"This instrument began its life as an early model Octave Plateau Cat synth, model 1853. At some point it was heavily modified. The keyboard was removed. A “Gate Delay” circuit was added (it does not work at this time). A “Ring Modulator” was added — this seems to work with internal sound sources and has external connections as well. It actually sounds nice, IMO. Other connections were added to the rear panel, and existing connections were modified.
Does it work? It can usually make sounds and I have used it over the years, but it is quirky and in dire need of serious attention by a qualified tech. When it does work it has a great analog tone, and the Sub range on the oscillators adds some real depth. The filter has a nice tone to it. The slide switch that selects octaves needs to be replaced.
The original bottom panel is gone, replaced by pieces of Masonite held in place by gaffer’s tape. An LED has been added to the LFO (pretty helpful).
A unique and vintage instrument with an interesting history. Could be semi-restored or further customized."
"A promotion CD single for Alesis at the Frankfurt music fair, March 2003. Limited Edition of 300 copies. Most of them were given away for free to visitors of the Alesis booth at the fair, while KS was signing the CD."
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This one was spotted and sent in via Soviet Space Child.
"Being a demonstration of the Endorphines Ground Control Sequencer (and power source!), with some modular pals. Can it sequence a whole system? Let's try it out."
00:00 Intro Jam 00:54 What is it? 01:58 Sequence lengths 02:45 The keyboard, sequencing styles 03:47 Muting, Deeper controls 05:20 What's it good for? 06:27 Discussing the case 08:14 Changing lengths, Recording live 12:22 101 style recording 14:04 Editing sequences 16:00 Sequencing Drums 17:47 Octave Shifting, Direction Changes 18:36 Probability, Ratchets 19:42 Arpeggiator as 'roller' 21:51 Thoughts b4 the final jam 22:52 Let's Dance!
We are very excited to finally introduce our first dedicated eurorack oscillator module called Pizza!
Pizza is a compact 8HP digital oscillator with powerful wave shaping applied to FM synthesis. Pizza offers a ton of flavor in a compact form, and it grants superb access with the assignable CTRL knob and CV, while its 3 different outputs allow for high patch flexibility. The unique take on FM synthesis combined with waveshaping offers a vast sonic palette while staying intuitive. Pizza is perfect for hybrid synthesis! Waveshaping on MAIN output gives you the world of additive techniques, while the PULSE and OSC OUT speak the subtractive language where mixing the outputs into a filter will sound massive!
Because of its digital nature, Pizza does not have to be tuned, and its approach to tuning is different. You only go to the Tune mode when you actually need to. Otherwise, the PITCH knob serves as either octave transpose or detune.
Bastl's own VCO was brainstormed ever since we started producing modules, but Pizza has been in active development for the past 3 and a half years. It was developed by a team centered around our junior developer Martin Klecl, coded by Florian Helling, and supervised by Václav Peloušek, with contributions from Lennart Schierling and the whole Bastl team.
The first batch of Pizza preorders (300 units) starts: Wednesday 11th May 2022 at 20:00 CET Shipping in early June 2022. Price is 297 EUR including tax and 245 EUR excluding tax.
Softpop SP2
At the beginning of 2022, we introduced the desktop modular synthesizer Softpop SP2 – a collaboration between Casper Electronics a.k.a. Peter Edwards and Václav Peloušek of Bastl Instruments. Softpop SP2 is a radical subtractive synth under the influence of unconventional digital control. It’s a rare beast that excels at both melody and noise in equal measure.
There is a free major update coming to all Softpop SP2 users! There is a digital VCO hiding inside the SP2: users can switch a jumper inside the unit and update firmware via an audio file to access it! The digital oscillator has several new waveforms (generated on the original analog Triangle output) and gains the tuning precision and stability of a digital VCO! The firmware update will be available as a free download when the second batch, which is currently produced, will be available in the summer of 2022.
Interesting seeing the Buchla used in this context. Be sure to check with dealers on the right for availability as well.
"In this video, Sweetwater‘s Jake Jenkins runs the Buchla Easel Command through its paces, which takes the 208c module and places it into an updated desktop synth featuring full MIDI/DAW compatibility. As a result, it mixes the exploratory ethos of Buchla design with the streamlined form factor of a desktop synth that doesn‘t depend on the complexities and space of a whole modular system. The Easel Command allows for tonal operation well beyond the limitations of 12-tone equal temperament, with a near-unlimited number of possibilities through control voltage regulation of nearly all parameters. This analog, mono synth uses a simple pair of oscillators, additive FM signals, and wave shaping to construct its base sounds, molded and manipulated into an infinite pantheon of sonic possibility."
"This instrument began its life as an early model Octave Plateau Cat synth, model 1853. At some point it was heavily modified. The keyboard was removed. A “Gate Delay” circuit was added (it does not work at this time). A “Ring Modulator” was added — this seems to work with internal sound sources and has external connections as well. It actually sounds nice, IMO. Other connections were added to the rear panel, and existing connections were modified.
