X1L3 - STARSTRIKE - boss fight - 8 bit techno - AY3 / YM2149f - eurorack module

video upload by X1L3

"A bit of tidying up of the code and a tweak to the tuning routine of the AY/YM/GT300 modules. Pretty much wrapped up now. And those three dev modules are now consolidated into one build which can run the AY3, it's clones, and the YM2149f. The final build being called starstrike. Named after an old ZX spectrum favourite of mine (starstrike II)....

No filters used this time, so it doesn't sound like it's trying to pretend to be a sid chip. Just pure ZX/ST square wave action. 198X 8 bit techno / cracktro music. A good example of how well it does this even as a drone machine with no VCA support 🔥🔥🔥"

Roland Juno 60 | Ambient soundscape with Fractal Audio FM3

video upload by MIDERA

"I decided to help a friend and replaced all of his Roland Juno 60 sliders. I figured I’d done a lot of similar work for myself, and I’ve had a lot of people help me out so I wanted to pass it forward. Well, after spending 3 hours replacing the sliders, it was 12:30AM and I turned on the unit to test it out. But it went horribly wrong. Nothing sounded right. Noise was always present, the Attack slider didn’t work, Sub was always on, you get the picture. By this point, I was totally stressed out. I had destroyed a $3000 synth!

I tried going to sleep, but it was around 3AM before I could. I woke up the next day, stressed. I ran downstairs to see if it was just something simple I missed, but nothing seemed wrong. All the pins had continuity to the traces they were going towards.

By 5PM that day, I finally wrote on a facebook group. Someone mentioned something regarding the new sliders from Syntaur. He said they’re chassis legs are too short. Specifically, the Attack slider chassis provides ground to IC5, pin 8. But when I checked, there was continuity from the pad to IC5 pin 8. HOWEVER, the pad was NOT connected to the chassis. I quickly threw the old slider in, and magically… it all worked. I couldn’t believe it. That was about 24 hours of terror as I tried to figure out what went wrong.

However, it is now going strong, perfectly. I’m very thankful to that facebook group!

Fractal Audio FM3 used for delay/reverb/fx."

Fender Rhodes Chroma Polaris II SN 500336

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

via this eBay listing

Additional Tone Tweakers Listings

"This Polaris 2 was fully electronically restored and is now in like new perfect working condition. And yes, of course the membrane panel that always breaks has been replaced with a brand new one so you won't have to worry about replacing it. We don't mess around here.

sn50033x

Here's what we did to this unit to make it perfect, along with some preventative stuff other sellers rarely do...because we want this unit to hopefully outlast others.

Replaced power supply electrolytic capacitors (future-proofing)
Reflowed some solder points as a preventative measure.
Cleaned unit inside and out.
Replaced membrane panel (we consider this a necessity even in the rare cases where they're fully working, as they eventually break - panel cost is $250 + installation labor, which is of course embedded in our price)
Cleaned and lubed all slide pots and levers.
Cleaned jacks.
Cleaned key contacts.
Removed original battery and replaced with new lithium battery (3v D type)
Recalibrated.
Replaced high and low output jacks.
Replaced operating system eproms with latest version 11 (originally was version 5)

This process took 11 hours of highly skilled vintage synth tech time, plus parts costs. The result is a perfectly working instrument that's ready to play, without having to pay another tech to do what we did and to wait months to years for another tech to do it."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Moog Messenger - Ambient Sequence

video upload by Alba Ecstasy

"After a couple of 'unboxing' posts, I’ve been asked, by my friends, if it can sounds in my Berlin School style, or can make some ambient sounds.
So, here it is, on my second day with the Moog Mesenger, my sequencing style, PART ONE. I already made a few custom patches, (and updated it to the latest firmware - and now my volume knob works also for the main output! 0_o), so it’s gone rain with demos of it!

How does it feel? Like a Moog, of course: sturdy metal enclosure, no flimsy knobs, great keybed.
🎹 Want some ambient patches?! 👉 https://www.albaecstasy.ro

My opinion: grab one while the price is low, you won’t regret!
At least, Moog never drop in value!
Tell your wife, your girlfriend, your mother, that is an investment!"

SEQUENTIAL TOM 420 Serviced w/ Extras

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

via this Reverb listing

"This legendary drum box has been fully serviced to perfection, ensuring it performs just like it did back in the day, if not better. Don't let the blemishes in it's paint fool you. This TOM Drum Machine has been fully gone through from top to bottom. Nothing has been left to chance. Totally rebuilt to function beyond brand new.

