Getting experimental with Ear Modular Hadouken, Trot & Boxing

video upload by Signal Sounds

"The Unperson is back on the channel to explore three cool and affordable new units all the way from the underground modular scene in Beijing. Between them, Ear Modular's devices cover noise/random/S&H (Hadouken); unique, pingable filtering (Trot); and switching/logic-based fun (Boxing).

They're available here:
https://www.signalsounds.com/ear-modu..."

HIT EM In The Underground | Make Noise

video upload by MAKEN0ISE

"'Hit Em' is a genre of music literally dreamed up by Drew Daniel of Matmos. After he published a tweet describing it, hundreds of people started posting their own Hit Em music.

The parameters are simple: 212 beats per minute. 5/4 time. Super crunched out sounds. Let’s be honest here… that is in our wheelhouse."

http://www.makenoisemusic.com

Introducing GForce Oberheim OB-1

video upload by GForce Software

Playlist:
Introducing GForce Oberheim OB-1
GForce Oberheim OB-1 Mini Demos
GForce Oberheim OB-1 Walkthrough

GForce Software and Oberheim proudly unveil the Oberheim OB-1.

It’s incredible that the 1978 hardware Oberheim® OB-1 has remained under the radar for so long. The GForce Oberheim OB-1 broadens the Oberheim sound palette in ways that we believe will see it become a big favourite among techno and electro producers and underground artists, as well as composers for its character and anyone cherishing vintage analogue tones. Its rich, aggressive sound and expansive feature set make it an essential hustler.

The GForce Oberheim OB-1 delivers a sound as full and robust as the legendary Minimoog® yet as aggressive and snarling as the MS-20®. It strikes the perfect balance between these two icons, making it an incredibly versatile tool in any producer’s arsenal.

Whether you’re conjuring deep bass lines or soaring leads or looking for something a little extra special, the Oberheim OB-1 is your ultimate ally in the studio.

Join the rebellion against mundane sounds and bring balance to your music with the timeless strength of the OB-1. Let the OB-1 guide your sonic journey like a true master.

HOW WAS IT AUGMENTED?

The GForce Oberheim OB-1 emulation has been richly enhanced to bring the best of both worlds—vintage charm aligned with modern possibilities. Here are the key enhancements:

Enhanced Signal Path: The OB-1 retains the authentic, rich tones of the original while benefiting from a new waveform alongside waveshape modulation, discreet level for the oscillators, sub and noise, LFO sync & retrig, Envelope looping, discreet key tracking, cross-mod, pan spread and more.

Polyphony up to 16 Voices and Unison: Unlike the monophonic original, we’ve added polyphony and mono unison.

X-Modifier: Unlocks unparalleled creative possibilities by enabling direct modulation of most parameters, transforming your sonic landscape with ease.

High Pass Filter: This addition allows for more precise control over the frequency spectrum, enabling cleaner mixes and more intricate sound design.

Chorus, Delay, and Reverb Effects: Integrated effects expand the sonic palette, allowing for lush, atmospheric, and dynamic soundscapes.

Four Versatile Macros: These provide real-time control over key parameters, enhancing expressive performance and sound customization. Macro4 can be modulated by the sequencer. This can get very creative.

Built-in Arpeggiator and Sequencer: These tools make it easy to create dynamic rhythmic and melodic patterns, adding depth and complexity to your music. The sequencer features individual step length and probability, as well as a track dedicated to sequencing Macro4.

Advanced Patch Browser: Quickly find and customize the perfect sound from a vast preset library, streamlining the creative process.

These enhancements ensure that our Oberheim OB-1 is not just a nostalgic homage but a powerful and versatile musical instrument.

You can find additional details and demos at GForce Software.

SEQUENTIAL PROPHET REV2 ARCHIVES

video upload by UNDERGROUND NOISE

MUSICGEN AI Generated Electronic Music

Two MUSICGEN AI generated releases in via Liquid Sky Berlin.

First up:

AI sessions #01 - brainFKK noise - entirely created by AI by Gehirn Bernstein featuring MusicGen & Dr Walker

"all sounds you hear were generated with and by MUSICGEN
an AI freeware
arranged and mixed in ableton live
100% of the income of this release - well.... its not a "real" release - more a kind of test what is possible - goes into the Liquid Sky reforestation project.

so lets go & plant some trees!"

2nd:

#AI techno #01 - created with artificial intelligence by djungle fAIver

"Fresh from the digital womb of MUSICGEN, an AI that spins "text-to-music", comes this experimental release.

We kicked off with our hopes tuned to minimal, questioning if this machine intelligence could vibe with our underground ethos.

But, damn, the bot surprised us, spitting out raw, pulsating bad ass underground beats that made our speakers throb and clip.

On track 02 & 05 we cheated :
on track 02 we added a drumloop in the background as the AI generated loops didn t have much high freqs.

On track 05 we sprinkled in a touch of 303, just to spice up the synthetic stew. The rest, though? 100% AI machine-crafted. Pure digital grungey dirty noisey artificial intelligence techno, birthed from MUSICGEN's binary brain.

We were only using Ableton for arrangements and mixdown and some FX like eqs and compressors.

Sure, the AI's BY FAR not perfect - but the ride's only just begun.

We did not correct rendering errors from the AI.
Some of the generated loops are really WAY out of timing.

100% of the income from this release goes into the Liquid Sky reforestation.
credits
released June 16, 2023"

Elektron Officially Introduces the New Syntakt 12 Track Drum Computer and Synthesizer

video upload by Elektron

This post is developing. Check back for new videos and updates below.

