MATRIXSYNTH

Fender Chroma Polaris Synthesizer

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Some details from the listing following. Interesting bit regarding the DC shift kill circuit. Maybe this will help some experiencing the same problem.

"This is a Chroma Polaris, a highly underrated analog monster. When I got it, it was missing all the slider knobs and a few sliders were broken off. The previous owner thought it looked better without end caps and lost them. The membrane was in bad shape.

Now, it's much better. I replaced all of the slider potentiometers with new ones. They have a shorter shaft to accommodate the plastic slider knobs I got for it. I replaced the membrane with a brand new one. I recapped the power supply with high quality capacitors. I put some batteries in, loaded factory patches and it sounds amazing. All the keys work perfectly, the MIDI works, sequencer and all the functions are 100% working. It's a punchy full sounding monster synthesizer.

The bad part, aside from the missing end caps, is that when it's stored on it's side, sometimes when you go to power up, it doesn't work. It happens because of a built in DC shift kill circuit. If the DC shifts a tiny bit, it won't power up. The field work around is to turn the potentiometer inside counter clockwise then clockwise till the LED inside lights. That puts DC back where it should be, then it works again. I've considered having it looked at because it's got to be something small that adjusts when it's on it's side. When I leave it on my keyboard stand, it's fine and turns on every time. It seems to only happen sometimes when it's stored on it's side for any length of time. It's something that could be looked into, though, it didn't bug me so I didn't bother with it. Also, the metal screws that line the back were removed for ease of opening, I will see if I can find them. The top latches down securely with two giant screws on the bottom so they aren't absolutely necessary.

I took a picture of the power supply board inside to show the potentiometers and LED. I will need to check but I think it's either R17, maybe R5 that you adjust. Before I ship, I will confirm this and adjust it fresh for the journey."

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ARP Avatar Guitar Synthesizer with Accessories

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"I purchased the item around 2010. Initially, I used it as intended, as a guitar synthesizer, and I fitted the hex pickup to a Les Paul since it's designed for a Les Paul, not a Fender like some of the hex pickups.

The tracking circuit to change the string tone to a synth tone is unreliable. The hex pickup works fine for both clean and fuzz, but the pickup to synth tracking is sporadic. Sometimes it works; sometimes it doesn't, but usually it doesn't work properly. It seems like this is a common problem with Avatars.

I have used this occasionally as a normal synth since then and it has worked nicely for me. I have recorded with it for two albums using it as a normal synth.

I had the pin connectors cleaned and resoldered, the power supply recapped, calibrated and all of the controls cleaned. Currently there is sometimes some slight crackling when a few of the sliders are moved. The synth has some of the slider caps missing.

There are a few scratches on the side of the synth. It has been treated with care over the years. The synth powers on normally; main power switch and main output button light normally. Sliders are moveable with no stuck ones. The guitar interconnect cable is completely functional.

This comes with the original owners manual, patchbook, instructional cassette tape, hexaphonic guitar pickup (without the original box), and a guitar to synth cable.

The guitar-to-synth aspects of it are really cool and fun and I'm sure that there's someone out there who could get the tracking circuit repaired. As a synth only, it works great..."

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AKAI AX80

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"The Akai AX-80 is an 8 voice polyphonic analog synth with a 61-note keyboard, midi impementation, 96 memory banks, and 2 Oscillator+1 Sub Oscillator per voice. Programming is accomplished by selecting the parameter and adjusting it with a single large knob. Although there are no dedicated sliders, there is a really cool, Knight Rider style, LED interface with bar graph displays for each parameter."

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Corsynth C106 - The Krell Patch

Published on Oct 10, 2017 Corsynth

"A Krell patch using the C106 Dual Loopable VC AD Envelope.The Krell patch is an auto generative patch, that evolves over time without touching the the modular."

Corsynth C106

BANG by LIVESTOCK ELECTRONICS

BANG by LIVESTOCK ELECTRONICS - overall review (ENGLISH VERSION)

Published on Oct 10, 2017 COLOR MY SOUND

"This is a review of BANG digital wavetable oscillator manufactured by LIVESTOCK ELECTRONICS. The review also appears in October (2017) issue of "Estrada i Studio" - biggest Polish monthly magazine devoted to music production and studio equipment."

via Livestock Electronics

"Bang is a lo-fi digital wavetable oscillator inspired by old game consoles. However it takes a totally new approach to wavetables synthesis: within a cycle it switches between so called chunks that are indexed as odd or even numbers. Waves can be assigned to these odd or even chunks, which allows for complex waveforms. The result is aliased, aggressive and absolute fun!

The module comes with six libraries containing 12 waves each. It is even possible to create own wave libraries using the supporting application for Mac and Windows."

Patch Exploration

Published on Oct 10, 2017 soundunitz

"Due to a power issue I had to slim my system down a bit. Took a few days of trading out certain modules for other ones, looking for the right combination. This was what I ended up using along with my friends HEK.

PATCH NOTES:
I tried to center things around the Pressure Points. Multed out to Clouds or Telharmonic, I could have those modules play in "Stages" with each change on the Pressure Points. The 2Hp Freez is there for that little extra something it does so well. There are two Korg SQ-1s going that are mostly off camera."

MASSE UND MACHT: ELECTRIBE 2 / VOLCA SAMPLE / MICROGRANNY

Published on Oct 10, 2017 mishpult

"A Korg Electribe 2 composition performed in one take. Other equipment used: Korg Volca Sample (vocal sample and under-beat), Bastl Instruments Microgranny 2.5 (drone), TCE Hall of Fame (reverb) and Korg KP2Mini (delay) Enjoy and thanks for watching!"