Vintage Jen SX1000 synthesizer clean up and demo

video by Ian Dixon

"After cleaning up old computers I thought I would get my old synthesizer out of the loft and give it a bit of love. The Jen SX1000 is an Italian monosyth manufactured around 1978 which I paid £40 sometime in the late 80s just before analogue became in vouge again. It has a single oscillator, no memories and no midi but is sounds great and the simple layout makes it easy to understand and a great way of leaning subtractive synthesis.
I had not used the synth for some time and while it worked, the controls (potentiometer) crackled when turning them and some controls like the LFO speed didn’t work at all. So armed with a can of Servisol Super 10 contact cleaner I cleaned the potentiometers which after a bit of persistence cleaned nicely.

The controls are nice and clean and there is no noise or crackles when turning them, the LFO works correctly and everything on the synth is working well. I still have a broken top C key which is missing a spring which I am still trying to track down but after a good clean the machine looks and sounds great.
In this video go through the restoration process and then give a quick demo of the sound of the Jen SX1000."

5 Ways to Use Beads From Mutable Instruments

video by Reverb

"Mutable Instruments' Beads is a granular texture synthesizer and a successor to the company's ever-popular Clouds Eurorack module. What's that mean in practice? Beads is an audio playground, letting you sample and transform audio in real time in endlessly creative ways. Fess Grandiose is here to show just five of the approaches he likes to take with the instrument: using Beads as a delay, reverb, and pitch-shifting effect; using it to repeat or splice beats; and using it as an oscillator.

Timecodes

0:00​ - Features Overview
4:52​ - Using Beads as a delay effect
7:09​ - Using Beads as a reverb effect
8:08​ - Using Beads as a shimmer reverb
9:24​ - Using Beads as a pitch shifter effect
10:55​ - Using Beads as a beat repeater
12:39​ - Using Beads as a beat splicer
14:00​ - Using Beads as an oscillator"

Nlog Synth Pro - Now Updated to AUv3 - Let’s Explore The Synth - Live iPad Demo

video by The Sound Test Room

Galassi - Workin' On A Groovy Thang

video by Sebastian Galassi

Equipment:

Korg Ms20 - Bass
Fender Rhodes MK II - Electric Piano
ARP Solina - Strings
Yamaha CS15d - Theme Synth
Hohner Clavinet Pianet Duo - Clavinet
Akai S900/1000 - Drums

Effects:

Roland GP8 - Wah Wah (Clavinet)
EH Small Stone - Phaser (Solina)
Boss TR 2 - Tremolo (Rhodes)
Boss CH-1 Super Chorus (Yamaha CS15d)
Lexicon LXP 15 II - Reverb
Digitech Studio 400 - Delay

nLab Synthesis KOSMO for Reaktor

video by nLab Synthesis

"Kosmo is a 3-track based experimental groovebox and sound generator for Reaktor 6.4. Taking inspiration from the so-called 'West Coast' synthesis and old soviet synthesizers aesthectic, Kosmo employs and simplifies some of their most important features to build a 3-track experimental groove-box and sound generator combining a distinctive and raw sound with a user-friendly interface offering many creative capabilities. To research and explore your sound, you can move through folded triangle oscillators, low pass gates, cycling envelopes, random sequencer, chaotic LFOs, XY pad and a set of effects. In few steps, you can make a chaotic and distorted percussion pattern as well as an evolving and dreamy soundscape.

*Only for the full version of Reaktor 6.4 and later.

more info: https://gumroad.com/nlabsynthesis#scfTD"

Roland Jupiter-8 Sound Demo

video by Synthesizer Revolution

"Sound demonstration of a Roland Jupiter-8, the famous vintage analog synthesizer from the 1980s."

Hydrasynth 1.5.3 update April 2021

video by Ken Flux Pierce Fluxwithit

"New Hydrasynth update notes
Function:
Add more velocity options in system page 3
Fix the unbalanced velocity response of white and black keys.
Don't respond to MIDI start anymore if the clock sync is internal
Add more time resolution to delay and delay modulation
change the vel off position in mod src
Distort FX preset Drive1 change default Asym value to 0
Hand hold note will be hold if you play many other note quickly with sustain pedal
Make the mutant shift+ratio smoother

Bug fix
Trigger Single/OFF LFO possible to have a delay at the note start if you play very quickly
Block light show if you are calibrating the ribbon
LFO mod ENV attack may not be on time
unit sends pitch&mod wheel message during boot
After save, the browser button was highlighted
Notes messages not in MIDI RX affected the ARP
In category sort, and receive a program change which is not in this category, caused some problem
ARP's first note has a delay with external clock
Playing keyboard with MIDI RX may cause hang note.
LFO step 54 lost in patch save
Big ID macro mod little ID macro didn't work
ModWheel
hold a key and turn on ARP then turn off ARP will cause some note problem
mono aftertouch will be hold to 7X in MIDI Loop
Play a mono sound, play E, D, C, and released C, it went back to E. should go back to D
Some HP parameter changed the OSC pitch
Mod wheel tempo didn't follow the BPM change when BPM sync on"

Sequential Joins The Focusrite Group — A Message From Dave Smith

video by Sequential

"It’s with great excitement that I announce that Sequential is joining the Focusrite Group of music and audio brands.

