Oakley Sound Systems: Example Modifications

Title link takes you to a list of mods on the Oakley site including the Roland SH-5, SH-101, EH Smallstone, SCI Prophet 5, Moog Rogue, Moog Minimoog, Roland TB-303, and Roland Jupiter-6 with sound samples for some.

"The SH-5 shown below was suffering from a damaged keyboard mechanism and several other faults. The customer wanted it seriously modded. The keyboard section was removed and a banana plug patch panel put in its place. A new circuit board was designed and fitted to allow for various CV and audio signals to enter and leave the SH-5. The low pass filter was modified to a Moog style ladder for a more weighty sound."

Circuit Bent Roland TR-626

Title link takes you to shots pulled from this auction.

Details:
"This Roland TR626 is a samples drum computer, with individual outputs and great sounds. Good for making r&b, house, techno and many other styles... But the greatest thing about it is the bends... They turn this machine into a living noise, scream, distortion, flanging, synth tones, kit changes, etc etc etc... Thoses changes in sounds, are made by a patchbox, that is connected to the TR626 by a 25 pin cable. Connecting the plugs ramdomly will surprise you (if you are into noise music).

Included in this package is the folowing;

- Roland TR626 Rythm Computer
- Roland TR626 User manual (in english only) ORIGINAL
- Bend Patchbox (modular style with plugs for banana Jacks)
- Power supply (not original but compatible with other gear)
- DB25 Parallel Cable (for connecting TR to PatchBox)
- 6 PatchCables Stackable"

via GetLoFi.

Roger Joseph Manning Jr and his synths

Title link takes you to the post on Synthwire. If you like synths, don't miss this one. : )

Roland PG-200 guts.

flickr by polaranta.

Title link takes you to one more shot.

Rogue Moog + Ring Mod + MuRF

The Setup:


The Output:




YouTube via azotus. Sent my way via frederic. Title link takes you to more by azotus.

Anonymous Studio Pic

No title link. Just a nice studio shot sent my way.

"Here's a pic from a client of mine. I serviced his Micro and Mini moogs. The Mini has a Midi converter in it too."

Creamware Klangboxes Ready to Launch

Remember the Klangbox?
The following in via Creamware News:

"Flight control to Klangbox group: ground clearance granted. Over."

Yamaha CS5 Through CS10 Sample

Via Chris Strellis:
"I connected the CS-10 Gate and CV out to the CS-5 and routed the CS-5 audio out into the external audio in of the CS-10 and played them together. Now you have an extra oscillator and filter and EG and LFO etc. You've now pretty much made a CS-15 and a bit (CS-17.5?). The CS-5 has sample and hold on an LFO which the CS-10 doesn't. Also having two independent bandpass filters in series you can get you synth to talk a bit! Here's an mp3 demo of the units in action: link (5 mins 55 secs 5.94Mbytes). I added echo and reverb and compression to the sound file" Thanks Chris! BTW, do check out strellis.com for more of Chris' work.

ARP VCF Clone by Wasbut

There's been some discussion on cloning ARP modules on AH. Seems the majority of what's currently out there are DIY projects. There's a big interest in having the major manufactures produce modules. Note this is regarding individual modules rather than an all in one systems like MacBeth Studio Systems M5.

Title link takes you to Wasbut's ARP VCF clone with samples on Yusynth. You will also find other clones including EMS, Moog, and Steiner, along with other interesting modules.

Cwejman Module List on Analogue Haven

Title link takes you to the full Cwejman Modular list on Analogue Haven.

via synthbaron: List of new modules as of this post:
ai2 Audio Interface
ap1 Audio Processor
fsh1 Frequency Shifter
ph4 4Phase Modular
sph2 Spatial Phaser
vcfc VC Forward Compressor
vca2p Panning VCA
dmf2 Two Modes Dual Filter

Plan B Model 15 Is Capable of the Elusive Homer Waveshape

Inverted as well, no less. Title link takes you to the details. Peter rocks.

Plan B Model 15 Page on Buzzclick-Music.com

Title link takes you to a Plan B Model 15 page on Buzzclick-Music.com. Note Buzzclick is Peter's personal site, while EAR is the official site for the Plan B modular product line. The page on Buzzclick loads with an interesting sample of the VCO - best in stereo. You'll find tons of info and samples of the module. BTW, this is clearly an older page for the module.

