Fairlight IIx and Fostex Foundation

Two shots via Kevin Kelley of the Audio Playground. The Fostex Foundation are the grey pieces in the shot. I wasn't familiar with it before this. According to this site, it's a direct to disk recorder that came from the former NED Synclavier engineers. The Synclavier was a high end synth featuring sampling and FM in the late 70s. Before you get too excited about the Fostex Foundation, note that it's not a synth and was basically a $30k recorder when it came out. Coupled with the Fairlight and the Kurzweil Midiboard, you had quite an impressive set up indeed. The box on top of the Midiboard is the Roland MSQ-700 sequencer.

Move over Vemia

So we all know about Vemia, right? Well, somone took a look at what else was listed by the seller of the rack 808 I just posted today. So I decided to take a looksie. Umm... Umm... Just click here and scroll. No biggie? Click on the next page and scroll (might want to be sitting down). Damn....

You don't see these three together everyday. And... There is more.

Here are some shots saved for posterity including Buchla, RSF Kobol, ARP, Roland System 700, and a Korg EX800 (just never saw one with rack ends before).

CLICK FOR MORE »

New Jomox Shots

Looks like Jomox has some new shots up of the XBASE 999 and M-Resonator (pictured below).

Metalbox Modular Synthesizer

Interesting. Haven't seen these before.



"Metalbox is a line of analog synthesizer modules in Frac rack format. The modules are intended for supplementing existing systems with extended functions and sounds.

Voltage Generators and Processors

Sequential Switch - Sequencer with individual stage inputs

Pulse Divider/ Logic - Divide and compare pulses

Dual LFO - Dual multi-wave LFO

Analog Shift Register - Three stage ASR

VC Divider - Divide pulses under voltage control

Analog Logic - Compare voltages

Psycho LFO - Erratic modulation source

Gated Comparator - Unique rhythmic accessory

Audio Generators and Processors

Wave Multiplier - An amazing sounding wave-folder

Burst Generator - Clock or audio generator

Cynare - Monster percussion voice

Dual Chime -- Dual cymbal voices

Dual Drum - Dual percussive voices

Digital Noise - Versatile noise source

8008 Bass Drum - Classic analog boom"

Yamaha CS-80 to FS1R?

This came in via the Yamaha CS80 list. Interesting bit if true.

"I`ve heard that the man behind the CS-80`s design is called Phil
Nishimoto, and that after the work with analogue instruments he
spent nearly 10 years researching and developing another brilliant
instrument, the amazing FS-1-R"

Audeon UFO Soft Synth

"UFO software synthesizer is the first product to implement TransModal Synthesis technology. TransModal Synthesis relies on K-Osc, an oscillator model capable of smoothly transitioning between various oscillation modes like harmonic, noisy or chaotic, and Morphilter, a filter allowing continuous transitions between modes (low-pass, high-pass,...). Coupled with an extremely powerful modulation matrix, UFO's synthesis engine lets you accurately shape your sound and its evolution over time with an unparalleled ease of use, thanks to the innovative user interface concept lying on top of it." Via Harmony Central News.

SE "Harvey" 808 & Old School Racks

The "Harvey" 808 is Studio Electronics' Roland TR-808 in a rack. via this auction. Anyone know the story behind the name "Harvey?"

Also, I missed this earlier this year, but Studio Electronics has re-released it's old school racks:

5.20.05: OLD SCHOOL STUDIO ELECTRONICS RACKMOUNT CLASSICS RETURN!
"Harvey" 808s, P5s, a new TR-909 rack (minus its sequencer), OBIE RACKs, and even OB-8s (I think) are back in the fold! Give Greg St. Regis a hollah @ 310-640-3546 during regular business hours, and get the love of your life–OK it has nothing to do with him slash her–that piece you were convinced would never see the light of eBay.

CLICK FOR MORE »

EML 101

Title link takes you to some nice shots of an EML 101 and sample on VSE.

Elka Synthex Shots

Another Elka Synthex up for auction. Seems like a few of these have come up lately. As always I have no affiliation with the auction, just posting the shots.

CLICK FOR MORE »

The Sleepdrone

Interesting drone box from King Capitol featuring four VCOs and optical sensors for theremin like control of pitch. Click here more info including some samples; I found some to be more interesting than others. Via GetLoFi.

Formanta Percussion Synth

Martin sent me a link to this auction for a Formanta/Rokton Percussion synth. Title link takes you to more shots. Info on the machine pulled from the auction below. Thanks Martin!

