MATRIXSYNTH

Saturday, September 06, 2008

Waldorf New Blofeld Keyboard Synthesizer

via dolphinmusic.co.uk
"We are proud to introduce the next member of the Waldorf family, our brand new Blofeld keyboard!

Features:
* 60 Megabyte sample memory
* Class compliant USB MIDI for PC,Mac and Linux
* 16 part multimode
* maximum 25 voices polyphony
* highest quality standard keybed with 49 weighted keys and aftertouch
* Internal power supply
* Pitchbend and modulation wheel
* Virtual analog, wavetable, and sample based oscillators
* MIDI in/out
* Sturdy metal case
* Stainless steel rotary encoders
* Backlit 128x64 pixel LCD
* Over 1000 sounds
* 3 oscillators, 2 filters per voice
* Selectable drive curves
* Frequency modulation for oscillators and filters
* Three LFO, four envelopes per voice
* Extensive modulation capabilities
* Complex arpeggiator
* Powerful effects section
* weight: apprx 8,-- kgs
* weight in carton: apprx 9,5 kgs"

Philips PMC100 Composer Synthesizer Sequencer

images via this auction
" Here we have a weird beasty from the 80's; Philips' one and only attempt at the synthesizer market. It combines preset FM synthesis with a sequencer, a cassette deck that doubles as a data and audio deck to load/save sequences or groove over the top of your favourite tapes plus a cool touch-membrane keyboard (ala EDP WASP, EH MiniSynth etc.)

It comes with a data cassette plus a tape and book of 'Hits of The 80's" for the full nostalgic experience. There isn't a manual included but most functions are figured out easily enough through trial-and-error or common sense."

MFOS Voltage Quantizer (+/-12V to +/-15V)

"Features
* Converts continuous voltage input to discrete .0833 voltage steps.
* Also provides whole step and fourths mode (.1666V and .3332V steps).
* Low cost parts used in the A/D and D/A circuits.
* Adds 12 tone (or whole or fourth tone) musical dimension to S&H outputs.
* Eases sequencer set up by correcting notes to discrete steps.
* Conversion time varies from sub millisecond to 1.26 millisecond (full count)
* This thing is pretty darn fun!

Possible Quirks
* Never let it be said that you won't find a voltage that causes inter-count jitter.
* Minimal chatter on step change with slowly changing input voltage.

Introduction
A voltage quantizer takes a continuously variable input voltage and outputs a stepped (or quantized) voltage. Whereas the input voltage might ramp up from 0 to 1V continuously the output voltage of the quantizer will be discrete steps of .083V. In normal mode this quantizer always starts at digital 1 or .083V. As the input voltage starts to ramp from 0 up to 1 volt the output will step to .1666V, .2499, .3332, etc up to 1.0V. The circuit also features a whole step mode in which the in to out conversion is quantizd to steps of .1666V. It also features a fourth step mode in which the in to out conversion is quantizd to steps of .3332V. Useful with sample and hold circuits to bring voltages into musical scale steps (half, whole or fourths). Useful with sequencers to bring voltages into musical scale steps (half, whole or fourths)."

http://www.musicfromouterspace.com/analogsynth/VOLTAGEQUANTIZER/VOLTAGEQUANTIZER.php

SoundDiver Adaptation for Waldorf Blofeld updated

via Achim on the Waldorf list:

"Hi folks,
I've updated the SD adaptation for the Waldorf Blofeld to make use of bugfixes in OS 1.04 (multi edit buffers now work correctly). You must upgrade the Blofeld to OS 1.04 (released today) for this adaptation to fully work. Please consult the Readme for further details.

If you are on Windows take note especially on the workaround necessary due to the buggy USB-MIDI driver supplied with all versions of Windows since WinME. I've also added a link to Waldorfs INI-File so that the Blofeld will be recognized as "Waldorf Blofeld" instead of "USB Audio Device" (this previously required manual poking in the registry). An example WIN-INI [SoundDiver] section is added to explain the MIDI-Yoke setup a bit better.

