Sound Is Colour – Finally a Synth for Musicians, not Engineers (Abyss II)

video upload by DAWESOME MUSIC

[Alternative ways of interfacing with a synth engines]

"'Klangfarbe' is not a metaphor, it is how our brains perceive sound. But if sound is colour, then why are most synths built like lab equipment?

Abyss II is built on a simple yet radical premise: a synth designed around how we actually experience sound. It keeps you in the flow rather than forcing you into abstract formulas. Just play with colours, as you would mess with paint.

TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 Sound is Colour
0:12 How Brains Perceive Sound
0:28 Synths = Lab Equipment?
0:45 Abyss II First Impression
1:05 Patch in 60 Seconds
2:05 E-Pianos & Variations
3:01 Handpan Sample to Preset
3:40 Pad in 30 Seconds
4:12 Sequencer Demo
4:30 Palettes from Samples
4:55 Full Track (25 Instances)

All sounds in the video are created using Abyss.
The track 'Stare in2 the Abyss' was made by Rich.

Abyss II will be released August 20th, 2026
https://www.dawesomemusic.com/"

SynthFest France 2026 | Official Aftermovie #NextLevelEdition

video upload by SynthFest France

SynthFest France 2026 was held April 17–19. You can find coverage via the SynthFest France label.

"► Thank You 101 Music | 3IS Education | A2D Sounds | ACE | Age Music Belgium | Akai Pro | Alex Nadzharov | Algae | Ambient Memory | Anasounds | Artists & Relationships | Arturia | ASM | Audeze | B4 Distribution | Baloran | Down the Patches | BEATSURFING | Benoit Widemann | BF Synth | BLEASS | Bitwig Studio | Bjooks | Bll Instruments | Charlotte Dubois | Calm | CIYLab | Heart of Sound | Collision Devices | CSFI | cyma form | DAWless Tools | Drift DJ | EmbodMe | Enjoy Electronics | Entropy & Sons | Eowave | Ewen d'Aviau | Euterpe | Expressive E | Erica Synth | FCPro Audio | France MAO | Frap Tools | Fred's Lab | Fulgur Synthesizer | Forge-TME | Glou-Glou | Haken Audio | Hainbach | Heritage Synthetizers | Hell Modular | HLABS | ITEMM | Ingmar Koch | JC Digital | Diary | Kaona | Kiviak Instruments | Kodamo | KORG | KA pro | KR magazine | L1V3 | Lagoon | The Voice Of The Luthier | Larix-Electro | Leaf Audio | Liquid Sky | Macbeth | MidiBen | Morphor | Musical Entropy | Mvk Synth | Nanopolis | North | Novation | NRSynth | Oberheim | Orbiton | Ohmforce | Paulee Alex Bow | PWM | ph-modular | Polytek | PPG | Pural Modular Synthesizer | Project Home Studio | Pylobolus | RBaudio | Ryme music | Travel Piano | Sequential | SACEM | SACEM University | Schneidersladen | Sonicware | Sp3ctra_ | SSL | Studiologic | Synclavier Music | Silence | SyntTesla | SynthAnatomy | SynthFood | SyntheGrall | SynthR | Synthstrom Audible | Teenage Engineering | Theater of the Fleuriaye | Thingstone | Theresyn | Things | Tom Geffray | Tony T-Steel | TouellSkouarn | UNAC | City of Carquefou | Vintage Synths & CO | Wee Noise Makers | Yamaha | Waldorf Music | Wavesequencer | Woodbrass | Usynth.

► Directed by Maxime Bichon, pictured by Maxime Bichon, Thibaut Charbonnier, with the participation of Gaspard Rouaud, Eva Buffa, Eva Bone Leloup, Penelope Galtier.

► Music ATOEM - Erase Mode, Deep Forest - Ghostly Disco, Dogs & Cables - Shallow Brains, Charlotte Dubois - The Electric Hands, Hainbach - Live from SynthFest 2026 - All rights reserved.

► Acknowledgments to Pierre-Jean Tardiveau / Syntesla and Hans Zimmer.

► Special thanks to all the benefactors, the technical team of the La Fleuriaye de Carquefou Convention Center and the visitors."

SUPERBOOTH 2026 WAS MENTAL

video upload by Gray Contrast

"2 hours through FEZ Berlin on the final day of Superbooth 2026. Synths, controllers, AI tools, quick conversations, a few things nobody has on YouTube yet — and Loopy Pro live in the wild."

