MATRIXSYNTH

Friday, October 13, 2006

Circuit Bent Casio PT-10

Title link takes you to GetLoFi where you'll find a map of the mods and more info.

Original PT-10 shot below via jarin.net.

via CDM. This is a promo shot, named synthtrash, by Urs Heckmann for Zebra2. Hmm... Aren't sidewalks public property? Garbage is free game, right? Image: guy with Matrixsynth T running off with Urs chasing.

Zebra 2 Update

Remember Zebra 2? Version 2 has been realeased. Via Adam:

"I'm an analog guy, but I just bought this amazing softsynth. If there is only one synth that everyone should have, this is it. U-he is a one man developer whose creation is worlds ahead of NI. Try the demo."
It has also received praise from CDM.

My New Happy Place

Yeah, that would make me happy. Title link takes you to a couple of more shots (thumbnails on the top left when you get there), and some notes on the studio. Via Analog Industries HCGP, btw, glad it's back.

'Making a beat' with a DX7 and a drum loop

This is a pretty cool. For more info behind the video check out Shepitology. It's a great example of what you can do with Elogoxa Elottronix XL. Creating loops with it really is that simple. When I finally explored it I had one of those "how did I ever play without this" moments.

Loopy LLama

Ok, this one gets a post just for the name and website design. What is it?

"It's a looper... Made to emulate the Jam Man or DL-4 - but also generate a click track so it could be used with a drummer live. It is designed to work with Ableton Live or any other VST host such as Plogue Bidule for live performance."

Title link takes you there. via Phil on the SynthSights list.

A Preset System Concept for the Synthesizers.com Modular

Note this is not from synthesizers.com, just an idea submitted during a contest they had. Title link takes you to more info.

"Morbius asked for suggestions on a preset storage system for use with a Synthesizers.com modular synth. Here is a concept that I came up with. A guiding principle was Morby's comment that "no computers" be used. I believe that he was opposed to anything that would require a PC (personal computer) to use, whereas a computerized module was actually within his guidelines. Regardless, I took a stab at a system that could be built using discrete logic. Although the concept presented here stretches the limits of practicality, I think it is interesting."

Synthzone

Someone on the AH list was looking for a Matrix-6 editor, I directed him to the Synthzone Oberheim page where you will find few editors and more resources for everything Oberheim. If you haven't checked out Synthzone yet, do it. You will find a page for every manufacturer and much more. It was one of the first sites I visited when I started exploring synths on the web in the 90's.

Thursday, October 12, 2006

Chris Strellis' Roland VP9000 Page

Title link takes you to Chris Strellis' VP9000 page with a few demos, info and shots. If you ever wondered what this unit is capable of, check it out. I remember when these first came out. It was pretty groundbreaking technology at the time and it was priced accordingly. I remember there being issues with it and the price quickly went down. The Variphrase technology eventually made it's way into the VarioOS chameleon like rack and of course the VSynth followed by the new OASYS and VP-550.

"It's a 6 voice (yeah only 6!) polyphonic sampler with 136MB RAM and a 250MB Zip drive. But - after you record a sample - you then "encode" it. Once encoded you can, in real time, affect the pitch, duration, formant and groove all in real time. I can stretch say a spoken phrase down to single wave and up to double speed without affecting the pitch. I can move the formant frequency around (male to female and vice versa) and on drum loops affect the swing and groove."

BTW, I love this second shot. : ) Also the Matrixsynth plug at the end of the page. Gotta like that. Thanks Chris! BTW, be sure to check out the rest of Chris' site while there.