BugBrand Modular x 2 Meets TB-303 x 2 & a TR-606

via @daren_ager

"Just 40 miles of cables and a few hours between me and the acid"

Electrix Filter Factor & Repeater on the left.

Polyphonic Synth (Aalto) and Base (+ iPhone)

Polyphonic Synth (Aalto) and Base (+ iPhone) from Livid Instruments on Vimeo.

"This video demonstrates some of the wild possibilities with aftertouch and the Livid Base MIDI controller, including a novel way to integrate the iPhone with the Base. The 32 touch sensitive pads can output polyphonic aftertouch, so if your synth is great enough to use that (such as the Madrona Labs Aalto plugin), you've got some fantastic possibilities at your fingertips. Stay tuned: after the audio weirdness, there's a short explanation on how to quickly configure the Base using the online Editor. "

Links:
http://lividinstruments.com/hardware_base.php
http://www.madronalabs.com/products/aalto
http://www.lividserver.com/editor

MODE Machines SID Teardown

flickr set By Psychlist1972
(click for more)

Note the circuit board reads:

"DESIGNED IN CALIFORNIA BY ALKEX FOR MODE MACHINES

MADE IN GERMANY.  2012 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED."

XILS-lab Announces XILS V+ Vocoder Synth

"The XILS V+ combines a Vintage 10 band Vocoder, Supreme Top Octave Divider based Strings and Human Voices, or any sophisticated layering of these three elements.

After more than one year of intense modelling deep in the basement of the Xils Laboratories, we offer you this complete recreation of a legend. Its unique vintage vibe and beauty that can only be brought back to life by precisely emulating different ancient and forgotten techniques.

When the XILS V+ is released, in less than two weeks, everyone will be able to invoke the Top Octave Divider oscillator (T.O.D ) and its unique sound, The Ensemble circuitry (Chorus) featuring a compender and no less than 4 Bucket Brigade Delays, The Voice and Vocoder Vibratos (also based on two other BBD), the 14 filters involved in the Human voices, the 3 filters used for the Strings, the 40 Vocoder filters and the sophisticated Attack, Release and Glide circuitry.

T.O.D : The Top Octave Divider Oscillator provides a unique sound that no samples, or other simple synthesis techniques can reproduce. Emulating the T.O.D, without any aliasing on the whole frequency range, with its pitch and waveform modulation, was a real challenge, worthy of XILS-lab. We are very proud of this effort and offer it to you for your inspiration and enjoyment.

XILS-lab touch : The XILS V+ would not however be a real XILS-lab instrument if we did not add a lot of functions and possibilities that were not present in the original machine, some giving access to its internal circuitry and parameters. And some being totally new.

"T.O.D and Beyond", following the Analog and Beyond tradition XILS-lab initiated a long time ago.

The XILS V+ will be available in the following formats : Effect AND instrument, VST2.4, VST3, AU, AAX ( All versions 32 and 64 bits ), Mac and Windows.

Release date : May 25th, 2013

Important Note : Please note that the XILS V+ is protected by a dongle : You’ll need an iLok 1 or 2 , or USB-eLicenser to play it."

A nod to Roland's Vocoder Plus via XILS-lab

Bonus Table 571

Bonus Table 571 from colleen whiteley on Vimeo.

"Bonus Table 571 is a collaborative experiment in joining science, design and music. This project is part of Reclaim NYC's Collaboration show happening during NYCXDESIGN 2013.

Pure tones tuned to the natural resonant frequency of the wood result in vibrations, determined by the tabletop's size shape and density. The vibrations reveal a geometric pattern inherent to the wood.

The resonant pattern is etched away by an enzyme cocktail tailored to the molecular structure of the wood. This process is similar to acid-etching a metal plate, such as in printmaking. The difference is that this is based on a live process; using enzymes derived from forest floor microbes.
This piece is auto-collaborative, in that its design elements are defined by interactions between its components and their inherent properties: The dimensions and density of the materials determine it’s resonant frequency which informs the pattern to be etched, and the makeup of the wood itself determines how deeply the enzymes etch into the wood.
Bonus Table 571 is a collaboration between Colleen & Eric Whiteley, Loe Hubbard scientist/bioengineer and Ben Cameron musician/sound designer."

