Casio VZ-1 phase mode envelope weirdness

video upload by Collector Current

The Casio VZ-1 is an odd and misunderstood synthesizer. In this video we look at how "PHASE" mode (wavefolding) changes the behavior of some of the envelopes. The story gets more complicated when you add "EXTERNAL PHASE" to the picture but I'll save that for a later video. If you want to read more you can also see the VZ-1 articles on my blog: https://blog.jacobvosmaer.nl/tags/vz-...

Soundcloud: / collector-current
Bandcamp: https://collectorcurrent.bandcamp.com
Blog: https://blog.jacobvosmaer.nl/"

The Casio VZ-1 does not do FM - it does wave folding

video upload by Collector Current

"In this video we explore the "phase" output format of the Casio VZ-1. Some people think this is FM synthesis, like the DX7, but it's not. It really is wave folding.

Read more in https://blog.jacobvosmaer.nl/0028-mys...

Soundcloud: / collector-current
Bandcamp: https://collectorcurrent.bandcamp.com"

Yamaha DX11 stretch tuning

video upload by Collector Current

"I made a little box that sends stretch tunings to the DX11 as microtuning tables.

You can see the program that runs in the box here: https://gist.github.com/jacobvosmaer/...

Soundcloud: / collector-current
Bandcamp: https://collectorcurrent.bandcamp.com"

Yamaha DX11 coarse pitch ratios

video upload by Collector Current

"I learned today that the TX81Z / DX11 coarse FM pitch ratios are divided into four sequences. I sat down with a basic bell sound to explore if I can hear a resemblance.

Besides the harmonic ratios 0.5, 1, 2, 3, etc there are 3 other sequences of ratios which are multiples of 1.41 (sqrt(2)), 1.57 (pi/2) and 1.73 (sqrt(3)). Read more at https://blog.jacobvosmaer.nl/0050-fm-...

Soundcloud: / collector-current
Bandcamp: https://collectorcurrent.bandcamp.com"

Yamaha DX11 synth bass

video upload by Collector Current

"Exploring simple synth bass sounds on the Yamaha DX11 (the keyboard version of the TX81Z). FM does not have to be hard!

Soundcloud: / collector-current
Bandcamp: https://collectorcurrent.bandcamp.com"

Kurzweil K2000 digital synthesis

video upload by Collector Current

"We use the Kurzweil DSP to transform a sine wave into different sounds. First a classic PWM sound using asymmetric clipping, then a harsh digital using the 'WRAP' and 'SHAPER' DSP functions.

Although there is a lot of intentional clipping in this video there is also some unintentional clipping, sorry about that. This easily happens with K2000 DSP." Soundcloud: / collector-current
Bandcamp: https://collectorcurrent.bandcamp.com

Kurzweil K2000 exponential envelopes via FUN

video upload by Collector Current

The standard envelope generators on the Kurzweil K2000 use linear slopes but you can make different shapes using the 'FUN' function generators. In this video we look at using 'hipass' to create an exponential decay envelope.

Thank you Ed for telling me about this technique.

You can find my music at the links below.

Soundcloud: / collector-current
Bandcamp: https://collectorcurrent.bandcamp.com

Kurzweil K2000 FM synthesis

video upload by Collector Current

"A brief exploration of FM synthesis on the Kurzweil K2000. I first learned about this techique from this website: http://www.dlnsound.com/aboutkfm.htm#...

Soundcloud: / collector-current
Bandcamp: https://collectorcurrent.bandcamp.com"

Yamaha TX16W with AdventureKid waveforms

video upload by Collector Current

"A quick demo of how to use the AdventureKid waveforms (AKWF) on the Yamaha TX16W.

AKWF home page: https://www.adventurekid.se/akrt/wave...

Read more about how I converted the files: https://blog.jacobvosmaer.nl/0042-akw..."

Nonlinear Labs C15 - quick Karplus-Strong sound design

video upload by Collector Current

"A quick exploration of Karplus-Strong synthesis on the Nonlinear C15.

Soundcloud: / collector-current
Bandcamp: https://collectorcurrent.bandcamp.com"

CrowBX PWM fun

video upload by Collector Current

"Exploring polyphonic PWM on the CrowBX.