Street price appears to be $999. See dealers on the right for availability. In via Alex Timchak.

"We are delighted to announce the release of Syntakt – the 12 track drum computer and synthesizer that fuses digital and analog synthesis together in one music megabox.

Enter this sonic metropolis and experience epic sounds from the past, while pulling others into existence from the future. Syntakt is a drum specialist, full of percussive possibilities, but its four analog and eight digital tracks can be used for melody, harmony, and bass sounds too, giving you a musical melting pot with dozens of machines at your disposal.

Affect the sound of each machine with the intuitive and playful graphics. Add analog distortion and filtering to your mix or separate tracks, using the FX block. Run wild and free with the four expressive modifiers. Access a variety of different scales via the keyboard mode. And create dynamic soundscapes with its phenomenal sequencer.

The streets of Syntakt are never-ending, the neon lights are never-dimming, its underground is fathomless. Discover worlds within worlds."


video upload by Elektron

"Syntakt is a sonic metropolis of machines, fusing digital and analog synthesis together in one drum and melody megabox. A 12 track drum computer & synthesizer melting pot like Syntakt needs a majestic guide. Let the intrepid Elin Piel show you around the many features at your disposal."

Baseck Plays : Elektron Syntakt : 12 Track Analog & Digital Synthesizer / Drum Computer

video upload by Perfect Circuit

"Elektron's newest device is finally here : The Syntakt ! A 12 Track Synthesizer and Drum Computer!
Let's see how far our friend Baseck can push this new machine.
Grab one NOW : https://bit.ly/3EEzgOE

Read our Signal article dissecting the Syntakt : https://bit.ly/37Cj446

0:00 - TUFF ACID TECHNOLOGY
1:19 - GLITCHIN' N FINGER RIPPIN'
2:24 - DETUNED DRUM DESTROYER
4:39 - SYNTAKT STEPPPPUHH
6:10 - THE ENCHIRIDION LIVE"

Elektron Syntakt : Analog & Digital Synthesizer and Drum Computer : Walkthrough with Mario !

video upload by Perfect Circuit

"Our pal Mario from Elektron came down to the Perfect Circuit HQ and walked us through the ins and outs of their newest Synthesizer and Drum Computer : Syntakt

0:00 - Intro & overview
1:30 - Machines & Visual Language
3:27 - Beats To Melt Brains To
3:59 - Modifiers
7:40 - FX Track
11:50 - Outro Jams

Elektron Syntakt Analog & Digital Drum Machine

video upload by Reverb

"Elektron's new instrument, the Syntakt, is a powerful combination of analog drum sounds, digital synthesis, and new performance features not seen on any other Elektron product. In partnership with Elektron, watch as our host Fess breaks down these features."

Getting Started With The Syntakt

video upload by EZBOT

"In this video I show you how to use the Elektron Syntakt. This tutorial requires no prior experience with an Elektron product.

Get yourself a Syntakt here and help support the channel at no extra cost to you: https://shrsl.com/3hm0m

Step up your game with 1 on 1 lessons: https://www.ezbot.live/"

Syntakt and Octatrack Performance - The Ultimate Duo

video upload by EZBOT

"In this video I perform one of my new tracks using the Elektron Syntakt and the Octatrack MK2. All the sounds in this video are from the Syntakt, I am using the Octatrack with my performance template.

Get my Octatrack performance template (among other rewards) by joining my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ezbot"

Syntakt Demo and Overview

video upload by Patchwerks

Learn more about the Elektron Syntakt here: https://bit.ly/pw_syntakt

Elektron Syntakt. Techno and Electro Patterns

video upload by Adam Jay

"Some patterns I’ve made with Syntakt. No processing.

Things I love: The machines! The flexibility!

It can be so many things.
8 tracks of Model cycles chord machines with deeper control, 2x LFO per track, full envelopes, dual filters, p-lockable FX track. Or half a Rytm , plus new digital drum synth and bass/lead synth machines.

Or a mix between.

All with a tasty chunk of analog Heat drive, filter, and EG, but p-lockable!

There is an inverted envelope shape in the analog fx that I use as a master compressor. The drive is lovely. I also love using some of the analog kicks with a bandpass filter for textures. Can even get kinda of vinyl pops and clicks out of these.

Can have up to 3 simultaneous analog DVCO machines."


video upload by loopop

TIMELINE:
0:00 Intro
1:35 Overview
4:35 Connectivity
5:30 Project scope
7:05 Panel layout
10:10 Digital machines
17:45 Analog machines
23:10 Analog FX Block
25:15 FX sequencing
26:45 Trig mods
28:50 Sequencing
29:30 Patterns & scales
30:50 Grid rec
31:30 Live rec
31:50 Step rec
32:45 Param locks
34:20 Conditional trigs
35:40 Filters
37:05 LFOs
38:45 Digital FX
39:55 Mixer
40:10 MIDI sequencing
42:00 Sound banks
42:35 Expression
43:20 Misc combos
44:05 Pattern chains
44:45 Pros & cons
48:05 Factory patterns

Elektron Syntakt : Live remake of "The Last V8" - C64 SID chiptune

video upload by tubesockor

"The brand new Elektron Syntakt is here!
I'm doing a brief overview, followed by a SID emulation rendition of Rob Hubbard's theme music for the C64 game 'The Last V8' from 1985. Then it grows into a live jam, using all the 12 digital and analog tracks of the Syntakt, including the features such as analog distortion.