Full story on Isotrope of Me here.  Some details on the use of the eurorack modular:

"We experimented with different designs and thicknesses of wood until finally we found a design that worked much like the head of a drum; 3 layers of laminate within a strong square frame. As you can see in the video, I used the TiptopAudio Z3000 oscillator to play a sine wave (at ample amplitude) through the surface with a 12 inch speaker cone, isolating the wood from the speaker with foam blocks.

After documenting the frequencies at which the wood resonated, they were programmed into the Makenoise Rene sequencer so that we could cycle through them for the video. What you see in the video is just what happens when you move from one frequency to another..."

Standuino π [pi] synced with frauAngelico + microGranny

Standuino π [pi] synced with frauAngelico + microGranny from standuino on Vimeo.
Standuino π [pi] - mysterious drone synth (receiving MIDI clock from frauAngelico)
http://www.standuino.eu/musical-instruments/pi/
frauAngelico - drum synth with sequencer
http://www.standuino.eu/musical-instruments/frauangelico/
microGranny - granular sampler
http://www.standuino.eu/musical-instruments/microgranny/
buy: http://www.standuino.eu/buy-musical-instruments/

acidlab m1am1 : real-time demonstration

Published on May 14, 2013

"a demo of real-time operations available in the Acidlab m1am1 drum synth+sequencer

audio is a mix of camera and direct sound from the m1am1's mono output"

Technics WSA-1 Physical Modeling Synthesizer Keyboard with Original Box

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
via this auction

"SX-WSA1 SPECIFICATIONS

• 64-note polyphonic.

• 32-part multitimbral.

• 32 MIDI channels.

• 61-note keyboard, Velocity & Mono Pressure sensitive.

• 2 Modulation Wheels.

• 2 Real-time Controllers

• 256 Preset ROM sounds.

• 16 Preset Drum Kits.

• 128 Preset ROM Combinations (Combis).

• 256 User sound memories.

• 4 User Drum memories.

• 128 User Combinations

• 3 MIDI Program Change remappings.

• General MIDI Program Change map.

• 12 Digital Effects, 44 DSP Effects,12 Reverbs.

• 16-track Sequencer: 47,000 event capacity, 96 ppqn resolution, 10 Songs (chainable).

• Built-in DD/HD 3.5-inch disk drive."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Vintage 1980's MTI Auto Orchestra 16R Analog Synth w/ ADL 100 String Ensemble

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
via this auction

"Early 1980's MTI Auto Orchestra 16R analog synth, percussion machine and rhythm bank in Good Condition. Serial Number: 548 by MTI Technologies, NY, USA This is a complete system with the ADL 100 String Ensemble unit and 2 foot pedals. Unit is fully functional and fully intact except for one missing button cover on the ADL unit. Over the top analog gem with every feature imaginable." Anyone confirm these are analog?

CLICK FOR MORE »

Etsy Closes a Synth DIY Shop

According to Brendan Byrne, Etsy has closed his boutique synth DIY shop. The gist of it sounds like they are questioning how much of his work was made by him. It's an interesting question. Where do you draw the line?  You'll find the full story on Brendan Byrne's website here (warning for those with NSFW rules: the site's uses the f-word in the title).  You can still find Brendan's profile on Etsy here.  Brendan has also been featured a number of times here on MATRIXSYNTH.

"I’ve managed a shop on Etsy for the past 5 months selling electronic devices and synthesizers. I recently resigned from my job to pursue electronics design and fabrication.

Two days ago, my shop was unexpectedly CLOSED and I received an email stating that there was suspicion that I hadn’t constructed my devices by hand. At first I was a bit flattered and followed their instructions to confirm that I had in fact built them myself. I supplied the following photographs…
Shots of my workshop (soldering iron, electronic component cabinets, work bench)
Photos of the device (outside, inside, and the laser etched logo on the back with my etsy shop html link)
Photo of the raw materials used to construct the device (walnut and basswood)
However, they also requested I supply photos of the build process. I didn’t take photos during construction so I didn’t have any. Then I realized this was a more disconcerting request when I noticed NOWHERE in Etsy’s Terms of Use or Do’s and Dont’s page does it say anything like…"