Mark Isham's Favorite Synths

What's my favorite synthesizer??? Oh boy... That's a tough one...
video upload by Mark Isham

About Mark via Wikipedia:

"Mark Ware Isham (born September 7, 1951) is an American musician and composer. A trumpeter and keyboardist, Isham works in a variety of genres, including jazz and electronic. He is also a prolific and acclaimed composer of film scores,[1][2] and has scored over 200 film and television productions since his debut in 1983.

Isham is a nine-time Grammy Award nominee, winning Best New Age Album for his 1990 self-titled album. He was nominated for an Academy Award for A River Runs Through It (1992), and a Golden Globe Award for Nell (1994). He has also been nominated for six Primetime Emmy Awards, winning Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music for EZ Streets."

https://isham.com

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

Press release follows:

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

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

June 7th Centennial activities at the museum include:

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

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

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

The ability to try out a variety of synths

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

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

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

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

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

Introducing FORCE 3.5 Beta - The Most Powerful Update Yet | Akai Pro

video upload by AkaiProVideo

"Akai FORCE 3.5 is here — and it’s the biggest update yet.

Download the free public beta & learn more: https://www.akaipro.com/force

💥 Limited-Time Offers:
Get the FORCE Plugin Bundle ($650 value) for just $99.99: https://www.thempcstore.com/mpc-instr...
Get the AIR Multiband Filterbank plugin FREE during the beta period: https://www.airmusictech.com/force-of...

In this exclusive walkthrough, electronic musician and YouTuber @GabeMillerMusic dives into all the powerful new features inside FORCE 3.5 — the most significant update to Akai’s standalone music production system since launch.

From plugin instruments and MPC stem separation to tempo automation, advanced arrangement tools, and Native Instruments plugin compatibility, Gabe shows you exactly how this update takes your standalone workflow to the next level — no computer required.

🎛️ What’s New in FORCE 3.5: https://www.akaipro.com/force-forcexu...

Plugin Instruments and Effects: FORCE now supports new plugin releases from AIR, Akai Pro, and Native Instruments (MPC Editions), offering seamless integration of professional-grade sounds directly within the standalone system—no external software required.

MPC Stems separations for sampling, remixing and mashups: Users can isolate vocals, drums, and music elements from tracks, ideal for sampling, remixing, and live performance creativity. (MPC Stems License Required)

Tempo automation, follow actions, and new arrangement tools: Advanced performance sequencing empowers users to create evolving arrangements and dynamic live sets with greater control.

MPC sequence import, advanced keygroup synthesis, and warp algorithm choice: Offers expanded compatibility and flexibility with MPC workflows, enhanced sound manipulation, and precise audio warping.

New modes: Main Mode, XL Channel Strip, Sounds Mode, and more: Upgrades navigation and workflow efficiency, giving users better visual control and faster access to instruments, tracks, and mix parameters.

Significant speed boosts including faster sample loading and expanded export options: Streamlines production by reducing load times and offering more ways to export stems and sessions efficiently.

Native Instruments Plugin and Expansions MPC Editions compatible with Force. Users can purchase - Analog Dreams, Cloud Supply, Nacht, Sway, Homage, Lone Forest, Faded Reels, Hazy Days, Rare Vibrations, Global Shake"

Talking Bass | “Dream Weaver” by Gary Wright

video upload by Anthony Marinelli Music

"Let's break down the iconic synthesizer bass sound from Gary Wright’s iconic song "Dream Weaver". I’ll show you exactly how to recreate that unique, "talking" bass tone that happens in one of the most memorable chorus sections in synth history. I’ll also dive into how to adjust the sustain portion of the bass sound, for the variation that happens in the bridge—it's subtle but makes a huge difference in the overall vibe.

I had the pleasure of working with Gary one unforgettable summer—collaborating on a song for a movie and a couple of tracks for one of his albums. He was not only a gifted singer and songwriter but also an incredibly innovative electronic musician. Gary had a special kind of energy that made every session inspiring. I’m honored to share a bit of that magic form this wonderful person with you today.

Let’s dive in and give this classic bass sound the spotlight it deserves."

