Retromulator 2.4 - Nordic 2 Nord Lead 2 & 2X Factory Audio Demos

video upload by discoDSP

https://www.discodsp.com/retromulator/

"The Nord Lead 2 from 1997, running on Nordic 2, a clean-room C++ recreation by discoDSP that needs no firmware or ROM data. It follows Nord Lead 2 OS 1.04 as measured on the unit and as its manual describes, with 64 voices in place of the unit's 16, Performance mode with four slots, the Shift functions and kits.

Nord Lead 2 and N2X banks load as they are, and its own editor shows below the rack. With a Retromulator license, Engine Oversampling runs the oscillators at 2x or 4x for playback and bounce, as on Nordic. Sessions made with the earlier N2X core open in Nordic 2."

Retromulator 2.4 - Nordic 2 Nord Lead 2X Factory Audio Demo

video upload by discoDSP

"The Nord Lead 2 from 1997, running on Nordic 2, a clean-room C++ recreation by discoDSP that needs no firmware or ROM data. It follows Nord Lead 2 OS 1.04 as measured on the unit and as its manual describes, with 64 voices in place of the unit's 16, Performance mode with four slots, the Shift functions and kits.

Nord Lead 2 and N2X banks load as they are, and its own editor shows below the rack. With a Retromulator license, Engine Oversampling runs the oscillators at 2x or 4x for playback and bounce, as on Nordic. Sessions made with the earlier N2X core open in Nordic 2."

Nord Rack previously featured here, and Discovery Pro in posts here.

Discovery Pro 9.8 - What's New

video upload by discoDSP

"https://www.discodsp.com/discoverypro/ A walkthrough of Discovery Pro 9.8: the new Wide unison mode, plus the 9.7 Chorus / Phaser and Unison editors."

Discovery Pro 9.1 What's New

video upload by discoDSP

Previously:

Discovery Pro 9.0 What's New

video upload by discoDSP

Passive Bandpass Filters Are GOATED | AudioThing Octaves

video upload by HAINBACH and AudioThing

"Passive bandpass filters are an obsession of mine, so it was just a question of time until AudioThing and me would make a plugin of the special subset called octave filters. Octaves is out on now: https://www.audiothing.net/effects/Oc...

My Music: http://hainbach.bandcamp.com"

"Hainbach’s Bandpass Filter

Octaves is our latest collaboration with Berlin-based composer and YouTuber Hainbach. It is a filter plugin designed to take apart the audio spectrum in spreads of octaves, allowing for unique and enchanting spectral sound design effects. Octaves gives you a retro-scientific approach to sound that echoes the timeless productions created in the BBC Radiophonic workshop or the WDR Studio für Elektronische Musik by the Avantgarde masters, and modern places like Willem Twee, Strøm, and Hainbach’s own laboratory.

Octaves is available for macOS, Windows, and Linux (VST2, VST3, AU, AAX, CLAP).
It’s also available on the App Store for iOS and iPadOS (AUv3 and Standalone).

CLICK FOR MORE »

Discovery Pro 8.16: New Oscillator Engine Sound Demo

video upload by discoDSP

"Explore the latest updates in Discovery Pro 8.16, featuring a superior oscillator engine, Polyphonic Aftertouch with MPE-ready routing, and the innovative Adaptive Filter Slope for dynamic, expressive sound design.

🎛️ What's New in 8.16:
Superior Oscillator Engine
Brand new analog modeled engine with warm character and richer harmonic content, especially in the bass range
Improved hard sync and FM synthesis with real-time discontinuity correction
Classic per-bank global switch to retain the traditional engine

Adaptive Filter Slope
Innovative dynamic filter character that responds to your playing style
Note and velocity matrix switching for expressive filter behavior
Accessible via filter presets popup for streamlined workflow

Polyphonic Aftertouch
Per-voice pressure routing for individual note expression control
MPE-ready for modern expressive controllers

Additional Updates
Consolidated oscillator menu with clarified phase labels
LCD status display for CPU protection state
Improved menu organization
Arpeggiator fixes

🔗 Links:
Download/Update: https://www.discodsp.com/discoverypro/"

Discovery Pro 8.14 - New Features Demo

video upload by discoDSP

"Explore the latest updates in Discovery Pro 8.14, our most significant release featuring major sound design enhancements and workflow improvements.

🎛️ What's New in 8.14:
Factory I Preset Bank Overhaul
128 professionally crafted presets by Kulshan Studios
Complete refresh of the Factory bank with modern, production-ready sounds

New Filter Models
Moog Ladder Filter - State-of-the-art analog modeling
Oberheim SEM Filter - Authentic multimode filter with two variants:

Classic mode for vintage warmth
Raw mode for increased resonance and saturation

CLICK FOR MORE »

Discovery Pro 8.13 released

video upload by discoDSP

"Discovery Pro 8.13 - Shadow Wave 3D Redesign + DSP enhancements
https://www.discodsp.com/discoverypro/

Discovery Pro receives its most dramatic visual transformation yet with the all-new Shadow Wave skin, plus enhanced analog filter behavior.

