Solaris 314

No title link, just the shots and details pulled via this auction.

Details:
"This is a rare russian analog polyphonic synth. It uses organ style drawbars to create the basic tone, and has a analog filtering as well. Inside it has 12 voice boards that correspond to each key in an octave, and then uses a divide down system to get to the other octaves. Because of this the sound of the oscillators are really thick and meaty. There is only one filter and envelope in it which means when you hit another note it will retrigger the envelope like many other synths with full polyphony, The filter itself is really extreme and sounds fantastic, as well the envelope is really punchy, so you get great synth stabs, sweeps and percussive organy sounds. The synth is not that big but it is full of electronics and neatly organized wiring, it looks like someone spent many labourous hours at a soldering iron to build it. It is also quite light because the casing is aluminum.

The basic panel layout is as follows from left to right: pitch bend, envelope amount, cutoff, resonance, attack, sustain, release, harmonics 1-5, lfo speed, lfo pitch amount, lfo filter amount, amp release, filter blend, and tune.

For better playability, replaced a couple of the sliders with knobs because i found the sliders didn't give fine enough control, especially with the resonance control, where alot of great sounds are just around where it begins to oscillate. Also the pitch controller which will sweep up and down by an octave, this one still takes some practice though. A volume knob has also been added at the top.

I would describe the overall sound of the synth as 70's funky. Its smooth and buttery, not harsh. It would work well for italo disco, or early style hip hop, or 70s fusion jazz. If you use the envelope section carefully you can get great moogy leads out of it (without portamento), in the high resisters it can sound like a string machine, or even a theremin if you crank the resonance. It has tons of character.

The unit is powered by 220v volts but i have an adapter i will include. the output is a standard 1/4"

The Development and Practice of Electronic Music

Title link takes you to shots pulled via this auction. The shots include a Buchla 200, ARP 2600 and EMS.

synth club @ mcleod's (011)

flickr by ario_j.

Access Virus Keyboard

Something Completely Different - 25

Remember SCD and 25 Years? Well, the DVD is finally out. It will feature 25 years worth of music from Boele Gerkes' Something Completely Different along with exclusive videos. Here's an example of one (note I believe this one was done after the DVD and is not included but Boele ensures me the others are just as good if not better. What's great about the DVD and Boele's track listing is that he lists out the synths used. There's a ton of Waldorf on this so if you are looking for a good showcase of Waldorf synths, this is it.

Congrats Boele! I can't wait for my copy.

And, for the record, I did purchase it; this is not a promo for a free copy.

Ensoniq SQ-80 MP3 by Boele Gerkes

Title link takes you to a simple demo of the Ensoniq SQ-80 sent my way via Boele Gerkes of SCD. BTW, his 25 Years DVD is now available. More info on the site and a post with a shot of the DVD coming up next.

Custom MacBeth M5 Case by Aliens Project

Title link takes you to a bigger shot on sequencer.de.

Previous Aliens Project posts

Atari MiniMOO - Church of the 16th Bit

"a look at the screen a mini moog software-synth"

Title link takes you to the Church of the 16th bit.


via sequencer.de.

Furious Stick and Furious AM Noise

Remember the FracSID? Here are a couple new modules via gerald.

On the Furious joystick:
"A simple, nearly completely passive component joystick."

On the Furious AM Noise:
"I wanted some noise other than white, pink, or brown, and with a character of its own, so I bought a $0.25 AM transistor radio and frac-racked it."

Title link takes you to more info and shots on each.

Waldorf AFB-16

Title link takes you to shots pulled via this auction.

Details:
"Waldorf AFB-16
* 16 analog lowpass filters with self oscillation and overdrivable VCA, 12/24 dB per octave.
* Connects to the computer with USB 2.0.
* Included are the following plug-ins: PPG Red, Rot and Messing.
* Comes with original box, manual, installation CD, USB cable and power cable.
* In fantastic condition!
* Works perfectly (recently tested), but still as with all old equipment sold "as is". Does not work with all USB2 chipsets, but I have used it with Intel (a Dell computer) and NEC chipsets without problems.
* A Google search will provide you with lots of information about it."

CR-8000 Project

This one via royce.

"Version3 of the cr8000 modification project. This is my old broken Roland CR8000, modified to allow control of various parameters of the analogue voices. Bandpass filter on the rimshot, clav tuning, hi-hat decay, kick tom and conga tune, clap noise level, oscillator array tuning, midi with midi volume control (alters the strength of the trigger, and effects synthesis parameters). This is the 3rd version. . . everything rewired, and spooled inside. There are some minor probems remaining. i've been experimenting wih contact points as well, and am finding these more interesting than knobs for control."

Title link takes you to more including a great shot of the wiring of the CR-8000.