Future Retro XS Press Release

Via Gearjunkies.com

Introducing the new XS from Future Retro. A true analog modular synthesizer designed to expand the sound capabilities of all our existing products and other modular synthesizer systems.

Photo under press embargo

Housed in a rugged aluminum chassis that is both compact and lightweight, the unit can be rack mounted taking up 3U spaces, or used with additional desktop end pieces for tabletop use.

The inputs and outputs of the XS are pre-wired in a way which allow it to act as a monophonic synthesizer without the need for patch cables.

Add patch cables and you can connect each section's inputs and outputs in any way desired. With a single unit you can easily create basslines, leads, drones, percussion, and sound effects. Connect multiple units together to form larger systems and the possibilities are endless.

The XS responds to the standard 1V/Oct control voltages and positive gates so it can be interfaced with most analog sequencers or MIDI to CV converters.

The XS provides a wide range VCO or voltage controlled oscillator, capable of covering the entire audio range or acting as an LFO for sub audio oscillation. This VCO can sync it's waveform to oscillators and gate signals, or act as a free running oscillator.

The VCO generates sine, triangle, sawtooth, and pulse width/square waveforms. The pulse width shape can be set manually or modulated with an internal or external signal. The VCO can be frequency modulated by both internal and external signals to create more complex waveforms. The VCO also generates a sub oscillator waveform which can be 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, or 1/16th the frequency of the main waveform. An output is provided for both main and sub oscillator waveforms.

The mix section sets the levels of the oscillator and sub oscillator waveforms or any external audio signal to be sent to the input of the filter. The multimode filter provides 2 pole high-pass and low-pass frequency roll off with dedicated controls for the cutoff frequency and resonance settings. With high resonance settings the filter will self oscillate. The cutoff frequency can further be modulated by both internal and external signals. A dedicated output for the filter is also provided.

The XS includes a unique ADSR type envelope with additional attack and decay time settings for accented envelopes. It's like having two envelopes in one. The envelope can be triggered with a single gate for traditional ADSR type envelopes, or insert another gate signal into the accent input to select the accent time settings. Both positive and negative polarity envelopes are available at the output.

And finally a VCA or voltage controlled amplifier is provided to process the amplitude of signals. The VCA normally affects the filter's output but can also be used to process external audio signals. The VCA can be controlled by an external gate or the internal envelope. In addition, a manual control is provided to control the VCA when no gate or envelope signal is present. The VCA has a level control for attenuating signals sent to its output.

Release date for this product is TBA

A6 Banner

Title link takes you to three shots by Mike Peake, one of the banner below, one of a couple of A6 panels, and one of some parts (wheels, Polyfusion filter PCB, and two Polyfusion Resonator PCBs). Note the Moog Cookbook in the shot. Click for a bigger picture.

The Emulator Archive

All you ever wanted to know about the EMU Emulators. Title link takes you there.

The Emulator I

The Fizmo Tabletop?

Update: Via Carbon111 in the comments: "Read the thread - "suitandtieguy" bought it from some guy that did the chop job. Dude musta thought it was a good idea after a few spliffs, mon. ;) "

Title link takes you to a post on HC where the shot below was pulled. I am aware of the keyboard and rack version, but not a tabletop. It looks like someone just cropped the keyboard version. If anyone knows any more about this, feel free to comment. In the mean time, check out the Deep Synthesis Fizmo Page for tons of info and some great samples if you ever wondered what a Fizmo sounds like.

Future Retro XS Part 2

Update via the comments: http://www.gearjunkies.com/news_info.php?news_id=1065

We will all know on Friday, but I thought I'd put up the following by DB in the comments section of this post:

"Hi, Here is what Jered of Future Retro has said in the past about the FS XS:

"The planned expander will be a stand-alone unit so that it can be used with all of our existing products. This will not be a new model of the Revolution synthesizer itself."

Also, from past discussions with Jered, but I can't seem to find the emails, I believe that it is supposed to be able to add on an Analogue Oscillator, Envelope, and LFO amongst other things to the Mobius , 777 & Revolution.

So it would make the Revolution a 2 Osc synth rather then a 1 OSC with LFO and Envelopes, and the 777 a 3 OSC synth with LFO's and Envelopes, and would make a simple mono synth/mono osc synth out the Mobius.

Should be interesting. Don't know if you can add more then one of these to them ore not. We should be finally hereing more on Friday. "

The SAS Modular

Update: Via M. Altermark in the comments section (I was wondering what SAS stood for):
"SAS stands for "Swedish Analog Sympathizers", a loose organization based around the SAS-mailinglist. Best source of synth knowledge available for swedish speakers. Yay SAS!"

Moogulator put up a post on the SAS Modular, a Swedish DIY synth. Title link takes you to the post with links to a couple of sites with more shots and info.



From one of the pages:
"The modular will (at it's initial setup) have 3 VCO's, 2 VCF's, 2 VCA's, 4 EG's, 3 VCLFO, and a bunch of different effects. On top of the modular there are a 2-channel 8-step analogue sequencer, and below there are a spring reverb unit."

Synapse Toxic

Released with the Orion Platinum 6.2 Update. Title link takes you there. Click here for the Toxic page with a demo. Via Harmony Central News.



"Toxic is a 6-operator-FM synthesizer of highest quality, with alias-free oscillators, warm filters and precise envelopes. All controls are interpolated, allowing to tweak all parameters smoothly in realtime without clicks.

A powerful effects section with an Equalizer, a Distortion unit and two Chorus/Flanger/Delay sections, completes this excellent generator."

Audio Damage Phase Two Available

Mutron Bi-Phase plug-in from the creator of Analog Industries. Title link takes you there.

Brandon Daniel's Picture Archive

Brandon has completely redesigned his picture archive and I must say it is really nice. He has sets of the AH Bay Area gatherings, NAMM, and various manufacturers. Title link takes you there.

The Estradin 230 (3 VCO synth)

More on SonicState.com.

The EMF Institute's Timeline

Title link takes you there. Well worth checking out.

The Telharmonium (circa 1900)



"In 1897, Thaddeus Cahill, lawyer, engineer, entrepreneur, received a patent titled 'Art of and Apparatus for Generating and Distributing Music Electronically'. His plan was to broadcast music via telephone lines to restaurants, hotels, and private homes. The sounds were to be heard through loudspeakers that he had designed to be attached to telephone receivers."