Niagara - Soleil d'Hiver, cover by Valmont & Angèle Borscha

video upload by Valmont

"A quick aside from the ongoing LP works : through one of those quirks of my tech sidejob, I ended up with a LinnDrum and an Emulator II in my bedroom at the same time :) My project singer Angèle and I couldn't resist putting them through a fun functional test. So here goes our first cover of a French band we really like. The song is called 'Soleil d'Hiver' by NIAGARA. Simply faithful to the original, because why not? x) And while we're at it, happy birthday to Daniel Chenevez, who co-wrote this song with Muriel Moreno :)))

Also involved in this live tracking: URSA Major Stargate 323, Dynacord PDD14, A/DA MB-1, Alesis XT:C, Dynacord VRS23, Publison Infernal Machine 90, Roland SIP-301, MXR Dual Limiter, Klark Teknik DN780, Yamaha R1000, A/DA MP-1 and BiAmp Model 42.

Angèle's instagram : / angele.brc

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
My name is Valmont, I'm 24 from Paris! I compose/produce music, take sound on movie sets and repair instruments :)
After a double bachelor in musicology and mechanics in Sorbonne, I ended up doing the Ecole Nationale Supérieure Louis-Lumière.
I wrote my thesis on Publison and Early Digital, which ultimately tied together my long-standing fascination in vintage machines, servicing and technical demystification with my personal attraction to these instruments.
I tend to hope for a unified low-level approach to music production guided by DIY values. This Youtube channel is a form of its realization!
Join the gang : / valmont_naudin
Listen to my stuff : https://iconism.io/frame/valmont"

Freshwater Announces Modern CPU Card for Fairlight CMI Series I, II & IIx

Press Release follows:

Freshwater announces the new FI50A Card

Freshwater writes a new chapter for the legendary Fairlight CMI

Today Freshwater announces a milestone event with the release of the FI50A card for existing Fairlight CMIs series I, II and IIx. We’ve spent over a year perfecting this project and now offer CMI users a unique opportunity to extend, preserve and enhance these remarkable and era-defining machines.

Installed in an original Fairlight CMI, the FI50A makes the instrument faster, more reliable and more convenient to operate whilst bringing the legendary CMI sound into the 21st century music production environment. We are currently focused on getting these cards into the hands of users and continuing to optimise the enhanced software bundled with them.

What is the FI50A?

The Freshwater FI50A is a complete modern replacement for the original CMI computer section, including CPU, graphics display, memory and library storage. It is compatible with Fairlight CMI Series I, II and IIx systems. The FI50A preserves the character, workflow and hardware experience of the original instrument while dramatically improving speed, reliability, storage and usability. It runs enhanced software derived from the original source code keeping the instrument recognisably and operationally a Fairlight CMI.

The card arrives pre-installed with a fully licensed original CMI sound library and adds practical modern ways to expand it, including enhanced 10-bit sampling, waveform upload over Wi-Fi, SD card and USB memory support. It also adds DisplayPort output, USB, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi while retaining support for legacy CMI keyboards, CRT/light pen operation, floppy disks, MIDI interfaces and Series I/II channel cards.

Installation is straightforward and fully reversible. Using the supplied user manual and online video guide, the original CPU and peripheral cards can be removed and preserved, the FI50A installed in their place, and the original peripherals reconnected.

For owners familiar with the CMI, the result is not a different instrument, but a transformed one: faster, easier to maintain and ready for contemporary studio use while remaining true to the original machine.

