MATRIXSYNTH

at 5/16/2006 12:04:00 AM

Title link takes you to Dubsounds. Along with a section on the Moog Polymoog including history, resources, restoration, owners directory, and the polymoog owner's club, there are member studio shots, samples, a forum and more. Via Jordon Gibson.

at 5/16/2006 12:03:00 AM

Title link takes you there. Via Mr. Array way back in the comments of this post. I thought I put this up already, but I can't find it, so here it goes.

Note the new ins and outs on the bottom surface which becomes the back when racked.

at 5/16/2006 12:02:00 AM

Title link takes you to The Freesound Project, home of a ton of free samples. When you get there try a search on anything on the top right. Results will come back with sounds that match what you are searching. All of the samples are free to use via the Creative Commons license. Pretty cool. There is also Google maps integration where you can actually see where some of the samples, like trains come from, but I couldn't figure out how to trigger the sample when browsing the map. I'll need to try it again. Saw this via CDM.

at 5/16/2006 12:01:00 AM

flickr by asgberg. Title link takes you to more.

at 5/16/2006 12:00:00 AM

In via Loscha. Bookmarking these for when we need them. Note that if you don't find what you want, try again. For example I searched for SK-1 on the casio site and nothing came back. Loscha suggested I try SK, and sure enough I got results.

Casio
Yamaha
Roland (must register first, but, it's free)

at 5/15/2006 09:40:00 AM

Well, aside from shakin' it in front of a theremin I guess.

The Animazoo Gypsy 2.

"Enormous Capture Area -- Capture motion data wherever you need to – indoors or out."

Title link takes you there.

at 5/15/2006 09:32:00 AM

This one in via Jordan Gibson. These are great. It amazes me to think this is all live, no MIDI, no sequencers and no computers. And... all analog.

"By the way, I just saw your comments on Billie Currie playing with Ultravox and his involvement with the Numan band (Cars video etc).

Not sure if you've linked to this before or not, but here are the two tracks Numan did on The Old Grey Whistle Test back then, featuring Billie on Odyssey once again. Good Moog Porn too ;) link

Cheers,
Jordan"

BTW, that's Billy Currie in the background.

at 5/15/2006 08:49:00 AM

Title link takes you to a couple of more shots pulled from this auction.

Details:

Penny & Giles MM16 MIDI MANAGER ( 6 unit 19" rack )

These units were designed for the pro studio. They are quite rare because of their expense: originally over £1500 I think.

The unit is quite easy to program with 16 x P&G backlit endless moving belt faders, buttons (momentary or toggle on/off), rotary encoder wheel and LCD screen.

The MM16 is designed to provide accessibility to the myriad parameters that exist within even a modest MIDI set-up.

There are two basic modes of operation, Workstation Mode and MM16 Mode.

Workstation Mode:
...allows the user to exercise control over the various Digital Audio Workstations
...by generating and receiving MIDI commands...

MM16 Mode:
In this, the MM16 is a general-purpose MIDI controller with all of the control elements programmable by the user...
16 programmable P&G backlit endless belt faders,
16 programmable (toggle/momentary) illuminated button switches.
2 footswitch jack inputs
16 MIDI DIN sockets;
MIDI Merge IN and THRU
6 Main MIDI OUT
MIDI Control IN and THRU
6 Aux MIDI OUT
Control buttons for external sequencer;
START, CONT, STOP plus Rew, FF, Start, Stop and Rec
Rotary encoder, buttons for the accessing and editing the 64 stored programmes

Via Music Thing.

at 5/15/2006 02:27:00 AM

Ultravox was one of my favorite bands growing up in the 80s. They are actually one of the bands that inspired me into getting a synth. Why is the title of the post The Synth Pistols? Well, Malcolm McLaren originally asked lead singer Midge Ure (Ultravox) to front The Sex Pistols, but he turned it down. John Lydon stepped in and the rest is history. Makes you wonder how things could have turned out. It's also fascinating to think Malcom McLaren was responsible for Buffalo Gals. Back then these genres of music never seemed to mix.

Here's a video of Rich Kids, Midge Ure's band prior to Ultravox featuring Glen Matlock of the Sex Pistols. No synths, just some context.