🎨 Shadow Wave 3D Redesign
Complete interface overhaul featuring premium 3D aesthetics with realistic depth, shadows, and dimensional shading. The flat vector design has been replaced with a modern, refined look while maintaining Discovery Pro's iconic workflow.

🔊 Moog Ladder Filter Enhancement
Smooth cubic blending for authentic resonant sounds and classic analog filter behavior at high resonance values higher than 95%.

✨ Key Improvements
Enhanced visual clarity and contrast
Refined knob rendering with dimensional depth
Updated typography and displays
Polished professional aesthetics
Display positioning fixes at fractional scales"

Roland Introduces ZENOLOGY GX - Next-gen ZEN

Overview video upload by RolandChannel

"ZENOLOGY GX brings the full power of Roland’s ZEN-Core Synthesis System into GALAXIAS, giving you access to over 11,000 tones—from iconic vintage synths to cutting-edge hybrids. Explore the massive library of sounds or build your own from scratch using the same engine found in flagship instruments like FANTOM and JUPITER-X.

ZENOLOGY GX also includes a powerful browser to help you stay organized. Search, rate, and recall presets with ease. Each tone is built from up to four partials, each with its own oscillator, filter, amplifier, dual LFOs, and effects. Shape your sound with over 90 effects, including spacious reverbs, classic Roland choruses, and more.

Inside GALAXIAS, ZENOLOGY GX becomes a super instrument. Layer up to four instances, assign key ranges, apply per-layer effects, and use creative tools like ARPS and CHORDS to build massive Scenes. You can also export your sounds to ZENOLOGY Pro or compatible ZEN-Core hardware."

00:00 Intro Overview
00:44 Immersive Mode
00:58 Sounds View for Presets
01:15 Auditioning Sounds
01:28 Tweaking Presets
02:05 Synth Engine
02:33 Filter Section
02:50 Mix Section
03:10 Step Editor and Step LFOs
03:40 Mod Tab
04:04 FX Section
04:51 GALAXIAS Capabilities
05:36 Chord Sequencer
06:31 Try ZENOLOGY GX



Additional details from Roland:

WELCOME TO THE MOTHERSHIP.

GALAXIAS brings 50 years of legendary Roland synths and drum machines together into one powerful Super Instrument. Access thousands of iconic sounds and freely combine authentic Roland instruments from vintage to modern. Explore supermassive GALAXIAS Scenes filled with intricate layers and deep macro controls. And discover exciting new worlds with infinite creative possibilities.

Legendary instruments. Iconic sounds.

Roland has been a pioneer in music technology for over half a century, delivering a continuous stream of influential instruments and effects that have fueled countless hits, defined genres, and driven cultural trends. With GALAXIAS, you can now explore and experience them all in one creative environment. From historic icons such as the JUPITER-8, TR-808, and D-50 to modern instruments like ZENOLOGY GX and SYSTEM-8, GALAXIAS harnesses Roland’s evolving sonic legacy within a single intuitive workflow.

A voyage of discovery.

Choose from your favorite Roland synths and drum machines, search specific sound types, or mine the ever-expanding collection of over 25,000 sounds to spark new ideas and build compelling tracks. GALAXIAS puts unlimited albums’ worth of inspiration at your command—from vintage sounds to futuristic hybrid tones—with more added each month.

Roland Super Instrument.

GALAXIAS lets you layer up to four instruments to create massive sonic superclusters called Scenes. Build an intricate setup of your favorite Roland instruments, such as a full stack of JUPITER and JUNO synths, or multiple eras of TR drum machines locked in perfect sync. Dial in an arpeggiator pattern (or four), quickly define key ranges and macro controls, and then play the whole thing as a single instrument in the studio or on stage.

Next-gen ZEN.

Seamlessly integrated into GALAXIAS, ZENOLOGY GX delivers over 11,000 genre-defining Roland sounds in one powerful instrument. Layer up to four instances with definable key ranges, sophisticated macro controls, per-layer effects, and creative tools like ARPS and CHORDS. Explore the vast collection of presets or craft your own using 23 authentic oscillator and filter models, over 7,000 PCM waveforms, 11 LFO shapes—including a versatile Step LFO for rhythmic movement—and 90+ effects. From studio to stage, ZENOLOGY GX puts limitless sonic potential at your fingertips.

Effectively awesome.

