MATRIXSYNTH

Monday, February 06, 2006

ASM-1 & More Misc Synth Shots

Update: These are for sale. Contact bjmcho[]sbcglobal.net if interested.

Title link takes you to shots of the following: Sequential Six-Trak, Sequential Drumtraks, Korg DSM-1, Kawai SX-240, and ASM-1 / Paia Vocoder / Paia Stack-in-a-box (pictured).

Sunday, February 05, 2006

Minimoog Art

Title link takes you to the orginal shot pulled from this auction.

Video Synthesizers

Title link takes you the Video Synthesizers Homage Page which walks you through video synthesis over the years. Some of these are huge modular systems. The Buchla Electric Music Box is also listed for video synthesis. "The Electric Music Box can be configured to serve a variety of applications, including electronic music composition and performance, music education, psychoacoustic studies, environmental control, special effects generation, bio-feedback research, and video synthesis. "

Buchla Electric Music Box

NAM JUNE PAIK

David Jones

Link to the Vidio Synthesizers Homage Page via synthtopia.

WC Olo Garb - Moving - New Flickr Shot

Payback for this post.

jexus

Virus Ti - New Flickr Shot

Hmm.... Yep...

Shot by holbeist

Saturday, February 04, 2006

Edirol Video Synth

I haven't thought much about video synthesis but this shot sparks my interest. Kicking back and playing video on my laptop while sequencing sounds just seems like it would be fun. Via Sonic State.

Devo Rehearsal Video

Title link takes you there. Not much to see as far as synths go, but definitely a bit to hear especially at the end.

Free Moog Sonic Infinity DVD

Apparently Moog Music is launching a "Sonic Infinity" ad campaign and part of it is a free DVD. You send them your address and they'll send you the DVD free. Title link takes you there.

"Moog Launches Sonic Infinity Ad Campaign

Sonic Infinity
This past December Moog launched a new ad campaign that you will see throughout the year... Sonic Infinity.

The campaign is designed to create awareness among non-Moog users that our gear is only limited by their imagination.

The first ad appeared in the December issue of Keyboard. The ad offered a new "Sonic Infinity" DVD featuring Moog Clinician and Product Development Consultant, Brian Kehew. The DVD was filmed at Asheville's premier night spot, The Orange Peel, where Brian conducted a Moog Clinic.

If you would like a copy of the DVD, they are free. Simply email sonic@moogmusic.com with your name and mailing address.

The campaign theme will be supported at both the Winter NAMM and the upcoming Musik Messe in Frankfurt as well as in Moog ads throughout the year. "

Herbie Hancock's "Rock It" Live at Grammy Award 1984

Update: Via ortho in the comments: "oh shit don't miss the other video on the page of HH and the Headhunters...towards the end Herbie whips out some Odyssey chops that are smokin. He ends it settin up the wind-whoosh sound that i think he's secretly controlling with a foot pedal. HOTT"

Update:

Herbie Hancock (1984 Grammy Awards)

YouTube via wardog1967 | October 31, 2008

"This is Herbie Hancock's Grammy Awards version of 'Rockit'. Absolutely brilliant!"
previously pulled

The Zawinul Pepe

One of a kind custom Korg, accordian influenced MIDI breath controller by Zawinul. Title link takes you to a scan of an old Music Technology article on the piece and Zawinul, sent my way via Matt Sauer. Thanks Matt!

Access Virus Ti Video on One Blue Monkey

Title link takes you there. Video link is right below title and date.

Moog Set to Announce New Product at Musicmesse

We all knew it was coming at the Musikmesse. Now we have confirmation. Title link goes to the Musikmesse website - no news on Moog as of this post.

Via the Moog News update:

"Moog Music Exhibiting at Musik Messe
Fast approaching is Europe's premier musical merchandiser tradeshow - Musik Messe. If you are in the Frankfurt area, drop by and see your friends at Moog Music, who will be exhibiting again this year.

Expect a BIG announcement about a little addition to our product line. Until then! , we will leave you guessing.

Musik Messe runs from March 29-April 2 2006"

Friday, February 03, 2006

Roland Juno-D - New Flickr Shots

Title link takes you there.

Shot by joneill001

Bleeps and Bloops

I almost missed this one thinking it was Corky Burger's synth.com project.

From the bio of Bleeps and Bloops: "This journal is a chronicle of me building a modular synthesizer over the next year through Synthesizers.com's "Module of the Month Club." It will be updated approximately once a month with pictures, observations, and sound examples as each piece (module) of the synthesizer arrives and is incorporated into the ever-expanding system." Title link takes you there. Originally via Music Thing. See synthesizers.com for more on the module a month plan.

Dueling Synthis

Title link takes you there. Via Moogulator, via Music Thing.