Now for some "live" synth goodness:

Sleepwalk (some dry humping synth action by Billy Currie)
Vienna (I think Midge might have been the only straight man to dress like that)

And of course some Electroclash before Electroclash - Fade to Grey by Visage. Move over Fischerspooner, Visage "taught the killing game first." Visage was another side project of Midge's along with Steve Strange on vocals (he's the guy in the video). Midge didn't sing much in Visage although you can hear him in the background on some tracks, particularly at the end of "In the Year 2525." Another bit of trivia: Billy Currie of Ultravox (THE synth player of Ultravox) actually played with Gary Numan during the transition from John Foxx to Midge Ure fronting Ultravox. Billy is actually in the video for Numan's Cars. You can find more history on Ultravox here.

Title link takes you to an Ultravox search on YouTube.

Udpate via Fred in the comments:

"Never mind the Midge Ure Ultravox, go for the real thing - the John Foxx Ultravox. 'Ha Ha Ha' (their 2nd album, 1977) is very 70's London punk with lots of wild ARP Odessy and great guitar playing by Sevie Shears who afterwards disappeared from history. 'Systems of Romance' (3rd album, 1978) is one of those records that not very many people bought but everyone who did started a band - very influential to later cyber punk and electro-industrial artists. Recorded by Conny Plank at his studio. This is rock music by killer robots - cold, hard and relentless. The first three songs are like the shock wave from an atomic bomb. One of my favorite records ever. The harsh futuristic vibe coming off this record is unsurpassed to this day (I'm still searching) and seems more prophetic than ever. John Foxxs' first album 'Metamatic' (1980) is also great and highly recomended to Kraftwerk Fans. I used to wander around Vancouver with these albums blasting out of my Toshiba ghetto blaster back in the day."

I never got around to fully checking out John Foxx's Ultravox. I just check Yahoo! Unlimited but they don't have it yet. However the do have John Foxx's Dislocated released just last year in 2005. I'm listening to it as I type this and... it's really friggin good. Hope he does more like this soon.

BTW, title link takes you to all Ultravox on YouTube including John Foxx.

at 5/15/2006 12:14:00 AM

Title link takes you there. Definitely check this one out. Hmm... I haven't dived into circuit bending just yet, but something tells me it's about to happen soon. It just looks like an affordable and fun hobby. BTW, for more on Circuit Bending in general, check out GetLoFi. It's where I found this video.

at 5/15/2006 12:13:00 AM

Get ready to drool. Title link takes you to a clip of Dan Levey's studio and demos of alternate controllers. The Synthi is out of control. Also love Dan's smirk at the end. Yep, he knows what he has. Thanks Dan. I think. : )

at 5/15/2006 12:12:00 AM

"This track is done totally on the arp pro-soloist. I was going to add other stuff,percussion etc.,but i set out to do a track with just the pro-soloist so left it alone."

Title link takes you there. Click on the little speaker icon or floppy icon when you get there. Via Jordon Gibson.

Image via Synthony.

at 5/15/2006 12:10:00 AM

"This page is an attempt of tryin' to show how to perform the MIDIMINIAFY modification of a Studio Electronics (from here called SE) ATC-1 synthesizer for the NOVICE. The modification adds a pure sinewave and a discrete moog VCA to the analogue synthesizer."

Title link takes you there.

Update via [d] in the comments:

"Hum...when speaking of synths, one is never too far away from a friggin' cat reference: 'Also - think about what you're wearing and throw the cat out of the house. Cats are walking static electricity bombs.'"

Funny, I missed that. Sure enough this is at the bottom of the directions. Make sure to check out the comments for more.

at 5/15/2006 12:07:00 AM

More Evolver by Stefan Trippler:

http://www.trippler.net/mek/curtissimo.mp3
http://www.trippler.net/mek/mekfive.mp3
http://www.trippler.net/mek/sundaysounds.mp3
http://www.trippler.net/mek/mekeve.mp3

Drums from Spectrasonics Stylus.

at 5/15/2006 12:05:00 AM

Title link takes you there. Makes me want a Polymoog...

at 5/14/2006 02:19:00 AM

Pics via David White

Pics via Bill Manganaro (aka Statemachine)

Both links via alt-mode on AH.