0:00 Intro
1:50 Song starts
3:57 Live jam!"

Full details:


12 Track Drum Computer & Synthesizer

Enter a sonic metropolis with Syntakt. Analog and Digital synthesis. Drum and melody. In full fusion.

All your sound crafting, sequencing, and performance needs are fulfilled, in an all-round music mega box that fits in your lap. Syntakt is a drum specialist, full of percussive possibilities, but its four analog and eight digital tracks can be used for melody, harmony, and bass sounds too. Experience epic sounds from the past, pulling others into existence from the future.

The streets of Syntakt are never-ending, the neon lights are never-dimming, its underground is fathomless. Discover worlds within worlds. Adore now. Explore forever.

Meet the machines
There are 35 sound-generating machines to call on, covering a wide range of drum and melodic sounds. Some machines have been reimagined from Analog Rytm and Model:Cycles, with deeper sound control for the latter, while others are entirely new to the world.

For you to create and personalize your sound, we’ve made sure you’ve got a set of parameter controls tailor-made for each machine. They let you quickly tweak the nature of each type of sound, showing you just the relevant options. Comprehensive without being overwhelming. Let loose with analog or digital overdrive, depending on the tracks you’re playing with.

The graphics more than play their part too, with plenty of animated icons offering visual guidance and extra clarity on how each parameter affects the sound. The joys of tweaking shouldn’t only be for the ears after all.

Special effects
Syntakt lets you route any of your synth tracks or external audio sources through the FX block. This gives you analog distortion and filtering, and a couple of LFOs to go to town with. Additionally, you can also call on Delay and Reverb as powerhouse send effects.

And all of the above effects can be sequenced with the FX track. Have them kick in at just the right moment. Add accents and dramatic changes to the selected tracks or external audio. Or use it as a master track for ducking and gating effects.

Modify the moment
Wield a little extra trig craft using the four modifiers, offering four varied levels of expression. Configure the first two modifiers to give you the retrig or velocity behavior you desire, and use the other two to access custom intensities of other parameters. They’re ready for action regardless of which synth track you’re using.

And the best bit is that they don’t just give you that extra playability fun in the here and now, you can also capture the moment by recording to the sequencer.

The keys to the city
Syntakt’s keyboard mode gives you a whole bunch of different scales to play with.

There are some familiar faces and some maybe a little less familiar for you to try out, helping you discover new places and taking things to another level.

Play across a single octave like on a piano keyboard. Or use fold, and have several octaves laid out in front of you.

Deep sound-shaping
Syntakt comes full of filter and envelope goodness. All tracks have a Multimode filter to put to use allowing you to emphasize different parts of your sound, with the digital tracks also able to call on Parametric EQ and a Base-width filter – an additional filter giving you even more sonic control.

Choose from two amplitude envelope types to define the ideal contour of your sound. Try out the ADSR envelope – for your wicked synth lines – or the simpler AHD envelope – perfect for transient percussive sounds.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Subterranean Commute || Ambient Eurorack Modular Synthesizer + Moog Semi-Modulars

video upload by Sam Kyzivat

"The year is 2130, and major cities have begun moving underground. Those who can afford it have followed. For the rest of us, a 30-floor long, 100-foot wide escalator commute starts and ends each day. The overhead lights have been expertly tuned to mimic the sunrise, and the transition from natural to artificial light is hardly detectable. As you descend, you close your eyes and mentally hit shuffle on a curated playlist of 6 minute long ambient tracks (the exact length of the trip) and a track called 'Subterranean Commute' starts playing. You didn't sleep well last night — the ceaseless low frequency rumbles from underground construction don't seem to bother anyone but you. The music fills your head and you immediately feel the tension in your shoulders relax. The algorithm has chosen well. You look around you at the sea of heads, some gently bobbing, some motionless, a scattering of head-bangers, and wonder what everyone else is listening to...

Patch notes:

RINGS, in modal resonator mode with two-note polyphony, is receiving gate and pitch CV from an arpeggio on the KEYSTEP PRO that's playing back randomly. The output is going into BEADS for clocked grain generation, which is creating a quasi-contrapuntal melody to the input material.

MOTHER-32 is receiving gate (Euclidean rhythm) and pitch CV (quantized random) from PAM's, with its internal LFO modulating the filter cutoff. It's also sending noise into RIPPLES for filtering (more apparent in the second half of the track).

DFAM, with a short VCA decay, is receiving somewhat erratic triggers from PAM's Euclidean rhythm via MOTHER-32.

STO is receiving random pitch CV from NOISE TOOLS' sample & hold circuit, quantized and offset by the DISTING EX. The sine wave output is then going into a VCA with every third pulse receiving an envelope from PAM's, giving some variation as the sound goes from a sustained note to a pluckier sound. The output is then sent to MAGNETO for tape delay.

PLAITS is in the two operator FM mode, receiving pitch CV from MARBLES, and then going to KAMIENIEC for subtle phase shifting, before heading to its penultimate destination: DATA BENDER for glitchiness followed by a VCA with a relatively slow LFO bringing it in and out of the mix."

Friday Underground | Noise Engineering - Endorphin.es

Cinematic Laboratory

"After creating the Imitor Versio video I couldn't stop experimenting and suddenly ended up with this 'extreme' techno with Manis Iteritas doing a metal guitarish lead. So no video patchnotes for this one, I want to invite you to my secret deep underground party where all virtual drinks are served ice cold. Have a great weekend!