In addition to the formidable effects within each individual instrument, GALAXIAS gives you two insert effects per layer and two global send effects. Choose from the growing collection of authentic Roland and BOSS effects and take your sounds to new frontiers. You can also route layers to external outputs or channels in your DAW for further processing.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Thephonoloop's themkI

video uploads by THEPHONOLOOP

Playlist:

1. themkI | An exploration of a 70s classic
2. themkI | Overview
3. themkI | Presets playthrough

Press release follows:


Thephonoloop tweaks themkI as deeply-sampled, expressive VI exploring electromechanical keyboard classic’s imperfections with colourful Version 1.1 update


KATOWICE, POLAND: Thephonoloop is proud to announce that it has tweaked themkI — already available as a deeply-sampled, expressive VI (virtual instrument) for Native Instruments’ KONTAKT PLAYER platform housed in an MPE (MIDI Polyphonic Expression) compatible engine built for discovery and experimentation, exploring the beautiful imperfections of a Seventies-vintage electromechanical keyboard classic — with a colourful Version 1.1 update introducing sharper contrast for better visibility alongside new GUI (Graphical User Interface) colour options for customising its look, as of October 7…

CLICK FOR MORE »

DIscovery Pro 8.9 released

video upload by discoDSP

"https://www.discodsp.com/discoverypro/

What's New for Producers

🥁 Percussion Mode

Turn Discovery Pro into a full drum workstation. 10 new drum kits ready to use, smart keyboard mapping (white keys = sounds, black keys = editing), and seamless integration with your existing workflow.

⚡ Faster PADsynth

No more waiting for wavetables to render. PADsynth now processes in the background with real-time progress updates. SIMD optimizations make rendering significantly faster on modern processors.

📁 Better SFZ Import

Import large sample libraries faster with parallel loading. Enhanced compatibility with professional SFZ libraries and multi-bit depth WAV files.

🎛️ Workflow Improvements

Reorganized Edit menu for better navigation
Direct access to preset folders when randomizing
New MIDI CC display for hardware integration
Improved voice allocation for better polyphony

🔧 Under the Hood

Standalone limiter prevents output clipping
Fixed filter resonance issues with oversampling
Enhanced aftertouch and velocity curves
Consolidated AAX support with improved MIDI out

Download the free update now and experience the enhanced Discovery Pro workflow.
Available for all 8.x existing users at no additional cost."

Introducing the Sequential Fourm

video upload by Sequential

Update: the first user videos added below. Note: this post is pinned on top, see below for new posts going up throughout the day.]

"Fourm 4-voice analog synth with polyphonic aftertouch

Fourm is a compact analog synthesizer that invites you to play, shape, and perform with unprecedented expression. With its legendary Sequential tone, hands-on modulation, and uniquely responsive Tactive™ keybed, Fourm is a creative partner helping to bring your musical ideas to life.

Synth sounds and drums exclusively by Fourm. Composed by Peter Dyer."

https://sequential.com

See the dealers on the right of the site for availabily.

User videos:



Playlist:

1. The new Sequential Fourm in 60 seconds! #analogsynth #synth - Available at Signal Sounds
2. Sequential Fourm Analog Synth INHALT Demo & Discussion
3. Sequential FOURM Review — Classic synth sounds in a small package! - BoBeats
4. Introducing the Sequential Fourm Synth | First Look & Demo - Gear4music Synths & Tech
5. Sequential Fourm: Poly aftertouch, stacked waves, expressive arps – First look and sound demo - MusicRadar Tech
6. Sequential Fourm Performances & Overview - Sweetwater Soundcheck
7. SEQUENTIAL FOURM: the synth we’ve ALL been waiting for? - Projet Home Studio

Press release and pics follow:


Sequential Introduces Fourm: A Four-Voice Analog Synth with Polyphonic Aftertouch

A New Fourm of Expression

San Francisco, CA — September 23, 2025 — Sequential has announced the release of its most affordable, synthesizer to date. Fourm is a compact, 100% analog instrument that redefines expressive electronic performance. With its warm, organic tone, hands-on modulation routing, and a uniquely responsive polyphonic aftertouch keyboard, Fourm is ready to bring your musical ideas to life.

At its core, Fourm delivers four analog voices of genuine Sequential sound, derived from the legendary Prophet-5 — complete with dual oscillators, a classic 4-pole lowpass filter, and envelope curves modeled after the 1978 original. The result is unmistakable Sequential warmth and punch, now with overdriven feedback for a performance-ready edge.

For the first time in 40 years, Sequential has returned to polyphonic aftertouch. The team developed the new Tactive™ slim-keys poly AT keybed to work in concert with Fourm’s analog synthesis engine. Every element was co-designed and precisely calibrated to unlock new levels of expression, enabling a deeper connection to our signature sound that no off-the-shelf keybed could deliver. The result is a more expressive bond between player and instrument, energizing new modes of creativity.

