MATRIXSYNTH

The Electric Music Box: Exploring a Vintage Buchla 200 Modular System

video upload by Sarah Belle Reid

"Join my Patreon community to support future video projects like this one, and to access behind-the-scenes content + community events: https://www.patreon.com/sarahbellereid

In the spring of 2025, I spent a week at the Stony Brook University Electronic Music Studio, working closely with their original Buchla 200 Series modular synthesizer. Built in the early 1970s by pioneering instrument designer Donald Buchla & associates, this rare instrument is one of the few surviving and fully intact systems of its kind.

Due to its rarity, very few musicians have had the opportunity to interact with an original 200 system firsthand. I hope this video will help bridge that gap by sharing the instrument’s sound, design philosophy, and aesthetic intentions with a wider audience.

The video begins with a brief historical overview of the Buchla 200 Series and its role in the rapidly evolving landscape of 1970s electronic music. From there, I dive into a detailed walkthrough of the system, exploring each module with sound demonstrations and examples. We conclude with some reflections on the Buchla 200’s design philosophy, offering insights into the types of musical interaction the instrument was built to encourage (and why it continues to resonate with musicians and designers today).

Join my FREE Introduction to Synthesis mini course here (no experience or special gear required): https://www.soundandsynthesis.com/fir...

Learn how to make your own unique music with modular synths and master the fundamentals of sound design inside my step-by-step course & coaching program, Learning Sound and Synthesis®—no experience needed!: https://www.soundandsynthesis.com

This video was created in collaboration with the Buchla Archives, an organization dedicated to the thorough and thoughtful documentation and preservation of Donald Buchla’s work."

The Beatles Abbey Road Moog synth timbres Demo by Ross.

video upload by Ross Totino and Fans of Collision

"Demo I created back in 2011, where I attempt to recreate the legendary modular Moog Synthesizer timbres created by the Beatles for their final album, Abbey Road."

A soundscape using MIDISID and MIDIPan

video upload by MIDI IN

"Inspired by my trip to the Ambient Garden, I've made a soundscape from sounds including a bass drone made with the 'bowed glass' preset in MIDISID, 'strings' made using MIDISID's "synth voice" polyphonic sound, one of the audio MIDIPan's built-in tongue-drum sounds and my tube trumpet!"

MIDISID:
https://peacockmedia.software/midisid/

MIDIPan:
https://peacockmedia.software/drum/"

Album with Make Noise only - Fracture #05 Live Performance

video upload by Anton Anru

"🎆 Fractures is the result of a series of experiments with the Make Noise modular trio: 0-Coast, Strega, and 0-Ctrl. This combination of instruments is perfectly suited for generative ambient music, where hypnotic repetition merges with expression and dynamic movement.
💽 I recorded a 10-track album using only three Make Noise devices and VST effects.
All tracks were recorded live in a single take, with no additional editing. Each piece is built around a sequenced pattern and a complex patch that evolves continuously, shaped manually in real time.

The album is available on all streaming platforms.
➕ SoundCloud: / fractures
➕ Bandcamp: https://anru.bandcamp.com/album/fract...

The album explores a wide emotional range — from brighter, more uplifting moments to darker, more noise-driven textures — offering a diverse sonic journey shaped by the raw, living nature of modular synthesis.

📒 I also have patches for Make Noise and other synthesizers: https://antonanru.sellfy.store/

🎛 Lately, I’ve been more interested in working with simpler forms rather than complex arrangements in DAW. Semi-modular synths are perfect for this approach. In this case, the arrangement is the patch itself. If it’s well thought out, you can easily play a full track in a specific genre—like ambient or techno—using just that one patch.

📝 I’m curious to hear your thoughts—does this kind of format immerse you in a certain mood or evoke a specific emotion? Or does the sound feel too experimental and harder to connect with?
I’d really appreciate any feedback. Enjoy listening!"

Industrial drums with the Plasma Voice and DB-01

video upload by Richard DeHove

"The Plasma Voice has many unexpected talents. One of them is a Channel 10 MIDI mode where you can play four octaves of sounds centred around the percussion bank. So even though this is a CV-heavy module I'm back in MIDI land using the DB-01 as a sequencer and arpeggiator.