Modules used:
1010Music Toolbox (gate sequences)
Polyend Preset (pitch)
Manis Iteritas (lead)
Queen of Pentacles (beats)
Imitor Versio & Desmodus Versio (FX).

It's a lot of sound for such a small set of modules.

Visit Cinematic on Soundcloud: http://www.soundcloud.com/cinematic"

The Noiseblast Hour, Episode 8: Normandy Falls and Adam Cuthbert

Noise Engineering

http://adamcuthbert.com/

"Adam Cuthbert (b. 1988) is a Detroit-based composer, mix engineer, and sound designer whose sometimes spare, sometimes brutal music has been described as an “eerie dreamscape” (The New Yorker) and “the lead-footed revving of double decker buses” (Acid Ted). Their work fuses acoustic instruments and control voltage to create immersive sound environments, garnering notice from The New York Times, NPR, Backstage Magazine, and the San Francisco Chronicle, which finds it “hard to resist the vigor and inventiveness of his writing.” Cuthbert has collaborated with cutting-edge ensembles like Bang on a Can, Friction Quartet, and the GVSU New Music Ensemble. Cuthbert’s recording discography includes artistic credits in the catalogs of Ghostly International, Cantaloupe Music, Innova Recordings, ModyWorks, Underground Producers Alliance, people places records, and slashsound. Cuthbert’s performs on trumpet and electronic instruments with skullcap5050, I-VT, and kuuma, and is a regular collaborator with choreographer Maura Donohue (tidesproject, zero...sixty at Roulette Intermedium). Their sound works for dance and theatre have been performed with inmixedcompany, at The Asia Society, La MaMa Moves, and New York Theatre Workshop. Also active on the industry side, Cuthbert is Licensing Manager for the Grammy-winning label Cantaloupe Music, and together with Daniel Rhode he is co-founder of slashsound records. They live in Detroit with their spouse, Rebecca, and cats, 健三 & 千代.

Normandy Falls is a synthesist currently residing in Central Texas. He primarily uses and performs with eurorack modular, but does on occasion combine this with hardware synths and drum machines. His music ranges from ambient to techno, you never know what each performance is going to feel like."

KnobCon 7 (2018) part 16 - Detroit Underground & the DU-INO: The Ultimate Eurorack Arduino Shield

Published on Sep 11, 2018 SynthMania

"Aaron shows their latest Arduino based diy module "shield", the DUIno"

Details via Kickstarter:

"What is DU-INO?

In a nutshell? It's whatever you want it to be, in 14 HP.

If you're feeling verbose, call DU-INO a compact programmable digital-analog function platform. With 14 total configurable I/O, using precision ADC and DAC circuits and an analog computer, a vast array of functions are possible. A graphical OLED display and various tactile inputs offer a rich user interface.

It’s essentially the ultimate Eurorack Arduino shield. Supplying your own Arduino (or other shield-compatible microcontroller board), you can select from our growing library of functions, or use our full-featured open source Arduino library to write your own!

Just a few of the myriad A to Z functions to which the DU-INO hardware and software lends itself include arpeggiators, 8-bit oscillators, clock sources and modulators, delays, envelope generators, function generators, glitch effects, harmonic generators, inverters, jack routers, key shifters, LFOs, MIDI interfaces, noise sources, oscilloscopes, parameter storage, quantizers, randomizers, sequencers, transports, utilities of all sorts, VCAs, waveshapers... well, I made it to W!

And, did I mention that they can talk to each other (and other expansion modules) over I2C?"

Additional Demos:

CLICK FOR MORE »

New Roland SYSTEM-500 Overview Videos

Published on May 1, 2018 RolandChannel

"The Roland SYSTEM-500 is a series of fully analog Eurorack modules inspired by vintage Roland modular synthesizers. Each module is made to exacting standards in a collaborative design and production process between Malekko in Portland, USA and Roland in Hamamatsu, Japan."

Playlist:

1. Roland SYSTEM-500 505:VCF Module Overview

Inject the sound of the Roland SH-5’s revered filter section into your modular rig with the SYSTEM-500 555 module. The Roland SH-5 is one of the most sought after monosynths in history with one of the most distinguished filters of any monosynth in history. Combining a multi-mode filter with a band-pass filter, it produced a sound that has propelled it to “favorite filter ever” territory for many. It maintains its bass response with a meaty resonance growl. With switchable outputs, built-in VCAs, and CV control of cutoff, resonance, this dual filter gives you two different vintage filter characters in a flexible and compact 16hp module.

2. Roland SYSTEM-500 555: LAG / S&H Module Overview

Channeling inspiration from the Roland SYSTEM-100m's 150 and 165 modules, the 555 module is a five-in-one powerhouse that brings core utility functions to your modular setup, but with some new and interesting twists. With ring modulation, versatile sample and hold with seven waveforms and internal LPF, pink and white noise modes, LFO with internal ENV and VCA, and two CV controlled portamento circuits, your tonal shaping and modulation options are near infinite.

3. Roland SYSTEM-500 531: MIX Module Overview

Inspired by the SYSTEM-100m’s 131 output module, the SYSTEM-500 531 module brings six high-quality inputs, each with level slider, pan knob, and performance-friendly mute button. It has high-fidelity sound with low noise, ensuring that your modular rig sounds its best. The six pan knobs are CV controlled and there’s even a boutique-quality stereo preamp, so you can bring in mic or line level signals–or get overdriven tones. The headphone section has an easy-to-reach, dedicated volume knob as does the multi-format output section that lets you use both 1/4" and 1/8” cables. There’s even an LED level indicator for visual feedback.

