NIN Polyevolver Cover - Stefan Trippler

Via AH. Yep. I think Stefan is pulling my leg on this just being a hobby of his. : )

"Sounds from the Evolvers, drums mainly from Stylus RMX, some additional from
the Evolver, vocals from www.nin.com

Peaceful advent time all ;)

Stefan"

Kawai SX-240 Sample

Ever wonder what the Kawai SX240 sounded like? Click here for a sample from WC Olo Garg. It sounds surprisingly like an Akai AX60 or AX80 to me. WC Olo Garb sent me the link to the sample and his SX-240 page. Rather than point directly to that page and risk missing all of the other synth content on his site, I thought I'd link to his gear page instead. Scroll down for the Kawai SX-240, and while there, make sure to browse around. There are some great synth pics and samples. BTW, I thought I recognized the site; I previously posted on it here and here.

Trogotronic

Via GetLoFi.

Excellent Logo


What the?...

Trippler.Net

I've put up a number of posts on Evolver and Polyevolver demos by Stefan Trippler as they came in. Well, I realized how easy it can be to miss things simply because they are not "news." In the synth world old news can very much be new news if you think about it. I used to visit Trippler.Net back when Waldorf was in it's heyday as Stefan was constantly putting up demos and more. I just took a trip down memory lane and visited his site again. There is still a LOT of content up there including his amazing demos of the Waldorf microQ, DSI-Evolver, and Virsyn Tera2. If you haven't checked out his site in a while or haven't at all, just do it and listen to his demos.

Moog Exhibit - Vancouver BC

In via Lorne on AH (title link takes you to Royal BC site - click here for pdf of exhibit):

"If you drop in to the Royal British Columbia Museum in Victoria BC between
now and January 30th to see the Linda McCartney's excellent 60s photography
exhibit, you will also find a companion exhibit about three other important
contributions of the 1960s: the rebirth of the poster in Haight-Ashbury's
Avalon Ballroom,focusing on the artists hired by Chet Helms: twenty-five
photographs taken of John Lennon and Yoko Ono's bed-in event in Montreal in
1969 where media used to promote peace; and two cases in memory of Robert
Moog, talking about his contributions, from modular recordings to the
Polymoog and onwards. The Polymoog showed the limits of analog compression
into smaller polyphonic packages and provided the analog model for the
digital revolution. The second case shows the history of the Minimoog and
its players, focus on Wakeman and Jan Hammer, with an 1130 drum controller
(Billy Cobham was a big user) and an Oberheim minisequencer #010.
Thursday/Friday/Saturday the Imax of the Stones Steel Wheels tour is
showing. This Saturday at 1:30 a tour with the photographer of the bed-in
takes place and at 1:30 Sunday a talk on the history of psychedelic poster
will be presented. John Lennon's handpainted Rolls Royce is in the lobby so
you'll know your in the right place."

JD 800 Service Mode Page

Roland JD-800 Service Mod Page. Bookmarking this one in case I ever need it. Via this post on VSE.

Music Thing Xmas List

Music Things has quite the list up. Title link takes you there.

Elka on the *bay

Some Elka on the *bay, sent to me via Dave "The Packrat." These are not his and as usual, buyer beware. I just grabbed the shots for posterity. Title link takes you to them. Thanks Dave!

Cameleon 5000 Additive Soft Synth Demo - Vogelschiess

Title link takes you to nice demo of the Cameleon 5000 Additive Soft Synth on Vogelschiess. The majority of pads are produced by the Cameleon 5000. For more on the Cameleon 5000, see http://www.camelaudio.com/cameleon5000.php.

DIY Synth Lunch Box for my Daughter

CDM has some great posts up! Check out this little DIY synth from Music From Outerspace.

< thoughts> Hmm... Might just need to make her one of these for her birthay... and if she doesn't like it... < /thoughts>

It does beat a bowling ball doesn't it? ; )

Fenix Modular Synth Page

Just ran into this site via this post on electro-music.com. It's a good site on the Fenix modular with tons of info, pics, mailing list, and much more.



