SISKworks: fun with circuit-bent toys and instruments - #knobcon

video upload by CatSynth TV

"We explore the circuit-bent instruments and toys from SISKworks, including a patchable Casio SK-1, a cassette-loop-based instrument, and a circuit-bent camera.

To find out more, please visit https://www.siskworks.com
More about Knobcon: https://knobcon.com

0:00 Introduction
0:19 Circuit-bent SK-1
1:56 Cassettone (tape-loop instrument)
3:24 Circuit-bent toy camera
4:06 Conclusion

Please consider supporting this channel to help us bring you more synthesizer tutorials and other content.

Merch: https://shop.catsynth.com
Patreon: / catsynth
Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/catsynth"

Kanawha Music and Art: Long Division 2 & Filternator - #Knobcon

video upload by CatSynth TV

"We check out the new modules from West-Virginia-based Kanawha Music and Art. Long Division 2 is a classic polyphonic divide-down voice reminiscent of the electronic organs and string machines of the 1960s and 1970s. The Filternator is a filter module based on the resonators found in 1940s Hammond organs.

To find out more, please visit http://kanawhamusic.com/
For more about Knobcon, please visit https://knobcon.com

0:00 Introduction
0:10 Long Division 2
2:45 Filternator
3:55 Conclusion

Please consider supporting this channel to help us bring you more synthesizer tutorials and other content.

Merch: https://shop.catsynth.com
Patreon: / catsynth
Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/catsynth"

Filternator

video uploads by Kanawha Music

Playlist:

1. "Filternator" module introduction

A no-talking introduction to our new module. Is it a Filter? Is it a Resonator? Yes...with a difference.

2. Filternator Stereo demo- no talking

Using two Filternator modules in parallel for stereo and the cool sounds you can make.

3. Filternator Drum & Guitar

What happens when you run a drum machine or a guitar through this module? Let's find out.

Filternator

"Is it a filter? Is it a resonator? Is it a filter bank? Yes- the new Filternator module is all of the above…with a difference. When developing the module and hearing how it treated signals, it was obviously filtering, but with high resonant peaks that were stronger than the incoming signal, at which point it was resonating up a storm. So what to call it? It’s resonating as much as it’s filtering, so we called it the Filternator!

It’s simplicity itself to use: plug your audio in the input, and the output goes to whatever you like down your signal chain. Use the wet/dry mix knob to control the amount of “filternated” signal you’d like to hear. Then comes the fun part: chose a mode, and start messing around with the switches. There’s a choice of three switches for the capacitors, and three switches for the coils used in the circuit. They can be used in any combination to set the filter frequencies and resonant peaks. If you like, automate the mix control with an external CV source. The one thing you don’t do is power it up…except for the external control voltage for the wet/dry mix, it’s completely passive! But unlike other passive filters, this design doesn’t drag down your signal level with resistors in the circuit, because there aren’t any. By using inductors instead, the signal doesn’t get attenuated as it does in a standard passive filter. Instead, it will actually boost signal levels as it nears the resonance peak.

Talk about skiff friendly, not only does it not take any power, but it’s nice and slim, just 12mm deep behind the (nice and thick aluminum) faceplate."
Long Division 2

video uploads by Kanawha Music

Playlist:

1. Long Division version II introduction

Introducing Long Division version II...in addition to the unlimited polyphony, we now have a choice of square or pulse waves, a Gate Out, illumination for the tuning trimmers, and more.

2. Long Division II with modules- Demo (no talking)

In addition to the Master Tune and Tone CV inputs, Long Division II has a Gate Out which can be used to trigger envelopes, etc. This video demonstrates some of the possibilities.

3. LD II Stereo Demo- No talking

A demonstration of Long Division II with the Stereo Mixer/Break Out helper module.

Long Division 2

"In addition to the complete features of the original Long Division module… 12 independent and free running oscillators, one for each note of the scale
Built in vibrato with speed and depth controls
Choice or organ or piano sustain
Tone Control
Variable release time
Tone and tuning CV inputs
100% analog tone generation
Plug and play operation
All 61 notes available all the time!
Long Division II also offers:
A choice of square or narrow pulse waves, great for those string machine sounds!
A Gate Out jack, to trigger envelopes on any note coming on
Internal illumination for the tuning trimmers, and
An optional stereo output!"