ACID SYNTH - Our Homage To A Classic That Launched A Genre

video upload by The Crow Hill Company

Press release follows:

The Crow Hill Company creates VAULTS - ACID SYNTH as an homage to the revered Roland TB-303 Bass Line synth and associated Acid House genre

EDINBURGH, UK: music-making community tools-maker The Crow Hill Company is proud to announce availability of VAULTS - ACID SYNTH as the latest entry into its lengthening line of free and accessible virtual instruments arising from company co-founder and composer Christian Henson effectively opening his ‘vaults’ for everyone to enjoy — this time creating an homage to the revered Roland TB-303 Bass Line, launched with high hopes in 1981 as a so-called Computer Controlled bass synth by the Japanese giant of electronic musical instrument manufacturing responsible for its creation before being deemed a commercial failure and discontinued quite quickly thereafter, though it was later instrumental in driving Acid House into the musical mainstream as a whole new EDM (Electronic Dance Music) genre and associated cultural movement, the popularity of which triggered a dramatic rise in the price of used units — as of March 19…

It is fair to say that when Roland released its TB-303 Bass Line in 1981 as a so-called Computer Controlled bass synth with the intention of mimicking the characteristics of an electric bass guitar, there were far fewer tools to create electronic music available. But buyers of the TB-303 Bass Line were possibly swayed by the fact that it could be time-synced — using Roland’s proprietary five-pin DIN sync interface (later superseded by MIDI) — to its contemporarily-released Computer Controlled sibling, the TR-606 Drumatix drum machine, making for an affordable rhythm section that could conceivably fit into a small briefcase as a beautiful backing combination for the solo gigging musician, further helped by both devices being battery operated as an attractive alternative to their (included) AC adapters… or so Roland had hoped.

Though the engineers involved tried their best to imitate the sound of an electric bass guitar with the technology of the time, the TB-303 Bass Line fell short in capturing its subtleties as an instrument, sadly, so it was discontinued within a couple of years, with Roland cheaply selling off the last of the 10,000 units manufactured. Now, normally this would be the end of the story, yet something incredible happened…

Helpfully, for the benefit of anyone not already in the know, The Crow Hill Company’s Theo Le Derf picks up what is an incredible story in itself: “DJ Pierre and his band called Phuture found a used TB-303 in a music shop in Chicago for a bargain price. They started experimenting with the bass sequencer and a drum machine while playing about randomly with the filter and resonance knobs. The sound they produced was so unique and, frankly, weird that they decided to commit the jam session to tape. With the release of this experiment on Trax Records in 1987, they unwittingly birthed a new genre: Acid House. This slimy, hypnotic, subversive sound subsequently built a cultural movement, and was the soundtrack to many illegal warehouse parties of the late Eighties — all of this from a tiny synth that was used ‘incorrectly’.”

Thanks to VAULTS - ACID SYNTH’s GUI (Graphical User Interface) being as intuitive as always, correct — or ‘incorrect’ — usage of the virtual instrument in question comes quickly. “The first large dial — CUT OFF — is a 24dB lowpass filter that controls what high frequencies you cut out, and it is automatically assigned to MIDI CC1.” So starts Theo Le Derf by way of an appropriately quick guided tour, before continuing: “RESONANCE determines the peak of the filter as it opens and closes, which creates that characteristically ‘squelchy’ sound that the synth is known for. The small dials are more concentrated effects — MOD controls how much voltage is being sent to the filter, so you can get some really interesting sounds by adjusting the CUT OFF dial and MOD simultaneously; DECAY controls the decay for all the envelopes; and, of course, there is also our standard ECHO and SPLOSH, with the SPLOSH being an algorithmic imitation of a cave, which suits this synth so brilliantly.”

It is as easy as that, though Theo Le Derf is keen to add: “Another thing to mention is that you can obviously play staccato, but when you play legato — MIDI notes overlapping with one another, you get a glide between the notes. This glide effect is another characteristic that the ’303 is renowned for.”

No need, necessarily, then, to risk dropping a bank-balance-busting four-figure sum on a decades-old Roland TB-303 Bass Line when The Crow Hill Company’s ‘tribute’ truly captures the essence of its distinctive sound for all to enjoy for literally nothing. Notes Theo Le Derf, ending on a high note: “The story arc of this synth is so amazing — from its unpromising beginning to completely defining a genre and an era, it’s so
exciting to have this celebrated instrument at my fingertips for free!”

VAULTS - ACID SYNTH is free for everyone — as are all VAULTS… releases from The Crow Hill Company — from here: https://thecrowhillcompany.com/vaults/

Todd Barton: a conversation about Buchla, Serge, modular and more

video upload by CatSynth TV

"We present a lively and in-depth conversation with Todd Barton, "sonic adventurer, composer, educator and performer of abstract, freely improvised electronic music specializing in Buchla, Serge and Hordijk instruments." We discuss his connections to these instruments developed to become central to his music, and sharing his knowledge and experience with others through his popular YouTube and Instagram channels and private lessons. We also touch on a few encounters including the Serge anniversary show in San Francisco, the launch of the Buchla Red Panel series at NAMM, and most recently, his duet with Suzanne Ciani at Buchla & Friends 2025 in Los Angeles.