For more information, please follow the link below:

https://www.freshwaterinstruments.au/fi50a

“I once said ‘one day the whole CMI will fit on one chip’. We all had a laugh at that. Fast forward 40 years and that’s the reality. By making this new board compatible with the original CMI channel cards, the bits that make the CMI sound so unique are still there, while the digital part is a zillion times more powerful, smaller, cheaper and reliable.” —Peter Vogel

ellitone groov~e console

video upload by ellitone instruments

"Limited edition.

ellitone.com

The ellitone groov~e console is a new variant of the original groov~e device. The console version includes the same sounds as the original, but features several new additions including built-in stereo speaker system, battery-power, hardwood body/knobs, and individual volume control over each sound layer

The groov~e console is a fun and mysterious interactive drum-machine and polyphonic-synthesizer that automatically generates musical “grooves”. A “groove” consists of 3 individual sound layers: a drum-machine layer, an ambience-sample layer, and a polyphonic-synthesizer sequence layer. Each of these 3 sound layers can be individually tweaked or swapped out to find the right mixture of sounds to make you say “WHOAH, that’s funky!”.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Roma Modulare 2026 | International Synthesizers & Music Production Expo Set for September 2026

video upload by Roma Modulare

"⚡ Roma Modulare 2026 is here! The ultimate Expo in Italy for synthesizers and music production welcomes you to Rome! Explore 1200 square meters of indoor exhibition space to touch and test synth and pro audio products, enjoy captivating live music, and discover the latest trends and innovations in music tech. Get your tickets now!"

L'Opificio Italiacamp - THE LOCATION | Roma Modulare 2026

video upload by Roma Modulare

"We're warming up the engines for Roma Modulare 2026 at L'Opificio Italiacamp, happening September 18-19!
Let's explore the main exhibition area dedicated to synthesizer and music production. Get ready for an immersive experience with pro audio gear, eurorack setups, and captivating live music, all part of our meticulous event planning."

Press Release follows:

Roma Modulare 2026 announced as international synth and pro audio fair at unique new location in central Rome with early bird tickets already available

ROME, ITALY: organisers of Roma Modulare 2026 are proud to announce that the international synth and pro audio fair in question is to be held on September 18-19, 2026 as an unmissable two-day expo in central Rome, representing a journey into electronic music devices where creativity, passion, and experimentation meet at a unique new location — L’Opificio Italiacamp itself being billed as a centre for culture and education, born out of an urban regeneration project in the Ostiense-Marconi district that is one of the most vibrant areas of the capital city — boasting 900 square metres of exhibition space swarming with leading manufacturers of synthesizers and professional audio gear keen to show their latest wares, while early bird tickets are already available for anyone wishing to attend…

Organisers of Roma Modulare 2026 are on record as collectively stating: 'We live in an age where division is the norm, but making music requires unity. Today, the word ‘unity’ takes on a meaning that can profoundly shake and transform our roots and our habits. We want to continue strengthening the community of artists and creatives, who, together, make a valuable contribution to Italian and international music production everyday.'

CLICK FOR MORE »

Linndrum vs Oberheim DX vs Sequential Drumtraks. Which classic 1980s drum machine comes out on top?

video upload by Brian Coyne Guitar

"In this video, I put three legendary vintage drum machines head-to-head:
🥁 LinnDrum (1983)
🥁 Oberheim DX
🥁 Sequential Drumtraks

I'll compare their sounds in the room, explore their tuning capabilities, discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each machine, and share my thoughts on which one is the easiest—and most inspiring—to use.

Then we'll take all three into the studio and hear them recorded directly into the DAW in stereo with no processing, playing classic 1980s-style beats inspired by artists such as Michael Jackson, Madonna, Phil Collins, Dead or Alive, and more.

You'll hear:
• Raw stereo recordings of all three machines
• Individual drum sounds and tuning demonstrations
• Workflow and programming comparisons
• Pros and cons of each machine
• Which machine sounds the most hi-fi
• Which machine delivers the most authentic 1980s vibe

These machines helped define the sound of an entire decade. But nearly 40 years later, which one still holds up best?

Watch the shootout and let me know your favorite in the comments!"

Two Minutes with OORA : @melbourneinstruments Nina

video upload by OoraMusic

"TWO MINUTES WITH OORA
A Manifesto

This is not content.
This is not a demo.
This is not a track.
This is a moment.

RULES

→ Two minutes only.
No extension. No exception.
Time is the frame.

→ One take.
What happens, happens.
Mistakes are part of the record.