"FORMANTA
A PERCUSSION SYNTHESIZER

VERY RARE SOVIET-ERA ANALOGUE DRUM SYNTH WITH BUILT IN PRESET DRUM MACHINE!
WAS MADE IN RUSSIA, THEN USSR, BY FORMANTA POLIVOKS FACTORY IN 1987!
EXCELLENT MINT CONDITION. WORKS PERFECTLY. ALL PARTS ARE ORIGINAL.

FORMANTA PERCUSSION SYNTH (OTHER NAME ROKTON PERCUSSION SYNTH) - RARE SOCIALIST VERSION OF ROLAND TR-909 AND OTHER MOST POPULAR VINTAGE DRUM MACHINES FROM 80'S. IT SOUNDS BETTER THAN MANY CLASSICAL DRUM MACHINES AND THIS MACHINE IS ALSO MUCH MORE RARE. THE DRUM SYNTH PROVIDES IMPRESSIVE ANALOG SOUNDS! IT IS CONVENIENT FOR MODELING OF SMOOTH KICKS, CLASSIC ELECTRO TOMS, OLD SCHOOL AND TECHNO SNARES, SINE WAVES. ETC. IT WAS MANUFACTURED IN 80'S by FORMANTA, A SOVIET MILLITARY RADIO PLANT AT KACHKANAR CITY, NEAR SVERDLOVSK CITY. The same one wich manufactured now legendary POLIVOKS synth. It is built like a rock, pure military technology. The body is solid and the knobs feel nice. There is an original soviet factory structure - i.e. method of synthesis, knob resistors, parts, connections, voltage etc. It runs on 220V AC (US customers will need an adaptor).

FORMANTA PERCUSSION SYNTH has 5 independent channels with a complete spectrum of synthesis (sensitivity, filter, pitch, balance tone/noise, decay etc) and two channels for cymbals. There is a built-in PRESET rhythm machine with 16 preset patterns; basic control functions and various styles, which can use any edited or factory sounds. It can also produce any preset style and live triggered sounds simultaneously. The module has a standard 1/4 jacks for triggers connection, pedals input and line-outs. Each of seven FORMANTA drum channels inputs can be triggered from individual outputs of the drum machines such TR 707, TR 626 or similar!

Dimensions - 440x450x165 mm
including packing materials I would guess about 9 kgs total weight"

CLICK FOR MORE »

Get Your Smut Here

So I just heard about slut-o-meter. You enter a query term and it calculates the difference between the number of pages that come up for the term vs. the number that comes up under Google SafeSearch. Matrixsynth scores a whopping 15.9%. Hmm... Must be all that synth p*rn.

I ran my blogroll (right pane) and got the following for my blogging buddies (guys, get your smut up)! : ) I was actually expecting Analog Industries to come up on top, with all the expletives, but surprisingly it didn't. What's up with that? Anywho... Mildly entertaining for about ten minutes, so have fun. : ) Synth content? Rate your favorite synths and synth sites, of course! Hmm.. I wonder what's the smuttiest synth out there...

Blogroll in smut order:
SparkleTrain - 20.39%
Matrixsynth - 15.9%
Retro Thing - 13.09%
Synthwire - 12.9%
Analog Industries - 9.38%
GetLoFi - 7.23%
Machinesound - 5.26%
Synthosium - 5.06%
Music Thing - 2.73%
Create Digital Music - 1.19%

Update: Looks like I'm smuttier than a Roland TB-303 (6.43%). Ok, this is embarrassing; I'm not finding any synth site with a higher smut rating than mine. If anyone finds one, let me know. Not sure if this is something to be proud of.

More New Gear

More new gear shots from Shawn Cleary of Analogue Haven. Dual Sherman Filter Bank Rack picutured below. More gear links below.



Via AH:

"hello,

Cwejman have sent further details about their new
modules. Info here:
http://www.analoguehaven.com/new/cwejman/
(these are big files). A few of these will be shown at
NAMM.

Doepfer have uploaded info for their newest modules
here:
http://www.doepfer.de/a100n_e.htm
The first 5 should be shown at NAMM: BBD module
(delay/flanger/karplus strong), universal vactrol
module, thru-zero quadrature vco, switched capacitor
filter and a version of the a-100 tkb-style sequencer
that is near to the production version. BTW there are
more mp3s for the BBD module on the A-100 usergroup at
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/Doepfer_a100/ ,
in the last post by Ingo.

