How to Make Your Sound Sing with Vocoders

"The vocoder has been a novelty staple (if that isn't an oxymoron) of pop music for more than 30 years. Even if you've never heard the word vocoder, you've heard the smoothly sexy yet oddly alien sounds that emanate from this device. In the '70s and '80s, vocoder was used on songs by Kraftwerk, Stevie Wonder, Bon Jovi, Donna Summer, Phil Collins, Laurie Anderson, Pink Floyd, Styx, and many other artists. (See the "Famous Vocoder Songs" sidebar.) In more recent years, Foo Fighters, Metallica, Beck, Britney Spears, Madonna, Marilyn Manson, and other pop icons have dialed up the sound of the vocoder."

click here for the full article on O'Reilly Digital Media

Made In Sheffield - The Birth Of Electronic Pop

YouTube via sheffieldvision.
"Buy DVD from sheffieldvision.com of critically acclaimed feature length film Made In Sheffield about early eighties post-punk music scene in Sheffield, starring The Human League, Heaven 17, ABC, Cabaret Voltaire, Pulp, John Peel"

Sequntial Circuits Prophet 10

images via this auction. via the Matrixsynth Forum.

SDS 8 ++ TR-808

YouTube via cretin4321. images on http://cliplead.blogspot.com/ Godzilla
If you like Godzilla, check out Toho Monster.

midi cv machines working

YouTube via falklandsound

Molar VST ported to PadKontrol / MicroKontrol!

YouTube via spmaspma.
"2 instances of Molar on MicroKontrol, 2 instances on PadKontrol, one running on the Monome 256 for good measure.

A bad demonstration, yes. I spent the time on the code, just got it all working solid on OSX and Windows (direct detection/communcation to the Korg devices!) :)"

STG Soundlabs P-L/LPF ARP 4072 Filter

images via this auction

Post-lawsuit Lowpass Filter
"This filter is not a clone of the ARP 4072 submodule. It does, however, have an identical topology with the same transistors and operational amplifier array. Some people may find this is close enough to use the "C" word but not here at STG Soundlabs, so in tribute to the origin of this filter design it is called the Post-Lawsuit Lowpass Filter.

And before you call to complain, let me point out that Post-Ambiguous-Legal-Action Lowpass Filter just didn't have the same ring.

This module has a standard Synthesizers.com-compliant power connector in addition to a MOTM-compliant power connector. physically it is compliant with MOTM frames and cabinets. thanks to Det3 and Yves Usson for their work on the inside."

via Suit & Tie Guy

30:5

YouTube via ninofficial. monome, lemur and buchla 200e. via mike

Vintage ARP 2600 Synthesizer **RARE** - $4800

"I have a vintage Arp 2600 that I'm looking to get sell. It was previously owned by Roger Waters, and is now in the Thievery Corporation (ESL) studios. Its in great condition, but currently taking up too much space in the studio. It is complete with the matching cases, and we are having it serviced right now to ensure that everything is working properly before being sold. If you would like to see pictures, please let me know! We can even provide the receipt for the work as soon as its done.

I have seen ARPs in worse condition sell on ebay for $4,500+, Considering the history and the condition of this particular ARP, we would like to make sure we are getting what it's worth."

via this Craigslist post.

We haven't had a poll in a while, so why not...


Update: click here for some images of the unit courtesy of daddio of tapewarm who contacted the seller.

Udpate: and a response from the seller:
"I completely understand that you would like more proof, but it was meant more as a point of interest rather than the only selling point. The current owner has had it for years, and really has no way of proving that Roger Waters owned it, it was just a little bit of interesting history on this particular ARP. I can however, prove that it is in Thievery Corporation studios."

Peter Zinovieff & EMS

"Electronic Music Studios (London) Ltd. was formed in 1969 by Dr. Peter Zinovieff to market innovative ideas arising from his private studio and interest in musical applications of computers. Over the next ten years many seminal products were released and many talented designers worked for the company. EMS had its own peculiar brand of British eccentricity which could be both endearing and annoying, but should be viewed in the context of true pioneering. It is easy to copy and follow others, but not to think up new ideas in the first place and EMS had no shortage of originality. The EMS influence was significant and can be traced into many contemporary products." Click here for the full article including more images. Pictured: "the Unit Delta Plus studio set up by Delia Derbyshire, Peter Zinovieff and Brian Hodgson." via daddio of tapewarm