“Wowww holy smokes: this thing sounds and feels amazing,” said Bryn Bliska, (keyboards for Chappell Roan, Maggie Rogers, Jacob Collier). “The polyphonic aftertouch is seriously so fun… Sequential nailed it.”

“We’re so excited to bring this innovative all-analog keyboard into the world,” said David Gibbons, Sequential CEO. “At a price-point that most people expect to pay for a monophonic synth, we think this product will invite legions of musicians who have longed for the magic of polyphonic analog sounds to start their journey of discovery with Sequential.”

Notably inspired by the Pro~One, Fourm’s top-panel modulation matrix puts deep sound design at your fingertips—no menu diving required. Modulation sources and destinations are clearly labeled, connections are made with a button press, and color-coded indicators make even complex routings easy to manage.

With its compact footprint, professional-grade build, and a sound engine rooted in Sequential’s most iconic instruments, Fourm is a powerful new voice in analog synthesis.

About Sequential
Sequential has been at the forefront of synthesizer innovation since 1974, creating instruments that inspire musicians and shape the sound of modern music. With a legacy built on the iconic Prophet synthesizers, Sequential continues to push the boundaries of sound design with cutting-edge technology and exceptional craftsmanship.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Discovery Pro 8.8 Released

video upload by discoDSP

https://www.discodsp.com/discoverypro/

"Experience Discovery Pro, the ultimate virtual analog synthesizer and sampler. With 4 layers, 12 oscillators, WAV and SoundFont support, PADSynth re-synthesis, and Nord Lead 2 SysEx import/export, Discovery Pro offers endless sound creation options. Its arpeggiator, 12 filter types (including Nord Lead 2 and Moog filters), panning modulation, stereo delay, gate and step modulation effects provide unmatched control. Discovery Pro is perfect for any music production."

Discovery Pro 8.7 released

video upload by discoDSP

https://www.discodsp.com/discoverypro/

"Experience Discovery Pro, the ultimate virtual analog synthesizer and sampler. With 4 layers, 12 oscillators, WAV and SoundFont support, PADSynth re-synthesis, and Nord Lead 2 SysEx import/export, Discovery Pro offers endless sound creation options. Its arpeggiator, 12 filter types (including Nord Lead 2 and Moog filters), panning modulation, stereo delay, gate and step modulation effects provide unmatched control. Discovery Pro is perfect for any music production." c

Discovery Pro 8.5.5 & OB Xd 3.7.3 Released

video upload by discoDSP

https://www.discodsp.com/discoverypro/

OB Xd 3.7.3 released
video upload by discoDSP

Discovery Pro 8.5.1 released

video upload by discoDSP

Body Synths introduces the Metal Fetishist

video upload by Body Synths

"The Body Synths Metal Fetishist is a Percussion Synthesizer featuring a loopable randomness sequencer and a eurorack-compatible control-voltage interface.

The Metal Fetishist is a beat-making platform designed for rythm discovery and percussive sound design. The unapologetically digital sound engine includes a single oscillator, a white noise source, a resonant multi-mode filter and a digital distortion section featuring downsampling and overdrive."

Four Body Synths Metal Fetishist percussion synths playing together

video upload by Body Synths

"Sequencing 4 Metal Fetishist units with an Arturia Beatstep Pro. Spring reverb from Roland VX-55. Analog delay from Roland DC-20."

"The Body Synths Metal Fetishist is a Percussion Synthesizer featuring a loopable randomness sequencer and a eurorack-compatible control-voltage interface.

Explore percussion by synthesizing simple Kicks, harsh Noise, fuzzy Drones, digital Glitches and plucky microtonal Melodies
The Metal Fetishist is a beat-making platform designed for rythm discovery and percussive sound design. The unapologetically digital sound engine includes a single oscillator, a white noise source, a resonant multi-mode filter and a digital distortion section featuring downsampling and overdrive.

Random sequencing with control
The Metal Fetishist features two randomness generators. At every trigger step of the sequence, the Random Step Mod section creates a new modulation value that can modify the Pitch, the amount of Noise or the filter Cut-Off value, while the modulation amount can be selected manually. At every sequence step, the Random Skips control decides if the current step will trigger or not, based on the skipping amount selected. The big STEPS knob won't do anything at its OFF position, leaving the synth in completely random mode! But as you turn it right it will lock the previously generated random step values into repeatable sequences of length 2, 4, 8, 10, 16 or 32. Have fun with it!"