4. Roland SYSTEM-500 510:SYNTH Module Overview

With the SYSTEM-500 510 module, designing your first modular setup or integrating classic Roland sound into your existing modular rig has never been easier. Based on the vintage SYSTEM-100m's 110 VCO, VCF, and VCA module, the SYSTEM-500 510 module brings together the best aspects of the SYSTEM-500 into a single voice module. It contains three pristine oscillator waveforms, classic Roland low pass filter with hi-pass switches, and a VCA with multiple outputs. It has inputs for external signals and modulation, and output jacks for both Eurorack and line-level audio. At 20hp and internally normalled for cableless operation, the SYS-510 is an essential building block, whether you’re an experienced user or just diving into modular synthesis.

Update: and the official announcement:

"Roland Expands SYSTEM-500 Modular Synthesizer Series

CLASSIC SYSTEM. NEW FORMAT.

Inspired by vintage Roland modular synths of the 1970s, these new additions to the SYSTEM-500 family not only expand on the SYSTEM-100m-based modules, but also explore fresh territory. Designed in Eurorack format, the SYSTEM-500 delivers the classic character and functionality of vintage Roland modular synths, with all the advantages of a modern instrument.

After a recent resurgence, and thanks to the Eurorack format, modular synthesizers continue to grow in popularity. With roots in the dawn of synthesis, modular synthesizers let you design your own electronic instrument, with deep control of each building block. Unparalleled control over how it’s patched lets you craft your own custom sounds and explore the outer bounds of sound design. Roland has a deep history in modular synthesis, having made several modular and semi-modular synthesizers that are now highly sought-after by collectors.

In 2015, Roland partnered with Malekko Heavy Industry to bring back these legendary instruments as a series of fully analog Eurorack modules. The SYSTEM-500 was born, finally making the sound of these rare instruments available to today’s musicians. And for 2018, there are four new additions to the SYSTEM-500 family. These modules expand on the SYSTEM-100m-based modules and explore fresh territory.

The SYSTEM-500 consists of Eurorack modules that you can mix and match in any combination to create the ultimate Roland modular synthesizer. They’re also a perfect way to inject vintage Roland sound into your existing modular setup. Each module is completely analog and made to exacting standards in a collaborative design and production process between Malekko in Portland, USA and Roland in Hamamatsu, Japan. Designed for maximum compatibility with the world of contemporary synthesizer and effects modules, the SYSTEM-500 delivers vintage Roland character and functionality in a modern system. And the possibilities for sound design and musical exploration are vast.

THIS IS ROLAND SOUND

It’s hard to describe what the “Roland Sound” is—but you’ve heard it on countless worldwide hits and underground classics. Something about the character of Roland electronic instruments continues to make them perennial favorites of musicians and producers. For over 40 years, the Roland sound has moved artists to create new genres, moved music forward, and moved feet on dance floors. Often imitated, the SYSTEM-500 brings truly authentic Roland sound to your studio setup or live rig.

THE STUFF OF LEGEND

The history of Roland modular synthesizers goes back to the mid-1970s. The almost-mythical SYSTEM-700 was the first modular synthesizer ever made in Japan and was followed by the more affordable SYSTEM-100m. The 100m is a favorite of electronic music producers to this very day and working units fetch a high price on the used market. The SYSTEM-700 is extremely rare, slipping into the realm of unobtanium. The SYSTEM-500 brings the unmistakable vintage character of these legendary synths to your own studio and for use in your own tracks."

Also see: Roland SYSTEM-500 & Roland Boutique Performance

Roland Introduces New TR-08 & Four Voice Polyphonic SH-01A Boutique Series

Here they are. Full details via Roland below.

Playlist:
Roland Boutique TR-08 & SH-01A with Mathew Jonson
One Take with Roland Boutique TR-08 & SH-01A: Mathew Jonson
Roland Boutique TR-08 Rhythm Composer
Hands on with Roland SH-01A, TR-08 - cdmtv
Introducing The Roland Boutique Series TR-08 and SH-01A | Reverb.com
Roland TR-08 Rhythm Composer | Reverb Demo Video
Roland SH-01A Bass Line Synthesizer | Reverb Demo Video
Update: New video added: Roland SH-01A Boutique Synthesizer QUICK DEMO

TR-08 details via Roland

"The TR-08 brings the look, sound, and feel of the original 808 — with stunning accuracy — to the Roland Boutique format. From the instantly-recognizable red-orange-yellow-white markings, the shape of the sequencer buttons, switches and knobs are details that have been painstakingly reproduced to match the iconic recreation of sounds. Along with the aesthetic touches, the TR-08 contains new features like 16 sub-steps for fast rolls, independent trigger out track, compression/gain/tune for instruments and a selectable modified “long decay” bass drum for more boom and resonance.

CLICK FOR MORE »

MOOGFEST 2017 UNVEILS FULL SCHEDULE OF 100 WORKSHOPS & MASTERCLASSES

via Moogfest

"- Moogfest attendees engage in an ecosystem of ideas, experiments, and specialized skills

Durham, North Carolina (April 5, 2017) – Today Moogfest unveils the full schedule for the expansive four-day festival. Exploring the future of technology, art, and music, the festival includes more than 300 musical performances, daytime workshops, conversations, masterclasses, film screenings, live scores, durational sound installations, and interactive art experiences.

