Oli Freke Announces Two New Synthesizer Books

Oli Freke, author of Synthesizer Evolution, has announced two new books in the series, "Vintage Synths" & "Drum Machines and Samplers".

Details on each follow.

Oli Freke, ‘Vintage Synths’

Following on from his 2021 book, Synthesizer Evolution: From Analogue to Digital (and Back), Oli Freke returns with a Synthesizer Evolution A6 zine series.

The invention of the synthesizer in the 1960s changed musical culture and music production forever, giving musicians whole new worlds of sound to play with. Vintage Synths celebrates that invention and its subsequent history by picking out 46 of the most influential, important or most interesting synths from 1939 – 1998. They each represent the introduction of a new technology, had particular impact, or maybe even formed the basis of entirely new genres.

Explore the most legendary synthesizers ever created, including the Minimoog, ARP 2600, Yamaha DX7, Roland Jupiter 8 and more, with detailed descriptions and the stories behind their development.

Buy from Velocity Press. £4, Shipping Internationally.

Oli Freke, ‘Drum Machines and Samplers’

Drum machines and samplers have something of a shared history and this zine celebrates their invention by picking out 46 of the most influential, important or most interesting from 1949 – 1996. Explore the most legendary drum machines and samplers ever created, including the Roland TR-808, Roland TR-909, Akai S1000, Fairlight CMI, Akai MPC60 and more, with detailed descriptions and the stories behind their development.

Buy from Velocity Press. £4, Shipping Internationally

Hardware Jams Weekend Challenge: Off the Grid

video upload by SynthAddict

"OP-Z & some custom samples

As directed, I have at least one manual component.
Not all can be sequenced."

Serge Paperface 50 - Paris Flash vs Tempo di Roma

video upload by Serge Modular | Random*Source

"Patching Serge's 2022 redesign of the original Serge Paperface system - this time Paris Flash (Slopes panel) and Tempo di Roma (Sequencer panel).

The Serge Paperface 50 Anniversary system is a standalone, externally powered, authentic Serge synthesizer that Serge himself ingenuously updated in some key aspects.

Panel 1 (Sequencer):
Serge Gate Sequencer
Enhanced SQP4 Sequencer / Programmer with UP/DOWN, HOLD
Serge Metronomic Clock
Bidirectional Router
Enhanced SQP4 Sequencer / Programmer with UP/DOWN, HOLD
Peak & Trough

Panel 2 (Paris Flash):
Dual Positive Slopes (with new wildcard input)
Dual Negative Slopes (with new wildcard input)
Smooth & Stepped Generator (SSG)
Envelope Generator (with new wildcard input)
Dual CV-Pro
Dual Gates - new design!
Serge 1973 VCF + Balanced Output"

How to store your MPG-70 Sounds

video upload by Retroaktiv Synthesizers

"This is a short clip showing how to store your user objects on MPG-70 controllers for Super JX, MKS-70, and JX-8P. We've eliminated the tedious JX file system that requires you to link every tone to a patch. Now you can save all of your objects in seconds."

Synthi 100: Live in concert

video upload by Faculty of Fine Arts and Music

Follow-up to this post. This one was sent my way via Sam.

"In a live performance recorded on 16 May 2018, Interactive Composition staff David Haberfeld, Anthony Lyons and Mark Pollard showcased new works on our Synthi 100 synthesizer.

Find out more about the event: https://precinct.finearts-music.unime..."

Not directly related, but also worth a look if you found the above interesting: Arp Fields - ARP 2500 live in concert

"Mark Pollard, Anthony Lyons, Les Craythorn and David Haberfeld get wired in to the Synthi 100. By Giulia McGauran."

Meet Anthony Marinelli's 1969 Moog IIIc Modular Synthesizer. It’s what started it all.@RosenSound !

video upload by Anthony Marinelli Music

More ways of using Branches

video upload by Omri Cohen

"Here you can find the Patching Techniques and Ideas PDF - https://bit.ly/3o1Q3Sg

Consider joining our community on Patreon and Discord - https://www.patreon.com/omricohen
Want to learn Modular Synthesis? have a look here - https://bit.ly/learnmodular

This video is about a few more ideas you can explore with Mutable Instruments Branches. Branches is a great module for adding probability and variation to your patches, but it can do so much more! Do you use Branches often? Do you have the hardware module (or a clone)?

Here are the patches from the video - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_IbV...

