The MonoVoice SID Based Synth

3 oscillator monophonic synth with a register editor software and a simple 8-step sequencer. Title link takes you to more on C64Music!.

JWM Electronics Thunderchild SZ3540 - New Flickr Shot

According to this post, "back in 1976 Jeff Wayne released War of the Worlds, upon which allegedly featured a specially built synthesizer called the Thunderchild SZ3540."

Caption from the Flickr Shot
"...there lay thunderchild."

in a garage in an undisclosed location somewhere in the uk lies THE synth that made all those wonderful sounds. I'm always into the very latest sounds coming from the new wave electronica scene, but War of the Worlds always holds a special place in my heart. And it was a wonderful moment meeting Thunderchild.

And of course, now you all know where the name comes from..."

More on Thunderchild in War of The Worlds.

Korg Karma - New Flickr Shot

Nice black and white of the Karma. Title link takes you to a color shot.

JD990 Samples

Two samples (links below image) of the Roland JD990 via this thread on HC.

JD800 - the keyboard version of the JD990


http://www.babic.com/SYN/JD990-BladeOfGlass.mp3
http://www.babic.com/SYN/JD990-Patches.mp3

Corky Burger's Flickr Sets

Title link takes you to one. Note the other sets on the right.

Roland SH-201 - No LCD and Zero Menus?

James of Retro Thing has an interesting point on the new Roland SH-201 - there are no menus and there is no LCD. Everything is right there out front. I had to do a double take to believe it, but he's right. But then what if it has hidden menus only accessible via pressing different combinations of buttons. Eeek! Hopefully not. I'm more curious as to how it will sound compared to the SH-32 and JP8000. Will it cover both or lean towards one more than the other.

Akai EWI400S VA Wind Instrument

Title link takes you there. The VA synth is built in. Wireless MIDI. Think about that. : )




"The EWI4000S has many of the long sought after controls and functions that are necessary for expressive performance. These benefits have been proven by its predecessors, but the EWI offers these features at a much lower price. There are several improvements to the design as well, such as having a built-in sound module, direct MIDI IN and Out, and other updated operating functions. These functions make playing the EWI4000 easier than any other electronic wind instrument.

With the sound module and the instrument all in one product, players no longer need to be tethered to a module. By using MIDI and audio wireless transceivers, EWI4000S players can move freely on the stage as they are playing. The user can easily switch between programs on the EWI4000S directly with a dedicated Program selection button, or use the note keys to select stored patches."

Native Instruments KORE

Title link takes you there.




"KORE can host any VST and AudioUnit instrument and effect. It runs stand-alone or as a plug-in within all major sequencers. KoreSounds can consist of multiple instruments and effects and can be transferred seamlessly between songs, systems and studios."

Korg Radias Hands-on via CDM

Title link takes you there.

Korg Radias on Sonic State and MP3s are up on Korg

Nice close up of the Korg Radias on Sonic State. Title link takes you to their news article on the Radias. I can't wait for their videos to come in. Also MP3s are up on Korg.

Ultra 303

Click here for more info.

"ultra303 is a cpu replacement project for the tb 303 and the ml 303 clone...
which means the old cpu is desoldered and replaced by a new one... a cpu replacement adds new features to your tb 303 and makes things easier to handle it and beside this it turns your tb 303 into a state of the art synth.
the new firmware has still an internal sequencer with the "same" behavoir but with lcd display, midi implementation, saving, reading and editing your patterns via a midi interface on pc.

the entire editing on the 303 is lcd based. you can see the current note that one after and before and you can browse thru your pattern going steps back and some more features which were impossible with the old cpu
of course the firmware is realtime editing...means you don't need to stop the pattern replay during editing."

Three Octave Synths Please

Moogulator has a funny post up on how there aren't enough three octave synths out there. Instead we keep getting two octave mini synths. I couldn't agree with him more. I once picked up a Novation k-Station and while it's a nice synth, I barely used it because it only had two octaves. Not much range there, you know. A nice three octave synth? The MEK of course. Thank you Dave Smith. And thank you Brandon Daniel for posting these shots of NAMM 2006 and more. You rock.