AM4000 Synthesizer

"The AM4000 Modular Synthesizer is a replica of the original ARP 2500 analog modular syntheszier that was manufactured in the USA by ARP from 1970 - 1975.

Many of the module schematics have been transfered into Eagle CAD, and the Dual Noise Source has been successfulyy tested, along with the 4023 and 4075 filters."

Planned Modules The AM 4000 has the following ARP 2500 module clones:

AM4003 - Single VCO (audio and LFO ranges)
AM4004 - Dual ADSR
AM4005 - Ring Modulator and VCA
AM4006 - "Moog" 24dB transistor ladder LPF
AM4012 - ARP 2600 "Moog" 24dB transistor ladder filter
AM4016 - Dual analog noise source
AM4023 - ARP Odyssey Mark 1 12dB filter
AM4033 - Dual DADSR
AM4035 - ARP Odyssey Mark 2 "Moog" 24dB transistor ladder filter
AM4036 - Single Sample and Hold
AM4075 - ARP Odyssey Mark 3 - 24dB filter

Title link takes you to more info on the excellent Emulator Archive. BTW, I have no idea when this went up and/or if it's vaporware at this point. If anyone has more info, feel free to comment.

Creamware Scope Track

Title link takes you to an all Scope track. The image gives you an idea of what was used. More on Scope here.

Hawkind's Putney?

via this Craigslist post:

"The original portable synthesizer introduced in 1969. A solid Aformosia cabinet housed the following modules interconnected by means of a matrix patchboard that uses resistor pins. Comparable to a Moog System 1P or 12, Arp 2600, EML 101, Roland 100.



Module complement:
3 x Voltage Controlled Oscillators.
Noise Generator.
2 x Input Amplifiers.
Ring Modulator.
Voltage Controlled Low Pass Filter.
Trapezoid Envelope Generator.
Voltage Controlled Reverberation.
Meter.
2 x Stereo Output Amplifiers.
Joystick.

This is a pre- Prestopatch unit. It is an earlier model that has had the power supply upgraded. It is autographed by Dave Brock of Hawkwind. VCO3 works,veneer, needs adjusting (if you want, I like this flaw). This is one of the most musical sounding VCS3 I have ever seen. Many sound like lab gear. The same is true with Minimoogs. That's why Alien Planetscapes and Hawkwind used this synth and kept it in the family.

It has a DIN pin input for an external keyboard or you can run a guitar, keyboard or mic through it. right now we are just moving the joystick around and getting great Doctor Who sounds. This style unit was also used by Brian Eno, Pink Floyd, and The Who ('Don't Get Fooled Again').

Those things next to the pin matrix is an oscilloscope output, which on later ones is derived from one of the other ports. This machine is very rare. It is a Mk 1 and the pins are original handmade probably by Zinovieff."

For the archives, this one is listed at $5300.

Update: This is the same one from this post. Looks like the price went down. Consensus then was that this was not actually owned by Hawkind, but rather only signed by Dave B. Via ps in the comments.

Opus 2006 Japan

via GetLoFi.

The Moog Micromoog

Part 1


Part 2


YouTube via AutomaticGainsay. Sent in via frederci.

Strawberry Fields Forever - Beatles

What I remember the Mellotron most from. YouTube via CheeseSteak66.

The Musicpole MIDI Controller

"The MUSICPOLE MIDI Controller is a brand new musical instrument.

You don't strike the keys of the MUSICPOLE like you would a piano, you stroke the keys like a slide guitar player. By sliding your thumb you can create all the different scales.

The 12 musical keys are labelled around the top of the MUSICPOLE. The MUSICPOLE's key's are arranged symmetrically, like the circle of fifths. The MUSICPOLE is a 3 octave keyboard. The keys have the same black and white scheme as piano. All keys are labeled with their proper note names.

The MUSICPOLE's keys are triggered by special "thumbletz" you wear on your thumbs (thumbletz are made out of conductive fabric. They slide like silk over the keys of the MUSICPOLE)."

Title link takes you there.

Casio VL-Tone

flickr by Jyoti Mishra.

Click here for some crusty but cool shots of the Casio VL-Tone. It's a fetish folks. Just ignore...

Elektron Turbo MIDI

"While MIDI is the universally accepted standard, TurboMIDI is a compatible evolution made possible from improved modern hardware. TurboMIDI improves the bandwidth between two MIDI devices up to 10x the original MIDI timing. The TM-1 USB MID interface that they have just released does the job between a computer and a TurboMIDI compatible device."