We're now part of a family made up of some of the best and brightest companies in the music instruments and pro audio industries: Focusrite, Focusrite Pro, Martin Audio, Optimal Audio, ADAM Audio, Novation and Ampify Music. We’re in good company!

But don't worry — we’re not going anywhere. It’s business as usual for us and we'll be a separate entity from the other brands in the group. I’ll continue to lead our engineering and product development and work with the Sequential design team into the future. If anything, I'll have more time to make amazing synths!

- Dave Smith"

And the official press release:

Focusrite PLC Acquires Sequential® in Landmark Industry Development

Legendary Synth Brand Founded by Dave Smith Joins Focusrite Group

San Francisco, CA and High Wycombe, UK — April 27th 2021 — In a joint statement, Focusrite Group and Sequential LLC today announced that Focusrite plc, a leading global creator of music and audio hardware and software products, has acquired Sequential LLC, the respected American synthesizer manufacturer led by legendary electronic instrument designer and Grammy® winner Dave Smith.

Both companies stand to benefit from the synergy created by the acquisition. The Focusrite Group will add the venerable Sequential line of instruments to its already-impressive portfolio of products, which includes the acclaimed Focusrite, Focusrite Pro, Martin Audio, Optimal Audio, ADAM Audio, Novation, and Ampify brands. Sequential will benefit from greater resources to expand its global markets and future R&D efforts.

Sequential’s Dave Smith said, “With Focusrite, we’ve found an ideal home and a perfect cultural and technological fit. Phil Dudderidge and his team have a long history of quality, vision, and focus on what musicians and audio professionals really want. We’re excited to join such an industry powerhouse and contribute to our mutual success. I expect great things.”

Sequential has been a leading force in the resurgent popularity of analog synthesizers over the last decade. Its instruments, which include the Prophet® 5 Rev4 polyphonic synth, Pro 3® hybrid monosynth, and Prophet X Samples + Synthesis keyboard, are known for their versatility, ease of use, and excellence of sound. They are a mainstay of performing and recording artists and can be seen and heard on countless stages and recordings.

Focusrite Founder Phil Dudderidge commented: “We’re excited and pleased to add Sequential’s instruments and pedigree to Focusrite Group’s portfolio of world-class audio and music production tools. Dave Smith’s history as an innovator speaks for itself. From his creation of the world’s first fully programmable polysynth, the Prophet 5, to his co-invention of MIDI, Dave has literally changed the world of music several times. We’re looking forward to continuing his history of innovation and expanding the global market for Sequential’s instruments.”

Under the terms of the agreement, Sequential has become a wholly owned subsidiary of Focusrite plc. Sequential’s day-to-day operations and product development remain unchanged and will continue to be guided by Dave Smith and his team.

Tim Carroll, CEO of Focusrite Group, remarked, “Sequential is a premium analogue synth brand with a big stake in music creation. The products are exceptional and the company is run extremely well, and the passion of the people at Sequential aligns perfectly with our Focusrite Group ethos. It’s tremendously exciting to be able to bring Sequential into the Focusrite family, further the incredible journey that Dave Smith started, and keep growing together.”

via Sequential

And via Novation:

Legendary synth brand Sequential joins the family

Sequential and Novation will grow together under the same parent company.

We’re over the moon to announce that our parent company, Focusrite plc, has acquired Sequential, the synth brand founded and led by legendary synth designer and Grammy winner, Dave Smith.

If you’re new to the name Sequential, you’ll definitely have heard the synths: Dave Smith is the pioneer that designed the world’s first fully programmable polysynth, the classic Prophet® 5, and he co-invented MIDI, which transformed electronic production and changed musical history. Today, countless artists still count on Sequential instruments to bring life and an undeniably rich and organic feeling to their musical creations, spanning every genre.

Before your mind goes wild conceiving the ultimate Novation x Sequential product mashup, it’s safe to say that Sequential and Novation will continue to operate independently, as separate entities under the Focusrite Group umbrella. Dave Smith will remain at the helm of Sequential, leading engineering, product development and mentorship of Sequential’s new breed of designers.

So, it’s business as usual, and we’re extremely excited to grow together, inspire each other, and together fuel the future of forward-thinking music!

Rare Vintage Stramp Guitar Synthesizer Synchanger 4000

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

via this auction

"Vintage early 1970’s Stramp Guitar Analog Synthesizer Effects Pedal. Professional Series Synchanger 4000. The Synth is in excellent condition and is extremely experimental. It’s analog Oscillator, filter, and mixer are amazing. The mixing capabilities on board, are incredible. Nothing else to say, Stramp!!!"

See the Stramp label below for a small handful of addtional posts.

CLICK FOR MORE »

I'll Be There (Jackson 5) - Arp Explorer I Analog Synthesizer From 1974

video by MrCaliforniaD

"I made this video back in 2013. I then tried to upload it on YouTube, but it got rejected because of copyrights infringements.

Now that they can monetize it all they want, maybe I can share it with the world.

This song was originally recorded in 1970. This is what it could have sounded like if all the tracks were recorded on a Arp Explorer I Monophonic Analog Synthesizer from 1974.

Polyphony was achieved by adding monophonic tracks on top of each other but it was kept pretty minimalistic."