ThingamaWEEN - "The modern Prometh-o-lux"

Limited edition Halloween Thingamagoops at Bleep Labs!

flickr by Dr. Bleep.

click here for more.

Arturia Analog Factory Experience

Saw this on The Gas Station.
"Arturia has announced Analog Factory Experience, which they describe as "the first hybrid synthesizer". By combining a native software application and a dedicated controller-keyboard, Analog Factory Experience offers a straightforward, innovative and enjoyable experience.

Based on Analog Factory 2.0, a software instrument offering 3500 legendary synthesizer sounds, Analog Factory Experience includes a high quality 32-key MIDI keyboard. Just plug the keyboard in via USB and launch the software. From there you can put your mouse away, everything is easily controllable from the keyboard. The user experience is the same as on a traditional Hardware synthesizer, except that Analog Factory Experience brings more sounds, better integration within DAWs, at a far better price.

Hybrid synthesizer based on advanced Software/Hardware combination: Analog Factory 2.0 inside the box. 32-key Universal MIDI keyboard built by CME. Plug and play: the Hardware and Software is instantly recognized and offers perfect integration. Analog Factory 2.0: 3500 synthesizer sounds that have shaped modern music production. All preset are carefully selected from the Arturia Classic Synths: Minimoog V, Prophet V, ARP 2600V, Moog Modular V, CS-80V and Jupiter-8V. Smart preset manager: fast filter the presets to your requirements, by instrument, type, characteristics. Straightforward editing: only the key parameters are accessible to modify the sounds. Full compatibility with major formats and hosts on Mac OS X and Windows XP or Vista (VST, AU, RTAS). The Analog Factory Keyboard: Developed by CME and based on the U-key technology. Ultra-thin aluminium and wooden case. 32 semi-weighted keys with velocity response. Everything you can do on the Software is easily achievable on the Hardware: Allows to select sound categories and browse presets, to modify each sound, recall snapshot sounds, save snapshots, etc.

Works as a Universal 32-key MIDI keyboard. Analog Factory Experience is compatible with Windows XP / Vista and Mac OS X.2 or higher (Universal Binary) and supports Stand-alone (ASIO, Direct Sound, Core Audio) VST, Audio Units and RTAS (ProTools 6 and 7).

The anti-piracy system is based on Syncrosoft's new native solution. No USB port required but an Internet connection is necessary.

The retail price will be £249 / €299 / $349 and it is expected to be available in November 2007."

Alesis Andromeda

via this auction.

via jeffc

Billy Corgan and Lisa at the MOOG Factory

Lisa plays keyboards for The Smashing Pumpkins

Lisa regarding the most memorable experiences on tour:
"There are sooooo many but, I would have to say visiting the Moog keyboard factory in Asheville, NC. I was like a kid in a candy store; playing with the theramin and all of the cool effects pedals. Anyways, I went there with Billy just to "check out" the factory and I went home with their brand new Minimoog Voyager keyboard!! I just had to have it!"

click here for more.

Related post: Billy Corgan joins effort to create Moog museum

Update: I just posted an all electronic piece ("Eye") by the Pumpkins on Synthwire [direct link]. If anyone knows what synths were used, feel free to comment there.

Tweaking the MOS-LAB System16

YouTube via yusynthman. via Yves of yusynth.
Videos are from the Franco-Swiss meeting (previously posted here).
The last video is a jam session featuring the MOS-LAB and other synths.
Descriptions (in order of videos):
"Our friend Push-pull discovering the magic of a modular synthesizer (MOS-LAB system16) in Oryjen's magical music cave. The system is driven by an external CV/GATE played by our host Oryjen.... yusynth patching and tweaking the MOS-LAB system16 in Oryjen's magical music cave.... yusynth (blue t-shirt) and oryjen (red shirt) blasting the loudspeakers with some untamed cross modulation !!!! The Memotron beneath the modular is crying for some strokes... Push-pull refines the settings of the bass sequence then Spookyman and Oryjen start a jam session :-)"

BTW, check out the MOS-LAB link under MORE: directly below for previous posts. I tag everything that goes up so you can always get more info by clicking on the tab or doing a search on the upper left search box on the site. Search for anything.