Doepfer A-199-1 BBD Module

Title link takes you there. Samples on site.

MC2 SYNTHESIZER CUSTOM 0001

Interesting synth on the *bay. No title link; only one shot below in the auction. If you know what this is, please share and I'll update the post.

The Future of Music - New Flickr Shot

Yodelling and Fly Plays a Prophet

Title link takes you there. Click the big green box that says "click to start." Via HC.

Vocaloid

This is kind of interesting. Supposedly you can type in whatever words you want along with the notes you want played, and this software will sing it for you using recordings of actual singers to sythesise the singing. I wonder what kind of crazy samples you can create with this for further processing. Think about that for a bit. There are some trippy samples on site. Title link takes you there. Demo version here: Zero-G

"VOCALOID is a vocal-synthesizing software that enables song writers to generate authentic-sounding singing on their PCs by simply typing in the lyrics and music notes of their compositions. The software synthesizes the sound from "vocal libraries" of recordings of actual singers, retaining the vocal qualities of the original singing voices to reproduce realistic vocals. The software also features simple commands that enable users to add expressive effects - such as vibrato and pitch bends - to their synthesized vocals."

Virus Ti Shot

Korg PS3200

Title link takes you to shots pulled from this auction. Unfortunately most are a bit blurry this time around. Via Digital Music Mag.

Thursday, February 02, 2006

Apple Lemur?

Interesting. Music Thing has a post up on a patent filed by Apple for a multi-touch tablet device. With midi and the right software you basically have a Lemur. I wonder who if anyone owns the actually patent to a multi-touch screen. Standard tablet PC screens only allow one point pressure. Title link takes you to the post on Music Thing.

The Orb - Gear List and Sound on Sound Article

Title link takes you to the Sound on Sound article. Click here for their gear list. Via Mati on AH.

My personal favorite

Official Orb Sites: http://www.theorb.com/index.html and http://www.backsideoftheorb.com/index.php

Oakley Sound Systems Modular

Update: This unit is for sale by Tony Allgood of Oakley Sounds. You can find contact info here.

Nice shot of an Oakley Sound Systems Modular. Click shot for bigger image. Title link takes you to Oakley Sound. Specs for this unit below.

18 Modules:

Top row:
1 Noise/filter
2 VCO issue 4
1 VCO issue 3
1 SuperLadder [Moog variant] issue 4
1 Equinoxe issue 2
1 SVF issue 2 but with issue 1 front panel
1 Triple-VCA issue 2 but with older front panel

Bottom row:
1 3U power supply
1 midiDAC issue 2
1 4 x 3 multiple
1 VC-LFO issue 1
1 MOTM-380 Quad LFO
1 Control-3 issue 1
1 Comparator issue 1
1 Sample/Hold and Slew issue 2
1 Triple Little-EG
2 ADSR/VCA issue 2 [VC core]

Panels are standard black Scheaffer. All modules have Spectrol pots
except the midiDAC and Triple Little-EG.

Moog Voyager in Band Pass Mode

Title link takes you to a 327k mp3 of the Voyager in band pass mode, courtesy of MC.

Inside a Moog Voyager

Title link takes you to a page on Till Kopper's website with shots and notes on the inside of a Moog Voyager. Enjoy.

Early PPG Mono Synth

Title link takes you to shots pulled from this auction. Notes from the auction below, in German and then translated to "English." Gotta love the translation tools. : )

Update via Yves in the comments:
"You will find some related information on this site dedicated to PPG: http://www.ppg.synth.net/1002_20/" Note the retractable patch chords in the shot above vs. the shots on the PPG site.

"sehr gut erhaltener analoger mono Synthesizer von PPG. Nach verschiedenen Fachauskünften handelt es sich um ein frühes modell des 1002 (located in Hamburg, Germany PPG stood for Palm Productions GmbH. Wolfgang Palm was the owner and chief designer at PPG. Palm started making synthesizers around 1975 and during these early days he became associated with members of the German proto-space-music band,... Other early instruments included the PPG 1002, which Palm called "the first programmable synthesizer")... das gerät ist funktionsfähig und kann auch vorort ausprobiert werden. EbayGebühren und Versand übernimmt der Käufer. Das Gerät kann auch abgeholt werden. ACHTUNG: Das Gerät bekommt Strom und gibt Töne von sich. Da ich nicht weiß, wie es funktioniert, kann ich keine einwandfrei Funkion garantieren!"

