Skybound - full album | rhythmic dark ambient performance with analog synthesizers

video upload by Caught In Joy

"Skybound drifts into a darker side of analog ambient — long shadows, slow-moving bass clouds, quiet tension, and melodic fragments floating through the darkness. It’s deeper, heavier, and more atmospheric than my usual bright, drifting releases… but still gentle, still spacious, still grounded in the warmth of live analog instruments.

If you enjoy immersive night listening, dim-light focus, or slow emotional reset sessions, this one should land well.

Over 1 hour 20 minutes Bandcamp 24-bit / 48 kHz download extended version: https://caughtinjoy.bandcamp.com/

Tracklist:
00:00 - Ascender
23:53 - Nighjet
33:18 - Skybound

🎛 Gear Used
Moog One • Moog Matriarch • Moog Model D • Prophet-10 • TEAC 80-8 • RME UFX+ • SSL MADI AX"

disting NT - Breakbeat slicing

video upload by Expert Sleepers

"This video shows the disting NT as a self contained sample slicer with effects.

A combination of simple algorithms is used to randomise the slice selection, but maintaining some degree of the usual progression through the sample - also while forcing the 'one' to the first slice of the sample (go search up 'Bootsy’s Funk Formula').

A Kirbinator and flanger provide additional ear candy."

Ambient Things | OP-XY Stranger Things theme Cover

video upload by Lo-fi Pask

"An ambient reinterpretation of the iconic Stranger Things theme, created entirely on the Teenage Engineering OP-XY.

To celebrate the release of Stranger Things 5, I started working on a traditional cover using the OP-XY and the fantastic Danger Strings sound pack. But while searching through my library, I stumbled upon a pad that inspired a completely different direction.

From that sound came the sketch of an atmospheric, dreamy ambient track. Almost as a joke, I layered the classic Stranger Things arpeggio on top, and surprisingly, it just worked. That accidental blend gave life to this ambient-style Stranger Things cover, something a bit different from the usual reinterpretations.

It wasn’t an easy process: I changed notes, key, textures, and more than once I felt like abandoning the idea. But eventually, everything clicked into place.

🔥 If you’re into ambient music, synth textures, Teenage Engineering gears, or Stranger Things' iconic sound design, this track is for you.

Hope you enjoy it!

🎧 For the full immersive experience — subtle textures, evolving pads, spatial details, and low-end nuances — listening with headphones is highly recommended."

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."

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microKORG2 vs GAIA 2: Which synth is best?

video upload by MR TUNA Music

"Its time for a synth 2 synth showdown... what is better: The Roland GAIA 2 or the new KORG MicroKORG2? They are both very similar virtual analog subtractive synthesizers designed around portability, so why pick one over the other??

Im not sure I can answer that question but I can share some experience on what I like best about each keyboard and what I feel really stands out feature-wise and what you might even consider against them.

As usual this is an extremely impromptu and casual chat in the studio-- no script, no plan, just some good old fashioned #synthtalk

Let me know what one you'd buy or what you think is the better value!"

Roland SH-2 Analog Synthesizer SN 034024

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

via this Reverb listing

"Roland SH-2 Analog Synthesizer (1979) w/ Original Gig Bag included for free!

I’m pricing it lower than usual for a quick sale due to an unexpected expense. No issues with the synth — just need to move it quickly.

It’s in good condition, fully functional, and sounds amazing — rich, fat bass and creamy leads that only real analog gear can deliver.

Cosmetically, there are some normal signs of age, but everything works as it should — all keys, sliders, and switches respond perfectly.

The SH-2 is a simple layout, huge sound, and built like a tank."

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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."