The full schedule can be found online at http://moogfest2017.sched.com

*Please note, the full schedule can be viewed on Sched; however, registration and adding sessions to your personal schedule won't be available until sign-up opens Friday, April 7, at 12:00 noon ET for Engineer ticket holders; Tuesday, April 11, at 12:00 noon ET for VIP ticket holders; and Tuesday, April 18, at 12:00 noon ET for all ticket holders.

Moogfest celebrates the legacy of Bob Moog, a visionary engineer who pioneered the analog synthesizer and other technology tools used by artists like Stevie Wonder, David Bowie, and Kraftwerk. This year’s program will feature over 260 innovators in music, art, and technology -- from Flying Lotus, Animal Collective, Suzanne Ciani, Gotye and Princess Nokia to Dr. Kate Shaw, an experimental particle physicist working on the ATLAS Experiment at the Large Hadron Collider, and Joe Davis, a pioneer in creating art with genes and bacteria at MIT Media Lab. Moogfest takes place in Durham, North Carolina, a fast-growing capital of technology, culture and entrepreneurship.

Happening Thursday, May 18 - Sunday, May 21, with hundreds of artists, speakers, and sessions across downtown Durham, Moogfest contains a vast galaxy of discovery. Workshops are an essential part of the Moogfest program, as the platform prioritizes intimate spaces for collaboration and creativity. In these open learning environments, participants interact with technology tools that allow humans to creatively express themselves in new ways, so that we can design the future we want to see and hear.

CLICK FOR MORE »

MOOGFEST ANNOUNCES PROTEST STAGE PARTICIPANTS FOR FESTIVAL’S OPENING NIGHT

via moogfest

"Featuring Talib Kweli, Omar Souleyman, Mykki Blanco, BEARCAT, Pie Face Girls, MIT Open Doc Lab, NEW INC, Found Sound Nation, and Goldsmiths

The independent, annual, four-day festival will take place in
Durham, North Carolina from May 18-21, 2017.
This year marks its 11th iteration honoring the spirit of inventor Bob Moog.

$249 for 3-Day General Admission and $499 for 3-Day VIP

All prices exclusive of applicable fees.

March 21, 2017 - Moogfest will dedicate its main stage on opening night to exploring how creative technology tools and protest music can be used as instruments for change. This Protest stage will be led by local and international artists Talib Kweli, Omar Souleyman, Mykki Blanco, BEARCAT and Pie Face Girls, MIT Open Doc Lab, NEW INC, and app developers at Goldsmiths University. The diverse Protest stage program will include performances, talks, and participatory technology experiments. Moogfest invites all presenters and attendees to explore sonic resistance and emerging technology tools for counteraction while celebrating radical inclusivity and intersectionality. New technologies for educating, organizing, and art-making echo Moogfest’s rallying cry: Synthesize Love.

Protest comes in many forms, and no single genre can contain the musicians participating in Thursday’s program. Talib Kweli is a renowned recording artist, entrepreneur, and social activist who uses hip hop to educate, inspire and agitate. He is well known for his work combating racial stereotypes, the prison-industrial complex, and police brutality. Syrian artist-activist Omar Souleyman represents culturally diverse musical traditions that include Kurdish, Ashuris, Arabic, Turkish and Iraqi communities. Fearless noise rap poet and performance artist Mykki Blanco was raised in Raleigh, N.C., but has traveled the globe from art-world stomping grounds in New York to his current home in Los Angeles, spitting subversive rhymes on race and LGBT issues. British DJ/Producer BEARCAT makes politically-charged bass-heavy mixes and represents Discwoman, an esteemed collective showcasing cis women, trans women and genderqueer talent in electronic music. Raleigh-based band Pie Face Girls uses defiant punk music to promote a DIY ethos and attack issues like North Carolina’s HB2. Music is one of the oldest forms of protest, but each of these artists makes their causes urgent anew with the music and community they build.

Intermixed with the musical performances, technologists participating in the Moogfest Protest stage program will present recent and developing projects that empower and facilitate social action. Gan Golan and Ron Morrison of NEW INC present their countersurveillance armor for citizens, The Argus Project, a head-to-toe mobile suit embedded with cameras that allows the wearer and its audience of remote viewers to monitor and record environmental behaviour. Taeyoon Choi, also of NEW INC, presents a protest sign-making workshop, exploring signs as a poetic medium for social engagement in an inclusive space that promotes learning from people with differing views and priorities. Halsey Burgund of MIT Open Doc Lab and Joe Zobkiw present the Land Marking app, which captures the sounds of social movements around the world. During the festival, attendees are invited to contribute their voices or listen to the location-based mix of music and voices contributed by previous participants. Vivan Thi Tang, a postgraduate in the Graduate Entrepreneur program at Goldsmiths University in London, created a customized beta of her irlbb app for Moogfest 2017, that presents a unique opportunity for participants to connect with potential collaborators.

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MOOGFEST REVEALS MUSIC LINEUP AND PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

Details are in. Via MOOGFEST:

"Over 150 participating artists including Flying Lotus, Animal Collective, Gotye, Suzanne Ciani, Derrick May, 808 State, Jessy Lanza, Simian Mobile Disco, Moor Mother, Syrinx, Visible Cloaks, Princess Nokia, and Function added to growing list of Moogfest 2017 participants

Gotye Presenting a Tribute to Jean-Jacques Perrey, The Center for Deep Listening Honoring Pauline Oliveros, and Peanut Butter Wolf Honoring Bernie Worrell and Other Musicians We’ve Lost

Over forty performing artists also leading workshops and sessions in four-day conference program

The independent, annual, four-day festival will take place in
Durham, North Carolina from May 18-21, 2017. This year marks its 11th iteration honoring the spirit of inventor Bob Moog.

