Another Scam on the Bay

This one for a Roland TR-808.

Matthew Hodson asked me to put this one up for him.

He's selling this.

And the scam is selling this.

Matrixsynth to the rescue! : )

Be carefull folks!

PPG Wave 2.2 in the Wild

Title link takes you to some gorgeous hi-res shots of the PPG Wave 2.2, sent my way via Kevin Kelly. Very nice. Thanks Kevin.

The Synth World's Dumbest Criminal

This has to be the funniest shit I've ever seen. Huppo put his Nord Modular up on the bay two weeks ago. Some guy just put up his own auction, but get this. Not only did he copy huppo's auction but he actually pointed to the pics on huppo's server. So what did huppo do? He updated the pics of course.






"Hey Matrix,

This is Huppo from VSE. I put up a post in the Gear for
Sale section regarding an ebay auction I found this morning.
You might be amused by the auction.

In short, my own Nord Modular auction from a couple weeks
ago was lifted word for word and picture for picture by some
dirtbag. Only he left the links to the pictures on my
webserver! How thoughtful of him to give me permission to
change "his" listing at will. :o)

love your blog. its a daily stop. Thanks!

~huppo"

Thank you huppo! This is absolutely hillarious!
Shots saved for posterity; title link takes you to them.

Al’s Used Keyboard Emporium and Bake Shop

This one via Mike Jerugim. Title link takes you to more including some really nice Yamaha CS80 shots.

Casio Manuals via GetLoFi

Title link takes you to a post on GetLoFi with links to some vintage Casio keyboard manuals including the SK-1. Perfect timing for me as I just picked up an SK-1 for $4.99 at a local thrift store.

Waldorf Color Fest

Title link takes you to more - a lot more.

Space Synth Video

Title link takes you to a 40.3M MOV of the Space Synth. Via the comments of this post.

ION and JP8000 - New Flickr Shot

flickr via malota.

P5 Powerglove and G2X on YouTube

Published on May 9, 2006

"Testing out Essential Reality P5 Powerglove with some G2X patches. Awesome :)"



Via Luca of ProgSounds. Very nice indeed. Thanks Luca!

Serge Modular Synthesizer

Title link takes you to shots pulled from this auction. Via Luca of ProgSounds.

Image Zoom for FireFox

Cool extension for FireFox sent my way via Loscha. If you have Firefox you can install this extension and zoom in and out of images on this site and any other site for that matter without leaving the page. It just makes it one step easier. Thanks Loscha!

Firstman SQ-01

Title link takes you to shots pulled from this auction.

Details:

"Model SQ-01, Make = Firstman, which is a Multivox company.

This rare mono synth does some really deep, very analog bass. Somewhere between a Moog bass and an SH 101. You can enter notes into sequences with the one octave of membrane keys, ala EDP Wasp. There are 4 banks or 4 sequences of memory that can be written and recalled.

ALSO, you have CV in and out and clock in and out for control. With using the same CV converter I use for my Roland Sh 101 it plays just fine. Also I have stepped the sequencer in sync with my TR 606. So both sync of sequencer and CV playability are possible. This is a very rare item, let the audio demo speak for its self at http://www.myspace.com/omosc just scroll down to Firstman demo and have a listen, the first part is dry, the second half is with delay and verb...awesome filter, cool sequencing, vintage analog and no one else in town will have one."

Seqs

This one in via Pual Nagle on SynthSights. Hmm... I do think it's about the gear after all, well just a little... Is the Radias even out yet?

One more shot....

Title link takes you to Bogus Focus Records, home of both shots.

Skydancer Media

Gorgeous shot from Skydancer Media via Richard Wentk on SynthSights. Hmm... I thought SynthSights wasn't about the gear. : ) Title link takes you there.

The Human League Circus of Death on YouTube

Another via dmxkrew. I was going to just append a link to my previous post for this one, but come on... there's a cat and tons of synths, so... it get's it's own post.

The Human League Boiled on YouTube

This one via dmxkrew. I love the synth in this video. BTW, anyone know what it is? My brain stopped working about two hours ago...

Via the comments it is the Roland Jupiter 4.

Psychedelic Philicorda

Title link takes you to shots pulled from this auction.