Acperience 1/Hardfloor (Circuit Tracks & Roland T-8 version)

video upload by Guinan

"1992's 'Acperience 1' by the German duo Hardfloor is almost peak 303 acid house. I've used the Novation Circuit Tracks with the ‪@IsotonikStudios‬ soundpack RB 303 by Yves Big City ‪@bigcitymastering‬ to emulate 2 of the 3 TB-303s used. The final pattern comes from the Roland T-8 drum machines emulation synced with the Tracks and feeding into the audio in..

The high string synth note was created on the Tracks and sampled so it could be played back on a drum pad.

Everything you hear was programmed and played live on these two machines and the mixed audio was recorded straight from the Tracks output."

And the original:


video upload by HRDFLR

Can BabyAudio Tekno Rumble? 🔥 5 Things to Love + 3 I Wish It Had

video upload by Solidtrax

"Can it? Well, let’s find out in this video. I #demo one of my factory presets for ‪@BABYAudio-official‬ Tekno, called 'Get Tekno To Rumble.'

I also share 5 things I love about the plugin and 3 features I’d love to see in a future update.

Get #BabyAudio #Tekno here: https://babyaud.io/tekno - Intro offer available.

Get quality custom #sounds and read reviews at: https://www.solidtrax.nl"

Tekno - Baby Audio - Official Tutorial

video upload by Baby Audio





PRODUCE DRUMS WITHOUT SAMPLES
Stop browsing for the perfect sample and create your own infectious electronic drum sounds instead – with total control.

Tekno offers 18 fully synthesized drum engines, spanning kicks, snares, clap, hats, percussion and more. Craft unique drum kits full of punch and analog flavor to suit any musical genre.

Use MIDI to sequence Tekno directly. Or simply drag and drop your sounds into any DAW or folder for external sequencing.

NEXT-GENERATION DRUM SYNTHESIS
To build Tekno we teamed up with Jatin Chowdhury, one of the leading engineers in analog circuit modeling. Our goal was to create a modern spiritual successor to the legendary drum machines of the 20th century. Not an emulation, but more.

Tekno stands on the shoulders of classic drum machines but hits deeper and harder. It utilizes a combination of circuit-modeling and cutting edge DSP to deliver the punchiest synthesized drums ever put in a plugin.

DEEP TWEAKING OR FAST INSPIRATION
Click the ‘Gear’ icons next to any synth voice or FX section to unlock deep calibration and circuit-bending options.

Or hit the onboard ‘Dice’ icons to let Tekno’s smart random-algorithm generate all-new drums with every click.

You can also start from the 73 global presets and 1314 individual voice presets by leading sound designers such as Richard Devine, Mr. Bill, Virtual Riot and Yoad Nevo.

Circuit Bent Feedback Generator / Video Synth / Video processor by LoFi Future

video upload by LoFiFuture

"A rough and ready demo of this one off feedback generator I built a while back using a fancy-schmancy Silicon Image iScan Pro!

Availible to order here: https://lofifuturestore.square.site/p...

This unit is capable of producing some insanely intricate and evolving feedback loops on its own and it can also be used as a video processor to colourise and glitch out composite video signals for some very 80s looking posterized visuals.

The interface is simple, the upper part housing the built in preview screen also has directional controls and an illuminated zoom button for controlling the position of the image on screen.

The main control surface features:
-3 oversized 45mm knobs for controlling the Red, Green and Blue levels
-5 small knobs that control brightness, contrast, saturation, hue and sharpness
-6 toggle switches for triggering circuit bends that are wired into the Silicon Image iScan board for some glitch effects!

The unit features a 12V power input a composite output (PAL and NTSC) and a switchable composite input (so you can switch from feedback loop mode to video processor mode without rewiring anything)"



"This feedback generator / video synth is based on a very nice Silicon Image iScan composite to VGA scaler that features analog potentiometers to control brightness, contrast, saturation, hue and sharpness. This is something I have not been able to find on another model of composite to VGA converter and they seem fairly hard to come by.

This unit is capable of producing some insanely intricate and evolving feedback loops on its own and it can also be used as a video processor to colourise and glitch out composite video signals for some very 80s looking posterized visuals.

