10 Distortion Techniques: Every Synth Needs This

video upload by Anthony Marinelli Music

"Get ready for some sonic devastation as I demonstrate some of my favorite efx pedals and techniques that deliver filthy synth sounds capable of cutting through even the thickest wall of amplified guitars! I'll show you 10 different color palates with hands-on examples ranging from tasteful overdrive, distortion, fuzz all the way to full meltdown clipping. A little of these flavors added to your synthesizer instrument will help you create more inspiring sounds and also help you require less work to bring you final mixes together. I truly believe that every synth needs a drive circuit as much as it needs filters, reverbs and delays. After watching this video I hope you'll be inspired to grab some analog distortion pedals and start discovering what I did, that I can't live without them."

00:00 Introduction
00:51 Minimoog External Input Feedback Loop
03:49 ARP 2600 Internal Preamp Distortion
07:27 Distorted LFO's
09:46 Moogerfooger MF-104M Pedal Drive Circuit
15:08 Boss HM-2 Heavy Metal Pedal
18:14 Boss FZ-2 Hyper Fuzz Pedal
20:59 Mutron III Input Gain as Distortion Pedal
25:07 Vintage 1965 Fender Showman Amp
28:09 Joyo American Sound Pedal
32:09 Arturia Minimoog with Moogerfooger MF-104S Plug-ins

*🎹 THRILLER SYNTH GIVEAWAY 🎹* ✅ Visit https://www.anthonymarinellimusic.com... to find out how to enter ✅

🏆 Want to win the same model synthesizer used on *Thriller* to make the _iconic_ 🐸 "Froggie" Bass sound? ⏰ Hurry because the giveaway ends October 30th! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

The First Ever all ARP 2500 Album Opens for Preorder Today on BandCamp

via the Alan R Pearlman Foundation

It's BandCamp Friday, and we have a treat for you!

The first ever all ARP 2500 album opens for preorder today on BandCamp!

Check out the album Now!

The ARP 2500 by David Baron
Distrubuted by Here & Now Recordings

About the Album:

Although it went largely unnoticed at the time, the 2500 became one of the most famous synthesizers in history when it was featured prominently in the film Close Encounters Of The Third Kind, where it was used to communicate with an alien spaceship.

ARP instruments founder Alan Robert Pearlman was a Nasa scientist. Between 1970 and 1981 only 100 ARP 2500's were ever made, each a custom order, no standard configurations. ARP 2500 one of Jean-Michel Jarre's favourite instruments. All the sounds are completely unique. You pretty much need a degree in physics to operate one!

Pete Townsend "Mine plays six notes at once, can have 20 sets of preset control voltages available, six audio signals mixed and instantly usable at various levels. The most incredibly subtle tone colours can be produced using the multimode resonator in conjunction with a normal filter, and the sequencer will provide exhilarating cascades of arpeggios."

David Baron "The Arp 2500 was the only sound source. I sequenced one or two patches at a time and then built the compositions in layers. A lot of the audio FX were created through the use of pedals. The reverberation came from the Bricasti, EMT 240 Plate, Roland Space Echo 501, and a Vermona Spring Reverb. The Arp 2500 always ran through the Avedis Key Pre. I used very little dynamic compression/limiting. Time delay effects were mostly created ‘in the box’ but also with rack mount outboard including the AMS Tape Phase Simulator, an Eventide Instant Flanger, and a MXR Flanger/Doubler. The instrument stays in tune (for the most part). The filters can distort so some care has to be used when gain staging. The envelopes are very snappy. The sound is beautiful and creamy yet percussive and forward."

About David Baron
Record producer, film composer, musician, arranger, engineer located in the historic Woodstock, New York area. An avid collector of vintage analog synthesizers and recording gear. He owns a private recording studio called Sun Mountain Studios located on top of a mountain overlooking the Ashokan Reservoir.

Some artists he has worked with: Lumineers, Shania Twain, Jade Bird, Shawn Mendes, Vance Joy, Meghan Trainor, Lenny Kravitz, Jeremiah Fraites, Josin, Matt Maeson and Lana Del Rey.

