NAMM: Winter NAMM 2010: Surfin Kangaroo Surfin Step Sequencer

YouTube via matrixsynth
"http://www.surfin-kangaroo-studio.de
http://bigcitymusic.com/

Wolfgang Michalowicz of Surfin Kangaroo goes over the Surfin Step Sequencer at Winter NAMM 2010 at the Big City Music Booth."

NAMM: Winter NAMM 2010: Metasonix D-1000 Vacuum-Tube Drum Machine

YouTube via matrixsynth. Also see this video.
"http://metasonix.com/
http://bigcitymusic.com/

Shagghie goes over the new Metasonix D-1000 Vacuum-Tube Drum Machine at Winter NAMM 2010 at the Big City Music booth. You can hear Eric Barbour of Metasonix in the background and he makes a brief appearance. Note this thing sounds insanely full in person. It's hard to describe but it sounds deep, fat and wet for lack of a better description. All drum machines sound relatively different from each other, but this one has something completely different going on."

MATRIXSYNTH: NAMM PICS AND VIDEO

In case anyone was wondering where all my pics and vids are, they are coming soon. I'm finally getting my head above water. I was going to put up one post linking to all pics, but the upload at 219 images and just under 1G failed last night. So, instead, and better in my opinion, I will be putting up one post per booth for images and one post per video.

I need to apologize to the manufacturers I missed out there. My trip was literally a spur of the moment decision. I couldn't book a hotel on Friday, so I flew in early Saturday and had one day for NAMM. Sunday and Monday where booked at Disneyland with my family. :) That said, I made it my focus to meet people and to only take a few shots and no video, but video happened anyway. Unfortunately my video camera ran out of juice and I switched to my camera for some which you will see shortly. I also learned the audio and video quality suck on my cameras, especially considering how noisy the floor of NAMM is. When you watch these videos focus more on the experience of being at NAMM and checking out gear vs. high quality product demos. I'll leave that to the boys at Sonic State.

I want to thank everyone I met at NAMM and the TRASH_AUDIO BBQ. It was an incredible experience and I loved everyone I met. THANK YOU!!!

NOTE: I'll be putting up my NAMM posts inbetween other posts to keep things flowing. As I mentioned before, just click on the NAMM label at the top right of the site to get to all all NAMM posts. I will leave it up until the Musikmesse in March when I switch it out to that label.

starbird.wmv

YouTube via pascalum. "Some Synths and a Spaceship"

Drs. Herb Deutsch & John Eaton Live Webcast with the MTS Keyboard

This is just a heads up that the Live Webcast of Drs. Herb Deutsch & John Eaton is this Saturday, January 23, 2010 at 7 PM PST on the Museum of Making Music website here. See this previous post for reference.

via Michelle Moog-Koussa: "this will really be a once in a lifetime opportunity to see the MTS keyboard demonstrated live."

MOOG SOURCE

via this auction

ether^ra VS. THE WICKS LOOPER

YouTube via potterpaint2000
"an improv featuring a KP3 processed Wicks Looper from Australia, a wonderful cacaphonous little device. Thanks Brian!...also a Nord Lead and a Stylophone Drumbeat"

Bliptronic 5000 & Kaoss Pad 3

YouTube via psychopath3000
"Here's the wonderful new toy from Think Geek, the Bliptronic 5000, with a little added talk modulation from the lovely KP3. Although the Bliptronic is basically an extremely simple step-sequencer, it looks and feels great (surprisingly, as I thought it would be really light and extremely breakable) and is very therapeutic to play on.

Has anyone else got the problem of that annoying drone when using headphones or line out? Please assure me I don't have a faulty bliptronic...

http://www.myspace.com/johnjamesgarner"

Ken Freeman and the History Of String Synthesis

"Ken Freeman couldn't afford a Mellotron to play his string parts, so he invented a new kind of electronic instrument. But though the world would eventually embrace string synthesizers with a passion, he never got the credit he deserved."

You can find the full article on Sound on Sound.

This one in via Synthwood who is currently working on a Freeman String Symphonizer Cordovox CSS like the one pictured in this post.

Left: "Ken Freeman in 2005 with Prototype #4, the last and greatest of the string synthesizers he designed."

Bottom: "Ken Freeman's ideas eventually reached the market in the Freeman String Symphonizer."

NOT NAMM: Modcan MATRIX FILTER 68B

via Mr. Array, via Modcan where you'll find demos.

"The 68B Matrix filter is based on the filters of the Matrix 12 and Expander synths of the 80's. While not a direct clone this design uses modern components in place of the CEM custom ICs used in the original. The filter responses and sound are faithful to the classic design. The 16 filters are divided into two banks with selection from the front panel via BANK toggle switch. Each of the 8 filters in a bank is provided with a separate output for external mixing and cross fading down-line.

Module Highlights:
* 16 Filter responses
* Separate out for each bank of 8 filters
* 2 x CV and 1V/OCT control of frequency
* 16Hz-20kHz range
* CV Resonance
* very low distortion and noise design
* excellent temperature stability and tracking
* Self Oscillation in Bank L filters.

Filter Responses:
Bank L
* 4 Pole Lowpass
* 2 Pole Lowpass
* 2 Pole Bandpass
* 2 Pole Highpass + 1 Pole Lowpass
* 3 Pole Highpass + 1 Pole Lowpass
* 4 Pole Bandpass
* 2 Pole Notch + 1 Pole Lowpass
* 3 Pole AllPass + 1 Pole Lowpass

Bank R
* 3 Pole Lowpass
* 1 Pole Lowpass
* 1 Pole Highpass
* 2 Pole Highpass
* 3 Pole Highpass
* 2 Pole Highpass + 1 Pole Lowpass
* 2 Pole Notch
* 3 Pole AllPass

Specs:
16Hz-20kHz range
Output: 1Kohms
Input: typical 5V pk-pk@100Kohms
Input CV: 5V @100Kohms
Power: +15V @35mA, -15V @35mA"