MATRIXSYNTH


Tuesday, September 02, 2008

STEINER PARKER SYNTHACON

images via this auction
"Here is a very scarce Steiner-Parker Synthacon silver face analog synthesizer from the mid-1970’s... Actually claimed to be more versatile than the MiniMoog, it can produce literally billions of sounds with its 3 VCO’s and dual envelope generator."

AKAI VX600

images via this auction

note the dual level knobs.

"AKAI VX600 is 12VCO (2VCO per VOICE – 6 VOICE) 6 note polyphonic programmable analog synthesizer. It was one of the last Japanese pure analog synthesizers in '80s. Few quantities were built, so very hard to find. This modular matrix analog synthesizer is very similar to OBERHEIM EXPANDER synthesizer and older ARP Odyssey. AKAI adopted basic schematics made by OBERHEIM, so actually the VX600 and OBERHEIM EXPANDER uses the same voice chip, so basically VX600's sound the same as the OBERHEIM EXPANDER MODULE - very fat and warm! But in my opinion, the VX600 is fatter than the OBERHEIM EXPANDER - especially brass, strings, and lead sounds are really great You can use 12VCO for 6 voice polyphonic or unison all 12VCO to a monophonic lead sound (CAUTION! it's very BIG & FAT!) Also it can be used as a multi timbre synth. (6 different voices). It's very flexible. VX600 has a variety of modulation source and destinations to program sound including MIDI control change, so you can use a MIDI controller to tweak cut off etc, and very cool feature is external audio in jack so you can synthesize external sounds using analog filter and other parameters AKAI VX600 is used but in great working condition."

As always, take auction descriptions with a grain of salt. If anyone out has had extensive time with one, feel free to comment.

Future Retro XS

images via this auction
"This is the Future Retro XS, serial number FRXS025 (the 25th XS to ever be made)

Information From Future Retro:
The XS is a true semi-modular analog synthesizer with a universe of sonic possibilities just waiting to be discovered. Our versatile design allows it to be used as either a rackmount or desktop instrument, and its compact size makes it ideal for musicians on the go.
In its simplest form, the XS is an extremely powerful monophonic synthesizer including 46 controls with internal signal routings pre-wired to allow the unit to act similarly to traditional synthesizers. The unit also provides 7 inputs and 11 outputs that can be connected in various ways to override the pre-wired signal routings, interface the unit with other instruments in a modular fashion, and even process external audio.
The XS can be controlled by both MIDI and CV/Gate control signals simultaneously in a variety of ways. It can also act as a MIDI to CV/Gate converter with outputs, including CV/Gate/Mod Wheel/Velocity signals for controlling other analog instruments.
With a single unit you can easily create basslines, leads, drones, percussion, and sound effects. Connect multiple units together to form larger systems and the possibilities are endless.
The XS provides 2 ultra stable, wide range voltage-controlled oscillators, each capable of covering a range of 0.5 Hz to 100 kHz. Oscillator A generates saw and square waveforms. Oscillator B generates sine, triangle, saw, pulse width/square waveforms, and its own sub oscillator waveform, which can be 1/2, 1/4, or 1/8 the frequency of the main waveform. The pulse width shape of Oscillator B can be set manually or modulated with an internal or external control voltage, and Oscillator B can also sync its frequency to Oscillator A. Each oscillator can be frequency-modulated independently by both internal and external signals to create more complex waveforms. The XS also provides a white noise source and ring modulator that can be used on the internal oscillators or an external source. Dedicated outputs are provided for the waveform select controls A, B, and C.
A dedicated LFO generates triangle, saw, square, and random waveforms to modulate internal parameters, or external circuits as well with its dedicated output. The LFO can act in a free-running mode, or sync its rate to divisions of an external MIDI clock. When synced to an external MIDI clock, the LFO can be used to generate analog clock signals at various synced rates for stepping analog sequencers or arpeggiators in time with modern sequencers.
The mixer section sets the levels of the oscillator waveforms, sub oscillator waveforms, white noise source, ring modulator, or any external audio signal to be sent to the input of the filter.
The 2-pole multimode filter provides 4 filter types, including lowpass, bandpass, highpass, and notch settings, each capable of covering a range from 5 Hz to 18 kHz. With high resonance settings, the filter will self-oscillate, allowing it to act as an additional audio source. The cutoff frequency can be modulated by both internal and external signals, and the filter's input and output can be overdriven independently, giving it unique tone characteristics. A dedicated output for the filter is also provided.
The XS includes our unique Velocity-sensitive ADSR type envelope with additional attack and decay time settings for accented envelopes. It's like having two envelopes in one, and it's capable of some truly funky sounds. This is the main modulation envelope internally routed to the modify the oscillators and filter. The envelope can be triggered by internal or external logic signals. Both normal and inverted polarity envelopes are available at the output.
And finally, a voltage-controlled amplifier is provided to process the amplitude of signals. The amplifier normally affects the filter's output but it can also be used to process external audio signals. The amplifier has its own dedicated envelope with four selectable shapes, Velocity-sensitive amplitude, and independent accent times. The amplifier also has a volume control for attenuating signals sent to the main output."

LELL UDS

via this auction
"VERY EXTREMELY HARD TO FIND - THE FIRST RUSSIAN DRUM SYNTH LELL UDS is a unique bitembral analog drum synth made in the early eighties in the former USSR. Sounds more better than SIMMONS, TR-909 etc. One of the first russian electronic drum synth. The module has no MIDI, it's audio trigger controlled - you can hook it to any audio device, be it a synth, a drum machine or a sound card and trigger the sounds. The sounds can be tweaked using 24 different knobs. All the labels are in cyrilic. It has 2 independent and identical channels with powerfull parameters of synthesis such - sensitivity, tone pitch, attack, env mod, rezo, noise/tone balance, accent etc. NO MIDI ARE INSTALLED."

Sound Demos:
lelluds.zip (318KB)
leloops.zip (835KB)

More Serge


More Serge from jon johnstone on Vimeo.
"Jeff showin off part of the Bunker Labs workshop. This video features his Serge and Cat Girl modular, and a Pro One mono synth."

Mimì and Yamaha CS01

via catsynth.com where you will find one more.

Solaris Demo

solaris1.mp3

via redmartian who also brought us these posts. Note the John Bowen Solaris has not yet been released.

PPG Wavecomputer 360A

"restored PPG Wavecomputer 360A.
This is the extremely rare wavecomputer 360A in black with 8 voices:
- new Keyboard-Brushings
- new Capacitors inside
- new Battery
- new EPROM"

This is available for sale.
Located in Hamburg/Germany.
hellmusic yahoo.de

more images here


Udpate: Audio sample via hellmusic:

GRP Synthesizer A3 A6 and A8

You might remember the GRP in this post on the Bluesynths Meeting 2008.

mayo wrote-in with the link to the GRP website and some info: "That's a Paolo Groppioni hand made creation. I had the pleasure to get in touch with the man a couple years ago as his former Juno60 is in my studio now, nice to see he's moved forward with his beautiful machines. "


micromov004 - Assemblage #1


YouTube via Cranda11
"Assemblage #1 is music set to a repurposed industrial video courtesy of the Prelinger Archives. Gear used: Roland MKS-80, Elektron MachineDrum, Soniccouture and Goldbaby samples, Audio Damage plugins"
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