$249 for 3-Day General Admission and $499 for 3-Day VIP

All prices exclusive of applicable fees.

Durham, NC (March 7, 2017): Today, Moogfest reveals its lineup of musical performers, led by Flying Lotus, Animal Collective, Gotye, Suzanne Ciani, Derrick May, 808 State, Simian Mobile Disco, Syrinx, Jessy Lanza, and Function. Building on the experimental format of previous years, Moogfest continues to integrate Future Sound (performances) and Future Thought (conference) programming, with many of these artists also leading sessions during the daytime conference program.

Moogfest’s trademark mix of intimate venues and masterful collaborations creates an unforgettable experience festival-goers will not find anywhere else. Experimental electronic and avant-garde dance music is complemented by thematic programming like Black Quantum Futurism, Protest, and Techno-Shamanism that span day-into-night. This year returns with adventurous formats such as live film scores, an overnight live music sleep concert, prelude to sleep listening parties, long-form durational performances, and presentations by leading Instrument Designers.

Moogfest has also invited artists including Gotye and Peanut Butter Wolf to help honor some of the innovative musicians we lost in 2016, including Jean-Jacques Perrey, Pauline Oliveros, Bernie Worrell and Keith Emerson. This 2017 lineup reinforces Moogfest’s commitment to bold experimentation, with some of the most important musicians and thinkers of our day helping to blur the lines between audience and artist, conversation and collaboration, technology and creativity.

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Dave Smith Instruments Artist Interview with Baseck

You can find the full interview on DSI's website here.

"Baseck is a Los Angeles-based experimental electronic musician. His roots run deep in L.A.’s underground rave scene since the early 90s. Baseck’s fascination with sound brought him to turntablism at an early age. His attraction to hands-on hardware, learned from scratching records, led to audio manipulation with small battery powered toys, drum machines, then modular synthesizers. His unique style and mastery of a wide range of music hardware segued into his involvement with music technology. Since 2013, Baseck has been working with synthesizer companies to design concepts to enhance user playability. Variatic Basicus, a Eurorack module created by Noise Engineering, was built for his live performance needs. DSI’s Tempest analog drum machine includes presets designed by Baseck. His style builds on past musical experiments, combining the 80’s drum machine sounds of Breakdance and Industrial, with a future approach to Drum & Bass and Braindance using both analog and digital hardware."

You can find previous posts featuring DSI's Spotlight series here.

New Detroit Underground DU-SEQ Eurorack Module

DU-SEQ TEASER from detroit underground on Vimeo.

"Video by Anon at Darkplace Mfg. Datamosh via LVSTVCRV."

via Detroit Underground

"DU-SEQ is an analog pulsing sequencer with a highly intuitive interface. The 1V/octave pitch signal path is fully analog, and the gate signal is generated entirely from discrete 7400-series logic (no microcontroller) clocked directly from a built-in clock with tempo and gate width settings, or an external clock/gate signal.

Each of the up to eight steps has a two-octave pitch range and can be assigned to pulse or count up to eight times using one of six gating patterns -- including two external gate pattern inputs -- allowing for a huge diversity of musical possibilities.

Other features include CV control of step direction, CV selection of the next step, slew rate limiter assignable per step, and a half-clock button and CV input. Fuzz the direction input with noise to generate a glitch in the sequence on tempo."

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Rhea by Oliver Dodd

http://detund.bandcamp.com/album/rhea

"Someone put me in a box with loose objects and they shook it.

—

There is nothing sexier than a spine that glows in the dark, snaking back and forth with the rise and fall of each hip with each step. Leading the way down a hallway that never seems to end as blinded creatures grasp at bare ankles and reach for their hollowed eyes and scratch at their translucent flesh so full of empty veins. Toothless gaping smiles and harsh whispers that come from deep within the stomach and nowhere from the lungs. Whispers full of bile and acid. Nearly inaudible but felt as they echo through the static of my mind. White noise emphasized by punchy bass that rips my intestines from my body and leaves them trailing behind like breadcrumbs to lead me home.

Occasionally, she stops and convulses in such chaotic spasms that I want to grab her and hold her and shake her hard and slam her against the cement wall as her heeled feet smash the little hands that still scramble to hold her. Push my frigid mouth to hers and breathe whatever air is left.

But then she’s back and all I can see is her glowing spine, lighting up her hair, cropped close, a silver scar, presumably from a razor, shining right in the crevice where the skull meets the neck, my favorite place to rest my nose if she’d let me.

We pass rooms of people. They love her. They cry for her. They scream her name. Rhea. Rhea. Rhea. The murmur moves from mouth to mouth, passed by saliva and hiding in the cracks of one dried mouth and into the next, in the crevices of broken lips and busted mouth. She bites her own and spits blood into their mouths and they are baptized in her unholy holiness and they lick with serpent tongues and they reach for her glowing spine, but she swats their hands and they blindly scatter, drifting and hunching and gliding all at once into corners.

And we continue down the hallway. I follow that spine for an eternity. I feel their claws, their nails bury into my ankles and I know that one day, I will become one of them. One day my flesh will fade and I will be left blue and grasping, murmuring. Rhea. Rhea. Rhea.