To find out more about Todd Barton and his work, please visit his website: https://www.toddbarton.com/

00:00 Introduction
00:48 Todd Barton as sonic adventurer and musician in multiple worlds
03:20 Serge, Buchla and Hordijk
08:52 Barton's long relationship with Buchla instruments
13:32 The Buchla Red Panel series, and other 100-series re-creations
18:07 The myriad possibilities of the Serge Dual Universal Slope Generator
21:15 YouTube and Instagram demos and private lessons for modular synthesis
29:48 Performing with Suzanne Ciani at Buchla & Friends 2025
33:55 Community and the future of making music with signals
36:17 Conclusion

Our highlight video from Suzanne Ciani and Todd Barton duo at Buchla & Friends:
[ • Suzanne Ciani and Todd Barton live pe...] [posted here] ( • Suzanne Ciani and Todd Barton live pe... ) [posted here]

Our demo and tutorial on the Buchla Red Panel 158 and 156m
• Buchla Red Panel 158 and 156M: Demo a... [posted here]

________
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"

Crumar Steiner EVI Electronic Valve Instrument SN E1 / 00279

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

via this listing

"A Crumar Steiner EVI in the original case. The item came available from the family. As I am not a musician, I cannot test the product. Therefore, the product is ‘sold as described’ / bought in the condition as you can see from the pictures. I see that one of the buttons is missing, I am aware that the mouth piece is also missing And I believe the paint on parts of device was black in the past. Therefore I labelled the condition as ‘fair’. At the same time, the Crumar Steiner remains a rare item and is one remarkable piece from history."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Roland TR-707 Rhythm Composer

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

via this listing

Additional SYNTH CITY Listings

"Like a small handful of other sample based drum machines of the mid 1980s, the Roland TR-707 is a punchy beatbox which still has a home in an electronic musician's toolkit. The sounds all sit wonderfully in a mix to this day, and the individual outputs make this a great machine for the most particular of producers.

This example of the 707 is in great shape, fully functional, and comes with the original manuals and power supply."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Details on XILS-lab's The Eighty

You might remember the teaser video and announcement video.

The press release with additional details follows:

XILS-lab launches The Eighty as virtual Vangelis soundalike homage to iconic Seventies synth classic, faithful to the original and enhanced for the future

GRENOBLE, FRANCE: XILS-lab is proud to launch The Eighty — effectively acting as a virtual Vangelis soundalike homage to an iconic Seventies-vintage synth classic that the Academy Award-winning Greek musician, composer, and producer of electronic, progressive, ambient, and classical orchestral music made into his signature sound, thanks to its exceptionally complete performer expression features (such as a layered keyboard that was both velocity- and pressure-sensitive in action, albeit, unlike most keyboards of the time, that aftertouch could be applied to individual voices, and a ribbon controller allowing for polyphonic pitch- bends and glissandos), faithful to the original and enhanced for the future as the latest entry into the audio software company’s lengthening lineup of virtual instruments par excellence — as of January 14…

It is fair to say that Bladerunner — the now-classic Ridley Scott-directed sci-fi film from 1982 set in a dystopian future Los Angeles of 2019 — is, for many, inextricably linked with Vangelis’ BAFTA- and Golden Globe-nominated score, showcasing his superlative skills with that iconic Seventies-vintage synth classic that was arguably as ahead of its time as that trailblazing score to which its sound subsequently became inextricably linked in itself. Much missed, Vangelis left this mortal coil in 2022, sadly, while the relatively few remaining fully operational examples of Yamaha’s CS-80 synth — supporting true eight-voice polyphony, with two independent synthesizer layers per voice each with its own set of front panel controls, in addition to a number of hardwired preset voice settings and four parameter settings stores based on banks of subminiature potentiometers — that musically meant so much to him are highly coveted by high-flying collectors, commanding eye-watering prices extending into high five-figure territory, putting them well beyond the reach of mere musical mortals... not that many could comfortably carry one anyway as they weigh in at a back-breaking 100kg/220lbs (including built-in hard case), regardless of how deep their pockets may well be!

CLICK FOR MORE »

Introducing LSe - A Light-Controlled Instrument for Live Electronic Music

video uploads by Ctrl Freq



‘LSe’ (short for Light-Sequencer) is an innovative, award-winning instrument and performance system, specifically designed for live electronic music performance and interaction. More than a decade of research and practice has gone into this project, culminating in the recently completed third version.

In essence, ‘LSe’ allows the creation of sequences of light that control, structure, and interact with various sound parameters. One of the main inspirations for this project was addressing the issue of 'liveness' in electronic music performances. How can the audience know if a performance is truly live? How can they relate to the musician’s actions on stage? With ‘LSe’, every sound is created and manipulated live through various light sources, forging a direct connection between the visual and sonic realms and making the experience more tangible for the audience.