Also I have uploaded one more photo of a "dual"
Sherman Filterbank 2 Rack:
http://www.analoguehaven.com/new/sherman/sherman_rack_big.jpg

Thanks,

Shawn Cleary
www.analoguehaven.com"

Synthmas Presents

And I'm back. Hope everyone had a great holiday weekend. I thought I'd put up a post on the synth goodies I got for xmas this year. Belated xmas presents on my list are James Grahame's Essential Retro, Peter Forests revised A-Z Books and the Analogue Heaven Synthesizer Museum book, and finally the Moog DVD.

Different Skies Arcs & Angles DVD
Synth centered music performance that happened this year. I put up a few posts including this one when I heard about it. I can't wait to check out this performance.


Learning Music With Synthesizers
Cool book about sound synthesis authored by David Friend and Alan R. Pearlman of ARP as well as Thomas D. Piggott. Not sure if Piggott was part of ARP; if you know feel free to comment. The book came out in 1974 and uses the ARP Odyssey as an example to demonstrate creating different types of sounds.


Synthesizer Basics
Haven't had a chance to flip through this one yet, but it looks good. Features Bob Moog, Roger Powell, Tom Rhea and Steve Porcaro. Volume 1 put out by Keyboard Magazine back in 1984.



Analog Days
This one is coming in the mail. I posted on this earlier as well. I can't wait to read this one as it will be more about the history of synthesis and should be a great read.


Real World Digital Audio
I also received a copy of Peter Kirn's Real World Digital Audio. I'm hearing it's a great book and just looking through the chapters I'm looking forward to it.


Oh, and of course there was this amazing surprise. : )

A Packrat Christmas

Saw this shot over on Moogulator's blog. Check out the Packrat site for more. Now that's a Christmas tree. : )

Christmas Present

So, I was going through online withdrawals and decided to sneak a peek, today on Christmas day. And what did I find? A wonderful Christmas present sitting under my happy holiday post tree, just for me. This shot absolutely made my day. Thanks to whoever took the time to post this in the comments of my last post. This is just way too cool. I am literally floored. Thank you! : )

Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays everyone. Don't forget to queeze in some synth time. ; )



Above is a shot of my MicroKorg and xmas tree.

New Gear Shots

Title link takes you to some nice new gear shots including the Jomox Xbase999, Sherman Filterbank rack, Analog Solutions 4 voice, Metasonix TM6 and Wretch. Via this post on VSE and AH. Enjoy.

Jomox Xbase999


Sherman Filterbank Rack


Jomox MResonator (also on Analog Industries)

Chamberlin Rhythmate Tape Loop Drum Macine

Here's and old school drum machine for ya. The Chamberlin Rhythmate. Title link takes you to a couple of shots saved from the *bay. Details from the auction below. Sent to me via underface. Thanks underface!



"You are bidding on a Chamberlin Rhythmate 30. It is a tape loop drum machine. Chamberlin originated the tape loop idea before the Mellotron Co. These are quite RARE! There were just over 10 manufactured along with the one you see. This model is heralded as the first drum machine ever! Read the links below for more history and background. My Chamberlin is in great working order. The exterior is in good shape other than a small piece of the covering which has chipped off of the left bottom corner (visible in the frontal pic) I had the unit serviced this past year for cleaning. It is impeccable for a unit like this. It has 14 tape loops with a sliding head that allows you to play different tracks on each piece of tape, or a blending in between of them. It contains a volume and a pitch/speed control and also has a seperate amplifier with bass, treble, and volume controls and an input jack for a guitar, mic. or other instrument. The tape loops are of real acoustic jazz drum kits playing different style beats with some additives to tracks such as bongos, clave, castanets, etc. It sounds amazing. I have used it on 2 records myself! With the speed control you can cover all the bases. This is like selling my left arm but, I have fallen short of fortune recently and must part ways with it. This is going to make a great Christmas present for someone. Own a functional and rare piece of musical history. Good Luck and Merry Christmas to all you bidders. Please give it a good home. (see links below) http://www.mellotron.com/chamanu.htm http://www.roth-handle.nu/instruments/drummachines_chamberlin.htm http://www.broadwaymusicco.com/beatbox3.htm http://www.hollowsun.com/vintage/chamberlin/ http://www.haddock.org/directory/?i=12425"

CS80 Access Virus Ti Demo from Jose Sogo Flores

Jose Sogo Flores just sent me a demo of the Acess Virus Ti covering that CS80 Vangelis sound. It's interesting that this is actually coming from the Acess Virus Ti. Title link takes you there - look for the demo with Vangelis in the title. Thanks Jose!

Technos Acxel Resynthesizer

Technos Acxel Resynthesizer up on the bay. Title link takes you to the shots and I grabbed the text below, before it goes to *bay limbo. In via reader Rasmus. Thanks Rasmus!

