Roland GR-33B Bass Guitar Synthesizer (Pedal Only)

via this auction

Not the best shots, but posting this one for the title. "Pedal Only" :)

Moog Taurus II Bass Pedal Analog Synthesizer

via this auction

"Specifications • Polyphony - Monophonic • Oscillators - 2 VCO's (square & sawtooth waveforms) • Memory - None • Filter - 1 24dB/oct lowpass w/ cutoff, key tracking • VCA - Attack + Decay or Sustain • Keyboard - 18 note pedal-board. All clay-bake pedals are smooth and firm- no clicking or loose modules. All dials and toggles are firm and smooth- without missing parts. Includes patch cord and power cord."

Juergen Haible Variable Slope Filter / Phaser PCB

Image of the PCB layout for the JH Variable Slope Filter / Phaser. You can find more info including samples at the JH website.

Musikmesse: Moog MF-106TC

"Moog Unveils Long Awaited and Much Anticipated MF-106TC Analog Time Compressor

-Shipping April 1, 2009-

The history of invention and innovation is replete with instances of accidental successes: Chewing gum was a bad batch of tire rubber. Penicillin came from mold growing on abandoned plates of bacteria. And we all know about Benjamin Franklin and lightning rods.

Our own musical mad scientists (who never fear failure and are constantly experimenting, tinkering and tweaking) have recently had their own kite-flying experience, and the result is the amazing and logic-defying MF-106TC, Analog Time Compressor.

"We accidentally reversed the clock phasing in the time generation on our MF-104Z Analog Delay, and discovered that it can actually work in reverse, compressing the time stream instead of expanding it. Much to our amazement and delight we began hearing sounds up to 1000 milliseconds before we played them,” said Amos Gaynes, Moog Temporal Engineer.

Gaynes said that the Analog Time Compressor circuit on the MF-106TC can eliminate digital latency in real time, or sound like you're playing faster than you really are. The Analog Time Compressor’s unique Slap-Forward delay effect sounds even better than Slap-Back, according to Gaynes.

“The MF-106TC has hundreds of unique applications,” said Moog Marketing Manager Chris Stack. “Used on the Pitch Preview output of our new Etherwave Plus Theremin, you not only hear your note before the audience does; you actually hear it before you play it.”

Consumer Product Safety Warning: Customers should not attempt to reverse the clock phasing of the time generation circuit on their MF-104Z delay to mimic the capabilities of the MF-106TC Analog Time Compressor. Without the factory-installed flux capacitor added, a standard MF-104Z will be seriously damaged."

More info here. Be sure to click on the image when you get there.

Musikmesse: New Jomox MBase II

"MBase01++ ?
yes, it was about time for mark II...

Analog Bass Drum Module
Available May 2009!

The MBase11 can do only one thing, but it does it right:
Phat kick drums!
And it does this even better than in the past.
The MBase11 is the logical follower of the MBase01 and offers even better performance, more versatility and an even phatter sound!

It generates analog bass drums, from extremely powerful to soft and covers the whole range from 909-style to 808-fashioned. And much more...the LFO has 8 different waveforms including true sine that can be used to create very different envelopes. The resulting sounds are not simply *kicks*...this turns out to be a bass drum *synthesizer*.

Like the XBASE 999/888, the MBase11 has a compression parameter to vary the thickness of decaying sound.
And...it offers a variable gate time to to create very different sounding attacks.
And...it also has a metalize parameter to have hundreds of variations on the attack noise.

For more intuitive editing, we have added an analog potentiometer that works alternatively to the parameter editing when scrolling the data wheel is too hard.

The MBase11 purposefully sounds a bit different to the XBASE 999/888, making it a great sounding expansion for our other drum products and other analog percussion.

The kick sets in very precisely and the attack sounds very snappy at all kinds of sound variations.

The MBase11 can also be used as a real bass with some limitations. If decay is cranked up it is long enough for tones and the pitch can be played on the keyboard in semitones over three octaves.