He blends retro and modern, orchestrated and raw. The contrast that brings out the emotion of a scene or in a song.

David releases his own music on UK-based Here and Now Recordings.

Album Credits
Releases November 17, 2023

Written recorded and produced by David Baron

Album cover designed by Dina Pearlman-Ifil derived from an old ARP 2500 brochure originally designed by Margaret Shepherd in 1970 for Tonus, Inc / ARP Instruments.
Photograph courtesy of the Alan R Pearlman Foundation
alanrpearlmanfoundation.org

About the Alan R Pearlman Foundation
The ARP Archives & The Alan R. Pearlman Foundation is a small, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Our mission is to celebrate the legacy of inventor, musician, entrepreneur and engineer Alan R. Pearlman, by making his innovative inventions publicly accessible, and by inspiring future generations to imagine and create.

DONATE TODAY

Synthetic Sound Labs Announces Soleil String Synth Pod & Modulation Orgy 2.0

Details on each follow. Check with the dealers on the right for availability.

TABLE-TOP MIDI STRING SYNTH POD ANNOUNCED

Inspired by the early vintage synths of the ‘70s such as the Elka Rhapsody and ARP Solina, the Soleil POD is a tiny low-cost Lo-Fi MIDI String Synth table-top box.

Capable of playing 4 paraphonic notes with 2 oscillator ranks per note. Waveforms are continuously variable from thick sawtooth thru variable pulse widths for more reedy sounds. The second rank is detunable for lush pads and honky-tonk riffs.

The Soleil contains built-in modulation / vibrato LFO, the depth of which can be controlled by MIDI. Attack and release envelope times are individually adjustable and share a single VCA making this a “paraphonic” instrument. A gate output jack allows convenient triggering of external effects and synth equipment, and its state is displayed by an LED.

MIDI is input via a 3.5mm TRS Type “A” jack, and responds to keyboard running status as well as pitch bend and modulation. An LED MIDI displays MIDI activity.

MIDI channel defaults to channel 1 but can be easily reset to other channels using a unique sequence from your controller keyboard at power-up, which is retained in non- volatile memory.

A fine tune control allows accurate tuning to other instruments, and an output volume control is provided. MIDI, Gate Out and Audio Out are standard 3.5mm (1/8”) jacks.


Power is supplied from a user provided +8 to +18 VDC 2.1mm coaxial jack, center positive power source, and draws extremely low current.

Quality, solder masked, fiberglass-epoxy printed circuit boards and meticulous hand- crafted assembly assure years of trouble-free service.

Synthetic Sound Labs has been in the analog synthesizer business since 1973. The Soleil Pod is the newest in SSL’s continuing line of outstanding analog synthesizer devices.

Pricing is $179.95 US and is available off-the-shelf from SSL and Distributors Worldwide.

UPDATED LFO MODULE ANNOUNCED

Just over 10 years after the release of its popular original 2260 Modulation Orgy LFO, Synthetic Sound Labs have recently released an updated and improved version.

The new 2261 Modulation Orgy has completely reimagined firmware that includes improvements such as waveform morphing and random wave slew. The new module width is now only 8 HP (half the width of its 16 HP predecessor) and is available with either black or silver faced panels.

DETAILS

The 2261 Modulation Orgy is a unique Low Frequency Oscillator (LFO) that offers unmatched modulation flexibility. It features both manual and external voltage control over LFO Tempo (speed), tempo Multiplier, Waveform and Waveform Distortion.

Eight Waveforms are produced, including Sawtooth, Ramp, Rectangle, Triangle, Sine, Sweep, Lumps and Random with morphing between adjacent waves. Waveforms may be further modified using the Wave Distort controls.

A front panel button or external Sync input allow synchronization to precise multiples of the musical beat permitting timed vibratos, tremolos, and clocking of external sequencers and sample & hold type devices. Multiple 2261s may also be cascaded to provide complex polyrhythmic modulation patterns, which is aided by use of the Clock output jack. The Clock output also serves as a powerful input clock multiplier.