HALG-CD 4Mb Memory Card

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

via this eBay listing

"This card original circuit was fully developed by DoJoe - J. Fenkes and with the great community of keyboard lovers. HALG modified the mechanical, the circuit, and incorporated couple important changes:

✔ The 3 main slide switches that are on the back of the card are stronger now;
✔ The components placement are fully located inside of plastic cover to protect against ESD (electrostatic discharge)
✔ A card enclosure was designed to protect the card when you need to carry around
✔ A plastic case now fits perfectly to cover components and switches;
This memory card is a replacement for Roland’s M-128, M-256 and M-512 cards, as well as the electrically compatible Akai BR-16 and BR-32 cards. Compared to the original cards, this card has two advantages:
✔ It does not require a backup battery. It uses magnetoresistive RAM for storage rather than
regular static RAM, which is a type of RAM that can typically keep its data for twenty years
before it needs to be refreshed.
✔ A single card actually stores 16 M-128 / M-256 cards or 8 M-512 cards, which can be
accessed by a pair of convenient switch sliders at the rear end of the card.
✔ Like the original card, it also comes with a write protect switch.

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Akai AX80 with Tauntek Firmware

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

via this Vemia listing

Note final Vemia listings end today. Click the auction link on top when you get there for additional listings.

"As is usual with these, the high gloss end cheeks are not as beautiful as they once were. This also has one repaired key. But it's a great and fairly rare synth, boosted by the brilliant Tauntek firmware upgrade: http://www.tauntek.com/AX80.htm . Just provide your own IEC mains lead. VEMIA will collect and pack this heavy, fragile synth beautifully: 30GBP."

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Waldorf Wave - full working order but messy

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

via this Vemia listing

Note: listings are ending today with a handful extended through Sunday.

Click the auction link on top when you get there for additional listings.

"Selling my Wave Waldorf (the standard 16 voices / 61 keys / blue model), with usual hydraulic cylinder failure, and, sadly, paintwork also started to deteriorate seriously (especially on the right side). Apart from that, Synth is perfectly functional, with fan replaced by a silent one (noctua), floppy drive replace by a HXC floppy simulator."

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Simmons SDS3 with pads- stunning instrument

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

via this Vemia listing

Click the auction link on top when you get there for additional listings.

"I was always a little surprised by how valuable these Simmons SDS3s are, and put it down to their extreme rarity and the wow factor of owning something from the Musicaid Simmons era. But I've been listening to what this machine can do, and I begin to see there is so much more. It is simply a genius design. The variety of sounds is stunning - it's almost like a fully-featured four-voice synth as well as a great drum synth. FM is brilliant, and the whole design (using permanently running ladder filters for the oscillators?) is mind-blowing.

This example, serial number 0072, is in perfect working order, after literally days of restoration by nLi. Cosmetically, the SDS3 itself looks great. The knobs are not original but look pretty nice, there are some small scrapes and marks on the panel and wood endcheeks, but overall it could be 8/10 especially given its age. The pads are very well used, but have been thoroughly restored and are totally functional and original.

To get more info about the SDS3, check out where Alex Ball has done his usual excellent rundown:" [posted here]

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Synth Wizardry in Unify 2

video upload by Keith Crosley

https://www.wavetables.lol

"Unify 2 from PlugInGuru is here, and I'm taking a look at my favorite features of this super-interesting meta-synth plugin and sound design environment! I walk through some cool patches of my own design, showing how I use Unify, abuse the Omnisphere FX rack, take a tour of the new Guru Sampler 2, and demonstrate how to use the "Polybox" MIDI effect to create effects you might have never heard before. Whoa, it's a lot, as usual... So grab your macro knobs and get ready for a PLUGINS-A-GO-GO episode of your favorite talky synthesizer content show!"

Making a Drum Machine from Scratch with BINOME MK3 + Live Eurorack Jam

video upload by SOVAGE ENGINEERING

"An uncut and unedited video of how I build a full drum machine from scratch using only three BINOME MK3 modules as sound sources.
All drums are generated from the BINOMEs, with additional internal processing from other SOVAGE modules.
As usual, FAILLE TEMPORELLE and BAGARRE are mandatory in all my sound processing, secret sauce oblige! No external processing"

00:00 INTRO
01:14 KICK-BASSDRUM
03:39 BASS-MELO
06:12 HI-HATZ
07:55 TOMS AND MORE
15:06 EXPERIMENTZ
22:49 SUM UP
26:10 TRIG+GATE TRICK
29:21 FREESTYLE JAM

Yamaha SK20 SN 3632

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

via this Vemia listing

Click the auction link on top when you get there for additional listings.

