First Univox on the 'bay

Via Music Thing.



Via Angelfire:
"Probably the earliest mass-produced portable electronic keyboard was the Univox. Manufactured by Tom Jennings’ J. M. I. Company, it laid the foundations for what was to become VOX- the sound of the 60’s. Designed in 1946 by Derek Underdown and Tom Jennings, it fulfilled Jenning’s original concept of a small, portable electronic keyboard instrument that could be used by a pianist to simulate the sound of various acoustic instruments and the human voice. In actuality, the Univox was really a monophonic organ with a range of tone selections and vibrato effects, which, for the time, was remarkably successful at doing just that."

More c/o pop synth p*rn - New Flickr Shots

Sputtnik's c/o pop set on Flickr. Click through title link for more.

Photosynth Auction - 100% of proceeds go to Red Cross

"The INVERSEROOM PHOTOSYNTH is a one-oscillator miniature synthesizer that outputs a simple square wave, which the user can change with a variety of control and modulation options. Only five inches long, the PHOTOSYNTH incorporates a phototheremin, LFO, depth control, and eight modification buttons to create a huge range of bizarre electronic bleeps, blips, whoops, and squeals. It’s ideal for experimental, glitch, electronic, and noise music, and runs on a single 9-volt battery.

The PHOTOSYNTH is based on two IC’s, a 4049 inverter, which produces and amplifies the signal, and a 4040 binary counter and resistor array, which control the LFO. Pitch can be altered with a potentiometer through a range of more than ten octaves, or by a photoresistor, which allows the user to play the instrument like a theremin. This sensor is activated by engaging the SEN switch, and allows the user to control pitch according to the amount of light that reaches the PHOTOSYNTH. The MODIFY panel of buttons can then effect a series of short-circuits that change the synth’s sound in unexpected ways. Some may seem to have no effect at all at some pitches, and drastic effects at others; some alter the output waveform, speed up or slow down the LFO, or create bursts of sudden noise. Below are two mp3 sound samples, one illustrating the sound of a steady pitch being altered by the MODIFY panel, the other with the LFO engaged.

The PHOTOSYNTH also features a combination ON/VOL knob, and an LFO DEPTH knob. Output is through a standard quarter-inch phone jack. The instrument is hand-built, wired point-to-point, and contained in a sturdy aluminum case standing on wide rubber feet. The 9-volt battery is easily changed, and a new one comes included in this auction; I will also include an instruction sheet."

Another Polyevolver Demo from Stefan Trippler

Haven't had a chance to listen to this yet, but as usually it's getting rave feedback. So... Enjoy. : ) 12 voices of evolver action.

Ruinprojects - New Circuit Bending and DIY site

Phil 'Ruin' just set up a new DIY and Circuit Bending site titled Ruinprojects. Check it out.

Update: New content and samples up.

"I just launched a website chronicling my DIY affairs, circuit bending and synth building... I am currently working on a DIY portable modular synth and have a section up about a past DIY effects modular I built... more to come in the future... http://ruinprojects.jomdom.net/

I also make all hardware music as 'ruin', if you goto the top right corner of the site there will be a link that says 'visit ruinsite too?' go there and theres some sound samples with lots of circuit bent stuff and effects modular usage on the two new tracks.

-Phil"

VCA:

VC Control of Resonance - Cynthia Example

Somone on AH asked for an example of using voltage control on filter resonance. Cynthia of modular synth maker Cyndustries answered.

From Cynthia on AH:
http://www.cyndustries.com/audio/SynthaCon5.mp3

Here's an example using a Cynthia brand Synthacon Filter set at a fixed
cut-off frequency with the initial Resonance knob set just below
self-oscillation. A fluctuating Sample & Hold voltage is fed into the
VC Resonance Input, which creates the "bubbling resonance" sound.

Some of the random voltage levels from the S & H are not enough to
kick it into oscillation, and many of them are...

(If one were to add just a touch of modulation to the cutoff frequency
and a little reverb as well, then you might have a fairly realistic
tribal "talking drum" type sound).

Most often envelope generators are either connected to VCAs to control
volume, of to VCFs to control the cutoff frequencies. Some intricate
or more sophisticated sounds can be realized when connecting an
additional envelope generator just to control the Resonance parameter
while the usual envelopes are doing Amplitude and Frequency. With all
three envelopes set slightly different from one another, more nuances can
happen within your sonic event. (If you don't have VC resonance, well
then try the third envelope on a VC flanger because that can be lots
of fun too!)


Cynthia

http://www.cyndustries.com/modules_synthaconfilter.cfm

Andromeda A6 Demo

A short but sweet demo of the Alesis Andromeda A6 running through a Empirical Labs Distressor from Colin via AH.

"I fed an old Andromeda recording through it, and it certainly does the biz! Oiginal, then 6:1 compression with Dist 2 mode - which adds some 2nd harmonic distortion sorta like a sweet valve like tone then with different faster attack setting. Remeber the Distressor signal has gone another D/A and A/D stage and the orignal is just a wav file on my computer! Smoothed out and punched, with a sweet tone"

Kayne West - Bling and Bush

Via Music Thing. Image below for Bling.

Kayne West's Louis Vuitton Akai MPC 2000XL (Nick Cannon in shot).

It's got tenticles!!!

Or some might say replace the n with an s. : ) GetLoFi's carboard sequencer has gotten an update. He also has some videos up on his site.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Sequential Circuits VS Rack Demo

Via zengomi on Sonic State's the gas station. Click here for the demo. Man, that is one magic sounding synth. And one amazing track by zengomi. Wow. Make sure to click through to his site for more.