NOVATION ULTRANOVA Demo Unit

via this auction

I think this is the first used one I've seen come up for auction.

"UltraNova is a Nova series analogue-modelling synthesizer with a powerful effects processor. It is a single-part synth taking the legendary Supernova II synth engine as a starting point and packing it with the latest technology. It now has brand new features including wavetable synthesis, even more powerful filters, a software editor and a revolutionary new touch-sense performance mode.

The 'Nova' family was born in 1998 with the Supernova, which was the first of a series of powerful synthesisers. These quickly became industry standard 'big-synths' which are still used by countless artists and sound designers.

* Single-part synth engine with up to 18 voices, 14 filter types, 36 wavetables and five effect slots
* Eight assignable touch-sensitive rotary controllers, with one large knob to instantly give you fine control of any parameter
* Touch and Tweak controls enable totally new sound-shaping and performance options: Trigger envelopes, LFOs, filters and effects just by touching the encoders
* Tried and tested, stage-ready 37-note keybed with aftertouch
* Bus power from USB
* 12-band vocoder (with included dynamic gooseneck mic), and loads of controls
* Free software plug-in editor gives you full visual editing control
* The included Patch Librarian lets you organise, store and share unlimited patches
* Built-in two-in, four-out USB audio interface - stream high-quality audio to and from a host computer and control your monitor mix, all from UltraNova
* Full connectivity for stage and studio.
* Balanced line-level and stereo S/PDIF outputs, plus MIDI In, Out and Thru ports"

Modded Reverse Keys Roland SH-101

via this auction

ARP OMNI 2 VCF BOARD- 4075 SUB MODULE

via this auction

Novation Bass Station

via this auction

KORG M01 Demo 6

YouTube via karenevil | December 16, 2010 | 0 likes, 0 dislikes

"This tune is the Opening theme of "Ultra Seven" .. ;-p
Just tried to make Orchestral music."

Nintendo DSi on eBay
Nintendo DSi on Amazon

KORG M01 on eBay

No stress by Christmas.

YouTube via pss50 | December 16, 2010 |

"Slow acid, sit down chill out."

JamSession LIVE MD APC

YouTube via CreativeDisplacement | December 16, 2010

Jupiter-4 Promars Duet (Improvisation)

YouTube via maisonvague | December 16, 2010 | 4 likes, 0 dislikes

"Before beginning a new project I often start with a series of improvisations based on ideas I'm interested in working with. I then study these improvisations, learn what works, what doesn't, and then refine them into more finished compositions. This video is a recording of such an improvisation. It is a sort of journey... searching... finding... accepting... rejecting... embracing... then turning away. It's all there: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

It was recorded in one take, with the Jupiter-4 arpeggiating a B-flat minor chord prior to starting the camera (although I didn't check to see if the pitch was really B-flat minor! The Jupiter was drifting really badly the day I recorded this).

Apologies in advance for the length. It's a bit too long. I considered fading it out after around 6:40... but then decided to just let it run on until the end for any brave souls out there willing to sacrifice ten minutes of life watching it. It's kind of nice to hear the theme come back, a bit more solid than before - except I forgot to disengage the High Pass Filter on the Jupiter, which is a pity... but with improvisation, there's no turning back!

Hope you enjoy it!

Equipment used: Roland Promars, Roland Jupiter-4, Electro Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man, Avid Digi002R audio interface, MOTU 8pre, Apple Powermac G5 running Pro Tools LE 7.4"

Jupiter-4 Promars Duet (Outtake).mp4

CONTROL - Synthesizers Sequencers & Drum machines

YouTube via synthjunk | December 15, 2010 |

"Produced with analog sounds.
Jomox drums, Moog Bass, Sh101 controlled by csq600
Monopoly triggered by TR707 . MPC sequencing / master clock.
Doepfer gate pulses . CV DCB Midi interfaces & sync devices."
Oberheim OB-Xa as well. More vids by synthjunk here.

2010 TECnology Hall of Fame - Dave Smith and the Prophet-5

via TECFoundation

"Dave Smith
First Polyphonic Programmable Synthesizer
Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 (1978)

Once in a while a product comes out that puts it all together—combining the latest technology, while breaking new ground and at the same time, filling a definite void in the market. And as the first programmable polyphonic music synthesizer, the Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 was exactly that. An analog synthesizer with the ability to play five notes simultaneously (enough for a chord) and having the memory capability to store a whopping 40 preset programs (later expanded to 120) might not create headlines today, but the Prophet-5 was a sensation in its time, and is still considered a classic.

The path to success wasn’t easy. Sequential Circuits founder/chief designer Dave Smith was excited about the prospect of combining the sound generation capabilities of the new ICs from Solid State Music (SSM) that reduced the major functions of analog filters and synthesis (VCO, VCA, VCF) into single chipsets, reducing the number of necessary components in an synthesizer circuit from hundreds to a few handfuls. At the same time, new microprocessors had just come to market (such as the 8-bit Zilog Z80), which while primitive by today’s standards could definitely handle tasks such as storing/recalling synth patches. Once the ingredients were in place, Smith worked with John Bowen (now of John Bowen Synth Design) and with some consulting help from E-mu founder Dave Rossum, the Prophet-5 project was underway, and was completed in just six months—an amazing accomplishment.

On its debut at the Winter NAMM show in January 1978, the Prophet-5 was nothing less than a hit. The SSM chips (later replaced with Curtis ICs), combined with Smith’s autotuning circuit kept the Prophet-5 in tune—a problem that plagued many early analog synths. Of course, its ease of operation, great factory patches of thick bass and lead sounds, and lush analog string pads made the Prophet-5 quite desirable—even at an original retail of $3,500 (later $4,500). Soon every top keyboardist either owned one—or wanted one—and the Prophet-5 sounds became a common fixture over radios everywhere, from punk bands to Michael McDonald’s signature sound on hits like the Doobie Brothers’ “What a Fool Believes.”

The Prophet-5 stayed in production until the mid-1980s and sold approximately 8,000 units. Today, Dave Smith continues creating award-winning analog synthesizers with his company, Dave Smith Instruments."

See TECFoundation for more.