In conjunction with the Multiplier controls, LFO Tempo (frequency) is adjustable from approximately 0.1Hz to about 50Hz in six overlapping tempo ranges.

The external Level CV input responds linearly and is normalled internally to +5V so that with no input, the 2261 outputs are at maximum. This convenient input can frequently save a separate VCA when doing voltage-controlled modulation depth.


A panel LED / push button shows the LFO output rate. Knobs are conveniently placed and top quality 1/8” jacks permit smooth, effortless patching.

Quality, solder masked, fiberglass-epoxy printed circuit boards and meticulous hand- crafted assembly assure years of trouble-free service.

Synthetic Sound Labs has been in the analog synthesizer business since 1973. The 2261 is the newest in SSL’s continuing line of outstanding analog synthesizer modules.

Pricing is $250 US and is available off-the-shelf from SSL and Distributors Worldwide. Silver panel – Model 2261S. Black panel – Model 2261B

Modular Day Barcelona #10 - 2023

video upload by Befacosynth

"Modular Day is the festival of Modular Synthesizers - Eurorack - in Barcelona. This year in its 10th edition with Manufacturers, Shops, Workshops, Conferences and Concerts. We wait for you on September 23rd at Hangar."

0:25 Xor Electronics
20:26 Making Sound Machines
36:06 Tesseract
51:56 AVID
1:11:47 Body Synths
1:26:27 Jolin Lab
1:39:38 Jonaralogue
2:04:42 Ginko Synthese
2:30:03 Befaco

Modular Day Barcelona #10 Concerts
video upload by Befacosynth

"Modular Day is the festival of Modular Synthesizers - Eurorack - in Barcelona. This year in its 10th edition with Manufacturers, Shops, Workshops, Conferences and Concerts. We wait for you on September 23rd at Hangar.

We are thrilled to present these artists and friends of our event."

7:00 - Preassure: Ambre Laparra Blumenfeld and Marlène Jöbstl
34:06 (Intermission)
40:33 - Hara
1:07:41 (Intermission)
1:20:59 - Thëm
1:58:38 (Intermission)
2:11:22 - f.l.i.t.d
2:48:17 (Intermission)
2:55:24 - Espinoza Espinoza

Modular Day Barcelona 2023 after party - HRTL

video upload by Befacosynth

"There are few in the Czech electronic music culture with a background as storied as HRTL, the performing alias of Prague-based synthesiser musician Leoš Hort. Iconically performing from the centre of the dancefloor, HRTL is a force of the wildest nature on his instruments of choice, a carefully curated setup of modular synthesisers and tabletop instruments. Infamously electrifying and always improvised, each of his live club performances is quite literally one-of-a-kind; generative breakbeat rhythms meet with liquefying acid, and synths sliced from the utmost peaks of euphoria."

Synapse Audio DUNE3 - "Meditation" (50 Exclusive Presets)

video upload by LFOstore

"☯ In these turbulent times, we more than ever need a state of inner harmony, peace and confidence in our Path. Music helps us to reach these states of mind and move forward, no matter what. DUNE 3 synthesizer is an excellent tool for creating music that will have a positive effect on the listener.

LFO Store’s leading sound designer, Otto K. Schwarz, prepared an amazing soundset with advanced modulation techniques and live recorded samples. Here you will find the unique multi-layered presets, including bright, warm, delicious and nature-flavoured pads, original bells, fantasy plucks, flowing arpeggios, inspiring strings and woodwinds, and even much more!

Each preset has modulation wheel assigned (and most expression- and velocity-assigned as well) and allows you to modulate and customize the sounds deeply, to the needs of your own musical works. These sounds are suitable for both studio work and live performances, and may be used in the different styles of music - ambient, new age, cinematic, electronic dance music and so on.

Prepare yourself for the deep meditative musical experience that will give you many new discoveries and insights!

In this pack you will find 50 ready-to-use presets: 7 ARPs, 6 Bells, 2 Drones, 15 Pads, 11 Plucks, 2 Pianos, 3 Strings, 2 Synths and 2 Woodwinds.