Title link takes you to the full article on Sonic State.

FBT Synthesizer 2000

Italian synth. No title link. Two shots pulled from this auction. No technical details in the auction. Looks nice though. : )

via bodo

Updates via Mikael in the comments:
"Very nice looking synth indeed. The model Synther 2000 was introduced in 1973 and made by the Italian company FBT Elettronica s.p.a.(Fabrizio Baldoni Tanoni)of Recanati. FBT also came out with a Synther 4000 and as far as I know it had even more features. FBT made at least one combo-organ model way back in the '60s. I've got a pic somewhere but can't find it at the moment."

Update via frederic in the comments:
Harmony Central review
Another image on Synrise.de

Update2: you can find a video of one here.

The Minitron

Remember The Minitron? Title link takes you to a page with more info and shots.

"Built in the 1970s by Norm Lederman of Oval Window Audio, it was actually a Graduate Thesis project, designed to illustrate the principles of tape-based loop technology. A complete user's, design, and technical manual exists with the keyboard, written by Norm. After being used by Norm for a quarter of a century, Craig Patterson and PME Records bought the monster, which is the only one of its kind in the world. On first glance, it shares some ideas with the Mellotron, but the Minitron goes the Mellotron one better in a number of categories"

Note Oval Window Audio now makes audio devices for the hearing impaired. Via fmasseti. BTW, in case the title link fails I backed up the shots and page here.

Moog

flickr by Country Club.

Moog Memorymoog.

Title link takes you to one more.

Novamod SH-101 with Maestro Brassmaster Clone - Malekko

via Josh:

"I thought you would like to see this synth, it's a Sh-101 with a novamod and I also installed a Bass fuzz in the battery compartment, it is a true clone of the Maestro Bassmaster my friend [Ministry's] Paul Barker and I are building (it should be available in a month) But I couldn't resist installing one in my 101. Looking at the pictures I think I need to redo the lettering to make it look a little nicer. Paul and my company is called Malekko and like i said the first pedal should be available next month."

Title link takes you to the full sized shot. Thanks Josh! I'm looking forward to checking out Malekko.

Moog Minimoog

Anyone know more about this model?
Update via the world of next tuesday in the comments: "RMS (Rivera Music Services) Mod"

Unboxing the Little Phatty

Seth got himself a Little Phatty. Title link takes you to a ton of shots. Nice packaging.

Moog Archives

Title link takes you the Moog Archives where you will find "a personal collection of rare documents, photographs, and memorabilia from the MOOG companies - designers and manufacturers of electronic music instrumentation"








Update via inverseroom in the comments: The building today:


Update: A little plug for inverseroom for taking the time to put up the shot in the comments: via inverseroom:
"Anonymous, you should come hear my electronica duo Oct 15... link ...and geek out over synths. We are sick of talking to folkies all the time...;-) "

Vintage Synth Scans

Click here for pdf scans of various synth brochures and articles. I tried to list all models below. Apologies for the long list but if you are searching for this stuff via your favorite search engine, this is the only way it'll come up, and finding that oddball rare scan can be absolute gold.


Roland
JX-8P and PG-800, JX-3P and PG-200, Jupiter-6, Juno-106, Synth Plus-60 (HS-60), SH-101 and MGS-1, EP-50, MPU-101, MPU-103, TR-707. TR-909, TR-606, TB-303, CR-8000, CR-5000, SBX-80, MSQ-100, MSQ-700, JSQ-60, BOSS Dr. Rhythm DR220A and DR-220E, Alpha-DRUM DDR-30/PD-10/PD-20, Alpha Juno-1 and Alpha Juno-2, DEP-5, DG CMU-810 Compu Synth, Juno-106, Juno-6, Super JX JX-10, MKS-100, MKS-50, MKS-7, MKS-70, SBX-80, SDE-3000/1000/2000, TR-505, Octapad PAD-8, TR-727, Jupiter-8, MC-8, System 700, CPE-800, VCA-800, System 100M, System 100, Jupiter-4, Promars, SH-2, SH-09, CSQ-600, CSQ-100, SH-1, SH-5, SH-2000, SH-7, SH-3A, SH-1000, VP-330, RS-09, RS-505, SA-09, SIP-300, SIP-301, SPA-240, SPA-120, SPV-355, SVC-350, SBF-325, SDD-320, SPH-323, SMX-880, SRE-555, RE-502, DC-30, DC-20, CR-78, CR-68, TR-66, MKB-1000, MKS-30, MKB-300, MKS-10, MKS-80, MPG-80, JX-3P, MC-4, MM-4, MC-202, MIDI-DCB, MTR-100, CV Interface, Piano Plus-400 HP-400, Piano Plus-300 HP-300, RE-150, RE-501, RT-1L, MPU-104, MPU-105, Cube-100 (CK-100), Cube-60 (CK-60), Cube-40 (CK-40), KS-2, KS05, KS-6, KS-11, KS-1000, TB Series Carrying cases, PSA AC Adapters, KS-1100, SC series soft cases, AB series resin-molded cases, MR-1, RH-10, DP-2/6, FS-1/2/3, M-16C/64C, BR-2/3, RD-1000, MKS-20, MKB-200

