"If you are reading this you might already know how gorgeous the Curtis filters in the Micro-Wave 1 sound... Both the Waldorf Micro-Wave 1 (OS 2.0) and the Access Microwave Programmer have been in storage for 15 years. They were in mint condition when I bought them about 18 years ago and were only lightly used. They are in excellent cosmetic condition with very minor dings and scratches (see photos). The manuals are included. Note: I don't actually know if the Micro-Wave 1 is Rev A (Curtis CEM 3389) or Rev B (Curtis CEM 3387). It has the black on green display, dark blue faceplate (looks grey in photos) and black case of Rev A but the rotary encoder (24 ticks per revolution) of Rev B. If it makes a difference to you let me know and I'll open up the case and find out."
"Love this synth. It is weird, rare and hard to explain to people who aren't versed in different types of synthesis... still has the original Guitar center inventory price tag on the bottom"
"A friend of mine bought this when it was new, I'm the second owner. The story he got from the sales guy was that this particular one was a prototype model that the sales guy picked up from Waldorf at the end of the NAMM show it debuted at. I doubt the story since there is a serial number and not a prototype plate or anything, but I do know it's super rare and I've personally never seen another one in anyone elses studio or for sale. This unit has been in my possession since 2001/2002 and has been racked in my smoke free studio. Prior to that it was in a rack in my friends smoke free studio and mostly unused.
It's a super versatile stereo filter and every parameter can be controlled and tweaked via midi. Super interesting on drum loops and patterns, synths and also on guitars. The manual has suggestions for guitar usage, so I gave it a shot and was impressed."
"Are you really into synths and have a need to be different?
Have loads of euro rack modules and nothing exciting to keep them in?
Have an empty corner that needs some art?
Want to impress your friends?
Then all this is what you're looking for!!
After much deliberation, its been decided that this Phoenix (cabinet) has to rise elsewhere and find a new home.
It was bought from the wonderful Mr Bob Williams many moons ago after it came back from the short lived synth museum in which it housed the Phoenix modular system, more can be read about it here[link removed by eBay] and I believe its the only case ever made.
The SOS article mentions it was made in African hardwood, its NOT, its made from wood veneered MDF with solid wood edges and facings, I think the wood is Ash?
For well over a decade, its resided in the corner of a Sheffield studio and filled with a combination of various euro rack modules twanging,blooping and gurgling away in synthetic harmony.
ALAN R. PEARLMAN FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES “FIFTY YEARS OF ARP: THE 2500 in 2020” SYNTHPOSIUM EVENT
Celebrating five decades of the 2500 synthesizer with interviews, panels and more
STONE RIDGE, NY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2020– The Alan R. Pearlman Foundation has announced “Fifty Years of ARP: The 2500 in 2020”, a virtual event to be held on September 26th at 12PM EST on Zoom via Eventbrite. The event will be free for all participants with a suggested donation. Registration and other information can be found here.
The event will focus on the ARP 2500, the groundbreaking synthesizer made famous in Close Encounters of the Third Kind. It will feature panel discussions and interviews with original ARP engineers, software developers, artists, composers, producers, educators, and others. Participants will be able to interact live with panelists via Zoom.
"We are beyond thrilled for this deep dive into the iconic ARP 2500,” said Dina Pearlman, ARP Foundation founder and daughter of Alan R. Pearlman. "We’ve assembled an amazing collection of engineers who made the original 2500s, artists who have used them, and ARP historians and organizations that work to preserve them."
The Foundation continues its work with contributors, collaborators, vendors, manufacturers, venues, and owners of rare original ARP synthesizers. Among their goals is the creation of installations where students can utilize ARP synthesizers as part of their music curriculum, and to explore the endless possibilities of electronic music.
"One of the many great characteristics of building a Peak or Summit wavetable from unpitched samples is that even seemingly noisy sounds become pitched when reduced to a single cycle, while retaining the sonic character and complexity of their starting point - this opens the door to a whole world of new timbres. Ehsan uses Summit, the Novation Components Wavetable Editor and a crash cymbal sound sample to demonstrate.
"In this video resident expert Nick Bigelow demonstrates the new vocoder feature on the Arturia Microfreak with the Octatrack MKII and the Meris Polymoon.
Arturia Microfreak: This out-there little music machine features a versatile digital oscillator so you can create rare and interesting sounds with ease. Modes like Wavetable, KarplusStrong, Harmonic OSC, and Superwave give adventurous musicians the chance to explore totally new, unheard possibilities. Like having dozens of synths in just one instrument, both wild-eyed newcomers and seasoned professionals will fall in love with MicroFreak’s flexible, powerful synth engine.
Elektron Octatrack MKII: More than a sampler .Discovering the perfect sample is the start of the process. Then twist it, mess around with it and rebuild it into something uniquely yours. The Octatrack MKII sets new standards for sampling as an art form.
The Octatrack MKII brings enormous sample processing ability into a machine designed for live performance. It redefines how you transform your sounds, as well as how you interact and play with them. It lets you do things that were previously impossible with a single instrument.
Record samples in real time. Add live time-stretching and pitch-shifting. Use the sequencer to control both internal sounds and external MIDI gear. The Octatrack MKII can also be treated as a small mixing desk for your whole setup. The immediate control makes all the difference.
The crossfader adds immense depth to your sound. First, choose how you want it to affect your samples. Then nudge the crossfader gently for the most subtle and natural-sounding changes – or knock it back and forth like you’re scratching for rapid and extreme enhancements.
Meris Polymoon: Super-Modulated Delay inspired by cascaded rack gear.
1200mS real time selectable multiple-tap delay line
Massive multi LFO modulation controls
6 custom tuned LFOs with adjustable waveforms for subtle to aggressive pitch shifting effects
Adjustable Tilt EQ filter in delay feedback
Tempo syncable stereo Barberpole Phaser
Multimode stereo Dynamic Flanger w/ feedback
Unique feedback topology
Dimension control for smearing reflections
Selectable quarter or dotted eighth note Tap Tempo
Digitally controlled Analog mix control
Stereo input and output
Switchable input output headroom level for Guitar, Synthesizer or Line levels
Expression pedal control over all parameters simultaneously
Presets available via external 4-Preset switch or MIDI
MIDI in/out over TRS via the EXP jack
External Tap Tempo over TRS
MIDI beat clock synchronization
Premium analog signal path and 24-bit AD/DA w/32 bit floating point DSP
Premium Analog Devices JFET input section
Color – white powder coat with fine iridescent flake
Designed and built in Los Angeles, California U.S.A.
"If you are reading this you might already know how gorgeous the Curtis filters in the Micro-Wave 1 sound... Both the Waldorf Micro-Wave 1 (OS 2.0) and the Access Microwave Programmer have been in storage for 15 years. They were in mint condition when I bought them about 18 years ago and were only lightly used. They are in excellent cosmetic condition with very minor dings and scratches (see photos). The manuals are included. Note: I don't actually know if the Micro-Wave 1 is Rev A (Curtis CEM 3389) or Rev B (Curtis CEM 3387). It has the black on green display, dark blue faceplate (looks grey in photos) and black case of Rev A but the rotary encoder (24 ticks per revolution) of Rev B. If it makes a difference to you let me know and I'll open up the case and find out."