0:00 Intro
0:56 Neuzeit Instruments — https://www.neuzeit-instruments.com w/ / jan0ritter
6:05 Dato Musical Instruments — https://dato.mu
8:34 True Cuckoo Interview — https://www.truecuckoo.com
10:44 Roland Future Design Lab – Tone Explorer — https://articles.roland.com/tone-expl...
16:15 Roland Future Design Lab – Project LYDIA — https://articles.roland.com/introduci...
23:53 True Cuckoo Live Gig — / truecuckoo
24:09 BoBeats on the Circuits — / @bobeats
25:46 Expressive E Osmose CE — https://www.expressivee.com (played by Tomasz Bura: https://linktr.ee/tomaszbura)
37:50 BLEASS — https://www.bleass.com
48:47 Exquis Controller (Intuitive Instruments) — https://dualo.com/en/exquis/
1:00:00 Entonal Studio (Node Audio) — https://entonal.studio
1:08:12 Tonebank (Node Audio) — https://node.audio
1:16:39 Mõnai by VOID9 — https://void9.com
1:27:12 Showing Loopy Pro — https://loopypro.com
1:27:51 Microrack — https://microrack.org
1:33:01 El Tigre Soundsystem — / eltigresoundsystem
1:33:58 Nord Electro 7 — https://www.nordkeyboards.com/product...
1:47:00 Zoom LiveTrak L-12 Next — https://zoomcorp.com/en/us/digital-mi...
1:50:29 Zoom LiveTrak L-6 Max — https://zoomcorp.com/en/us/digital-mi...
1:52:40 Focusrite ISA C8X — https://us.focusrite.com/products/isa...
1:55:02 Modular Audio Tools MAT 16X8 — https://www.modularaudiotools.com

MOS-LAB's E-Mu Modular Systems Update & Pricing

You can find demos in previous posts here.

TOP SYSTEM

- T/S/P VCO x3
- Universal Active Filter
- VCA
- RING MODULATOR
- CV LFO
- Digital Noise
- Sample & Hold
- Dual Envelope Generator
- KOV _ MIDI to CV / GATE

3620,00 €

MAIN SYSTEM

- VCO x3
- Universal Active Filter
- VCA x2
- Dual Envelope Generator
- Lowpass VCF
- Resonant filter x2
- Filter Controller
- CV LFO x2
- Ring Modulator
- Digital Noise
- Sample & Hold
- Mixer
- Multiple
- KOV _ MIDI to CV / GATE

6340,00 €

via MOS-LAB

"The systems shown above are provided as examples of possible configurations. Thanks to the fully modular architecture, virtually any custom system can be designed to match your specific requirements.

Systems can be freely configured using the complete range of MOS-LAB modules. To receive a quotation for your custom system, simply send the list of desired modules to info@mos-lab.com, and we will provide a detailed quote."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Mad Science Lab - Tom's Big O's

video upload by Mad Science Lab

"This Oberheim was custom built for Ronnie Montrose around 1980 and used by him until the early 1990's. This synthesizer has some great sounding Synthesizer Expander Modules. In this video, the two sequencers are driving all four SEM units. I am stepping through the sequencer steps with a foot switch plugged into the step input on the patch panel A. Recorded direct off mixer no effects, compression or eq.
#synthesizer #oberheim"

And one with the "The Wizard - E-Mu Systems Modular Synth":

Mad Science Lab - TechnoSaurus LIVES (2026 Live in Studio)

video upload by Mad Science Lab

"Two 1970's Synths and a Drum Machine in the Mad Science Lab Studio.
A E-Mu Systems Modular Analog Synthesizer is used to play 3 voices, and an Arp-2600 plays another voice along with an XBASE 999 Analog Drum Machine. Recorded direct off mixer into an iPad.

More Music Here - https://madsciencelab.com
INFO on this E-mu Modular Here - https://siliconbreakdown.com/wizard-s..."

Side note: the first post to feature Mad Science Lab was back in 2007 here.

JLR's Modular Synthesizers - System Breakdown #15

video upload by John L Rice

"This is my fifteenth video breakdown/rundown, this time for my largest system, the mighty 5U "wall"! 🥳 This is likely the last installment of this series.

Index:
0:00 Beginning
2:23 Preface
4:30 Introduction
5:28 Section 1

CLICK FOR MORE »

Luke Million Studio Tour Update July 2025

video upload by Luke Million

"Following the Studio Tour Video I made last November, here is an update with recent acquisitions and changes to my workflow in my Studio.

Some highlights are the Moog Messenger, Arturia DrumBrute Impact 1984 Edition, Synido TempoPAD C16, Aly James Lab Vprom 3.0, Beyerdynamic DT1990 Pro, Modartt Pianoteq 8 and some Franklin Audio Devices.