A picture may be worth a thousand words, but a moving image is worth a million - especially for new musical instruments and technologies that are difficult to convey through text alone.

LSe was designed with live electronic music performance in mind. It aims to create a unique aura that can only be experienced during the event. The system works best in complete darkness, as it is light-sensitive, making it particularly camera-shy. Despite these challenges, video documentation is essential for showcasing the project.

‘LSe’ - Technical Details

‘LSe' has been my primary performance instrument since 2016, undergoing several revisions. Here are the technical details for the most recent version (3.14):

‘LSe’ - Technical Details

‘LSe' has been my primary performance instrument since 2016, undergoing several
revisions. Here are the technical details for the most recent version (3.14):


Core Components:
• Built with Raspberry Pi, Pure Data, and Arduino
• Consists of three parts: Sensor Panel, Light Sequencer, and Control Panel
• Sensor Panel: Contains 32 light-dependent resistors for sound control
• Light Sequencer: Features 8 RGB Smart LEDs that can work together or independently, supporting everything from simple monophonic sequences to complex polyrhythms
• Control Panel: Divided into four sections:
• Mix Control,
• FX Control,
• Sound Control,
• Sequencer Control

Other Features:
• Full Duplex High-Quality Audio (input and output) with an Audio Injector sound card
• Ableton Link integration for WiFi or Ethernet synchronization with external gear
• Six Sequencer Modes with sub-modes (15 in total)
• Polyphony: Mono to 32 simultaneous voices
• Five Sound Generators:
• Two synthesis-based (additive harmonic series, subtractive 3rd-octave filter)
• Two sample-based (granular time-stretch, looper)
• One resonant ping filter with scale selection (classic, experimental, microtuning, etc.)
• External Audio Input Channel
• Five Sound Effects Channels per generator and external audio:
• LCD: Light-Controlled Delay with dedicated LFO
• LCF: Light-Controlled Variable State Filter with dedicated LFO
• LCAM: Light-Controlled Amplitude Modulation/Distortion with

dedicated LFO
• LCFM: Light-Controlled Frequency Modulation with dedicated LFO
• LCGV: Light-Controlled Granular Reverb
• Light-Controlled Gate available for selected audio generators
• ‘No Screen’ approach, encouraging listening and playing by ear rather than relying on visual interfaces

https://ctrlfreq.wordpress.com

Emulator II 40th Anniversary | Podcast

video upload by Sound On Sound magazine

"In celebration of the 40th anniversary of the groundbreaking E-mu Systems Emulator II sampler, Dave Rossum, Kevin Monahan and Paul Wiffen share inside stories of the development and manufacture of the instrument, their struggles to get around the technological limitations of the time and how the instrument was widely adopted by bands, artists and pop culture.

Chapters
00:00 - Introduction
01:50 - The Origins Of The Emulator
03:59 - The E-mu Name
04:57 - Kevin's Background
08:09 - Paul's Background
11:19 - The Motivation For Creating Emulator II
16:26 - Specific Challenges
25:19 - The Challenges Of Adding Hard Drives
30:35 - How Did The Iconic Industrial Design Come About?
35:11 - Having Two Disc Drives
38:22 - How Artists Responded To The Emulator II
46:46 - Using Sampling To Create Novelty Sounds
56:08 - Kevin's Contribution To Ferris Bueller's Day Off
57:37 - The Legacy Of The Emulator II And Sampling

CLICK FOR MORE »

Sonic Artefacts Introduces the Sonic Chessboard DIY Kit: Compose like John Cage!

video upload by Sonic Artefacts

"Play chess and compose music, at the same time! This Sonic Chessboard is a passive Optical Octophonic Audio Panner / light sensitive "chessboard", based on the design by Lowell Cross for John Cage's and Marcel Duchamps' musical chess performance Reunion (1968). It routes 16 audio signals via the 64 light dependent resistors to 8 separate audio outputs. Cover the squares on the board with chess pieces or your hands to make sounds roll through a room and add to the spatial distribution of all the different inputs. Best to be played with a strong bright light mounted on the ceiling above the chessboard.

Limited edition DIY Kit, available at: https://sonicartefacts.com/product/so... & https://patch-point.com/collections/s...

The materials were originally made in small series for Wouter Jaspers' installative sound performance "Indeterminate Structures (2023). Big thanks to ‪@Hainbach‬ for playing chess with me and ‪@Sonoscopia‬ for the original sound installation and of course to the great folks of ‪@patchpoint4043‬ for hosting us!"

