BugBrand Introduces TCS - Touch Control Sequencer

via BugBrand (For those in the US: check on availability with Noisebug per below)

"The 5FW design stems from ideas I used way back in the Old Blue days when I had the CTL1 Touch Panel - that design went through a few iterations during its 4 years of life, moving from just a control/preset device to incorporating some basic sequencing. Now I have taken it several steps further - expanding it out to 8 steps and increasing the control & sequencing options. The result is a powerful little hands-on sequencing hub! It can link up with other clocking devices, especially the Sequence - indeed, I'm just beginning to investigate a joiner/expander for the pair that would allow the Control link to be easily switched on/off and also incorporate a handful of other useful functions.

In the meantime, the first modules are starting to ship - they can either fit in a larger system or sit in a 5FW case - perhaps an interesting addition to other banana systems!

US shipping & Tariffs:
There has been a fair bit of uncertainty because of new tariffs on shipments into the US (10% from UK vs 20% or more from most other places), alongside the ending of the De Minimis exemption for shipments under $800. Given that I send a fair amount to people in the States, these changes have proved worrying!

Thankfully I've been able to jiggle things around and have found that I can still send things easily & affordably - indeed, often including pre-payment of tariffs while not raising the overall shipping cost, and sticking with Royal Mail who have proved so reliable over many years of use.

Noisebug:
But, alongside these changes, I'm rekindling my prior work with the wonderful Noisebug store of Pomona, California. Just today I've sent a reasonable initial load - a couple of 1Frame systems, several mini-systems and a handful of red designs.

As you know, I've tended to work directly with people worldwide, but have kept in with a very few small & specific stores - Noisebug really fit the bill here for me! So if you've got requests, feel free to get in contact with them - or continue to nudge me direct ;)"

Superlative SB01 (Roland SH 101 Clone) w/ Original Box

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

via this eBay listing

This one was spotted and sent in via
M Me. "This is the Superlative SB01, a clone of Roland's SH101 80's mono synth. I backed this on Kickstarter many years ago, it has just arrived and I no longer have a need for it. it comes in original packaging, it's just the Synth, no cables as it does not come with any. Use any charging USB C cable to power/charge as it has a built in battery."

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SEQUENTIAL CIRCUITS SCI MODEL 64 SEQUENCER Interface Cartridge für COMMODORE 64

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

via this eBay listing

This one was spotted and sent in via
M Me.

From the listing (Google translated):

"The case shows virtually no signs of wear.
As far as I can tell, nothing appears to be damaged.
This is an absolute rarity!

Please note - Unfortunately, I cannot technically test the device, as I don't own a Commodore 64.

For this reason, I must sell the SEQUENTIAL CIRCUITS Model 64 as 'untested' or 'unreviewed'! This sale is non-returnable!

There is some information about this device online - for example - https://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/sci-model-64-sequencer/7891"

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Quasimidi Gigacard 512 Styles für Roland E-35/E-36/E-56/E-70

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

via this eBay listing

This one was spotted and sent in via
M Me.

Rare Quasimidi Gigacard, 512 Styles for Roland E-35/E-36/E-56/E-70.

This is the first one to be featured on the site.

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New Roland TR-1000 RHYTHM CREATOR Incoming

Update: teaser videos added below.

This one was sent in via an anonymous reader. It's apparently from a Sweetwater catalog.

The text reads:

"NEW!

Meet the TR-1000:
Roland's Legacy Rhythms Reborn

Blueprinted with unprecedented potential, the Roland TR-1000 Rhythm Creator marries historic heat, analog presence, and digital precision into a polychromic powerhouse built on the masterfully re-created circuits of the legendary TR-808 and TR-909 drum machines. Its hybrid architecture houses a trio of synth engines, bringing a prismatic palette of FM, PCM, and VA possibilities to the TR-1000's analog foundations, with ACB modeling supplying the coveted circuit-bent sonics of the 8X and 9X models. Over 2,500 onboard sounds join a wealth of digital and analog effects while the suite of classic-to-contemporary connectivity effortlessly integrates the TR-1000 into any arrangement. Add in cutting-edge Morphing performance controls, next-gen TR-REC sequencing. true-stereo re/sampling, and an unbridled array of sonic contouring tools, and you've only scratch the surface of the TR-1000's kaleidoscopic capabilities — vintage heart, modern soul. and endless exploration waiting to be discovered by you."

