MATRIXSYNTH

moog

flickr by darshana-na-na-nah

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"fun. built by dr. moog himself."

Roland TR-606 The Beast Prototype

images via this auction

"# Description - Beast606Rack : Prototype
Offered for sale is one of only two final units, from a project that proved too costly in man-hours to be feasible. This "prototype" unit (without s/n) is identical to its twin in all respects, excepting some minor cosmetic imperfections. It is *highly* unlikely that any subsequent units of this type will be built, as the time taken to produce them does not tie up with the expected sale price : (

In short, this machine consists of a donor tr-606 core, which has been extensively modified, and repackaged into a 4u rack enclosure. The extent of this work is not insignificant - there is, for example, only one single external electronic component that has not been replaced (the time signature select switch!). Every thing else you can see (the leds, the pots, the jacks, the buttons, the switches, the power inlet, etc. etc.) is brand new. Custom circuitry has been added, in addition to modifications to the existing paths, to create a machine with as much functionality as possibly within the 4u layout.

I have quite a history (some years) of modifying tr-606s / tb-303s (see www.thebeast.co.uk for more information), and not only is this the most complex tr-606 by my hand, it also surpasses any others I have seen previously.

# Item specifics
# Fully modified TR-606 in 4u rack enclosure
# Sync I/O on rear panel
# Voice editing controls (20-off)
# Trigger kill switches (7-off)
# Trigger outputs (5v/buffered)
# Trigger indicator LEDs
# Trigger inputs (7-off)
# Noise reduction mods
# Pre-mixer audio outputs
# All tact switches replaced (ALPS)
# All level pots replaced
# Rotary switches replaced
# All jacks replaced
# All LEDs replaced (blue)"

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Clothes Pin Midi Controller

via Another Day in the life of PaulPanebianco.com where you will find more images and info.
"This entry is for the DIY keyboard group. I am working on a design idea for a 6-6 midi controller, the keys are made out of 'clothes pins' and assorted wood cuts. The main problem i am encountering is, level and even spacing between keys........I would like to have some plastic molds of my key designs made to glue on top of the keyboard I am using for this project - or something similar to the "evolution MK 149 keyboard adapter"(see below) the octave span of the yamaha pss portasound keyboards are very close to the original Janko - so an adapter could work well for some one looking to learn the Janko key layout."

Dave Smith Instruments Mopho Serial #1

flickr by Yotsuba&!

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"the first.... and Dave Smith is right behind this one, out of the picture."

Klee Sequencer

flickr by dr.photon
(click for more)

Inside a Klee

Yamaha FVX-1 FM 8 op synthesizer module

via this auction, via dlmorley in the forum. "very rare programmable 8-operator FM synthesizer expander released in 1988 - 64 editable parameters - 22 direct + 42 with DOS based editor - DSP - 11 effect algorithms Stereo-Chorus, Stereo-Pan, Symphonic, Phaser, Flanger, Delay, Tremolo, Digital hall, Celeste and Wah. - 5 LED dsplays + levelmeter - 4 x 8 voice blocks (4 part multitimbral) - 248 ROM, 248 RAM presets, 16 performances - 2x MIDI IN (front and back), 2x MIDI OUT (front and back), MIDI THRU, Headphone OUT, Aux OUT Stereo, Main OUT Stereo, Main In Stereo Cinch, Main Out Stereo Cinch, Aux In Stereo Cinch, Aux Out Stereo Cinch, Pack Port - 14 Buttons + 1 Coarse, 4 endless controllers, 1 Main Out volume knob, 1 Aux Out volume knob, 1 headphone Out volume knob One of, if not THE best FM synth module. 8 operator FM. 4 separate synths each with 8 note polyphony I believe."

ciani-buchla keyboard cover

flickr by bdu

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"suzanne ciani and her buchla 200 on the cover of contemporary keyboard, june 79"

dataton what?

flickr by bdu

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"Never heard of this before. Seems to suggest CV controlled washing machines?"

Update via Robert in the comments:
"Dataton is a Swedish company and they manufactured a modular system Dataton 3000 in the end of the 70's with an very innovative design and interesting way to interconnect!

Read more here.

The company still exist but are now manufacturing video and display systems. http://www.dataton.com/"