"Tonight I sat in my studio, making patches on my Yamaha AN1x (and getting a bit bored of the tedium of trying to make patches). I decided to switch on the Matriarch and just mess around with it. If there's one thing I love about the Matriarch, it's the strange types of arps and sequences you can come up with the independent oscillators that can independently be switched to different octaves. It's just so easy to come up with interesting sequences with it. The ratchet feature is also one that cannot be ignored - really, more sequencers need a 'ratchet' feature. The only other sequencer with this feature that I own is the Toraiz Squid.
Anyway, this is long over-due. I had originally planned to record 10 videos of the Matriarch by itself, but stopped for some reason after the 9th (on October 6th, 2020). Why I stopped then, I don't really know. Ah, yes, I remember. The Prophet 5/10 reissue came out around then and I started wondering what I should part with to make room (hint: I parted with nothing).
Anyway, Eventide Blackhole VST was used for reverb."
"A new test of our upcoming Spectrum Synthesizer. This is Test #5.
Now 6 octaves and 1 manual at the moment, we are still waiting for more parts to arrive. This will eventually be 2 manuals of 6 octaves each and each manual will have a set of expression pads as you see above the keys."
MYSTIC FREQUENCIES - JAPANESE SUNSET - TEST 04 of the SPECTRUM SYNTH
video upload by Mystic Frequencies
"A new test of our upcoming Spectrum Synthesizer.
Only 4 octaves and 1 manual at the moment, we are still waiting for more parts to arrive. This will eventually be 2 manuals or 6 octaves each and each manual will have a set of expression pads as you see above the keys.
Audio in this cup from Roli Studio Player running on a 2013 Mac Pro."
"Just having a little improv with the Yamaha CP25 and the Audio Damage ENSO looper. It's a bit loose and sloppy, but I was holding the camera with my left hand and trying to demonstrate the different sounds available.
The CP25 was originally sold back in 1981, and is fully electronic, not electro-mechanical, like a Rhodes or a Wurlitzer. Still, you can get pretty close to a Rhodes or a Wurli, and you can also get some cool clavinet, harpsichord, organ and vibe sounds.
Drums are a simple loop from the AudioThing SR-88, an inexpensive drum machine plug-in. Recorded straight into my phone camera.
"A Conversation between Tony Banks of Genesis with Dina Pearlman (d'ARP) of The Alan R. Pearlman Foundation discussing the use of ARP Synthesizers in Tony's work with Genesis.
Join us for a watch party at 4:30 EST, where Tony Banks discusses synthesizers, key changes, and his fondness for playing in 7/4 time... not to be missed!"