The CrowBX is a DIY polysynth designed by Scott Rider. https://www.cs80.com/crowbx/

Check out my music!

Soundcloud: / collector-current
Bandcamp: https://collectorcurrent.bandcamp.com/"

Oberheim Xpander sawtooth pad

video upload by Collector Current

"Sound-designing a sawtooth pad on the Xpander with some subtle keyboard tracking modulation. Recorded without EQ or effects."

Oberheim Xpander FM exploration

video upload by Collector Current

"Exploring FM bell sounds on the Oberheim Xpander. Recorded in mono without effects."

Moog Memorymoog with MIDI & Extras SN 2361

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

via this listing

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Wine Country Sequential Is Winding Down

This the end of an era. Wine Country Sequential was formed by ex Sequential Circuits employees when the original Sequential Circuits went under. They specialized in servicing and providing parts for vintage Sequential Circuits synths. I actually own a Wine Country "Perfect Prophet-5" myself.

via Wine Country Sequential:

"The Long & Winding Road Ends..Soon

It's been 46 years since musicians experienced the polyphonic sounds of a Prophet-5, and 41 years since the Prophet 600 introduced MIDI to the world. Sequential Circuits Prophets have made significant contributions to music, film, & theatre for decades. Since 1987 keeping the Prophet sound alive has always been the goal of Wine Country Sequential, and it's been a long and interesting ride. The ride is now over, Wine Country Sequential repair services for Sequential Circuits Prophets ended in December 2023. However, Wine Country Sequential remains open for business as the liquidation of original Sequential Circuits parts & manuals in order to help vintage Prophets survive in the decades to come.

Liquidation of Sequential Circuits parts, manuals & archival documentation continues. Original Operation & Technical Manuals, Printed Circuit Boards, custom IC's, sound programs, Diagnostic ROMs and various other parts are available for most Sequential Circuits instruments. Wine Country Sequential will remain open for business in 2024 until the parts are gone.

Visit WineCountrySequential.com and SequentialCircuits.com for updates reflecting current availability of parts as the liquidation continues.

The Last Restored & Warranted Prophet 600 for sale by Wine Country with a 30 Day Parts & Labor Warranty is currently posted on SequentialCircuits.com at https://sequentialcircuits.com/prophet600forsale.html

Coming soon to SequentialCircuits.com is a Collector's Corner page offering original manuals, memorabilia, brochures, and even complete original engineering fabrication drawing packages for Sequential Circuits Prophets, drum machines, & other synths.

Thank you for your previous interest, and best of luck with your music.

Kind regards from California,

David Sesnak
General Product Manager
WINE COUNTRY PRODUCTIONS INC.
San Jose, CA 95118 USA"

G-Storm Electro Introduces Roland SH5-VCF Dual Filter Eurorack Module Adaptation

video upload by gstormelectro

SH5-VCF Dual Filter Patches + Sounds [Demo #2]


"In this video I will show some cool patches with SH5-VCF Dual Filter.
As per usual, listening w/ headphones or quality monitors is the best audio experience.
Watch your levels, this is a filter demo w/ some resonance ahead.


Check my Reverb store for SH5-VCF, 101-VCO, 2xVCA, 2xADSR availability

Currently I only sell exclusively on Reverb, I hope one day to sell in stores outside the USA.

Timestamps
0:00 Sounds and Intro

0:16 Patch 1 | Fat Liquid Bass
2:44 Patch 2 | Series Cascading the Dual Filters
3:01 Patch 3 | Evolving Sequence
3:47 Patch 4 | Analog Percussion
5:20 Patch 5 | Supersaw! Unison Stack
6:33 Patch 6 | Complex Analog Thing

Oscillator | 101-VCO
Modulations | Batumi, 2xADSR
Control + Sequencing | Keystep Pro
No added effects, EQ, Compression, nor other post-processing."

via this listing

"Time to get a little more serious.

SH5-VCF is an all analog Eurorack adaptation of the Roland SH-5 mixer and Dual Filter. There are no filters-on-a-chip here. The SH5-VCF uses all discrete components and quality op-amps to work its special mojo. Like on the original, the Low Pass circuit is comprised of open-collector matched transistor pairs arranged in a diode ladder configuration. The lack of temperature compensation was also respected, so while the resonance can self-oscillate the v/oct keyboard tracking is about 3 octaves at best. This same configuration used in the Roland SH-1000 and the earlier System 100 (not 100m).

