New Arcano Systems Gem-8 Retro 8-bit Computer and Chiptune Synthesizer on Kickstarter

Published on Mar 15, 2016 Arcano Systems

"Gem-8 is an 8-bit, WiFi-enabled personal computer and chiptune music synthesizer inspired by the home computers of the 1980s. Back the Kickstarter campaign to receive Gem-8 as a reward.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/..."

Arcano Systems previously brought us the MIDI NES Chiptune Synth as well as the Obscura MIDI 8-bit Chiptune Synth.

Details via Kickstarter:

"Gem-8 is an 8-bit, WiFi-enabled personal computer and chiptune music synthesizer inspired by the home computers of the 1980s like the Commodore 64, the Apple IIe, and the ZX Spectrum. This 8-bit AVR-based personal computer features 256-color VGA video output, PS/2 keyboard input, audio line output with 8-bit quantization, 8 digital input/output pins, and a serial expansion port to connect peripheral devices.

Specifications:

Processor: Atmel Atmega1284

RAM: 16 kB

Video: 256-color VGA

Keyboard: PS/2 (compatible with IBM PC AT scancode set 2)

Audio: 8-bit-quantized line out (standard stereo connector with same signal in both channels)

Peripheral Interfaces: serial expansion port + 8-pin female GPIO pin header

Two peripherals have already been created for Gem-8: a WiFi card and a MIDI interface. The WiFi card allows Gem-8 to connect to the internet using the preloaded serial terminal application. Gem-8 is particularly well suited to accessing online multi-user domains, text-based multiplayer online games, and bulletin board services that use the Telnet protocol. The MIDI interface peripheral connects a MIDI keyboard or other MIDI musical instrument to the Gem-8 computer, allowing users to create their own C64 and NES-video-game-style chiptune music using the preloaded chiptune synthesizer application. The Gem-8 chiptune synthesizer application also features video synth visualization capabilities. Currently, the Gem-8 synthesizer software features 8 waveforms and 4 effects settings for a total of 32 unique patches.

[Middle Pic: Gem-8 MIDI interface and Gem-8 WiFi card (based on the ESP8266-12 WiFi module)]

Using additional applications included in Gem-8 OS, users can set the digital states of 8 output pins, which can interface with external components like LEDs and relay modules. Gem-8 users are also able to set the duty cycles of up to 8 pulse-width-modulation signals, which can be used to control servos or to vary the intensity of external LEDs.

CLICK FOR MORE »

New High Density Modules From Grove Audio

via Grove Audio

"Several new modules combining dual and quad functions in one module will allow 2 complete full function 5U voices in only 8MU of panel space.

The update GMS-742a MIDI to CV Converter offers up to four channels of 16 bit CV outputs and 4 gate outputs. The module can produce up to 4 polyphonic control outputs.

The GMS-302 Dual VCO combines two VCOs with a 4 simultaneous waveform outputs and a selectable WAVE output that is chosen from one of five possible waveforms. The VCO has internal adjustments that allow the octaves to be calibrated accurately. The WAVE output also feeds an internal VCA, the control input of which is available on the panel. This allows amplitude control with an external CV without additional modules.

The GMS-709A Dual DADSR generates ADSR envelopes with an optional starting delay. The range of timing for the attach, decay and release is one millisecond to 10 seconds. The amplitude range of the ADSR waveform is 0 to 5V either plus or minus polarity, linear or exponential, and single shot, looping or gated operation.

The GMS-204 Dual Multimode Filter allows the user to select from one of 16 possible filter configurations with 1 to four poles and including low pass, bandpass, high pass, and all pass (phasor). Each filter has a voltage controlled resonance control and two exponential voltage controlled frequency inputs, 1V/Oct and adjustable.

The GMS-714 Ouad VCA has four high quality voltage controlled amplifiers that can be set for either logarithmic or linear control response. Each control input has an attenuverter that allows positive or negative control voltages. In addition, pairs of amplifier channels can be combined for a panning function. There is an internal 4 channel mono or two channel stereo mixer."

1976 OCTAVE PLATEAU THE CAT 1853 SN A1334

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

via this auction

"This particular example, serial number A1334, is in very excellent 100% all original condition. This Octave synth was recently serviced (new caps, new op amps, new power cord, calibrated, tuned, all faders/pots/sliders/contacts cleaned) and is in perfect working condition, as well as correspondingly excellent shape! 100% intact and working perfectly..."

