MATRIXSYNTH

Synthorama - Emu Modular

Click here for images of the E-Mu modular at Synthorama. Be sure to click on the Synthorama label below for previous posts on my visit to the museum. More will follow so be sure to check back. The E-mu actually sits in somewhat of a hallway between rooms.

Update via Martin:
"The EMU Modulars are both working completely. In one of them I have to
replace a broken potentiometer. And I had to build a new VCO. I copied one
original VCO (1201 ?) and now it works fine. Also I have replaced the complete wiring with the DIL-plugs and remade them all new with high quality DIL-plugs."

Steam Powered Synthesizer

YouTube via wessouthern
"This, as its name so clearly suggests, is a synth that's powered by steam. There's no electricity involved -- the instrument can be run on coal, hexamine, ethanol or propane.

he pressure delivered to the engine is controlled by a ball valve seen between the boiler and the engine. The dynamo is much like a brushless, permanent magnet motor which is spun by a belt attached to the flywheel. This creates an alternating magnetic field which is turned into electricity by an inductive pickup.

The steam synthesizer does not use any electricity -- only steam power. In fact it generates electricity! It generates about 6 watts of AC at high pressure and speed." Very steam punk.

the TEASPOON

"The teaspoon is a lo-fi instant playback looping sampler designed to achieve the classic glitching / stuttering / skipping effect by pushing a single button. this version is a limited run of fifteen designed with the AUDIOBULB RECORDS logo and trademark orange and black."

more info on the squarewave parade.

FM synthesis with the PlanB Model 15

YouTube via dkimcg
"Apologies in advance for the out of focus camera. This was one of the cool things I learned about using the PlanB (or any capable) oscillators. I have the oscilloscope up so you can see the waveforms. Too bad I didn't keep an eye on the camera. But I do these for fun, and doing it again would be no fun for me. But you can see enough to get the idea. You can get some very fat sounds with harmonic overtones this way. Look up FM synthesis if you're curious. That's frequency modulation. There's also another video on youtube that goes through the explanations better, this is just to show an example, not inform."