"A direct descendant of the well-respected Synton 3000 modular synthesizer and the Syrinx lead synth, the Fenix offers classic analog technology and innovative new features in a compact design."

Audacity 1.2.4 Update and 1.3 Beta Released

Audacity is a free, cross-platform sound editor. I use it to edit my WAV files and convert to MP3. It's a great piece of software. 1.3 Beta is out. Title link takes you to the Audacity site with more info. Via CDM and electro-music.

Some nice Synth P*rn via CDM

Title link takes you to the post. Bigger shot of the below pic there. Enjoy.

Sweet Buchla 200e...

New MacBeth Studio Systems Yahoo Group

Title link takes you there. Just set up by Tim Lee. In via AH.

John 'PAiA' Simonton Memorium

No title link. Note the John S. Simonton Memorial Fund at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation, PO Box 1146, Oklahoma City 73101.

--------------------
In Memoriam: John Stayton Simonton, Jr.
June 24, 1943 - Nov. 25, 2005


Oklahoma City - Founder and president of PAiA Electronics, Inc. (OKC)
John Stayton Simonton, Jr. died at his home in Arcadia, Okla. on
Friday, Nov. 25 after a yearlong battle with esophageal cancer. He was
62 years old.

Born in Honolulu, Hawaii to John and Eva Simonton, John Simonton grew
up in New Orleans, La. graduating from the Sam Barth School for Boys
and the Metairie Park Country Day School. In 1965 while finishing his
engineering and psychology degree at Louisiana Tech University in
Ruston, La. he met and married Linda Brumfield Simonton.

After completing his degree in 1967, John moved to Oklahoma to work for
the first computerized jet engine test facility at Tinker A.F.B.

In 1968, John founded PAiA Electronics, Inc. in Oklahoma City, a
company dedicated to providing synthesizer kits to the do-it-yourself
electronic musician. John Simonton has designed hundreds of products
including the Gnome MicroSynthesizer, the SMPL System SMPTE / MIDI /
Machine synchronizer and the PAiA Programmable Drum Set, which is
credited with being the first commercially available user-programmable
percussion box.

Many music artists received their first exposure to synthesis with
PAiA's modular systems. Many engineers, scientists and technicians had
early exposure to their professions through his trade journal articles.
His work with starved tube circuitry produced the TubeHead series of
preamplifiers and his most recent project was PAiA's Theremax theremin.

A widely read author and contributor in the electronic popular press,
John was also the publisher of Polyphony magazine, which was first
published in 1975 and later renamed Electronic Musician. Electronic
Musician eventually sold to Mix Publications of Berkeley in 1985. John
was also the founding partner in High Technology, Inc. the first
computer store in Oklahoma in 1976, which became the first wholesale
distributor for Apple Computer, Inc. in 1977.

Deeply dedicated to doing what was right, John was a mentor and
inspiration to many do-it-yourselfers encouraging them to pursue
avocations and careers in engineering and music.

He is survived by wife Linda Simonton, daughter D. Stayton (Staci)
Craig, son John S. Simonton III (Trey), granddaughters Nikki Craig and
Callie Simonton, and grandson Christopher Kai Simonton.

A memorial service to celebrate John's life will be held at 6 p.m.,
Saturday, Dec. 10 at the Omniplex Science Museum in Oklahoma City. In
lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the John S. Simonton Memorial
Fund at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation, PO Box 1146, Oklahoma
City 73101.
"

x0xb0x Wiki and More - It's Alive!

Lot's of discussion happening on AH regarding the x0xb0x. If you don't know what the x0xb0x is, it's a Roland TB303 clone. Check out the x0xb0x site. I also posted on it here and here. Oh, if you skim through the list below, do check out the mp3 from Amos.



