Friday afternoon synth jam

YouTube via kKryptum — April 16, 2010 — "Testing the Blofeld's multi mode. Drums and fx - Waldorf Blofeld Lead sequence - DSI Evolver"

Pure Acid 02: Korg Kaossilator Pro & X0xb0x

YouTube via inbetweenmovements — April 16, 2010 — "Track TWO of my Pure Acid House Project featuring Korg Kaossilator Pro & X0xb0x"

Kawai K1 Glitch Gift

via Mathias:

"Here's a huge pack of glitch: http://soundcloud.com/unitready/glitch-gift
All sounds from the Kawai K1m. Download for free and use it."

Taurus

Taurus 1 and 3 side by side.

via Marko of RetroSound.de

Yamaha CSY-1 Rare Vintage Analog Synth Organ

via this auction
"This is the rarely seen Yamaha CSY-1 synth/organ combination. Yamaha's first ever synth was the SY-1 introduced in 1974, they also decided to build the SY-1 into a 2 manual plus pedalboard type organ cabinet and that's what we have here, the CSY-1.

This really is a fun piece of kit with some great sounds, very expressive too thanks to Yamaha's aftertouch (amazing for 1974) which can be assigned to different parameters. Although a preset synth it's editable, so the presets are just a starting point for sound creation. The synth section is playable from the upper keyboard OR the bass pedalboard. It can be played solo or can be combined with the organ sounds/bass sounds. The CSY-1 has it's own built in amplification/speakers, spring reverb and even a real Leslie type rotary speaker, the synth section sounds great routed through this.

To get an idea of the sound go to YouTube and search for Yamaha SY-1 or SY-2 (the SY-2 is another model variation in a road case)

I must say, old Yamaha gear is incredibly reliable, superb build quality. Also, I read somewhere that the CSY-1 shares much of it's circuitry, particularly the filters, with the monosynth section of the mighty Yamaha GX-1 synth (introduced about a year later), there certainly are sound similarities if you check them both out."

SY-1 posts including vids
SY-2 posts including vids

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Oscar Synthesizer

via this auction

"This Oscar is a mono-synth, has midi, runs firmware version M2 ( the final release), its serial number is 643."

ROLAND RS-09

via this auction

"The RS-09 is an analog string and organ synthesizer (similar to the Saturn-09 which only produced an organ sound). The string sound and organ sounds are nice, fatty analog sounds. The organ and string sections can be played simultaneously or individually. An ensemble/chorus effect and external sound input are welcome features."

iPad and Kaoss Pad

flickr by by Yotsuba&!

"Apple iPad and Korg Kaoss Pad KP-3"

iElectribe on iTunes
iPads on Ebay

ELECTRONDE (Theremin) of Martin Taubman

YouTube via copperleaves — April 16, 2010 — "This is an archival news film from 1938, showing Martin Taubman and his "Electronde". If you look carefully, you can catch an occasional glimpse of the audio cutoff cable that runs from Taubman's left hand (which he keeps at his side) to the Electronde cabinet. The volume for this device is controlled by a pedal placed under Taubman's right foot. The pad under his left foot is there only for balance so that one leg is not higher than the other.

According to the 1939 CYCLOPEDIA OF MUSIC AND MUSICIANS (which was edited by, among others, Nicolas Slonimsky, a personal friend of Lev Termen, the inventor of the theremin), the absence of "attack" on the "space control" instruments was considered a serious limitation by many musicians of the 1930's. While a fast "dipping" motion of the volume hand of a thereminist can create the impression of attack, it is not instantaneous and cannot produce the true staccato of Taubman's ELECTRONDE.

You will notice that Taubman has placed his Electronde on top of his speaker, and turned the speaker so that it points to Taubman's right. This way, when he plays, his audience sees him only in profile and his left hand (which controls his audio cutoff switch) is hidden on the upstage side."

Coop and the Buchla 227

flickr by fastheadache
(click for more)

"Cooper cautiously inspecting the wiring."

Below: "Buchla 227 progress photo"

"Front panel. I did get a little crazy making sure each nut was aligned symmetrically again."