"Nice condition vintage analogue 'Symphonic Ensemble' polysynth / string synth / organ with excellent control over tremolo, ensemble and vibrato. With three outputs you can send different parts to different effects. The string volume pedal is also very effective at breathing life into sounds. There is a multi-pin output for a rotary speaker - not checked. But everything else was serviced in 2024. As usual, the massive wood-veneer endcheeks are not in perfect condition, but the control surface and keys are very good. Serial number 8632, switchable voltage, currently with a UK plug. These are solid machines: packing 18GBP."

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Korg Mono/Poly original (not perfect)

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

via this Vemia listing

Click the auction link on top when you get there for additional listings.

"Pretty good condition considering how old it is - the endcheeks have the usual minor damage on the corners but the panel, knobs, keys etc are very good. It needs a litle work* to be 100%: it has probably about 4 duff keys (will need re-coating with the special compound you can get) otherwise works over CV, Internally from what I remember, it has a slight crack on the pcb which had been patched up and resoldered by the previous owner. Few noisy pots etc."

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Jenny Ondioline for Complete Restoration

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

via this Vemia listing

Click the auction link on top when you get there for additional listings.

Pic of the inside back below.

"Rare French synth from 40 50's era : iconic Ondioline by Georges Jenny it is a complete one and will need full service (as usual for original Ondioline) pictures show cosmetics conditions A real great project for people who are looking to this great instrument Can ship all over the world in safe package Tubes will be dissassembled and wrapped in bubble paper, and all part well protected as requested for such iconic and fragile piece of musical instrument Vemia might be able to collect it directly from my studio according to their collect organization"

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Yamaha CS30 SN 4145

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

via this Vemia listing

Click the auction link on top when you get there for additional listings.

Pic of the inside.

"Released in 1977, the Yamaha CS30 is the flagship of their CS Monophonic range. It is as close to a modular synthesiser that Yamaha ever made and its modulation and routing options are extensive.
This one plays and sounds great. The synthesiser responds to all the pots and sliders as it should and it's ready to use and create weird and wonderful noises and textures. However, to get it to 100 percent functionality the synth requires a service to fix a few issues. Neither the combined 1+2 audio jack nor headphone output work, though the individual 1 and 2 jacks are fine. The sequencer works when switched to Manual and steps through by pushing the red button. However, the 'Clock' function only works when the synth has been powered on for a while and has 'warmed-up'.

Cosmetically the synth is in pretty good shape with nothing broken or missing. There are lots of very small dots of blistered paint, some with a hint of surface rust. The most noticeable ones are at the top of the control panel but these have not increased in size or number over the past decade-or-so. They don't look too bad, in my opinion. Inside is clean and dry with no signs of damp. One of the C keys has a cigarette burn (WHY??!!!) which has melted the plastic slightly. However, all keys are secure and function correctly. The case has a few marks here and there, but overall it looks good.

The case was designed to make servicing very easy. The front control panel is hinged at the back and can be opened by removing just two screws from each side panel. This then reveals a very neat collection of boards and wiring.

The CS30 can be easily integrated into a modern MIDI studio setup. By using an appropriate converter you can interface various features of the synthesiser via its numerous control inputs and outputs:

Foot Controller (CV) for volume in.

Sequencer CV and Trigger (gate) out.

Key Voltage (pitch CV) in and out.

Trigger (gate) in and out.

External (audio to the filter) in.

It features two voltage controlled oscillators (VCOs), two voltage controlled filters (VCFs - both featuring low-pass, band-pass and high-pass options), two voltage controlled amplifiers (VCAs) and three envelope generators. It also sports a ring modulator and a voltage controlled low-frequency oscillator (LFO).

