Swimming Upstream - Yamaha RM1x Track

Title link takes you to rid's MySpace page where you will find an RM1x track titled Swimming Upstream.

Miniature Modular Studio

Remember Daniel McPharlin and his mini modulars via these flickr shots? Paul Sop, aka Doktor Future commissioned this mini modular studio from him. Title link takes you to more images.

Update: I added a miniature label to the site. You'll find Daniel McPharlin's miniatures as well as others.

http://www.danmcpharlin.com

Maestro Woodwind Synthesizer

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

Details:
"Very Rare Maestro Woodwind Synth for Woodwinds & Guitar.The unit also comes with an original Maestro carrying case with John Klemmer's name on it. It was used on several recording sessions in the 70s and will come with a letter from Mr Klemmer. It was designed in the early days of effect pedals / devices as a primitive synthesizer for woodwind instruments but can be used with guitars with no problem at all."

Casio PG 380 Synth Guitar

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

Details:
"The PG-380 electronics include a built-in, monotimbral, playback-only synthesizer using VZ technology, with 64 preset sounds in internal ROM (See the above website for a listing of all the sounds). However, a door on the back of the guitar allows insertion of a RAM card for playback of sounds created on a VZ-1, VZ-8M, or VZ-10M.

The internal synth does offer one useful feature: It operates in legato mode. That is, while in chromatic mode, if you pick a fretted string and then slide your finger up the fretboard, you won't get a new attack from the synth at each fret, as you will with an external MIDIed synth."

You can find more info here.

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