Users of the OSX Beta2 should edit the checksum entries as detailed in the Readme and also check that the Entry Increment for all bank drivers is set to 1 and not 256 (this is a big/little endian conversion issue that SD seems to get wrong sometimes). You will know this is wrong when you can only request the first sound in all banks.

http://Synth.Stromeko.net/Downloads.html#WaldorfSDada

V1.04R1
* First version supporting the release OS 1.04 of the Waldorf
Blofeld
* Corrected some problems with Envelope 4 editing.
* Added missing edit facilities for LFO 3 and Filter 2
* Straightened spelling for modulation sources lists
* Corrected parameter labels for popups
* Added init values for Sound and Global Data

Achim."

SoundDiver is a universal editor/librarian for synths by Emagic from years ago.

SOLINA String Ensemble with Custom Buttons?

via this auction

Not the best shots, but there you have it. Anyone know more about this one?

ARP 2813 Custom Modular Odyssey

images via this auction
"FEATURES -
The whole instrument is patchable
Has PPC flat or sharp pitch bender with vibrato
Touch Sensor has pitch bend, brilliance, vibrato, or volume. TS is stiff from age.
Delayed vibrato with two preset speeds
LFO is key-triggered or free running
Two voice memory
ARP 2500 style Multi-Mode Filter -
2 pole highpass, low pass, band pass, notch pass (I love the notch!)
4 pole low pass, distortion
Resonance Modulation
Multiple is 2x4 or 1x8
Inverter processor and Inverted ADSR
Single or multiple trigger ADSR
Several foot pedal and foot switch inputs
Upper and lower CV, Gate, and Trigger outputs and inputs
New, rare opposite-colored keys
Black/Gold graphics
Professional labeling for modifications
White and multi-colored, custom fit ANVIL case is in great condition
Owned and maintained by former ARP technician - never gigged
Just serviced and calibrated, No intermittants
All sliders reconditioned
Excellent cosmetics
Professional modification work
Includes full 2813 and modification schematics, Avatar (Odyssey) Patch Book, 3 patch cords, power cord"
via Brandt

From Ian Fritz, The DoubleDeka Ultrasonic VCO is coming...

You might remember the DoubleDeka Ultrasonic VCO recently from this post. Well it looks like the bride chamber will be making them available.

"This unique VCO consists of an ultrasonic oscillator core followed by a parallel pair of waveform generators. Each waveform generator consists of a switched multi-octave divider followed by circuitry to generate a 10-step waveform using a set of 10 slider potentiometers. Also included are a novel synchronization circuit with two different operating modes and a built-in "digital ring modulator" (DRM) for producing a wide variety of synchronized and anharmonic sounds. The oscillator core is highly stable (better than 20 ppm/K in the prototype) and features wide-range, accurate tracking (better than 0.05% over fifteen octaves). The variable waveform generator provides fine control over an enormous range of available timbres.

From Ian Fritz, The DoubleDeka Ultrasonic VCO is coming...
Full Kits and Assembled Modules should start shipping in October. Until Sept 15, you can preorder at these prices, which are 10% (or more) off!!

$300 Full Kit
$550 Assembled Module"

the Sea Devils Filter

via Suit & Tie Guy
"i probably should do more stuff like this, but i haven't been making as much music as i'd like lately. kind of important to remind oneself why we own gear to begin with. this is also the first piece of music i've ever composed to be intentionally atonal, to mimic the ambiguous volt-per-octave scaling of certain infamous synthesisers. i was using the attenuated exponential inputs on the Q106s and feeding other voltage sources through attenuators. also there are 2 different sequences used, and neither one of them is synced to the other.

the oscillators are Synthesizers.com, and the keyboard controller used for 2 of the 5 tracks was a x0xb0x. everything else was either one of the modules i sold, sell, or will sell or the Ray Wilson envelopes i made panels for. the sequencing on 2 of the tracks are with the Voltage Mini-Store, clocked from a Q106 on one track, and the Trigger Mini-Store clocked from the x0xb0x DIN sync on the other track. the effects are a delay/reverb patch on a PCM80, and all 5 tracks were recorded mono, one at a time, into an Alesis HD24 and mixed with no editing in Digital Performer 5 and converted to mp3 in iTunes."