MATRIXSYNTH

Alphabet Soup #1: The Dual Universal Slope Generator

via Carbon111 on SYNTHWIRE

"This is first in a series of introductory articles, each focusing on a specific Function Block of the Serge Modular synthesizer."

"The Page can be reached directly:

http://www.carbon111.com/alphabet1.html

...or through my Index of Serge Pages:

http://www.carbon111.com/serge_index.html"

Moog Memorymoog

via this auction
"The six-voice MemoryMoog was, in my opinion, potentially the finest analogue polysynth ever made.

It was the last synth ever made by Moog but was very late in coming to a market that had been dominated by the Prophet 5, the Oberheim OB series and the Roland Jupiter 8 for several years, a market that was soon to be turned on its head with the arrival of MIDI, FM synthesis and sampling.

Tthe MemoryMoog had an exemplary spec: per voice, it had three audio oscillators each with simultaneous (i.e. not switched) waveforms, it had the famous Moog filter and two ADSR envelopes (one for filter and other duties, one for amplitude). It also had a versatile, multi-waveform LFO, a comprehensive modulation (and cross modulation) matrix, memories and more...

It had PWM, oscillator sync, a super-fat Unison mode where all 18 oscillators were played from one key, various monophonic and polyphonic playing and triggering options - a later model even had a sequencer! On paper it was like six super-charged MiniMoogs in one polyphonic box

Wonderful - big, fat and brash but also capable of subtlety. It could do everything from truly fat basses, cutting leadlines, warm pads, lush strings, punchy brass, spiky clavs and more. Its versatile cross-modulation facilities also allowed sounds that would normally only be possible on a modular system as Oscillator 3 modulated Oscillators 1 and/or 2 and/or the filter in a variety of different ways."

shot x shot

flickr set by alex tyson
(click for more)

"live at the historic Powell House | December 5 2008
with guest Charles Cohen"

Buchla Music Easel

Be sure to see this video.

The MMM Arrives

See the full post on Box of Textures

"My Mattson Mini Modular arrived today. An entire year since I ordered it, taking a lot on faith, trading emails with George and getting pretty regular updates. And now it’s sitting in my living room with blinkenlights and a spaghetti of patch cords. It’s hard to even think of it as finished. It’s been a process for so long that it’s hard to think of it as a product. I’m not criticizing or anything, far from it. Some things simply take time to design, build and test."

Korg Poly 800 II Analog Synthesizer synth mod

via this auction
"Korg Poly-800 II. This model includes a wonderful, warm digital delay (with modulation!), a true analog Voltage Controlled Filter, three envelopes (one for each of the two oscillators, and one for the noise source/VCF), and an LFO to modulate filter cutoff or pitch.

I've also added a several well-designed modifications on this unit:

1- VCF CV Input.
This allows you to modulate the filter cutoff from a modular synth, CV pedal, or other signal generator. The input is designed to receive the standard 0-5 Volts, though the circuit ensures that voltages outside of that range will not hurt the Poly800.
2- External Audio Input w/Level Control.

This input is for processing other synthesizers, guitar, vocals, or any other sound source. It will work perfectly for guitarists, because the added circuitry provides just enough gain (and just the right impedence match) to boost the guitar's low level signal.
3- Filter FM Control.
This potentiometer controls the depth of Filter Cutoff Modulation from DCO1's audio. This modification allows for an extreme range of sounds- from growling synth bass to Ring Modulator-type noises.

4- Cutoff and Resonance Controls.
These potetiometers allow you to control the cutoff point and amount of resonance in the VCF!
5- Noise / External Audio Switch.
This switch disables the white noise source, so that the External Signal can run through the Poly800 alone. The switch also holds Envelope 3 at the maximum level (regardless of the settings on parameters 61-65).

Here are a few sound samples that I improvised to demonstrate some of the more unique features of this unit:
FMsyn
SHgtr
spacegtr
SHsyn
wackygtr"

via Robert