On AH:

Mods from Amos:

• 5 CV Inputs - http://bulldog.unca.edu/~azgaynes/CV_inputs.jpg


• Audio FM of the Filter


• Unmodified demo of the x0xb0x with Moogerfoogers - http://bulldog.unca.edu/~azgaynes/liveX0X-somasen.mp3


• x0xb0x Wiki - http://wiki.jonnay.net/x0x/x0xd0x


• Envelop click - http://bulldog.unca.edu/~azgaynes/envelope_click.jpg

Via Colin Chung:

• Demos - http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=417985

Driscoll Modular Still Available

I posted on the Driscoll Modular back on September 29. The following comment just came in on the post. If you wanted one, here's your chance. : )

Julian driscoll said...
Hi all

I am Julian Driscoll, who designed and built
the Driscoll Modular.
I can still build them.
My email address is jcdrisc[@]melbpc.org.au
I am in Melbourne, Australia
I do custom work also
snail mail :
4/2 Bona Vista Ave
Surrey Hills
Vic 3127
Australia

cheers, Julian D

Crystal

Updates via the comments: this software actually is free, not a demo. : ) Check out the comments link below for more.

Via Tony K on SynthSights. Haven't seen this before, but it looks interesting. Title link takes you to more info including samples and downloadable demo.



"Crystal is a semi-modular software synthesizer featuring both subtractive synthesis and frequency modulation (FM) synthesis. It offers abundant modulation control with over 90 parameters which may be modulated, multi-stage envelopes with graphical editors, extensive tempo sync of envelopes/lforates/delay times, built-in effects for chorus/flanging/comb filtering/echoes, and a band splitter for effects processing by frequency band. Not only that, Crystal has wave sequencing, granular synthesis, program morphing, MIDI learn, and imports soundfonts. The musical applications for Crystal are literally boundless.


Crystal is a plugin, which means it runs within a host, such as Cubase, Orion, Logic, Fruity Loops, etc. "

1001 Posts!

Just realized I hit 1000 posts! This is post 1001. : ) BTW, the search functionality so far hasn't picked up all of my posts, so it's pretty hit and miss. Hopefully Google will fix that over time - they own Blogger. In the mean time... Check out the Archive links at the bottom of the page or the bottom right pane of the page. They are grouped in months because I plan to be around for a long, long time. ; ) But because they are grouped in months, the download times will vary based on your connection. Fortunately text comes first followed by images, so it isn't too bad.

Spleepo2 and G2 Death Synth

I posted earlier on the Shifty Death Synthesizer, a programmable MIDI DSP box that can be controlled by a Palm Pilot. In the comments section of this post, Tom of Music Thing pointed out the Spleepo2, a VST version of the Shifty Death Synth and a Clavia G2 patch Tom created that emulates the synth for you lucky G2 owners. You can find more on both via the title link that takes you to Tom's post on electro-music.com. You can find more directly on Spleepo2 here: http://www.dsperado.com/sbleepo.shtml. Thanks Tom!

Spleepo2


"SBleepo2 is a VST simulation of the hardware-based Death Synth. It has its own sequencer, two oscillators, and about 15 combination metrics to join them. Oscillator A can be a live input or a square / saw, Oscillator B can be a square or saw. You can change pulse width, the frequency multiplier, the oscillator sync amount, and portamento. You can change the length of each sequencer, or how long they ring out for. You can adjust the volume of the entire mess (thank heavens!) You can set the number of measures before it "returns to 0." You can set the BPM."

Chroma CPU Replacement

Now this is good news. One of the biggest fears of getting an old vintage synth is what do you do when an obsolete part fails? Well, Chroma fans rejoice. There is now a CPU Replacement board that not only revives your Chroma if your CPU should fail, but it actually has a number of improvements. Title link takes to the rhodeschroma site with more info. The icing on the cake? The replacement board mounts in the same location with the same connectors - no modding necessary.

Russian RITM-2 Shots

Russian 1 OSC plus sub, analog RITM-2 synth via this ebay auction. Interesting in that I've only seen black versions of this synth on Rusynth and Russkeys. See either link for more info and samples. Title and picture links take you to a bigger version of the shot pulled from the auction. For more on Russian synths back track on either Russkeys or Rusynth linked above.