Roland Announces GAIA 2 Synthesizer

video upload by RolandChannel

Roland GAIA 2 Synthesizer Overview


User videos:

Playlist:

1. Roland GAIA2 Demo & Review - musictrackjp
2. New Roland GAIA 2 - "Skywards" - demo by gattobus
3. ROLAND GAIA 2 Review, tutorial, and all 250+ presets - loopop
4. Roland GAIA2 - 1st LOOK Sonic Lab Presentation - sonicstate
5. Roland GAIA 2 Sound Demo (no talking) - Bonedo Synthesizers
6. Roland GAIA 2 Sound Demo (no talking) - Limbic Bits

Press release follows.

Advanced Synthesizer with Wavetable and Virtual Analog Engines, an Intuitive Sound Design Workflow, Expressive Hands-On Controls, Model Expansion Support, and More

Los Angeles, CA, Sept. 28, 2023 — Roland announces GAIA 2, an advanced synthesizer with a newly developed hybrid sound engine and a friendly panel layout that makes learning synthesis and exploring sound design easy and fun. Equipped with wavetable and virtual analog oscillators, interactive controls, 37 full-size keys, Model Expansion support, and other powerful features, GAIA 2 opens the door to an infinite universe of inspired creation.

GAIA 2’s diverse synthesis tools allow users to build familiar sounds and craft new voices never heard before. Reaching beyond previous designs, the wavetable oscillator can morph between multiple waveforms for everything from dramatic shifts to slowly evolving textures. Unique phase and shape modulation options are also available to distort waveforms and unleash cutting-edge textures with complex overtones. Complementing the wavetable oscillator are twin virtual analog oscillators, ready to reimagine past classics or sculpt the sounds of the future. From smooth tones reminiscent of vintage synths to edgy, biting leads to sci-fi soundscapes, GAIA 2 can do it.

GAIA 2 also supports Roland Model Expansions, which faithfully recreate iconic synthesizers from the company’s long history. With a dedicated button, users can instantly swap between the built-in sound engine and classics like the JUPITER-8 or JUNO-106. The SH-101 Model Expansion comes pre-installed, and many additional titles and accompanying Sound Packs are available on Roland Cloud.

GAIA 2’s logically organized panel encourages hands-on exploration and sonic discovery. The one-control-per-function layout and informative display enable instant programming without having to resort to creativity-killing menu diving. And with the streamlined knobs and white anodized aluminum panel, even the look is inspiring.

GAIA 2 features a touch-controlled Motional Pad that brings static sounds to life. Users can assign nearly any synth or effect parameter to each of the X/Y points and then morph between them by moving a finger on the pad. It’s also possible to record movements to create complex, modulated transformations.

The free-flowing sequencer in GAIA 2 lets users instantly capture their inspiration and realize their wildest visions. There’s also a cool Random Pattern feature to spark new ideas with spontaneous pattern creation.

GAIA 2 comes loaded with classic Roland effects to take sonic creations to the next level. Over 50 unique MFX types are available, plus a dedicated Chorus section for adding width and dimension. A powerful Reverb/Delay section features a new studio-grade Shimmer Reverb and many other high-quality effect types.

Via USB-C, GAIA 2 functions as an audio/MIDI interface for music production apps on a computer, smartphone, or tablet. The class-compliant connection is plug-and-play, with no driver installation needed. A USB Type-A port is also available for connecting a USB flash drive for data backup or a standard USB MIDI controller for extended operation.

GAIA 2 supports Roland Cloud Connect, an optional wireless adapter for browsing and downloading Roland Cloud content using a mobile device. A Roland Cloud Connect purchase also includes a year of Roland Cloud Pro membership with unlimited use of thousands of sounds, Model Expansions, and much more.

The optional CB-B37 Keyboard Bag for GAIA 2 provides durable, high-quality protection for the synthesizer while traveling and making music around town. This versatile bag also works with the JUPITER-Xm, legacy GAIA SH-01, and other 37-note keyboards.

Availability & Pricing

The Roland GAIA 2 is now available in the U.S. for $899.99.

Click the pics for the full size shots.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Joe McGinty's Klaviphon: Vintage Czech Electric Piano

Klaviphon: Vintage Czech Electric Piano Improvisation Published on Oct 20, 2018 Joseph McGinty

Great discovery and story by Joe McGinty. Joe McGinty, btw, was the keyboardist for The Psychedelic Furs. He has also worked with Ryan Adams, The Ramones, Nada Surf, Kevin Ayers, Martha Wainwright, Die Monster Die, Devendra Banhart, Ronnie Spector, Jesse Malin, Amy Rigby, Space Hog and others. And of course, he has also been featured here on MATRIXSYNTH numerous times. :)

Video description: "A short improvisation on the Klaviphon Electric Piano, a rare electric piano from Czechoslovakia. I traded a broken Czech wrist watch for this keyboard at a small shop in Prague. At the shop, there was no way to test it but I could hear the reeds 'acoustically' so I figured it was cool enough to gamble on it. It sounds sort of like a Pianet.