"Only 39 Axcels [sic] were ever made - and those who own an Acxel (ACoustic + X + ELement) hold on to them - proved by the fact that it is very, very rare that an Acxel is for sale. The last, and probably the only, time an Acxel was offered on Ebay were 2003. If I remember correctly, the starting bid was USD10,000 that time.

Imagine drawing waveforms, 128-stage envelopes, base pitches and amplitudes (the user interface allows editing of 32 base pitches/amplitudes at the same time, like an 32 track pitch and audio mixer, with a discreet “page” for each group of 32 oscillators, or ISC’s – Intelligent Synthesis Cells, as they are called in the Technos terminology), and other sound parameters with your finger - and have 256 intelligent, digital oscillators follow your every creative move in real-time. Imagine creating a monophonic sound with 256 oscillators, 8 multitibral voices with 32 oscillators each or any combination in sections of 32 oscillators.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Red Roland SH-101 Shots

Some drool worthy shots of a red Roland SH-101 on VSE. Title link takes you to the post with more.

Signal Arts Sequencer

Interesting. I haven't seen this sequencer before. It supports 24 banks of 8 sequences of 8 steps with real time control. Title link takes you to the specs page. Below are some of it's main features.

• 24 Banks


• of 8 Sequences


• of 8 Steps


• of 7 Parameters


• And Multiple Virtual Sequences


• Per-Step Note, Pitch, Velocity, Controller


• Per-Step Duration and Note Duration


• Per-Step Slew Rate


• A Full-Featured Three Channel Polyphonic MIDI to CV Converter

New Korg Delta Page

New Korg Delta Page on Sealed's Deep Synthesis site. Tons of samples and info. Title link takes you there.

MicroKorg on Jupiter 4 Shot

Love the color in this shot of a Korg MicroKorg on Roland Jupiter 4. Via premieklovn on VSE. Title link takes you to the post.

The Optigan Cat and Christmas Album - New Flickr Shot

Title link takes you to Mellotrongirl's Flickr set including a Mellotron, Optigan, Korg MicroKorg and more. The Optigan is similar to a Mellotron, but uses optical disks instead of tape. Check out optigan.com for more.

Mmmmmm.... Cat fur and bottles of sticky stuff. No Mellotrongirl! Noooo! : )


An Optigan Christmas

Phat Santa

Damn. Via Create Digital Music. Title link takes you there.

ASMx-Genie, the Teisco S-110F, and Elby-Designs

Ready for another convoluted post? Here goes... I saw this thread on VSE by piRoN posting some 3DS Max models of his ASM2 design. Go to the thread for another shot.

piRoN's ASM2 Model


So, what's an ASM2. At first I wondered if it was an Analog Solutions or Analog Systems kit, but a little search brought me to the ASMx-Genie page (title link) with the following bit on it:

"The ASM1-Genie is a semi-patched synthesiser offering the user the benefits of a ready-patched normalised synthesiser that is ready-to-run the moment the power is turned on with the benefits of patching options that allow the user to customise the module interconnections for a greater variety of sounds. The ASM1-Genie, in its normalised mode, closely follows the Teisco S-110F although the ASM1-Genie does not include a Ring Modulator or Sample & Hold circuit. Any of the normalised connections may be overriden through the patch connectors and in this mode of operation the ASM1-Genie more resembles a modular synthesiser."

Teisco S-110F? Interesting. The Teisco S-110F falls into the exotic synth list for me. Never seen one in person and don't think I have ever even heard one, but I like the way they look. BTW, if anyone knows where to find samples, please feel free to comment. You can find more info on the Teisco S-110F on the one and only Teisco Synthesizers Webpage.

Teisco S-110F


So three links, two shots, two modular synth manufacturers, a few synths and some nice 3D modeling counts as a pretty convoluted post, right? No? Ok, make sure to also check out Laurie Biddulph's Elby-Designs, home of the Teisco site, the ASMx site and more. : )

Update: Some samples of the S-110F on Bluesynths via the comments below.

Future Retro 777 Shots

Title link takes you to some nice shots sent my way via Ales Toevs. BTW, check out his site for some really nice mp3s of the 777 and more. Thanks Alex!

Blacet Bar Graph

Interesting module from Blacet. Via Synthtopia News.

"The BG is a 20 element LED bar graph display module. It's designed to take some of the mystery out of what is going on with control voltages and audio levels in your modular setup.

The BG 2520 covers -10V to +10V from DC to audio. A "multiple" of three jacks allows signals to be monitored at the same time that they are being used elswhere in the system."