Press release follows:

Berlin, Germany – Sonic Artefacts is excited to announce the release of the Sonic Chessboard, a unique DIY musical instrument that merges the worlds of chess and sound. Inspired by Lowell Cross’ design for John Cage’s Reunion (1968), the Sonic Chessboard offers a captivating way to create spatial sound experiences.

The Sonic Chessboard is a passive Optical Octophonic Audio Panner that routes 16 audio signals via 64 light-dependent resistors embedded in the squares to 8 separate audio outputs, changing the volume when a chess piece gets moved from one square to another. By strategically placing chess pieces on the board, users can control the volume and flow of sound, creating dynamic and immersive soundscapes.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Richard Nicol - Together Ever Since Film From The Album Structured Waves

video upload by Pittsburgh Modular Synthesizers

"Together Ever Since Music and Film by Richard Nicol. The song is taken from the 2024 album Structured Waves. Structured Waves is available on Richard's Bandcamp.
https://richardnicol.bandcamp.com

Richard Nicol is an electronic musician and founder of Pittsburgh Modular Synthesizers. The Voltage Lab 2, Taiga Keyboard, Cre8audio East Beast, and an unannounced drum machine were used in the recording of this track."

SERGE Medusa Comes to Eurorack

video upload by Serge Modular | Random*Source

"Teo takes the Medusa for Eurorack for a (long) spin, here's the full recording used for the IG teaser ... #sergemodular"

Press release follows:

Introducing the Serge MEDUSA Subharmonic Oscillator for Eurorack: Unleashing New Depths in Modular Synthesis

Frankfurt, 1 November 2024 — Serge Modular proudly announces the launch of the Serge Medusa Subharmonic Oscillator for the Eurorack modular synthesizer format. This groundbreaking module designed by Serge Tcherepnin brings orchestral clusters, coveted undertones and rich harmonic complexity to the Eurorack format.

A Revolution in Sound Design

The Subharmonic Oscillator is one of Serge’s latest inventions and one of his most extraordinary designs. 7 accurate analog VCOs tied at the waist—in unison, yet their frequencies can open like a fan, creating complex clusters. Each voice generates a pulse wave. It is temperature compensated and follows exceptional 1V/Octave tracking. 
In addition, each voice provides (voltage controlled) pulse width modulation or subharmonic division as well as an individual output. By producing mathematically related lower frequencies, it enables the creation of complex and evolving soundscapes that were previously difficult to achieve within the Eurorack environment.
The precision of these voices in combination with a global Spread control and various FM inputs opens an enormous sonic range from massive unisono sounds to dissonant, orchestra-style textures. The ODD and EVEN outputs enable the use as a stereo oscillator.

Key Features:

• Original Serge 2023 design
• 100% analog
• Seven simultaneous subharmonic VCOs with individual Outputs, PWM and variable divisions
• Wide Range Frequency Control: Precisely dial in frequencies from deep bass to soaring highs, all synchronized to the master oscillator.
• Voltage-Controlled Parameters: Extensive CV inputs allow for modulation of pulse width and frequency divisions, enabling expressive performance potential.
• Odd and Even outputs for independent processing / Stereo use.
• Global Spread Control (manual and VC)
• Linear and Exponential FM
• Eurorack format (3U), 42 hp
• Power consumption: 220mA @ +12V, 200mA @ -12V
• Skiff-friendly: depth less than 25mm (1")

“This is my version of a cluster generator. Clusters are part of the contemporary music arsenal of effects. The Subharmonic Oscillator has a total, tracking, V/octave range that is the same as all our VCOs, however, it outputs only pulse waves. Pulse-width operates from instantaneous -> square wave > 1st sub-harmonic > 2nd sub-harmonic ...> Nth sub-harmonic. You guessed it, this is one VCO that sounds like a symphony orchestra playing Atmosphères by György Ligeti.”
Serge Tcherepnin, 18 October 2023

Unmatched Versatility

Designed for both traditional musicians and experimental artists, the Serge Subharmonic Oscillator excels in a variety of applications:

• Bass Enhancement: Generate powerful sub-bass frequencies to add weight to your mixes.
• Polyphonic Textures: Create rich, chord-like structures from a single note input.
• Rhythmic Modulation: Utilize subharmonics to produce complex rhythmic patterns and sequences.
• Sound Exploration: Dive into uncharted sonic territories with modulations and cross-patching.

Availability

The Serge Subharmonic Oscillator will be available starting November 1st, 2024 through Serge Modular / Random*Source and authorized dealers worldwide.

