MATRIXSYNTH

Scratching with the XR-2206

Scratching with the XR-2206 from Collin Cunningham on Vimeo.
"XR-2206 function generator chip
+
resistive pressure sensors
=
good times"

SX-150 button mod from Collin Cunningham on Vimeo.
"This right here be a Gakken SX-150 analog synthesizer kit - but ya see, I de-installed that resistive control strip deal … added me some good old-fashioned surplus pickbuttons and a bitty trimpot.

Now all me and the dog ever do is play with this thing … well occasionally he runs off to dig up a bone er somethin'.
speakin' a which - where is that dog?"

Ken Stone Interview via VICMOD

VICMOD: Ken Stone interview
(click for the full interview)

"Ken Stone is highly regarded in the Modular Synth business. He is also "the guru" of the DIY synth community.
Ken has been involved with many companies throughout the years from Bananalog, Cyndustries, Elby Design and Metalbox to name a few. He runs his own company Cat Girl Synth (CGS) were you can buy Printed Circuit Boards (PCB)and build up your own system. If you are into modular synths you are sure to have at least one of Ken’s designs in your system.

I caught up with Ken recently at his home, in the outskirts of Melbourne, Australia, a place that resembles only what I can only describe as "The Tardis". I went in and time disappeared. You will see modular synths all around the walls at strange angles, vintage oscilloscopes and wires everywhere. I was convinced when I left his home I had indeed been to another galaxy."

Eric Archer ABoT - Another Box o’ Techno

"ABoT: Another Box o’ Techno (2008)

A collection of experimental synth circuitry, linked together and mounted in a suitcase:

* Dual VCO w/ digital sub-bass sinewave
* 12dB/oct VCF
* SyncLFO
* LFO-Sequencer
* WaveFucker (1-bit pitch shifter)
* Analog-controlled speech synthesizer
* Generative CV sequencer for melody control

The ABot synchronizes with the BBoT. Continuing with the BBoT ethos, there is no computer interface, storage, MIDI, etc. Improvisation is the only approach.

The ABoT can be heard in the music of Operation Playmate… check out the bass drop at 0:40 in this clip. The Bird Box generative sequencer is creating the tom-tom pattern. Ragsdale is playing live keyboards (CS-15, MS20). The Drone Commander appears at the end."

more info including samples at eric archer . net

The Bard

flickr by ecsuecsu

"Night on the sun."

Don Buchla

image sent my way via Reed.

"It's the homepage image from the Buchla Yahoo users' group, but I think it may have first been in the Keyboard magazine interview in 1982."

Reed also noted the buchla on the left is the same one pictured in this post.

Update via keld in the comments: "The synth under the TV is Don's own Buchla."
Update via Rick: "the synth under the TV is a 300 series instrument and most likely is the same one that now belongs to the Audities Foundation - it was purchased from a European collector several years ago..

Dons system is much different...

it could be said that ANY buchla instrument was Dons at some point."

BoardWeevil09

via the BugBrand Blog

"Here's the initial build of the new Weevil for 2009 ----> the BoardWeevil

Its like a souped-up Postcard and takes in some new design ideas I've been playing with through 2008. My aim has been to create something with the power of previous big Weevils, but which is more easily replicated (to try to meet demand...)

Some notes:
* Three Oscs with Lo/Hi Ranges with the usual Quasi-ringmod
* Oscs 2 & 3 can Sync to Osc1
* Osc1 also has a Light Sensor for pitching (switchable)
* Power starve for the Weevil-heart - this also has a switchable Light Sensor
* Balance Control fades between Ring1 (oscs1 & 2) and Ring2 (oscs 1 & 2 & 3)
* Simple Tone Control
* Output Level dial feeding a standard 1/4" jack
* Onboard Mini-Amp
* 14 body contacts (gold plated!)
* All Dials are 9mm Alps -- still compact, but much sturdier than the orig. Postcard ones.

Due for release in Jan09."

The Boss Merry Christmas 2-All Guitar Effects Pedal

via MusicGearCompany.com. via Cikira via Keith on the SynthSights list.

► Input Love
► Output Peace on Earth
► Santa Detector
► Grinch Meter
► Naughty and Nice Mode
► Give and Receive Selector
► Control to Turn Up the Holiday Spirit

STAGEA ELS-01C Demonstration Movie - Horizontal Touch

YouTube via yamahacorporation

"Yuki Wada presenting the STAGEA ELS-01C."
via Kenneth Elhardt on the AH list:
"A lot of people would like polyphonic aftertouch on their synths. I've
always wanted horizontal touch for doing manual vibrato as that seems
potentially more useful. I thought that was gone with the old Yamaha organs
and the GX-1, but noticed in the Yamaha Stagea demo video at the link below,
they still have that feature. Go to the 1:58 mark to see how that works.
Now I have to wonder why they're not putting that on any of their synths!
Wish the Vax77 Keyboard people were doing this, or some other MIDI keyboard
manufacturer."

Update: Yuki Wada live:

Yuki Wada Lupin 3rd

YouTube via kyanhpham. "Ms. Yuki Wada's concert in Vietnam"