The interface is simple, the upper part housing the built in preview screen also has directional controls and an illuminated zoom button for controlling the position of the image on screen.

The main control surface features:
-3 oversized 45mm knobs for controlling the Red, Green and Blue levels
-5 small knobs that control brightness, contrast, saturation, hue and sharpness
-6 toggle switches for triggering circuit bends that are wired into the Silicon Image iScan board for some glitch effects!

The unit features a 12V power input a composite output and a switchable composite input (so you can switch from feedback loop mode to video processor mode without rewiring anything)

The enclosure is entirely 3D printed using olive green PETG.

Specifications:
PAL and NTSC composite video out
12V Power Input (power supply included)
Built in 4" preview monitor
Dimensions - 22 x 15 x 8cm"

CLICK FOR MORE »

Bad Dog Designs OSPRAY 8 Drum Synthesizer

video upload by Pro Synth Network

"I have been very privileged to test, advise, and consult with Paul at Bad Dog Designs on this brilliant drum synthesizer. Taking circuit designs that were over 40 years old, published in E&MM magazine, Paul has recreated and refined these three drum synth designs to create OSPRAY-8, a "vintage" 21st century drum synthesizer.

Four drum modules, three cymbal modules and a clap module, triggerable via MIDI or CV and with a stereo audio output or individual mono outputs per drum, this is the sound of the nascent analog drum synth of the 1980s in a beautiful handmade case.

For more information and details on how to get your hands on one, contact Bad Dog Designs to register your interest.

https://www.bad-dog-designs.co.uk/con..."

OSPRAY8 Analogue Percussion Synthesizer Demos

video upload by Bad Dog Designs

"After about 4 months on and off, I've got my percussion Synthesizer in a state where I'm happy with the look and sounds :)

All original 1980's circuit designs with just a few component changes for later IC's, and of course Midi In and through as well as individual trigger inputs.

The OSPRAY-8 ( Old School Percussion Right At Ya! ) comprises 8 individual modules, arranged as 4 X Drum modules / 3 X Cymbal modules / 1 X Handclap module. There is then a final control module that handles midi, midi channel selection and Stereo output.

The Drum Module can generate a multitude of sounds from Bass drums to Snares, Toms, Rimshots, bleeps and other weird and wonderful sounds.

The Cymbal Module can generate Open and Closed Hi-Hats, Gongs, Cowbells as well as other metallic oddness.

The Handclap does as it says, but will generate multiple claps with full control of frequency / resonance / ambience etc.

As each module has it's own line out and trigger in, you can join two together, so you can combine a handclap with a drum and get a really sharp and punchy snare for example.

The front panel is machined from a single piece of aluminium, the lettering engraved into the surface for a well engineered finish. The Casing is still in development, but you can see a mock up in the clip.
All the audio is straight out of the OSPRAY-8 with no processing."


via Bad Dog Designs

"The Ospray-8 is a fully Analogue percussion synthesizer, housed in a free standing desktop format. The sounds are produced by entirely analogue electronic modules, tailored for different percussive sound types. The Ospray-8 contains 8 modules connected together, comprising of 4 X Drum Modules, 3 X Cymbal Modules and 1 X Handclap module. There is then a housekeeping module that handles midi control, and stereo outputs."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Valley Of The Shadows/Origin Unknown (Circuit Tracks Version)

video upload by Guinan

"'We need Jungle I'm afraid'.....this weeks track is the highly influential jungle track 'Valley Of The Shadows' by Origin Unknown released first in 1993."

"Funnily enough I had this CD for years and didn't have a sampler! (I couldn't lay my hands on it for the video but had a copy in my 'archive'). It was a lot of fun to assemble this very simple track from the ingredients and only a small amount of artistic licence was required to fit it into the Tracks.

As you can hear there are no drum machine samples in this...the 'Drum' section is used entirely to play back samples and loops. The samples were edited and time stretched to work in the track at 160Bpm. The arpeggiated section was prepared as 3 samples (2 of which had the extra pitch shifted repeat of the arpeggio).

Synth 1 - single oscillator sine wave with a touch of distortion to fatten it up
Synth 2 - detuned sine waves on 2 oscillators with heavy phaser effects applied.

