Profile: Adrian Utley Portishead's Third

See the write-up on Sonic State.

Monty Python Moog Vocoder

images via this auction
"Our MONTY PYTHON collection of Studio Equipment

MOOG VOCODER - as used on many Monty Python productions

The Gear Garage is very proud to be presenting a fine collection of Monty Python Equipment in very good condition, well looked after and featured on many famous recordings with a unique heritage.

The Moog Vocoder we have here is recognisable from their recording of 'Here comes another one.'

Besides from being a superb and rare instrument it is a piece of history unlike any other. Anyone looking to buy such an article may consider this as an investment as well as a creative tool. Very likely to gain in value on both counts. NOW WITH ORIGINAL MANUAL!"

ELEKTRONIKA EM-04 Analog Synth String

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"EM-04 HAS A FOUR MAIN SECTIONS OF CONTROL:
1-st GROUP (left manual) - attack, sustain, bass, violin, alto, string, orchestral, brass
BRASS FILTER - attack, sustain (level, on/off), cutoff, resonance
2-nd GROUP (right manual) - attack, sustain, bass, violin, alto, string, orchestral, brass
MASTER - fine tuning, main volume level, tone (brightness), slalom (pitch slide), hawaii (finger pitch controller).

• There is a one master oscillator in this instrument. Due to this oscillator a possibility of instrument detuning in the process of operation is eliminated.

• Because of split of the manual into 2 sections, the volume of each group may be adjusted.

FILTER GENERATOR IS FOR BRASS SECTION ONLY.
• Connection on the rear panel: Audio OUTPUT with standard 1/4' jack, power wire connection (220/240V 2 pin euro), fuse (0,5A) ."

DSI Prophet '08

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Red, White and Blue

Happy 4th of July to those in the US!

click here for a few more Red, White and Blue shots sent in by Mike.

Bleep Labs Thing-a-ma-kits!

"Now noisy makers can assemble and modify their own light controlled analog noise friend!

All the sounds of Thingamagoop plus
Triangle wave LEDacle with shape and speed control.
Second photocell patchable to modulator and photocell rate.
Square and Triangle wave output.
The satisfaction for making an noise monster with your own soldering iron!

Comes with:
* detailed instructions
* fully labeled components
* simply layed out circuit board with minimal hand wiring.
* 2 ready to blink LEDacles
* control panel and face stickers

Find a box and make your own analog junk monster or use our "stompbox" style enclosure.

Movie coming july 4th. In the meantime, post your pics to the Thingamakit Flickr group!

The novice maker should read some basic soldering tips.

Note: Special prices through the weekend! On Monday the prices will change to $60 with the enclosure or $50 for the bare kit." Bleep Labs' Thing-a-ma-kits page. (previous post)

WALL∙E “A Space Journey in Sound”

YouTube via WallEMovie. The man that brought us R2D2 on the ARP 2600.
"In this behind-the-scenes clip, Andrew Stanton, Jim Morris, and Ben Burtt discuss the sound effects used in the film.

What if mankind had to leave Earth and somebody forgot to turn the last robot off? WALL∙E, a robot, spends every day doing what he was made for. But soon, he will discover what he was meant for. From Academy Award®-winning writer-director, Andrew Stanton (“Finding Nemo”), Disney∙Pixar’s WALL∙E is the story of one robot's comic adventures as he chases his dream across the galaxy.

WALL∙E comes to theaters on June 27, 2008! Visit www.wall-e.com for more information!"

Best Wedding Cake EVER!!!

This one in via Jeff:
"can you belive the groom cake I got at my wedding? Don't think i've seen a better synth cake. Someone even tried to play it! feel free to share as long as Kasha's Sugar Art gets credit and Ian "Capital I" says it's ok to share. But i'm sure he doesn't mind at all. But the baker sure deserves credit: www.kashassugarart.com/"

What's funny about this one is I actually saw it in my flickr feed yesterday. I was going to put a post up on how the gnome jumped off and broke that key. The funny thing is I didn't realize it was a cake until Jeff wrote in!!! Glancing at the image I just thought it was a mini with a wonky keyboard. This is definitely one of the best synth cakes I have ever seen. Click on the cake label below for more.

The Electronic Century Part I: Beginnings

This one in via brian c. EM (Electronic Musician) has a series up on the history of electronic musical instruments. You can find part 1 here. On the right of the site under the "Must Read" section you will find links to parts 1-4.

"The early years of electronic musical instruments set the tone for a century.

FIG. 1: Thaddeus Cahill's Telharmonium was installed in New York in 1906. It was transported from its home in Massachusetts in more than a dozen railway boxcars.

As we enter the 21st century, electronic music is fast approaching its 100th anniversary. This is a good time to look at our roots and get to know how we came to be where we are. This is the first in a series of four articles in which EM explores the instruments, artistic ideas, business concepts, musicians and entrepreneurs, and technical breakthroughs of the century—from the first technological achievements to the synthesizers of tomorrow.

The focus throughout the series is on the technologies that have been used by musicians to expand on the resources available in traditional, acoustic instruments. Where appropriate, each article will also document important musical compositions that have employed these technologies. There's a rich and deep tradition to uncover, so let's begin our journey!"

Recorder - Synth Bots

"We play live, using the following: Open Labs NeKo LX, Korg Radias, Roland Juno G, Akai MPC 1000, Theremin, and, occasionally, an Atari 2600 SynthCart. Nothing vintage, just good synthetic fun."

Recorder on MySpace
Recorder on YouTube


Recorder - Satellite
YouTube via recordermusic
"'Space Alone' animation by Ilias Sounas, used with permission"