MATRIXSYNTH

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Roland System 100m M-121 Highpass Filter Mod V2

more info on sys100m.org

"This version [previous one on Yahoo Group] is a proper 24db Highpass, but is a bit more fiddly, and can not be switched by hacking the on board switch."

via Stephen.

DIY Analogsequencer 3 x (16 o. 2 x 8), Sync usw. usw.

via this auction, via gregor.
"I want to get rid of my DIY-stepsequencer. It was fun to build it but my musical ambitiont cannot benefit from it. It is a DIY-Device and i am not a professional electrician, so you should not expect a device of industry-level. But i used it in several songs without problems, sont know the word für 'zuverlässig' right now :) The pots of the 3 rows are pots with switch-function, that means you could upgrade this device to a 3-track triggersequencer for e.g. firing drumsounds of external devices, totally independent of its abilities as a sequencer.

The Features:

* Analogsequencer with 3 tracks 1x16 Steps OR 2x8 Steps, every Step has a switch for Gate on/off
* made out of 2 LED-walkinglight-devices with a handsoldered cascading-unit
* it can only run forward ;) NO random, NO alternate and NO reverse.
* last-Step-turniogswitch on both sides
* Din/Sync-Socket for external sync, tested with Doepfer MSY.
* both sides (im 2x8-Betrieb) can be advanced with a Gate-Signal, that means the sequencer can shuffle or play any rythm you like. Very easy: press a key on your keyboard and the seq advances one step, and record this in your sequencer!
* also has internal clock, but mainly intended for testing purposes because the range is a bit weak, estimated 70 to 120 bpm. but this could be changed by replacing the appropriate capacitor
* Left and right side have independent outputs for the 3 rows A,B,C AND Gate AND the also got different trigger-advance-inoputs. so i guess this device can be considered as two totally independent 8 step sequencers
* both sides can be 'exchanged', manually per switch or with a gate-signal. HIGH= exchanged, LOW - normal. Of course this only makes sense in 2x8-Mode. If the sides are changed, the normal outputs CV A,B,C Buchsen will spit out the values of the pots on the right side and vice versa. Of course the laststep of the appropriate side is considered. The "aktive" Side is indicated with a neat, green LED
* The inactive Side-pot-values will also be outputtes at the A,B,C 'Inactive CV Outs'-Buchsen, their value is not adjustable but fixed from 0-5 Volt
* GateTime can be adjusted with Pot and is indicated with ts own LED. The active side even has a CV-Input for GateTime which you additionally can tweak 'relative' with the normal GateTime-Pot. You can use track C e.g. to steer the gatetime, just put Patchkabel of OUT C to 'Length Mod'
* CV A and B have pots for Glide, Scale and Offset. Glide is the same as on analog synths, it smears the values. Scale scales the potvalues from 0 Volt to max 12 Volt; Offset shifts the voltages a bit up or down, kind of GlobalTune . CV C fixed between 0-5 Volt.
* if the Reset-input is HIGH the device starts over at step 1 (in 2x8mode bith sides). Very helpful because in Din/Sync this sequencer sometimes likes to start with the 2 instead of the 1. THat is due to my amatour Din/Snyc-logic. a semiprofessional electrician can fix that.
* it comes with a Döpfer 2 channel-Quantisizer, wich can push the cv-values of track A and B to exact halftones, if you like (switches for 'quantisize')
* the doepfer-quantisize-module allows you also to quantisize the whole sequencertrack (A and/or B) per external voltage

DOWNSIDES, ENHANCEMENTPOSSIBILITIES __________________________________

* in DinSync-mode it will start with 2 sometimes
* one Poti has a probelm with the switch-function. only important if you want to make something with this press-switch-pot-thing. then you should change this one, the other 35 are switching perfect.
* the pots are not HighEnd-pots, that means the tune can vary each cycle
* Glidetime is a bit short, about 1/2 sec, capacitor should be changed
* it is a DIY-device out of very cheap LED-walkinglights. If you switch the modes and functions to wild it might happen in some situations that you should give it a reset to find home
* in the lowerleft corner there is a switch "Use active Trigger" - i guess i had an internal brainerror. cannot remember what i wanted with that. i guess it shoul also modultae the gatetime of the inactive side. well it does sth. dont know

