fav synth books

flickr by cray5656 aka Ross.

I added a couple of these to my book links on the right of the site. Take a look at the list. If you think there are other books I should add to the list, feel free to comment.

Roland SH-1

No title link, just this shot pulled via this auction.

via sn.

new toy

flickr by cydonia.

Roland SH-101

via CatSynth.com

Yamaha DX100 Chromatic Accordian

Title link takes you to shots pulled via this auction.

Details:
"This is a Yamaha DX100 keyboard that has been converted to be used like a chromatic accordion. All the keyboard functions are all the same as when the keyboard was bought. We took the keys out and added a chromatic button keys to it. This is a six row setup and can be conected to a midi module or you could used the factory set sounds in the keyboard."

Emerson,Lake and Palmer-Fanfarre for the common man

YouTube via romarioflazaco. Sent my way via brian comnes.

Not synth related, but if you want to a pretty impressive drum solo by Carl Palmer, here you go. The very end with reverse stick play is a great finale.

Plexus Studio

A couple of more shots of Plexus Studio. You can find other shot as well as giant sized shots of both. You can find samples mirrored here.

Previous Plexus posts (including his project Software and video).

Korg Prophecy

Title link takes you to shots pulled via this auction. I know the Yamaha VL is knows to be the stronger Physical Modeling synth of the two, however for some reason the Prophecy always stood out as a modern day Minimoog to me. Not a Minimoog clone of course, but rather a compact, powerful, mono synth with an expressive performance oriented interface. Aside from the buttons under the LCD being a bit stubby and close together, the rest of the interface is pretty nice. The buttons on the right are logical and useful for live tweeking and the modwheel with pitch ribbon just has to be played to be appreciated. The positioning of the buttons above it are also laid out to be easily accessible in live performance while adjusting the modwheel. It really is a great little performance synth and for me, it always reminds me of the modern day mini for some reason. And it sounds great. It has it's own sound.

Circuit Bent Box O Fun!

Title link takes you to more shots pulled via this auction. I love the design of this one.

Details:
Top panel:
• Five push-button switches to access the original functions of the toy (5 melodies, a/b/c, circle/triangle/square, 2 different types of weather!)
• Reset (push button)
• Dial 1 - pitch control (low groan to high-pitched frenzy)
• Dial 2 - variable glitch that causes the melodies to scrape and squawk and the voice to distort in a scary way
• 'Body contact' to activate strange modulation sounds
• Three very cool green lights (bulbs, not LEDs) that flash independently in time with the sounds

Front panel:
• Melodic mode/talking about the weather mode 3-way switch
• Power switch
• Distortion switch
• Chirping bird/'rainbow magic' noise 3-way switch
• Switch to activate cool rave sounds (works when the first switch is in the central position). This is my personal favourite.
• Dial 1 on/off switch
• Dial 2 on/off switch

Update: link to sample via the auction. Thanks goes to CatSynth in the comments for pointing it out. I totally missed it.

Theremin Patent

Here's an odd one. No title link. Image and details pulled via this auction.

Details:
"US Patent for a Sci-Fi Synth Instrument
Leo S. Theremin, of Russia

In the early 1900's a patent was issued for this invention from the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO). There are 17 documents included with this patent. The drawing specification sheet of the patent has been reproduced from original USPTO documents and printed onto parchment paper. This print is sized and ready to install into an 8" x 10" frame. The additional sheets included are printed on 5.50" x 8.50" parchment paper. These accompanying documents describe the scope of this invention in formal terms. The following is an actual excerpt from the patent…

'This invention relates to sound generating apparatus or instruments of the type embodying an electrical vibrating system. It aims to provide a novel method of and means for producing sounds in musical tones or notes of variable pitch, volume and timbre in realistic imitation of the human voice and various known musical instruments...'"

Note the auction only states the "drawing specification sheet of the patent has been reproduced." What about the rest? What do you all think?

Metasonix TM-1-2-3 Pack

No title link, just this shot pulled via this auction.

TM-1 waveshaper/ring mod
TM-2 dual bandpass filter &vca
TM-3 tube oscillator with midi

Metasonix
Previous Metasonix posts