The electric piano is going through a Moogerfooger Analog Delay, an Electro Harmonix 16 Second Delay and a Roland Jazz Chorus. Audio is from the iPhone. Video effects are from Maelstrom from Signal Culture."

And the story of how Joe McGinty acquired the Klaviphon:

"The Broken Watch and The Klaviphon

This is a story that starts with a wristwatch purchase and ends with me owning a rare, vintage Czech electric piano. “When in Prague”, my friend Cathy wrote, “check out Prague Antiques. It’s full of bric-a-brac and the owner is a Serbian man who is married to a Croatian woman”. When traveling, Amy and I always look for vintage stores, thrift stores, record stores and any place that might have some obscure vintage instruments. I had found a record store, but no luck with vintage instruments. Cathy’s recommendation was perfect, so we added it to our Saturday plan. I have to say Prague Antiques did not disappoint. The store was chock-a-block with cool knick knacks from the communist era.

We wanted to bring back a souvenir from Prague, but it was kind of overwhelming. Finally, we saw a display counter with vintage Czech wristwatches. They were all beautiful. Amy and I each picked one out. “Remember”, the shopkeeper explained, “these are vintage watches. They need to be wound. Young people come in here, buy the watch and come back a few hours later, claiming it’s broken. They don’t know about winding the watch”. Of course, we know about winding wristwatches (we’re old).

Later, we’re wandering around Holesovice, a very cool neighborhood. We stop to eat at the cafe at Cross Club, a multidisciplinary art and performance space. There are incredible sculptures there, and vintage czech radios hanging from the ceiling. I notice my watch has stopped. I wind it up, making fun of the youngsters who thought their watch was broken. Well, needless to say, a few hours later the watch stopped. And then it stopped again. So I realize, yes, my watch doesn’t work. Harrumph.

We had a sightseeing plan for the next day, our last day in Prague. Do we go back to the shop to return it? Or do I accept that I possibly have been swindled? We decide to start the day off at the shop, return the watch, and continue with our sightseeing plan.

The next day, we arrive at the shop to a sign on the door: “Please come to our sister shop, around the corner”. “Oh, great”, I’m thinking. We’ve definitely been swindled. However, the shop around the corner is much bigger. And it’s a different man in charge. I show him the watch and explain that it’s broken. He takes it behind the counter, looks at it for a while, and confirms in a thick accent, “you’re right. It is broken. My friend, he doesn’t know”. Chatting with him for a while, he tells us of his Croation wife, and we realize that he is the owner.

He is super nice and helpful and explains that we can exchange it for anything in the store of similar value. Amy asks if he has any musical instruments. Keyboards, perhaps? And I’m thinking to myself, that it would be a stretch. I see a few toy pianos. He brings out a melodica. Some harmonicas. “One more thing”, he tells us. He leads us to a corner in the back. Underneath a random assortment of figurines and statuettes is some kind of keyboard. It looks “vintage”, but it’s unclear what it is. I assume it’s some sort of air organ. He removes the statuettes and places it on a table. It looks cool, but what is it?

There’s no way to test it. I don’t see a connection for a power cord, and there’s some sort of weird banana jack for audio. Playing it, I can faintly hear tines being struck, so maybe it’s some sort of electric piano? I’m reluctant: “How can we possibly bring it back?”. But Amy is persistent. The owner says that he has bubble wrap. “But what about our sightseeing plans?” Amy says not to worry about it, we’ll find a box to bring it on the plane. She has Platinum Status on Delta, which allows for a free checked item. But one of this size?

Back at the hotel, Amy calls Delta. The representative says that they have a 50 pound maximum for checked baggage. Rut roh. Not discouraged, she does further research. On the Delta website, they allow 165 pounds for musical instruments. “Phew”.

OK, off on our mission to find a way to transport the piano. We decide that a gig bag would be better than a box, to make it clear that it’s an “instrument” that we are checking. Next, we need to find a music store in Prague that has a gig bag that’s big enough. On a Sunday. Not an easy task, but we find one just on the outskirts of the city. And then to a mall where we can buy more packing materials. Well, that’s how we spent our “sightseeing” Sunday! The keyboard fits in the gig bag, and we fill it out with our clothes for extra padding. It’s now Sunday evening, and I’m determined to find any information at all about this mysterious instrument.

