MATRIXSYNTH

Ron Zakrin The Modular Realm - Geisha Modular Synth Art

“Beauty & The Beats refers to my pursuit of an aesthetic that embraces a sinister beauty, and the music that inspires my work. Repetition plays a visual role, alluding to rhythms heard, digested, and transcribed onto a two dimensional plane. In this exhibition of new work, some references are overt, some covert, and others are totally subliminal. There is enough ugly in this world to choke the heart out of everyday existence, I respond by painting what pleases me visually and sonically.” - Ron Zakrin

The print is available for purchase here.

A young geisha with Moog inspired modular & octupus tentacles.

New Leploop Product in the Works & Leploop at the Torino Synth Meet

Leploop made an appearance at the recent Torino Synth Meeting hosted by Noisecollective. Pictured to the left is the Leploop table. Below is a prototype of the LEP Trautokick followed by CASSA eurorack modules in wood & metal. A modular filled with wood panels could be interesting. Finally the lost pic is a MATRIXSYNTH card at the event. MATRIXSYNTH was a co-sponsor of the Torino Synth Meet.

You'll find more pics in the full flickr set here.

Update: you can find Leploop's official website here.

1984 Byter Incorporated Polysync Rhythm Controller Ad

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

"Byter Incorporated Polysync Rhythm Controller "...for $595" full page black & white advertisement from page 31 in the April 1984 issue of Keyboard Magazine."

This appears to be the first post to ever feature Byter here on MATRIXSYNTH.

First day with Waldorf Rocket

My first day with Waldorf Rocket Published on Jun 6, 2013

"My first day with Waldorf Rocket
with Elektron Octatrack for Drums, Midi Sequencer and Effects
Only 4 bars of midi sequence was used for the Rocket.
OP-1 and Analog Four were not used in this video."

via Khantipol Kasemsant on The MATRIXSYNTH Lounge

Waldorf Rockets on eBay

SFX-JII & Blofeld

Published on Jun 6, 2013 mCKENIC·9 videos

"The wonderful SFX-JII from Gugabox.com!
Getting to know her a little more - she plays VERY well with the Waldorf Blofeld. Next partner is my fave synth purchase from the last year - the brutal M-Audio Venom :-)

I nudged the SFX psu right before recording - so display was garbled but it kept on trucking. Of course I forgot to save my mapping as an SFX preset - doh!

http://www.gugabox.com/projects/sfx-jii/"

via Dave O Mahony on The MATRIXSYNTH Lounge

BugBrand News - PT Delay / FXHE / Changes

via Tom Bugs on the BugBrand mailing list:

"Hi All,

Umm, wow - I think it is 4 months since my last mailout.. A *lot* has been changing. Here's the run-down.

**FXHE - Tom Bugs - Living Leaving 12"**
YES - almost 30 minutes of live studio techno wobble split over 2 sides of vinyl and released by one of the very finest Detroit Labels::::
http://omarsdetroit.us/eps.php#tombuggs
Omar S is something of an underground legend - very direct & hard-working and it gives me utter excitement for him to release this recording from around 1 year ago.
There's actually no BugModular *sound* (instead it is drum machines & synths) but the Modular is used to reconfigure trigger streams - a key concept in my Modular approaches.
The vinyl is available direct from Detroit or check your local record store - lots of availability online now, I think.

**PT Delay Standard 2013**
YES - finally time for the new PT Delay design. It has been quite a while coming, but perhaps the next section will explain a bit more of the background changes.
http://www.bugbrand.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=24&products_id=113
The main changes from the 2011 model are: Voltage Control! More powerful Equalisation! Standardised Production methods! Internal Refinements!
I had hoped to get the full batch of 100 done and released at this stage, but.. time is of the essence (again, see below) so now I'm splitting it into two batches of 50 units each - the remaining batch will come in 2-3 months..

**Changes**
YES - I'm actually leaving Bristol in 2 weeks time - or, at least, I will be living in Sweden for the coming months, though the BugBrand HQ will remain in Bristol for the time being.
Bigger, exciting life outside the regular Bug World!
As such, I will not be working on Bug-Bits for around 2 months (life will keep my hands busy) and then from there there will be definite changes (not all fully decided at the moment) - more working remotely with occasional popping back to Bristol for hands-on work.
And the main thing is that I am putting the Modular on ice for the time being (there will be a Modular Mailout shortly explaining more - I've been focused on winding down for much of the last few months) and instead focusing on bigger batches of standalone devices - I'm already lining up a couple of new designs, but lips are sealed for now.
In essence - stopping, but not stopping.

Wishing you all a very happy SUMMER.
And extend great & ongoing thanks to everyone who continues to give me the buzz to work!

Bests, Tom

PS

**Changes 2** - alongside all the other changes, I want to say a MASSIVE thankyou to my trusty assistant of almost 4 years - Mark Durgan (who is something of an underground legend)
Without Mark's work I'd not have been able to produce the things I have - he has worked so reliably.
Mark was the production powerhouse of the cranky bug-setup - he did most of the building work while I did design, parts sourcing, testing and all the sending/emailing etc.
Mark now moves off to new areas and I wish him the very best for future works.
http://markdurgan.blogspot.co.uk/"

Final Layout of the Upcoming MacBeth NEXUS Synthesizer

"Seen here- the final layout with new additions to the up and coming NEXUS synthesizer. This is the front panel art- not including the keyboard. The PCB design includes connectors for a standard three and a half octave standard keyboard and a four octave touch keyboard! Exciting times!"

via Ken MacBeth on Facebook

Xaoc Ostankino Moskwa

Published on Jun 6, 2013

ROLAND SH-2000

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

via this auction

"It has been serviced and PAT-tested by James Walker at Synth Repair Services and is in perfect working order
It's in great condition for a synth that's approaching its 40th birthday with minor blemishes and crazing to the paintwork and vinyl finish and a few chips and scuffs to the 'wooden' end cheeks.
There are no major marks/scratches on the keys, all the selector switches are clean and undamaged, the end cheeks bear some chipping/scuffing on their edges, all switches and sliders move freely and noiselessly. Apart from the end cheeks and a few minor scratches, it's in very good condition: it just demands to be used to make funk, disco, prog rock, or whatever cosmic delights you should desire.

This was Roland's second synth (introduced in 1973 following the SH1000) and was the first to feature aftertouch, which makes it a very expressive instrument indeed. From fat and funky wobbly basslines to squelchy soaring leads, this synth delivers (as well as a multitude of 'authentic' recreations of acoustic instruments) - a personal favourite preset is the 'popcorn' (from the disco classic of the same name?)..."