Yamaha (note the documentation adds the - in the descriptions. So you CS70M in the title, but CS-70M in the body). I thought that was interesting.
CP-30, CP-20, GS-1, CP-10, CP-11, CS-70M, CS-40M, CS-20M, MQ802, CP-80, SK-50D, SK-15, CS-15D, CE-20, CS-01, CS-15, CS-5, SK-30, SK-20, SK-15, SK-10, GS-2, CE-20, MA-10, MM-10, MH-10, KS-50, KS-100, E1005, E1010, MQ802, CP-80, CP-70B, CP-35, CP-25.

Korg
PS-3300, PS-3200, PS-3100, PS-3010, PS-3040, PS-3050, PS-3001, VC-10, MS-10, MS-20, MS-50, SQ-10, MS-03, MS-02, MS-01, 800DV, 700S, 900PS, M-500SP, PE-2000, PE-1000, KA-180, FK-3, FK-1, V-C-F, Mr. Multi, SE-500, SE-300, EM-570, SP-2035, SM-20, Mini Pops 120W 120P, Mini Pops 7, Mini Pops 45, Mini Pops 35, Mini Pops Junior, Korg Quartz, WT-10A, GT-6, RT-10,

Vintage Synth Story - magazine scans
Crumar DS2, Sequential Circuits Pro-One, RSF Kobol, Roland TB-303 and TR-606, TR-808, PPG Wave Computer, PPG Wave 2, Oxford Synthesizer Company OSCar, EMS Polyvoks, Oberheim OB-X, Octave-Plateau Voyetra Eight, EMS Polysynthi, Moog Minimoog, LinnDrum, Korg PS-3100, Korg MS20, EMS Synthi AKS, ELKA Synthex, ARP Sequencer, ARP Quadra, Korg Polysix, Korg PS-3200, Moog System 3P, Korg Trident mkII, Moog Liberation, Memormoog, Mutron Bi-phase, Oberheim 2 Voix, Oberheim Xpander, PPG Wave 2.3, Roland CR-78, Roland VP-330, RSF PolyKobol, Moog 960 and 961, Sequential Circuits Prophet 10, Vox Super Continental, Yamaha CS-15, ARP, Chroma, Sequential Circuits Drumtraks, EMS Vocoder 5000, E-MU Drumulator, Korg Story, Yamaha CS70M, Korg, Synton Syrinx, Roland MC-4, Oberheim 6 voix, Simmons SDS V, Simmons SDS.3, PolyKobol RSF, Keyboards Synthe Story Part 1 and Part 2.

Yamaha Black Boxes

"A group for those of us using Yamaha's line of wonderful Black Box Modules. We're talking TX802, TX81z, FB-01, PTX8, TX16w, TX(1d6)16 even the humble Tx7, Yamaha's time of majesty when everything came in a sturdy black box."

Title link takes you there. Ran into this site via Loscha the founder of the group.

Oberheim XPander

Title link takes you to shots pulled from this auction.

via Loscha.

E&MM Synblo

Title takes you to the full scan.

via synth ollie.

syntezatory.prv.pl headquarters - twins

flickr by polaranta.

Anyone know what the blue boxes are? I'm guessing analog Russian guitar synths.


A better picture of the soviet guitar synth via the comments (funny, I put this up here as well). It's the Formanta Lider-2.

Arpeggiated M3X

YouTube via opcabpol.

Droid-3 Robotic Sound Module

I thought I put this up a while back but apparently not. Title link takes you to more info and samples.

