Octatrack + Monotron = Glitch Mayhem

Published on May 19, 2014 Libor Mikyška·8 videos

XILS-lab breathes virtual life into prototyped EMS VCS4 analogue matrix modular monster

"'XILS 4: a life-changing tool... absolutely 100 percent indispensable modular heaven!'

- Anthony J. Resta (record producer and multi-instrumentalist)

GRENOBLE, FRANCE: music software company XILS-lab is proud to announce availability of XILS 4 — an authentic software emulation of the legendary VCS4, a ‘dual VCS3’ analogue matrix modular synthesizer prototyped by EMS back in 1969, but never commercially released — as of May 19...

EMS (Electronic Music Studios), a British company founded by the pioneering Peter Zinovieff, made musical history in 1969 with its introduction of the VCS3, the first portable synthesizer commercially available anywhere in the world. Its innovative modular matrix-based patchboard dispensed with the telephone exchange-like cabling of other (much larger) modular systems in favour of making connections with (removable) coloured pins, so it could be comfortably housed in a small wooden (solid afrormosia) cabinet.

Needless to say, the (hi)story of the EMS VCS3 is well documented, with XILS-lab later playing its part in resurrecting its still-sought-after sound with its cost-conscious and award-winning XILS 3 software emulation for Mac (OS X 10.4 and above) and PC (Windows 7, Vista, and XP) proving popular with both first-time buyers beginning a wonderfully in-depth journey into the wonderful world of modular synthesis and also seasoned synth explorers, including renowned sound designer Richard Devine and original VCS3 aficionado Tim Blake (Hawkwind), and even Peter Zinovieff himself, who commented kindly: “A great step forward!”

Not so well documented, though, is the stuff of legend: the 1969-vintage VCS4 was EMS designer David Cockerell’s so-called ‘Live Performance Module’, comprising two VCS3s sat side by side, together with a five-octave keyboard, a mixer, and a signal-processing unit, all housed in a single wooden cabinet. Only one prototype was ever produced, its ear-opening sounds lost in the sands of time... until now, that is!

By being based on two intricate and interacting VCS3 (‘Synthi’) cores — following in the fanciful footsteps of its one-off analogue ancestor to a tee, XILS-lab’s XILS 4 favourably emulates EMS’ VCS4. Indeed, those two cores can be set to work side by side or operate in serial (with one feeding the other). Each and every module on one side can be used to modulate or feed anything on the other side with stunning sound possibilities plus weird and wonderful effects readily available in abundance as a direct result. That said, XILS 4 shows its true 21st Century colours by also allowing amount settings to be individually applied to each patch ‘pin’. Providing patchboard power par excellence to an already special soft synth shows that there is clearly so much more to XILS 4 than solely emulating vintage hardware — rare as the vintage hardware in question clearly is. Little wonder, then, that XILS 4 is billed by its creator as being the Ultimate Analog Matrix Modular Synthesizer!

XILS-lab has sought to take things severals steps further still by coupling those cores with the SEQUENCER 256 module, inspired by EMS’ trailblazing Synthi Sequencer 256 namesake. Needless to say, this three-layer sequencer with analogue-to-digital and digital-to-analogue converters to enable digital processing of control voltages to drive multiple analogue synthesizers or multiple parameters with storage of up to 256 ‘events’ was well ahead of its time when released in 1971. Here in the virtual world, XILS-lab has well and truly transported it to the present day with three independent layers, slew rates, and recording modes, together with added abilities like sequencer layers acting as modulation sources in a dedicated SEQ MATRIX — matchless, even by today’s most sophisticated DAW standards!

So is that all? No, not at all! Adding a second ‘pin matrix’, two additional envelopes, an LFO, comprehensive SAMPLE AND HOLD module, and VOLTAGE PROCESSOR, plus several new input modules — including GATE, ENVELOPE FOLLOWER, and PITCH TRACKER — means that there are hundreds of additional connections available to the discerning synthesist set on exploring XILS 4 to the full as a superlative soft synth or as a powerful effects processor plug-in in its own right. The fact that there are over 1,140 possible connections per patch makes for a literal lifetime of programming possibilities that will surely far outlast the host computer concerned, though those in need of a helping hand have easy access to almost 700 professionally-programmed presets from world-renowned sound designers, including the complete XILS 3 factory library and over 350 presets specifically designed for XILS 4. A selection of tutorial-style patches are also available to help users seeking to take their first tentative steps towards scaling the heady heights of this mountainous modular monster of a soft synth!

