Sequentix Phases out the P3

"5th September, 2006

It's been just over a year since the P3 Sequencer was launched as a production unit.
We have sold well over 100 units in that time, and the response from users has been excellent. However, due to a number of factors, we have decided to cease production of P3 after the current run is sold out. The main reason for this is that a thorough review of the numbers shows P3 is simply too expensive to produce. All units built so far have been assembled in-house. The amount of effort this requires has meant we have been unable concentrate on developing future products. Fully out-sourcing production of P3 in its current form would mean a significant increase in the final price - it just wasn't designed to be cheap to manufacture, with a large number of separate circuit boards, internal wiring, and a complex case design.

Ceasing production will give us the opportunity to take the lessons learned from P3 and develop a replacement product that can be made and sold at a viable price. In the meantime, we expect the remaining stocks of P3 to move quickly. They will be available until stocks are exhausted, direct from Sequentix, from our US dealer Analogue Haven, and our German dealer Schneiders Buero."

Korg Radias Synthesizer/Vocoder - New Flickr Shot

flickr by Blackett The First.

UP - New Flickr Shot

flickr by devowski.

Title link takes you to more.

Roland PV synth SPV-355

Three shots pulled from this auction. More on the SPV-355 on SOS:

"The SPV355 Pitch-to-Voltage Synthesizer was launched in those very days -- 1979, to be exact -- as part of the Roland Rack series of 19-inch studio–quality effects units, amplifiers and specialist preamps. The most famous of these are probably the Roland Vocoder and the Dimension D spatial chorus. The P/V Synth is a bit of a curiosity, because it seems to have been released on the one hand as a rackmounting analogue expander module (indeed, it's said to be one of the first rackmounting synths), but on the other as a budget alternative to the Roland GR–series guitar synthesizers. These synths were quite expensive, specialised instruments; the GR system consisted of a high-quality, specially adapted guitar connected via a 24-way cable to a floor unit containing a rudimentary, six-note polyphonic synth engine. The SPV355 alternative scored points as it didn't need any special interface hardware (pickups and so on) and you could, in theory, use any old guitar to play the synth. The 1979 Roland catalogue states: "The SPV355 P/V Synthesizer is specially designed for use with guitars", which is ironic, as this is probably the P/V Synth's least effective and most problematic mode -- more on this later.

Fortunately, the SPV335's uses were not confined to guitar synthesis, and for its time (and compact size), it was quite well specified: two VCOs, a sub-oscillator, VCF, VCA, envelope generator, two audio mixers, and a multitude of interface sockets. As with other Roland Rack units, the 355 is housed in a 2U steel case and weighs nearly 6kg, which makes it a pretty hefty beast to lug around. And as for build quality, well... the word 'tank' springs to mind, as does the phrase 'heavy duty'. They don't make 'em like that any more..."

via Simon

Kaoss Pad Guitar

Nice. Title link takes you to the post on Music Thing.

Klaus Schulze in concert in Paris in 1978

No title link. More exclusive shots sent in via Frederic. This set of Klaus Schulze in 1978. Frederic isn't sure where this performance was exactly. Note the shag carpet he's sitting on. Thanks Frederic!
Update via Mikael in the comments:

"This is most likely from the European tour in september or october 1978.
synth spotting:
- Moog modular IIIP w/optional double sequencer box unit.
- PPG modular + sequencers
-Arp Odyssey mk II (black face)
- Arp 2600 (orange & black)
- EMS-synthi
- Minimoog (x2)
- Polymoog
- Korg PS-3300

Mikael"

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Human League Biography

Saw this one on sequencer.de. Title link takes you to an interesting biography of the Human League. I didn't realize Adi Newton was part of the original lineup and left to for Clock DVA (note in the bio they refer to Clock DVA as Clock DNA. I'm guessing this is just a typo).

"Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh were two computer operators in Sheffield who both shared an intense passion for German electronic pioneers Kraftwerk. Armed with a few months' savings, Ware was able to buy a modest monophonic synth (a Korg 770S) that had just become available on the commercial market at an affordable price. Despite having never played a single note, Marsh and Craig set themselves the task of understanding the art of sound synthesis and it wasn't long before their combined enthusiasm began to exceed the limits of the cheap synth."

"The very first Human League demo contained Being Boiled, Circus of Death & Toyota City all recorded in mono and it soon caught the attention of Bob Last who ran a small record label in Scotland called Fast Records.

Being Boiled was released in June 1978 after the League and Bob Last had agreed a deal over the phone. Although the single had a limited amount of copies pressed, the song succeeded in attracting the admiration of NME whilst guest reviewer Johnny Rotten described the group as 'trendy hippies'! Being Boiled was completely at odds with the prevailing punk movement of the time. The track was a stark slab of electro that would influence many artists in years to come, memorable also for its lyrics that linked the slaughter of silk worms with Buddhism."

"Disappointed by the lack of sales, Virgin reacted swiftly by cancelling the League's proposed UK tour in November asking the band to support the Talking Heads instead. Reluctantly, the group agreed releasing a press statement that revealed their plans for the upcoming performance. With tongue firmly in cheek, the League suggested that they wouldn't actually be on stage for the performances and that their place would be taken by backing tapes and a slide show hinting that they would occasionally view the show as members of the audience. David Byrne and co failed to see the funny side and the League were dropped from the support slot."

Update via the comments:
"Here's a really good site dedicated to the pre-Dare Human League"

Xpander

No title link. Shot of the Oberheim Xpander sent my way via one of the anonymous.

MC-4, Voyager, TB-303

No title link. Shot of a Roland MC-4, Moog Voyager Anniversary Edition, and a couple of TB-303s sent my way via one of the anonymous.

70' trilogy : Hammond, Melotron and Mini moog - New Flickr Shot

flickr by cortez77_fr.

Title link takes you to more shots of what looks like a prog rock concert featuring mika jarvinen. Note the keyboard player in the first shot is part of the band in the second shot. It's cool to see the knod to Moog at a show like this.