The kick drum can be triggered by an external analog trigger input. This is especially useful for live drummers who want to thicken up their live drum kit. The trigger input works with regular piezo pickups or audio signals.

Last but not least: one of the most convincing arguments for the MBase11 is the price: This is an inexpensive tool that helps you to create great kick sounds, without the timeconsuming searching accociated with mostly not satisfying samples. You save time and energy while reaching the sound quality you always imagined...

Tweak the sound you need. Everything is REAL.

Bass Drum

Although the MBase11 uses almost the same principle or block schematic for analog sound production as the XBASE999/888, the technology is different and results in a slightly different sound.

Tune Varies the pitch envelope of the VCO
Pitch Basses as low as 10Hz reach up to 175Hz
Decay Up to 2 sec
Harmonics Enrichment of harmonics of the VCO - for the hardest kick drums on planet earth
Pulse Change of the pure pulse part of the attack - gate time affects this parameter also
Noise Change of the pure noise part of the attack - gate time affects this parameter also
Attack Level of the mixing of Pulse and Attack
EQ Filters the bass drum with a low pass filter - for soft and 808ish kick drums
Gate Varies the gate time from 0.1ms to 16ms
Compr Compression of decaying envelope - for slim and clicky kicks and all the depth that is needed
MetNze Metalized noise. A complex digital multitone pattern of 255 different combinations feeds the attack noise

Midi

The midi controllers of the MBase11 are identical to the XB09/X999/X888/AB/JB. All parameters including LFO can be remotely controlled by midi. The MBase11 is also compatible with our midi editors and templates in the bass drum department.

LFO

The MBase11 has an LFO that works on the pitch of the bass drum.
The LFO speed can be edited in BPM or be syncronized by midi clock. As on the XB09/X999/X888/AB/JB, the LFO can be synced by a note trigger or might run free.
Another feature is: we have implemented a one-shot LFO function that serves as an additional envelope.
The wave forms are:
saw up, saw down, sine+/-, triangle+/- and rectangle+/-.

Specifications
Instrument Bass Drum
Presets 110 (10 User RAM, 100 FLASH)
Sound Engine Fully analog with storeable parameters
Envelopes Analog
LFO 8 waveforms: Saw +/-, Sine +/-, Tri +/-, Rect +/-, modulates the pitch, midi syncroniseable
Display LED 7-segment 3 digit
Midi Midi In, Midi Out
User interface 1 data wheel, 1 potentiometer, 5 buttons, 16 LEDs for parameters and functions
Outputs 1 mono out 1/4" RCA jack
Output Level About 0dBu
Input External analog trigger, sensivity adjustable
Supply External wall wart 9V DC
Weight About 0.5 kg, 1.1lbs.
Size 145x155x35mm"

"Musik Messe Frankfurt Hall 5.1 Booth B68 Table 6 "Superbude" http://www.superbooth.com/plan.htm"

Click here for samples and manuals on the MBase II product page.
Above details saved for the archives. This one in via xonox.

Avatar Bass Synthesizer

flickr set by MSC175
(click for more)

Dave Forumula and the BroadWAVE Custom Prodyssey

You might remember the custom BroadWAVE Creamware Prodyssey from this post.

organgeyellowred sent this image to the Analog Heaven email list. He recently saw Dave Formula play with the recently reformed Magazine. He said it was an amazing show.

You can see Dave with the BroadWAVE Prodyssey, a Yamaha SS30, Clavia Nord Stage or Electro, and Hammond.

Musikmesse: New from Akai

"AKAI PROFESSIONAL ANNOUNCES MINIAK SYNTHESIZER

Virtual-Analog Synthesizer with Vocoder Developed in Partnership with Alesis

Cumberland, R.I. (April 1, 2009) – Akai Professional, the name synonymous with music production, announces the MINIAK, the synthesizer specifically designed for today’s music production and performance styles. The MINIAK will make its debut in Akai Professional's stand, B 21 in Hall 5.0 at Musikmesse, April 1 - 4, 2009. Held in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, Musikmesse is the world's largest fair for musical instruments, live music and the music business.