FTG - Roland MKS Site and More

Title link takes you to the MTG Roland MKS page. Note the links on the left when you get there. There is also a System 100m page and an SCI Prophet 2000 page with the users manual and more.

Roland TR-808 Shots

Title link takes you to shots pulled from this auction. Check out the Japanese overlay.

Korg Polly 800 II - New Flickr Shot

Nice Buchla Shot

Title link takes you to a bigger shot on Analog Industries.

The Mini Open Labs Miko

Title link takes you there. Ok, this looks pretty sexy. Credit when credit is due: via Music Thing.

NAMM Synth P*rn from the Inside

Now for what we've all been waiting for. Title link takes you to images coming in from Brandon Daniel. Enjoy. : )

Buchla


MEK

Sonia Xi MIDI Knob Box

You can link up to five of these for a massive sixty programmable knob box with twenty five assignable buttons. MSRP at $135 a unit. Title link takes you there. Via James of Retro Thing, literally; he is the man behind Sonia. Very cool, I must say.



Features:
12 assignable soft-touch knobs and 5 assignable buttons.
120 programmable memory banks.
Includes 25 preset memory banks that work instantly with popular soft synths and recording applications.
ControlChain function seamlessly links up to five units as a single system.
Connects to computers, keyboards, sound modules, and effects using standard MIDI In/Out connectors.
Independent MIDI channel assign for each knob/button.
High visibility UltraBright LED display for quick programming and memory bank selection.
Full support of SysEx memory bank dumps to computer.
MIDI Input with merge function to cascade multiple control units.
Extremely compact: 8" x 6" x 3" (20cm x 15 cm x 8cm)
Shipping January 2006 for $135.

The Arturia Prophet V

Title link takes you there.

Peter Kirn of CDM Speaking at NAMM

Interesting! Peter Kirn of Create Digital Music will be talking at Ableton's booth about Live's warp features and how to control Live with a Max/MSP/Jitter video input from a webcam. Title link takes you to the post on CDM. BTW, I finally started on his Real World Digital Audio (link on right pane). The first chapter on how sound works is excellent.

The New Korgs

Update2: The links on the Korg site are working now. The MicroX? A two octave Korg Triton. ; )

Update: The list is up on Korg.com but the links crap out. Oops. : ) Some pics on the new gear below.

The Radias


The List:
K-series USB MIDI Studio Controllers
Korg Radias and RadiasR (rack) VA? keyboard (lots of controls)
Korg D888 DRS Recorder
Korg microX/X25 and X50
Korg padKontrol
Korg AX3A Modeling Signal Processor
Korg TR88
Korg C320 & C350





Another of the Radias

Korg Legacy T-Series - Free Update

The countdown on Korg.com is still ticking as I post this, but it looks like the Sonic State guys have some news on the Legacy update. Title link takes you there.

Clavia's Patch Mutator

Clavia usually announces major releases during the Frankfurt Musikmesse, so we don't expect much to be revealed during NAMM. With that, they do have some updates on their site including the Patch Mutator, a free update for the Modular G2.



"From this version the Nord Modular G2 Editor provides two new tools for patch modification, the Patch Adjuster for quick patch changes on a global level, and the Patch Mutator for extensive sonic exploration based on interactive evolution."

The New CMEs

MIDI controllers with some interesting features. Get your "Game" on. ; ) Title link takes you there.



"CME has just release their brand new intelligent keyboard controller - VX series. It's the first keyboard with motor fader controller as well as multi-function expansion slot in the world. As the first keyboard with 'PadStyle' intelligent MIDI songs and styles in the world, it is available to update via USB. It’s also the first keyboard with unique Game mode, Multi-scale and U-CTRL function in the world.