It is fairly unusual for a hard-wired synthesizer in that it features a variety of switches which allow the user to re-route the signal flow from the usual VCO-VCF-VCA convention. For example, VCO 1 can output a square wave through VCF 1 whilst also outputting a high-pass filtered sawtooth wave through VCO 2. Another example is that the envelope generators can be assigned to any of the VCO, VCF and VCA modules and can also be inverted. Because the LFO is voltage controlled, the oscillating speed can be governed by an envelope generator and different waveforms can be applied to the other modules all at the same time. The CS30 also features an external signal input for filtering other musical instruments and audio sources, which can also be used as a modulation source. It includes an onboard eight-step analogue sequencer."

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Original Black Oberheim TVS Two-Voice System

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

via this Vemia listing

Click the auction link on top when you get there for additional listings.

"One of very many items from Calum Hunter's superb home studio - and probably the jewel in the crown. This is a rare black version of Tom Oberheim's classic original Two-Voice synth. Cosmetically it looks a bit tatty at first glance - but on closer inspection, the bad areas where the paint has come off in places are all just on the chassis surrounding the SEMs and sequencer. Oberheim's preparation of these areas was obviously not up to their usual standard. Those pieces are usually white, and they simply over-sprayed them without preparing the surface well enough. In contrast, look at the black section immediately above the keyboard, which is really good.
All the modules (the important bit) are actually in extremely good condition - and apart from the sequencer having four little knob caps missing, near mint.

It would be simple to respray the bad chassis bits if you wanted. The tolex, keys and case hardware are pretty good for their age. There is no lid. The mains socket has been replaced with a safer IEC one. Voltage (TBC) is UK /European.

It has been tested by Audiocircus and is sounding great."

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Complexe PWM with the TRICOMP - Eurorack module

video upload by LARIX ELEKTRO

"After a comparison with the TIME-SHIFTER (see the last video) [posted here], let's go back to the TRICOMP alown, this time at audio rate.
The basis for creating a square wave signal is to use a comparator, starting from a sawtooth or triangle wave. Ok, this is in all synths…
But what can you do with 3 comparators, along with a whole logic circuit connecting them? ...not to mention, if you only get pulses…

In short, a few examples of using the TRICOMP to make PWM a bit richer and more complex than usual.

Thanks to the excellent ROSSUM TRIDENT, which served as my sound source.

TRICOMP available on our web site:
https://www.larix-elektro.com/PRODUCT..."

DIY Synthesizer for the Solder-Shy: XVA1 FPGA Build

video upload by Floyd Steinberg

"🔧 Build a #DIY #FPGA #Synthesizer—No Soldering Needed! Discover how to assemble the XVA1 (aka XFM2) synthesizer—powered by the Artix A7 35T FPGA—entirely on a breadboard. This beginner-friendly, no-solder build is perfect for synth enthusiasts, makers, and curious DIYers.

🎶 Developed by René Ceballos @reneceballos5211 of https://www.futur3soundz.com/ , the XVA1 delivers rich, polyphonic sound and flexible patch editing. In this step-by-step guide, you'll learn how to build, wire, and test the synth—plus hear it in action.

📋 Chapters & Timecodes
00:00 – Sound demo preview
00:13 – What is the XVA1/XFM2?
01:56 – What you’ll need (parts list)
05:47 – Placing components on the breadboard
09:19 – Wiring (Part 1)
15:08 – What is an FPGA?
16:53 – Wiring (Part 2)
21:50 – Installing the firmware
22:22 – First test run
23:57 – Troubleshooting tips
25:20 – Patch editor & bundled software
26:03 – Sound demo 1
27:16 – Sound demo 2
28:25 – Final thoughts: Was this a good idea?

📌 Keywords for search: DIY FPGA synthesizer, XVA1 synth build, XFM2 breadboard synth, Artix A7 35T, no solder synth, FPGA music hardware, beginner synth project, electronic music DIY

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