Here's what makes it a must-have:

- Complete Rebuild of Power Supply: Featuring new rectifying diodes, filter capacitors, and voltage regulators for unmatched reliability.

- All New Tactile Switches: Every single switch on this unit has been unsoldered and replaced with a brand new part. Guaranteeing that you will not have a switch fail in the next 30+ years. You will get smooth, responsive, operation. We use OMRON brand tactile switches, the best and built to last.

- Fully Expanded Sequencer Memory (RARE): A rare expansion option from Sequential back in the day, and even more rare now. Very few SCI TOM in the world have expanded sequencer memory. This upgrade more than quadrupled the available pattern storage memory. More room for your beats, making this a highly coveted feature.

- Tauntek TOM16 CPU Upgrade: The famed Tauntek MOD is no longer made. This update to the SCI TOM enhances performance, adding new features to the TOM that allow you to switch the sounds on the fly.

- 16 Internal Sound banks (Cartridges): This modification also builds in 16 expansion cartridges worth of sounds, accessible through the user interface. This upgrade includes all original SCI Factory Carts and the best from DRUMWARE (DigiDesign).

- HKA Designs 'Classics Cartridge': On top of the 16 built in sound banks, the HKA Classics Cart adds eight more cartridges worth of sounds from Legendary drum computers from Oberheim DMX and DX, Linn DRUM and LM-1.

- Printed Manual: A reproduction printing of the original TOM 420 manual that details all the features and functions so that you can jump straight in to producing awesome retro grooves with the famed Sequential drum machine.

- Rugged IP67 Water & Dust proof Flight Case: Your SCI TOM will ship in a custom fit, lockable 🔒 Rugged IP68 💦 Waterproof / Dust-proof Impact Resistant Protective Flight Case. Making sure that your investment arrives to you in ultimate safety and comfort."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Linn Electronics Linndrum SN 4415 w/ MIDI

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

via this eBay listing

Additional Tone Tweakers Listings

"Like nearly all the high end vintage analog synths we sell, this item has been METICULOUSLY disassembled, cleaned inside and out, FULLY serviced by professionals who’ve been servicing and selling vintage synths and drum machines for more than the last 3 decades, and systematically tested multiple times over a long period to ensure it’s working exactly as it should. No BS. No ebay surprises. We’re perfectionists and don’t cut corners. Although this instrument came to us in relatively good shape, we want our items to be better than the rest and invested *many* hours of tech time plus parts costs to fully overhaul this unit so it would be clean, working like new again and as reliable as possible for its next owner. This was a serious investment of time, love, and money, and was definitely worth the effort and is of course reflected in the higher than usual price. If you’re looking for a great sounding example of this model that works just like it should without needing to invest hundreds or thousands of dollars in tech fees and waiting from weeks to years, this one should make you very happy."

CLICK FOR MORE »

The Secret Life of Plants | From Instruo Scion to PocketScion

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

"This video is about making music with biofeedback from living organisms like plants, animals and humans. I made a video about Instruo Scion five years ago, and I couldn't resist getting the small PocketScion.
I don't know how to explain this, it's a brilliant design with huge potential, but it doesn't come out on its own. Sonically it's a bit tame with the inevitable additive 'organ-ish' sounds, the pluck, a subtractive voice and a very cool noise preset - which sounds amazing, but doesn't really match the mood of plant music. Most presets use a 5 or 6 note scale to avoid dissonants, so it sounds a bit like musical wallpaper.

Its main goal is to take it outside and capture the secret life of plants translated to ambient music, but it can't possibly survive a rainy day in the forest without a cover (or in the pocket).

So is it any good?
YES!

The Controller app allows you to change scales, ranges, midi channels and a control channel (default CC1 - ModWheel) you can route to other destinations (e.g. expression). Since you have five channels, you can make breathtaking generative music in the DAW, controlling five different CC's. It's brilliance is revealed when you hook it up to your DAW and drive 5 midi channels with an ambient VST for each channel (or VCV Rack?). It's truly amazing as a generative midi controller. On it's own, I'd say it's a 6 of 10. With MIDI, it's an 11 (strictly personal opinion)."

DIY Minimoog Inspired Synth | A Teensy Powered Tribute

video upload by Moby Pixel

"In this video, we’re building a Teensy-powered synth inspired by the iconic Minimoog Model D, and exploring what made the original design so legendary. We’ll walk through all-the-things: oscillators, mixer, filter, envelopes, hidden features, presets, the Teensy’s USB audio setup, and how Bob Moog’s Minimoog helped shape modern subtractive synthesis.