Details:
"This is a non-working Philicorda, believed pretty much complete except for the panel underneath the keyboard and one switch top, but making no sound. It would be possible to repair it, or replace the innards with another example, because the whole point of this is the superb psychedelic painting on the case.

It's the work of Alistair Campbell, aka The Great Unknown. He has been painting in this style for thirty or more years, including doing the cover art for a classic book on psychedelic bands, but generally only sells art to friends or gives it away. www.eclipse.co.uk/sweetdespise/libertycaptions/ tells you a bit more about him.

This amazing image is the result of about 50 hours' work - and a lifetime of mystical experience."

Nice Rack - Avalon Superstar

Check out their synth list on VSE post. Yowsa. Title link takes you to Avalon Superstar's website. Once there, the gallery link takes you to more pics. I couldn't figure out how to enlarge them in either IE7 or Firefox, so if you figure it out feel free to comment.

Sensomusic Usine

"Usine is a universal audio software especially designed for live or studio utilisation. Usine is made by musicians and audio engineers to respond to their specific problems in a lot of domains like live sampling, effect processing or sound design. Usine is a real musical instrument, flexible and powerful if you like to transform, resample the sound on stage (not only push the play button of your sequencer!), improvise and create unusual effect."

Title link takes you there.

Aurora at SDIY 2005

Looks like the Aurora made an appearance at SDIY 2005. That's Paul Maddox of Modulus Electronics and the Monowave playing it. Some notes on sound according to two that have actually played it: according to Chris Strellis "It was OK - a bit confusing routing some of the modulation sources to destinations. Definately Moogy sounding and probably worth the money. It was for sale then at something like £400. I passed on it." According to dmxkrew, "just saw your post on the aurora, it's hand built by adrian who runs SRS in bedford, UK, which is where my mum lives so I usually go there when i need something fixing. adrian is a nice guy and good at fixing stuff, he let me have a play on the synth when it wasn't quite finished, sounded great, the design owes a lot to the SCI pro one in my opinion." At the price under 600 Euro, I'm thinking this might actually be a great little monosynth. More on the Aurora here.

Update via the comments of this post: " have had the AR1 for quite a while now and have used the synth on many recordings for solo projects under Brendan Pollard and Rogue Element.
She is extremely versatile, moog sounding but with careful manipulation even ARP. Fantastic for sound effects, leads, basses, etc.
Our studio is 90% analogue and she was definitely a worthy addition to our collection,
Cheers
Brendan www.rogue-element.uk.com"

Bottom Line - New Flickr Shot

flickr by donalhanley. What is this and what does this knob do? Looks like a Novation to me. Bueller? Bueller?

Update via the source himself:
"Its an X-Station. The Effects section (which features delay, reverb, chorus, compression, distortion and EQ) has three generic knobs - Level, Top Line and Bottom Line. It adapts to whichever effect is currently selected, so for Delay it controls feedback, for Chorus it controls Rate, for EQ base level etc."

The Alchemists of Sound

"ALCHEMISTS OF SOUND
Saturday 28 May 2005 8.30pm-9.30pm; 3.15am-4.15am

"The BBC's Radiophonic Workshop was set up in 1958, born out of a desire to create 'new kinds of sounds'. Alchemists of Sound looks at this creative group from its inception, through its golden age when it was supplying music and effects for cult classics like Doctor Who, Blake's Seven and Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, and charts its fading away in 1995 when, due to budget cuts, it was no longer able to survive.

There are interviews with composers from the Workshop, as well as musicians and writers who have been inspired by the output. Great archive footage of the Workshop and its machinery is accompanied by excerpts of the, now cult, TV programmes that featured these sounds."

Title link takes you to more info.

Bamboo Spaceship

Title link takes you to another shot and some mp3s. Roxy Music meets Japan, 80s synth pop. Jason Proctor on synths.

Update via BariaBlog in the comments:

"oh my god! what we do as youths comes back to haunt us doesn't it!

Jason and I were doing this stuff inthe early eighties and believe it or not we are still at it - across oceans and time we still have a mad desire to make a racket.

Watch out for invasion of the fat traingle players in future - the other half of the spaceship!"

TB-303's Unique Characteristics

Title link takes you there.

