Tiesco sx400 Demo

Demo by David Brands. Title link takes you there. Also saved here for posterity.

Is Kore a Nightmare?

Title link takes you to a post on the CDM forums with the following posted by Vincent. I was wondering about this ever since my dongle post. It's a 10 pound dongle. They should have shipped with a mini dongle for times when you don't want to use the controller. Say composing out in the park or in your comfy recliner. If any one has anything to add please feel free to comment.

"I just returned KORE after 3 weeks of unknowingly being an unpaid alpha tester...

What a nightmare. Just read NI's KORE forum and you'll see what I mean. I don't know if/how NI will fix this.

They've made the KORE hardware a 10 pound dongle, and since it must be attached to run and sends control messages through usb audio it requires a fair amount of cpu even if you don't want to use it...

Sounds like some of you guys are inside industry types that may know the guys at NI, if so, someone please have a talk with them... "

Earth, Wind & Fire’s Yamaha DX7 II FD Centennial LE

Shot and details via this post on craigslist.
"Earth, Wind & Fire’s Yamaha DX7 II FD Centennial limited edition. Stunning, silver body with gold buttons, 76 fluorescent keys. Flight case included. Celebrating their 100th anniversary in 1987, Yamaha created 100 of these worldwide selling for $3,995. Only 13 were allocated for the USA-this is one of them. Features: 76 keys (channel after touch; split; layer) 32 Voice (16 x 2); 6 operator x 2 (A & B); 64 patches; 64 performance memories; 64 voices via cartridge."

Ladytron on KCRW

Title link takes you to the post on DVDBorn. 4 Korg MS2000s and 2 MS20s all played, no sequencing. Great band. Love the feel of their music.

Electronic Ballet with Sound Beam

Via Alex Theakston on AH:
"the one we had [EMS Sound Beam] was a bit more advanced, with a control box and a separate beam device. in the first half of the video (not the upbeat last bit) it's triggering a virus, and we set up a constrained range of notes that could be triggered along the length of the beam. theres a CS5 in the mix too, and a speak n spell."

If you listen closely at the beginning you will hear that she is playing the sound beam with her movements and they are playing accompaniment.

Update: It's not an EMS Soundbeam but actually one of these.

Update: Alex pointed out that the Soundbeam logo is the same as the EMS. Interesting, I wonder what the history is. According to the EMS History page the sound beem was designed by Richard Monkhouse (Digital & Video design:1972 - 1975), however it was not manufactured until after Edward Williams took over the assests in 1984. According the site, EMS (London) folded in 1979, their assets were bought by Datanomics who owned them from 1980 to 1984, followed by Edward Williams when the Soundbeam was made.

Bluezone

Title link takes you to Bluezone, home to a number of unique electronic musical instruments built by Blauw.

Playstation - New Flickr Shot

flickr by Stebbi.


via Sameli.

First MIDI Sequencer - New Flickr Set

flickr by Nohaptimus. Title link takes you to more.

via Sameli.

Riday T-91 Midi Controller - New Flickr Shot

flickr by floorvan.

Riday T-91
Midi Controller

Invented by Rick Riday,
the T-91 is a midi controller that uses his patented "unified keyboard" design. This design allows for identical fingering patterns for all 12 scales (12 major scales, 12 minor, 12 blues, etc.)


via Sameli.

Updates via the comments:
Via Carbon111:
"Its too bad but I don't think they ever went into production. I contacted Rick about twenty years ago and he sent me some promotional material...I think I've still got it somewhere."

Via divbyzero:
"Riday's patent sheds some light on the details of the keyboard. It's isometric like the Janko (Chromatone) and Hayden (Thummer), which makes transposition simple and shortens the learning curve compared to other nonstandard keyboards.

However, his choice of isometric offsets (go up by a half-step as you move one key to the right; go down by a whole step as you move up a row and half a key to the right) is a little odd. In particular, going down in pitch as you move up in row feels quite backwards. At least half-steps are on adjacent keys, unlike the Hayden.

I've posted this before, but I'll mention it again... my little free program qwertymidi is great for testing out experimental keyboard layouts like these."

MIDI for Musicians - New Flickr Shot

flickr by betameme.

via Sameli.

Casio ck200 - New Flickr Shot

flickr by floorvan.

"Probably one of the rarest boomboxes, this Casio surfaced briefly in 1985. It was their second effort to create a crossover musical intstrument / entertainment system, preceeded by their KX-101 a year earlier."

via Sameli.