~words by Sophia Warren

—

Growing up in Atlanta in the late eighties, Oliver Dodd began producing music at the young age of twelve.

‘Rhea’ is Dodd’s first release with Detroit Underground.
credits
released February 22, 2016

Design by Monochrome Laboratory™
monochromelaboratory.tumblr.com

Made on 100% Eurorack modular."

An Interview with Barry Schrader

Hi everyone! As you know Barry Schrader will be giving his farewell concert at CalArts on September 26. The following is the beginning of my interview with him. I opted to post the questions and answers as they come in.  New QAs will get a new post so you do not miss them and they will be added to this post so we have one central post for the full interview. This should make it easier for all of us to consume in our busy lives, and it will allow you to send in any questions that may come to mind during the interview process.  If you have anything you'd like to ask Barry, feel free to send it in to matrixsynth@gmail.com.  This is a rare opportunity for us to get insight on a significant bit of synthesizer history, specifically with early Buchla systems, and I'd like to thank Barry for this opportunity. Thank you Barry!

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New I Dream Of Wires 2014 Documentary Trailer - Official

I Dream Of Wires 2014 documentary Trailer - Official from I Dream Of Wires on Vimeo.

"Waveshaper Media presents
a film by Robert Fantinatto and Jason Amm
I DREAM OF WIRES (2014)

I Dream Of Wires is an independent documentary about the history, demise and resurgence of the modular synthesizer, featuring interviews with modular musicians, inventors and enthusiasts, including Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails), Gary Numan, Vince Clarke (Erasure), Morton Subotnick, Chris Carter (Throbbing Gristle), Daniel Miller, Carl Craig, Flood, Cevin Key (Skinny Puppy), James Holden, Factory Floor, Legowelt, Clark, John Foxx and Bernie Krause, as well as manufacturers and modular industry leaders Doepfer, Modcan, and Make Noise.

Although April 26 will be the world premiere of  I Dream Of Wires' 90 minute theatrical cut (at Moogfest), a 4-hour Special Edition cut of the film, I Dream Of Wires: Hardcore Edition, was released on DVD and BluRay in late-2013, and has already become an underground, grassroots sensation amongst electronic musicians and fans, with high profile reviews and coverage from the likes of NPR, Arte/Tracks, Pitchfork, The Wire, and FACTmag. Despite it's imposing 4-hour length and ultra-niche target market, the Hardcore Edition ("for the hardcore modular synth and electronic music fanatics") has proven an independent hit. Now, stripped of the Hardcore Edition's techy excesses, I Dream Of Wires' theatrical cut is set to bring the fascinating story of the modular synthesizer, a story driven by passionate and innovative people, to the masses.

I Dream of Wires begins with an historical primer, exploring the early development of modular synthesizers from pioneering companies Moog Music Inc. and Buchla and Associates, right through to the near-extinction of these instruments, brought on by the introduction of portable, digital synthesizers in the ’80s. From there, the rebirth of the modular synthesizer is retraced, leading into the phenomenal resurgence of the modular synthesizer. Along the way is some in-depth exploration of the passions, obsessions and dreams of people who have dedicated part of their lives to this esoteric electronic music machine. What started out as a “vintage-revival scene” in the ’90s has grown into an underground phenomena with a growing market of modular obsessives craving ever more wild and innovative sounds and interfaces. Today, the modular synthesizer is no longer an esoteric curiosity or even a mere music instrument — it is an essential tool for radical new sounds and a bona fide subculture.

Additional credits:
Director: Robert Fantinatto
Producer: Jason Amm
Soundtrack: Solvent (OST via Suction Records)
Trailer: Kevan Byrne

"I Dream Of Wires shows how, in the same way that the instruments themselves are rewiring both performers' and listeners' expectations about electronic music, the community that has evolved around modular synths is changing the relationships between users, sellers, and makers…"
- The Wire magazine (UK)

"As far as documentaries go, this is a slick, polished production. The film looks great, and as one would hope and suspect, the audio is wonderful, with the score by Solvent setting the perfect mood throughout...."
- Film Threat (USA)

"…lingering close-up shots of analog synths aside (and there are a lot of these), perhaps what's most joyous about I Dream of Wires is that it profiles a subculture that has almost nothing to do with the music industry."
- The List Film (UK)

"I would highly recommend Robert Fantinatto's documentary film not only to anyone interested in modular analog synthesizers, but to anybody interested in sound and the electronic reproduction of audio in general. This film is so well made it should appeal to anyone curious about people who are obsessed with minutiae, weird sounds, and music that 97 percent of the planet would find annoying."
- Tape Op magazine (USA)

"With its excellent narration and top-notch interviews with pioneers and popularizers like Morton Subotnick, Gary Numan, and Trent Reznor, I Dream of Wires gives us a glimpse into the mind of electronically-minded musicians and their often revolutionary perspectives on music, technology, and human ingenuity.... If you’re curious about the wide world of synths but intimidated by the steep learning curve, check out this movie...."
- DigBoston weekly (USA)

"A recommended watch for those with any degree of interest in synths and synth music. 10/10 Excellence"
- Music Tech magazine (UK)

"…if synthesizers are your thing this documentary provides a huge amount of insight and should appeal in particular to musicians or engineers."
- HMV (UK)

"…this is as thorough a study of the unique appeal of modular synths as you’ll find."
- Attack Magazine (UK)

I Dream Of Wires
idreamofwires.org
vimeo.com/idreamofwires
twitter.com/IDOWdocumentary
facebook.com/idreamofwiresdocumentary"