→ No presets.
Every session starts from silence.
Memory lives in the hands, not in machines.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Andreas Trobollowitsch // Live @ Erica Synths Garage

video upload by Erica Synths

"Andreas Trobollowitsch’s residency at Erica Synths Garage felt less like traditional sound design and more like an ongoing experiment in movement, texture and controlled unpredictability. A Vienna-based electroacoustic musician, composer and sound artist, Andreas works at the intersection of sound, visual art and mechanics - building self-developed instruments and exploring rotation, physical processes and unconventional ways of producing sound. During his stay, wooden turntables met drum machines, mechanical systems collided with synthesisers, and ideas developed through curiosity rather than fixed outcomes.

Read our interview with the artist: https://garage.ericasynths.lv/article...

Andreas Hopepage: https://trobollowitsch.hotglue.me/"

Solo for Kino - Silhouette Revue, 22th Nov 2025

video upload by SILHOUETTE-SYNTHESIZERS

""Solo for Kino" - a Silhouette Revue
( Acts: 00:07 - 04:52 - 10:06 - 16:58 - 21:46 - 23:36 - 27:32 )
Debut performance on November 22th 2025, Kino im Sprengel, Hannover, Germany -
The idea to make a feature length performance playing a Silhouette Synthesizer had been there since 2017. But besides developing the audivisual Silhouette Synthesizer it took that long time to get an idea about the story I wanted to tell, in picture, sound, poetry and rhythm.
The plot background is autobiographic and the media used in the individual acts uses disciplines of art and life I touched and used before: toys, puppets, machines, songs, poetry, audiovisual art, stages and audience. I wanted to implement a colourful variety and I tried not to limit my joy of combining and performing this.
I wanted to show the Silhouette´s game on the 2D screen but also to play inside and with the room between the screen and the audience, to make it a room where a multifunctional installation tells a multimedial interdisziplinary story. "Revue" means a special kind of show but also an overview, a compilation of scenes, maybe even a row of memories revisited.

00:07: Act 1: Room ("Zimmer")
04:52: Act 2: Bombers
10:06: Act 3: Drum and Eye Train ("Trommel und Augenzug")
16:58: Act 4: HHH-Waltz ("HHH-Walzer")
21:46: Act 5: Track-Man ("Schienenmann")
23:36: Act 6: Petrol Station of Tears ("Tankstelle der Tränen")
27:32: Act 7: (Encore): Fahrenheit

I hope you enjoy it,
best wishes,
Pit Przygodda

More info about Silhouette Synthesizers:
http://silhouette-synthesizer.de/"

DRUM DESIGNER DEMO

video upload by Noise Lab Sweden

"Here’s finally a demo of Drum Designer, a compact 18HP drum module for eurorack, built around six analog drum voices—each one with a personality of its own. Drawing inspiration from legendary analog drum machines, Drum Designer reinterprets those classic sounds through an entirely new circuit design, resulting in something familiar yet unmistakably original. This demo takes you through the separate voices and also a couple of examples with additional instruments."

DRUM DESIGNER
€370.00 (MSRP)

Drum Designer is a compact drum module built around a set of essential drum voices—each one with a personality of its own. Drawing inspiration from the legendary analog drum machines we all know and love, Drum Designer reinterprets those classic sounds through an entirely new circuit design, resulting in something familiar yet unmistakably original.

Built to thrive in any modular setup, simply feed it gates from your favorite sequencer—or any source capable of generating rhythmic patterns—and let Drum Designer deliver punchy, characterful drums with confidence. With a clean, self-explanatory interface made for fast, hands-on control, it's ideal for both studio work and live performance.

CLICK FOR MORE »

A Potted History of Drum Synthesizers

video upload by Alex Ball and Nathan Curran Tugg the Drummer (Tugg)

"A look at a niche within a niche, the drum synthesizer; a story that begins in the late 60s and continues to this very day."