You will get schematics/dokumentation (not perfect). Has internal, stabilized power supply for 220 Volt. Worldwide shipping, international bidders welcome. Most countries in Europe is 22 EUR shipping (bare costs, i do not charge extras). Visit the adress in the first pic for some audiofiles made with this sequencer."

Fricke MFB 502 mit 8 x Trigger-Out und Kabelpeitsche

via this auction, via gregor.
"MFB 502 analog Drumcomputer with attached Trigger-Outputs for all the internal Sounds. For each Sound you have a 3.5mm-Socket and a switch to let the Trigger-Signal for this instrument through or muted. The Clap-Output gives a clap-typical burst-signal.

The triggersignals enable you to drive external analog sound-modules with the 808-style programming of the MFB. Of course the triggers are velocity sensitive if you steer the MFB over midi. For details about the mashine itself please consult the web and search for fricke, berlin and MFB 502.

Each Soundtrigger flashes the appropriate LED, WOW :) The machine itself is 100% original, no modifications. The trigger-level is a bit weak on some outputs (BD, TOMS) due to technical circumstances and comprimises i had to make. But a Pearl DRX-1 e.g. triggered perfect, even on the weak outputs. It depends on the sensitivity of the triggered device.

You will get the machine in very good condition (homerecording, non-smoker), the powersupply, manual and a 2.5m cable with additinally remoted 6.3mm-sockets for BD, SD, CYM and HH."

NEXT SPACEBASS 3.3

images via this auction

via Tuan c/o Drone Studios

Note the MIDI dip switch and VCF In.

"The Next! Spacebass 3.3 is the best Roland TB-303 clone there is! The analog circuitry is based almost entirely on single transistors which make these units sound absolutely authentic. The control interfaces are built around the original 303 design for easy on-the-fly use. The sounds generated by analog bass synths come from two types of waveforms, Saw and Square, which can be mixed for a large number of sound possibilities. The SpaceBass 3.3 features a 24 dB low pass filter, through which the sound passes to create various effects, can be modulated with Cutoff, Resonance, and Envelope Modulation. The decay time and accent are variable from 120 velocity. There is a separate VCF input for routing any audio signal through the filters...perfect for warming up drum loops! By the way the Next! Spacebass 3.3 was manufactured under several different names such as the FAT Freebass FB383 or the MAM MB33, but they are all the same synth with the same circuitry. They are all perfect TB-303 recreations and sound fat and acidy!"

You can find samples at the auction.

PAiA Fatman

images via this auction, including some of the inside. I love this shot because you can barely see the components.

via Tuan c/o Drone Studios

"The Paia FatMan is a truly underrated analog synth! Though it is quite simply a two oscillator VCO design routed through to a VCF and a VCA, it makes up for it with a wonderfully beefy sound. The Fatman contains two fat VCOs with detune and mix controls as well as a very nice glide that gives it an old school analog edge. Add to that a warm filter that self oscillates when resonance is pushed to its max and it sounds quite Moogish in nature. There are two separate envelopes for the VCF and VCA, and like the Minimoog there is a special AR/ASR mode that is switchable for the filter and a full ADSR for the amplifier. Add to that a switch labeled PUNCH which simulates the tight envelopes found on the Minimoog. Unlike most old school analog synths, the Fatman contains MIDI ports, so all you need is a Midi controller to start using it. In addition, the Fatman can be used as a CV Gate output to control other classic V/Hz synths like the Korg MS series synths as well as the Yamaha CS series. The Fatman works well as a Midi to CV/Gate interface, but does not have all the features of a Kenton CV/Gate box, though a Kenton box will cost you well over $200. The addition of a CV/Gate output on the Fatman is a big plus! The Fatman is an excellent synth for fat analog bass and lead sounds as well as zany sound effects. If you're a circuit bender, the Fatman is one of the most modded synths on the planet!"