CLICK FOR MORE »

PAIA, DRUM SYNTH-5400 OR 5700P

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

via this auction

CLICK FOR MORE »

Acidlab Miami Analog Drum Machine

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

via this auction

CLICK FOR MORE »

Circuit Benders Modded ROLAND TR77 Analogue Drum Machine with MIDI

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

via this auction

"For over 15 years we have been creating and supplying aural havoc with rewired childrens toys, modified drum machines, abused samplers and audio insanity machines, but as space has become a prized commodity here at the circuitbenders bunker, we've decided its time to shift some of the massive and ancient behemoth drum machines that have gathered over the years

First to go is this Roland Rhythm 77 or TR77 as it was also known. The TR77 was the first machine to ever be released under the Roland name way back in 1972, and it bears a remarkable similarity to the Bentley Rhythm Ace FR8L, mainly because they are more or less the same machine!

The TR77 is one of those massive 'sit on top of your organ' (no sniggering at the back please) type of drum machines that were popular in the 70's. Theres absolutely nothing digital in this thing, and that includes the remarkable pattern generator circuitry for the 28 onboard drum patterns that can be selected via the front panel buttons. Several buttons can be selected at any time to combine patterns for more complex rhythms.

There are 13 fully analogue sounds onboard, most of which are generated using old inductor-capacitor 'tank' circuits. You cannot get much more analogue than this without hitting something with a stick!
The sounds include Bass drum, Snare, Low Conga, Low Bongo, High Bongo, Rimshot, Cabasa, Clave, Tamborine, Cymbal, HiHat, Maraca and Guiro.

Our upgrades include:

Midi triggering for each of the 13 sounds. The midi channel can be selected using the 16 position rotary knob on the rear panel. The midi doesn't sync the patterns, but if you wanted to do that then you might as well rewrite them via midi triggering and then you can alter them as you want.
Internal pattern generator on/off switch: This is the new switch on the rear panel. It disables the pattern generator board when you are using external midi triggering so that clicks and pops caused by the internal pattern triggers are silenced.
Recapping: All of the electrolytic capacitors in the machine have been replaced and upgraded. The originals were not only underspecified, but were also about 20 years past their reasonable working life!
Power supply rebuild: The original internal power supply circuit on these units is appalingly bad, and causes a ridiculous noise floor of AC hum and interference making a normal TR77 almost unusable in any modern context. We've pulled out all the junk that was in there and replaced it with a more or less silent modern power supply. More details on this mod can be found HERE.
IEC mains socket: The new power supply runs on any common mains voltage, so we've added a standard power cable socket that can be used anywhere in the world.
A red LED: We drilled a hole in the wrong place. Now its got a power LED in it. ;-)
The standard TR77 features such as the variable fade out button, the various individual level faders and the fantastically pontless 'up tempo' switch are still in place and fully functional.

You can here a quick demo of a TR77 being triggered via midi on our soundcloud page [above]"

CLICK FOR MORE »

Pocket Operators + TB-303

Published on Mar 15, 2016 Kevin Polzer

"Complementing eachother on all levels."

MOOG PRODIGY Analog Synthesizer 1979 | HD DEMO

Published on Mar 15, 2016 AnalogAudio1

"(c) 2016 by AnalogAudio1

Demo of the Moog Prodigy analog synthesizer from 1979. I played the Moog Prodigy with reverb effects from a Lexicon MPX-500 and delay effects from a Korg SDD-3000."

My Make Mutable Live Performance System

Published on Mar 15, 2016 Genshi Media Group

"This is a simple example of me manually playing my small Eurorack setup. I wanted to explore how I can play this as a self-contained instrument with no sequencers or external effects. I only wish I had two (or more) Make Noise Pressure Points in order to have more than 4 notes to play... and speaking of Pressure Points, the top row of knobs/tunings is being sent to the Mutable Instruments Rings module, and the middle row of knobs/tunings is being sent to the Mutable Instruments Elements. So when I play a touchpad on the Pressure Points, it is sending two different tunings to the two Modules. If I had a third voice, I can send the bottom row a different tuning as well.

Modules from left to right:

• Make Noise Pressure Points
• Make Noise Richter Wogglebug
• Intellijel Buff Mult
• Mutable Instruments Elements
• Mutable Instruments Rings
• Mutable Instruments Clouds
• Synthrotek MST Stereo Out"

Elektron and Eurorack Jam - Synergy

Published on Mar 15, 2016 SB-SIX

"Patch details:
Octatrack is sending clock
Analog Rytm providing percussion
Analog four sends 2 sequences to Eurorack
- One is the bassline, consisting of an osc3 and e440 filter
- The other sequence is multed to rings and e350
- The e350 output goes to tides clock input which is in pll mode
- e350 and tides go into sob into erbeverb
- rings goes into clouds"