Synth Stories 005 - Portishead's Adrian Utley - SOS & Minimoog

"Portishead's Adrian Utley explains and demonstrates why he loves the special sound of the Minimoog analog synthesizer and how he used it in the creation of the recent Portishead cover of ABBA's SOS."

You can find the write-up for this episode with some pics on Ask.Audio here.

The following is a playlist for all episodes of Synth Stories to date:



For those on the go, you can grab a podcast on iTunes here.

Double Harmonic Major Scale

Published on Sep 20, 2016 Ebotronix

4ms Peg, QCD/Expander² , QPLFO, VCA Matrix
Analogue Systems RS 100², RS 110²², RS 360²
Arp Odyssey 2821 white noise
Bananalogue Serge VCS
Doepfer R 2m², A101-2, A131², A133², A134²² , A143,2
A151²², A152, A156², A160, A175²²², A185-2(12x), A138m,a²²b²²c²²²
Flame 4 Vox, Arpeggiator, Q Slider², Tame Machine
foh choices
Make Noise Brains ,Pressure Points², Maths², Moddemix², Optomix, QMMG, René, Wogglebug²
Malekko Anti ²², Unkle²², Jag
Moog Taurus 2, Freqbox²², MP 201
SSL Modulation Orgy
Tip Top Audio Z 8000
Toppobrillo Quantimator² (Double Harmonic Major ) Sportmodulator, TWF
Logic masterclock to Kenton Pro 2000
FX : Boss VF-1, Lexicon MX 400
mackie the mixer²
drum Ultrabeat
vid #1598

Makenoise Rene Eurorack Sequencer

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via this auction

"A modern classic. Spotless condition, run off aTipTop powerbus it's whole life."

Expert Sleepers Eurorack: ES3/ES6 & USB streamer

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via this auction

"Only a few months old & spotless. Connect your computer via USB to your Euro. This is the full kit for output/input including the MinDSP USB interface. Two nice chunky lightpipe cables as well (the ones that ship with the interface are pretty bad).

Edit: Because it's just audio io: MacOS (10.9/10.10) no extra drivers are needed (uses CoreAudio). Windows: ASIO driver provided on disc...

I'd advise reading this quick tutorial.

The MiniDSP/ES combo can also play out/capture audio to/from your modular (just choose what you want a lightpipe channel to do...) - It's a pretty flexible setup."

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Original Waldorf Pulse Rack Synthesizer

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via this auction

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Mutable Instruments Elements Modal Synthesizer Eurorack Module w/ Grayscale Panel

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Intersting seeing it with the alternate panel. Almost looks E-MU-esque.

via this auction

"For Sale: (1) Mutable Instruments Elements modal synthesizer module in eurorack modular format. This is a DIY build by a professional builder, and has a grayscale panel. Other than slight rack rash, this is in great condition. Ships with M3 screws and power ribbon cable."

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Metasonix R-55 Thyratron VCO Vacuum Tube Oscillator Eurorack Module

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via this auction

bigcitymusic special edition on the bottom.

"For Sale: (1) Metasonix R-55 Thyratron VCO synthesizer module in eurorack modular format. This was a limited edition module that was only sold at Big City Music and is not longer available. Includes M3 screws and power supply ribbon cable. From Metasonix:

The R-55 is essentially one of the VCOs in the legendary S-1000 Wretch Machine in a 22U Eurorack module. It produces the notorious "sharkfin" sawtooth waveform of thyratron VCOs, replete with the weird pitch variations and apparent ﾓnoisinessﾔ of a thyratron oscillator.
Turn up the overdrive control, and the oscillator output clips the output amplifier pentode tube, for a unique soft-clipped square-wave sound. The simplicity of the R-55 will fool you--its behavior is erratic and weird, it always sounds broken, and the waveform is deviated in every way. You don't even need to feed it Hz/v CV; just run a square-wave or pulse signal from a conventional VCO into a pitch CV input, and it will force the R-55 to track along with the other VCO.

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Burning Fire Featuring the Dr. Blankenstein Atari Punk Console

APC with rhythm & some effects from what I can hear. You should be able to clearly identify the APC throughout the piece. If you aren't familiar with the APC, see the Atari Punk Console below for previous posts.

Dr. Blankenstein ATARI PUNK CONSOLE DELUXE V2.0 - Only 3 Left!

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I didn't realize these were all about gone.
SN 114 pictured.

via this auction

"ATARI PUNK CONSOLE DELUXE V2.0
with 2 Movement / Light Sensors, 6 Body Contacts,
Special Diode Circuit, Stutter Switch & CV INPUT !

LAST BATCH EVER!
(3 left till they are all gone!)

"DESCRIPTION: All great things must come to an end. This is 1 of the last 3 Dr. Blankenstein APC's that will ever be made... period. Last batch, it's time to move on to other wonderful projects. After 3 Years, 300 pieces (one of which went to the great Forrest Mims himself)... what else can really be done? :)
If you don't know, you are looking at a Dr. Blankenstein's Limited Edition Atari Punk Console Deluxe v2.0. Pretty much a super Atari stylized APC with a TON of tricked out features. There are two photo Theremin style motion / light sensors to control the sound, as well as a control switches to use a classic APC knob setup. Each light sensor can be turned on and off independently.

To add even more weird control to this sucker I have added SIX BODY contacts that allow for some pretty cool sound manipulation (see video below). Two of the body contacts are running through a specially designed Diode circuit that you will ONLY find on Dr. Blankenstein's APC Deluxe V2.0.

There is also a 1/8" Control Voltage (C.V.) Input so that it can be sequenced with an analog sequencer / modular synth setup or even modulate the sound by connecting a piezo trigger to it... fun stuff! :)

Another exciting addition to version v2 is the On / Off Momentary switch on the top of the piece, this allows the player to rhythmically stutter in the sound in! Of course there is still the standard On / Off power switch by the Atari logo as well. The side knob controls the master volume, and their is a 1/4" output jack on the back of the unit.

All in all... this is one of the nicest built, most feature stocked, MOST PLAYABLE VERSION OF THE ATARI PUNK CONSOLE out there today. But don't take my word for it... take a look at the demo video below. Point is, this is NOT your grandmothers APC! :)

FEATURES:

- 1 OF THE LAST 3 EVER MADE!
- 2 Motion / Light Sensitive Theremin like top mounted sensors
- 2 Light sensor On / Off Switches
- 2 Square Wave Synth Control Knobs
- Momentary Stutter ON/OFF switch
- Standard ON/OFF switch
- Cool Color Changing / Randomly changing how it flashes mounted power LED
- 1/8" Control Voltage Sequencer / Piezo Input
- 6 Body Contact points for pitch change and other glitch effects
- 1/4" Mono Output Jack
- Volume Control knob
- 9V Battery Powered
- Quality / Professional build
- Classic ATARI 2600 Graphics
- Limited Edition Numbered Piece!"

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The Planck MIDI Controller

Published on Sep 20, 2016 Captain Credible

"Sometimes a workshop is held and an instrument is made.
This is what it is! USB, MIDI, CV, you name it and this little box might have it! (it might not, it doesn't have gps, fuck maybe it should have gps.)"