Fat Controller Driving a Monowave

Click here for a demo of the Frostwave Fat Controller driving a Modulus Electronics Monowave. The track is Sequence 1. A Virus Indigo provides textures and a Multimoog provides lead. Via Seth Elgart on AH.

Analogue Jeff

Title link takes you to JeffreyKoepper.com, home of Analogue Jeff's website. I've seen Analog Jeff on AH a number of times, and I've been meaning to check out his site for some time but haven't gotten around to it. You'll find a nice set of synth pics and some samples of his work. Hey, where's the cat?! : )

Korg EMX-1 - New Flickr Shot

flickr by JSRockit.

Electro Kraft Space Synth - New Flickr Shot

flickr by JSRockit.

"Very cool synth based on the chip from the original arcade game Space Invaders. You can control the parameters via the Tandy joystick."

Update via the comments:
"Here is a video from the guy who makes them:

spacesynth.MOV"

One Hell of a Dongle

Check out this post on Digital Music Mag.

Hmm... Yeah, I'm with him, this would definitely suck. However, if there are dependencies on the hardware for DSP, that would make sense, but something tells me that's not the case. I haven't done much research on Kore. The Korg Legacy is a great example of doing it right. You can play the soft synths with or without the controller connected.

Aurora AR1

Marcus Couto on AH recently posted this asking if anyone knew more about it and if anyone actually owns one. If you know anything please comment. Title link takes you to Synth-Restore who carries it. There are demos on site. Details pulled from the doc linked on this page.

MODEL type: AURORA AR1
VCO 1 : saw,pulse,triangle waveform, adjustable pulse width, octave shift.
VCO 2: saw,square,triangle waveform, adjustable interval (pitch), octave shift, sub oscillator.
VCO 3: saw,square,triangle waveform, adjustable interval (pitch), octave shift, sub oscillator.
(main tuning from front panel control)

LFO: (can be used as another vco at hi-frequencies, for ring mod type effects) routing to VCO's, Pulse width, VCF, VCO & VCF.
Individual tri,sq,saw, random waveforms (any combination can be used) Manual depth, plus mod. wheel amount.
VCF 12db type (gives more raw sounding edge, similar to Oberheim, early ARP Odyssey)
High or low pass type (switchable) cutoff, resonance, keyboard tracking, ADSR amount, modulation from vco 3 also.
ENVELOPE GENERATOR. ADSR type (attack,decay,sustain,release) routed to VCF, and VCA. Auto trigger switch

PERFORMANCE CONTROLS: VCA keyboard gate mode, portamento (glide), white noise level, main output volume.
INTERFACE. Main output,headphones out, CV input, GATE input, VCF external control, external audio input.
POWER: IEC (kettle-plug) power input (external power switch/fuse holder) 220-240 volts.
37 note keyboard.
Aluminium data plate, with serial/model number
UK price £549
Turnaround time 4 weeks.
£200 deposit required (non returnable)"

BTW, if you heard the name Aurora in regards to synths but can't place it and know it's not this Aurora, it could be the Alesis Aurora you were thinking about.

Update via the comments:
" have had the AR1 for quite a while now and have used the synth on many recordings for solo projects under Brendan Pollard and Rogue Element.
She is extremely versatile, moog sounding but with careful manipulation even ARP. Fantastic for sound effects, leads, basses, etc.
Our studio is 90% analogue and she was definitely a worthy addition to our collection,
Cheers
Brendan www.rogue-element.uk.com"

Sequential Circuits Programmer 700 and Much More

Title link takes you to a huge auction list of some rare items including this Sequential Circuits Programmer 700.

I forgot about this unit. The 700 was basically a CV controler with patch storage, essentially allowing you to store patched for whatever you were controlling it with.

Details from the auction (Google translated from German): "Sales mean in the best way received and fully functioning Sequential Circuits Programmer Model 700. So far I was white the first storable Programmer as condition alone equipment. One can store the following control voltages: Volume days 1/2/3 (with insertable external tension) Envelope 1/2 along in each case Amount, Delay and ADSR (with second one can also still connect external tension). Everything with the pertinent outputs/input in 6,3mm Kline and mini handle. Further inputs for program programmweiterschaltung, gate, SWITCH trigger (Moog) and normal Trgger. Still additionally two sockets on the back were inserted, were times firmly attached at an upper home 2-Voice. In the best way suitably for modular systems. 8 banks with in each case 8 program memories are available."