Simply put, with a whole host of modules and associated far-reaching functionality — for starters, 12 aliasing-free oscillators, grouped in six pairs with wave-shaping and hard sync — yesteryear’s impossibilities have become today’s possibilities with XILS 4... a great step forward, indeed! A giant leap for modular synthesis software, some might say.


XILS 4 is available to purchase as an eLicenser or iLok copy-protected virtual instrument and effects plug-in for an introductory discounted price of €149.00 EUR (rising to €179.00 EUR on June 17, 2014) from the XILS-lab web store here: http://www.xils-lab.com/pages/STORE.html (Note that this time-limited offer also includes the XILISTICS sound bank with 160-plus presets worth €25.00 EUR, plus a free USB-eLicenser copy-protection dongle!)

XILS 3 owners can upgrade to XILS 4 for an introductory price of €29.00 EUR (rising to €49.00 EUR on June 17, 2014). XILS 4 can be directly downloaded as a 32- and 64-bit-compatible virtual instrument and effects plug-in for Mac (AAX, AU, RTAS, VST) and Windows (AAX, RTAS, VST) from here: http://www.xils-lab.com/pages/XILS4_Download.html

Check out several informative XILS 4 tutorial videos here: http://www.xils-lab.com/pages/XILS4_Videos.html"

Met The Knobbers Synth Event This Saturday in Tuscany

via Gianni Proietti on The MATRIXSYNTH Lounge

"Hi everybody, this saturday it will take place one of the most important synth meetings in Italy!
Lots of stuff, instruments, synthesizers, modulars, DIY, and a glass of Chianti wine in a wonderful location in Tuscany! Check it out!"

And a video from 2012 share by Gianni. Be sure to see the Knobbers channel link at the bottom of this post for more. See the events channel below for all upcoming events and coverage.


Meet The Knobbers 2012 Published on May 7, 2013 Lo Yeye·2 videos
http://meettheknobbers.com/?p=147

Meng Qi Coming to Berlin Friday, May 30

via Tatu Məsləhətdi on The MATRIXSYNTH Lounge

"A special opportunity to catch the legendary synth maker Meng Qi in Berlin at the end of this month, performing with his own instruments. And of course the far out legendary Pekka Airaksinen doing his first concert ever in Germany. Plus much more: Harmönia Presents: Pekka Airaksinen"

Theremini Assembly Line Asheville 05/17/14

via Michael Victor on The MATRIXSYNTH Lounge

Akai VX600 SN #1

SN 30740-00001 via Christopher Steller on Facebook

"Demonstrator prototype — with Matrixsynth Jones."

Note the Peavy Paradox as well.

Update via Michael McRoberts who worked at Akai back in the day: "I'm not quite sure what to make of the serial number. At that time, numbers 0001 and 0002 were usually engineering prototypes in Japan. 0003 would go to the US for demos."

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Roland Jupiter-80 Synthesizer

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

via this auction

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Roland SH-1000 Analog Monophonic Synthesizer

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

via this auction

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ROLAND TB-303 BASS LINE SYNTHESIZER

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

via this auction

Serge Modular Synth 4 1/2 panels

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

via this auction

"top to bottom, left to right:

1: Precision VCO x2
Variable Q VCF
Mixer
CV Mixer
Random Source
Smooth Stepped Function Generator
Dual Transient Generator x 2

2: Dual Channel Stereo Mixer
Variable Q VCF
Extended ADSR
Quantizer (TKB)
Dual Processor
Ring
Precision VCO
New Timbral Oscillator

3: Preamp Detector
/N Comp
Pulse Divider
Wave Multipliers
Wilson Analog Delay
Phaser
Resonant Equalizer
Audio Mixer
Dual Channel Stereo Mixer

4: oddity 1u rack rehousing of:
APRC
VC Divider
Dual Analog Shift Register
6 x banana - mini jack socket converters

5: TKB keyboard/ sensors/ sequencer"

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