HD Test

Sonicstate TV via Noiseconformist
That would be a MOTM format Zerosicllator on the left. Anyone know what the other modules might be?

Return of the Prophet

flickr by Neil Vance


full size

It looks like Niel Vance is on another scanning spree.
Click here for more.

LinnDrum II Update

Roger Linn Design
"June 20, 2008: Sorry for the lack of updates here. We've made quite a few improvements to the design but waiting on a number of decisions before releasing new information. Please hold your questions and I promise to update this page as soon as those decisions are made. Thanks to all those who sent in suggestions and pre-orders.

We're currently estimating street prices of around $1400 for LinnDrum II and around $1800 for LinnDrum II Analog, and they'll be available either directly from us or from dealers at the same price...

-- Roger and Dave"

World's cutest drum machine

flickr by aragoto
(click for more)

full size

Drumcomputer MFB-503

JMJ Gives away his RMI Computer Keyboard!

flickr by Neil Vance

"1989 Competition Prize."

full size

BTW, my lovely wife picked up OXYGENE Live in Your Living Room as one of my birthday presents this year. I cannot recommend it enough. It is a synth feast like no other. I had a good time with friends synth spotting and IDing synths. We got all of them of course. :) It was a challenge getting the CD/DVD combo in the US. The first copy she picked up off of Amazon appeared to be open/used and had some flickering going on at the bottom of the screen. She ended up finding a new shrink wrapped copy in NTSC from "thetangotienda" also on Amazon If you want to save the hassle I'd recommend going through them. BTW, it looks like it's just the audio CD but it comes with a DVD of the live footage when you flip the CD tray over, here is the product description off of Amazon:

"Special two disc (CD + PAL/Region 0 DVD)[I picked up the NTSC one] pressing of the 2007 digitally remastered 30th Anniversary edition of this influential Electronic album features a bonus DVD that contains a live performance filmed in HD, behind the scenes footage, 5.1 surround sound mix of the album and more. Famed for it's melodic lushed spaced-out Electronica, this is the album that captured keyboard maestro Jarre at his zenith. The lead single 'Oxygene IV' is one the most recognizable Electronic pieces in recent history. The son of famed French film composer Maurice Jarre, Jean-Michel Jarre is a synthesizer wizard, who had a number of instrumental hits, beginning in 1977 with "Oxygene", the success of which propelled him to pop-star status. In the ensuing decades, he has continued releasing albums and mounting enormous stage spectacles around the globe. EMI. 2007"

More than worth the money.

Rolling with 88 weighted keys, live on bike.

YouTube via rockthebike. You know you want one. I want one that will hold this.
"Paul Freedman of Rock the Bike mounts a seat and instrument rack on a Mundo utility bicycle. Watch as Janaysa performs her song, London Bridges, on the back of the bike on its maiden voyage."
via Synthtopia.

The San Francisco Tape Music Center Images via Pete - Update

This post updated with some notes by Pete.

Club of the Knobs and Synthesizers.com FAQ

YouTube via synthesizerman
"A video showing how the Club of the Knobs power conversion board hooks into the synthesizers.com wire harness."

Roland Jupiter-4

images via this auction

with Kenton MIDI retrofit

Pink KORG Polysix

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
images via this auction

Looks like the Pink KORG Polysix in these videos is up for auction.

"Modifications...
Once I had restored the Polysix to working order and wired the retrofit properly (with help from the guys at Kenton) I decided to go a little further...

Case...
The original chipboard base and sides were rather battered. So they were the first things to go, and I replaced them with solid pine sides and a plywood base, covered with multiple layers of varnish.

Next I sanded down and resprayed the control panel pink. Then using Waterslide Decal paper (look it up) I recreated the lettering and artwork, adding extra lettering for the Kenton interface, and transferred it to the control panel before applying some layers of clear acrylic laquer.

LEDs...
Then I replaced the original LEDs with bright blue ones and also added blue LEDs to the pitch bend and modulation wheels. Inside the Polysix on the voice circuit board are six small LEDs that indicate which of the six oscillators are in use at the time. I also added this to the front panel.

Modulating the VCFs with the VCOs...
It is a feature on some of the more expensive synthesisers, that you can modulate the cutoff of the filters with the voice oscillators (as well as the LFO.) I have added a switch for each voice to enable the Polysix to do this. It is quite a hard effect to describe (see the first video for a demo.) It can be applyed to any number of the six voices, which makes it quite effective when using the arpeggio and unison modes. In short this Polysix is now capable of making sounds that no other Polysix is able to! I believe that this is the first time this mod has been done.

ExtendaBend!..
I have also added a switch to extend the range of the pitch bender. This is best used for effects as when the bend range is set to full and the switch is active, the tuning will be slightly unstable.

Finishing touches...
I have also added an IEC socket to the back,instead of the mains cable, and replaced all the knobs with rubberised soft-touch knobs. The panel screws are now all shiny steel.

Please note that the although fairly hard wearing, the paint on the control panel is not as durable as the original, so care must be taken when transporting or moving this keyboard.

Kenton MIDI retrofit...
The Kenton retrofit has sockets for MIDI In, Out and Thru.

It can control the Polysix's Notes, Program change, Pitch bend, Modulation, Filter cut off and Note Volume (Filter cutoff and note volume are monophonic and use last-note priority. You can also transpose. It would also cost you a small fortune to fit one of these into a Polysix (see Kenton website for prices.)

Here is a direct link to the Polysix Kenton retrofit instuction manual..."