0:00 Intro
0:25 Definition of a "Drum Synthesizer"
2:24 Precursors, DIY and Impakt
4:03 Star Instruments Synare
5:09 How these Instruments Worked
6:13 Syndrum: The First Famous Drum Synth
8:45 Ult-Sound: Japan's First Drum Synth
10:10 Pearl & Tama: Here Come The Drum Companies
13:20 Simmons: The Zeitgeist
19:21 The Flood Gates & Mega-Montage
24:48 Soviet Offerings
25:17 Decline and the Splitting Point
27:05 Vermona: A New Era
29:28 Elektron: Blurred Lines
30:58 A Plethora of Machines
32:24 Clavia/Nord: Simply Red
33:39 Modern Day: The Culmination
34:44 Summary & Thanks
35:23 Patron Outro Jam

Update:

1/14/26 Simmons SDS6 + TAMA DS200 + Alesis MIDIVERB II + CXM 1978

video upload by Cfpp0

"This is one of two videos I recorded for the great Alex Ball (‪@AlexBallMusic‬) to use in his video about the history of drum synthesizers. I’m using the Simmons SDS7 to trigger the two halves of the TAMA DS200, with reverbs from the Alesis MIDIVERB II and the CXM 1978. The DS200 is running hot through the MIDIVERB II, overloading the preamp. The CXM 1978 has a long predelay in lo-fi mode to create a grainy pitchy echo."

JP-8000 vs Nord Lead A1 vs Access Virus B — Which One Do You ACTUALLY Need?

video upload by Marc Renton

"The elephant in the room: Roland JP-8000, Clavia Nord Lead A1, and Access Virus B: Three legendary hardware synths from the late 90s/2000s that still hold up today. But which one is worth your money in 2026?

In this video, I go hands-on with all three machines from my studio, playing patches, presets, and sounds I programmed myself. No script, no BS — just honest thoughts after owning these synths for up to 21 years.

What you'll learn:
JP-8000: SuperSaw magic, but what are the real limitations of the filter?
Nord Lead A1: Why it's my go-to synth — and why the Moog filter is a game changer
Access Virus B: The all-in-one machine with 24-voice polyphony... and where it hits a wall
Should you buy hardware or use emulations? (honest take)

These are timeless machines. This knowledge will be valid in 10 or 20 years. Maybe some plugins won't exist by then — but these synths will.

CLICK FOR MORE »

BEAT GEMS - the new book on drum machines...

video upload by Bjooks

"Soon to launch on Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...

BEAT GEMS is a premium hardcover book from Bjooks that explores this remarkable history through rare and iconic machines, vivid photography, artist stories, technical insight, and the people who turned boxes of circuits into culture. The book explores more than six decades of electronic music history through the drum machines that changed the way music is made, recorded, and performed.

An inspiring and visually rich book for anyone interested in music technology, design, rhythm, and recording culture, this comprehensive work follows the evolution of drum machines from early experiments and preset rhythm companions to programmable icons, studio powerhouses, genre-defining classics, and the hardware revival of recent decades. The project structure already maps that story across eight major stages – from invention and standardization to creative misuse, programmability, studio control, genre definition, and rebirth.

The book presents comprehensive research, writing, editing, photography, and visual development by author Oli Freke and editor Kim Bjørn.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Erica Synths Introduces Resonant Filterbank

video upload by Erica Synths



Erica Synths new desktop Resonant Filterbank is set to ship on May 18th. Check with dealers on the right on price and availability.

Details via Erica Synths:

Desktop Resonant Filterbank is a performance and studio production-friendly FX unit - an analog stereo filterbank. It has a set of ten bandpass filters with hands-on control over each bands’ boost or cut and complex control configurations that can turn it into an unconventional multimode filter with an envelope follower and an instrument on its own when played with various resonance settings or even an experimental sound generator for no-input mixer-like setups.

You can use it with synthesizers, drum machines, modular setups and thanks to an analogue GAIN STAGE that boosts incoming signals up to +24dB, with guitars and pretty much any other instrument. This is a tool that can let you discover entirely new sounds from the instruments you thought you knew inside-out.