The Story behind Medusa

“I was sitting on a bench recovering from a bike ride at the edge of Fontainebleau forest, when a swarm of crows - some 30-40 of them, suddenly erupted in the sky above the large forest trees facing me.  They swirled in a large arc, emitting a few caws-caws, disappearing and reappearing wildly in the sky in front of me.  
And here is what this made me realize about my electronics: Drones have been part of my musical consciousness from the very beginning, thanks to LaMonte Young and the many examples of drones in Indian classical music.  One of my first electronic circuits was a 3 oscillator 9V operated shruti box. Maryanne Amacher, Eliane Radigue, Charlemagne Palestine, are drone masters I helped and fostered.  Charlemagne still uses the console of ultra stable drone oscillators that I designed for him more than 50 years ago.   
Drones and clusters, in fact.  Clusters, thanks to the marvelous composer Henry Cowell who coined the word for music. The fruit of all this, was me deciding on designing electronics for the creation of drones and clusters.   MEDUSA is the result of this project.

But what do a swarm of crows swirling in the sky above a forest have to do with drones and clusters??

EVERYTHING

MEDUSA is the perfect module for letting fly a swarm of semi independent musical notes, swirling in and out of unison, clusters, or chords, capable to scaling the entire range of frequencies, from sub-sonic to inaudible. MEDUSA gives wings to drones :)”

About Serge Modular
Serge Tcherepnin is an American composer, musician and electronic mastermind of Russian and Chinese descent who grew up in France and in Chicago. In 1970 he joined the music faculty at Cal-Arts where he developed the idea and design of the first “Serge” modules. He founded his company, Serge Modular Music Systems, in Hollywood, in 1975.
Random*Source was founded by Ralf Hoffmann in 2015 with a mission to carry on and extend the work of synth pioneers Serge Tcherepnin and Jürgen Haible. Since the beginning Random*Source has been working in close cooperation with Serge on a new generation of the Serge system. In 2018 Serge became Chief Innovation Officer and is leading the development under the Serge Modular brand.

J3PO King Korg Neo Presets -- Official Sounds Demo

video upload by J3PO

"You can purchase the preset pack here:
https://www.julianpollack.com/shop
The introductory price is $29.

All FX (chorus, reverbs, delays, etc.) are coming from within the patches themselves i.e. there's no other external processing on this demo save for some slight light leveling/compression for the purpose of uploading to YouTube.

The King Korg Neo is an unexpected gem, challenging assumptions about what a compact, portable, digital synth can be. Its sound is both vibrant and complex, weaving warm, analog-like textures with modern digital tones that feel raw yet polished. With a bold 24-voice polyphony and versatile oscillators, the King Korg Neo manages to feel timeless and forward-looking, carrying an unmistakable authenticity.

I also have patches available for the Prophet Rev 2, Prophet 6, OB-6, OB-X8, Prophet 5/10, Softube Model 84, Model 72, Arturia OB-Xa, Arturia Stage-73 and many others. If you're a Nord Stage 3 user, download my bank from the Nord Keyboards website. I have a sample pack, "J3PO x The Ox" (hip hop and soul keyboard and drum loops) available on Splice.

About the sound designer: Julian “J3PO” Pollack is a Los Angeles-based pianist/keyboardist and producer described by Timeout New York as a musician who “deftly balances virtuosity with tenderness.” Julian is known for his innovative use of keyboards and synthesizers in jazz, fusion, hip-hop, and electronic styles of music. Julian has toured extensively with the legendary artists Marcus Miller and Chris Botti, as well as performing with greats such as Herbie Hancock, Talib Kweli, David Sanborn, Michael League, Eric Harland, and others. Julian has worked closely as a sound designer with keyboard/synth companies Nord Keyboards, Sequential, and Oberheim, and has created factory presets for the Prophet 5, the Oberheim OB-X8, Take 5, Nord Stage 3, Nord Wave 2, and many others. In addition to these hardware keyboard companies, Julian also has done sound design for Universal Audio, Softube, and Cherry Audio.

Currently, Julian works exclusively with Spectrasonics in Pasadena, California."

HAINBACH & JORANALOGUE Introduce COLLIDE 4 - The Sonic Power Of Nuclear Test Equipment

video upload by HAINBACH

"I teamed up with Belgian Eurorack module manufacturer Joranalogue to solve one of the biggest problem I had with my wall of test equipment: I could use it in the studio, but not play it live. It is just too heavy and fragile, being about 50 years. So that part of my music remained unperformed. With our new module Collide 4 I and everyone else can now take the wonderful textures and sonic possibilities of nuclear research equipment on the road.

It is based on a lock-in amplifier, a tool made to sniff out tiny fluctuations of a frequency in vast amount of noise. But Joran took the concept further and added a frequency shifter. It is module with vast possibilities, and I can only give you a small overview and intro in this video. Check out Collide 4 at your trusted modular dealer in person now."