How to Make a Minimoog Makes Make:

Good to see synths on Make:. Title link takes you to the post. Check out the via link after the hop. : )

Creamware Launches Pro-12

Looks like the Pro-12 ASB has been released. The Pro-12 is Creamware's virtual SCI Prophet 5 in a break out box. Via Harmony Central News. Title link takes you there. For more info on the box and demos see the Creamware ASB Page.

This is hardware


Specifications and Prices
Virtual-analog synthesizer (desktop unit),
12 voices, 128 factory presets and 128 user presets,
analog stereo input and outputs, MIDI In/Out/Thru,
USB-to-Host/MIDI interface, external power-supply unit
(12 VAC), plug-in like WindowsTM remote control software

Minimax ASB MRSP 899 USD*
Pro-12 ASB MRSP 999 USD*
*MRSP not including sales tax or VAT

Electro-music.com Receives Cisco's Innovative Company Award

Great to see a music and synth oriented site win this award. I remember when electro-music.com was announced. They've really come a long way and are an invaluable resource to music and synths. Congrats guys! Title link takes you there.

Sonic Boom

Update: Some nice Spacemen 3 Ts: http://www.sonic-boom.info/shirts/ : )

Nice shot of Sonic Boom. Dig the revolving stage and matching shirt. Note the outward facing speakers and glow underneath. That would be surreal to see live. One of my biggest regrets was missing the Spectrum show in Seattle years ago to go see Fluke instead. Fluke was great and seeing "Atom Bomb" live was a hoot, but Sonic-Boom and a Synthi.... Why, oh why did I miss that... Title link takes you to Sonic-Boom's website with more info and upcoming shows.

Shifty Death Synthesizer H.Q.

Update: Make sure to check out the comments link for this post below for some notes from solipsistnation including a link to an interview. Pretty cool. Also, looks like this site made Make: via this post of course. ; )

I remember seeing this a while back. It's a DSP box that supports MIDI and a Palm Pilot interface. Some programs actually do not require either. It's an OPEN DSP system that people can create custom apps for. Below is a list of some of those apps. Title link takes you to the main site with more info.

• Remixer Automatically remix sounds into new sounds! NEWest!!!


• Combyops All the Combyops from Death Synth! NEW!!!


• Oddelay Self-FM Delay


• Sinlut Sinusoidal Lookup Table Waveshaper NEW!


• Burrito The ultimate MIDI controller program for Palm Pilot and EZ-Kit Lite devices!


• Xpand Spectral Inversion and Un-Inversion to enhance your existing FX!


• Click-O Acrid Distortion sound with randomizing paramters


• Modulation Domain Not the freq, not the time, but MODulation domain.


• GenMusic Algorithmic programs-- synthesize an entire pseudo-random song! (created by a user on our mailing list)


• SVF State-Variable Filter, a.k.a. Multi-Mode


• Template Updated!!! a template to get you started writing your effect own algorithm.


• Finally! Hear the effects on an audio stream of AND, OR, and XOR! (with source code and build scripts!)


• HarmEQ Download version 0.2 now! timbre re-arranger/harmonic equalizer


• Rim Job a Ring Mod with some Special Features (created by a user on our mailing list)


• Death Synth a many-parameter variable synthesizer


• Skank raunchy multi-effects box


• Fmadness screamingly weird modulator with extra controls

Memorymoog Schematics

Memorymoog Schematics via ChristianH on AH. Click here for higher res versions.

"Compressed TIFF, at about 1.2 to 1.8 MB per sheet. I didn't cut them up
into smaller pieces, because at that file size everybody should be able
to do it just for their individual needs, without running into trouble
(if it had been in the multi 100 MB league, it might have been necessary
to utilize our specialized large format tools)."

CLICK FOR MORE »

Analog Solutions Mod Page

I previously posted on the Analog Solutions Modifications Page. Tomislav Babic just posted a link to another page with more on AH. This page has a huge grid of synths and available mods along with pricing and pics below the grid. Title link takes you there.