You can find links to samples in the auction.

KORG M500 Micro Preset

images via this auction

via Tuan c/o Drone Studios

"The Korg M500 Micropreset is a funky, underrated little analog synth with a very warm resonant filter and cool retro wood enclosure. Many people do not know this, but the "Korg 35" VCF found on the M500 is also found on the Korg MS10, MS20 and Sigma synthesizers. It's a very unique sounding filter and is considered by many synth enthusiasts to be the best sounding 12db analog filter ever made. The M500 is basically 30 different preset sounds, and each sound is selectable via a matrix consisting of a knob and six push buttons. Each preset will allow a different mix of parameters to be edited, and some presets don't. And I think that is one of the reasons why it is labeled as a "preset" synth though there is a certain amount of control over some of the parameters onboard. Some presets allow direct control over attack, sustain, modulation rate, modulation depth, vibrato, LFO, portamento and the filter (which is interestingly labeled "Traveler"), and it varies to what degree some of these parameters can be edited depending on which preset is selected.

The M500 is structured on a matrix composed of six main families of sounds, and five variations for each (often just playing an octave up or down). The M500 also has this neat ability to layer two sounds from different families for a fatter, composite sound!

Several expressive controls make this an excellent "players" synth. Especially cool is the momentary Portamento switch that allows you to add portamento only when you need it -- great when adding slides to a brass preset. There is a Random Repeat switch that allows a random vibrato effect which is both subtle and chaotic. This synth nails down the Theremin sound perfectly and most all the presets sound warm, full and vintage. If you are a fan of early synth music from the 70's to the early 80's, this is a perfect synth to obtain those sounds, simply because the M500 was used on countless records from that early synth period. OMD used the M500 on their first four albums, and their lead singer/synthesist Andy McCluskey still cites the M500 as his favorite synth. Most apparent uses of the M500 are the lead synth part from "Enola Gay" and the intro white noise swooshes from "Electricity". Also Vangelis, Jean Michel Jarre and Brian Eno are also avid users of the Korg M500."

There are a ton of samples linked at the auction.

Roland SH-3A

images via this auction

via Tuan c/o Drone Studios

"The Roland SH-3A is a fully discrete (no ICs, just all resistors and capacitors) analog synthesizer made in 1974. It is actually one of Roland's first analog synths and is distinct from all other analog synths for its ability to do additive synthesis, allowing the layering of five of its oscillators/waveforms. Though the oscillators cannot be independently tuned, just the fact that five waveforms can be layered, and at different levels, makes for a distinct and fat sounding synth. Along with this are several other features which set the SH-3A apart from other synths. The ability to use two independent LFOs (including sample and hold) to modulate the VCO, filter and VCA allow it to sound more like a modular synth. In fact the circuitry of the SH-3A was later used in Roland's System 700 and System 100 modular synths and they all share a very similar sound. There is also a nice sounding PWM (chorus) control on the 8' waveform and both white and pink (rare) noise for those old school synth swooshes a la OMD in "Electricity". Also the SH-3A contains several expressive controls like the glide button and built in ADSR curves allowing quick programming of bass, brass or lead sounds at the turn of a switch. The 24db filter (called "growl") is rich sounding, can go into self-oscillation at high resonant levels. Overall it's an extremely nice, organic sounding filter. Also the envelopes are super snappy -- this a real, discrete analog synthesizer we are talking about here!!! The Human League used the SH-3A to great effect on their first two albums Reproduction and Travelogue, and Vangelis and Kitaro have used it live and in the studio. Overall the Roland SH-3A has a unique sound and is quite rare and collectible. So don't miss this chance to own a part of synth history!"

You can find links to samples in the auction.