User videos:



Playlist:
1. FANTASTIC FILTH from COLLIDE 4 (Joranalogue & Hainbach) // my first patch + your questions! - DivKid
2. Joranalogue Audio Design X HAINBACH / COLLIDE 4 / first experiments / a lot of 'aha' moments - BRiES
3. Joranalogue Audio Design x Hainbach / COLLIDE 4 / dissonance and drones / JUST SOUND SERIES (1/4)
4. Joranalogue Audio Design x Hainbach / COLLIDE 4 / music and melodies / JUST SOUND SERIES (2/4)
5. Joranalogue Audio Design x Hainbach / COLLIDE 4 / slew, ringmod, cv / JUST SOUND SERIES (3/4)
6. Joranalogue Audio Design x Hainbach / COLLIDE 4 / audio processing / JUST SOUND SERIES (4/4)



The origins of electronic music are found within the early works of a small group of forward-thinking mid-century composers, harnessing electronic test gear to create strange new sounds. Building upon this heritage, today everything comes full circle again through Collide 4.

The first hardware release to be co-developed by acclaimed musician and YouTube sensation Hainbach, Collide 4 builds upon the lock-in amplifier concept, and brings it into the Eurorack world. These atomic age physics research instruments are known for their raw power when used in musical applications. Now, any synthesist can experience this for themselves, at a fraction of the size and weight of a vintage unit, and with full voltage control.

The result is a wholly new kind of analogue synth voice and audio processor, with capabilities far beyond what the avant-garde pioneers could have imagined. Collide 4 is an expression of Hainbach's extensive experience in exploring the deepest musical realms contained within vintage test equipment, and the Joranalogue philosophy of electronic instrument design.

Honouring its innovative dual-phase architecture, this new kind of musical generator and processor has been christened the ‘quadrature spectral computer’. The sound? Quite simply: it's smashing!

Modern, fully analogue Eurorack format re-imagining of the lock-in amplifier concept, expanded to new heights.
Pingable variable bandwidth filter with self-oscillation capability.
Pre- and post-filter gain stages, for a total of up to 130 dB of amplification!
Through-zero sine/cosine quadrature oscillator.
Hilbert transform network for frequency shifter use.
Dual ring modulators with output lowpass filters.
Extensive output section, including magnitude and phase analogue computing outputs.
Unique X/Y quadrature topology, ideal for stereo use.
Handsome (and useful) signal level/overload LED indicator.
CV control over everything, with temperature compensation and excellent volt/octave pitch tracking.
20 HP, 30 mm deep. Over 600 components, yet a fraction of the weight and size of a vintage Model 124A lock-in amplifier unit.
Impedance-compensated outputs with dual-colour LEDs.
Trim potentiometers accessible from the front panel.
Precision-milled 2 mm anodised aluminium front panel with high-resolution, non-erasable graphics.
Bullet-proof design: polarised power header and MOSFET protection circuit.
Includes 16-to-10-pin Eurorack power ribbon cable.
Premium mounting hardware: black screws, black nylon washers and matching hex key.
Supplied with fold-out signal flow and front panel diagram.
High-quality components and assembly; designed and made in Belgium.

Check with dealers on the right for availability.

Kawai R-50 III 🔥 Rare Industrial Drum Machine Only Released in Japan

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

"'I had never seen an R50 version III before.' - Jim Atwood, Professional Musician and Synth Tech in Japan.

If you go to Kawai's website you'll see there's no official mention of this drum machine ever existing. I thought for the longest time the rare Japanese-only release of the R-50 was a myth. In fact the only consistent comment you'll hear about this drum machine is that it's rare.

Now it's here at Vulture Studios!

The R-50 iii has all three eproms released for the Kawai R series of drum machines (R-100, R-50, R-50e) in one unit without the need to mod it to change the eprom sounds.

Common wisdom is that basically all the old Wax Trax industrial records from bands like Ministry, Front 242, Front Line Assembly and KMFDM used the Kawai R-50e drum samples, they have that classic industrial 12-bit sound.

In this video, we take a look at the Kawai R-50 III drum machine - a classic piece of electronic music hardware that has been used on countless records across a range of genres. We'll explore the features and functionality of the R-50 III, and delve into the history of this iconic instrument.

First, we'll give a brief overview of the R-50 III's capabilities and take a tour of the interface. We'll demonstrate how to create beats using the machine's 48 onboard drum sounds and explore its editing capabilities, including step sequencing and pattern chaining. We'll also showcase some of the R-50 III's unique features, such as its ability to adjust the tone and decay of each individual sound.