I’m trying all sorts of Google searches. “Eastern European Electric Pianos”, “Czech Electric Pianos”. Maybe it’s from Russia? East Germany? Nothing is coming up, not even on the definitive Simon’s Hall of Electric Pianos. Further Googling leads me to a website devoted to Czech keyboards. Finally! It’s a Klaviphon. And, wow, there are a lot of other cool Czech keyboards that I knew nothing about. I learn that Plastic People of The Universe used this instrument! Cool! In an interview with the keyboardist, Pepa Janicek, it says that his instrument was “bruised by a dog”. Huh? Google Translate in action. Another article with better translation says that a dog chewed the wires. Oh, OK. Makes more sense. There’s a nice Klaviphon close up from a pro-communist TV show, The Thirty Cases Of Major Zeman. The band is a faux hippie rock band intended to be a parody of the “Plastic People”. In the show, they are drug addicts that hijack a plane. Apparently based on a true story. Except that the plane was not hijacked by heroin-addicted psychedelic rock musicians.



I get further sidetracked reading about the Resonet, possibly one of the first electric pianos, invented in Czechoslovakia by Ladislav Korner. He was sentenced to 18 years for treason for trying to sell his patent to Canada and Australia. The story has a happy ending, as he ended up emigrating to the U.S. where, among other things, he designed groundbreaking technology for submarines (and custom work for Jacques Cousteau). It’s a fascinating story. If you’re interested, you can read more about it here and here. Side note: In the early days of the Beatles, George Harrison played a Resonet Futurama.

The next day, at the airport, the gig bag is checked without a problem. Thank you, Delta! And thanks to our super packing job, it arrives in perfect shape. A few days later, at my studio in Brooklyn, there’s still no way to test this piano. I run into my friend, Mike Buffington on Manhattan Avenue in Greenpoint. And because he restores vintage theremins, he has a cable that could work for the Klaviphon. Testing it out, we hear nothing but a loud hum. I call Steve Masucci. Steve has rescued and restored vintage Ondiolines. If there’s anyone that can revive this instrument, it’s Steve. He tells me that he’ll figure out a way to get it working. While working on the instrument, he finds all sorts of random parts, including sewing machine pins. I guess they didn’t have a lot to work with in the Eastern Bloc in the 60s. A few weeks later, Steve returns the Klaviphon to the studio. We plug it in, and it actually works! The sound? It’s a bit noisy, and it’s not going to replace a Rhodes or a Wurlitzer, but it sounds pretty cool. And it’s certainly a conversation piece. I’ll be so ready for the Plastic People Of The Universe tribute. Here’s a short improvisation using an Electro Harmonix 16 Second Delay.

TONTO Week: Malcolm Cecil, A Tribe Called Red, and The National Music Centre in Calgary

The Story of TONTO Published on Jan 22, 2014 National Music Centre

"The Original New Timbral Orchestra (TONTO), the world's largest analog synthesizer, has found a new home at the National Music Centre in Calgary, Alberta. This is the story of how TONTO went from a dream to a reality, and then found a new life and home at NMC."

Note the above video is from January 22, 2014. You should all be familiar with TONTO.

Update: It has come to my attention that John Leimseider has passed away. He was scheduled to give a TONTO Demonstration with Malcom Cecil on Nov. 17 per below. The demonstration will remain scheduled with Malcom Cecil, however the Synthesis 101 course on Nov. 14 has been canceled.

Details on the event:

TONTO Week puts "holy grail of synthesizers" in the spotlight from November 14-18

Week of activities to feature TONTO co-creator Malcolm Cecil, A Tribe Called Red, Phantom of the Paradise screening, and more

(Calgary, AB — September 13, 2018) After years of careful restoration, the National Music Centre (NMC) will commission one of the crown jewels of its music and technology collection, The Original New Timbral Orchestra (aka TONTO), during TONTO Week from November 14-18.

To commemorate this milestone, NMC will host a week of music programming timed to coincide with Alberta Electronic Music Conference (AEMCON), running concurrently at Studio Bell during TONTO Week. NMC Members receive discounted or free admission to all TONTO Week events (not including AEMCON conference passes), so purchase your membership online today at studiobell.ca/members. Individual tickets are available at nmc.ca/whats-on. AEMCON conference passes are available at albertaelectronicmusic.com.

Members of A Tribe Called Red will be the first musicians to create new music with the legendary synthesizer, and they’ll demo TONTO during a public workshop and incorporate the instrument into an evening Studio Bell After Hours set. “After seeing TONTO for the first time back in 2014, I knew that I had unfinished business at the National Music Centre,” said 2oolman of A Tribe Called Red. “I have been waiting patiently ever since to get my hands on that instrument.”

Malcolm Cecil, one of the co-creators of TONTO, will be in attendance to deliver demonstrations and lectures on the history of the instrument. NMC will also host a screening of the cult classic film, Phantom of the Paradise, in which TONTO appeared, and other activities associated with the instrument.