'Meditation' soundset presets are royalty-free."

E-MU Proteus 2000 - "SynthScape" Soundset

video upload by LFOstore

"E-MU Proteus 2000 is a wonderful synthesizer for all styles and trends.

Downloads are available as sys ex (.syx) files in User bank 2.

Buy:
https://www.inspireuplift.com/E-Mu-Pr...

Soundset is very universal - here you will find:

Atmospheres
Bass
Pads
Texture
Scapes
Synth
Str
Fx

The demo tune was recorded in real time and does not contain external effects and overlays.

Function used AUDITION.
Made by Alexander Kav"

Update on Tiptop Audio ART & Buchla Modules

You might remember the new ART format eurorack modules and upcoming Model 207t and 296t announced by Tiptop Audio back in March here.

The following is an update on them and new 3-Tier Mantis Studio Brackets in white. Check with the delears on the right on availability.

"The summer is coming to an end and we have been very busy making lots of new 200t modules, ART modules, and more. So lets get started:

Buchla & Tiptop Audio - Model 207t Mixer/Preamplifier
We finally finished prototyping and beta testing of the 207t and are very happy with how nice both the mixing stage and the microphone preamplifier sound. Production has started and we plan to get the 207t release late November early December and will probably price it about $249.

CLICK FOR MORE »

AtomoSynth KOE Vactrol Intro

video upload by Atomosynth

"Hello world, we are proud to introduce the new version of our classic synthesizer module, the KOE 7 Vactrol version which features our classic AtomoSynth vactrol-based 12db/oct Low and High pass filter.

As always it is a full synthesizer voice in one module, this means it features all the basic submodules like an oscillator, low-frequency oscillator, filter, and envelope generator, these are internally pre-connected so it produces a classic synth sound with the minimum patching (only CV and gate signals), however, each submodule can be used individually thanks to its extensive patchbay allowing great flexibility, making it a great addition to your actual modular system or a perfect entry point to the world of modular synthesizers."

PanicGirl Presets For The New WARP Module From Neuzeit Instruments 🪐

video upload by PanicGirlVids

"Thomas from @neuzeitrecordings was kind enough to make some lovely sound demos of the presets that I made for his wonderful new WARP Eurorack module.

The WARP module has a hybrid engine that combines additive and wavetable synthesis, with four voices and two oscillators each. And it has a lot of sound design options to choose from, it's quite a rabbit hole once you start exploring the modulation options.

Let me know what you think of it in the comments below!"

Bad Gear - It's really Bad?

video upload by AudioPilz

"Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world's most hated audio tools. Today we are going to talk about the Roland SH-4d. Is this groovebox and multitimbral synthesizer based on subtractive synthesis, wavetable, FM synthesis, ring modulation and vintage synths like the Roland SH-101 or Roland Juno-106 the missing link between synth and drum machine. Can it keep up with competitors like the Elektron Syntakt or Teenage Engineering OP-1? Does it play in the same league like the new Roland Jupiter-X or even its conceptual predecessor, the Roland SH-32? It's really Bad?

Chapters:
00:00 Intro tune
00:59 Overview Roland SH4d
02:15 Synth Engines, 4D, Fat, 3D, Sync
02:47 Vintage Emulations (Roland SH101, Roland Juno106)
02:56 FM/Cross Mod, Ring Mod, Wavetables, Chord, Draw
03:18 Sample Player & Limitations
03:30 Filter, Envelopes, LFO
03:46 Drum Section
04:08 Tone Parameters (Analog Feel,...), Mod Matrix
04:26 FX (EQ, Reverb, Delay, Modulation, Multi FX)
04:48 Groovebox Functionality, Sequencer
05:12 Arpeggiator, D-Motion, Visual Arpeggiator
05:45 Limitations (many, many Limitations)
06:27 What Else??? (Features, Pricing, Thanks)
06:52 Hate
07:17 Jam 1 (Tech House)
08:17 Jam 2 (Downtempo)
09:20 Finale (Epic Synthwave)
09:50 Verdict"