MATRIXSYNTH

Saturday, December 30, 2006

Rhodes Chroma Expander IO Board

Click here for a couple more shots pulled via this auction. It's listed as a Chroma Polaris IO board, but apparently it's a Chroma Expander board.

via the Rhodes Chroma list.

Arturia Hardware Coming

Apparently Arturia mentioned hardware would be announced at this year's winter NAMM. If anyone knows more, feel free to comment.

Click here for shots pulled via this auction.

Details (Regarding the PPG comments, do note that the DW8000 is not a wavetable synth like the PPG and although some of the sounds are reminiscent of the PPG, they are a bit different as would be expected. The PPG also has considerably more waveforms. Also, the digital waves in the DW-8000 were carried over to the more current MS2000 and MicroKorg line of synths):
"The DW-8000 has an old school analog sound from the early 80's, but it also excels at creating those DX-7 digital pianos and other digital timbres. (Please check out the MP3 links below!!!) It actually sounds very similar to a PPG Wave synth because it's oscillators are digital and filters are analog. If you are into the sound of Depeche Mode, Tangerine Dream or Kraftwerk, this synth is for you! This synth is perfect for emotive, organic pads, deep filter sweeps, screaming portamento leads, throbbing Moog basslines, fat burbling analog sequences, some noisy madness and sweet analog synth percussion. You can also get a nice acid sounding patches like on the Roland TB-303. The filters on the DW-8000 sound a lot like the filters on my old, school Roland SH-2 and Minimoog -- as the resonance increases, the filter screams! The DW-8000 has 8 rich analog voices, a very simple to use sequencer that syncs to MIDI, a very expressive pitch bend/mod joystick, full MIDI implementation and sysex, and a very nice sounding effects processor that allows for chorus, flange and reverb effects. It was an ingenious synth in the 80's and is now still sought after for its rich hybrid digital/analog textures ala synths like the classic PPG Wave. The DW-8000 sound is truly distinct from other polyphonic analog synths, and it makes a great addition to any synth setup!"

SOUNDS & TECHNICAL INFORMATION

* Korg DW6000 Audio Workshop MP3 (same synth as DW8000 less waveforms)
* Blue Synths DW8000 MP3 Files (free registration required)
* Seal's DW8000 Site - very nice mp3s!
* Pallium DW8000 Information Site - very technical!
* Korg DW8000 User Manual in PDF format
* Korg DW8000 Synth Users Group
* Another DW8000 Synth Users Group
Update: DW-8000 Service Manual [mirror]

Kawai K5000S

via this auction

Unfortunately this one has a crack by the headphone jack. Make sure to check out the links below, particularly the "Apocalypse Cow" video.

Some details:
"The Kawai K5000S is a turbo charged synthesizer with both samples and additive waveforms! The inclusion of an advanced arpeggiator, 20 realtime knobs (transmits CCs for control of other synths), 50 buttons, a nifty data wheel as well as a keyboard action that is to die for make this a very expressive instrument! The keyboard in itself is one of the best keyboard actions available in a synth today! What about the sound? The K5000s sounds uniquely rich and complex and cuts through the mix in any recorded track. It can sound like a Yamaha DX-7 but has a rounder edge to it's tone...if a digital synthesizer can sound warm and organic, this synth would be the answer. In a world of copycat technology and design, the K5000S is probably the most esoteric synth to have ever been produced, crossing the line between evolving digital and analog timbres with full control over it's parameters...and there are a lot of parameters!!! This synth is very very spacey!!!!"

SOUNDS & TECHNICAL INFORMATION

* All Kawai K5000S Music - Music for Apocalypse Cow
* Music programmed with the K5000S
* Cyberiod K5000S Information Site
* Kawai K5000S Manual in PDF format
* Yahoo K5000 Users Group
* Mellotron and Wurlitzer Sounds

REVIEWS

* Sound On Sound K5000 Review, July 1997
* Harmony Central K5000S Review
* Everyone loves the K5000S at Sonic State

LINKS

* Kawai K5000S Tips and Techniques

CLICK FOR MORE »

EMS Flexi Disk MP3

Title link takes you to a link to an EMS flexidisc on sequencer.de.

The Protector

flickr by polaranta.

Azul y Negro

La Noche - YouTube via AyNonTV. Korg Polysix, Roland Jupiter-8, Korg MS20, Roland VP-330 vocoder?

Isadora [1982] - Same as above

Números Rojos [1985] - YouTubes via AyNonTV. Let me know if you can ID the synths. I think the big synth in front of the singer is an Akai AX80.

Hombre Lobo - YouTube via elenarendezvous. Korg Polysix, MS20, Roland SH-2, VP-330, others?

Sent my way via Alien M. Thanks Alien M!

Virtual Roland PG-800 and PG-300

Virtual JX-8P and Alpha Juno 1/2 controllers via Erick. Title link takes you to more info and the free download. Mac only. You'll find a couple of other tools as well including an EQ and Waveform viewer.

Boss DR-55 MIDI Sync

"As well as being able to sync the DR-55 to midi, with the flick of a switch, the DR-55 can now sync to its own clock and will transmit 24 midi clocks per metronome and midi start and stop according to the DR-55 internal clock and run status. It generates the 24 midi clocks per metronome by transmitting 6 MIDI clocks for every pulse of the DR-55 internal clock"

Title link takes you to more info.