge thanks to Clemens Wenners for stepping in on vocals, I tried myself and the world shall never hear that result. :)"

Bob Marley & The Minimoog

video upload by Alex Ball

"A look at the use of the Minimoog Model D (performed by John 'Rabbit' Bundrick) in Bob Marley and the Wailers 1973 recording of 'Stir it up'.

0:00 Intro
0:27 The Backstory
2:42 Recreating the Sound
5:44 Summary and Sample Pack
6:34 Abridged cover

Thank you to my patrons for their ongoing support / alexballmusic"

The Story of Warm Leatherette

video upload by Alex Ball

"A look at how Daniel Miller (aka 'The Normal') used his first synth, a second-hand miniKORG 700S, to create the cult song Warm Leatherette in his bedroom. The song was the B-side to T.V.O.D and was the first ever release on Mute Records.

0:00 Intro
0:26 The Story of The Normal
2:18 Recreating the sounds
6:56 Summary and Sample Pack
7:25 Warm Leatherette Cover"

The David Bowie Flanger

video upload by Alex Ball

"A look at the Eventide Clockworks Instant Flanger from 1975, specifically in relation to how it was employed by Tony Visconti to create the unusual piano sound on Ashes to Ashes.

0:00 Intro
0:36 What is flanging?
2:18 BBDs and The Instant Flanger
3:56 How it works
6:38 Sound Medley
8:55 Recreating Ashes to Ashes
11:11 Summary and Outro Jam

For the sample pack, music, to get involved in monthly Q&As and to help me continue making videos, please check out my Patreon: / alexballmusic"

The Plantasia Synth 💎 Crown Jewel of Analog with Mark Barton

video upload by Anthony Marinelli Music

You can find Alex Ball's The "Plantasia Moog" Modular Synth - An Untold Story here.

"Dive into the captivating story of Mark Barton, the genius behind groundbreaking inventions like SynDrums, his pioneering system called Speech Assisted Music (SAM) designed to convert text into speech, his work with Steve Job on the first Apple computer release and his award-winning plugin designs with Cherry Audio. Discover how Mark's love for sound led him to meeting Mort Garson and subsequently owning the legendary Moog "The Plantasia Synth" that Mort played on his best -selling album Plantasia, and how it eventually found a new home with Anthony! You'll also hear untold stories about Mort's Moog, Mort's Music and Mort's Genius. Join us as we explore the intersection of innovation and music, showcasing incredible creations and the stories behind them. Subscribe for more inside looks at the magic of synthesis!"

The "Plantasia Moog" Modular Synth - An Untold Story

video upload by Alex Ball

"In 2023, Anthony Marinelli aquired a 1969 Moog IIIc modular synthesizer that has a very interesting history. In this video, we tell that story for the first time."