User snapshots (presets), MIDI control over all parameters and a sleek aluminium case to match our lineup of compact desktop units will make the Resonant Filterbank and integral part of many studio and live performance setups.

CLICK FOR MORE »

SONICWARE Introduces deconstruct MINIMAL | Hypnotic Groove Machine — LESS IS MORE

Playlist:

1. deconstruct MINIMAL | Hypnotic Groove Machine — LESS IS MORE - SONICWARE
2. deconstruct MINIMAL | Hypnotic Groove Machine [Official Demo Jam] - SONICWARE
3. Sonicware deconstruct MINIMAL - Factory Patterns (no talking) - Bonedo Synthesizers
4. SONICWARE deconstruct MINIMAL: Ambient Techno Jam - Freaky Tweaky
5. Sonicware deconstruct MINIMAL - Sound Demo (no talking) with custom patterns for Electronic Music - Limbic Bits




"The deconstruct series has arrived — redefining musical structure.
Limited introductory offer: $299 for the first 1,000 units. [see dealers on the right]

deconstruct MINIMAL is a groovebox combining a sampler-integrated drum machine and analog-modeling bass synthesizer, built for the hypnotic grooves of minimal techno and minimal house.

● Legendary Groove DNA
● Deep 10-Track Drum Machine
● Sonic Expansion Sampler
● Elastic Bass Synth
● Live-Boosting Effects

● Legendary Groove DNA

Built on the rhythmic and pitch drift of the legendary drum machines — designed to create hypnotic minimal grooves

● Deep 10-Track Drum Machine

Intuitive, deep groove editing with fully per-track accents, random velocity, swing, sub-steps, and phrase rotation

● Sonic Expansion Sampler

Drum machine–integrated 4-track sampler with a 4-bar loop track — beyond drums through textures and phrases

● Elastic Bass Synth

Fluid analog-modeling bass synth delivering acid bass lines and driving techno leads

● Live-Boosting Effects

Live-focused real-time effects for dynamic groove control and performance intensity

Specifications
Drum machine with sampler and bass synthesizer featuring 11-track construction

[Drum Machine]
• Recreates the distinctive groove of legendary drum machines, shaped by subtle rhythmic and pitch drift
• 9 tracks
• 16 drum kits
• Instruments: 10 banks - 130 sounds
• Sample-based engine with dedicated edit parameters for each bank
• BD1 and SD each feature dedicated synthesis engines
• HH recreates the characteristic sound variations of analog drum machines
• Diverse groove edits: Accent, random velocity, swing, sub-steps, etc. can be set per track
• Supports real-time recording via pads, alongside fast step input
• Equipped with an isolator for bold boosts/cuts and delicate tonal adjustment

[Sampler]
• Supports sample import/export and sampling via LINE IN or USB
• 4 tracks: sample selection on drum machine tracks 7–9, plus dedicated loop track 10
• Preset samples: 3 banks - 48 sounds
Track 7–9

CLICK FOR MORE »

Plinky 12 Chords: Ramp Arpeggios

video upload by Making Sound Machines

"On our way to #Superbooth 2026! Really excited to see all our friends and fellow makers again!

This year, we will be showing the Plinky 12 family of expressive polyphonic touch synthesizers.

In this video, Enrica, engineer and musician of Düsseldorf-based synth maker Making Sound Machines, explores the new Plinky 12 Chords play surface.

The built-in sequencer produces a calm pulse, triggering an Arpeggio ramp at the beginning of each bar. With her left hand, Enrica selects which harmonies to arpeggiate from the rainbow chord palette at the bottom of the instrument.

With her right hand, she plays an expressive melody on the polyphonic play surface. The notes in this view are arranged in a tetrachord layout and adapt automatically to each harmony selected.

All sounds are produced with Plinky 12's internal synth engine."

