Vintage 1978 Jen SX1000 Synthetone Analog Synth

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"Specifications
* Polyphony - Monophonic
* Oscillators - One DCO (sawtooth, square, pulse-width modulation); 4-octave range (32', 16', 8', 4'); white and pink noise generators
* LFO - 1 LFO; Vibrato
* Filter - 1 Low-pass filter, 12dB/octave, with ADSR
* VCA - 1 ADSR
* Keyboard - 37 keys
* Memory - None
* Control - None (Kenton Midi Retrofits available)
* Date Produced - 1978 - 1982"

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Akaï S950 replacement LCD display

flickr set by dipching

"About how to replace the genuine S950 LCD dipslay by a new one coming from CrystalFonts"

OBERHEIM MATRIX-6 - “AUDIOPHILE VERSION”

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via this auction

"Ever wonder what would happen if one applied the same upgrade principles we commonly use in high-end audio applications and apply it to ONE of our favorite vintage synths?

The result is what I am listing here as the Matrix 6 –“Audiophile Version” and the sonic results are amazing!!

I repair vintage synths on the side and acquired this Matrix 6 last year in non-working condition. We all know how awesome the classic Oberheim synth circuits are, there’s no questioning that! But many of us engineers know that a circuit is only as good as the quality of parts it is comprised of. Furthermore, many synth manufacturers cannot afford to use the very finest components in manufacturing due to cost constraints in efforts to try and keep the sales MSRP’s down as low as possible. But we don’t have to be limited to that thinking any longer in the 2nd hand market! Therefore, I decided to apply the “audiophile concept” to this Matrix 6 and see what we’d end up with. Below is an outline of the improvements:

* Power Supply Rebuild – pcb cleaned and all critical solder joints re-soldered with special audiophile-grade lead-free solder. Yes, the solder does make a difference folks in the timbre of the circuit! Next, High-end Nichicon Muse Gold series capacitors were used throughout the power supply. (See photo). This greatly enhances the resolution and clarity of the synth and also enhances the “smoothness” and reserve power of the Bass response of the synth since the power supply is responsible for powering all the circuits in the entire synth. Amazing smooth, Fat, rich, Bass now! Power supplies are a very critical component in any synth, just as they are in a tube preamp or any other electronic audio device. This really is no amazing breakthrough knowledge, just smart application of known wisdom.

* The main processor board had a dead battery. This was partly the cause of the original malfunctioning synth. Not only was a fresh battery installed, but a high-quality battery socket was soldered to the pcb so that future battery replacement is very easy if necessary.

* All chips on the processor board were removed and cleaned. Special, non oil-based socket enhancement fluid was used when replacing the IC’s.

* The Processor pcb was then re-loaded with a fresh data dump from the 1100 patch disc included.

* Audio processor pcb was removed and cleaned. All CEM VCO chips were removed and cleaned and replaced with socket enhancement fluid.

* The output pcb on these Matrix synths are very important to the overall sound quality output. The slider potentiometer was rebuilt with Alpha pot parts and re-assembled. Very nice, smooth, action and feel now. Much better than original. The output IC amp is tied to two 10uf caps, which were upgraded to Nichicon Muse Gold caps since this effects the timbre (tone) of the overall output. Small parts, Yes … but very important in the circuit! Again all Solder joints were improved on this pcb as well.

* Keyboard was removed from chassis and disassembled. Rubber boot pcb contact covers were removed and cleaned. This is where we commonly find dried Coke spilled on the keyboard from “who knows what gigs”. This has a tendancy to mess with the contact integrity of the keyboard action, causing misfires of keys etc. The fix is to clean and carefully re-assemble. Keys tops were then polished with plastic polish.

* Entire chassis was cleaned and repainted where possible. The Chassis end pieces were painted with high-quality metallic paint to put a spin on the fact that this synth is “Special Audiophile Edition” now.

* Modulation pots were cleaned and lubed and solder joints re-worked since the headphone output circuit is integrated into this assembly. Headphone output now has increased resolution and clarity.