Drum 2 - '31 seconds' NASA sample from FM Disk 1, 'Long Dark Tunnel' sample from Youtube.
Drum 3 - 'Think' loop from FM CD, with occasional 2nd variation and chopped 2nd half of loop.
Drum 4 - time stretched and pitch shifted arpeggiated loops from FM CD.

Almost entirely based on sounds from a CD free with the first issue of the magazine, Future Music. It also features a sample from a BBC TV documentary about near-death experiences. Countless tracks from the next few years were based on this one CD as bedroom producers hungrily reused the samples creatively.

(I found it here too - enjoy!
https://archive.org/details/the-futur... )

If you've ever heard it, the '31 Seconds' and 'I felt like I was in a long dark tunnel' samples are especially memorable with the deep sub bass.

This was all programmed and played on a single Circuit Tracks. No additional synths or effects were used."

The guide here tells you step-by-step how to recreate this track. Thanks ‪@newbreakscom5050‬:

CLICK FOR MORE »

Moog Memorymoog SN 1025

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

via this Reverb listing

CLICK FOR MORE »

crucFX SLM (scrollfo + mobvrt)

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated. Playlist:
1. SLM and Friends
2. SLM Prototype Test - Modulating ciat-lonbarde Sidrax
3. ciat-lonbarde & crucFX SLM Symphony
4. ciat-lonbarde DDD SRINE and crucFX SLM prototype

crucFX SLM (scrollfo + mobvrt) via this Reverb listing

"SLM is SCROLLFO + MOBVRT.

This utility instrument contains x4 SCROLLFO, and x4 MOBVRT.
————————————————————————
SCROLLFO is a unique LFO circuit based on the original scroll circuit from Peter’s SIDRASSI/RAZZI/TETRASSI/RAZZI units.
But expanded upon.
You have an on/off/on round button switch that allows you to momentarily activate the LFO, or latch it on, when the button is released or in the off position, it samples where it was at in the lfo cycle and holds that value, to give you the ability to generate random pitch voltages/CV voltages.
This button also has a pulse input that allows you to trigger the switch hands free.
flanking each side of the big lfo button are the 2 square buttons - one pulls the signal to ground, and the other pulls the signal to mido.
These 2 buttons also have CV inputs that allow you to fight against the LFO (when it is active) or to set virtual ground and ground on other gear.

MOBVRT is a MIDO biased OFFSET, BOOST, and ATTENUVERTER - giving you the ability to move your @ciat_lonbarde signals anywhere you want in the unipolar boundaries!
Think an offset/attenuverter module for eurorack, but specifically for ciat-lonbarde voltage levels!"

CLICK FOR MORE »

Maniac/Michael Sembello (Circuit Tracks Version)

video upload by Guinan

"Feeling a yearning for a bit of LinnDrum action I loaded up a bunch of samples and it occurred to me to try this song - a bit of a musical 'guilty pleasure' as it has such a distinctive rhythm. I put the song on, donned my legwarmers and had a bit of a 'spin' around the room to the track in my best 'Flashdance' impression. Straight away it became apparent it shouldn't be possible to do it on the Tracks as it has too many tracks. Bass, electric piano chords, arpeggio, melody...and a distinctive 80's guitar solo! Not to be deterred I shrank it down as much as I could and used the layering and extra voices hacks I've talked about elsewhere * and what you hear is the end result.

It was a fun challenge and I hope you enjoy the end result. All you hear was programmed into a single Circuit Tracks and played 'live' just recording the audio outs.

More details for synth nerds

The excellent ‪@CaptainPikant‬ had a great video breaking down how the rhythm track was constructed so I largely followed this guide.

• MANIAC - The most INSANE drum pattern of t... [below]

BPM 155bpm
Synth 1 - mono bass synth
Synth 2 - 'piano'ish patch playing chords, arepeggio and melody lines (at different velocities/ranges)
Drum 1- LM1 bass drum
Drum 2 - LM1 snare and sidestick
Drum 3 - LM1 hihats and combined HH and fake guitar (see below)
Drum 4 - LM1 cowbell and clap

The 'guitar' is faked I'm sorry. My lead guitar skills are not up to this (I did try!) and my friendly local 'shredder' was busy. I used instead the Native Instruments Electric Sunburst plug in instrument to fake a short solo and drenched it in guitar effects. I recorded to 4 bar loops with the hihat pattern duplicated along with them and then triggered the samples at the right moment on the hihat track."