New Lectures by Aaron Lanterman · at 5/14/2006 02:17:00 AM

You might remember this post. Aaron Lanterman has added the following lectures:

4/19 - Demo of SSM2040/Prophet 5-style emulation VCF; Waveshaping and
Chebychev Polynomials
4/24 - Additive Synthesis
4/26 - FM Synthesis

Title link takes you there.

at 5/14/2006 02:02:00 AM

flickr by Heath Finnie.

click here for the set.

at 5/14/2006 02:01:00 AM

Title link takes you there.

at 5/14/2006 01:21:00 AM

Title link takes you to one more shot. This looks like this 102200 with a white case rather than black. If anyone has more info on these and the original color of the case (just curious), please feel free to comment.

Update: Samples courtesy of pinkus via the comments.

"mp3 is without effects..strait into 002...no preamps or anything....sorry for my foolish keyboard playing...i was just fucking around."

Thanks pinkus!

at 5/14/2006 01:14:00 AM

flickr by pinkbelt.

Interesting. I never realised it was "The" Source. Thought it was just the Moog Source. Ok, moving forward, it's the Moog The Source. And of course, don't forget it's Moog pronounced like Vogue, not like poo.

at 5/14/2006 01:13:00 AM

flickr by misscaro.

at 5/13/2006 05:43:00 PM

"Cybersonica and Encompass, in association with Phonica Records, present a two-week exhibition of contemporary sonic artworks. The exhibition showcases a range of sonic and audiovisual works which move beyond the ‘screen, keyboard, mouse scenario’ to explore new and exciting approaches to creative interactivity - responding to physical input, proximity, sound, kinetics, elapsed time and the surrounding environment. All the selected works are playful, engaging and accessible to all."

Cybersonica & Encompass Sonic Art Exhibition
Monday, 8th - Saturday, 20th May 2006
11.30am-7.30pm, Mon-Wed, 11.30am-8pm, Thurs-Sat
Phonica Records, 51 Poland Street, Soho, London W1F 7NG

Title link takes you to more.

at 5/13/2006 10:17:00 AM

Midi Bagpipe Emulator.

"vPipes is an electronic Uilleann Pipes emulator (without regulators) affording the possibility of practising in a variety of situations which would prove to be impractical or impossible with a real set of pipes."

Title link takes you to more info.

via Music Thing.

at 5/13/2006 12:24:00 AM

Check this wall out. Going from left to right then top down: Two Oberheim Cyclones, JL Cooper Synapse MIDI patchbay (16 in, 20 out), Grex MXF8 ("the
almost vaporware product from the Notron guy (Gerard Campbell)"), a GenoQs Octopus, Oberheim DMX, two Sequentix P3s. a LinnDrum, two Notron sequencers and a Linn LM-1. Here's one more shot.

So of course I had to ask how the sequencers compared. Tom had the following to say:

"Octopus, P3, Notron are all different. I've only had the Octopus for a day, so what you're reading is initial impressions.

The Notron is still the only hardware sequencer I know of that decouples the note on time from the length of a step. Everyone else forces a note on to be less than or equal to a step size or else used some type of tied note notation to extend it.

Why do I care? Well, it's easy on the Notron to set one element to play 2 notes with long overlapping times and then to have the pitch or sustain modulated over the course of a sequence. Ideal for slow spacey things like old FSOL or Orb stuff or for NWW/Coil drone things.

The Notron is also one of the few (only?) hw sequencers to send out MIDI CC messages 'between the notes'. Everyone else spits out a MIDI CC value at each step. Notron sends out a seemingly continuous stream so that modulations really do sound and feel smooth and flowing. So you can have a track running at a slow tempo and still apply a smooth modulation with it. Other hw seqs would have a large, grainy steppiness to them at slow tempos.

