NAMM 2013: Buchla Electric Music Box In Depth

Published on Feb 9, 2013 James Lewin·26 videos

"At the 2013 NAMM Show, Buchla electronic Musical Instruments' Jeffrey Vallier gave us an overview of the new Electric Music Box.

Vallier talks about the goals for the project, some of the challenges and Buchla's plans for releasing the new synth.

From Synthtopia.com's 2013 NAMM Coverage:

http://www.synthtopia.com/content/tag/2013-namm-show/"

1977 Steiner-Parker Microcon Ad

via Retro Synth Ads where you'll find the full write-up.

"Steiner-Parker Microcon "complete synthesizer" black and white 1/2-page advertisement from page 7 in the July/August 1977 issue of Synapse Magazine."

Roberto Raineri-Seith | controlvoltage.org 904-A VCF clone for Eurorack first (rough) prototype test

Published on Feb 11, 2013 birbabirbabirba·36 videos

"The 904-A is fitted with a single Asys RS-95E VCO pulse wave and of course the prototype is only rough calibrated and assembled with standard components. Alpha pots and selected components will be used in the production version, along with a slightly larger frontplate (14 HP). At least the resonance levels must be further adjusted, so there's a little more job for my engineer... For more infos please go controlvoltage.org"

Update: "Audio signal is provided by a single Asys RS-95E VCO pulse wave.
In this first test the prototype is only rough calibrated and assembled with standard components, Alpha pots and selected components will be used in the production version, along with a slightly larger frontplate (14 HP).

First impressions: the frequency response works as expected, but the resonance levels and response must be further adjusted to match the original, so there's a little more job for my engineer..."

nthsynth in wood

via nthsynth

"Our friend Alex Traxler from Griffen Hollow Studio cut the NTH enclosures for our production run, and has offered his services to NTH users looking for custom acrylic or wooden cuts. For the month of September, he is offering the following discounted prices:

Acrylic enclosure – $75
Wood enclosure – $125
Alex is a fine craftsman and made us the white oak enclosure seen below. You can contact him here."

Luminth Teaser by nthsynth

Published on Feb 11, 2013 nthsynth·9 videos

nthsynth.com

The Purring Buchla

The Purring Buchla - Unedited version

Uploaded on Feb 11, 2013 DJjondent·168 videos

"My first impressions of a Buchla 200e.
Just tweaking knobs in the search for great sounds"

Slightly shorter edited version of the video with additional details:


Published on Feb 11, 2013

"My first impressions of a Buchla 200e.
Just tweaking knobs in the search for great sounds
At times it kinda sounds like a Ducatti. :-)

Using just 3 modules:
261e - Complex Waveform Generator
281e - Quad function generator
292e - Quad Dynamics Manager

The 261e - The Complex Waveform Generator consists of 2 VCos (modulation & principal oscillators).
The principal oscillator appears to only generate sine waves.... freq varying from 27 to 7040Hz.
The modulation Osc has 2 ranges: 27 - 7040HZ (audio range) & .25 - 64Hz (sub-audio).

The 281e - Quad function generator - These appear to be a very complex set of envelope generators.
Can be organised into pairs.

The 292e - Dynamics Manager - Buchla's answer to the VCA but also appears to act like a Low Pass Filter."

Waveshaper

Published on Feb 11, 2013 Ebotronix·585 videos

4 ms Peg RCD VCA Matrix
Analogue Systems RS 110 RS 360
Bananalogue Serge VCS ( Waveshaper for TZO)
Cyndustries TZO
Doepfer A 134 panning by A 143-9 & Moog MP201
Flame Chord Machine (arp out to unkle Bass)
foh choices
Grendel Formant Filter
Make Noise Maths Moddemix Optomix QMMG Wogglebug
Malekko 4x Anti (Bass) 4x Unkle (chord) & Jag
Roland System 104 Sequencer
SSL Modulation Orgy
ToppobrilloSportmodulator TWF
Logic Master clock to Kenton Pro 2000 II
Kick Ultrabeat
FX Boss VF1 Line6 Echopro TC M3000

Subtractor Basics - Micro Tutorial

Published on Feb 11, 2013

"Subtractor, the original Reason synth, still packs a punch! In this tutorial we'll learn the basics of this virtual analog classic by creating a synth bass from scratch. Regardless if you own Reason, Reason Essentials or if you're just trying out the demo, this should get you started creating your own sounds with Subtractor!"

"I Dream of Wires: Hardcore Edition" 2013 Official Trailer

"I Dream of Wires: Hardcore Edition" 2013 official trailer from I Dream Of Wires on Vimeo.

"I Dream of Wires" (IDOW) is an upcoming, independent documentary film about the phenomenal resurgence of the modular synthesizer - exploring the passions, obsessions and dreams of people who have dedicated part of their lives to this esoteric electronic music machine. Written and directed by Robert Fantinatto, with Jason Amm (Ghostly International recording artist Solvent) serving as producer and co-writer, IDOW is set to receive it's festival premiere, May 2013.

Preceding IDOW's official theatrical release, we will be releasing this special, extended cut: "I Dream Of Wires (Hardcore Edition)" (IDOW-HE) will be released independently on BluRay / 2xDVD, and shipped to all IndieGoGo and pre-order customers, June 2013. IDOW-HE is for the hardcore modular synthesizer and electronic music fanatics, and will run approximately 4 hours long (!).

