Playing an MKS 7 with an Accordion - Moedars ♫ Roland Super Quartet MKS 7 power ♫

Published on Oct 25, 2014 Martijn Moedars

"As an accordion player and 80's analog synthesizer enthousiast I came across the Roland MKS-7 Super Quartet. My mind was blown, because it receives 4 midi channels and the Roland V accordion sends out 4 midi channels on the same configuration.

the 4 midi channels:

Drums - TR 707 (sort of)
Bass - Monophonic Bass synthesizer
Chord - Juno 106 architecture
Melody - also Juno 106 architecture

As a comix maker I really enjoy the absurd humor of this combination. So I hope it made you smile too.

Have a nice day :)"

Percussa: How are Wireless AudioCubes Different from Classic AudioCubes?

Another interesting bit of insight from Percussa via their newsletter.  This one was from Jan 18.

"Hi, Bert here, designer and inventor of AudioCubes. Sometimes, people ask me what the difference is between the AudioCubes we are selling today and the ones I originally released back in 2007. The AudioCubes today are called 'wireless' AudioCubes, while the ones from 2007 are 'classic' AudioCubes. But what does that mean?

In this newsletter I've decided to go a bit deeper into how the modern AudioCubes you can buy today work under the hood, and how they are different from the original AudioCubes I designed back in 2004, and which were released in 2007.

How do Classic AudioCubes work?

Originally I had designed the AudioCubes to forward data between each other, using infrared communication ports. Each AudioCube has 4 of these ports located around the AudioCube, which allow AudioCubes to detect each other as well as detect distance to your hands and fingers. This generates MIDI trigger notes or continous control messages respectively, so you can start and stop sounds and control effect parameters in real time.

In 2008-2009 we released a firmware and MIDIBridge update and also released the OSC server for AudioCubes, which not only allows AudioCubes to detect each other but also FORWARD data to each other, effectively creating a wireless network of AudioCubes, where data is forwarded to one of the cubes, which stays connected to your computer. We introduced the TOPOLOGY mode for the AudioCubes, which allows you to get MIDI note triggers and continous controllers at the same time.

How do Wireless AudioCubes work?
However, I realized we wanted to offer higher data rates than was possible using the cube to cube infrared communication network, and so I started designing a wireless module, a hardware upgrade, which would allow all the wireless cubes to have a DIRECT connection to the central cube which stays connected to your computer. This would allow the cubes to communicate in a star network which offers much higher data rates :-) The wireless module has a custom designed protocol on board I worked on for several years, and which uses the 2.4GHz wireless radio band. Rather than using bluetooth or wifi, we designed our own protocol, because the needs of professional musicians are very different from the needs of the wide consumer market.

We started offering the wireless module to a small group of test users first, and worked on improving the firmware for this hardware update over the past years. This hardware upgrade has been shipping in all new AudioCube systems over the past two years, and going forward we will ONLY sell AudioCubes featuring this hardware wireless module, and all software will assume you have this module in your AudioCubes. The classic AudioCubes without the module will still keep working using the old software, but to take advantage of the new software including SYNTHOR, the upcoming synthesizer for AudioCubes, you will need to have this module in your AudioCubes :-)

You can see two photos of AudioCubes hardware below. One photo is the classic AudioCube PCB WITHOUT the wireless module, and the other is the AudioCube PCB WITH the wireless module, which is how all hardware is built today.

AudioCube PCB WITH the wireless module

AudioCube PCB WITHOUT the wireless module,

Wireless Module

15 wireless AudioCubes transmitting cube detection and distance information in real time

We're in the final stages of testing a big firmware and MIDIBridge update I've worked on over the past two years, day and night, which leverages this new module to the maximum. It's really exciting stuff - imagine a star network with one master cube and up to 15 wireless AudioCubes, all capable of sensing hands as well as cubes, transmitting cube detection and distance information, all in real time, and everything is MIDI mappable!

Imagine automatically patching modular software synths as cubes detect each other, and changing instrument parameters in real time as cubes get closer and further away.

A few of the AudioCube power users who are currently testing the BETA are saying it's the most exciting update they've seen in the past few years.

I hope this clears up what the difference is between the AudioCubes we ship today, which all include the high performance wireless radio, and the classic AudioCubes from 2007 which do not include this hardware upgrade.

I look forward to create more firmware and software updates in 2015 and to push AudioCubes to the next level together with all of you!

Connect with Bert, AudioCubes designer, to learn more!

Thanks for reading this newsletter, and don't hesitate to connect with me on Facebook, LinkedIn or via email at bert@percussa.com.

I'm happy to answer all your questions about AudioCubes and consider your feature requests for the AudioCubes software :-)

Bert Schiettecatte"

A Day at the Percussa AudioCubes Lab

A look at a day in the life of Percussa via their newsletter released on January 10.

