MATRIXSYNTH


Saturday, January 01, 2011

Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year everyone! Welcome to 2011! Synth posts will follow shortly. I am still alive!!! :)
New Years is slowly becoming my favorite holiday. It is a time to start clean and move forward. It represents freedom and hope in who we are and who we want to be. We get to shake off the past and just look forward. Don't ever let yourself down, you are all that you have.

That said, New Years Eve, and for this site, New Years day, has become the one day I look back and reflect on the year. I look back on the numbers and the posts and I share that with you, the readers and contributors of the site. I think it's fun to look back and see how large this particular audience is. I like to think of us as the hardcore synth enthusiasts in the world. We all love some aspect of the art of synthesis, whether that be analog, digital, hardware, software, tonal music, atonal, noise, circuit bending, DIY, or in short, "EVERYTHING SYNTH!"

First of all, I want to thank you, the readers and contributors of the site. THANK YOU! To the readers, thank you for taking time out of your day to visit the site, and to those that spread the word on the site. To the contributors/makers of synth content, thank you for taking the time to share your hobby, and in many cases, your passion with others. Thank you to all the DIYers and manufacturers for providing these fascinating and esoteric works for us to explore. To the dealers and shops, thank you for providing an outlet for us to pick, and in many cases, try gear out. We have a very boutique interest, and because of this a relatively small market, so thank you for doing what you do.

Before I go over the stats on the site, I thought I'd share a little on what was popular over the last year and what in my opinion, posting every day, really stood out. The two break out areas in the world of synths and posts this year was no doubt the iPad and boutique modulars. This year we saw the start of the slate as a new platform not only for synthesis and sound manipulation, but also, alternative control interfaces for existing gear. On the modular front, there is no denying the surge in the number of manufacturers and modules now available, as well as the format becoming more popular amongst users, and even getting some exposure in the mainstream (see Kesha). There was a time when modular systems seemed distant and unobtainable. A modular used to be equated with a complete modular system. Now people are discovering that you don't need a full system to get started (see this post). Will it ever become fully mainstream? That's hard to tell. The biggest challenge as before is still the cost of entry - a case and power supply. If it wasn't for that, modulars would be just as popular as effects pedals, as essentially, that is what modules are.

As for the most popular individual posts, here's what Blogger had for "all time". They just started providing this feature, so I have no idea how far it actually goes back, but all posts are dated 2010, so here it is. Note I post like crazy of course, an average of 46.35 a day this year, and most people see posts on the front page. That said, this is still interesting to look at. Worth noting is both Twitter and Facebook have become much more popular, so a bit of what you are seeing here are direct click-throughs to the posts from them. What's up with the Technics SX-WSA 1R?

New Moog Voyager XL
Sep 8, 2010, 24 comments
3,349 Pageviews

Bob Dylan Goes Electronica
Jul 12, 2010, 6 comments
1,344 Pageviews

RIP Keith Barr - Founder of Alesis and MXR
Aug 25, 2010, 16 comments
1,269 Pageviews

Santa came early...
Dec 22, 2010, 6 comments
1,216 Pageviews

eml 400 ebay
Jul 20, 2010
1,125 Pageviews

TECHNICS SX-WSA 1R ACOUSTIC MODELING SYNTHESIZER
Nov 7, 2010
851 Pageviews

Moog iOS App on the Way
Oct 11, 2010, 3 comments
818 Pageviews

Something Wicked is Coming From M-Audio
Dec 20, 2010, 13 comments
780 Pageviews

Daft Punk's Modcan Modular
Nov 3, 2010, 5 comments
753 Pageviews

RIP David Hillel Wilson - Curator of the New Engla...
Aug 29, 2010, 17 comments
730 Pageviews

Total number of posts for the year? 16,917, up from 13,002 in 2009. That's an average of 46.35 posts a day. Not a single day missed.

Number of posts by year:
2010 16,917
2009 13,002
2008 10,066
2007 6,673
2006 3,871
2005 1205


3,048,111 visits came from 209 countries/territories

I think I'm still banned in some...

According to Google Analytics, the blog had 3,048,111 Visits for a whopping total of 6,988,389 Pageviews. That's up from 2,565,300 Visits (18.82%) and 5,804,265 Pageviews (20.40%). When you look at the numbers, realize this site reads like a roster of posts, it's not a multi-page forum or site that requires you to constantly click through pages to get to the info you are looking for. Everything is there on the front page or two depending on how often you visit.

Total Visits:
2010: 3,048,111
2009: 2,565,300
2008: 2,010,102
2007: 1,383,340
2006: 513,060
2005: 207,750 (via AdSense)
Total: 9,727,663

Total Page Views:
2010: 6,988,389
2009: 5,804,265
2008: 3,865,863
2007: 2,519,689
2006: 912,490
2005: 207,750 (via AdSense)
Total: 19,385,956

The numbers by country for the year:
1 United States 1180153
2 United Kingdom 266338
3 Germany 209723
4 Canada 168485
5 France 168127
6 Italy 109265
7 Sweden 90540
8 Netherlands 82509
9 Japan 72101
10 Australia 62750

Again, THANK YOU for a great year!!!

