Novation BassStation Rack - MIDI to CV and CV to MIDI Convertor

No title link, Just an awesome tip from Brian Comnes:

"I was re-working my rack this weekend and I looked at the back side of my Novation BassStation Rack (haven't looke back there for 2 years) and I noticed MID/CV ports on the back so I got out the manual and sure as shit this thing is a switch hitter, it goes MIDI to CV and CV to MIDI and it supports HZ/Volt and Volt/Oct to boot

given that these things can be had for $100 or so on eBay , they are a bargain if you consider that you also get a 2 osc monosynth in the package"

Note this does not apply to the Novation BassStation keyboard.

Update via Bill in the comments:
"You can do this with a Pulse Plus as well. I think they go for about 250$ + you get real analog oscillators and filters."

Update via Brian Comnes:
"the relevant sections in the bass station manual are on page 18 of this link."

Thumbnail Guide to Soldering

"Soldering is not some rarified art. It does take a little bit of patience and some practice, but mainly, it's a question of having the proper tools to do it right, carefully following a few simple steps, and steering clear of a few common pitfalls."

Title link takes you there. Saw this one on Boing Boing.

Duar Show DJ Studio

flickr by JimboCooper

Roland MC-09
Korg Kaoss Pad
Korg Electribe s

Title link takes you to more.

korg ms10 semi-modular and the mighty sequential circuits pro one

flickr by kelskelsall

They definitely look good together.

Eliosound ELS Vocoder

"The ELS Vocoder® faithfully reproduces the analog vocoder sounds that have been used by many artists in the electronic music history. It also includes a wide range of rare and new features, which makes it unique, powerfull and simple to use."

Title link takes you to more info and samples.

Waldorf Microwave XTk-30

Flickr by dreikelvin.

Mystery Beat Box

This one sent in via an anonymous reader who hopes someone out there can ID it. Anyone know what this is? Above the keyboard, there is text that reads MOVEMENT. Title link takes you to another shot. You can zoom in on each by clicking on the image followed by the "All Sizes" link after you click on an image in the set.

Update via Gustavo in the comments:
"Movement Drum Computer. Used by Thomas Dolby, and Dave Stewart of eurythmics.

More info:
on Wikipedia
on Sonic State

Update via El Gaucho Andres:
"Seems also exist the System I and System III but never saw one of this. Others who used it: Japan, Willian Orbit, Chemical Brothers, Vince Clark, and...
Check this nice picture (below). I think the correct name is "Movement Computer Drum System II" and Movement Computer maybe was the company." Follwed by: "reading further more my old info about this beast I've found that was also named Larking Movement and now seems to me the name of the company was probably Larking... I know that was a sort of analog drum, digital drum and sequencer and nothing more. Cheers."



Update via J Lesser in the comments:
"In 2001 I was in a large practice studio in London preparing for a long tour. I snuck down into the equipment cages and took some pics of some famous folks' gear... and just look what I saw in Phil Colllins' cage: [link]

The MIDI Gadget - Hayden Based MIDI Controller

"Mk I MIDI Gadget
As you'll see in the pictures, first I built a flat 8X8 array of switches laid out in the Hayden pattern (the white one plays "c"). The flat array let me lay the first one out pretty much just like the schematic diagram. It also let me not care too much about the end result, since I was learning to solder. The first version was wired to a breadboard, (not shown) where I debugged the circuitry. And after the electronics worked, I used it to develop the software.

The flexibility of this technology is part of the fun. It's just buttons on a board, so you can build just about any shape you'd like to try. My son wants me to build another flat array, but complete with PIC & battery. His vision is, you hang it around your neck like sort of an electronic washboard. ("Bellyboard") The range of a small electronic keyboard, the form-factor of a sandwich, and the ergonomics of scratching your stomach. With a sound module on your belt and headphones, just the thing for grooving in subway or hammock. Why not?"

Title link takes you there. Via fmasseti.

Previously posted Hayden controller.

Roxy Music - Viginia Plain

The original with Brian Eno on EMS Putney

YouTube via theburnleyboy


Big Train version with Minimoog

"Big Train - Chairman Mao leaves his deathbed to perform Virginia Plain as Bryan Ferry with Roxy Musi"
YouTube via wimpyburger.

More Roxy Music on YouTube
More Big Train on YouTube

Yamaha DX7 II D - Grey Matter

Update: I do not want to get into the habit of policing auctions, but as always be careful. The odd thing about this seller is zero feedback with the claim to having an old account with tons of positive feedback. Then why not use the old account with the positive feedback? On the other hand, all of the images for the sellers other auctions seem to have the same lighting, leading one to believe either he took them or he managed to find them somewhere. BTW, if you ever catch images from another location, please comment and I'll update the post.

Title link takes you to shots pulled via this auction. You can find more info on the Grey Matter add-on on Dave Benson's DX7 Page.

In short:

The DX7 version gives:
# extra patch memory (with function data for EACH patch)
# optional ROM sounds from GMR, allowing 576 patches in a DX7
# patch mapping
# master contoller functions
# transmission on two midi channels
# stacking of sound (makes it thicker but only 8 note poly)
# ...and more...

The DX7II/FD version {includes all of the above?} and adds:
# 8 voice multi-timbral capability
# a sequencer
# a MIDI monitor
# a simple, "interactive" player mode

Again for more info including the list of individual MIDI enhancements check out Dave Benson's DX7 Page.