Not only a MIDI keyboard controller, VX also supplies many unique functions to meet the need of 21 century's new musicians. Firstly, VX supplies both USB MIDI and USB audio functions. Users do not need extra audio interface when they using VX with music software. VX also builds in many MIDI songs and accompaniment in different styles, including loop variation and chord change, which are elaborate made by professional musicians and can be sprung by VX's unique 'PadStyle'. All MIDI songs and styles can be downloaded from Internet and transferred into VX via USB. VX supplies a brand new Game mode, users could use this function and music books with VX to test their skill of performance, and students could learn many tips in this mode. VX is the first keyboard that has build in muiti-ethical scales in the world, and it will surprise you, no matter you want to play Arabian music of Asian music. U-CTRL is a brand new concept by CME, it provides the easiest way to communicate between controller and music software. You do not need to load template or presets, just press U-CTRL button and all the controllers for software you may use will be ready. VX's multi-function expansion slot gives you many option for expanding your VX, including sound module with sample function, analog synthesizer module, firewire audio interface module, digital mixing console module and etc, with these expansion cards, VX will bring you a all-in-one music production platform. "

electro-music 2006 - Philadelphia, PA

Title link takes you to more info.



"We proudly announce electro-music 2006(TM), a three day international conference/music festival to be held at the Cheltenham Art Center in Philadelphia, June 2 - 4, 2006. The program will include lectures, demos, jam sessions, and concerts.

The scope of this festival is very broad, covering all aspects of electro-music, experimental electronic music, including circuit bending, computer music, electro-jazz, modular synthesis, musique concrete, improvisation, noodles (generative music, automatic and algorithmic composition), multi-media, visual art and much more. The focus will be on participant involvement, sharing, community development, audience education, and great music."

Alesis Fusion - New Flickr Shot

Recently played with one of these. The knobs, buttons and mod wheels really have a different feel to them. It's an interesting design that strays from the conventional design of other synths.

Synthmania.com

It always trips me out when I find a site like this for the first time. If you scroll to the bottom of the page you will see the first entry of March 14, 2004, "SynthMania.com is published to the World Wide Web for the first time." Moving up you will find synth after synth listed and the dates when they were added. Click on one and you will be rewarded with a details page and in many cases a motherload of samples. Really nice if you want to check out what some of these synths sound like. I always wanted to know what a Kawaii SX-240 could sound like. Still scratching my head as to why I hadn't come accross this site before. Title link takes you to there.

Siel EX-80 and Suzuki SX-500 MIDI-Map Chart

Title link takes you to a bmp of the chart. Via Sander Meyer on AH.

Emulator III and Akai VX 600 EPROM Images

If you need em, title link takes you to a post on DVDBORN that has em.

New Emu Bits

Update: Here's the full press release: http://www.productionforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=5414



Comments via James of Retro Thing via this post:
"The new Emulator X2 software will include the Transform Multiply functionality that was included in several classic E-mu samplers (The Emax and Emax II for sure). It's a DSP convolution tool that is well known for the bizarre textures it creates. They're also automating multisampling of your fave synth patches with a tool called SynthSwipe."

The New Rolands

Title link takes you to more.

Update: Looks like the 808 has it's own page.

"From the company that made “groovebox” a household name comes a remarkable addition to the famous Roland groovebox family: the MC-808. Optimized for realtime performance, the sleek, silver powerstation features eight motorized faders on its surface — a groovebox first! With Roland’s most sophisticated processor at its core, the MC-808 possesses top-of-the-line sampling, sequencing, and synthesizer features yet it comes in at a new, low price point."


"Look familiar? True to its heritage, the new JUNO-G is affordable and user-friendly. But that’s where the comparisons to yesteryear end. This modern marvel packs a studio’s worth of sound, sequencing, and audio recording into one amazing instrument. Sharing the same high-powered processor as Roland’s famous Fantom-X series, the JUNO-G puts a world of first-class sound and performance features under musicians’ fingertips — and allows more sounds to be added via SRX expansion. Songs can be created with the onboard audio/MIDI recorder, all for an incredibly low price!"


"For musicians new to synthesizers, Roland announces the most friendly and fun analog-modeling instrument on the market: the SH-201. For synth pros, the SH-201 will remind them of why they fell in love with synthesizers in the first place. Simply, the SH-201 is a blast to play! It sounds great too, thanks to such features as Roland’s famous Supersaw waveform, resonant filter, saturation control, and more."



