Livewire AFG Animated Pulses

YouTube via AdamRSomers
"Viewed with an early version of SoundPrism"

via Adam:
"Here's a little something I put together to show off the unpredictable results you can get out of the AFG with just a couple of mod sources on the harmonic animation section. This really only scratches the surface, but I hope it's a useful demo to anyone who doesn't know the power of that feature. The scope app is something I'm working on right now, I'll let you know when I've got some releasable binaries. In the mean time, definitely check out sndpeek"

John Foxx takes you on an Arp odyssey and MORE

YouTube via Synthasy2000
"John Foxx takes you on an Arp odyssey."

Vince Clarke describes an early sampling drum machine



"Vince Clarke describes an early sampling drum machine."
Anyone remember what this one was called? See the update below.

Phil Oakey describes how the Human League got the drum sound to Being Boiled


"Phil Oakey describes how the Human League got the drum sound to Being Boiled."

OMD Andy McCluskey breaks down the structure of Enola Gay


"Andy McCluskey breaks down the structure of Enola Gay.
From Synth Britannia"

Update on Vince Clark's drum machine via 7ate9 in the comments:
"drum machine = movement 2

first one i've seen in brown, all others seem to be in a tasty orange

movement 1 had a seperate monitor on top of a flat main unit"

See the Movement-MCS label below and scroll for more.

NAMM: Teenage Engineering Op-1 Newsletter #1 - OP-1 to be Shown at Winter NAMM

"Op-1 Newsletter #1

Thank you for signing up for Op-1 news.

We are right in the middle of development and besides the first information in the “Product” section of our site we have also recently posted some sound samples in the “Now” section.

All sound samples comes straight from the prototype without no additional tools or effects used or added. Even if it’s in the middle of development, we hope the demos will give you a good idea about the character of the Op-1. Some things will change during the process, but the conceptual work is all done and fixed.

Here’s a development status:

We are right now finalizing the hardware design and working on the last mechanical parts of the case and keyboard and make it ready for production. The final case will be a light grey painted one piece cnc:d aluminum body with no screws. We have worked hard to make it super thin and as light as possible. During this process we dropped the additional power connection seen on the first prototype. The USB is now used for both power/charging and to transfer data.

The 1:1 CPU board is working fine and displaying graphics on the OLED display. It looks gorgeous. We now have to fine tune the graphics library/engine to make it all look perfect. We also have to run some more benchmark test to check the platform before it goes into production.

When it comes to the software part, six individual synth engines are done. Several effects are done. We still have some polish to do on some of them to make them perfectly balanced.

We have added a new quite interesting sequencer. You will be surprised. We now have two “sequencers” working. The idea is to avoid making one over-complicated sequencer that “have everything”. So we have split them into individually simple but really fun and creative ones. More to come on this topic.

Finally, one last thing...

The first units of the Op-1 will be revealed at NAMM in Los Angeles in Jan, 2010. Hope to see you there so we can demo it to you in person.

All the best,

-Op-1 team"

click on the Teenage Engineering label below for more.
http://teenageengineering.com/

AKAI PRO LAPTOP CONTROLLERS NOW SHIPPING

"LPK25 and LPD8 Bring Akai Pro Quality To A New Degree Of Portability

Cumberland, R.I. (Oct. 15, 2009) – Akai Professional, the name synonymous with music production, announces that the LPD8 laptop pad controller and LPK25 laptop performance keyboard controller are now shipping to retailers.

The LPD8 and LPK25 are USB-MIDI controllers for musicians, producers, DJs and other music creators. Each model is less than 13 inches across and weighs less than a pound to easily fit into a laptop case, backpack or messenger bag for extreme portability.


The LPD8 is based on Akai Professional’s MPC line of iconic music product stations. While the smallest model, the MPC500 is quite portable, many producers prefer to work with software on their computer and the LPD8 gives their laptop the controls they prefer over a mouse and keyboard. The LPD8 has eight blue light-up pads that are velocity sensitive for programming rhythmic or melodic parts. The pads can also send program-change information to software. The LPD8 also has eight assignable Q-Link knobs to which users can assign virtually any parameters in their software for hands-on control.


The LPK25 is a scaled-down relative to the MPK series of keyboard performance controllers. The diminutive keyboard is made up of 25 miniature, velocity-sensitive keyboard keys with synth action. The LPK25 contains an arpeggiator, which steps through chords automatically, assisting musicians with creating quick melodic ideas. Sustain, octave up and down and tap tempo controls round out the LPK25’s easy-to-learn layout.

Each controller works plug and play with Mac and PC and requires no software driver installation or wall power for operation. Both the LPD8 and LPK25 have four memory banks for programming and recalling settings appropriate to different software programs they use.

“Today’s music is in constant evolution, and that requires the tools for music creation to evolve similarly,” said Adam Cohen, Director of Business Development, Akai Professional. “The computer has entrenched itself as the new core of the music studio, and we are now seeing more live performance with computers than ever before. The LPD8 and LPK25 are the perfect extensions of the computer for making music in any setting.”

The LPD8 and LPK25 are each available from musical instrument and professional audio retailers. Both models have a U.S. Retail Price of $129.00 and an estimated street price of $69.00."

Little Phatty.

flickr by Ryan Mortimer

manSEDANse Roland TB-303 Cake - Inside and Out

via Hanna Klén:
"We organize an electronic music festival, manSEDANse here in Finland and have gotten in to the habit of baking a cake each year for our guests, artist's and crew's enjoyment! This year we took up the TB-303, since our line-up featured some seriously awesome acid. I have wanted to make a 303 cake for a while but always thought it would be too challenging.

It wasn't easy, I can tell you that, but it turned out pretty great and it was delicious! We dyed the cake green inside, and filled it with mango curd, to get the circuit board feeling...

The cake measured 30cm x 60cm and was completely hand made, by Hanna and Wilhelmiina."

Be sure to see the synth cake below for more, and of course check out manSEDANse.

Make Noise: Maths

MATHS prototype. YouTube via MAKEN0ISE. http://makenoisemusic.com/
"Richard Devine does beta test on MATHS prototype synthesizer module."


flickr by Analogue Haven

"Introducing the Make Noise Maths, now available. Priced at $280 and requiring 20 HP of space in a Eurorack case, they consume only about 60mA of current. Check out the user manual here (it features some nice patch examples). See our webpage for more info: www.analoguehaven.com/makenoise/maths/."

MD Arpeggiator

"This is a demo of the [Ruin & Wesen] minicommand arpeggiator controlling the machinedrum. It's really really good fun!"

CLICK FOR MORE »

Zoom 506II control mod - Ruin & Wessen blog

"This mod adds a knob control for effects as well as a very simple CV input. This is not limited to just the 506II however, any zoom pedals with an expression input can use this mod. best part: you don’t even need to open up your zoom to perform this mod! when its been constructed just plug it into the control jack!!!………!!!!!!"

via ruinblog: diy and musical exploits where you'll find more details and more diy.

Note: this is the Ruin & Wesen blog.

Roland GR-300 Guitar Synthesizer

via this auction