Nova Edition Studio Electronics SE-1X

"THE NEW SE-1X NE...Innovative NEW LOOK!...Limited Edition with NEW Amp Overdrive for Saturated "Fuzz", Ultra fast ADSR for ultimate SNAP, Expanded wide range Filters, NEW added SINE WAVE GENERATOR for more BOOM, and Custom Scroggins Techno Sounds Bank... "

Interesting. This appears to be a Nova Music edition. Check out the Nova Music logo. I wonder how often manufacturers have done this. Studio Electronics does offer custom paint designs and mods so I guess this wouldn't be too difficult to do.

Gear of Carbon Based2 - New Flickr Shots

flickr by ^^Orion. Yamaha AN1X and CS1X. Title link takes you to more.

Chroma Polaris Demo

Title link takes you to a demo of the Chroma Polaris by memo on VSE, also saved here for posterity. I'm surprised at how much this actually sounds like a Rhodes Chroma. The character is there.

Analog Overkill Pro One Demo

Title link takes you to a demo of the Pro One by Digital Screams on VSE, also saved here for posterity. I'm noticing old VSE posts expire over time. Anyone else notice that?

Aliens Project Toy of the Month - Wersi Bass Synth AP6

Title link takes you there. Samples on site. Via sequencer.de.

Roland OP-8M

Shot pulled from this auction. Via Loscha.

Roland System 100

Shot pulled via this auction. Via Loscha.

Vangelis Improv on YouTube

Update:
According to this post on VSE, it's a Prophet 5 to the right of him.

Analog Systems Modular

Shot via this post on the Experimentalists Anonymous forum, sent my way via Colin Raffel.

More on Analog Systems.

Aelita - New Flickr Shot

flickr by Amstrad. Another sent my way via Sameli.

Buchla 2 - New Flickr Shots

flickr by SortaLucid34. Sent my way via Sameli.

Cybersonica 06 Videos on YouTube

The video above picks up about one minute in. Title link takes you to more videos. More on the event here.

Pappas pojke - New Flickr Shot

flickr by sykossa.

Cheetah MD16 Drum Machine

Spotted on Sequencer.de.

EMS Vocoder 5000

Paul Sop sent in the following on the EMS Vocoder 5000. It is interesting how much it does sound like the cylons in Battlestar Galactica. Thanks Paul!


Shot via EMSRehberg, who still makes Synthis and some other EMS products including the EMS Vocoder 5000 which will only set you back 23,000 Euro.













"I'm all about Vocoders lately. Check it out

EMS Vocoder 5000- AND -
EMS Rehberg 5000 Page (great pic here)

Pretty cool. A few factoids:

http://www.bigbluewave.co.uk/ems_vocoder_5000.htm- It is probably the highest specified vocoder ever. 22 bands.
- Includes things like Frequency Shifters, Oscillators, etc.. It's a whole synth!
- It weighs about 20kg!

Cyclons Forum
- It may have been used on the cylons.
- From this page:

Here are some audio samples of both the EMS Vocoder 5000 and the Cylons, see if you think they sound a like and are. Some sites such as one from Ben Liebrand "claim" it's the Sennheiser but after hearing this audio from EMS I have to go with that one.

First the Cylons:

cylon.wav
cylon2.wav
cylon3.wav
cylon4.wav
cylon7.wav
cylon9.wav

EMS Vocoder 5000:

EMS5000plab1.mp3
EMS5000p2.mp3
EMS5000p3.mp3

Apparently it cost 5000 pounds in 1976. If you want one today, it would cost you 23,000 euro from:

Pricelist

I guess it wasn't in the new Battle Star Galactica's budget!"

Update via Derek Wildstar in the comments:
"Some say the Cylons used the EMS Vocoder 5000 and others say it was the Sennheiser VSM-201!! The only thing I knew for sure is that a ring-modulator was also used (I don't know if that was part of the vocoder or not) and that it was based on the voice of Colossus according to Mr. Glen A. Larson himself. Matrixsynth if you, Paul, or anyone knows for sure please post the answer here. I personally believe they used the EMS Vocoder 5000. Thanks."

Korg Polysix, Window, Cat - New Flickr Shot

flickr by
H O L L Y W O O D S T E V E.

Korg MS20 - New Flickr Shot

flickr by Ian Tindale.