The biggest change is in my 2nd Studio where the B Team is kept. I have connected those synths to a Franklin Audio SS-6 Switchable Input Stereo DI which then sends audio to my Universal Audio Volt 476 interface connected to a Macbook Pro Laptop.

You can view the original Studio Tour Video here -"

CLICK FOR MORE »

Brooklyn Synth & Pedal Expo Returns to Brooklyn on October 5-6

"The Brooklyn Synth & Pedal Expo, a free for all interactive display of synthesizers and pedals of all kinds, will return to Brooklyn on the weekend of October 5th and 6th at Greenpoint's stylish warehouse venue 100 Sutton.

Hosted in a 6k sq ft warehouse in the heart of one of Brooklyn’s most musical neighborhoods located between Williamsburg and Queens, this year's event is expected to be attended by around 2k visitors. Pictures from last year's edition can be found here.

Eurorack Classes and GSG.live workshops
The schedule of the presentations will be also integrated by two Eurorack classes hosted by Ben Atchouel of the New York Modular Society and two workshops about online performances curated by the team at GSG.live.

Confirmed Vendors
Visitors will find a varied mix of companies, over 80, with a nice assortment of heavyweight synth and pedal brands and smaller boutique builders, including several Eurorack companies. Full list below.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Korg DW-8000 Demo | No Talking |

video upload by DKS SYNTH LAB

Timeline
0:00 Intro
0:10 Brass Delay
1:22 Bells SE 1
1:52 Chorused E. Piano
3:17 Strings 1
4:06 Low Strings
6:01 Voice
6:35 Crescendo Brass
7:10 5th Brass
7:50 Harp
8:26 Unison Lead
9:12 Touch Synth
9:42 LFO Mod
10:10 Auto-Pulse

AKAI AX73 Demo | No Talking |

video upload by DKS SYNTH LAB

Timeline
0:00 Intro
0:10 Horns-1
1:16 Bassman
2:03 Rocky Road
2:47 E.Piano
3:06 Electroclav3
4:03 Soft Horns
4:58 Horns Pad
6:30 Syn Brass
7:06 Strings 1
7:48 Luth
8:26 Clavitar
9:13 Syn Harp
10:05 Sust-Bass 3
11:15 Algo Ocurre!

Oberheim OB-X8 - Sound Bank '79

video upload by Polydata

"Drawing from the earliest days of polyphonic synthesizers, Sound Bank ‘79 for the Oberheim OB-X8 finds its inspiration in synthesizer music found in documentaries and library music from the late 70’s and early 80’s.

A sound bank comprising 64 patches (8 full groups) for instant inspiration, this set was painstakingly crafted to bring the absolute best out of this fantastic instrument. I was blown away by the quality of tone in this synthesizer, and the sounds speak for themselves.

Recorded completely dry with no effects or processing.

Store Link: polydata.bigcartel.com

POLYDATA music
polydata.bandcamp.com"

CLICK FOR MORE »

SynthFest 2024 Set for April 18 w/ Raffle

video upload by SynthFest France

"Thank you to all of the exhibitors at SynthFest 2024 who will receive a prize in this tombola for the annual deal for all the passions of synths and modules."

"► Billetterie: www.synthfestfrance.com
► 20 lots / 2000 tickets / plus de 10000€ de lots
► 10€ le ticket
► Entièrement en ligne. Pas la peine d'être présent au SynthFest pour gagner un lot.
► Fermeture de la billetterie : 18 Avril 2024

Merci à tous les exposants du SynthFest 2024 qui font encore une fois de cette tombola le deal de l'année pour tout les passionnés de synthés et de modulaires.

1e prix - Expressive E Osmose
2e prix - Kodamo EssenceFM MKII
3e prix - Haken Audio Eagan Matrix Eurorack
4e prix - Kiviak Wofi
5e prix - Paire d’enceintes Nord Piano
6e prix - Korg Keystage 49
7e prix - Arturia MiniFreak
8e prix - 1010music Nanobox Tangerine Desktop
9e prix - Novation Circuit Tracks
10e prix - Projet Home Studio pack Mix / Mastering
11e prix - Hlabs EQ169 API 500 module
12e prix - Kaona Skippy Eurorack module
13e prix - Faselunare Vega Eurorack module
14e prix - BVR instruments TS1 Eurorack module
15e prix - This Is Not Rocket Science Ardabil
16e prix - Piano LED Plus 2024
17e prix - Fred's Lab Zekit Assembled
18e prix - Morphor Plectrum Eurorack module
19e prix - Joranologue Route 4 Eurorack module
20e prix - KR Home-Studion 1 an d'abonnement"

Paul McGowan of PS Audio Explains the Moog Synthesizer

video upload by Paul McGowan, PS Audio

"The classic Moog changed the world. Paul helps us understand what all the wires and modules actually do."

https://www.psaudio.com

Fascinating bit at 1:50. Paul McGowan actually created his own synthesizer, The Infinitizer. Curious if there are any images of it out there. He almost sold one to Wendy Carlos. It gets a mention in his book 99% True: Almost a National Bestseller which you can find on Amazon here (note this is an affiliate link - see the site's privacy policy for more info).

