OB-VFD Oberheim Matrix-12 and Xpander Display Replacement

via Bendon Sound Technology

"The Oberheim Xpander and Matrix-12 each use three 40-character VFDs (Vacuum Fluorescent Displays) to communicate with the user. VFDs have admirable brightness and contrast and the majority of units are still working well after more than 20 years.

However, for a couple of reasons there is a small but growing minority of owners suffering from display problems which either degrade or, at worst, prevent use of their instruments...

There has been much discussion about the integration of modern VFDs into the Oberheim synths, but to do so presents many technical difficulties, primarily caused by the very different data interface fitted to the modern displays.

I am pleased to say that these issues have now been overcome here at Benden Sound Technology. My OB-VFD upgrade utilises three Itron DN4015B displays - closest in dimensions to the original parts - and a microcontroller-based interface which accepts data directly from the Oberheim main board and parses it into the serial data stream required by the display modules. It also converts the original starburst data into smoothly-defined 7x5 dot-matrix characters."

You can find more info on Bendon Sound Technology.

djwask using iphone with ableton

YouTube via djwask. via fischek
"djwask using my amazing iphone with ableton....or whatever midi i want... amazinggggg"
Anyone know what app is that and if it's available at the iTunes store? BTW all iphone posts have been updated with the download for iTunes, so if you have an iPhone you can just click on the icon and it will bring up the app in iTunes where you can pick them up. Check them out. Some are free, some aren't.

Update: I'm guessing this might be i3L. See this post. I can't seem to find i3L in the iTunes store.

New Model 285e FREQUENCY SHIFTER / BALANCED MODULATOR

"This module is the e series reincarnation of the 285. A long time coming, but well worth the wait.

The top section performs frequency shifting; up and down outputs are simultaneously available. The reference frequency can be externally applied or internally generated; the later can be voltage controlled and f.m. modulated.

The bottom section is independent, and functions as a balanced modulator of applied signals. The degree of modulation is voltage controlled, and the reference frequency can be internally generated or externally applied, as in the frequency shifter. A separate output is dedicated to classic ring modulation, a subset of balanced modulation.

All settings of the 285e can be stored and retrieved with the 225e or the 206e preset manager."

http://buchla.com/series200e.html

New Model 206e MIXER / PRESET MANAGER

"A six input, two output mixer with controls for level and stereo location. Two of the locations can be voltage controlled; the remaining four can be continuously panned.

A preset manager is also incorporated, primarily for those who want a second preset manager (for a second cabinet), but find a single MIDI interface sufficient.

Please consult the 225e description for a rundown on the Preset Manager section."

http://buchla.com/series200e.html.

New Buchla and Associates Website

http://buchla.com/

Visual Synthesis 1

Visual Synthesis 1 from GM on Vimeo.
"In this episode, we learn about the harmonic series, the spectral nature of the basic waveforms and examine the effect of filtering."

stg/soundlabs WAVE FOLDER

via stg/soundlabs

"EU modules prior to shipment"

Sequential Circuits Prelude Analog Synth

YouTube via downerczx.


images via this auction

"The Prelude is a very nice, warm sounding analog synth. It is a "bread and butter" synth with Strings, Piano, Organ and Brass sections. There is also an onboard Equalizer and Modulation section with Chorus/Flanger. There is an audio in for the onboard effects that allows you to run another source through the effects. An "Octave" switch moves the entire keyboard down an octave and the pitch bender can be set down for very low lows and up for high highs.

The strings sounds are very good and worth the purchase alone. The rest of the patches are also very nice. It's very easy to get a "Tarkus" sound from the brass section.

This synth works very well and is in good condition. The pitch bend slider is not working from the middle to the top, but works fine from the middle to the bottom. Cosmetically, there are two knobs missing from two of the switches, but the switches still work fine.

See Video Demonstation and Photographs of the synth below [above].

Back of Synth:
Input
Low Output
High Output
Volume Pedal Input
Fuse
Power"

Mighty Coupigny modular

via Fabrique
from Matmos:
"the 'Coupigny' modular synthesizer housed in the INA/GRM studios at RadioFrance in Paris and used extensively by some of the titans of
musique-concrete."

Update via Fabrique:
"It seems so as many composers in residence at GRM have recently requested to use it after it was unearthed by composer Christian Zanesi. Built in 66, it has been used by Parmegiani (La Roue Ferris), Bayle, Berio, Schaeffer... (in french) [and Googlish]

And it appears he also built a video effect unit used by Martial Raysse and other artists (Note : Francois not Francis might be a typo):

"1968 - Creation of the GRI (Groupe de Recherche Image) at the ORTF under the direction of Pierre Schaeffer. François Coupigny develops the "truqueur universel" (universal special effects device), which is used by Martial Raysse, Peter Foldès, and Jean-Paul Cassagnac for attempts at coloring the video image from black-and-white images."

http://newmedia-arts.net/english/reperes-h/60.htm

Another article that mentions Francis Coupigny:
"The two most brilliant technicians who worked with Pierre Schaeffer were Francis Poullin, in the early 1950s, who developed the phonogène and the morphophone, and Francis Coupigny, in the 1960s, who created the console and the integrated synthesiser."

http://www.furious.com/Perfect/ohm/inagrm.html"

Obscuresounds - Land of Milk and Honey

via Obscuresounds

mp3 here
"The track itself is meant to be a joke. The german lyrics are about "schlaraffenland". It then cuts away to an english chorus about a guy tripping out on mushrooms. The idea is that the guy is in this "schlaraffenland". If you look through the multitude of samples, the track also has the Pro-1 doing some underlying subs alongside the bass guitar (which is going through a fuzz pedal). There is also a Pro-1 (1:27) sound in the 2nd chorus on the right hand side... this was originally a simple up/down sawtooth, but I transposed it up a few octaves. You might be able to hear the Mellotron choir sound during the same chorus! The ARP 2600 (0:50) is playing on the right-hand side during the english chorus, and for the breakdown bit (0:48) for the machine gun kick-drum effect. I've also got the Octave CAT (1:11) working away on the weird blips, which is turn is going through a Watkins Copicat for that retro sci-fi effect. The CAT is probably my favorite synthesizer due to it's grimey filter, and the ability to mix waveforms/modulations as you're playing."
"The vocals are sung by two artists. The first is a german band called Carmen, who did a track called "Schlaraffenland" in 1982, and is sung by Carmen Thelen Gaspar. The chorus is sung by Adjeef The Poet (Ad Visser), who in 1967 released a track called 'Iekk! I'm A Freak'."