"very well received similar mono Synthesizer of PPG. after different specialized information concerns it an early model of the 1002 (located in Hamburg, Germany PPG stood for Palm Productions GmbH Wolfgang Palm which the owner and chief for designer RK PPG. Palm started making synthesizers around 1975 and during thesis early days he became associated with members OF the German proto space music bound... OTHER early instrument included the PPG 1002, which Palm called "the roofridge programmable more synthesizer")... that turns out is functional and can also for suburb be tried out. EbayGebuehren and dispatch takes over the buyer. The equipment can be also fetched. NOTE: The equipment gets river and gives tones of itself. Since I do not know, how it functions, I cannot guarantee perfectly to Funkion!"

Waldorf Dreams

Update3: Via sizzlemeister and James of Retro Thing: www.waldorfmusic.de is registered to Joachim Flor, the former sales director for Hartmann. Hartmann designed the hardware look and feel for Waldorf as well as other manufacturer's. According to James, "Axel Hartmann is the interface designer responsible for such remarkable instruments as the Waldorf Wave and the Alesis A6 Andromeda. His list of clients include companies like Access, Alesis, Antares, Creamware, Korg, Line 6, Novation, Steinberg, and Waldorf." Exciting stuff indeed.

Update2: More on electro-music.

Update via the comments (this sounds like it's for real):
"from the waldorf-user-forum:

moreno>> Jurij, where did you see that rumour?

did not seen/read yet anywhere, i actually heard it. the "rumour" is _confirmed_ by mr.stenzel/ex.waldorf r&d, so, its not a rumour any longer. fact is waldorf has been sold to a new owner recently although the name is kept top-secret. details about the acquisition will be published "soon" in form of an official press release (hopefully) whitin 1-3 weeks."

Title link takes you to a post on Moogulator speculating rumors of Waldorf coming back. I haven't heard anything on this and would be pretty surprised (and obviously thrilled) if it turned out to be true. Apparently there have been some Waldorf's for sale in shops in Germany, including this one I previously posted on. Kind of odd as I remember not being able to find any Waldorf products shortly after they went into insolvency. I'm not sure what the rules are on selling new product from a company that hasn't been in existence for this long, if you know please share. In Moogulator's post there is a reference to http://www.waldorfmusic.de, which I haven't seen yet. It looks like a snapshot of the Waldorf site from Oct, 2003 and there are rendering issues in Firefox but not IE. The last date on the site's records are dated June 14, 2005. The FTP links on the site go to the old domain, which no longer exits. I knew about Paul Maddox's Waldorf Site and http://waldorf.electro-music.com, hosting the old files, but not this newer site. I'm guessing this is just a rumor but I don't mind dreaming. Waldorf was one of my favorite synthesizer companies and they had one of my favorite support lists. Here's a bit of trivia for you: When I got my XTk, I sent them a letter on my thoughts. They liked it so much they actually put it up on the XTk page as the only user impression/review. I was totally floored and obviously honored. I'll need to see if I can dig that up. Also check out the reference to Carbon111 on the bottom of the right pane of this XTK page. Man I miss Waldorf.

Universal Control Voltage Module DIY Modular & MIDIWall

For those of you not familiar with MIDIWall, it's Mark Pulver's synth site filled with synthesizer goodness. So what does this post have to do with MIDIWall? Click on the title link for more on the Universal Control Voltage Module DIY Modular, then go to MIDIWall. Notice anything in common? : ) Via the mighty Moogulator. Nice find Moogulator!

Peter Gabriel and His Fairlight - 1982 Video on DVDBorn

Title link takes you there.

Wednesday, February 01, 2006

ARP 2600 - New Flickr Shot

Shot by Ariz

MemoryMoog - Updated DBM MIDI Documentation

Click here for scans courtesy of Uro. Thanks Uro!

Nearfest 2006

"Armed with his full arsenal of vintage and modern keyboards, including his custom modular Moog, Emerson is sure to deliver an unforgettable NEARfest headline performance. "

Nearfest 2006, June 24 & 25, Bethlehem PA. Title link takes you to more info.

Analog Industries Sequencer In the Works

Sweet. Title link takes you there.

Synth - New Flickr Shot

Shot by maxwell misty

Rude Nugget NAMM 06 Shots - New Flickr Set

Title link takes you there.

New NAMM 2006 Sonic State Videos

New set of synth videos up.

Access Virus OS Update TIOS 1.1
Future Retro XS
Native Instruments KORE
Future Music Store in Hollywood

That last one on Future Music reminded me of many a synth dream I've had thinking if I grab the synth before I wake up, I'll have it. They even have the loft with unknown goodies.

Synth Demos on Harmony Central

The thread started in Jan 2005. Currently at eight pages of nothing but individual synth demos. Title link takes you there.

Andromeda A6 Demos

Sizzlemeister put up a post on HC asking people to post demos consisting only of the Alesis Andromeda A6. Pix posted a nice long one that covers a wide range of the A6. Title link takes you there. Enjoy.

Shot of the limited Red Panel A6

Optigan Sighting

Found an Optigan listed in the Seattle Craigslist for $400. I have no idea what these usually go for.