If legit, I'm curious how it will compare the the TR-8S. Note the change in design aesthetic. Reminds me of the GAIA with a touch of Elektron gear. Note the Morph slider on the bottom right and display on the top right.

Update2: Roland announcement post here, additional posts with demos here.

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ATAK Special Rhythm Player, Vintage 19inch Drumcomputer

This one was spotted and sent in via
M Me.

From this listing

"ATAK special rhythm player, a vintage 19-inch drum machine.

Works and sounds great.

I think it's from the 80s, made in Turkey.

I can't find any other information about it online, so it's quite a rare drum machine."

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Digigram MidiMic Audio to MIDI Converter Microphone

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

via this eBay listing

This one was spotted and sent in via
M Me.

"🎤 Rare Vintage 1988 Digigram Midimic – MIDI Microphone – Made in France – Fully Working! 🎶

A truly innovative 🎧 MIDI microphone made in 🇫🇷 France in 1988!

This is an ultra-rare collector’s item and a fascinating piece of studio gear: a microphone that outputs MIDI data! 🎼

Perfect for vocals or wind instruments 🎷🎺, and also features an RCA aux line input 🎚️ to convert line-level sources into MIDI, or use as a THRU to route audio to another channel 🎛️.

💡 Incredibly useful in the studio: this mic lets you record your voice or instrument directly to a DAW as MIDI data for unlimited editing possibilities! Use it with hardware or software synthesizers 🎹, expanders, or samplers.

You can literally sing or play your melody and transform it into MIDI notes — ideal for sax, clarinet, violin, solo guitar, and more 🎻🎸.

🎯 Whether you're a singer looking to explore MIDI, or a composer with ideas that outpace your playing skills, the Midimic is a creative game-changer!

🔧 Key Features:

✅ Fully working and in excellent cosmetic condition for its age
🔋 Powered by a brand-new 9V battery (already installed)
📄 Includes a PDF copy of the original Owner’s Manual (English)
🧡 A real vintage gem and collector's item!
🎙️ You can sing into it and control your synth or sound module with your voice — if you’ve ever dreamed of humming a melody straight into your MIDI sequencer, this is your moment! ✨"

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EMS Synthi A stolen from Synthorama

Some unfortunate news sent my way vis Swissdoc. Apparently someone has stolen an EMS Synthi from the Swiss synth museum Synthorama. You might recall the video walkthrough just posted here yesterday.

The following is via the curator of Synthorama, Martin Hollinger aka Airböurne (creator of the modular synth by the same name), on the Sequencer.de forum (translated via Google):

"Hello everyone

I finally managed to register on the forum. I'm the owner of the Synthorama and, due to a current event, I'd like to give you a brief update on the museum.

The Synthorama has been around for 25 years and serves to introduce synthesizers to a musically interested public. Almost all instruments can be played and tested here.

But you all already know that ;-)

Unfortunately, there are also people who misuse the museum. Since its inception, there have been four thefts, the fourth on August 2, 2025.

The first was about 15 years ago, when someone stole around 10 modules from one of my Moog modular systems while it was unattended and then filled the "holes" with other modules or even front panels. I didn't notice this for a long time because it wasn't that obvious.

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Whimsical Patching

video uploads by Whimsical Raps

Playlist:

1. Whimsical Patching // 1. Audio-Rate Modulation

from Dani:
"One of my favorite aspects of modular synthesis is that signals we can hear are made of the same basic building block as signals which provide control and modulation -- they're all just voltage moving at different rates!

When we use an audio signal in the place of control voltage, we're touching into a technique broadly known as audio-rate modulation. Using audio-rate modulation in the Whimsical Raps ecosystem is incredibly rewarding, as it can unlock unexpected behaviors in familiar and new modules alike.

