Sequential Circuits 'Max' Synthesizer

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via this auction

Details on the Max at the auction previously captured here.

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PPG EVU Expansion Voice Unit 80's wavetable synth by Wolfgang Palm

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via this auction

"This is the "brains" of a PPG Wave 2.3: Classic vintage 8 voice wavetable synth; digital oscillators for complex waveforms; warmed up with rich analog filters [8x Curtis SSM 2044 VCF chips], designed by Wolfgang Palm, used by famously by David Bowie, The Fixx, Trevor Horn, Jean Michel Jarre, Art of Noise, Rush, Depeche Mode, Gary Numan, Robert Palmer, Psychadelic Furs, Talk Talk, The Cars, Ultravox, Steve Winwood, Rush, Stevie Nicks, Thomas Dolby, Pet Shop Boys, Mike and the Mechanics, and Stevie Wonder.

However the buyer should know:

This unit predates MIDI [was built between 1982-1984] and will require a technician to complete the build we started for the MIDI to EVU converter, as planned here: http://www.hermannseib.com/english/synths/ppg/midiretro.htm

All of the parts, veroboard circuit, and new OS ROMs are included."

more pics here

SN 01012 or 07072?


Update via Rich in the comments: "Just a short note of clarification:
The above mentioned Curtis SSM2044 was a combination of 2 different companies:

Curtis Electromusic Specialties, founded by Doug Curtis - made the CEM3340 VCO, (Roland Jupiter 6 and others if I recall correctly), CEM3320 VCF, CEM3310 ADSR and quite a few others.

Their biggest competitor was Solid State Microtechnologies by solid state music who made the infamous SSM2040 4 cell chip that was used for 4 pole Low Pass Filters, 2 pole State Variable Filters and a few other configurations. (Prophet 5 versions 1 and 2. Version 3's used the thinner sounding Curtis CEM3320.)
The Korg Mono/Poly and Polysix (amoung many other units) used the SSM2044 4 pole Low Pass Filter."

Seekers Voice Spectra 12 band analog vocoder

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YouTube Published on Aug 22, 2012 by TallmanJosh

"For sale on Ebay" Be sure to see the very bottom of this post for a note on Seekers.


via this auction

"This has a very clear sound for an analogue vocoder, a big part of why it makes voices so intelligible is the syllable function which inserts noise bursts into the signal for “s” and “sh” syllables. This is a pretty rare feature on an analogue vocoder, and it really helps with intelligiblity. The syllable function is also really cool for creating rhythms.

Here’s some info on it pulled of the interwebs [appears to be via Analogue.org]:

The Voice Spectra has good reputations in Japan for clear extent, high timbre, and for Speech Tracking Function (STF). STF is basically a pitch- to-voltage converter which functions by reading the glottal pulses of the speech signal. The control voltages from the output of the pitch extractor are fed to the VCO, so that this follow the cadences of the speech signaI. STF is an interesting additional facilities only to be found on more expensive vocoders like EMS.

Everyone familiar with vocoding will appreciate the Voice spectras compressor and Voiced/Unvoiced detector*.

The Voice spectra is a high quality studio-vocoder, appreciated by the staff at music studios, professional musicians, etc. in Japan. The articulation of the output signal is extremely good, being distinguished by remarkable clarity and distinctiveness. This quality of articulation, among other things, is what distinguishes SKY soundlab from other less sophisticated vocoders like the MAM VF11. The Voice spectra comes with an inbuilt power supply as well.

*If the air from the lungs is not forced through the vocal chords, but simply expelled through the mouth, then so ralled UNVOICED sounds are produced, such as `f' or `h'. These are basically similar to the type of sounds which can be produced by a noise generator. Most excitation signals do not have a sufficiently wide dynamic spectrum to synthesise the sound of sibilants (`s', `h', etc.). For this reason the voiced/unvoiced detector ensures that the noise generator provides the synthesiser section with the appropriate `raw material' whenever the excitation signal cannot do so.

The voice can be seen as a complex sound generating instrument, consisting of a frequency and amplitude-controlled oscillator (the vocal chords and lungs), a noise generator (the lungs) and a set of tone filters (the mouth and nasal cavities).

Technical specifications

Mic-line inputs: MIC -40dBm / 47K Line: 0dBm / 20K

Synthesis/Instrument Input: 0dBm / 100K
Output: +0dBm

Filterbank:12 Analysing filters and 12 Synthesizing filters

#01 90 - 130 (Hz)
#02 130 - 190
#03 190 - 280
#04 280 - 410
#05 410 - 610
#06 610 - 900
#07 900 - 1340
#08 1340 - 1950
#09 1950 - 2800
#10 2800 - 4100
#11 4100 - 6070
#12 6070 - 8900

Internal excitation sources: white noise generator and sawtooth oscillator (20-900Hz). Both may be gated by the voiced/unvoiced detector. Oscillator frequency fixed or tracking mode.