The MINIAK is the first synthesizer from Akai Professional developed in partnership with the world-renowned Alesis synthesis team. The MINIAK brings together Akai Professional’s excellent control feel with powerful DSP sound-generation technology. The MINIAK is a perfect synthesizer for producers in the studio and live performers on stage because, while it is extremely compact and portable, it is also a powerful instrument for creating sounds for performance and production.

The MINIAK enables users to create programs with up to eight multi-timbral voices, each with three oscillators. The user can create interesting and unique sounds and take advantage of the synthesizer’s more-than-600 preset sounds. Users can create complex and refined sounds using the MINIAK’s two multimode filters, three envelope generators, two LFOs, stereo effects and 40-band vocoder with gooseneck microphone. The MINIAK also has a comprehensive sequencer with step and dynamic real time phrase sequencing, a drum machine/rhythm sequencer and an arpeggiator.

Users will appreciate the MINIAK’s high-resolution, 24-bit balanced quarter-inch inputs and outputs for excellent sound quality. The MINIAK has a 37-key semi-weighted keyboard with velocity sensitivity for all-in-one performance. It can also be used as a sound source for MPCs, computer software and keyboards via MIDI.

“We have been watching a trend in music production towards using more synth sounds alongside samples,” said Adam Cohen, Director of Business Development, Akai Professional. “The MINIAK is the perfect way for anyone to get into synthesis, yet it is powerful enough for any professional to create the precise sonority they are after.”

The MINIAK will be available from musical instrument and professional audio retailers Q3, 2009."
"AKAI PRO FURTHER EXPANDS MPK LINE WITH 88-KEY MODEL

MPK88 Performance Controller Features Exclusive MPC Technologies

Cumberland, R.I. (April 1, 2009) – Akai Professional, the name synonymous with music production, announces the MPK88, a new addition to its popular MPK series of keyboard controllers with MPC pads and technology. The MPK88 will make its debut in Akai Professional’s stand, B 21 in Hall 5.0 at Musikmesse, April 1 - 4, 2009. Held in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, Musikmesse is the world's largest fair for musical instruments, live music and the music business.

The new MPK88 draws on the design of its siblings in the MPK series. The MPK49 and MPK25 each combine a MIDI-over-USB keyboard controller with genuine MPC pads and a sampling of the technologies that have made Akai Professional’s MPC series such an iconic music-production tool. The MPK88 brings the utility and creative control of its siblings to more dedicated piano and keyboard players, thanks to its fully-weighted, hammer-action keyboard with assignable keyboard split and aftertouch. Akai Professional designed this performance keyboard controller to specifically deliver the feel that serious keyboardists demand in a high-quality instrument.

In addition to the premium keybed, the MPK88 gives the player 16 MPC pads that are velocity and pressure sensitive and can access four banks of sounds each, for access to 64 sounds at any time. The MPC pads are the most recognizable feature of the MPC series, which has been among the most influential devices in the creation and production of music for the last two decades. The MPK88 also puts the player in command of their software with assignable Q-Link faders, knobs and buttons. The user can assign any Q-Link to control nearly any parameter in their software for hands-on, mouse-free performance. The MPK88 also has two assignable footswitch inputs and an expression pedal input.

Two technologies pioneered in the MPC series and built into the MPK88 are MPC Note Repeat and MPC Swing. These note-modifying features can be heard in many of the most popular tracks over the last two decades. MPC Note Repeat is a capability that enables the MPK to automatically play a rhythm pattern, such as 16th notes on a hi-hat, for accuracy and speed of entry. MPC Swing is sometimes referred to as "the heart and soul of hip hop," because it turns perfectly aligned sequences into human feeling time alignments. Users can specify exactly the degree and timing of swing they want to apply for the perfect feel. The MPK88 also has an arpeggiator, which enables performers to build creative riffs instantly.

The MPK88 sends MIDI values over USB and a traditional MIDI jack. The controller works with most MIDI recording, sequencing and performance software as well as sound modules, synthesizers and other MIDI-compliant hardware, for musical performers from keyboard players to producers to DJs and VJs.

