Alesis A6 Andromeda demo

YouTube via baward — September 09, 2009 — "2002 European Alesis demo video. Features Brian Kehew of Moog Music."

'The Vintage Synth - Volume 3: Korg' 1-11

YouTube via baward — November 24, 2009 —

"Rare, Japanese-language video from some time in the 1990's, taking the viewer on an odyssey through Korg's many instruments, from Korg's synthesizer museum at its Tokyo headquarters.

Two other videos were produced in this series, 'The Vintage Synth - Volume 1: Moog and 'The Vintage Synth - Volume 2: Roland'"

Part 1: "This clip features an interview with Korg's co-founder Tsutomu Kato and footage of the rare DA-20 Doncamatic drum machine (1963) and an early appearance of Korg's famous 'Traveler' filter control - on an organ! (late 1960's.) More to follow."

Part 2: "This clip features the Korgue organ from 1968, as well as Korg's first synthesizer, the Mini Korg 700 from 1973 (here shown in its expanded 2 oscillator version, 1974's Mini Korg 700S.)"

Part 3: "This clip features the Synthesizer 800DV (1974), Synthesizer 770 (1975), and the PE-1000 (1976)."

Part 4: "This clip features the polyphonic, patchable, part-modular and extremely rare PS-3300 (1978)."

Part 5: "This clip features part one of the MS series (1978-79), focussing on the wall-mounted 'education' MS-20 as well as some other early analogue products."

Part 6: "This clip features the MS-20 and MS-50 synthesizers, VC-10 vocoder and SQ-10 analog sequencer (1978-79) in more detail."

Part 7: "This clip features the Delta strings synthesizer, Trident polyphonic synthesizer, and BX-3 analogue organ (1980-81)."

Part 8: "This clip features the first part of an in-depth look at the Polysix synthesizer from 1981."

Part 9: "This clip features the second part of the Polysix synthesizer feature and the one on the Mono/Poly."

Part 10: "This clip features the Poly-800II and the DW-8000 (1985)"

Part 11: "Computer-control of MS instruments (or is it the 05R module?) with 700S, original Korg Wavedrum, as well series conclusion."

Note the giant educational MS20 in the background of the first video. It is functional. Click here for all posts featuring it including pics and one other video.

Bit 99 Owner's Manual

via this auction

I almost put this one up on MATRIXSYNTH-B, but realized this is the first one ever posted.

Ensoniq SQ-80 + Roland Jupiter-4 + TR-808

YouTube via retrosound72 — June 02, 2010 — "vintage synth demo track by RetroSound

"'The Best Of Both Worlds'

digital pads, voices, lead (+aftertouch function) and fx sounds: Ensoniq SQ-80 Digital Synthesizer
sample/hold bass: Roland Jupiter-4 Analog Synthesizer
drums: Roland TR-808
fx: a little bit delay and reverb (Lexicon MPX)"

Assault on precinct 13 theme

Assault the source.m4v YouTube via schlachthof1 — June 02, 2010 —

"Cover of the John Carpenter song. Made with Moog Source- Bass, Futureretro XS-Drums and additional synth sounds Gmedia string machine triggered by Dsi Evolver key."

Artists and ARTURIA #4 Steve Lindsey

YouTube via Arturiaweb — June 02, 2010 — "This week we've also added another fascinating video to our Artists and Arturia series.
Pop-music master Stephen Lindsey from the UK agreed to take some time out and chat with us about his favorite Arturia instruments and how he uses them on his productions and film scores. Lindsay has been behind numerous chart topping bands and has penned quite a few scores as film composer as well. But he did have a little help from our products."

ARP 2500 modular synthesizer

via this auction
"Rare, early ARP 2500 modular synthesizer in very good cosmetic condition and working 100%. A friend of mine bought this one from Phil Cirocco of CMS/Discrete Synthesizers in late 2007 and it's still working solid. As you can see, this is an earlier 2002 cabinet with a 3000 series keyboard.

It includes the following modules-
1002 Power Control
1003 Dual Envelope Generator
1004T VCO
1005 Ring Mod / VCA
1006 Lowpass filter / VCA
1016 Noise / Random Voltage
1023 Dual VCO
1027 3 x 10 Sequencer
1033 Dual EG with delay
1036 Dual S/H, Clock
1047 Multimode Filter"

Cosmetically- The veneer on the cabinet does have some chipping here and there, but overall it still looks very good. Some of the modules have a former owners name and the serial # etched in on the corners.

Internally- According to Phil's description when he sold it, the power supply had been upgraded about 2 years prior to my friend buying it to a 1.5 Amp, low noise high performance unit. The separate 12v lamp power supply had also been rebuilt around that time.