TONTO is one of the world’s largest analog synthesizers. Created by Malcom Cecil and Robert Margouleff in 1968, its creation marked the first attempt at making a universal language for different synthesizers to communicate with each other, which was a revolutionary achievement. Under the band name Tonto’s Expanding Head Band, Cecil and Margouleff released the highly influential album Zero Time. The album demonstrated the rich, layered sounds of the massive synthesizer and attracted significant attention.

Used on multiple Stevie Wonder and The Isley Brothers albums in the 1970s, TONTO helped shape albums by a long list of notable artists such as Minnie Riperton, Joan Baez, the Doobie Brothers, Quincy Jones, Randy Newman, Bobby Womack and more, and was prominently featured in Phantom of the Paradise.


“I needed to find a home for TONTO that would survive me and where it could be used,” said Malcolm Cecil after NMC acquired the instrument in 2013.

“We made a promise to Malcom to ensure that TONTO would be used again in the creation of new music and that its legacy would live on,” said Adam Fox, NMC’s Director of Programs. “It took several years to properly restore the instrument, and now it’s finally ready to enter its next chapter. We couldn’t be more excited to hear where NMC’s Artists in Residence take TONTO next.”


TONTO WEEK SCHEDULE

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MOOGFEST ANNOUNCES PROTEST STAGE PARTICIPANTS FOR FESTIVAL’S OPENING NIGHT

via moogfest

"Featuring Talib Kweli, Omar Souleyman, Mykki Blanco, BEARCAT, Pie Face Girls, MIT Open Doc Lab, NEW INC, Found Sound Nation, and Goldsmiths

The independent, annual, four-day festival will take place in
Durham, North Carolina from May 18-21, 2017.
This year marks its 11th iteration honoring the spirit of inventor Bob Moog.

$249 for 3-Day General Admission and $499 for 3-Day VIP

All prices exclusive of applicable fees.

March 21, 2017 - Moogfest will dedicate its main stage on opening night to exploring how creative technology tools and protest music can be used as instruments for change. This Protest stage will be led by local and international artists Talib Kweli, Omar Souleyman, Mykki Blanco, BEARCAT and Pie Face Girls, MIT Open Doc Lab, NEW INC, and app developers at Goldsmiths University. The diverse Protest stage program will include performances, talks, and participatory technology experiments. Moogfest invites all presenters and attendees to explore sonic resistance and emerging technology tools for counteraction while celebrating radical inclusivity and intersectionality. New technologies for educating, organizing, and art-making echo Moogfest’s rallying cry: Synthesize Love.

Protest comes in many forms, and no single genre can contain the musicians participating in Thursday’s program. Talib Kweli is a renowned recording artist, entrepreneur, and social activist who uses hip hop to educate, inspire and agitate. He is well known for his work combating racial stereotypes, the prison-industrial complex, and police brutality. Syrian artist-activist Omar Souleyman represents culturally diverse musical traditions that include Kurdish, Ashuris, Arabic, Turkish and Iraqi communities. Fearless noise rap poet and performance artist Mykki Blanco was raised in Raleigh, N.C., but has traveled the globe from art-world stomping grounds in New York to his current home in Los Angeles, spitting subversive rhymes on race and LGBT issues. British DJ/Producer BEARCAT makes politically-charged bass-heavy mixes and represents Discwoman, an esteemed collective showcasing cis women, trans women and genderqueer talent in electronic music. Raleigh-based band Pie Face Girls uses defiant punk music to promote a DIY ethos and attack issues like North Carolina’s HB2. Music is one of the oldest forms of protest, but each of these artists makes their causes urgent anew with the music and community they build.

Intermixed with the musical performances, technologists participating in the Moogfest Protest stage program will present recent and developing projects that empower and facilitate social action. Gan Golan and Ron Morrison of NEW INC present their countersurveillance armor for citizens, The Argus Project, a head-to-toe mobile suit embedded with cameras that allows the wearer and its audience of remote viewers to monitor and record environmental behaviour. Taeyoon Choi, also of NEW INC, presents a protest sign-making workshop, exploring signs as a poetic medium for social engagement in an inclusive space that promotes learning from people with differing views and priorities. Halsey Burgund of MIT Open Doc Lab and Joe Zobkiw present the Land Marking app, which captures the sounds of social movements around the world. During the festival, attendees are invited to contribute their voices or listen to the location-based mix of music and voices contributed by previous participants. Vivan Thi Tang, a postgraduate in the Graduate Entrepreneur program at Goldsmiths University in London, created a customized beta of her irlbb app for Moogfest 2017, that presents a unique opportunity for participants to connect with potential collaborators.

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