"Today, Bert and I would like to take you to our AudioCubes Lab, where we work hard on developing new software and hardware features for the Percussa AudioCubes, a modular gestural audiovisual instrument."

"Living room Lab with fast customer service

Since we're a small company, we decided to transform our living room into a lab instead of spending too much money on renting office space. We turned each corner of our living room into a different work station, each focusing on a different aspect: electronics, software, and business operations :-)

Having our office/lab in our living enviroment makes it hard to ignore any incoming email from customers late at night or on the weekend :-) , but we're more than happy to respond to any customer inquiry or request very fast."

"Lab equipment to build high-quality products

In our lab, we have tools to test the electronics of the Percussa AudioCubes as well as equipment to debug the firmware of the AudioCubes.

For instance, today (picture on the left) we have soldered connectors of our logic analyzer onto the motherboard of the AudioCube, because we'd like to visualize the data which is being exchanged between the cube motherboard's processor and the wireless radio which is inside each new AudioCube shipped!

Data transmission inside AudioCubes and over the USB bus is very fast, so often the only way to debug something is by capturing data and then figuring out what went wrong :-) Did you know that AudioCubes sensor data updates at 1KHz?

Cool stuff is coming up

We have some new changes coming up from our AudioCubes lab very soon. So keep an eye on your inbox. Bert is working day and night on the new update of firmware and MIDIBridge, endlessly fretting over sensor data offsetting, scaling, resolution, etc ... this is important groundwork for the synthesizer we're working on, SYNTHOR. Check out some preliminary videos here.

Also make sure to register on our website in case you haven't done so. It gives you instant access to the download area where you can download software, including the upcoming firmware and MIDIBridge updates, and SYNTHOR, when it will be available!

Talk to you next week,
Bert & Celine"

Verbos Electronics Eurorack Modules - Video by moondustweb

My new Verbos Moduls Published on Jan 27, 2015 moondustweb

"My first patch with my Verbos Moduls"

Dave Smith Interview NAMM 2015 Prophet 6

Published on Jan 27, 2015 cuckoomusic .

"I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to talk to the legend Dave Smith during NAMM 2015. We were talking a little bit about his roots, how it all got started for him, and what it was like back then. And also about the latest product, the Prophet 6."

Elements Tour 1 (Long Vid, Crude- ish Quality)

Published on Jan 27, 2015 macbethsynthesizers

"I decided to post one of a short series of 3 or 4 videos giving you a chance to see the how the Elements Synthesizer works....this first vid shows the the panel layout and functionality of the synth. So I stiched together this one, shot over the day. The quality of the audio appears to be ok- but don't look for a high quality vid, image wise....it's been compressed down a fair bit so that I don't have to sit for hours watching it upload to the tube! That being said and done.....you should get a good idea of what is happening, best wishes, Ken M"

KORG ELECTRIBEs - SLOW BASSY CHILLED TECKNO (80bpm) "He Barks I BITE"

Published on Jan 26, 2015 j j

"2nd attempt recording this... stripped away the acid lines ..
coz i think i prefer it this way hope u like..
thanks 4 listening
mp3
http://www.newgrounds.com/audio/downl..."

Jen SX-1000 with Original Case

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

via this auction

Note the green handle on the synth itself.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Why you need two Anti-oscillator :o)

Published on Jan 27, 2015 DavidH

"and probably a double Borg

malekko wiard richter anti-oscillator"

Analogue Solutions - SQ8

Published on Jan 27, 2015 DivKidMusic

"SEE LINK TO SUPPORT MY CHANNEL BELOW

Great 8 step CV and gate sequencer from Analogue Solutions. Push / pull knobs for the gate sequencer, CV range switch, step 1 output (sendings a pulse/trigger on step 1, great as a divide by 8 output against the clock running the unit), clock through and works up into audio rates really well.

http://analoguesolutions.com/

Hit like and subscribe for more content every week.

After many people asking about how to support my channel and even some asking to donate I've set up a Patreon account (thanks for those that suggested it). It allows those of you that want to support to subscribe to support my modular videos at a rate of anything from $1 per video or with the monthly cap you can set just $1 a month. Seems like a strange idea and I wasn't into at first but it was sold to me (by one of the viewers I chat to on twitter) as a way for any "fans" to buy me a coffee / beer if they want to as a thank you for the work that goes into the videos. I'd really appreciate anything anyone wants to offer as if it builds up to even a small amount then it will enable me to keep setting time aside and carry on provide new videos every week. The content will never be a "pay to view" and will always be free on this YouTube channel. So sign up at the link below and donate if you want and if not keep watching and subscribe anyway!

https://www.patreon.com/DivKid"