MIDIsense

"MIDIsense is a simple, yet extensible sensor interface system for artists, musicians and others interested in experimenting with sensors. The MIDIsense boards provide a simple way to integrate various common sensors with existing software such as Max/MSP, Ableton Live, etc. or directly to a synthesizer/sequencer with a MIDI in jack. Interface boards are available as kits and (possibly) assembled. Graphical configuration/calibration software is written in wx/Python and is available as a MacOS X executable or source for Linux (& will be available as Windows exe very soon - its too sluggish right now to release)."

Title link takes you there. Via Synthtopia.

Update:
More on CDM.
"I’ve been working with Limor’s board since March, when she tested out the board on a group of us at Eyebeam here in New York. It’s just the thing for building your own flex sensor glove or light sensor Theremin. Here’s a quick look at why it’s cool: link"

Update:
Flickr set sent my way via Sameli: link.

Akai AX80 Get's Down And Dirty

Title link takes you to a post on HC with one gritty sample of the AX80 by Awake77. Also saved off here for posterity.

Moog Announces 2nd Annual Ether Music Festival

"Moog Music has announced the 2nd annual Ether Music Festival and Conference.

Ether Music 2006 will be held in the home of Moog Music, Asheville, NC, from Thursday, August 3rd through Sunday, August 6th.

The event will include workshops, speakers and performances by incredible thereminists such as Lydia Kavina and Wilco Botermans. Keynote Speakers are Frank Trocco and Trevor Pinch, co-authors of Analog Days: The Invention and Impact of the Moog Synthesizer.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to tour the new Moog Music factory where the theremin and other legendary Moog products are made."

Via Synthtopia.

Fijuu2

Update: Looks like the video has been pulled from YouTube. You can get it here.

Title link takes you to more on CDM.

"a rotating three-dimensional world in which visitors can sculpt glitchy and resonating sounds, represented by fluid 3D models, all using a standard PlayStation2 controller."

Synthi AVS to Synthi AKS Compared

Title link takes you to a post on Des choses et d'autres with two videos. One of the Synthi AVS and one of the Synthi AKS. The AVS sounds pretty good to me; note the mods on the Synthi AKS below.








Via deb7680 in the comments of this post:
"Matrix, this a new post on comparison between Ems Avs and Ems Synthi Aks by ores303.
Here are the modifications of the Ems :
It possesses all the modifications proposed by EMS in the 70s: - modif. on the reverb - modif. on the envellope cad that we can activate(start) a sequence by pressing on the red button - inversion of tensions: with 4 reversers, the sound is to play has to, exellent for news(short stories) sound creations –
- Synchronization 3 oscillateurs which allows to controler chaqun of them independently, this modif. allows to create sounds very complex impossible with a normal aks - modif. on the forms of waves in particular on the third to oscillateur which allows to explode the sound - finally, great pleasure, The aks is entirement CV and Gate, cad that it is completely midi via a kenton kit kind(genre) pro solo or pro on 2000."

Tidal Quad Filter

This one just popped up on AH, pictured here, next to the MFB. I can't seem to get to tidalmusic.com, so title link takes you to info on filters.muziq.be. Details pulled below. Also on sequencer.de.








Update via elmacaco on AH:
"The specs up on Matrix synth seem like they include most of the info, but
I'll add a few bits that I like.

It's a quad filter, and each filter has 4 jacks associated with it, In, Out,
CV and ENV (Gate). The ENV input is obviously for triggering the associated
AR envelope with a gate instead of using the envelope follower or audio
triggering. The input jack is actually A TRS jack, with in /out/ and
ground, which I think lets you use it on some insert jacks with just a
stereo cable. Also, with nothing plugged into filter 2's audio in jack the
signal from filter 1's in gets routed to filter 2's input. This is mirrored
for filter 3 and 4 as well.

While there are 4 filters, there are 2 LFO's, so two filters share one LFO,
and each filter has a bi polar mod amount pot. Waves are Tri, Square and
Saw.

All filters self oscillate in all modes, although BP mode has a narrower
range of self oscillation.

The filters sound great, I use them quite a lot as they have pretty much
everything you need right there. The two modes of waveshaping are great,
I've mostly used them on percussion sounds, but they have a wide range and
what I find to be a big sweet spot.

One of my favorite things on this unit is the 'punch' switch. It makes the
envelope hit harder somehow. Now this unit is optimized for fast response
since using it with a 'drumcomputer' was understood to be a common
application, but the punch switch just adds a great smack to the sound. Add
that with the waveshaper engaged and it's just bananas.

The website formerly had some pics of 2 Quad units racked side by side,
giving you 8 filters in about 5 rack units, it was a pretty sight.