This is my biggest project to date, and I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out! The Teensy 4.1’s built-in USB audio is sending power, MIDI, and audio over a single cable. What a time to be alive, haha! All code and build files are available on GitHub if you want to make your own. Cheers!

GitHub: https://github.com/NickCulbertson/Min...

A 6-voice polyphonic virtual analog synthesizer built with the Teensy 4.1 microcontroller, inspired by the classic Minimoog. Features comprehensive synthesis with USB audio/MIDI and intuitive menu control.

Key Features:
6-voice polyphony with 3 oscillators per voice (18 total)
6 waveforms per oscillator
Noise shared white/pink noise
24dB Moog-style ladder filter with ADSR envelopes
Independent LFO with pitch/filter/amp targets
Macro knob system - remap filter knobs to LFO controls
USB Audio + MIDI - single cable to computer
20 hardware encoders + LCD for real-time control
20 Presets - 80s Brass, Saw Keys, Bass sounds, Pads, and more
Multiple play modes - Mono, Poly, Legato with glide

Parts List:
Teensy 4.1 – https://www.sparkfun.com/teensy-4-1-w...
Menu Encoder – https://www.amazon.com/Taiss-KY-040-E...
Other Encoders – https://www.aliexpress.us/item/325680...
LCD 2×16 – https://www.amazon.com/Hosyond-Displa...
Knobs – https://www.amazon.com/Taiss-Silver-R...

Chapters:
0:00 The Minimoog
3:00 MiniTeensy Synth Build
6:32 Minimoog & MiniTeensy Designs Explain ed
9:26 Presets Demo
12:25 SUBSCRIBE! (maybe?)

Thanks for Watching!
Nick
Moby Pixel"

EMS Synthi AKS

video upload by Soundgas

"EMS Synthi AKS - been asked to demo it for a potential buyer and realise it’s been a while since I spent any meaningful time with one🫣.

So maybe less a demonstration, more a case of finding your way through an AKS.

Really doesn’t matter as sometimes it’s more fun with an element of mystery - to paraphrase Quincy Jones: leaving space for God to stumble into the sequence?🤓"

A Recipe For Chaotic Beauty | Modular Classroom | Episode 04

video upload by Cinematic Laboratory

"This series is a bit more advanced than usual, but this does not mean 'difficult', it means 'low level'. I will revisit Rob Hordijk's Benjolin and Blippoo Box again, not to recreate them, but to understand its components a bit more so they can be used elsewhere. We'll build a Twin Peak filter with Blades and Blinds (or any duo filter with a polarizer), a Comparator with Maths - which can make amazing new sounds using any two VCO's, I'll revisit the Rungler with Marbles and finally I've been looking for ways to detect equality between two voltages so we can generate a trigger or gate. I am not aware of any comparator that has an '=' output, but I figured out a way to approximate it with Maths.

I've been using ChatGPT as a research tool and it came up with the Twin Peak recipe after scrutinizing documentation on the web. But it also claimed that using Maths for equality detection would not work, because EOC is documented to be 'end of full cycle'. We already figured out in Episode 01 of this series, that EOC is always ON, and off when a RISE is in progress. This is needed to do quadrature functions, bla bla bla, but the point is that AI can be misinformed. Regardless, AI has reached a point where you can actually discuss patches and ChatGPT knows a LOT of modules, options, techniques and alternatives. So how do I know so much? I don't. It's co-creation.

Even though this episode features a lot of chaos, I tried to find the cool textures that make the Blippoo Box so entertaining, and figure out why the Benjolin is so untameable (may I say annoying?)

00:00 Introduction
00:51 Blippoo Box emulation for the Meng-Qi Wingie 2
05:02 Patching a Twin Peak filter with Blades and Blinds
08:03 Patching a Comparator with Maths
12:34 Patching a Rungler with Marbles and any VCO
14:43 Blippoo Box S&H and equality detection with Maths
18:45 Final Thoughs and a dual Benjolin / Marbles (multi-track) Jam."

Synthesizers.com is Back with Dan Snazelle of Snazzy FX

via Synthesizers.com

WE'RE BACK!
We are thrilled to announce that Synthesizers.com is returning to full operation — under new management and with a renewed commitment to excellence in all things 5U/MU!