MANIAC - The most INSANE drum pattern of the '80s | Drum Patterns Explained

video upload by Captain Pikant

"The drum pattern of Michael Sembello's 'Maniac' is positively insane. It's what you'd get if you made a Synthwave drum track, decided it wasn't complex enough, glitched it up with a tiny dash of Aphex Twin and then put a second drum track on top of that with over a dozen Tom fills for good measure. Pure '80s maximalism with two of the most iconic drum sounds of that era."

And the original:


video upload by Maniac

A short history of the 909 in 16 songs ⬜🟧 from TECHNO and HOUSE to POP | Drum Patterns Explained

video upload by Captain Pikant

"The Roland TR-909 has shaped the sound of many genres ranging from Techno, House, Hip Hop and Pop to Industrial and Eurodance. In this video we'll take a look at 16 of our favourite 909 drum patterns - including its very first appearance as well as modern productions nearly 40 years later, so get ready for some interesting 909 history and trivia. We'll be using an external sequencer so you can see all the different instruments and you can try the patterns in your drum machine or in your DAW."

0:00 Introduction
1:02 Skinny Puppy - Smothered Hope
2:36 Mantronix - Bassline
4:56 Phil Collins - Take Me Home
6:09 Inner City - Big Fun
8:39 Technotronic - Pump Up The Jam
11:17 Madonna - Vogue
12:51 Adamski - Killer
14:50 Aphex Twin - Heliosphan
15:44 Circuit Breaker - Trac-X
17:03 Björk - Hunter
18:02 Daft Punk - Revolution 909
18:44 Darude - Sandstorm
20:16 Duke Dumont - The Giver (Original Mix)
23:04 John Tejada - Stabilizer
24:04 Jeff Mills - Exhibitionist 2 Mix 3
25:13 Peggy Gou - I Go
26:16 End Jam

Erica Synths: Hexinverter Mutant Drums | Full Demo and Review

video upload by Happy Mag

"The Mutant Drum Line lives on! When Hexinverter shut its doors in 2022, the future of those gloriously twisted Mutant modules looked bleak — but Erica Synths swooped in, reverse‑engineered every circuit, and gave the whole lineup a second life with modern muscle.⁠
⁠
🥁 Mutant Bassdrum — pure 808 thump or fuzzed‑out speaker‑ripper thanks to batteryACID distortion. CV everything, stay clean or filthy.⁠
⁠
🎯 Mutant Snare — twin bridged‑T oscillators + snappy noise + switchable HP/BP filter = crack, glitch, or full‑roar chaos. External audio input turns it into its own percussion synth.⁠
⁠
💥 Mutant Rimshot — three oscillators, multimode VCF, and HI/LO/CLV voicing. Flip the range switch for deep FM clangs or classic 909 clicks.⁠
⁠
👏 Mutant Clap — LFSR‑driven 909 clap that mutates into bleeps, broken textures, or lush analogue‑reverb tails. Dedicated NOISE out and Drive for extra crunch.⁠
⁠
✨ Mutant Hihats — true analogue open/closed hats with per‑voice Drive, choke switch, resonant BPF, and external noise input. Classic shimmer to future grit.⁠
⁠
🎚️ Drum Mixer Lite — six channels, LED metering, switchable AUX send, plus a vactrol compressor that glues (or crushes) your kit into one punchy monster.⁠
⁠
Hexinverter’s DNA, Erica Synths’ engineering — same mutant attitude, new‑school reliability. Ready to patch, perform, and terrify your neighbours. 🔊⚡️⁠
⁠
#MutantDrums #EricaSynths #Hexinverter #Eurorack #ModularSynth #808 #909 #DrumMachine #SynthCommunity #GearHeads #BeatMaker #SoundDesign #ElectronicMusic #HardwareSynthesis #SynthLife #ModularMadness #StudioGear #AnalogDrums #VoltageControlled #AussieMusician #HappyMag #EngineeringTheSound #ETS

0:00 - Intro
0:04 - Overview
0:38 - Mutant Bassdrum
1:42 - Mutant Snare
2:44 - Mutant Rimshot
3:53 - Mutant Clap
4:53 - Mutant Hihats
5:46 - Drum Mixer Lite"

ASTROGENIC HALLUCINAUTING Kerr County Benefit 080925

video upload by thenoiztemple

"080925 Old Town Spring - Spring, Texas
Astrogenic Hallucinauting performing a live tek-noiz set at the Benefit for the Kerr County Flood Victims. This show was put together by some fellow synth and noiz musicians with help from Ozmotic Records and Simply Texas Gourmet Foods.