The MPK25 and MPK88 come with Ableton Live Lite Akai Edition software, one of the most popular and powerful performance and production programs in the world. Ableton Live Lite enables musicians to spontaneously compose, record, remix, improvise and edit musical ideas in a seamless audio/MIDI environment.

“Professional keyboard performers now have the control they need on stage and in the studio,” said Adam Cohen, Director of Business Development, Akai Professional. “The MPK88 has weighted keyboard action plus the performance flexibility and control of the MPC pads and technology.”

The MPK88 joins the semi-weighted MPK49 and MPK25 controllers, which have 49 and 25 keys, respectively.

The MPK88 will be available from pro audio and musical instrument retailers in Q3, 2009."

"AKAI PRO MPD18 BRINGS MPC PAD CONTROL TO ANY SETUP

MIDI-Over-USB Pad Controller is Small and Portable for Versatility

Cumberland, R.I. (April 1, 2009) – Akai Professional, the name synonymous with music production, announces the MPD18 portable pad controller. The MPD18 will make its debut in Akai Professional's stand, B 21 in Hall 5.0 at Musikmesse, April 1 - 4, 2009. Held in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, Musikmesse is the world's largest fair for musical instruments, live music and the music business.

The MPD18 is the smallest-sized model in Akai Professional’s line of MPD pad controllers. DJs, programmers, producers and other musicians will find this MIDI-over-USB controller to be perfect for triggering samples, controlling software, and a variety of other applications. Its small footprint makes the MPD18 easy to integrate into any setup for stage performance, studio production or musical creation on the go.

The heart of the MPD18 is its bank of 16 velocity and pressure-sensitive genuine MPC pads, an Akai Professional exclusive. Users can access three different banks of sounds from the pads for a total of 48 sounds at once. The MPD18 also borrows the MPC series' assignable Q-Link controllers, enabling users to control nearly any parameters in their software in real time on an assignable Q-Link fader and an assignable Q-Link button.

Users will find the MPD18 to be convenient, sending MIDI information over its plug-and-play USB interface for use with Mac or PC without installing any drivers. The USB connection also powers the MPD18 so musicians can use the controller with no power supply. The MPD18 can control nearly any MIDI software, as well as MIDI hardware, such as synths, sound modules, samplers, sequencers, drum machines and more.

“The MPD18 gives you the iconic control feel of the MPC in a compact footprint that's easy to fit in any setup,” said Adam Cohen, Director of Business Development, Akai Professional.


The MPD18 will be available from musical instrument and professional audio retailers Q3, 2009."
I missed the press release on these, so credit goes to Failed Muso for this one.

Musikmesse: New Alesis Electronic Drum Kits

DM6 Electronic Drum Set [left]
"The Alesis DM6 Kit is an excellent choice in electronic drum sets for price-conscious drummers and aspiring players. The set features a completely new sound module with 108 quality drum, cymbal and percussion sounds. The DM6 Kit’s pads feel natural and its hardware and rack system are high quality."


E-Practice Pad [right]
"The Alesis e-Practice Pad is the fun way to learn and practice the drums. This electronic drum pad has 65 different drum sounds, a built-in metronome with six different sounds and more than 50 practice games and exercises. Drummers will find playing the e-Practice Pad to be fun and rewarding. It feels natural, its sounds are inspiring and it gives drummers a full range of dynamics from the lightest touches through the loudest accents."

BTW, Europe's NAMM, the Musikmesse starts tomorrow! Can't wait to see what comes in. Be sure to click on the Musikmesse link below for posts. I looks like Sonic State arrived.

stg/soundlabs Signal Amplifiers

"This module has 3 independent VCA elements. Two logarithmic-response AC-coupled VCAs with an initial gain control, and one linear-response VCA. The linear section is calibrated so that 5v on the control input is unity gain and 0v is null. On the logarithmic sections, 5v will achieve unity when the dial is around 3 o'clock, and distortion will be presented above that."

You can find more info including price at stg/soundlabs. Prototype pictured.