Thank you for your patience as we finished our big transition: relocating the company from Texas to our new home in the Boston area, rebuilding production lines, organizing inventory, and preparing to craft the same world-class instruments you’ve always known us for.

We’re reaffirming our dedication to founder Roger Arrick’s vision while entering a new era for Synthesizers.com. Our path forward is guided by three core commitments:

Commitment One
We will continue to hand-build the highest-quality modular synthesizer instruments here in the USA — crafted with care, precision, and in the spirit of the modular community that has supported us for decades, designed and built for musicians, artists, engineers, performers and hobbyists around the world.

Commitment Two
We will honor the legacy of our existing modules while exploring the boundaries of what’s next. A few legacy modules will retire, and in their place we will design and introduce an exciting new generation of analog and digital modules to expand the Synthesizers.com catalog.

Commitment Three
We will remain dedicated champions for the entire 5U/MU community. That means expanding options for 5U/MU cases, power systems, and accessories — and actively supporting the broader ecosystem of 5U makers, builders, and designers who continue to grow this format.

In the coming weeks, you’ll see updated inventories, new product announcements, and a stronger customer-service focus. Under the leadership of Dan Snazelle of SnazzyFX fame, our team is here for you — by phone, email, social channels, or on the ModWiggler Synthesizers.com forum.

Here are a few words from Dan about the Synthesizers.com journey.

"As someone who has spent the last 30 years involved with synthesizers I am extremely excited to be stepping into the role of leading Synthesizers.com. We have put together a great team so we can continue the tradition of making synthesizers by hand, while also working to bring new modules to our customers. I can't wait to meet people who own our systems and I am also going to be putting a lot of thought into bringing new musicians to large format synthesis" Thank you for welcoming us back. We can’t wait to show you what’s coming.

ELZ_1 play V2 x Stegonaute #3

video upload by SONICWARE

"Wind-guided improvisation 🍁

Random Arpeggios with the ELZ_1 play V2

I don’t know if Autumn colours would affect me as much if I knew they lasted forever, or is it their fleeting nature that makes them so beautiful ?

https://sonicware.jp/pages/elz_1-play"

100 Oberheim Matrix 12 URBANEK Patches BY Peter Urbanek

video upload by Really Nice Audio

"After the last set of whacky sounds [posted here] I wanted to document some more 'classic' Matrix 12 vibes. I found this great bank by Peter Urbanek.

From the .txt

PATCHES BY PETER URBANEK (free)
Reviewed by Mike Metlay

Peter's patches tend to be organized in sets, with several subtle variations on a theme, and named accordingly: VOICE 1.1, VOICE 1.2, etc. It seems that when a patch deviates enough from the basic form, he gives it a name of its own and groups it after the others of its ilk. For this reason, Peter's patch tape is organized quite neatly, making it easy to audition all of a particular type of patch. Heavy use is made of both Levers, both Pedals, Pressure, Velocity, and Release Velocity on many patches, for effects ranging from vibrato to ENV shape changes and resonant sweeps on note attacks. It should be noted by all that to Peter, "vibrato" means everything from triangle-wave warbles to deep noise-wave growls. His Multi Patch setups are meaningless: they're left over from the factory patch tape. Blanking them would've been nice.

In contrast to the previous set, the patches here bear little resemblance to the sounds after which they're named. Each sound group, like VOICE, STRIN, CHURCH, etc., appears to describe the general character of a sound rather than it's true intent. Peter seems to enjoy the "analog synthesis for its own sake" approach to programming; he eschews realism in favor of timbre.

And what timbres-thundering basses, blasting church organs that seem to belong to any church I've ever heard of, bizarre sound effects (though not on the level of the next tape reviewed) with random LFOS, rich filtered string pads ... all heavily overlaid with a grimy analog crunch that threatens to bury the listener. There are a few slightly altered factory patches as well, but these have also fallen to Peter's grim analog touch.

In fact, there aren't that many different kinds of sounds on this tape; it has a definite "one flavor" feel to it throughout, and that flavor doesn't lend itself to realism, so if you're looking for variety or realistic sounds, look elsewhere. But if you want to learn exactly why no digital synth can cross an Xpander and live, these sounds would be a fine place to start."

convergence ... Elektron Tonverk & Ventris ... ambient

video upload by substan

"I can't wait for Tonverk to grow up and no longer be overshadowed by its own shortcomings.

A performance on the Elektron Tonverk.
Recorded in one take.
Mastered in post.