Please donate to the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund:
https://cftexashillcountry.fcsuite.co...

Kerr County Flood Relief Fund
The Kerr County Flood Relief Fund supports urgent relief and long-term rebuilding after the devastating floods of July 4, 2025. Your generosity helps neighbors across our region recover and rebuild.

The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country—a 501(c)(3) public charity based in Kerrville—will directly distribute funds to vetted local organizations providing rescue, relief, recovery services and flood assistance. The Fund will support impacted communities including Boerne, Hunt, Ingram, Kerrville, Center Point and Comfort.

All donations are tax-deductible, and you will receive a receipt for your gift.
--
The Kerrville, Texas floods in July 2025 were caused by a combination of heavy rainfall and the area's terrain. Tropical moisture from the remnants of Tropical Storm Barry combined with a slow-moving low-pressure system and a mesoscale convective vortex (MCV) to produce intense, localized rainfall over the Texas Hill Country. The rugged terrain, combined with dry, drought-stricken soils, meant that the rain ran off quickly into rivers and streams, causing rapid flooding. The Guadalupe River, in particular, experienced a historic rise in water levels.
--
noiz circuit:
Dirtywave M8 x 2
Dirtywave M8 mkii
FaderFox PC12
FaderFox MX12
erm MIDIclock
Korg KP3+ x 2
1010music BlueBox
--
website:
http://manipulate.net"

Lady (Hear Me Tonight)/Modjo (Circuit Tracks Version).

video upload by Guinan

"'Lady' by French house group Modjo was released in 2000 and comes very much from the Daft Punk/Ed Banger school of French dance music. It is (like many of Daft Punk's songs) built round the choice of a killer sample - this time 'Soup For One' from disco band Chic. Even 2nd tier Chic songs are fabulous in my book and this track plucks out the few essential seconds of the Chic track and makes a feature of them.

A shout out again to ‪@hansotto8563‬ for suggesting this as a future track - sorry it took so long!

All you hear was programmed and sequenced on the Circuit Tracks and recorded straight from the audio out. This is an edit as I was running out of pattern space. I'll go back and redo it with a combination version with the Circuit Rhythm but for now I hope you enjoy this version.

Synth 1 - bass
Synth 2 - v-sync 'piano'-like patch playing chords and melody.
Drums - 909 samples and 3 edited Chic loops from 'Soup For One'"

3rd Wave 8M – First Look, Unboxing, Sound Demo & Full Walkthrough

video upload by Devin Belanger

"Purchase my Custom 3rd Wave Patches (confirmed to work on the 8M): https://shop.milesawayofficial.com/pr...

Miles Away gives you a world-first in-depth look at the 3rd Wave 8M, the new desktop version of the powerful wavetable synth from Groove Synthesis.

In this video, I unbox the unit, give a sound demo, and walk you through the key features, workflow, and what sets the 8M apart.

0:00 - unboxing
2:13 - playing factory patches
3:58 - making a patch from scratch
6:00 - pulse width modulation and circuit drift
7:08 - using samples as oscillators
8:50 - analog filter section
10:30 - wave envelope and jamming on our patch
12:49 - state variable filter and LFO section
14:28 - built in FX section
15:31 - Vangelis style reverb jam
16:55 - mod matrix
18:00 - multitimbrality
18:37 - loading different multisamples
19:42 - ambient live performance on Miles Away Custom Patch Vol 3
21:11 - if you want to hear even more 3rd Wave, click here!"

LFO/LFO (Circuit Tracks Version)

video upload by Guinan

"This week’s track is a version of the classic 1988 Warp records release ‘LFO’ by the UK Leeds band, LFO. Seen at the time as part of a genre then known as ‘bleep techno’ it was characterised by hard, uncompromising electronic minimalist industrial techno tracks such as this.

