MATRIXSYNTH

Experimentalists Anonymous Mini-Optosynth demo 2, Vs. Amen Break

Experimentalists Anonymous Mini-Optosynth demo 2, Vs. Amen Break from Experimentalists Anonymous on Vimeo.
"The mini-optosynth is a pocketsized tone generator/distortion box, whose frequency can be controlled by a photocell, some buttons, or an external input. This video shows the optosynth with the classic amen break as an input. I turn the lights off mid-way to show what it's like with the built-in LED as a light source. For more information, please visit experimentalistsanonymous.com/"

Stephi w/ Jomox XBase888 & Pigtronix PolySaturator

YouTube via bigcitymusic
"Here's a short little sequence from the JoMoX XBase 888 drum machine into the Pigtronix PolySaturator distortion pedal. The PolySaturator has a three-band EQ, which is nice for running drums into it.

http://www.bigcitymusic.com
http://www.myspace.com/bigcitymusicdo...
http://www.bigcitymusicblog.blogspot.com"

ET3 Therevox

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"Therevox Electro-Theremin
Model ET-3

About the Electro Theremin / Tannerin: This is the Ultra-Rare Instrument heard on The Beach Boys "Pet Sounds", "Good Vibrations", and "Wild Honey". Never mass produced, it has the beautifully eerie sound of the theremin, but much easier to play! Similar to the Ondes Martenot and Analogue System's French Connection (but with the sound built-in).

Further reading:
* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electro-theremin
* http://www.electrotheremin.com/PTE-TPage.html
* http://www.keyboardmuseum.com/pre60/1950/electrot.html

About this Electro-Theremin:
Completely re-created by Therevox to have an evenly-spaced keyboard!!! This makes it much easier to play. The oscillator in this is incredibly stable and creates a pure sine wave. I tuned it and turned it off for a few days, only to turn it back on in perfect tune! I love it but I must pay some bills so it's my loss and your gain! Only 14 were built in the last year and Therevox says they will not build anymore for 3-5 years. The only thing I couldn't test is the skew voltage control, because I don't have a proper control for it. The skew knob works fine, though. I felt I should mention it so buy with that in mind. Otherwise everything is tested and guaranteed to work upon arrival. Includes manual and AC adapter.

Features:
* Evenly-spaced keyboard
* Volume control knob or gate button
* Ultra Stable Oscillator
* Sine, Triangle, Saw waves
* Sync in/out
* CV out
* Gate out
* Linear FM CV in and knob control
* Exp FM CV in and knob control
* Skew CV and knob control
* Light-weight

Sound clips (played on the ET-1)": http://www.therevox.com/

Yamaha CS10

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"Sections as follows:

External
External / Noise switch
Triggerlevel

VCO
Pitch selection 64' to 2'
LFO Mod
PW / PWM Mod

Mixer
Noise / External level
Triangle level
Square level

VCF
Filter Pass select
LFO Mod
Cut off freq
Resonance
Initial Level
Attack Level
Attack Time
Delay Time

Release Time
Normal / X5 select
Trigger select

VCF
Hold / EQ select
Attack Time
Delay Time
Sustain Time
Release Time
LFO Mod
Normal / X5 select

Output
Volume level

Expression
Portamento level
Pitch bend"

KORG Polysix

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"The Polysix was release in 1981 as an answer to Rolands cheap Juno range but in my opinion the KORG Polysix was a far nicer synthesizer, let me explain.

The Polysix featured 6 voltage controlled oscillators making the sound much warmer compared to the crude digital controlled oscillators of the Juno 60/106. You can really hear that on brass patches as this synth sounds so much more "vintage" then the similarly priced Juno 60, or even the later high end Jupiter 6. Each VCO also features a sub-oscillator which can be pitched down 1 and 2 octaves to add that extra low end bass.

The filter is a 24 db/octave based on the earlier SSM chipsets. These are considered more 'ballsier' then the later more popular CURTIS ships found in the Prophet 5's MKIIIs, Oberheim OB8's, Elka Synthex, Rhodes Chromas, Moog Memorymoogs (and just about everything else). Many synth collectors favour the earlier P5 MKII and OB-X's purely on the bases of the SSM chipset... and here it is in the Polysix. Really, this filter sounds lovely and adds so much to this simple single oscillator synth.

The Polysix also had what can only be described as the first on-board effects unit found in any polysynth at that time. The signal can be routed through a chorus unit, a phaser and the world famous Polysix ensemble effect. All these effects are analogue and sound absolutely fantastic... so much so that KORG made these effects in to a separate VST when they created their digital version of the Polysix. These effects make this unit sound huge... actually, put the mighty Elka Synthex next to a Polysix and there's not much in it in my opinion... especially when you consider the huge price difference... which really shows how great this little synth sounds!

On top of all the great sound making features there are some really fantastic extra functions.

Firstly the Polysix has an autotune function which really makes this synth very stable... compared to the manual digital tuning of the memorymoog this little synth starts up and is in tune in less then a minute (I know, the memorymoog has 18 VCOs to tune up instead of 6)... but at the same time it doesn't sound too perfect because of those analogue effects... just a perfect retro analogue sound.

You can play in normal Poly mode or make all 6 VCOs play in unison for a huge fat monosynth sound... best of all there is a chord hold function which is wicked... hold down any combination of notes and press the chord memory button and then the synth will play that combination of notes for every root note you play... great for playing jazzy 4ths.

The arpeggiator is stolen directly of the KORG Mono/Poly which gives you the standard up, down, up/down over 1 or 2 octaves or the full range of the keyboard... quite retro sounding.

Lastly, there's 32 patch spaces for your sounds and a cassette tape interface for exporting or re-installing your sounds... I would plug this directly into my Mac and record the white noise signal and then just use QT player to play it out again... works a treat so at least that feature isn't redundant even if tape cassette players are!"

ANALOGUE SYSTEMS SYSTEM 3

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click this one for the full size shot.

Oakley Super Ladder 3 VCF

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OMS-404 SUPERLADDER-3

"Diode Ladder filter, similar to the filter you would find in the Roland TB-303"

Yamaha CS60

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Vesta Kaza midi to cv converter

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"Vesta Kaza midi to cv converter that was originally made to accompany a sampler by the same company. It funtions as a standard 1v/oct midi to cv converter, but it only works over 3 octaves. Which would be perfect if you had a compact keyboard controller, or triggering a bass mono synth line, or if you were triggering a freqbox (which only has a 3 octave triggering range, at best. ) Operation is very simple, by setting the desired highest note on your keyboard or sequencer, it will convert all midi notes 3 octaves below set point. limited range, but where are you going to find a converter at this price? I have been using this with a little phatty, and a freqbox, and works just like it should! i put a cooler knob on the tuning pot, but the original purple one will ship with it!"