Build quality is very good, the unit is solid, the pots are firmly attached
and not the wobbly kind you see more and more.

Theo Hogers is the man behind Tidal, and I ordered my unit directly from
him, his contact info is here :

Tidal Music Piksenbrink 186 NL-7544 BK Enschede tidal@home.nl FAX
+31/534765321 Phone +31/534765321 Theo Hogers"

--------------------
Details:
4x Cutoff
Controls the cutoff frequency of the filter
4x Reso
Controls the filter resonance
4x Shaper
?
4x VCF (LP/BP/HP)
Selects the filter: low-pass, band-pass or high-pass
4x Shape (1/2)
?
4x ?
?
4x Punch
?
4x Env Sense
Controls the envelope follower sensitivity
4x Env Mode
Selects an envelope mode
4x Env Attack
Controls the envelope attack time
4x Env Release
Controls the envelope release time
4x Env Depth
Controls the depth of the envelope sweeps
4x LFO Depth
Controls the depth of the LFO sweeps
2x LFO Rate
Controls the rate of the LFO
2x LFO Wave
Selects the wave-form of the LFO Various
SchneidersBuero about the Tidal Quad:
The Tidal Quad is a 4-channel filterbank with extensive control and modulation possibilities. The filter can be used in High-/ Low-/ or Bandpass with an Envelope follower for each mode. There is also an LFO for each set of 2 Channels which allows complex modulations. Additionally it offers a Waveshaper for each channel. For friends of analog distortion this unit leaves no wish open.
4x HP/BP/LP - Filtermodule
LFO Channel 1+2 (Cutoff)
LFO Channel 3+4 (Cutoff)
LFO each channel positive or negative switch
1 Waveshaper per Channel
4x Sidechain Input with Envelope Follower for Cutoff-Modulation
the Tidal Music homepage about the Tidal Quad:
The resonant filter might be the most important effect in popular music these days. However if you want to insert a filter on multiple channels of your mixer and also would like to have a lot of knobs and modulation possibilities, there was no real solution. That's why Tidal Music Electronics announces it's four channel desktop multimode filter. You can switch the four individual resonant filters between Lowpass, Bandpass and Highpass modus. Each filter can be modulated by an envelope follower, a LFO and an external CV. The envelope follower is specially designed to track percussive sounds without false triggering, a key feature when used with drumcomputers, grooveboxes or guitar.

Maximum Modulation
Each filterbank has 4 VCFs, 4 Waveshapers, 4 Envelopefollowers and 2 Low Frequency Oscillators (LFOs).
The filters are switchable between 3 modes, Lowpass, Bandpass and Highpass. The Low- and Bandpass are 24 dB and the Highpass is 12 dB/Oct.
The cutoff of each channel can be modulated by it's own Envelope follower which can be fed by a sidechain input or by the audiosignal itself. This option gives you the possibilities to create very funky filter-effects.
Each LFO modulates 2 channels and every channel has it's own depth controller which can be set positive or negative. This can be used to generate cool stereo effects.
The Waveshaper
The waveshaper is one of the components which give the filterbank it's unique sound. It actually is a wavefolder which "folds" the tops of the waveform back instead of clipping. This sounds a bit like an overdrive but also has some characteristics of Frequency Modulation.

To give you a better idea what the waveshaper actually does we'll illustrate what happens with a simple sine wave using different ratio settings for each of the two shaper modes.

EMS Synthi 100 on the Bay

That's one heck of a mod matrix.

via this auction.

Details:
Electronic Music Studios (EMS) Synthi 100 Analogue Synthesizer in pristine condition. The Synthi 100 is fitted with two patch panels with two 60x60 matrix boards, one for the signals and one for the voltages.
This is a list with the modules:

12 x Voltage Controlled Oscillator.
x Noise Generator.
3 x Ring Modulator.
4 x Voltage Controlled Low Pass Filter.
4 x Voltage Controlled High Pass Filter.
3 x Trapezoid Envelope Generator.
2 x Voltage Controlled Reverberation.
Octave Filter Bank
Slew limiter.
Envelope Follower.
Pitch to Voltage Converter.
8 x Input Amplifier.
9 x Stereo Output Amplifier.
2 x Joysticks.
2 x5 Octave Dynamic Keyboards.
3 256 Step Digital Sequencer.
Oscilloscope (not on the picture).
Frequency meter counter.

Starting Bid of 60k.

This one via Michael Tritter.

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