I’m hoping I’m not the only one who remembers and loves this track! If you like this try and find 'Testone/Sweet Exorcist' in a similar style - possibly one for a future cover too.

More details for synth nerds

I already had some ‘Speak & Spell’ samples I’d downloaded years ago so this was a great starting point. I had separate samples for the “L”, “F’ and “O” and I thought it would be fun to throw in one of the starting noises the toy makes when switched on. The same toy is featured on Kraftwerk’s ‘Computer World’ album so the sound will be a familiar one.

The main chord sequence comes from a Kawai K1 preset patch. Luckily there is a free fantastic software synth emulation of this keyboard available online so I was able to create a sample for the repeating chords. The emulator can be downloaded from the following page,
https://www.nilsschneider.de/wp/categ...
I’d encourage you to leave a donation for the author if you find this emulator useful.

All of these samples are sequenced alternately on the Drum 4 track.
There is a single repeating rhythm pattern using 909 samples played on Drum 1-3.
Synth 1 plays an FM-sounding bass patch, and Synth 2 is a representation of the staccato bleep sound (a small amount of pitch envelope helps recreate the original sound). Add lots of reverb and voila!"

Korg Arp Odyssey Rev 3 Desktop Synthesizer Module

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

via this listing

Additional Perfect Circuit listings

CLICK FOR MORE »

Yamaha CS-80 w/ The Cox Electronics CS-80 Programmer

video upload by rimela

"Multitrack recording of the Yamaha CS-80. All sounds are made with the CS-80, except drums.
Very special thanks to Jair for lending me his CS-80 and Cox Electronics CS-80 programmer. Check out the Cox Electronics upgrade: https://cox-electronics.com"

Also see YAMAHA CS-80 Ultimate Upgrade - A Dream come true...

Pic of the programmer and details on the upgrade via https://cox-electronics.com:

"Here is a summary of features provided by the upgrade:

- 3 banks of 128 free programmable performances
- 6 banks of 128 free programmable presets
- possibility of dumping performances and presets by SysEx
- MIDI sending and receiving of almost every parameter (more then 100 CC messages)
- full MIDI support of the CS-80 keyboard's polyphonic aftertouch
- special keyboard settings like octave transpose, velocity and aftertouch response
- automatic keyboard double trigger remove setting
- programmable chord memory
- foot pedal can be programmed sending CC messages (3 simultaniously)
- possibility of manually disabling a defective voice
- autotuning possibility of all 16 oscillators
- 3 extra separate global LFOs for VCO, VCF and VCA (with MIDI clock sync)
- special playmodes providing various algorithms like voice stealing, monophonic and polyphonic in unison with detune setting
- VCF and VCA envelope time can seperately be switched to 5 times the length
- very much care has been taken so the "analog feel" of the CS-80 stays authentic to original

Also extensive service needs to be performed and lots of modifications like:

- all electrolytic capacitors will be replaced since the old ones are bad (around 450)
- all sliders and switches will be professionally cleaned (around 80)
- cleaning and readjustment of the keyboard contacts
- cleaning of the polyphonic aftertouch parts
- removal of 5 old boards, to be replaced by 7 new boards. Now the very rare YM26600 and YM26700 chips are replaced by modern electronics
- around 250 additional wires, several modifications to the boards and around 70 extra capacitors are needed to make everything possible
- complete calibration of all circuit boards
- a nice programmer is included and only one connector will be mounted on the back of the CS-80

Almost every parameter of the synthesizer can be stored in memory and can receive and send MIDI data. For only a few knobs and sliders this is not possible:

- detune CHII slider
- the four touch response sliders
- the master volume knob (exp can be controlled by footcontroller and MIDI)
- foot pedal exp/expwah switches
- sustain slider (although it can be controlled on/off by footswitch and MIDI)
- the switches and knobs of the tremolo and chorus section"

Pacific State/808 State - (Circuit Tracks Version)

video upload by Guinan

"This week’s track is another favourite Hacienda club track. This time from 1989 by the group 808 State (thanks again to Yves Big City @bigcitymastering for inspiring this series).