Here, Mangrove (our formant oscillator) modulates Silhouette's (our new 'signal combiner') SPOT, which is mixing six audio channels from Just Friends (our six-voice digital oscillator). I noticed that sending Mangrove into SPOT bleeds Mangrove's audio signal into the mix, so I tuned Mangrove to harmonize with Just Friends. This endowed FORMANT changes with new power, adding harmonic depth to the chaotic modulation -- notice the sizzle around 0:30 as FORMANT is cranked up.

Once INTONE adds distance between the ratios of Just Friends' oscillations, I reduce FORMANT to a low-frequency grumble -- I particularly enjoyed Silhouette's delayed vocalizations of these changes across the stereo field. Manually scanning SPOT offsets the input channels we're highlighting, which reveals the new INTONE-spread pitches. Increasing FORMANT introduces audible discontinuities as Mangrove regains its pitch, which are unique in the left and right channels. A final INTONE adjustment is added for performative spice, which is caught by the bucket-brigade device for a muted splash of stereo color."

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AViC KV-04 RYUICHI SAKAMOTO & KV-01 Seifuku Part1 ROM Cartridges for Yamaha DX7

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

AViC Keyboard Voice ROM KV-04 RYUICHI SAKAMOTO Cart via this eBay listing

AViC KV-01 Keyboard Voice ROM Seifuku Part1 Cart via this eBay listing

These were spotted and sent in via
M Me.

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Rare Ensoniq Mirage ISF-1 Input Sampling Filter Expander Cartridge w/ Original Box

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

via this eBay listing

"Rare! Working! Ensoniq Mirage ISF-1 Input Sampling Filter Expander Cartridge! This cartridge has been fully cleaned and tested! Works beautifully! Comes with Ensoniq Mirage Disc Library Bundle Lot Of 17! These disks have been tested on my Mirage DSK-8 and are still in working order!"

This one was spotted and sent in via
M Me.

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ARP 2500 Modular Synthesizer w/ Pair of Fully Loaded Wing Cabinets

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

via this eBay listing

This one was spotted and sent in via
M Me.

"Vintage ARP 2500 Modular Synthesizer system. Accompanying the ARP 2500 main cabinet is a pair of fully loaded wing cabinets. The main cabinet and keyboard were fully restored by Phil Cirocco (CMS) around 2011 as well were most of the modules in the wing cabinets. However the system has not been powered up or played since 2018 when I moved from Los Angeles to Tucson Arizona. It was working perfectly in 2018. Since sitting for 7 years the system will most likely need some small service to get it back to perfect. IT IS UNTESTED AND WILL NOT BE TESTED. IT IS BEING SOLD AS IS.

The previous service was meticulously done to satisfy my serious demand for the system to remain as original as possible. No modifications were done and all parts replaced with original or appropriate parts. The system is hyper clean in person and was clearly babied. It was used on notable lp's. You may live a 100 more years but will likely never find a better more complete ARP 2500 for sale. This system is priceless and was the most expensive new instrument when it was produced in the early 1970's.

I collected and played many Moog, ARP and Buchla modular systems. However owning so many systems became a burden. As well, switching between using Moog, ARP and Buchla took too much bandwidth. I sold all of my Buchla systems and this is my last and best ARP piece from my massive collection. Time for someone else to own it

CAN BE PICKED UP IN TUCSON AZ OR I CAN DELIVER TO LOS ANGELES CA"

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Custom Black AKAI MPC 60 MKII Roger Linn

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

via this eBay listing

This one was spotted and sent in via
M Me.

"The sampler has been completely refurbished. The casing has been painted black. All tact switches have been replaced, the old LCD with a new LED and pad sensors. Additionally, I have installed the Gotek FDD emulator (32GB Sandisk pendrive included), the latest Vimana 3.15B OS, max RAM memory and multivoltage power supply. This means that it does not need step up or step down converters to work! The voltage switches automatically depending on the place in the world. It accepts AC voltage from 65 to 265V. This is probably the only such version in the world. I was going to replace the LCD window, as it has a few scratches, but I'll leave that to the new owner. The glass is available on eBay, and replacement is easy (double-sided tape). Insured shipment."