DIY Minimoog

Update: Via the comments, "It's worth noting that the schematic for the VCF on that site contains the mistake with pin 13 on the CA3046 referred to in the text. There are a few other oddities like the biasing on the left of the ladder, that 5k6 resistor probably isn't going to work. Also, the ouptut/feedback amplifier in the VCF has a few differences from the Moog circuit that potentially break things. "

Title link takes you there. Via Paul Wagorn on AH.




"After playing on many different synths and copying several designs. I decided that I had to have a minimoog...

Unfortunately the cost of a second hand minimoog is anything between £1000-£2000 depending on age and condition. So the only choice I have is to look at doing my own copy with the aim of keeping the circuits and design as original as possible."

minimoog clone

PAiA Memories

In via John Mahoney on AH.

"Sadly, it appears that John Simonton of PAiA fame, has died.
http://matrixsynth.blogspot.com/2005/11/john-paia-simonton-rip.html

Sure, Paia synths, keyboards and effects were cheap and sometimes cheesy.
But they were all about returning the "best bang for your buck". Lots of
people bought Paia because it was their only affordable option. More
significantly, though, was Paia's influence on the musical electronics DIY
(do it yourself) community. Paia was instrumental in the very creation of
such a community, in my opinon. Many a soldering iron has been heated to
build a John Simonton circuit, that's for sure.

And with that in mind, here's a place to post remembrances of John Simonton
and Paia:
http://paiafans.blogspot.com
We're hoping for a nice response so that his family can see what an effect
the whole Paia thing had on the electronic music community.
--
john"

John "PAiA" Simonton - RIP

Update: If you haven't already, check out the comments of this post for some other words.


This has been a bad year for the synth world indeed. I just read via AH that John "PAiA" Simonton has passed away after a battle with cancer. It's hard to find words that would do him justice. When you think of the great names behind synthesis, names like Bob Moog, Don Buchla, Tom Oberheim and Dave Smith immediately come to mind. You know them because they created the classic uber analog synths. They brought you the packaged analog classics. So what about PAiA? You know the name but you rarely see mention of PAiA systems pitting up against these other synths. So what makes PAiA so special? DIY. The PAiA Fatman was the first and only DIY synth I ever created. I am not a technician and before the Fatman maybe only worked with a soldering iron about twenty years ago in the Boy Scouts. Yes I was a Boy Scout in an urban jungle. Anyway, I created my Fatman and had a blast doing so, but when I finally was done it didn't work. I contacted PAiA and what did they do? They said no problem, had me ship it back, fixed it and returned it back to me free of charge, with an explanation of what I did wrong. Amazing customer service and an amazing experience. So what makes PAiA so special? They allow us to create synthesizers. When I say us I mean everyone, the experienced and the inexperienced DIYers. Think of that. Not simply buying a synth and playing it out of the box, but actually building one. There is just something magical about that, and many of us, myself included, have John "PAiA" Simonton to thank for that. Think of how many people got to experience this because of him. PAiA started in 1967 and are still around today. Simply amazing. Title link takes you to the main PAiA site. RIP John "PAiA" Simonton and thank you for my big, little Fatman. He's pumping out one fat bass.

Octave CAT Demo

Via phloem on the VSE Synth Forum. Title link takes you there.

Gentle Bakemono's Flickr Set

Title link takes you to the set. Buchla and EMS. Yowsa.

Rusty Insects

Title link takes you to Carbon111's Rusty Insects studio page. Rusty insects, get it? I didn't at first. : ) Very cool name for a synth studio. Also, make sure to track back to the root of Carbon111's site for more, including some music composed with these synths. His latest track uses the Yamaha VL-1 and is pretty impressive to say the least. An interesting note on the VL-1: until I was fortunate enough to see Carbon111 play his, I had no idea that the included breath controller actually triggered the voicing - some patches do not play when playing notes unless you actually apply the breath controller. For some reason I thought the breath controller was simply a modulation source. It's much. much more than that. You can hear how expressive it is in Carbon111's track, Long Shadows. Enjoy.


BTW, knowing Carbon111, that is a reflection on that Moog Prodigy's wood side panel, and NOT dust like I mistook on this poor synth. That Prodigy is immaculate.