That about sums it up in the upgrade department for this synth. There are more improvements one could make such as gold-plated female chassis IEC socket and Cryogenically-treated 12 guage power cord etc, but I’ll save that for a future listing or another upgrade project. Warning folks, while all these improvements are awesome and rewarding, they are very time-consuming, as any competent synth tech will tell you. I have about 25 to 30 hours in this one! Will this start a trend? Perhaps...depending upon demand, but your ears will "Hear the Difference"!" Note the side panels on this Matrix-6 are non-standard gray. inside a Matrix-6

EKO Bass Pedals

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Korg MS-03 Signal Processor

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"Part of the MS series that includes the MS-10 , MS-20 and MS-50 synths this is a pitch to control voltage interface for use with analogue monosynths, so you can play your synth with a bass, guitar or microphone... you can sing into it! Its a fun unit. Can hook up to 1V/octave and Hz/Volt so should work with just about all mono synths with cv inputs.

Look at the original manual here

You can set the level of the incoming signal, add portamento and offset the CV, and there are sockets for the following :-

In
Instrument in
Portamento pedal
CV hold pedal
CV/Trig hold
Trig cancel

Out
CV - 1V/Octave
CV - Hx/Volt
Trig - Positive
Trig - Negative
Envelope Follower
Direct out

Fully working and serviced by Jim at http://www.singingcatservices.co.uk (ex Moog technician and thoroughly nice person)."

Syntecno TeeBee MK3 TB303 Clone Synthesizer

via this auction
Sound Features:
# TeeBee sounds and feels like the original Roland TB303.
# All original sound knobs (Tuning, Cutoff, Resonance, Filter, Decay) can be controlled from front panel.
# These parameters, if changed, are send as MIDI controllers on the MIDI OUT port.
# Original TB303 waveforms : Square and Saw.
# Original TB303 filter : 18 dB, 2-pole.
# Extra waveform : Korg MS20 ringmodulator.
# TeeBee slide can be switched on/off by means of MIDI controller or AutoGlide.
# TeeBee sound is pitch wheel and velocity sensitive.
# Free selectable MIDI channel.
# Mixable analog input for internal filter.
# Polyphony to monophonic selection algorithm.

CV/Gate Features:
# Four (4) CV/Gate outputs (CV range 0-5 Volt, Gate range 0-5Volt or 0-10Volt).
# Free selectable MIDI channel for each pair CV/Gate outputs.
# Free selectable Volt/Oct or Volt/Hz for each CV output.
# Free selectable polarity for each Gate output.
# Pitch wheel sensitive CV.
# Sound knobs can control CV of all CV/Gates.
# Polyphone to monophonic selection algorithm.

MIDI Features:
* MIDI IN, MIDI OUT, MIDI THRU.
* 2 x MIDI Merge input (also suited as stand-alone 2-channel MIDI merger)
* Roland SYNC24 output for synchronizing original TB303, TR606, TR808.
* Free selectable controller number for each sound knob.
* Free selectable controller number for TeeBee slide.
* All parameters are stored in memory.
* Internal 16 midi channel recorder/player."

Roland JX-3P 61 Key Vintage Synthesizer

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iSteelPan with drumsticks

YouTube via aymanshamma — May 17, 2010 — "My winning entry for http://sf.musichackday.org/. This is an iPad app which makes a SteelPan Drum (complete with whack-a-mole tutorial). You can learn how to make your own sticks (they are cheap and simple to make): http://bit.ly/istick"

Oberheim Matrix-1000 + Roland JD-800 + Moog Taurus 1

YouTube via retrosound72 — May 19, 2010 — "vintage synth demo track by RetroSound

digital pad sounds: Roland JD-800
bassline: Oberheim Matrix-1000, sequenced by the MFB Step64 step sequencer
drums: Roland TR-606
deep bass: Moog Taurus 1 bass pedal"

What Audio Evil Can U Do_.m4v

YouTube via djangosfire — May 19, 2010 — 'What Audio Evil Can You Do?' was a quick and dirty project created to 'break in' my newly built Euro Modular expansion system.

Equipment used:

1x Zoom Q3 Handy Video/Audio Recorder
1x 4:22 minute Random Audio Clip (made w/ the Q3)

1x Doepfer A-188-1 BBD Analog DelayModule
1x Doepfer A-125 VCP Phase Shifter

1x Malekko Wiard Envelator Module
1x Malekko Wiard Noisering Module
1x Malekko Wiard Anti-Oscillator Module
1x Malekko Wiard Borg Filter Module

1x Synthesizers.com Q118 Instrument Interface Module
1x Synthesizers.com Q111 Pan/Fade Module
2x Synthesizers.com Q115 Reverb Module

Moments of near 'tape mangled' type tones strange clipping w/ underwater darkness. Had a blast!"