00:00 - Introduction
00:47 - Splitting melodic sequences
05:33 - Splitting rhythmic sequences
07:04 - Sub octave generator \ distortion
11:06 - Destroying drums"

Plantasia - Mort Garson. (Midi Visualizer). The Well Tempered Synth

video upload by The Well-Tempered Synth

"'Plantasia' es un cautivador y único viaje musical al mundo de las plantas. Compuesto por Mort Garson en 1976, este álbum fue diseñado para ser reproducido para el crecimiento de las plantas, y es una encantadora mezcla de sonidos electrónicos y orgánicos. La música es calmante y etérea, creando una atmósfera relajante que se siente como un abrazo musical para tu jardín interior.

Las pistas del álbum, como 'Symphony for a Spider Plant' y 'Ode to an African Violet', reflejan las diversas personalidades de diferentes especies de plantas. El uso de sintetizadores e instrumentos Moog por parte de Garson añade un toque futurista a las composiciones, manteniendo al mismo tiempo una calidad natural y orgánica.

'Plantasia' no se trata solo de música; es un testimonio de la relación armoniosa entre los seres humanos y la naturaleza. Escucharlo puede ser una experiencia meditativa que te anima a conectarte con tus compañeros verdes a un nivel más profundo. Ya seas un entusiasta de las plantas o simplemente estés buscando una experiencia musical tranquila y de otro mundo, 'Plantasia' es una elección encantadora que te transporta a un paraíso botánico tranquilo.

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'Plantasia' is a captivating and unique musical journey into the world of plants. Composed by Mort Garson in 1976, this album was designed to be played for growing plants, and it's a delightful blend of electronic and organic sounds. The music is calming and ethereal, creating a soothing atmosphere that feels like a musical embrace for your indoor garden.

The album's tracks, such as 'Symphony for a Spider Plant' and 'Ode to an African Violet,' reflect the diverse personalities of different plant species. Garson's use of synthesizers and Moog instruments adds a futuristic touch to the compositions, while still retaining a natural and organic quality.

'Plantasia' isn't just about music; it's a testament to the harmonious relationship between humans and nature. Listening to it can be a meditative experience, encouraging you to connect with your green companions on a deeper level. Whether you're a plant enthusiast or simply seeking a tranquil and otherworldly musical experience, 'Plantasia' is a delightful choice that transports you to a tranquil botanical paradise."

Xaoc Devices Rostock & Drezno II: new patch ideas for the Leibniz Binary Subsystem

video upload by Tom Churchill

"In this video, I’m taking another look at the Leibniz Binary Subsystem from Xaoc Devices. This is a set of Eurorack modules that let you convert analogue audio and CV into 8-bit digital signals and then process them in all sorts of unique and interesting ways. Using various combinations of Leibniz modules, you can do everything from waveshaping and bitcrushing to sequencing and drum pattern generation.

Xaoc Devices recently sent over the latest modules in the system for me to check out. Drezno II is a new and improved version of their original analogue to digital and digital to analogue converter module which acts as the main front-end for the system. And Rostock is a binary data pipeline, or digital shift register, which lets you delay, loop, scramble and reclock the 8-bit data stream. In the video, I build a few patches that explore some of the musical applications of these tools."

Chapters:
00:00 Intro & patch previews
03:22 Drezno II / Leibniz 101
07:22 Rostock overview
10:33 Complex stepped modulation
16:56 Sequence canons
21:52 Digital chorus and flanging
27:13 Looping drum patterns
32:18 Clock-based destruction
36:20 Generative sequencing

TitpTop Audio Art Octopus, ATX1 and Vortex, O/C module and Error Instruments White Rabbit

video upload by Luca Longobardi

"Another short session with the new TipTop Audio Art modules.
I was exploring the Poly Voice Management of the Octopus, the module that ‘conducts’ the three ART oscillators. In the first part, the simple arpeggio played on the Arturia Keystep is reproduced in order by the first ATX1 (Midi channel 1), the second ATX1 (Midi channel 2) and the Vortex (Midi channel 3). It is easy to follow the change by looking at the red LED that lights up on the modules or the ADSR that is activated on the O/C in the case of the first two oscillators. Things get interesting when you manually switch from Mono 8 mode (one midi channel for each oscillator) to Poly 3, Poly 4, etc. These modes are designed to use oscillators in polyphony, playing chords as you do on a polyphonic synth. By sending a sequence instead, the notes are distributed one after the other among the different oscillators which, with different settings, create an ever-changing melody. A very unique way to make a sequence more interesting I think.
P.s.
The drone you hear comes from the TX-6 while the delay is the White Rabbit by Error Instruments."