Next, we'll dive into the history of the R-50 III, tracing its origins back to the early 1980s when Kawai first began producing drum machines. We'll explore the evolution of the R-50 series and examine how the R-50 III differs from its predecessors, the R-50 and R-50e.

Along the way, we'll touch on some of the notable artists and genres that have utilized the R-50 III in their music, from 80s synth-pop to 90s hip-hop to modern-day techno. We'll also discuss the impact that the R-50 III has had on electronic music production and how it continues to influence musicians today.

Whether you're a seasoned pro or a newcomer to the world of drum machines, this video is sure to provide valuable insights and inspiration. So sit back, relax, and join us on a journey through the history of the Kawai R-50 III."

via this listing

Note this appears to be the first post to feature pics of the R50 III. It was featured in a couple of sample packs by Goldbaby featured in previous posts here.

I found Vulture Culture's video above doing a quick search on YouTube.

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Introducing Bryn Bliska Sound Bank for Nord Stage 4

video upload by nordkeyboards

"We are excited to introduce a brand new signature sound bank for Nord Stage 4 designed by LA-based keyboardist/producer Bryn Bliska! This exclusive sound collection includes evolving synths, electronic soundscapes, stunning prepared pianos, vintage synth brass and much more. Download for free at nordkeyboards.com. #brynbliska #nordstage4 #signaturesoundbank #iseenord

00:00 Introduction
2:52 Arp City
4:08 Brass Funk Layer
5:04 Dance Comp
5:55 Ambient Felt
7:28 Wannabe Guit
8:14 Muted Dance
10:14 Choir Swoop

Bryn Bliska is a LA-based musician, composer, producer, and MD. Bryn is currently co-Music Director and keyboardist for Maggie Rogers, and frequently collaborates with artists & producers across many genres, including Jacob Collier, Karol G, Olivia Rodrigo, Rozzi, Lawrence and many more.

Keys: Bryn Bliska
Drums: Max Jaffe
Audio Engineer: Sam Brawner
Mixing/Mastering: Sam Brawner
Video production: Ricky Chavez / Bucket's Moving Company
Video editing: Jonas Embring
Executive Producer: David Sjöqvist
Location: Blue Dream Studios, Los Angeles

Follow Bryn Bliska:
Instagram: / brynbliska
Artist page: https://www.nordkeyboards.com/artists..."

John Chowning, Computer Music, DX7 & FM Discovery

video upload by Anthony Marinelli Music

"It was an honor for me to interview John Chowning who is directly responsible for the way we create music today in every genre! His visionary ideas have profoundly shaped contemporary music creation, including the integration of computers, AI, digital synthesis, sound sharing, and surround sound.

He stands as a monumental figure in 21st-century music, renowned for his pioneering contributions as a composer, musician, and educator. As the founding director of the Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA) at Stanford University, Chowning made groundbreaking strides in the field. His historic discovery of FM synthesis not only became one of Stanford’s most valuable patents but also paved the way for Yamaha’s DX7 synthesizer through their licensing of FM sound synthesis technology.

Another important aspect of Chowning's work is the simulated motion of sound through physical space creating an illusion of a continuous 360-degree space using only four speakers. John’s boundless curiosity and groundbreaking achievements have established him as a bright shining beacon of inspiration for musicians everywhere.

00:00 - Cold Open
00:42 - intro
02:27 - Read to Discovery
06:15 - Stanford & Early Electronic Music
14:26 - Discovering FM Synthesis
19:25 - The FM Enlightenment
23:14 - Yamaha DX7
31:09 - Synclavier VS Yamaha
36:02 - FM Made Simple
43:04 - The Power of Timbre
51:09 - Where are we now?"

Jen Pianotone Synthesizer Keyboard J-300B SN 11037

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

via this listing

This appears to be the first one to be featured on the site. Note the listing states it is currently in non-working condition.

"This 1970s Pianotone Synthesizer Keyboard J-300B is a rare find for any vintage music enthusiast. Made in Italy, it is a unique piece of musical history that has been well-maintained and comes with a case, pedal, and cord. The keyboard is perfect for those who want to add a touch of vintage sound to their music.

The brand, Pianotone, is known for producing high-quality electronic keyboards, and this model, J-300B, is no exception. With its vintage design and sound, it is sure to inspire any musician. This keyboard is ideal for those who want to explore the world of electronic music and create unique sounds.UNTESTED. I am not an expert in this, when connected to electricity the button lights up, but the keys do not make any sounds, it may need to be connected to a speaker. The fuse may need to be replaced. There is no damage upon visual inspection. You can pick up - location : 07840, NJ"

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