MadeOnEarth - LedRover Analog Stereo Distortion Pedal

MadeOnEarth - LedRover vs Dfam video upload by Isak Eliyahu

Press release follows:


LEDROVER: ANALOG STEREO DISTORTION

The LedRover is a 100% analog stereo diode-based distortion effect from MOE. It originated from our quest for the ultimate distortion effect for the TB-303, finalized after a year of experiments with various components including diodes,

LEDs, germanium, and custom potentiometers. The inspiration for the circuit came from a famous filter resonance design that we discovered uses diodes in the feedback loop, which creates a round sound with a distortion tone that can be aggressive while remaining musical and preserving the character of the original signal. Based on this, we designed two distortion modes for the LedRover using different diode placements. Following extensive calibration for synthesizers and drum machines, we have ensured the effect is suitable for a wide range of applications—from kicks and snares to cymbals, bass, and leads—offering everything from delicate warmth to extreme distortion.

The integrated Tilt filter was born from our understanding that filtering before overdrive is essential for emphasizing frequencies pleasant to the ear. Unlike standard Tilt filters that typically offer a 6dB/Octave slope, we designed the LedRover with a steeper 15dB/Octave slope for both low and high frequency ranges. This ensures the signal enters the distortion with high saturation, allowing the circuit to mangle the sound even further. We selected the reference point for the filter through trial and error across a variety of gear to emphasize mid-range frequencies rather than just extreme highs, providing a flattering response for the distortion circuit.

Additionally, we added an x10 Boost button to push instruments with weak outputs hard into the Tilt filter. This creates distortion right at the entrance of the filter, which can be controlled delicately with the input knob; as you attenuate the input volume, the action of the filter becomes significantly more pronounced, while higher values create a unique op-amp saturation that works in perfect synergy with the diode overdrive. We build the LedRover to the highest standards of reliability and feel, housed in a custom aluminum box with resilient UV-printing and custom potentiometers.

Feature List:

100% Analog Stereo Diode-Based Colorful Distortion Circuit.

Dual Distortion Modes: Two distinct distortion characters.

Custom 15dB/Octave Tilt Filter.

x10 Boost Switch: Push weak instrument signals and overdrive the Tilt filter op-amps for additional colorful harmonics.

Two-Mode VU Meter: Visual monitoring of the wet and dry signals.

Dedicated Input and Output Controls.

Buffered Bypass.

High Standard Build Quality: Custom aluminum box with resilient UV-printing and custom potentiometers.

Compact Form Factor: W: 12cm (4.7") x D: 10cm (3.9") x H: 5.5cm (2.2").

We are very excited to officially debut the LedRover and our beloved Analog Chorus 60 at Superbooth in Berlin, Booth B048. We will have a demo station equipped with two sets of headphones, but you are also welcome to connect your own.

www.moe-shop.net

Publison Infernal Machine + LinnDrum / Jam 1

video upload by Valmont

"Have you ever wondered if a Linndrum could sound... Not like a Linndrum?! Here's a first jam featuring a fully restored one for a client, along with a Publison Infernal Machine reissue, hand-built by my friend Valentin, aka “Vintage Standards” :)

LINNDRUM - This one came with a fun issue: the snare would trigger the side stick, and the toms would trigger the congas. Apart from various CMOS quirks of that kind, I rebuilt all sliders/faders (volume + pan), the trigger buttons and replaced the pots with custom clones made by my friend Manfred from VintageSynth&Co. I also swapped the audio caps for polypropylene ones and rebuilt the power supply. During the process, the CPU card failed so I had to debug the sequencer - turned out to be a bad address latch and a dead bus gate (no idea what caused that). All in all, a serious overhaul!