The DB-01 is ideally suited as the master here letting you 'spin the wheel' for new patterns with the randomizer. Things get much weirder if you then start feeding it CV as well but I thought it best to keep things simple - just a couple of LFO feeds and the whole thing can get chaotic. The Plasma again proves to be a surprisingly deep little synth.

The routing here is the Plasma Voice out goes to the Zen and off to the DAW. No other effects or processing. The DB-01 is just providing MIDI note info and has no audio connected.

0:00 Background info
1:32 Randomized pattern
1:50 Arp on top
2:30 Lucky dip
4:50 Sliders

Many thanks to my kind patrons who keep this channel ad-free
My website: https://richarddehove.com/"

Build a Polyphonic Synth in Puredata / Plugdata – Full Tutorial

video upload by Floyd Steinberg

"🎹 Want to build your own polyphonic synthesizer from scratch? In this hands-on tutorial, you'll learn how to create a powerful synth in Puredata / Plugdata, covering everything from MIDI input to oscillators, envelopes, filters, LFOs, and polyphony management.

✅ Perfect for beginners and intermediate sound designers ✅ No external plugins required – just Puredata / Plugdata ✅ Includes a full demo and downloadable patches

📚 Topics Covered:

Creating a mono synth and expanding to polyphony
Avoiding aliasing in digital synthesis
MIDI integration and note handling
Envelopes, filters, and delay effects
Using abstractions, cloning, and data packing
Final demo with reverb (Blackhole)

📌 Timestamps:
00:00 Demo (dry signal)
00:23 What’s in this video?
00:57 What makes a polyphonic synth?
01:52 Building a mono synth
02:29 Aliasing explained
03:17 Anti-aliasing strategies
04:11 MIDI input setup
04:41 Envelope creation
06:13 Handling sustained notes
07:45 Adding a resonant low-pass filter
08:18 Polyphony management
08:30 Isn’t this brilliant?
10:11 Abstractions & modular design
12:10 Note distribution
12:50 Object cloning
13:04 Data packing/unpacking
14:34 Delay line & bug fix
15:15 Final thoughts
15:33 Reverb-enhanced demo

HÄLP ZIS CHANNEL
https://www.patreon.com/floyd_steinberg
https://floydsteinberg.gumroad.com/
https://floydsteinberg.bandcamp.com/
"

Roland SH-5

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

via this Reverb listing

Additional Nightlife Electronics Listings

"The Roland SH-5 is possibly the most feature rich vintage mono synth ever made by the legendary Japanese company. With 2 LFO's, 2 VCO's, 1 variable state VCF, 1 bandpass filter, 2 Envelopes, 1 VCA, S&H, Ring Mod and a simple but powerful switch matrix for routing modulation this synth is more than capable of making some of the most incredible tones and textures you can imagine!

Made in the late 1970's 'green face' Roland era, when their synths had a certain magic sound that is hard to describe. Fizzling and alive with electricity!

A handful of patch points on the back give you access to all the essential controls via CV so that this can play along nicely with a modern set-up.

This particular SH-5 has just been fully serviced in our Synthesizer Rejuvenation and Wellness Centre and comes with a 90 day warranty of good health. Original lid included."

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Professionally Serviced! Yamaha DX7 Programmable Algorithm Synthesizer SN 47649

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

via this Reverb listing

Additional SYNTH CITY Listings

"This very good condition DX7 sounds and plays great with all of the classic 80's sounds we all know and love! With a recent service from our in house synth guru this digital marvel will be set for years to come. Among other things a thorough I/O cleaning, control cleaning and a new preset battery have performed/installed."

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Korg Opsix 37-Key Altered FM Synthesizer

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

via this Reverb listing

Additional SYNTH CITY Listings

"Tested and working well, this Korg Opsix takes FM synthesis to a whole new level. With 6 assignable operators, you have plenty of options and plenty of sounds to play with. Whether this is your first FM synth or your 10th, this intuitive powerhouse will be sure to blow you away."

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