Alesis Aurora

The one thing I love about the synth world is that its just as much about the old as it is the new. Take for example the Alesis Aurora. Krhen took it upon himself to convert his Alesis Andromeda into this beauty of a synth alluding to the old analogs of yore. It has wood side panels and a full tilted front panel. Not sure about the ribbon controller, but the knobs definitely look more accessible. Click here for more pics and the story behind the Alesis Aurora.

Alesis Ion Prototype

Check out this Alesis Ion Prototype with yellow/green side panels and logo. These were the first shots of the Ion when introduced. Later they updated it with the red side panels that stuck with production. I wondered if there would be an option, but unfortunately there wasn't. Would have been cool if they came with a set of colored side panels you could swap out like skins for the synth. : ) No title link as this comes from my private collection of pics - not sure if there is a site out there with more on this. If you know of one, please feel free to share.

Bob Moog Obit on The Gaurdian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/news/obituary/0,12723,1555746,00.html

Wow, this was an interesting and good one. Bob's take on synthesizers and musicians:

"I was never worried that synthesisers would replace musicians," he told journalist Jason Gross in 1997. "First of all, you have to be a musician in order to make music with a synthesiser. And second, I never thought that analogue synthesiser sounds would ever be mistaken for traditional musical instruments. To me, the synthesiser was always a source of new sounds."

This reminds me of when I purchased my first synthesizer, the Matrix-6 in 1986. I was blown away by the capability of creating and playing previously unheard musical instruments. The focus wasn't on trying to recreate the sound of an existing instrument but rather on creating subleties in sound never heard before. That is what a synth was and still is to me. To synthesize sound and new musical instruments.

Oscillator Goodnes on GetLoFi

Check out GetLoFi for some good oscillator DIY posts including:

Practical Oscillator Circuits
Function Generator/Oscillator VCO
Sound Generator Chip list

CEM - Center for Electronic Music

"The Centre for Electronic Music in Amsterdam, is the oldest institute for electronic-and electro-acoustic music and research in the Netherlands.
Founded in 1957 (on the remains of a psycho-acoustic research laboratory of Philips), the CEM has become a modern, fully equipped recording-studio, where composers, musicians and researchers can work in an informal, non-commercial atmosphere. "

Synthesizers:

ARP 2500 synthesizer inc. sequencer
ARP 2600
Serge modular synthesizer
EMS VCS3
EMS Synthi A
EMS Synthi AKS
PPG 1002 + PPG 313/314 modular sequencer/ switch
Analogue Solutions AS8899 modular drumsynthesizer
Akai AX73
Yamaha TX81Z
kawai k4 (x2)

Samplers:

Akai S2000
Dynacord AKS

Sonic State bids Farewell to Bob Moog

Can't believe I missed this one. My RSS reader has been acting up, and I've been mainly just hitting the-gas-station lately. This one is heart felt from the great guys at Sonic State. Man, I love those guys.

Moogerfooger MF-104Z Video via Sonic State

Sonic State has a video of the new Moogerfooger MF-104Z Delay pedal up. It's a good one, check it out.

Access Virus Redback - New Flickr Shot

Also click here for an ARP Odyssey and Moogerfooger Murf.

The Moog Unit - 1Mg

Now this is interesting. Someone proposed formalizing the 1 volt per octave standard Bob Moog invented as the Moog Unit, represented by the symbol Mg. John Mahoney put it on Wikipedia. It was taken down but then put back up by Mike Kent. Click through to see if it is still there. Why not? This came through on AH and people seem to like it. John Mahoney sent the email on the Wikipedia link, but only said *someone* came up with it. I'm trying to find out who as this would be a pretty cool and significant bit of synth history don't you think? Even if it doesn't go through. It will be interesting to see how this pans out.

ARP Omni Power Supply Mod

"Many Omni 1 and Omni 2 keyboards you see for sale are toasted in some way.Apparently this is due to a badly designed power supply which generates transient voltages when you turn the synth on and off. Over time, these power spikes fry the synth's chips and capacitors. ARP later figured this out and sent service bulletins to all their technicians instructing them to perform a mod on any Omnis they repaired."

Click here for copies of the mods and more info.