Friday, December 31, 2010

Something for 2011 - TouchOSC Wireless Editors for Your Synths


If you recall from my XMas post, this year, a big focus on the synth front for me has been the iPad. What you are looking at here is a TouchOSC template for the Waldorf Pulse+. Every editable parameter on the Pulse is represented. Click each image for a full size shot. The kicker is I have it working wirelessly with The Missing Link. I am able to control my Waldorf Pulse+ with my iPad without wires. I was literally able to control it from a different room. This is BIG for two reasons. One, the obvious wireless control of synths, and two, creating an entirely new OPEN interface for editing synths. For those of you that used Sound Diver, this is like it on steroids.

No, the Waldorf Pulse is not that complex, BUT, you are limited to six knobs, small print, and it sits in a rack which may or may not be close to you. Now, imagine having an iPad sitting on your MIDI controller and having a custom editing interface in front of you. OR, imagine picking up that interface and kicking back on a chair in the studio while you tweak away. If you look at the last image of this post you will see a keyboard control and the ARP controls. You don't even need a MIDI controller to get going. You can use the iPad all on its own. You can create any number of custom controls - unlimited x/y pads, unlimited sliders, knobs, keys, etc. With a MIDI merge box you can run a sequencer into your synth and edit away with the iPad.

Back in November you might recall my Rhodes Chroma TouchOSC template. I now have that running wirelessly with The Missing Link as well.

Next up will be a template for the Yamaha FS1R. The Yamaha FS1R is Yamaha's most powerful FM and Formant synthesizer to date. It is a four part, 8-Op, FM and Formant synthesizer. The DX7 was only 6-Op with no Formant synthesis. There was only a rack mount version of the FS1R and editing it was like trying to paint on a wall sized canvas through a keyhole. It is a powerful and beautiful sounding synthesizer, but most have barely scratched the surface because of it's editing interface. The iPad coupled with The Missing Link will finally unlock this synth. Note, the Missing Link does support sysex and I have verified it does work with the FS1R. I was able to watch the parameter values on the FS1R change as I manipulated a slider on the iPad, all wirelessly. That said, see you on the other side! My New Years post will follow tomorrow. All done for the year! :)

Update: you can find the template here. It's mapped for The Missing Link, but you can remove the mappings by checking the auto box in TouchOSC for each parameter, followed by making a mapping with OSCulator.

Update: screens captured direct from the iPad added below.

Update: I updated the template to use toggles instead of sliders for selection parameter, so screens here are slightly different.

"The wish" by TSF & MsMotif6 (happy new years!)


YouTube via TheSynthFreq | December 31, 2010 |

"A new synth/funk composition for the new year! :)

Synths used:
Motif-6: rhythm guitar
D-50: strings
DX-9: FM bass
E-mu Emax SE: Organ sample from Motif6
Korg Emx-1: new pattern

Please enjoy! :)
:) TSF"

Roland Guitar Synthesizer Challenge - Wayne Joness - GR-300 - GR-700


YouTube via WayneJoness | December 31, 2010 |

"Roland Guitar Synth Challenge entry by Wayne Scott Joness featuring vintage Roland Guitar Synthesizers, the GR-300, GR-700 and GM-70. These synthesizers are all controlled by a vintage Roland G-303 Guitar Synthesizer Controller. In addition to the GR-300 and GR-700, the GM-70 is used to play a Roland XV-5080 Sound Module. All Parts were played by guitar, with the exception of the drum loop programming."

Vintage Analog CRUMAR T-1 Hammond vk Clone Organ synth


via this auction


DSP Card For Symbolic Sound Kyma Capybara 320


via this auction

"2 (two) dsp cards available for the Symbolic Sound Kyma Capybara 320 system. Each card adds 2 DSP's to your system."


Finality Of The Arbitrary


YouTube via JohnLRice | December 31, 2010 |

"I just got this Modcan 69B Scanner and couldn't resist taking it out for a spin! I'm just scratching the surface of it's potential here and I'm sure it will get a lot of use in the coming year and beyond.

The overload distortion isn't coming from the 69B, it's somewhere else in my effects chains but I left it because I was in a hurry and I kinda like it at times.

The video clips are from my bus/train commutes to my present job and from the window by my cubical. End of an era as I start a new job on January 17th. The only thing sadder than leaving would be staying . . . .

Here's to hoping 2011 will be a better year for all . . . . ."

Soundlab Ultimate/Expander DIY Keyboard Synth


YouTube via bchris1776 | December 31, 2010 |

"I picked up a couple Ray Wilson MFOS PC boards - The "Ultimate" and "Ultimate Expander" - and since he had nice panels available I got those as well.
I started the project with the idea of building a complete portable keyboard synth - and am quite happy with how it turned out. I built this so with the removal of two bolts they synth unit and the keys can be taken apart and used separately from each other. Both units have their own power supply, and the synth section includes a small monitor amp/speaker.
It sounds great, stays in tune - and is very fun to play. Unfortunately - I don't play keys... Sorry about the noise on the audio - it's not the synth but the recording process.
You can find pics and a better description of this build and my other projects at SDIY.org/RFeng"

This Second Sleep - Ototoxic Pathway


YouTube via arthurpainter | December 31, 2010 |

"http://thissecondsleep.blogspot.com/
An ode to tinnitus using my Buchla 200e as the solitary sound source."

Another Part Of Me - Michael Jackson (Moog Bass Along)


YouTube via Geeljasjes | December 31, 2010 |

"Just another bass along video before the new year kicks off.

On the album version a DX7 bass was used, but I think it sounds funkier with a Minimoog on this version."
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