KORG MicroKORG

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Alesis Micron

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AKAI XR10+XE8

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"XR10 Specifications:
Sample sound format: 16 bit PCM tone generator
Drum Section/internal sound: 10 drum kits; 65 drum sounds; 32 user programmable sounds
Programmable sound parameters: Volume Level, Pan, Tune, Decay, Reverse On/Off, Effect Send Level
Polyphony: 8 voice
Pads and knobs: 24 pads (not velocity sensitive); can send on simultaneous MIDI channels
Other pads: numeric keypad (0-9); [<] [>] [^] [v] [-/N] [+/Y] [Enter]; Big Volume and Tempo/Data knobs
Sequencer: 450 preset patterns (50 patterns, 3 variations, 3 fill-ins, 1 intro, 1 break, and 1 ending) and 99 programmable (a max combined total of about 5000 notes a max of 4 bars/pattern); 20 programmable songs (with a max 99 patterns each); 3 variations; 3 fill-ins (nice for standalone performance)
Timing resolution: 96 clocks/quarter note (play)
Tempo: 40 bpm~296bpm
I/O connectors: (1/4 inch phone jacks) L (mono), R, Effect output; Stereo Headphone x1; Footswitch x2 (Start/ Stop, Fill-in); MlDl lN/OUT
Display: 16 characterx2 line LCD
Power: DC 12V in, 200mA (jack: negative on the inside, positive on the outside); On/off button PSU INCLUDED WITH BUY-IT-NOW
Dimensions (mm): 350(W) x 241(D) x 68(H)
Weight: 1,7kg

XR10 Description/coments:
» Akai's first (and only) preset drum machine, launched in the late 80’s (1989).
» Provides drum sounds unlike those found in competing products at the time. As well as 'stock' kit and percussion sounds, the XR10 is packed with many sounds of its time, such as Peter Gabriel-style gated power toms, big Robert Palmer kicks and snares, trashy Jam and Lewis sounds, Simmons kit and others!
» The sounds are very similar to the classic Linn Drum & the electronic kits do a very good 808 impression! Used by Alec Reece, Prince, Larry Heard (Mr. Fingers), Peter Gabriel…
»The XR10 is one of a few 80s machines that doesn't have a filter (like the Yamaha RX5 and the Linn LM-1) which means that when you pitch down the sounds, you get some crunchy clock noise and aliasing artefacts, which can be quite cool.
» The compact XR10 contains 65 of the most impressive collection of 16 bit digital drum sounds you'll ever hear! PLUS! You can create YOUR OWN SOUNDS, using the extensive editing parameters including sweep, reverse decay, (fine) tune, and more.
»The decay parameter is adjustable from 0-1.5 sec in 31 steps. Other parameters such as Hold and Sweep let you select the desired sustain power and the pitch sweep. Reverse opens a whole new set of sounds! Programs you create can be stored in any of the 32 user programmable memory locations.
» The XR10 also gives you the powerful ability to create effect send mixes (fully assignable effect send) which will greatly help free up mixing channels on your recording studio board.
» It wasn't an overwhelming success as a drum machine due to its somewhat 'quirky' pattern/song programming user interface... however… it was very popular as a sound module when driven from an external sequencer (as a drum module triggered from external sources), as it provides a wide range of kit sounds from the era."

E-Mu Proteus 2000

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There is space inside for other ROMs.
There are 16 E-MU ROMS, some more rarer than others:
9061: Peter Siedlaczek Advanced Orchestra (32MB ROM)
9062: Pure Phatt (32MB ROM) Standard in Mo'Phatt, MP-7 and MK-6
9063: Beat Garden (32MB ROM) Standard in Orbit 3
9064: Ensoniq Project (32MB ROM)
9065: Vintage Collection (32MB ROM) Standard in Vintage Pro
9066: Protean Drums (32MB ROM) Standard in PX-7
9081: Holy Grail Piano (16MB ROM)
9082: Protozoa (16MB ROM) Standard in Proteus 1, 2, 3
9083: Definitive B-3 (32MB ROM) Standard in B-3
9084: Techno Synth Construction Yard (32MB ROM) Standard in Orbit 3
9085: Orchestral Sessions Vol. 1 (32MB ROM) Standard in Virtuoso 2000
9086: Orchestral Sessions Vol. 2 (32MB ROM) Standard in Virtuoso 2000
9087: World Expedition (32MB ROM) Standard in Planet Earth
9088: Sounds of the ZR, feat. Perfect Piano (32MB ROM) Standard in Ensoniq Halo
9089: X-Lead (32MB ROM) Standard in Xtreme Lead-1, XL-7 and XK-6
9140: Proteus Pop Collection (32MB ROM) Standard in Proteus 2500

Roland JP-8080

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Tascam MIDIIzer T-shirt

via this auction, via Joel. Click here for the other side.

Analog FM patch demo

via poictesme on the MATRIXSYNTH FORUM.

"I surprised myself with an analog FM experiment that I was trying out the other day so I made a video [mp3?] of it. It's a 4 operator FM patch where my self oscillating filters are summed and used to modulate a VCO (A-110) which is then used to modulate the final carrier (A-111) using the non linear CV2 input. I'm then filtering that output through the VC phase shifter (A-125) before compressing and adding a little reverb. All 4 operators and the phase shifter are tracking the keyboard CV, the result being a nice formant type sound. The patch tracks well over 2.5 octaves before becoming rather squelchy and chaotic. I've used it in this video in the lower part of the usable range as a bass line."

Audio via isotopeofme's Twango page.

Update: Here's the video.

Kaossilator vs. mini-keyboard

YouTube via Denkitribe.
"KORG Kaossilator vs. Evolution eKeys (USB mini-keyboard). I used Tweakbench Tapeworm VSTi for Mellotron-like strings."

Gonzo Makes Lolcats

Remember Gonzo? It looks like he's up on I Can Has Cheeseburger?, I beleive the official lolcat site. What's a lolcat? Some bizarre craze going on where people put silly words, usually in the font you see, on images of cats and sometimes other animals. Some are actually pretty funny. You can create your own at the I Can Has Cheeseburger? site. Nice name for a site, btw. As for synths... Sherman Filterbank, MOOG The Rogue, and KORG MS20. via Michael.

tranzducer - Richard Lainhart and the Buchla 200e Live - Reminder

Just a reminder that this event is coming up. via Richard Lainhart:
"Friends: a reminder and update for those in the New York City area, I'll be performing a solo Buchla/Continuum set at Tranzducer Friday, November 30, at 8PM, providing live accompaniment for three of my films, including the world premieres of "One Year" and "Lux":

http://www.tranzducer.com

Joining me will be Rui Pereira and, at very short notice, Moldover (http://www.moldover.com), who'll be playing a solo set with his new Controllerism rig, and, we hope, a duo set with me. Admission is still $5. We hope to see you there - thanks."