Nyle Steiner CONVERTED EVI

via this post on Patchman Music where you will find more wind controllers. via Evan

"Here is a very special item. This is an EXTREMELY RARE hand-converted EVI done by the inventor Nyle Steiner. The controller began life as an EWI and was custom converted by legendary EWI / EVI inventor Nyle Steiner into an EVI brass type controller. Steiner no longer offers this service so this is definitely a collectable EVI as well as an amazingly expressive instrument. Also included with this custom EVI is an Akai EWI3020m sound module in superb condition- it even still has the removable protective plastic sheet on the LCD! Since the EWI3020m module is true analog, it has a super-smooth, fat, and warm sound. This system is in great shape with just a small amount of dings and scratches from normal use. This EWI3020m module has been updated by adding a backup battery clip and a backup battery in the Patchman Music Wind Controller lab (www.patchmanmusic.com). This system has been professionally checked out by wind controller expert Matt Traum. The EWI3020m has excellent chord capabilities. It can trigger four-note user-programmable chords externally via MIDI. Internally, the EWI3020m has 2 REAL ANALOG oscillators, a REAL ANALOG filter with resonance, 2 fabulous FORMANT filters for more realistic solo string and woodwind sounds, a REAL VCA, an LFO, and 2 EGs per patch! The sound of this system is super-smooth and expressive and it is capable of exceptionally fat analog leads and basses. Click here to visit the Patchman Music EWI3020m soundbanks page and hear this module in action! Patchman Music offers two soundbanks for this unit and they are included with this package (a $90 value). 50 patches in the EWI3020m are permanent and 50 are user-editable. The EWI3020m has jacks for Line Out, External In, Headphone Out, Program Up and Down footswitches, MIDI IN, MIDI Out, and MIDI THRU. The External In jack allows you to control ANY synth or sampler with the EWI3020m's REAL ANALOG filter and VCA. This provides SUPER-FAST and SUPER SMOOTH RESPONSE since the modulation is via direct control voltage and not MIDI! There is also a front panel knob for adjusting the Ext In level. This unit responds so fast you can actually hum or growl into the mouthpiece to modulate the sound. The EWI3020m has extensive matrix modulation capabilities. This sale includes the converted EVI brass-style wind controller, the EWI3020m analog sound module with original box!, the special connecting cable, Patchman Music EWI3020m soundbanks Volumes 1 and 2 on floppy disk (a $90 value- specify PC or Mac format), and a copy of the printed EWI3020m manual."

A Bit of ARP History

Link to full story

"Christopher had been introduced to me by Michael Suchoff. Michael was a brilliant engineer who helped program the first computerized electronic music synthesizers at ARP Instruments in the early seventies. ARP founder Alan R. Pearlman called me one day to suggest I work with Michael. Our collaboration included my electronic games for Parker Brothers and the ill-fated iXO Telecomputer. Chris designed the graphics for our prototype Microterminal.

He helped me design special models of our prototype, including a European model that we took to ITT headquarters in Brussels, where it successfully logged in to our computers back in Cambridge.

Christopher introduced me to membrane switches from Chomerics. They had been put into ARP synthesizers like the Chroma and Omni. Chris did graphic designs for the Omni and Axxe. At ARP he worked with Philip Dodds and Paul DeRocco, the project manager and engineer for the main ARP synthesizers. When ARP collapsed in 1981, Phil talked CBS into taking over the Chroma and hiring him as the project manager."

Traxxpad beat2

YouTube via sanhozeezee.

Mouse over the thumbnails for more at the end of the video.

Crumar Performer

images via this auction.

Olivier Grall Wurlitzer Page

This one in via adrien. No, it is not a synth, but for anyone interested feel free to check out Olivier Grall's new Wurlitzer Page.