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Technics SM-AC80 MIDI PCM Orchestra Expander Arranger

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

via this eBay listing

This one was spotted and sent in via
M Me.

You can find a demo of one previously posted here.

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Variophon Realton Vintage Synthesitzer

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

via this eBay listing

This one was spotted and sent in via
M Me.

A search on Variophon Realton will bring up additional posts including a few demos on the site.

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BugBrand Introduces the Weevil 20/25

video upload by BugBrand

"A new Weevil to celebrate 20 years of BugBrand - the first regular production since 2015 and perhaps the first 'cased' version since around 2008!

Thanks to everyone who sent in pics of their old Weevils!"

via BugBrand

"I'm excited to present the new Weevil to mark 20 years of BugBrand and Weevils - it's the first regular production since the 2015 BoardWeevil and, I think, the first 'cased' design since 2008! Quite a change from the old cigar boxes of the early days ;)

The main listing for the 20/25 is here - I'm doing a run of 50 for now, which will be built up in batches of 10 over the coming months. The 2nd batch should appear in early April.

The overview video features a load of pics of old Weevils after the callout last time -- thanks so much to everyone who sent in pics & memories, it meant a lot to me 💚💚💚

Next week I'll do another mailout to mark the actual 20 years - stay tuned!

All best! Tom"

"Weevils were the first designs I made as BugBrand and, between 2005 & 2015 I made a whole slew of them – you can see some on the Weevil Archive page. So it seemed apt to make a special one to mark 20 years – the first regular production for 10 years and the first ‘housed’ one since perhaps 2008!

The core is a simple little circuit I found in a library book – a cymbal sound synthesiser made of some CMOS 4000 series logic gates to make squarewaves that are quasi-ringmodulated together. Back in my early days I was doing a lot of circuit bending, so I tried out adding power starvation and body contacts and discovered a deep & chaotic sonic world. This Weevil Heart has stayed pretty constant over the years while I’ve played extensively both with the surrounding circuitry and how to present an instrument. For example, the STEIM Cracklebox was always an inspiration as an almost acousitc electronic instrument that had to be played in a truly experimental manner. It has really been a case of iterative refinement and the developments nicely highlight how my build techniques have evolved.

The 20/25 Weevil is really quite similar to the last BoardWeevil of 2015 – we’ve got the 3 Oscillators, 2 RingMods and State-Variable Filter – but I wanted something cased so took the existing modular boxes and fashioned a new PCB frontpanel with accompanying side-cheeks that could hold a speaker, battery box and line output. Smart!

For further details, have a read of the Instruction Sheet & refer to the Block Diagram – but really the best way to learn is to dive in and experiment!"

Moog Sequencer Complement B Reissue

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

via this eBay listing

This one was spotted and sent in via
M Me.

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DYNACORD ADVANCED DIGITAL DRUMS ADD One

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

via this eBay listing

This one was spotted and sent in via
M Me.

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Waldorf QUANTUM SHADOW 007 of 30 Limited Edition

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

SN *19490900007* via this eBay listing

This one was spotted and sent in via
M Me.

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Rare "Engineer Sample" Behringer Kobol Keyboard Spotted

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

via this listing

This one was spotted and sent in via
M Me.

"Not in production. Not available anywhere.

Perfect for your Youtube video or synth channel.

Rare opportunity to own one of a kind synthesizer keyboard.
This is the Behringer Kobol Keyboard. There's a label in the back showing this to be an "Engineer Sample".

All controls and keys seem to be working. Although given this is not a production model, there could be quirks. The Pitch and Mod wheels light up when activated. The LED bar changes when knobs are turned.
I had tested only the audio outputs - headphones, main out, and amp out. Other connections and USB are untested.

Good overall physical condition, but there are very visible scratches and dings and dents on the panel, as shown in the photos.
The back stand has 3 positions for tilt adjustment."

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