Metering: LED for speech and excitation levels"

So, regarding Seekers, some of you might remember this beauty. See the Seekers label below for more. There was a real Seekers manufacturer that made this vocoder and then there was Elhardt.

Fizmotropolis - Ensoniq Fizmo Resource Site

Image and title says it all.
Check it out here.

And of course, if you ever consider picking up a Fizmo be sure to see The Fizmo Fix on Carbon111's site.

Ensoniq Fizmo Rackmount Transwave Synthesizer SN 069977049

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
YouTube Published on Aug 22, 2012 by TallmanJosh

"for sale on ebay"

Note this demo doesn't do the best job demoing the synth, but it's purpose of course is to show it is working. The Fizmo is a Transwave synthesizer which was Ensoniqs implementation of Wavetable Synthesis. When it was released Virtual Analog synthesis was all the rage and people were disappointed with the Fizmo because although it was knob laden like the new hardware VAs, it definitely was not a VA synth. It excels in digital morphing sounds and that is a good thing. It is a unique synth and sonically, always reminded me as sitting somewhere between the Waldorf uWave/XT series and a Hartmann Neuron. The Neuron of course employed a whole different method of synthesis termed neuronal synthesis along with I beleive methods of re-synthesis.


via this auction

"Up for sale is a used Ensoniq Fizmo Rack, and non-original nintendo gaming console power supply. There was an issue with the orginal power supplies damaging Fizmos, so I never used the supply that came with it."

I heard changing the power supply actually doesn't solve the problem. See The Fizmo Fix on Carbon111's site for the hardware fix.

The auction also pointed to Fizmotropolis, what looks to be a great resource for the Fizmo. I haven't seen it before. I'll put a separate post on it next.

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Roland Jupiter 80 + Roland Jupiter 8 "Bells of Jupiter"

YouTube Published on Aug 23, 2012 by synthartist69

a travel near Rubycon (TD), with Alesis Fusion, Roland SH101, EH Phaser & Memory Boy, by tlnet37

YouTube Published on Aug 23, 2012 by tlnet37

"just an experiment and a work on the sound and effects of that style of musique from seventies. 4 audio tracks with SH101 (internal sequencer for bass sequence and noises) and 2 audio tracks with the Alesis Fusion 8 hd with Tape Choir (mellotron choir) and Tape Mix Strings (mellotron-like too) ; all re-recorded in live in Presonus Studio One Artist v1.6.5 with audiobox usb interface."

Buchla - Patch 27

YouTube Published on Aug 23, 2012 by batchas

"Sending 262v to 288v for sound transformation (mostly delay loops).
Also adding both 258v waveforms in background during the session.

I did not edit nor cut the video."

Update:

Buchla - Patch 27a

Published on Aug 23, 2012 by batchas

"Sending 262v to 288v for sound transformation (mostly delay loops).

I did not edit nor cut the video."

Buchla - Patch 27b

" Published on Aug 23, 2012 by batchas

Sending 262v to 288v for sound transformation (mostly delay loops).

I did not edit nor cut the video."

JUPITER-80 Demonstration: Bernie Smith (Take That)

YouTube Published on Aug 23, 2012 by rolandukltd

"Bernie Smith is not your average session musician. Being the synth and piano man for acts like Annie Lennox and Take That need a special kind of musician. It's a good job that his Jupiter 80 is not your average synth.

To find our more about the JUPITER-80 go to:
http://www.roland.co.uk/products/productdetails.aspx?p=1165#.UDVgudZmTYg"

Cover of Duran Duran's Last Chance on the Stairway

YouTube Published on Aug 23, 2012 by willrobinsonensoniq

"This song's arrangement was a bit more difficult than I imagined. A month long flu bug also prolonged an otherwise straightforward cover. Worth the effort in my opinion.

Drums, Bass, arpeggiator synth and pad synth, TS12. Marimba was VFX SD, Korg M3r and a recent gift, the Korg 05RW. Thanks to youtube user WAVEFORMBLUE. Roland D20 was paired with the Digitech RP350 for the lush pad. The Yamaha SHS10 was connected via midi to the TS12 through the RP350 for the Keytar lead. During the 1st verse I had the RP350 Phaser swoosh on its own as it is in the recording behind the guitar. Nick's synth were resting I suppose.

The guitar work was the Ibanez through the RP350 as well. The RP350 was worked hard for this cover. Thanks to Duran Duran as well for the inspiration. I just hope I'm not disappointing them with these covers. I probably fudged the Lyrics as well but its what I heard...

The end of the video fades out and back in. Can't find the cause. Software issues...

Verse: A E G D
1st Chorus: Em Bm D A

2ND Chorus: Em Bm D A Em Bm D F(no3rd)
BRIDGE: A E"