The original was actually recorded in January 1988 as a reply to the emerging Chicago House scene ‘Pacific State’ has been released in a number of guises. Sometimes just called ‘Pacific,’ others times being labelled numerically after other Roland machines eg. 707, 202. This version is a bit of an amalgamation of a few versions.

Worth noting too that Gerald Simpson ('A Guy Called Gerald') was originally one of the founding members of 808 State before leaving to start his solo career with 'Voodoo Ray'.

I was inspired to cover this after recently acquiring a copy of the Emulator II library disks (to recreate the Kraftwerk track, 'Tour De France' [posted here].
Among these disks, Disk 22 is entitled ‘Loon Garden’. Cited by many as the original source of the ‘Loon’ bird sample we all know and love, it also features a ‘shakahuchi’ sample familiar to anyone who’s ever heard ‘Sledgehammer’ by Peter Gabriel and is a historic piece of sound design. Once you’ve heard these samples you can’t help but hear them across the whole spectrum of popular music. If anyone knows who originally recorded these original samples (also in the Akai S900 library) please leave a comment?

As I started piecing this together I found this excellent video by @CaptainPikant
• Analyzing PACIFIC STATE - How to make clas... [embedded below]
which elegantly detailed the rhythm patterns used. I simplified these somewhat to fit the drum tracks into just 2 tracks to allow room for Sax and Sound Effects tracks (see below).

There is a small snatch of sampled 'sax' played on Logic sampler to fill in for the original sax solo played by Graham Massey from the band but otherwise everything was programmed and played on the Circuit Tracks. No extra synths or FX were used and the audio is recorded straight out of the stereo outs.

I hope you enjoy this track as much as I did putting it together and check back soon for more.

More details for synth nerds.

The bass patch was programmed into Synth 1 to serve as both bass and melody line. The pad sound on Synth 2 is yet another detuned sawtooth pad with chorus, but rolled off with a 24dB low pass filter to create a sound a bit more like the original Juno (said to have been sampled as a chord into a Casio FZ1 sampler).

The drum sounds are a mixture of various 909,707 and 727 Roland drum machine samples from the Reverb Drum Machines collection (normalised and filtered where required).

The Sax sound was played using the sampler instrument in Logic (and is just a preset). The 3 edited phrases were placed onto Drum pad slots and triggered using Drum 3 when required.

Another sample was a ‘bell’ patch created on the Tracks but sampled as a ‘glissando’ to double up the glissando played on the pad on Synth 2, as a break between sections of the song.

Finally Drum 4 was reserved for water and ‘Loon’ sound effects (plus additional 727 rhythm). Did you know the Loon is actually a Canadian diving aquatic bird somewhat like a duck and not at all exotic!

The tracks were as follows;
125BPM, Swing 59%
Synth 1 – bass and melody
Synth 2 – chorused pad chords
Drum 1 – 707 bass drum
Drum 2 – Hihat, Open Hat, Clap and Ride samples.
Drum 3 – Sampled sax lines (and Tracks synth 'bell' glissando sample in break)
Drum 4 – Sound effects, alternating with 727 percussion sampled bongo and muted conga sounds."

Analyzing PACIFIC STATE - How to make classic 909 Ambient House beats | Drum Patterns Explained

video upload by Captain Pikant

"Join us as we analyze and rebuild the unique rhythm of 808 State's timeless Ambient House classic layer by layer."

0:00 Introduction
0:46 Pattern 1
2:54 Loon
4:27 Pattern 2
5:26 Percussion Layer
6:22 One-Shot Patterns
6:49 End Jam

Digitakt 2 + Circuit Tracks + Novation Peak

video uploads by DJ Roommate

Playlist:

1. Digitakt 2 + Circuit Tracks + Novation Peak - progressive/chill/house

This has been my favorite setup to play live with so far. Subscribe for more electronic jams if you dig it!

Digitakt is on drum duty, Circuit is playing the bass and accent synth, Peak is playing the main chord progression.

2. Digitakt 2 and friends - house/chill jam

Another track from this batch of jams

Digitakt is on drum duty, Circuit is playing the bass and accent synth, Peak is playing the main chord progression.

3. Circuit Tracks and Friends - upbeat house jam

Digitakt 2, Circuit Tracks, and Peak coming together in a tight little setup.