The Optigan is a groovy piece of gear by Mattel that came out in the early 1970s. Similar to a Mellotron, but it uses optical disks instead of tape. Check out this post for a good site with some samples. Title link takes you to the Optigan site.

Notes pulled from Craigslist:
"Optigan for sale with 6 disks, manual and 2 songbooks. It has been recently refurbished/overhauled so it has rock solid speed and and is clean inside and out.

works perfect

Disks include:

1. Big Organ and Drums
2. Pop Piano Plus Guitar
3. Latin Fever
4. Guitar in 3/4 Time
5. Folk and Other Moods-Guitar
6. Nashville Country "

Update via the comments: "there was one on Craig's list LA just recently, too, for $225."

Tuesday, January 31, 2006

Metasonix TM-6 Filter

Samples and thoughts via Michael Weeks. Thanks Michael!

"Overall impressions of the filter: I don't have any experience with the TM-2 Filter, so I can't make direct comparisons. This is the same filter basically as what is in the new S-1000 Wretch Machine synth, but in a standalone case and with an additional CV input for Resonance. The CV controls are ALOT of fun, and the filter responds very well to every source I've tried through it.

It's character is DEFINITELY different, there is a sort of "huh, never heard that before" quality to the sound and the resonance, and the filter types really do offer up a rediculously wide (and, dare I say, close to conventional?) amount of tone shaping.

Overall it's been a blast having it here to do audio demos with - I love me some filters, and have abused a sherman filterbank for a number of years now. Overall this thing is a fun fun fun box with a very unique sound, but not as alien as some other Metasonix boxes. Worth demoing for an hour or so :D

Here's some audio demos of the Metasonix TM-6 filter (also up on the product page http://metasonix.com/index.php?opti...id=31&Itemid=62

Run a Guitar through it
http://thewretch.com/tm6_demos/TM_6_GuitarDemo.mp3
Ibanez artcore, run through the TM-6 using the Moog CP251 to send an LFO to control the CV

Run Drumloops through it
http://thewretch.com/tm6_demos/TM_6_DrumDemo.mp3
Drumsamples overdriven and run through the TM-6, tweaking throughout

Run a Synth through it
http://thewretch.com/tm6_demos/TM_6_SequenceDemo.mp3
Mam MB33 sequenced by Future Retro Mobius, overdriven through the filter and tweaked throughout

Michael Weeks
www.endmusik.com"

Video Synthesis Pioneer Nam June Paik Passes Away at Age 74

Title link takes you to his official site. Also do an image search for his name to see more of his amazing work. Click here for an article in Synapse that mentions his influence on Steve Rutt.

Samplebase Looking for Sound Designers

I know some of you can do this without blinking. Title link takes you there. Via Analog Industries.

Doppelgangers of the Synth World

I kind of knew there was a huge organ fan base out there with the likes of Michael Leicher. As Mathew states below, they are indeed just as insanely obsessive as us. What's interesting is Wendy Carlos made the move to organs. Title link takes you to the transformation of her studio. As an aside, there recently was an auction on the Seattle Craiglist for a Minimoog for $350 by a guy that stated he was more into organs. The post has been pulled and I haven't heard back from my inquiry. Anywhoo... More organ links below. Thanks Mathew!

"You should check out what Theatre Organ hobbyists are doing.

They're insane, like us. :)

http://theatreorgans.com/
http://www.artisan-instruments.com/riac.html
http://www.virtualorgan.com/RunScript.asp?p=ASP%5CPg0.asp
http://www.otheroom.com/namm/techno.html

FWIW, the only reason I know anything about this theatre organ
business is because it is Wendy's current obsession.

http://www.wendycarlos.com/wurlynew/rhwing.JPG

details here:

http://www.wendycarlos.com/wurlynew/index.html#before"

Roland SH-5 - New Flickr Shots

Title link takes you to more.

Vintage Georges Jenny's ONDIOLIN

You don't see these every day. Title link takes you to shots pulled from this auction. Notes below in French and then translated to English via Google. More on the Ondioline on 120 Years. Via Music Thing.

"Tres rare Ondioline de Georges jenny, premier synthe analogique, conception de la fin des annees 30 Modele probablement apres guerre, complet et d' origine, a remettre en ordre et en etat: celui çi s'allume mais les sons sont difficilement cernables; de plus , il semble y avoir un probleme avec le commutateur de volume au genou A SAISIR. . ."

"Very rare Ondioline of George Jenny, first synthe analogical, design of the end of the Thirties Model probably after war, complete and of origin, has to give in order and state: that çi ignites but the sounds are difficult to identify; moreover, it seems y to have a problem with the switch of volume to the knee TO SEIZE. ."