The Dual Filters: VCF + BPF
| VCF | The VCF (Voltage Controlled Filter) comprises one HP (High Pass) and one LP (Low Pass) circuit in series. VCF Select switch can choose 1) HP, 2) LP, or 3) BP (Band-Pass) configuration. Due to the unique design, the HP resonance is actually derived by overdriving the LP circuit.
| BPF | The dedicated BPF (Band Pass Filter) has its own discrete circuit distinct and apart from the VCF. The original BPF circuit has been respected, but greatly expanded upon using a proprietary voltage controlled feedback path to enable frequency control via external signals. This feature wasn’t available on the original design. The original did not have a buffered output jack for the BPF neither, as the SH5-VCF does. The BPF Level attenuator will affect the main output only.

The MIXER
There are four audio signal inputs, each with its own fader pot and filter routing switch. Each routing switch can send each audio line to either VCF, BPF, or both VCF + BPF.

The 3 CV MODULATIONS – Choose Wisely
Incoming CV signals can be used to modulate any filter frequency cutoff. Signals can be up to +/- 10Vpp DC polar or AC bi-polar at the inputs.
| CV1 | has inverting and non-inverting behavior where zero is at 12:00.
| CV2 | has non-inverting behavior for both filters, and inverting available to VCF only
| KB | is a non-inverting V/OCT Keyboard Tracking control available to both the VCF and BPF, typically a Keyboard Voltage – but can be any kind of polar or bi-polar signal.

A Eurorack power connection ribbon cable is included. To get the most out of the filter experience follow your filter with a VCA. The filters require startup voltages on the low end to avoid audible thump, so there will be sub-frequency audio seepage. A post-filter VCA (sold separately) is recommended to gate the filter. Be sure to check out the G-Storm Electro 2xVCA when available.

The SH5-VCF pairs well with (sold separately)…
GSE 101-VCO + 101E output expander
GSE 2xVCA
GSE 2xADSR
Xaoc Batumi Quad LFO

Specs
Width | 16HP
Depth | 35mm
Weight | 6.3 oz
Inputs | 4 audio, 3 control voltage
Outputs | 1 main output, 1 BPF output
CURRENT DEMANDS (measured)
+12V: 48mA
-12V: 48mA
+5V: 0V *not used*"

G-Storm Electro Reverb Shop

New Landmark SSI2130 VCO Chip from Sound Semiconductor

The press release:

SOUND SEMICONDUCTOR INTRO’S NEXT GENERATION VCO CHIP

First New Electronic Music VCO IC in Decades

September 16, 2020 – Sonora, California – Sound Semiconductor today announced the first new audio-band Voltage Controlled Oscillator (“VCO”) integrated circuit in decades, the SSI2130.

The SSI2130 VCO provides unprecedented performance and features for electronic music systems, audio function generators, or other devices that require high-integrity audio waveforms. Based on a precision- generated triangle core, the SSI2130 also produces saw, reverse saw, pulse with width control, and open- collector square wave outputs. Great care was taken to provide glitch-free waveforms.

In addition to buffered voltage outputs, the triangle, saw, and pulse signals are internally routed to a five- channel VCA mixer with two auxiliary inputs. The mixer output is current-mode for easy summing with additional SSI2130 VCO’s and connection to current-input voltage controlled filters such as the SSI2140 and SSI2144.
The SSI2130 also includes a sine shaper that provides a low-distortion sine wave from the triangle output, and a unique “time reverse” pin enables through-zero FM and PM synthesis with the addition of comparator, dual op amp, and handful of discrete components.

The analog multiplier has excellent exponential performance over a ten-plus octave range, and on-chip temperature compensation outperforms all previous VCO IC’s. Exponential input setup is easily accomplished through one or two trims in analog systems, or automated by CPU-based systems. Both hard and soft sync are offered.

The SSI2130 is packaged in a 32-lead QFN package and requires minimal external components. Pricing is $2.25 at 1k pieces and the SSI2130 is in stock now. Samples and an evaluation board are available to qualified OEM’s; hobby and DIY enthusiasts are served through a growing network of Sound Semiconductor’s authorized resellers.