The project file, music and a temporary sample pack on Patreon.
The great support from my patrons makes all of this possible ... thank you so much guys !! / substan

Substan Bandcamp Page: https://substan.bandcamp.com"

Waldorf Microwave ~ The German Sound Cooking Studio ~

video upload by RetroSound

"(c)2007-25 by RetroSound
supported by UVI: http://bit.ly/retrosound-uvi

When I started making music about 30 years ago, I didn't have any space in my old apartment, so I only bought space-saving rack synthesizers. One of the first devices I bought back then was the Waldorf Microwave. Here's a little demo track with self programmed sounds I made back then. I've never released it before."

Shop: https://retrosound.creator-spring.com/
Bandcamp: https://retrosound.bandcamp.com/

100 Oberheim Expander/Matrix12 single FX patches by Arthur Springer

video upload by Really Nice Audio

"So whilst on soak test I came across this crazy bank:
Notes from the .txt
ART SPRINGER STRIKES AGAIN (free)
Reviewed by Mike Metlay

All right, gang, I know what you're expecting in this space, so I'll oblige you and get it over with. Ready? Here goes: "WAHOOLAZUMA! Everybody's favorite twisted puppy is back from the audio torture chamber, and he's brewed up the most brain-slashing package of monstrous elektronoyze EVER! This stuff's great for warping your brain patterns, killing your cat, etc..."

Okay. Happy now? Good, now let's get serious. I heard from Art recently that he didn't get a terribly good response to his first mailing, and that few, if any, XUG members looked him up for his second set of patches

He seemed in a pretty good humor about it, but I couldn't help wondering if my presentation of his patch set didn't scare a lot of people away just by the wording. So, with a new patch set from Art (more diverse than the first two) in hand, I'd like to try again.

One of the most unhealthy trends I see in today's patch-editing software is the patch randomizer, that cute but overused utility that generates random patches at the click of a mouse. Literally thousands of these random patches are being sold by unscrupulous hackers as "original sounds," and a whole new generation of MIDI morons is springing up (pardon the pun) whose idea of "good programming chops" is the ability to tweak a randomly generated sound into something that (almost) works. No program of this type exists yet for the xpander, and I'm glad of it: the lack of computer-generated garbage on the market forces the user community to seek one another for new ideas, rather than some electronic I Ching. We come together in this Group to share ideas and learn from one another and I believe that studying another human being's work beats watching a computer coughing up random numbers. Which brings us to the music of Art Springer.

In my opinion, these patches are important. VERY important. I get so enthused about Art's work because I see in him a reflection of my college days, when I puttered about with ARP and Buchla modular monsters creating sounds for the sheer joy of it, putting together tonalities never before heard on Earth rather than trying to make a realistic shakuhachi. This was, and often still is, the meat and potatoes of electronic music to me. And when I hear Art telling me that people- Xpander users!-are returning his work because it's "too weird," I know something's wrong. The Xpander isn't a sampler or a digital piano. It's not an imitative instrument by nature. It's a powerful, multiply interfaceable modular synthesizer with a great deal of flexibility. Art Springer takes a stance on its use that no other Group member has had the courage to try: using its Power as a CV percussion device to enhance the sounds of his more traditionally oriented synths. (By the way, Lionel and I are big fans of his music ... it's not as inaccessible as you might think, and the odd tonalities make his dance pieces a lot of fun.) This is a new idea to a lot of you, and I don't blame you for being frightened. But it's better to learn from someone whose ideas differ from yours than to convince a computer to feed you something safe. I'd like to suggest something simple to start with: get one of Art's sound sets, trigger your Xpander with your drumbox, and try writing music with these sounds as part of the atmosphere rather than conventional drum noises. Or do something completely different. The important thing is to try to expand (hm) your horizons to something new. These sounds of Art's do take getting used to, but I think you'll learn a lot from them. Trust me."

ARP Foundation's Soul of the Machine CD & Download Update

If you haven't picked up a copy of the release, now might be a good time.

via the Alan R Pearlman Foundation:

Soul of the Machine is a Roaring Success!!!

We have officially sold half of our limited edition CD; we are also going to end our introductory 'Name Your Price' for downloads on BandCamp soon, so don't hesitate to purchase today!

Praise from BandCamp (Alan R Pearlman Foundation and Projekt Records )

"A tribute to the creator of my favorite music instruments. I Like the sound of the ARPs in classical electronic albums. Great record with many great contributions!"

"No favourite track, just indulging in the sonic wash of this amazing album. Just wonderful."

"...what an AMAZING collection!! ..."

