Swiss Synth Meeting Pics

Pic from sequencer.de, from a synth gathering in Switzerland. FPGA modular pictured.

Update via Moogulator in the comments:
"it is completely new, made by martin hollinger.. it is not ready today, but almost closed.. check for "FPGA".. digital based tech, really cool in sound..

I will put a post up somewhere later, but there are ppl that can tell more on the forum.. but since it is very new and somewhat limited to synth geeks, he brought it .. we will do some more on it when it is ready .. some german words can be found in our synthesizer-magazin "dummy" zero-issue which is just an excerpt..

well, there will be more in the next months.. (aka s.o.o.n)"

Update via swissdoc in the comments:
"It is a voltage controlled synth, but the VCO and VCF are internally digitally created and based on FPGAs, so you have an oscillator or filter done in real hardware with very high precission and clock rate. All ins and outs are analog voltages, as well as the pots, but they are digitized at high rates and then used to controll the algorithms in the FPGAs. The envelopes are done in SW by a PICT, the VCAs are modern SSM chips compensated for temp drift. The patching is done with real pro cables, small they are, indeed. Front panel is from special multi-layer paper, not conductive.

It is a no compromise design, stable, no trimmers internally, well 2 for the whole synth.

I was impressed by the concept and the build quality for a DIY synth.

Well, Martin is a PRO, working on this kind of things on a daily basis in his professional life.

Georg."

Fun with a Buchla 200e - Samples by Chris Muir

"Each of these was recorded live in a single pass. Some were then edited for length. Four channels of audio from the Buchla 227e System Interface were recorded into Logic Pro, along with a reverb send and a delay send. The two sends come from the 210 Signal Router and are, by necessity, pre 227e faders. The Buchla quad mains were mixed down to stereo in Logic. The delay, when used, is the Logic Stereo Delay, and reverb is either Space Designer or Audio Damage's Reverence." Title link takes you there.

Update: module list:
Top: blank, 266e, 210e, blank, 227e
Mid: 256e, 225e, 281e, 292e, 291e, blank
Low: blank, 249e, 261e, 261e, blank

synthi.se - johan boberg : electronic music

Title link takes you to Johan Boberg's (JB) website where you will find a number of resources for the Oberheim Xpander, Kraakdos or Crackle Box, EMS Synthi, Buchla (to come), and Modular Synthesizers. JB also provided the Buchla 200e sample in the previous post.

Buchla 200e Sample by JB

For those of you that want to hear something a bit more "familiar" from a Buchla 200e, here you go. Title link takes you to a .99M demo sent in by JB on the 200e list (posted here with his permission), and also mirrored here. BTW, make sure to check out JB's website, http://www.synthi.se.

"The 291e is doing all the timbre modulation here. Just two oscillators (259e & 261e) mixed into the 'all in'. I've set some stages in the internal sequencer and i am morphing the seq with CV. I took each of the three nodes out separately to the 227e where i do some pan modulation. You hear frequency and bw LF modulation and some AR FM modulation in one of the nodes (different amounts at different stages). This is a very fun filter to program."

Update: BTW, if you want to see and hear another example of a Buchla (in this case the original 200), check out the video in this post of Suzanne Ciana yesterday.

Images for reference (click each for larger shot):

Vangelis - Making of "China"

YouTube via yearofox. Sent my way via Tim.

Electric Dreams - Duel

YouTube via kdx125XD. Sent my way via Tim.

Mini-Prophet / Prophet-One

Remember this Custom Sequential Circuits Pro One? Title link takes you to Stephen's latest creation in walnut. There are more shots after the hop.

Update via Stephen: "BTW, we're making nameplates now using the same technique Sequential did. Hopefully we'll be able to reproduce the wheel boxes soon as well. That is definitely something we'll want to include with the Prophet-One kit."

Details:
SCI Pro-One rev 1.2 in a Black Walnut case
T-8 mod wheel box
J-Wire keyboard
Switched 1/4" phone jacks

Minor, but Necessary modifications that were performed:
Keyboard tray needs to be shifted 1/2"
(Drilled two new holes in the front tray and two in the case for the back mounts)
Two new holes to anchor the wheel box
(Two more could be added to anchor box to the side of the aluminum case)
twisted 2 and 3 conductor 26 awg wired jacks (7)
(Replaced the (broken) plastic surface mounted Switchcraft jacks)
Visible ToDos
Center piece should be a little wider, probably by 1/2" and 1/16" thicker.
Increase length of the rear piece by 1/16" to eliminate gap.
Rotate wood block infront of wheel box by 90 degrees.
Hidden ToDos
Front wood groove should accomodate the three machined screw anchors.
Two notches in the control panel frame need to be slightly bigger.
Filler key needs a notch about 1/2" deep x 1/2" tall to accomodate PCB.

Plastic Is Girls Best Friend

flickr by BastArd StarFiSh.

"Plastic" Roland SH-101

Electronic Music Summit 2006 - Indianapolis

"Electronic Music Summit 2006 will be held in Indianapolis, Indiana on November 3rd. EMS is a free, all-day celebration of live electronic music, featuring performances from nationwide artists, seminars, and interactive workshops. EMS showcases performers creating music in front of the audience using a wide array of music machines and instruments. This event is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for musicians and fans to experience emerging forms of modern music.

From the beginning, EMS has set out to raise awareness of electronic music in all its forms, but especially live, artist-driven, original music. It provides a showcase for up and coming artists to share their music with an audience of hundreds of open-minded music fans. But EMS is more than a concert, it is an opportunity for musicians to network and collaborate with their peers during afternoon workshops. These sessions provide a casual environment where artists may swap tricks and secrets of the trade, as well as pass their knowledge on to aspiring new producers.

For more information, visit emusicsummit.com. The Electronic Music Summit is a not-for-profit event, sponsored by community businesses. If you would like to be involved with EMS, please contact Ryan Faubion at info@emusicsummit.com or via the contact page of the website."

Rhodes Chroma Registry Hits 200 Chromas

Via Chris Ryan on the Rhodes Chroma List:
"With the addition of Mal Meehan's Chroma 21030075, we now have 200 instruments in the registry. Whether there were 1500 or 3000 Chromas manufactured and sold, this is surely a significant portion of those still in use. I think this is one of the more interesting parts of the site, as it documents the history of the individual synthesizers. If you haven't sent me info on your Chroma, please consider forwarding even just the serial number and a brief blurb."

BTW, if you haven't checked out the Rhodes Chroma site, you owe yourself a visit. It is hands down the best resource site I've seen for any given synth. If you have a Chroma, please take the time out to visit and register - you can do so anonymously. The point is not to keep tabs on who owns one, but rather on how many are still out there. Think about it. 200 people took the time out to register on this site. That's pretty amazing. If you do take the time to register feel free to post an anonymous, or not, comment here. I'm curious if I manage to help the cause. : )