Matrixsynth by Loscha

Title link takes you to one more. Thanks Loscha!

Update: I decided to go with the Leet version instead. You can find these Leet tiles here.

Roland TR-909

Title link takes you to shots pulled via this auction.

via Rod.

303

flickr by Easy Skywalker.

"This is the Filter, the Filter Made with Diodes..."

A while back I remember hearing a demo on one of the modular manufacturer sites with a vocal saying, "this is the filter, the filter made with diodes." About a year ago I went looking for it and couldn't find it. I gave up and forgot about it. Every now and then it gets stuck in my head. Today was one of those days. I decided to finally track it down and try the AH list. Sure enough someone not only knew what I was referring to but also had the mp3 and sent it my way. Thank you mark.  The module of course was the Modcan Diode Filter 23a.

Update: the mp3s gone awol.  You'll find the recording in a video here.

Wiard Suitcase Modular in the Works?

There's been some talk on the Wiard list about Grant working on a suitcase modular. Note this is purely speculation although Grant did write back to the list with the following when asked: "I am attempting to do something on the difficulty level of the Yamaha DX7. Whereas Yamaha has hundreds of people to work on such projects, I am only one person.
Also I have to invent all of this technology from the ground up. There are no existing designs to copy, and no reseach papers to "crib" from."

He also previously mentioned:
"I apologize for any confusion my remark has caused.

I have spent hundreds of man hours over the last 3 years researching new synthesizer technology in advanced controllers and advanced multidimensional waveshaper and wave terrain oscillators.

Like the other Wiard modules, these ideas are new and unique. Because they are so new, the exact method of implementing them is not entirely clear to me yet. But I have far too much invested already to simply abandon the ideas.

When I mentioned the Envelooper, I was hoping someone would come forward in the manner of "I think this would work for this application that I have in mind." People (and myself) still need more time to mull over the application for such advanced devices.

In regards to a fully integrated synthesizer; Many of the great synth companies historically began with modulars, and then released fully integrated instruments. ARP began with the 2500 series and later produced the Oddysey. Moog began with the 900 series and later produced the Mini-Moog. Emu began with a modular and later produced integrated instruments.

Of course, the integrated instruments never have the full capability of the parent modular. There are always design trade offs. While I would like to produce an integrated instrument sometime in the future, it will not be a replacement for the 300 or 1200 series, but will contain a scaled down version of those unique technologies. First I have to finish developing those technologies, before I can concern myself with how best to package them.

At his exact moment, my concern is with getting the existing designs so I can produce them for the next 3 to 5 years. The Envelooper design project has only been placed on the back burner until I can catch up with stocking parts and building your orders.

My use of the word "dropped" was unfortunate because it gave the impression I had abandoned the project. I have not. The Envelooper module and Walkabout Oscillator are still being researched. I have working prototypes of both designs, but they need to be improved for manufacture. I also need to reseach if ideas like downloadable wavetables are fesible.

I apologize again for any confusion."

KORG PolySix demonstration

YouTube via OriginalJambo.

Waldorf XTk

Title link takes you to more shots.


via this auction.

Vember Audio - SURGE

"Binary is beautiful
A digital recording is just a sequence of numbers. Easily quantifiable as ones and zeros, stored on physical media, combined together into larger numbers to form a continuous stream of data.

Surge - Digital and proud of it

Until you listen to it. Then it becomes real.

SURGE is an instrument capable of generating truly beautiful sequences of numbers. Your ears will agree with us.
More than the sum of its parts

More than the sum of its parts
Architecturally speaking, SURGE is a rather complex synthesizer. But because of how it's put together it's still easy to learn. Once you do, you will turn the sounds in your head to audio faster than ever.

The effortless workflow, attention to detail and the sound quality can't really be appreciated without trying it yourself. We suggest you try the demo!"

Title link takes you there. Samples via the audio player to the right when you get there.

Roland WS-1

Title link takes you to a couple more shots via this auction.

Details:
"This is the Roland WS-1, the extremely rare write switch for the CR-78 Compurhythm Drum Machine... The CR-78 is one of the best drum machines Roland ever made, but without the WS-1, it's just another beat box. With the WS-1, you have full control over the 4 yellow program buttons on your machine. It is possible to program the CR-78 using a footswitch in real time, you can't program it accurately in step time without this switch." Auction link sent my way via Omeganaut

00005

flickr by ax11.