preparing for the hardcore

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Moog Prodigy

newscool software synthesizer

"newschool is a synthesizer from the Animated Circuits set of software synthesizers from Native Instruments. It's based on the Life cellular automation game developed by John Conway.
www.native-instruments.com/index.php?id=reaktoranimatedci..."

the squarewave parade - the MoleS20r

multimode analog resonant filter based on the MS20

"the MoleS20r ( Pronounced MOLESTER ) is a multimode voltage controlled resonant analog filter, the core of which is a clone of the OTA filter section of the KORG MS-20. i have made a couple slight changes to the original design to get more range of use out of it which i'll explain below, but the calibration that it ships with is nearly an exact reproduction. there have been some additions around the filter. first is a nice clean preamp with more then enough gain to allow you to plug a guitar level signal directly into it and to overdrive the input of the filter. the filter itself was modified to allow you to switch between highpass, bandpass and lowpass with the turn of a knob. the overall cutoff scale and max resonance peak ( far into self oscillation if you want ) are both adjustable via small screwdriver accessible holes in each side. after the filter section is a heavy overdrive distortion that at lower setting will act as a fairly clean makeup gain. there are both a control voltage input and an expressional pedal input and they work in parallel with the cutoff knob so they can all be used at once. the true bypass switch is setup with a toggle for use as a desktop device but i can replace it with a stomp switch if you want, no charge just give me a day or so to get to it. the power supply was intentionally overbuilt and the very small footprint AC wall supply is included"

more info including samples

the squarewave parade - POLLEN

variable analog noise generator

"the pollen is a compact variable analog noise generator with a few extras. the two main controls are "grain" which helps shape the static, and "pitch" which controls a self oscillating filter that helps to alter the pitch of the static and has a switchable range, high / low. there is also an external audio input with its own volume control and a switch to kill the internal noise source so it will allow the pollen to be used as a distortion box. the output is up to about 7 volts so that it can be used as a control voltage source. the output knob will allow you so turn it down to safe audio level as well.

::: CONTROLS :::
grain: gives you control over the static breakup and amount, this control is not very linear so certain setting ranges will change more drastic then others
pitch: this is a control for the self oscillating filter used to alter the pitch of the static, just so we're clear there is not way to use the filter alone or to cause it to not self oscillate
range switch: high / low range control for the pitch
input: this is the audio input volume control, its used to adjust the breakup threshold and lower / quieter settings usually yield more interesting results
output: the output volume
noise source kill switch: this will switch out the noise source inside so that you can use the pollen to process external sources only
power switch: um yeah the power switch
clipping led: shows you when the internal sounds are clipping, usually a good thing. not to be confused for a power led which does not exist.
input jack: mono audio input here
output jack: mono noise out here"
more info including samples

the squarewave parade - bleak mixer v.b

passive analog summing mixer

"this is a very compact four channel passive analog mono mixer with mutes and volume controls for each channel along with a master volume control. it can be used to process either audio or control voltages and it can be used backwards as a splitter. being a passive design means that it does not impart any "color" or filtering of any kind and yes you can use this as an analog summing buss with your computer. it is the same design used in devices costing 10 times as much. being passive also means that it doesn't require a power source but because of that it may require a slight amplification after the main output to bring it back to up the desired level, measuring it during audio use showed a nearly 20db drop in volume, this new version [ v.b ] has less of a drop then the first, and no the mutes do not pop when used. there are different colored TSP stencils used. they are a little slapdash, orange, red and green. the remaining two are just black. cases are powder coated black

::: CONTROLS :::
channel attenuators: reading from left to right are the 4 input volume controls
mutes: diagonal up and to the right is each channel's mute switch
main attenuator: far right knob is the main output volume
i/o jacks: each jack is in line with it's knob "
more info

the squarewave parade - SAFEPLACE - minm

passive shaker / noise box

"yet another limited run of shaker boxes but this time in ultra compact aluminum cases. only 21 made in this batch with some TSP grid stencils here and there. the paint is baked but they can still be scratched or chipped if you like

there is a piezo element used as a contact mic which i’ve attached to the inside wall using industrial epoxy, then i filled the case with marbles and bb's this time. i think its the best sounding version so far. as usual i've sealed the inside components in black rubber to keep them protected from wear or breakage. it will also work as a contact mic and when placed in front of an loud enough amp it will feedback. no extra controls on this one" more info

the squarewave parade - the TEASPOON

via this auction
"the TEASPOON by tsp

instant playback looping audio sampler

this teaspoon was originally sold in my store but it never reached its home, after a few months of being lost and after refunding the seller it was returned to me.

this is one of the audiobulb limited edition run. only 15 of these will ever exist

the teaspoon is a lo-fi instant playback looping audio sampler designed to achieve the classic glitching / stuttering / skipping effect by pushing a single button. there really isn't much more to say.

i have modded this to include a hold toggle switch (not shown in photo) in addition to the normal pushbutton to keep it looping even after you let go of the button.

SAMPLES and VIDEOS can be found here. forum talk"

Custom Creamware Odyssey

via AndyR1960 in this electro-music.com thread. See the thread for more images.
"I've recently been commissioned by Dave Formula of Magazine/Visage to build a controller for his Proddy ASB (Magazine have reformed for a couple of gigs here in the UK, and unfortunately Dave couldn't risk taking his Mk1 Oddy on the road). Lucky for me that a mutual friend of ours spotted one of my modulars, and suggested to him that I may be able to do the job...

The keyboard and midi PCB's were taken from a CME M-Key (nice semi-weighted keyboard, but comes with a terribly flimsy and almost, but not quite entirely, useless joystick!) The joystick was replaced with 3 Wheels - two of which, plus two foot pedals, are programmable. Although I have just found a bug which prevents normal control of one of the foot pedals - GRRRRR!!!!

Any problems... Well, quite a few along the way, the hinging mechanism was a bit of a pain, but ended up using a couple of "Side hanging Window friction hinges". Tolexing was fun - though being stuck in a room for 3 days sniffing glue is not advisable : )" via zamise

Wave tables

YouTube via Quiggers1981. sent my way via fishcek.
"using the waldorf blofeld and one oscillator, no filters and only one lfo, this is wavetable synthesis"

Waldorf Blofeld As Promised 1

CHD ELEKTROSERVIS JP4-KBD: Roland Jupiter-4 MIDI Interface

"JP4-KBD MIDI retrofit enables Roland Jupiter-4 to be controlled via MIDI. You can remotely control the keyboard and speed of the arpeggiator by MIDI commands. The instrument works like polyphonic MIDI sound expander.

Features:
* Instrument's keyboard can be controlled manually and by MIDI Note On/Off commands simultaneously.
* The keyboard can be transposed in whole range of MIDI notes.
* Four modes of key priority can be chosen: Last / Higher / Lower / None.
* Tone generators can be tuned by MIDI Pitch Wheel command. The bend range is from 0 to +-2 octaves.
* Arpeggiator can be synchronized with internal tempo generator or external MIDI clock.
* Number of MIDI channel for communication is user programmable. OMNI mode can be chosen, alternatively.
* Default values of all parameters are user programmable - they can be stored into internal memory.

MIDI implementation - reception only:
* Note On / Off
* CC 16 - "Key Shift" parameter setting
* CC 17 - "Key Priority" parameter setting
* CC 18 - "Pitch Wheel Range" parameter setting
* CC 19 - "Arpg Clock Rate" parameter setting
* CC 64 - Hold
* CC 120 - ASO
* CC 121 - RAC
* CC 123 - ANO
* Pitch Wheel
* System Clock
* System Exclusive - setting and programming of all parameters, selection of MIDI channel"

more info here