Pro-One Modifications Page

Title link takes you to a page on some nice mods for the SCI Pro-One. There are more shots, details and some pretty impressive samples. Make sure to check them out.



Modification Summary:

• Replaced the white noise source with a new circuit that provides white, pink, red, and infra-red noise. A rotary switch selects the noise colour.


• The new noise source can act as a modulation source in addition to its role as an audio signal. A pot sets the noise level fed to the buses. A rotary switch selects whether the noise signal feeds the Direct or Wheel modulation buses.


• Added a Sample & Hold circuit. The new noise source is the signal input to the Sample & Hold. The LFO square wave is the clock. The Sample & Hold output can be used as a modulation source.


• The pulse width of the LFO signal can be adjusted from 0% to 100% with a pot.


• The LFO signal can be inverted. A rotary switch selects LFO non-inverted, LFO inverted, or Sample & Hold as a modulation source.


• Added a triangle wave for oscillator A. A pot allows manually mixing between the triangle and sawtooth waves.


• Filter resonance can now be used as a modulation destination. A rotary switch selects from either the Direct or Wheel modulation buses as a source.


• The filter envelope can be inverted. Inverted and non-inverted envelopes can be applied to filter frequency and the Direct or Wheel modulation buses via two slide switches.


• The filter frequency signal from the Kenton MIDI interface can be assigned to the Direct modulation bus. A pot sets the signal level fed to the bus.

The circuitry fits on one tiny Rat Shack board. The pots, rotary switches, and slide switches are mounted on the plastic casing between the main panel and the keyboard.

Minimoog Gear P*rn

Title link takes you to a nice Minimoog Gear P*rn thread on VSE. Includes shots of the Moog Mini A, Mini B, Mini C and Mini D. Note the first shots in the thread are from the Moog Archives site, but there are some after that. What's interesting are a couple of shots from Micke of Sun Ra using the Model B prototype (it was never released to production). Also note the Sequential Circuits looking outlines around the different editing sections. After the hop make sure to note the Mini C and Mini D shots with slider for pitch and mod controllers instead of wheels.

Moog Archives Mini B Shot


Sun Ra Mini B

R.A. Moog Bode Frequency Shifter

Moog Bode Frequency shifter on the bay. Title link takes you to shots saved for posterity.



"Serial number 1001. According to www.moogarchives.com, this unit was originally purchased by Walter Sear in 1968. We acquired it through a VEMIA auction in 1998.

Overall condition is excellent, and all the electrolytic capacitors were replaced two years ago."

OSXTools

Update: Via the comments, "Stephan Bernsee wasn't a Hartmann programmer btw. he's the founder and former CTO of Prosoniq (http://www.prosoniq.com)"

And from Stephan Bernsee himself, on Moogulator:
"I used to work for Prosoniq who licensed the Neuron synthesis technology to Hartmann) and the company OSXTools has no affiliation with Hartmann, nor will it be a successor of that company or provide any support for the Hartmann range of products.

I thought this might be useful information - btw. you can find a very active forum for user-to-user support for the Hartmann range of products at http://www.surroundsfx.com/forum/ "

Title link takes you to OSXTools, a new company by Stephen Bernsee. New products will come in 2006. Note the design style in the image to the left. I can't wait to see what they bring to the table.

"OSXTools' founder and CTO, Stephan Bernsee, is the creator of many innovative products you may know or use, such as the (now discontinued) sonicWORX audio editing software, the Prosoniq range of plug ins including the OrangeVocoder, Prosoniq morph and Magenta and the basic technology behind the Hartmann Music synthesizer. He has developed the Timefactory time stretching products for Prosoniq which are used in almost all of todays major software products such as Cubase, Nuendo, Cakewalk, Pyramix and many more. He has recently developed a new time stretching/pitch shifting technology called DIRAC, now used to guarantee unprecedented quality DSP processing in the Smoke and Fire products of Discreet/Autodesk and upcoming products from other companies."

Via Moogulator's machinesound.

5 Voice Silver Omega 8 Shots

Liked the following groovy shot of the Omega 8 manual and silver Omega 8. Title link takes you to a bigger shot of the below and the rest from this auction. Some blurry, but so is life at times. ; )

Roland SH-101 Shots

Roland SH-101 in "pristine museum quality" via this post on VSE. Title link takes you to the shots saved for posterity. At first I thought there was a smudge on the synth and wondered about the "pristine museum quality," but then I realised it was the cammera.

More Spectralis Samples

Title link takes you to a VSE post with a link to some Spectralis samples by Zamise.

Korg Electribe MX - New Flickr Shot

Cool shot.