"For musicians who can’t accommodate a choir or group of background singers for their gigs or recording sessions, Roland proudly presents the VP-550 Vocal Designer Keyboard. Much more than a traditional vocoder or harmonizer, the VP-550 uses Roland’s breakthrough vocal-modeling technology to bring the highest-quality, interactive vocal sounds to a dedicated instrument. Connect a mic, select a sound, and play. You won’t believe what can come out of this instrument: spectacular classical choirs, soulful gospel choirs, pop and jazz voices, male & female ensembles, vintage vocoder, and lush string/vocal hybrids."

The Future Retro XS

Title link takes you there.

Toshio Iwai's SimTunes

My masterpiece


I finally got a chance to check out the Demo of SimTunes graciously posted by thewhiteline on this post. To run it, I set the program to run under 256 colors in Windows 95 Compatibility mode (just right click the program icon, go to properties, then Compatibility to set this). I must say I was pleasantly surprised. It's a lot of fun. The way it works is you draw pixels on the screen while four little "bugs" walk around; when they walk over a pixel a sound plays. Different colors play different sounds. There is also music running in the background that your pixels play on top off. It's pretty fun. There are some included images that play composed pieces of music. As you can imagine if you line things up correctly you can get some cool sequences going, or you can just go random and see what comes out like my masterpiece above. I'll be keeping an eye out for the full version myself. Title link takes you to the demo. Thanks again to thewhiteline for this little gem. It would be cool to see this pojected on screen, in some performance art (oh, a composition running that is, not my masterpiece above). : )

The Neurodelic Experience

Update: I've been asked to pull down the original post. I've gone on the scavenger hunt to get into raves a hundred times and have had the wonderful light show of the LAPD break my bliss too many times to remember, so I totally respect this. Modified image below.

Future Retro XS Press Release

Via Gearjunkies.com

Introducing the new XS from Future Retro. A true analog modular synthesizer designed to expand the sound capabilities of all our existing products and other modular synthesizer systems.

Photo under press embargo

Housed in a rugged aluminum chassis that is both compact and lightweight, the unit can be rack mounted taking up 3U spaces, or used with additional desktop end pieces for tabletop use.

The inputs and outputs of the XS are pre-wired in a way which allow it to act as a monophonic synthesizer without the need for patch cables.

Add patch cables and you can connect each section's inputs and outputs in any way desired. With a single unit you can easily create basslines, leads, drones, percussion, and sound effects. Connect multiple units together to form larger systems and the possibilities are endless.

The XS responds to the standard 1V/Oct control voltages and positive gates so it can be interfaced with most analog sequencers or MIDI to CV converters.

The XS provides a wide range VCO or voltage controlled oscillator, capable of covering the entire audio range or acting as an LFO for sub audio oscillation. This VCO can sync it's waveform to oscillators and gate signals, or act as a free running oscillator.

The VCO generates sine, triangle, sawtooth, and pulse width/square waveforms. The pulse width shape can be set manually or modulated with an internal or external signal. The VCO can be frequency modulated by both internal and external signals to create more complex waveforms. The VCO also generates a sub oscillator waveform which can be 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, or 1/16th the frequency of the main waveform. An output is provided for both main and sub oscillator waveforms.

The mix section sets the levels of the oscillator and sub oscillator waveforms or any external audio signal to be sent to the input of the filter. The multimode filter provides 2 pole high-pass and low-pass frequency roll off with dedicated controls for the cutoff frequency and resonance settings. With high resonance settings the filter will self oscillate. The cutoff frequency can further be modulated by both internal and external signals. A dedicated output for the filter is also provided.

The XS includes a unique ADSR type envelope with additional attack and decay time settings for accented envelopes. It's like having two envelopes in one. The envelope can be triggered with a single gate for traditional ADSR type envelopes, or insert another gate signal into the accent input to select the accent time settings. Both positive and negative polarity envelopes are available at the output.

And finally a VCA or voltage controlled amplifier is provided to process the amplitude of signals. The VCA normally affects the filter's output but can also be used to process external audio signals. The VCA can be controlled by an external gate or the internal envelope. In addition, a manual control is provided to control the VCA when no gate or envelope signal is present. The VCA has a level control for attenuating signals sent to its output.