"Our design team has been anxious to develop a new-generation VCO,” stated Dan Parks, President of Sound Semiconductor. "We knew the SSI2130 was going to be good, but it greatly exceeded expectations."

Sound Semiconductor is composed of musicians and technologists with the goal of developing affordable, high- performance integrated circuits for music creation. For more information, please visit www.soundsemiconductor.com.

Collector Quality Roland Juno-60 Polyphonic Analog Synthesizer

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

via this auction

"Absolutely stunning example of a vintage Roland Juno 60.
In collector quality cosmetic and working condition.

During our last run on the Joe Walsh tour, I came across this Juno at a tour stop in Florida.
It was living in a rehearsal closet in a private school's music department where it had been set up since new! Though my current interests lean more towards modular synths, I couldn't leave such a beautiful example behind. I cleaned it up and serviced the faders and pots with Deoxit Gold and Faderlube. Everything sounds great without any scratches or pops. You would be hard pressed to find any significant imperfections in the metal or wood ends.
She is ready for her new home!"

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Happy New Year! The Year in Synths 2013

Happy New Year Everyone!

What a busy year it has been in the world of synths.

This is going to be one doozy of a post, so bear with me. This post is a review of the year in synths for 2013. We begin with Tributes to Those We Lost This Year, followed by New Manufacturers & Makers, Older Manufacturers Added to the Site, New Gear Announcements, Top 10 Posts by Traffic,  My Standout Posts for the Year, and finally This Years' Synth Events. I did my best to keep things as short and concise as possible.

Let's begin with the hardest part of the post.

Tributes to Those We Lost This Year

RIP Bernard Parmegiani - Electronic & Acoustic Composer
Lou Reed RIP
RIP Dick Raaymakers aka Kid Baltan
RIP George Duke - DreamWeaver
RIP Ralph Dyck, Sept 28, 1941 – May 20, 2013
RIP Ray Manzarek

All missed and never to be forgotten. Take a moment to remember them.

------

New Manufacturers & Makers

Starting last January, I decided to keep a running list of every new manufacturer and maker introduced to the site during the year.  This is something I haven't done before and I thought it would be interesting to see how many there were in the year.   It's easy to focus on the big synth announcements throughout the year, but what about all the new makers and brands? I shouln't have to go considerably into the significance of new designers on the scene, so I'll just say two things regarding them.  One, the number of new makers is a direct reflection on the interest in our scene, and two, these are the creators of new gear which directly translate into new designs not previously available to us.  Think about that for a moment.  These are makers and designs that did not exist before.  They are part of our synth history.  So what is the total count of new synth designers for the year? A whopping 113. Think about that a bit. One hundred and thirteen new synth designers and brands this year alone.

Here they are (note a handful date back to 2012, but 2013 marked their momentum and availability):

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ETI 4600 Synthesiser Auction Video Overview & Demos

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
YouTube Published on Aug 9, 2012 by MikeyJTUK
4 part video series for this auction.

"ETI 4600 synthesiser demonstration. This is being sold on eBay from August 15th 2012 and ending on August 25th. World-wide shipping is available. This is an overview showing the complete 1970s vintage analogue synthesiser with an overview of the modules and layout.

This synth was a state-of-the-art design when it was conceived back in the1970s. Designed by Trevor Marshall in 1973, this synthesiser was offered in kit form by Maplin Electronic Supplies (in the UK). The parts cost was around £500, and was said to match the performance of synthesisers costing £1500 - that equates to a staggering £15,600 in today's money (according to www.thisismoney.co.uk calculator). This is a collector's dream! This actual synthesiser is featured on the home page of www.eti4600synthesiser.org.uk website, is fully working, and is in great condition considering it is some 35 years old. This synthesiser was built by me in 1977 when I was a teenager and has remained in my possession until now.

Not only is this a great asset for lovers of nostalgia and early electronic music history, but also for the modern day sound design engineer who can sample these great 70's sounds and combine the wonderful early synthesiser sounds with the precision, reliability, automation, and flexibility of modern DAW's!

See the other 3 parts for an in-depth demonstration."

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