INFERNAL MACHINE - A very special device. The IM90 was originally designed by French engineer Philippe Petitdemange between 1983 and 1984, with development continuing until the final DSP update in 1989. Publison devices are infamous for their opacity: components were often stripped of references, making repairs impossible. No schematics were ever published or even formally documented, which made the Infernal Machine both exceptionally rare and subject to extreme prices (I’ve seen one listed around 20k€!!!)
Following Philippe’s assassination in 2019, much of the design knowledge risked being lost. Jonathan Prager was designated as the official Publison legacy/maintenance technician and undertook the task of redrawing schematics based on the original archives he bought to preserve these machines. Meanwhile, Valentin, a French expatriate living in Japan, independently carried out his own reverse-engineering and successfully built a true 1:1 clone. His version (named the Celestial Machine) fits the strictest definition of a clone: an exact replica running the original code, featuring a beautifully recreated remote controller and using NOS components throughout ; except for a new OLED display (co-designed with Bob Grieb of TaunTek).
This special Publison-badged unit was sent to me for testing and demonstration to original Publison co-founder D. Dean - more info soon maybe :)

By the way! If you’re curious, I wrote my master’s thesis on Publison, it was published in French (deal with it lmao) : https://www.ens-louis-lumiere.fr/wp-c..."

GCS Model 8 - A New Tape Machine DAW

video upload by Gulf Coast Synthesis

"I've been working for months perfecting a new DAW that captures the exact workflow and sound of analog tape. Every aspect of the tape path is emulated using data I captured from my own tape machines. You can play with the tape as its recording to record warbles, draw defects, age the tape as you play it, varispeed record, and essentially any other function that's possible on a reel to reel.

I'm gearing up to release it in the next couple weeks but am happy to send out codes for people to try it out: https://www.gulfcoastsynthesis.com/beta

It allows 8, 16, and 24 tracks and various tape types like cassette, 1/4", 1/2" and 1".

Its also available on iPad:
You can try it via the link below:
https://testflight.apple.com/join/Q76..."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Patching Exciting Modulation for Filters // FIRST PATCH with Swell from Bartola Instruments

video upload by DivKid

"Here we have the new Swell Eurorack filter and valve gain stage from Bartola Instruments. We'll be exploring this in the usual in depth DivKid demo style in the future but wanted to share our literal first patch playing around with saturating, character oozing valve distortion and filtering ... and in doing so, share some modulation tips about how we like to patch modulation, mixing sources and making things feel exciting and dynamic. I hope the patch notes below are useful and let us know what you'd like to see more of with Swell."

"*PATCH NOTES*

The simple bit first - AUDIO PATH - two saw wave oscillators, changing the octaves between them at points, mixed into 'Swell' and then output into some stereo FX for background ambience.

The modulation is where this gets exciting going into the FM input (which modules filter cut off frequency) is my main envelope, a simple decay envelope. Resonance is modulated by a step sequence (external attenuation is the key here). Then the v/oct input is used as a place to input a mix of modulation. The first is an accent envelope, patching a less dense gate rhythm into a second envelope and patching that into a mixer. Then outputting the mixer into the v/oct input of the filter. The second is then the same step sequence as the resonance.

So with the mixer into the v/oct and the FM input I have 3 modulation sources modulating the filter frequency - main envelope, accent envelope & step sequence.

Modules used - Thonk Synth VCO, Joranalogue Cycle 5, TINRS Next Tuesday, Making Sound Machines Multiplikand, Bartola Instruments Swell, WMD + Infrasonic Audio Cosmis Debris, Vostok Instruments Fuji, Apollo View IOU, Thonk Synth dual VCA.

THIS VIDEO IS SPONSORED BY BARTOLA INSTRUMENTS* they have funded the creation of this first patch video and future demo video with Swell. Any questions just ask."

Plinky 12 Chords: 80s Brass

video upload by Making Sound Machines

"In this clip, Enrica from Making Sound Machines improvises on the Plinky 12 Chords play surface.

The internal sequencer advances through a progression of harmonies, playing and arpeggiating a new chord each bar. With her fingertips, Enrica improvises an expressive melody on the play surface.

The notes in this view are a stack of the chord notes for each of the harmonies from the rainbow chord palette at the bottom of the instrument. This allows Enrica to freely arpeggiate and transition from harmony to harmony, sometimes leading, sometimes trailing behind the chords launched from the sequence.

The polyphonic play surface reads both play position and pressure of the touch, allowing for an intuitive and nuanced play style. All sounds are produced with Plinky 12's internal synth engine."