Update: I asked Paul if he had any pics of The Infinitizer. Unfortantely he didn't, and he no longer has any of the parts, but he did send over the following additional info:

"I don’t have any photos of the Infinitizer, unfortunately. I remember a very sad day back in 1995 or so when I was cleaning out my lab and had to own up to hauling it off to the dump (it was a mere skeleton of PCBs, a keyboard, and lots of wires and didn’t work)."

"The idea was to make 10 synthesizers into one unit that was easy to use. This meant it would be the world’s first polyphonic synth, since musicians only have 10 fingers.

I designed a complete analog chain of 10 modules (the usual: VC filters, oscillators, envelope generators, amplifiers, etc.). Then, I hired an engineer out of Vandenburg Air Force Base who was a whiz at this new thing called “digital”. He designed for me a multiplexed keyboard that constantly scanned all the keys looking for ones that were pressed. The keys were all internally numbered and when pressed, the multiplexer would find an available VC oscillator and assign that number to the oscillator. Because we know the number of the key, the appropriate voltage was sent to that oscillator and it produced the appropriate frequency for that key. In order to have the entire keyboard voltage move up and down (like if you wanted to bend the notes or modulate the frequency with a LF oscillator) the master voltage (that got divided by the individual keys assigned to it) could be accessed as one might normally do through the patch bay.

I also wanted to have the keys pressure sensitive so for that, I invented the use of conductive foam under each key (and that too could manipulate the master voltage to the oscillator banks) and could be assigned to modulate any of the other modifiers too. My patch bay was a switch matrix and pots kind of like ARP used to do.

It was a very cool device which I wrote about extensively in my memoirs, 99% True."

-------

As for the first non organ based poly synth, currently that honor likely goes to one of the following depending how you define it:

1975 - Buchla 502 - six voice polyphonic with minicomputer and ability to save patches to tape drive. Development on the 500 series began in 1969.

1975 - Oberheim FVS - four voice polyphonic with Polyphonic Synthesizer Programmer. Not sure if the 502 or FVS was released first.

1977 - Yamaha - CS50/CS60/CS80 - first single enclosure polyphonic keyboard synthesizers, with the CS80 to be the first synth with poly aftertouch

1978 - Sequential Circuits - microprocessor control the SCI prophet 10 (briefly) and the P-5 --- again based on existing E-mu tech stuff

via The First Synth to...

new Techno-Routine with Push3 , Tr8s and Novation Peak

video upload by Lab-E

"gogogo:))"

Expressive E Osmose Recensione (Review ITA + Subtitles)

video upload by DKS SYNTH LAB

Click the CC at the bottom of the player for subtitles.

Expressive E Osmose Demo | No Talking |

video upload by DKS SYNTH LAB

Timeline
0:00 Intro
0:09 Another Big One
1:26 Astral Titans
2:45 Beny's Territory
3:57 Bouncing Spray
5:18 Chick's Lead
6:35 Classicana Lead
7:08 Classipad
7:41 CS80 + Lead
8:16 CS80 + Ladder II
8:52 Eightiki
9:29 Ambient Analog 1
9:45 Versailles Brass
10:02 Three Waves
10:33 PolySynthetix
11:16 Piercing Bass
11:42 Fat Model D
12:02 Analog Scream

SOUNDMIT 2023 - THE GODFATHERS OF MODULATIONS - ENJOY ELECTRONICS

video upload by SOUNDMIT

"Tornano a Torino anche gli ingegneri di @enjoyelectronics6070 che avevamo conosciuto con Reminder nel 2019 e che ora sono campioni di incassi con l'effetto 'Godfather', fonte inesauribile di effetti e modulazioni!

LINKS
ENJOY ELECTRONICS su Soundmit: https://soundmit.com/en/exhibitor/enj...
ENJOY ELECTRONICS https://www.enjoy-lab.com/

"The engineers from @enjoyelectronics6070, whom we had met with Reminder in 2019, are also returning to Turin. They are now champions of revenue with the 'Godfather' effect, an inexhaustible source of effects and modulations!