The Octopus has a very easy interface for zooming into the step level and back out to the track view (10 tracks at once) or grid view (multiple pages of tracks). It's also very easy to check and change things like MIDI channel for each track (one button press and one knob turn). Still in development so the modulations and 'extras' are not as fleshed out yet as the Notron or P3. It does have some nice touches already and the UI really does make it fast to use.

The P3 reminds me of the Oberheim Cyclone with access to it's programming guts. :-) It's easy w. the P3 to create those self-modifying sequences that morph over time and change and shift with each pass. It's a very inward looking sequencer - it's focussed on modifying it's internal patterns and play structure.

The Notron is an outward sequencer - it is designed to spit out as much different MIDI info as possible and let the source deal with it as best as it can.

The Octopus is inbetween. Lots of parallel tracks possible (90 max), with some internal modification possible, not much extra MIDI spit out (other than the standard MIDI cc info per step)."

Via Tom of Synth Services. Thanks Tom!

at 5/13/2006 12:15:00 AM

Click here for another sample of the OB-Mx sent my way via Brian Kehew of The Moog Cookbook. It's the 4M mp3. The other is the sample he previously sent in.

"Here are some of my sounds, they kinda show off what the synth does well. It's aggressive without losing the "muscle" of the sound; a real DIRTY sound when you want it. It has nice complexity and definitely sounds analog. I think it's unfairly treated by some people, although there are others like me that are in love with it. The filters sound great, and the complexity - from the Matrix-style routings - gives it a lot of options if you're a programming nut.

I think it got too much attention for being connected to Don Buchla - he did very little on the synth, and it's NOT like a Buchla really. But you have to give them credit - at the time this came out NOBODY was making analog synths. I thought it was such a bold (and commercially ahead-of-it's time, or behind-it's-time!) idea. Sure was expensive though. For a short time, about three years ago, unused voice cards were turning up - they all sold fast as people stacked up their synth. Mine now has all twelve voices."

OB-Mx shot via Sequencer.de.

at 5/13/2006 12:12:00 AM

This one in via Phil. Two shots pulled via this auction

Click here for a Popular Electronics article on the Psych-Tone.

Details from the auction:
"very similiar to the Triadex Muse this is a simpler odd creation from Popular Electronics, Feb 1971- issue is included with notes. weird synth. seems to be working, the attack , sustain, decay, controls don't seem to have much, if any effect, and is sold as is, as described. This thing is lots of fun, crazy patterns, you can freeze the pattern so it stutters. A very nice and fun piece and seems well put together, one slider cap is missing. more info on the psych tone here"

at 5/13/2006 12:10:00 AM

"I made an awesome Techno/Rave styled Track just with a Gameboy Advance, Gameboy red and Help from a Jp8000.. Its called: Play it loud (Advanced Mix)"

Title link takes you there. It's the first track when you get there.
Via Tax-5 on this VSE Post.

at 5/13/2006 12:09:00 AM

Title link takes you to shots pulled from this auction.

at 5/12/2006 07:30:00 PM

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!

at 5/12/2006 10:40:00 AM

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.

at 5/12/2006 09:45:00 AM

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.

at 5/12/2006 09:43:00 AM

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

at 5/12/2006 08:40:00 AM

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.

at 5/12/2006 01:10:00 AM

Title link takes you to more - a lot more.

at 5/12/2006 01:09:00 AM

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

at 5/12/2006 01:08:00 AM

flickr via malota.

at 5/11/2006 09:06:00 AM

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!

at 5/11/2006 09:03:00 AM

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

at 5/11/2006 09:01:00 AM

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!

at 5/11/2006 02:19:00 AM

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."

at 5/11/2006 01:42:00 AM

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.

at 5/11/2006 01:37:00 AM

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

at 5/11/2006 01:31:00 AM

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.

at 5/11/2006 01:14:00 AM

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.

at 5/11/2006 12:53:00 AM

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."

at 5/11/2006 12:27:00 AM

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.

at 5/11/2006 12:26:00 AM

"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.

at 5/11/2006 12:25:00 AM

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"

at 5/11/2006 12:02:00 AM

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."

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

Monday, May 15, 2006

Sunday, May 14, 2006

Saturday, May 13, 2006

Friday, May 12, 2006

Thursday, May 11, 2006

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