MATRIXSYNTH

CBG Elric Synthesiser (Circa 1984/5)

"Elric is/was a dual-VCO monophonic keyboard synthesiser designed in 1984. It used the Curtis Electromusic analog synthesiser ICs under control of a microprocessor.

Elric has one, fixed patch: a four channel audio mixer feeds a VCF whose output feeds a VCA with stereo outputs. There are two VCOs and a ring modulator. The four inputs to the audio mixer are sourced from the VCOs, the noise generator and the ring modulator. The ring modulator inputs are hardwired to the VCO outputs. One VCO can be synched to the other."

You can find more info on the CBG Elric Synthesizer here.

The Harvestman Polivoks VCF

via this auction
"The first widely available modular release of the Polivoks filter circuit is an officially clone built on the basis of original russian spareparts. So this first "analogue" module by the still young american inventor will be limited sooner or later and seems to be authentic. The 12dB Filter has parrallel lowpass and bandpass outputs sounding quite round. Against the original here you have CV-inputs as usual probably offering still some new sounds probably.

The filter circuit is identical to the original design and uses the exact same schematic as the Polivoks synthesizer as well as new old stock Soviet integrated circuits (KR140UD1208 and KR140UD608, not Western "equivalents"). A signal mixer and bipolar CV multiplier were added in order to use the filter within the modular realm but no other additions are present. This helps to preserve the unique and unstable sound character without compromising signal flow authenticity.

Backside doepfer compatible bus connector for +/-12V power consumption, CV1 bipolar and CV2 with attenuator going to cutoff, (2x) 6dB BP out and 12dB LP out, 2 x audio-In each with attenuator. Euro-rack module (for 3 rackspace systems), 10 HP, approx 3cm deep"

Yamaha CS01

via this auction

RADIKAL TECHNOLOGIES SPECTRALIS

via this auction

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Aliens Project Toy of the Month #82 - Waldorf Blofeld

on Aliens Project

As always, the text is in German and the samples are in Synth.

Update: translation via Qwave in the comments: "Why the company Waldorf named this synthesizer 'Blofeld' will stay a mystery for me for all times.

The clear design was drawn by Axel Hartmann, who also designed the other "Waldis" (rem: shortened german version for Waldorf, not a real german word).

The desktop housing is very clear structured, and the big graphic display makes it user friendly to operate. The synth is 19" rack mountable with optional rack ears (rem: where to get them?). Very nice.

From the specification point of view, the Blofeld could be a direct successor of the MicroQ.

The technic:
virtual analog modeling technology
3 oscillators (pulse, saw, triangle, sine, osc.1 and 2 also wavetables)
frequency modulation + hard sync
25 voices (rem: wrong! up to 25 voices!) / 16 time multitimbral
2 multimode filters 12dB / 24 dB (HP, LP, BP, combfilter)
4 envelope generators
arpeggiator
1000 sounds / 100 multi programs
effects
Midi in, USB, stereo out, headphone

I think the compact Blofeld is very well suited as a synth for the live stage.

It is user friendly, small, lightweight and very stable (steel sheet housing).

Despite the compact measurements, it offers the very big Waldorf sound, as known from the Microwave and the Q (but a little bit limited).

I looks nearly ideal as deliverer for moving pads and atmospheres."

BugBrand on SoundCloud

Latest tracks by BugBrand

via the BugBrand Blog

"My beginning to use Virb last year coincided with the service turning poop.. I've finally set up a SoundCloud username to replace this and serve as an easy upload space for sound demos.

Here's the new destination: http://soundcloud.com/bugbrand

Starting off with some rough recordings from my new playing setup - making use of XBase09, Mono/Poly, Fat Controller, Time Factor and, of course, BugBrand Modular."

Sonic Charge µTonic

"Sonic Charge µTonic (pronounced "MicroTonic") is a VST / AU plug-in for Windows and Mac featuring a unique drum and percussion synthesizer combined with a pattern based drum-machine engine.

You can use µTonic as a sound module to play drum sounds from your MIDI keyboard or sequencer, or you can use the built-in pattern engine to play drum patterns in sync with your sequencer. The sound of µTonic is 100% synthetic and rendered in real-time. No samples or pre-rendered waveforms are used.

Sonic Charge µTonic was created by Magnus Lidström. Magnus is known for his work with Propellerhead Software and XLN Audio. In particular, he was the brain behind the highly acclaimed Malström synthesizer introduced in Reason 2.0.

We are convinced that you will find µTonic thoroughly unlike anything you have heard or worked with so far.

Highlights
* Eight channel drum and percussion synthesizer.
* Pattern based drum-machine engine, synced to the host.
* 100% synthetic sound, rendered in real-time. No samples!
* Over-sampled oscillators and sample-accurate triggering.
* Extremely low CPU utilization, less than 5% on any low-end system.
* Easy to use interface with context menus, popup hints etc.
* Plenty of creative editing options like morphing, smart alteration and randomization.
* Comes bundled with loads of factory sounds and patterns."