Les ingénieurs de @enjoyelectronics6070, que nous avions rencontrés avec Reminder en 2019, reviennent également à Turin. Ils sont désormais les champions des recettes avec l'effet 'Parrain', une source inépuisable d'effets et de modulations !

También regresan a Turín los ingenieros de @enjoyelectronics6070, a quienes conocimos con Reminder en 2019 y que ahora son campeones de ingresos con el efecto 'El Padrino', una fuente inagotable de efectos y modulaciones.

Si ringraziano per il video @pvmlab6423 - Max Esposito e Gabriele Guarnieri
#soundmit #enjoylab #godfather #synthesizers #modularsynth #torino"

UDO Audio Super Gemini - Presentation Sonic LAB

video upload by sonicstate

"Always a pleasure to spend time in the company of George Hearn from UDO Audio, and especially as he brought the production ready Super Gemini poly synth with him.
The Super Gemini is now officially shipping, units are leaving the buillding and soon the 20 voice (10 in binaural mode) FPGA oscillator equipped synth will be making its way into the hands of those lucky folks whov'e ordered one.
Two FPGA oscillators per voice, (with 3rd trackable LFO), Analogue filter, analogue VCA with two discrete synth layers that can be played in two 5 voice each (binaural oscillator mode), or 10 voice per synth, each with discrete controls and chorus/delay FX.
In the hands of George it sounds wonderful, - in fact if you are an upper tier supporter, we've posted some additional playing in another post to whet your whistle.
Its not cheap, ut you do get a heck of a lot of synthesizer for your money..
Super Gemini is shipping and available now priced at £3799 from all good retailers."

JLR's Modular Synthesizers - System Breakdown #7 -

video upload by John L Rice

"This is the seventh video breakdown/rundown for my 'physically largest' eurorack 'Table Case' system although it only has 23 modules in it and ranks only 4th place for most modules out of my 7 eurorack systems! It houses a majority of my Synthrotek/Division 6/Mattson modules. Next time I'll do a small 5U system in an angled desktop case. Please subscribe to my channel and click the 'bell' button to be notified when I post new videos! (because as you may know, I post inconsistently! 😒😊)

Index:
0:00 Beginning
0:25 Introduction
2:09 Contents Rundown
9:15 A Look Inside
16:47 Final Words And Shirt
17:45 Previous Social Media Demo
18:45 Noise And Pedals Patch
20:33 Another Table Case Demo
24:03 Bonus Track: Excerpt From Live 2017 MOTS Performance
30:51 End

List of the modules in this system:
Korg: MS2000R
JLR: MS2000R I/O Breakout
Circuit Abbey: Unify, G8
Division 6: Mattson SQ816, Multiplicity IV
2hp: Nse
Intellijel: OR
EMW: T-Drum
Synthwerks: Lamp-3
Strymon: AA.1
Happy Nerding: LED Meter (x2)
Konstant Lab: PWR Checker
Synthrotek MST: Dual VCA, Dual Envelope, LP Filter, Audio/CV Mixer, VCO (x2), VC LFO, MIDI To CV, MIDI To CV Expander

Case and longer rails originally from: https://www.audiopile.net/

You can see details of the modules on my ModularGrid page:
https://www.modulargrid.net/e/racks/v...

Check out Aaron Kraten's wonderful artwork at http://aaronkratenart.com/

As always, thank you for watching, rating, following, subscribing, and commenting! 🥳 If you found the content of this video helpful, interesting, or entertaining, please consider showing your support so I can stay stocked up on coffee and cookies. 😋 https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/JohnL..."

GForce Software Minimonsta 2 - Patch Flip - Sonic LAB

video upload by sonicstate

"GForce Software's latest instrument update is for the Minimonsta making it now at version 2. It follows the new features first seen in the OB-E V2 and then the Oddity V3 - namely an improved audio engine, re-sizable UI, four macro controls, new preset browser and a vintage control for dialling in more wonkiness.

The Minimonsta2 is a Minimoog Model D at it's heart with the familiar panel but obviously also is polyphonic. GForce also include the XLFO and XADSR - two fully assignable modulation sources, though with as many instances as you’ll likely to need that can be mapped to most variable parameters on a one to one basis.

You also get an additional 300 presets.

At present the Minimonsta2 is available at a reduced price of £49 (+VAT) from £99 - which makes if a pretty affordable deal, given that it's a fairly simple to navigate interface and is capable of a wide variety of sounds - from monster basses to lovely atmospheric pads."