"A ritual offering—ARP as oracle, muse, and monument. The machine has a soul. And here, it sings."

"It's hard to pick a favorite track off of this compilation... Lots of groovy music by a lot of artists.I had never heard of, but there are a few artists.I am familiar with. this is pretty groovy stuff... " "Awesome tribute and collection. Mr. Roach has somehow found time to be an archivist. would love a second volume. get this as both sampler and tribute..." Purchase from BandCamp

CLICK FOR MORE »

The Proteus 1 Synthesiser in 2025 - Any Fun?

video upload by BucketBrigade

"Today, we're looking at the original Proteus sound module by E-mu, released in 1989. These were immensely successful back in the day and this one started it all, and so I decided to have a poke around the Proteus' patches to see which ones tickled my fancy.

Again, my thanks to Jon for lending me the Proteus.

If you have any stories about the Proteus, I'd love to hear them. Feel free to leave a comment or email me using the address in my channel description.

I appreciate my playing isn't maestro level, I'm no Doctor Mix unfortunately!! Expect more coming soon :)

The dry-signal version of this video is coming soon!

All images used belong to their respective owners, all music composed by myself, except for the piece used in the 'synth for a walk' sketch"

Reminder: Minimoog Prototype Exhibit, Erik Norlander Keyboard Sale Price Drop, Mini Minimoogs & More

via The Bob Moog Foundation

Minimoog Prototype Exhibit At the Moogseum This Weekend Only!

The anticipation is almost over! We are thrilled to be hosting the Minimoog Prototype Exhibit at the Moogseum, this weekend only, in partnership with the Museum of Music Technology (MMT). The exhibit will feature four ultra rare Minimoog prototypes from 1969, 1970, and 1971, as well as a host of related artifacts from the Bob Moog Foundation Archives.

We are honored to have JoE Silva, author of The Minimoog Book: The Synthesizer That Changed Music Forever: Sounds, Stories, and Technology join us throughout the weekend of the exhibit. He'll be on hand to delve into the history of the Minimoog with exhibit attendees and sign books in the Moogseum store.

We're excited to share a new addition to the exhibit. MMT will be bringing Minimoog serial number 1016 (the sixteenth Minimoog ever produced out of 12,269 units), which was purchased in 1971 by none other than David VanKoevering, the marketing genius behind the early Minimoog sales. David's Minimoog will be available for exhibit attendees to play and explore. Come get you hands on this incredible piece of synthesizer history!

Finally, be sure to take advantage of the morning tours with our executive director, Michelle Moog-Koussa. Michelle will be delving into Minimoog history as it is conveyed through the main gallery of the Moogseum. She doesn't give tours often, so take advantage of this opportunity. The tours are available for a small fee for any exhibit attendee.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Sonicware ELZ_1 Play | Ambient explorations

video upload by Jay Hosking

"Please support my work on Patreon: / jayhosking
Two ambient pieces composed and performed live on the ELZ_1 Play, with effects.

00:00 - Song 1
04:22 - Song 2

Sonicware sent the ELZ_1 Play over for me to explore because of its big new firmware update. To be honest, there is an overwhelming number of synth engines and effects within the ELZ_1 Play and I only briefly explored the options with any systematicity. Most of the time, I found the synth was a nice device to tweak presets or dial in a sound quickly based on a particular engine type.

A few of the synth engines are quite beautiful and unique, including some tuned noise that it is really pretty. For these explorations, I was mainly drawn to sounds I can't normally make on my other synths, like electric pianos or organs. The options to make and tweak whatever you want are there, but they require you navigating the menus to find them. That aspect works perfect well, but mostly I found the ELZ_1 Play was a great couch device where I noodle.

The biggest and best surprise was definitely the looper, which allows you to have four separate, synchonized or asynchronous loops just spinning away. The looper is an easy way to quickly find inspiration and compose something new.

For these live performances, I've also paired the ELZ_1 Play with a few effects to extend or build the ambient sketch into something a little more complete. The Walrus Qi adds some granular, delay, chorus, and reverb to the finale of the first piece, and the Meris Polymoon adds its phased delay-verb to the second. I also thought I'd try the Soma Cosmos as a different take on the looping idea for the second track.

Overall, I found the ELZ_1 Play to be a good companion for those tired days where all the music-making energy I had was on the couch. Having so many engine types meant I could explore new sounds, and having the asynchronous looper meant I was often quickly in the territory of a full piece.

Thanks for listening.

https://jayhosking.bandcamp.com"