Release date for this product is TBA

A6 Banner

Title link takes you to three shots by Mike Peake, one of the banner below, one of a couple of A6 panels, and one of some parts (wheels, Polyfusion filter PCB, and two Polyfusion Resonator PCBs). Note the Moog Cookbook in the shot. Click for a bigger picture.

The Emulator Archive

All you ever wanted to know about the EMU Emulators. Title link takes you there.

The Emulator I

The Fizmo Tabletop?

Update: Via Carbon111 in the comments: "Read the thread - "suitandtieguy" bought it from some guy that did the chop job. Dude musta thought it was a good idea after a few spliffs, mon. ;) "

Title link takes you to a post on HC where the shot below was pulled. I am aware of the keyboard and rack version, but not a tabletop. It looks like someone just cropped the keyboard version. If anyone knows any more about this, feel free to comment. In the mean time, check out the Deep Synthesis Fizmo Page for tons of info and some great samples if you ever wondered what a Fizmo sounds like.

Future Retro XS Part 2

Update via the comments: http://www.gearjunkies.com/news_info.php?news_id=1065

We will all know on Friday, but I thought I'd put up the following by DB in the comments section of this post:

"Hi, Here is what Jered of Future Retro has said in the past about the FS XS:

"The planned expander will be a stand-alone unit so that it can be used with all of our existing products. This will not be a new model of the Revolution synthesizer itself."

Also, from past discussions with Jered, but I can't seem to find the emails, I believe that it is supposed to be able to add on an Analogue Oscillator, Envelope, and LFO amongst other things to the Mobius , 777 & Revolution.

So it would make the Revolution a 2 Osc synth rather then a 1 OSC with LFO and Envelopes, and the 777 a 3 OSC synth with LFO's and Envelopes, and would make a simple mono synth/mono osc synth out the Mobius.

Should be interesting. Don't know if you can add more then one of these to them ore not. We should be finally hereing more on Friday. "

The SAS Modular

Update: Via M. Altermark in the comments section (I was wondering what SAS stood for):
"SAS stands for "Swedish Analog Sympathizers", a loose organization based around the SAS-mailinglist. Best source of synth knowledge available for swedish speakers. Yay SAS!"

Moogulator put up a post on the SAS Modular, a Swedish DIY synth. Title link takes you to the post with links to a couple of sites with more shots and info.



From one of the pages:
"The modular will (at it's initial setup) have 3 VCO's, 2 VCF's, 2 VCA's, 4 EG's, 3 VCLFO, and a bunch of different effects. On top of the modular there are a 2-channel 8-step analogue sequencer, and below there are a spring reverb unit."

Synapse Toxic

Released with the Orion Platinum 6.2 Update. Title link takes you there. Click here for the Toxic page with a demo. Via Harmony Central News.



"Toxic is a 6-operator-FM synthesizer of highest quality, with alias-free oscillators, warm filters and precise envelopes. All controls are interpolated, allowing to tweak all parameters smoothly in realtime without clicks.

A powerful effects section with an Equalizer, a Distortion unit and two Chorus/Flanger/Delay sections, completes this excellent generator."

Audio Damage Phase Two Available

Mutron Bi-Phase plug-in from the creator of Analog Industries. Title link takes you there.

Brandon Daniel's Picture Archive

Brandon has completely redesigned his picture archive and I must say it is really nice. He has sets of the AH Bay Area gatherings, NAMM, and various manufacturers. Title link takes you there.

The Estradin 230 (3 VCO synth)

More on SonicState.com.

The EMF Institute's Timeline

Title link takes you there. Well worth checking out.

The Telharmonium (circa 1900)



"In 1897, Thaddeus Cahill, lawyer, engineer, entrepreneur, received a patent titled 'Art of and Apparatus for Generating and Distributing Music Electronically'. His plan was to broadcast music via telephone lines to restaurants, hotels, and private homes. The sounds were to be heard through loudspeakers that he had designed to be attached to telephone receivers."