IDOW-HE is a strictly limited-edition item, available to order exclusively through idreamofwires.org from 2/11 - 5/31, 2013. It's bound to sell out in pre-orders, so don't sleep...
IDOW-HE BluRay / 2xDVD is available to pre-order now:
http://idreamofwires.org/order

"Themogene (I Dream Of Wires theme)", from the forthcoming IDOW original soundtrack album by Solvent, is available to listen/download in its entirety via Ghostly International on Soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/ghostly/solvent-themogene

Additional music/sounds featured in this trailer: Container, Jack Dangers (Meat Beat Manifesto), Richard Devine, John Elliott (Spectrum Spools/ex-Emeralds), Gert Jalass (Moon Modular), Richard Lainhart, Solvent, Jon Sonnenberg (Travelogue), Keith Fullerton Whitman.

"Who said that?" (in order of appearance): Brad Garton, Dean Batute, Maggie Payne, Bernie Krause, William Maginnis, Terry Pender, Jack Dangers (Meat Beat Manifesto), Benge (John Foxx and the Maths), Vince Clarke (Erasure), Daniel Miller (Mute Records), David Kronemeyer, Jon Sonnenberg (Travelogue), Carl Craig, James Holden, Richard Devine, Luke Abbott, Tony Rolando (Make Noise), Flood, Trent Reznor (NiN/How To Destroy Angels), Dieter Doepfer, Dominic Butler (Factory Floor), Paul Schreiber (Synthesis Technology/MOTM), David Kronemeyer, Eric Barbour (Metasonix), George Mattson, William Mathewson (WMD), Tony Rolando, Eric Barbour, Daniel Miller, Drew Neumann, John Elliott (Spectrum Spools/ex-Emeralds), Andreas Schneider (SchneidersBuero), Eric Barbour, Scott Jaeger (The Harvestman), Andreas Schneider, Dieter Doepfer, Chris Carter (X-TG/Chris & Cosey), Charlie Clouser, Danjel Van Tijn (Intellijel), John Tejada, Drumcell, Legowelt, Alessandro Cortini (SONOIO/ex-NiN), John Foxx, Deadmau5, James Husted (Synthwerks), Paul Barker (Malekko/ex-Ministry), Container, Cevin Key (Skinny Puppy), Robert A.A. Lowe, Trent Reznor, Gur Milstein (TipTop Audio), Gary Numan.

http://idreamofwires.org
http://vimeo.com/idreamofwires 
http://facebook.com/idreamofwiresdocumentary

hexinverter.net batteryACID (I Dream of Wires edition)

"Introducing...

hexinverter.net batteryACID (I Dream of Wires edition)

Eurorack format DISTORTION / COMPRESSION module.

batteryACID is a unique voltage controlled analogue distortion module for musical synthesis. It is loosely based on the infamous MXR Distortion Plus guitar pedal which acid house musicians have taken to processing distorted acid basslines and other synthesizer textures through.

Where batteryACID differs greatly from its guitar pedal counterparts is that it has been designed to have voltage control of the distortion amount. This makes it right at home in a modular analogue synthesizer, as fun modulation of the distortion parameter is of course possible! It sounds great on synth leads, basslines and of course drums!

For anyone that might be familiar with the DIY ("do it yourself") batteryACID project offered by hexinverter.net in PCB form, to answer your likely question: This is an entirely different and updated circuit. It features a slew of new features and differences, as outlined below.


Technical/Mechanical Specifications

- 16HP
- Requires +/-12V
- Current consumption and module depth TBD

Base Features

- Voltage controlled all-analogue distortion effect
- Onboard compressor for automatic gain correction (the signal volume would otherwise vary drastically with the distortion modulation)
- Designed anew specifically for musical synthesis and drum processing
- Can function as a basic standalone hardware compressor when the distortion effect is switched off

Analogue Distortion with Voltage Control

- A new take on the classic diode overdrive distortion circuit found in many infamous guitar pedals of the last half-century
- Fully analogue voltage control of the distortion amount parameter
- The high-pass effect (ie: bass frequency loss) commonly experienced with using guitar pedals to process synths and drums has been reduced
- Effect wet/dry mix control for dialing in the perfect amount of distortion
- Attenuators for input/output levels
- Bypassing is possible via the panel switch

Onboard Compressor

- Can be disabled easily via the switch on the panel
- Compressor Threshold, Ratio and Gain parameter controls for locking in the desired dynamics after distortion
- Functions as a basic hardware compressor when distortion is disabled

Want?

Available exclusively from idreamofwires.org.
Pre-order 2/11 through 5/31. Shipping June.
This is a 1-off, single batch production, with the majority of proceeds going to I Dream Of Wires' completion fund - with huge thanks to hexivnverter.net!

Price, in USD via Paypal, with shipping included:
- $225 within North America.
- $230 elsewhere.

Additional thanks to Livewire Electronics for helping us to source the knobs, and Intellijel Designs Inc. who have offered to oversee manufacturing!

http://hexinverter.net
http://facebook.com/hexinverterelectronics

http://idreamofwires.org 
http://vimeo.com/idreamofwires 
http://facebook.com/idreamofwiresdocumentary"

Discussion on Muff's.