The keyboard works great as well as all of the knobs, switches, matrix sliders, etc. No scratchy pots whatsoever! Phil obviously took care of this thing. I did notice that one of the LEDs on the sequencer has since burned out, but if this is an issue I can have it replaced.

This is not a plug in and play unit like an Arp 2600. Patching is required if you want sound. Please be aware of this."

This one spotted and sent in via Jimmersound.

New Modules From intellijel designs

via intellijel

"Upcoming modules (scheduled for June 2010)

SPOCK: CMOS Boolean Logic device 4HP
FLIP FLOP: CMOS JK and D flip-flop 4HP
BUFF MULT: Buffered Multiple 2HP
MULT: Passive Multiple 2HP
QUAD INVERT: Quad CV Inverter / Quad Audio Buffer 2HP
UNITY MIXER: dual 3:1 / 6:1 unity gain mixer (CV /Audio) 2HP"

1995 Lonestar Technologies "The Key" Guitar Synthesizer

via this auction

Product Serial # 100BK01AAU000246C9500

"History of "The Key": The key was developed by Lonestar Technologies, a company based in Hicksville New York. It was marketed as an "Interactive Musical Instrument" and came out in 1994 with an MSRP of $400 and above. For the time, the technology was ground breaking, and included design help from rock & roll guitar legend Randy Jackson. "The Key" has a far out design and in itself is a guitar synthesizer, where the frets are key like and strings are "veins". What made the instrument so appealing was the fact it was MIDI compatible and expansion units called "SONGPAC" catridges could be purchased. "SONGPAC" catridges included licensed songs (i.e. Stone Temple Pilots - Vaseline cartridge included in the auction) which allowed "The Key" user to play along (rather easily) with their favorite songs. You could "CD Sync" the instrument when you had the CD of one of the songs included on the "SONGPAC", playing in sync with your favorite song. There was also an option where you could play along with your favorite music videos that were specially encoded for "The Key" through your VCR or LaserDisc player. Believe it or not, "The Key" also had networking capabilities. Through a 4 wire telephone cord, you could connect two units together and send information. WOW!

Unfortunately, the technology was ahead of its time. "The Key" did not sell many units, maybe due to its hefty price. It went the way of the LaserDisc. However, "The Key" was the predecessor for the ever popular "Guitar Hero", which has now become the medium for interactive musical entertainment.

Using "The Key": Though "The Key" was initially introduced to the public as high tech home entertainment, the capabilites of the instrument were far superior. With the ability of MIDI, you can use "The Key" as 'keytar'. I have personally used the instrument in live performances before, and you will achieve very unique and distinct leads through the instrument. As a synthesizer alone, it has a great sound. The built in speaker does not do the tones you can achieve justice, and you can record some great riffs through the Out line. Something really awesome a friend of mine was able to achieve was using "The Key" as a MIDI controller to a vocoder, creating something similar to a 'talkbox' effect as heard on Daft Punk - Discovery.

The unit runs on a 9V AC adaptor or 6 D Cell batteries. It also includes connectors where you can attach your guitar strap.

These guitar synths rarely appear for sale anywhere. Today it has become a collectors item."

This one spotted and sent in via Jimmersound

Vintage Drumfire DF-500

via this auction
"(Taken from an old advertisement)
When you want to heat up the beat with electronics, get Drumfire. It's the only add-on mixer/synthesizer for drums. Drumfire works with any drum set, even practice pads. Its five piezoelectric transducers attach easily to your drum head or rim. Each tranducer lets you set a separate, chngeable electronic drum sound. A kick sound with punch, hand claps, synth sounds, and more. In fact, Drumfire gives you an almost limitless variety of synthesized drum voices. All for about one third the cost of an electronic drum set!

Drumfire gives you the best of both worlds- advanced electronics that enhance your acoustic drum sound. When you like it hot, play with fire. DRUMFIRE.

The Drumfire mixer/synthesizer has 5 separate channels to let you pre-set 5 different electric drum voices....synth sounds, hand claps, super kick, gunfire and more.

Each channel has 8 controls to let you find just the sound you want:
SENSITIVITY: controls pickup sensitivity
OSCILLATOR DECAY: controls decay time of oscillator sound
NOISE DECAY: controls decay time of the noise sound
SWEEP: alters oscillator frequency.
PITCH: changes oscillator pitch
BALANCE: controls balance between oscillator and noise level
VOLUME: controls output
PAN: a right or left balance control, also allows dual output on rigth and left jacks

Each channel has an input jack for the pickup, and an output jack for individual outputs to a P.A., mixer or amp. There's also a master volume level control, a left channel and a right channel."