Update: Synth shots saved here.

Music for on apartment and six drummers

That's a bass synth she's playing. Title link takes you there.

This one via Vale on SynthSights.

Update via the comments:
Nice little movie. Been aired one SVT (Swedish Television) and seen at a few filmfestivals.

It's made by Kostr-film, an independent production company from Swedish.

Their website: http://www.kostrfilm.com"

The Genie Synths - New Flickr Shot

Remember Synth Buddha? Turns out the shots were from a band called The Genie. Title link takes you to more shots of the band. Here's thier MySpace page.

B/W Minimoog - New Flickr Shot

flick by bvincent.

East Meets West

As promised, George sent me an mp3 from our Sunday get-together with me, George, James (Carbon111) and Greg (Alpha Wave). Title link takes you to the 5.32M MP3 of one of our jam sessions. George is on a Roland GR-20 guitar synth playing a sitar patch, James is playing a Waldorf XTk, Greg is on a Zoom drum machine and Ensoniq SQ80, and I was on an Ensoniq SQ1. The SQ80 is playing the bass, the SQ1 is the airy pad lead that comes in now and then and the rest is the XT, sitar patch and drums. George did the mixing.
As I was playing on this particular track, I didn't take any shots during it. This particular one is George playing the SQ-1 and a Mirage on another jam session. The shot captures the atmosphere we were playing in. George has a great studio. In case you missed my first post, you can find more shots here.

Gratuitous Tube Synth P*rn - New Flickr Set

Title link takes you to shots sent my way via Michael Weeks. Mmmm.. The green glow...

Also check out this set.

She's watching...

Profile of a Korg MS20 on PunkDisco. Kinda creeped me out. : )

Via dancemachine along with the following:

"here's a track with a lot of ms20 (rev1) drum processing (listen
especially for the s/h, where i pacthed the trigger out of the ESP to
the input of the S/h, so the filter cuttoff changes with each new note)

anyway, i think that dude puts that doll in all his pics to avoid being
ripped-off. but i bet he'll let you post it...."

Me too. Title link takes you to PunkDisco. And... She's watching...

Advanced Programming Techniques for Modular Synthesizers

"This web-based hypertext document is intended to provide the advanced user of the Clavia Nord Modular synthesizer with a toolbox of techniques for creating complex and interesting patches. Although the emphasis is on the Nord Modular, the techniques described in this document can be applied to any modular synthesizer, from a modular Moog to the Native Instruments Reaktor softsynth. For more information on the Nord Modular, check out Clavia's web page at http://www.clavia.se."

Title link takes you there.

If you're interested in exploring the world of modular synthesis for fee, here you go. For a free G2 demo editor that will give you more than enough to get started go here.

[probate to das kapital] - New Flickr Shot

flickr by windscreen fly. Title link takes you to the shot and one more. The shot has a cool story behind it.

Thing-a-ma-goop - New Flickr Shot

flickr by tauntingjeans2. Looks like a little circuit bent thing-a-ma-goop. If anyone knows what it is, feel free to comments.

Russian Junost' 21

Shot of the Russian Junost' 21 pulled via this auction. Via bodo peeters.

Get Your Tabla On - Cynthia

Trip. Looks like Cynthia has Riyaz Master Pro and Tanpura modules. Via Doktor Future in the comments of this post. Thank you Doktor! I never would have even guessed...

Transformer di Robotor - Mac Tune

Dave of umop sent this one it. Title link takes you to a 4.18M mp3 by Transformer di Robotor, using early Mac sounds. It's a good showcase of... Actually, neither of us know what exact system was used, other than itwas an early Mac. If you know, feel free to comment.

Update via Derek in the comments:

"That's the startup chime of a late second/third generation PowerMac... not very early. :)

On a related note, I just sampled a classic Mac's floppy drive. Does someone want to make a song out of this? ;)

http://derek.trideja.com/media/seek.m4a"

Steiner Parker

Absolutely amazing shot of a Steiner Parker system sent my way via Rolf Eichert. Image link takes you to a slightly bigger shot. Title link takes you to the full size shot. Thanks Rolf!

Update from Rolf:
"It is only now - when i have a look at other systems -that the concept really becomes clear. Professional Sound, Bakalit Potis like on the Moogs with enough rooms for tweaking. multiple inputs and outputs for most of the modules. You hardly need any multiples for splitting up outputs and VCO, VCF, VCA all have several inputs so you don`t need mixers. You never have to think "how do i patch it?" Just get going.
THIS is a very BIG difference to all the systems i have seen since!"

Module list

Steiner Parker Synthasystem

1 VCO Type A Sine/Tri/Saw/Square PWM and Hardsysnc
2 VCO Type B Sine/Saw Hardsync
1 VCO Type C TRI Hardsync (mostly vibrato though)
2 VCF LP/BP/HP
1 VCA
2 Frequency Divider Divides 2 - 120 Output Square/divides Triggers as well
3 even dividing/1 odd dividing outputs simulanously
2 Mixers/Selective Inverters Audio or Voltage
2x3ADR Minimoog style but you can add 3 to 1 or/and, a lot of functions... delay/Hold time... a dream to work with
1 Input Amp incl. record player sensitivity
1 Envelope Follower/Slew Limiter
1 Dual S/H
1 VC Phaser 720 deg.
1 Output/Tuner
2 Trigger Gen. VC Trigger/VC Width
1 Sequencer 151
1 Sequencer 161
1 Input Selector/Trigger
2 Ring Mod. can double frequencies->divider = several Squares
1 Noise
1 Frequency Counter
4 Multiples

Get Your Tabla On

"Taalmala Digi-100 - The first MIDI compatible Indian musical instrument. The digi-100 is a state-of-the-art digital musical instrument that has been designed by the pioneers in Indian electronic musical instruments. This instrument has a sampled natural tabla sound along with sophisticated features unmatched by any other model of electronic tabla.


These are:
* 100 thekas in various taals that can be played at any tempo.
* Thekas to suit classical music, Thumri, Ghazals, Bhajans and light music.
* MIDI Compatible -the first Indian MIDI instrument
* Tihayee facility for various thekas.
* FILL-IN facility for all 100 thekas.
* Laggi for selected thekas.
* Ten of the thekas can be modified by the user and stored in memory.
* A multi-functional digital display for indicating taal number, matra number, pitch, tempo and laggi group.
* Digital tuning of pitch with facility for fine tuning within half notes.
* Two settings for bayan (dagga) depth.
* Memory for storing the fine tuned pitch, tempo and bayan setting.
* Two user programmable thekas that can be stored in memory.
* Automatic operation on any voltage from 90-260v or six (‘C’ size 1.5v) internal dry batteries.
* Line-out and Speaker/headphone-out facility (to fit 1/8" jack)"

I remember seeing the Riyaz (pictured below) at a local music shop before, and thinking, hmm, this might be interesting; they kind of look like an old funky SEM type module. Unfortunately the Riyaz did not have MIDI.



Title link takes you there. Via fmasseti.

RCAMARK2 - New Flickr Set

flikcr by dkcaudill. Don't miss this set. Title link takes you there.

RSF Synthesizer Site

Title link takes you to a site dedicated to the RSF synthesizer company. Tons of info and pics.


Now check out the current RSF site. Note the logo is the same. Interesting how companies change over time.

"RSF is a French manufacturer of audiovisual equipment that has more than 30 years of experience in applications dedicated to museums and live shows. RSF produces the largest, most advanced, and most innovative range of audioguides on the market."

Sonicbytes

I'm still in research mode looking for the best PC sequencer (btw if you have any recommendations for the PC feel free to comment - unfortunately I don't have a make yet and can't afford one at the moment).

I want something similar to miniMusic's beatpad to use with a small tablet PC.

So, back to Sonicbytes. I heard about them via Sonic State News. The post was on Phrazor Preview #3, a fully functional "virtual synthesizer workstation" with sequencing. I decided to check it out, but the sequencer looked like your standard piano roll - not what I'm looking for. However they do have a dedicated sequencer called ERA (pictured) that I will check out.

Their products as of this post: EST - Sampling Groovebox VSTi, Gat'R - Trancegate MultiFX, ERA - Midi Step Sequencer VSTi/MFX, Phrazor - Virtual Synthesizer Workstation.

Title link takes you there.

Hillybilly - New Flickr Shot

flickr by stigeredoo. Korg Polysix.