• digital dirty sound
• advanced matrix modulation
• unique oscillator distortion
• looping envelopes
• waveform type modulation
• flexible routing
• oscillator synchronization
• filter with booster
• blazingly fast arpeggio
• envelope/osc bit reduction
• editor for PC, Mac and Logic™
• all features MIDI accessible

via synthesizer-magazin.de

Moogy module

flickr by corkyburger.

10,000 Gallon Hat

YouTube by bigtex. Caption: "This is a video I made for the track 10,000 Gallon Hat. The track is from my Big Tex album Authentic Songs of the Old West, released in 2002 on the Crunch Pod label. The album is available from crunchpod.com, iTunes, Amazon, etc."

via bigtex:
"Even though you can see an Octave Kitten in the video, the music was made entirely with just three things: a Casio Rapman, a delay pedal, and a distortion pedal. I modified the Rapman to have an adjustable internal feedback, using one of the onboard capacitors as a lowpass filter. It really makes the normally wimpy "bass" drum on the Rapman kick! That feedback, coupled with the Rapman's built-in audio input (also in a feedback loop) made for some interesting pseudo-melodic elements. I was rather impressed by how much I could do with such simple ingredients.

I made the music back in 2002 and didn't get the Kitten until late last year, so music featuring the Kitten will be on my next album. The video is just me messing around with various things found in my studio that day, plus a little bit of walking around downtown San Francisco.

So enjoy... or don't. But you've got to admin, the Kitten just looks cool!

-bigtex"

Indeed. Cool video.

ARP Little Brother

Title link takes you to shot pulled from this auction.

Via Brian Comnes.

Light Harps

"The 'Light Harps' are an immersive installations using movement and laser light to trigger sound. The use of light instead of a physical string plays with our perception of space and matter. What is physically not there (the virtual string), responds as if it were."

via Analog Industries.

ARP 2500 Brochure

Scans are courtesy of Bill Sautter.

Roland RF-303 Vocoder Samples via Chris Strellis

Via Chris Strellis on AH:

"I haven't played with many vocoders before but I've got simple and effective results from my Roland EF-303. Here's the vocoded section from one of my tracks in isolation: link.

I'd be interested to here what other vocoder it most sounds like. There aren't many controls on the EF-303 to alter this sound much but I think it's pretty decent enough. The EF-303 can do a fair Air's "Kelly watch the stars" at times.

BTW the song it comes from can be downloaded from here.

As a comparison, I have also used NI Vokator which is absolutely brilliant. I used it in another track of mine called Skylab.

Vokator_Solo.mp3
Vokator_Poly.mp3

The full track is here: link.

Over and out
Chris

www.strellis.com
www.voynich.co.uk
www.strellis.co.uk
www.chromic.co.uk
www.myspace.com/strellismusic

Fourier Synthesizer

Anyone know what this is?

via Synthesizer-Magazin.

Update via cornutt in the comments and confirmed by Moogulator: "I see a Pasco logo at the bottom right. Pasco Scientific makes instruments and lab equipment for classroom use. They've got some interesting things on their Web site like lab power supplies, function generators, ripple tanks, and decade boxes. This box was probably used with a scope to teach students about Fourier analysis and sum-of-sines."

Korg MS20 patch panel

flickr by DavidMenting.

Gearp*rno Galore! on Sythesizerforum.de

Title link takes you to a thread on synthsizerforum.de with currently 53 pages of gear shots. Note the forum is one of Moogulator's many sites including sequencer.de and synthesizer-magazin.de

Furious LFCO (low freq. chaotic oscillator)

This one in via Gerald:
"In this one, X is modulating a CGS Bi-N-Tic filter, X-dot-dot is modulating a Blacet StonZ phaser, and X-dot is modulating the mix of these two sources. A Bleep Labs Thingamagoop is hanging out, communicating on some primal level with the oscilloscope. Unfortunately, his squelches aren't audible this time - he's just there to look ultra-cool.More details / schematics, and a PCB layout at: link."

Another video:

"A video, and some audio recorded later of the Furious Low Frequency Chaotic Oscillator. The audio is of the x and x-dot-dot outputs modulating a lowpass and bandpass filter respectively, while the x-dot (first derivative) mods the PW of a square-wave. The freak knob is adjusted, then the offset knob."

M-Electroworks Samples

Remember the M-Electroworks? Title link takes you to samples and a bigger shot.

"Hi Matrix,here as promised some 18 soundsamples made with the new M-electrowork modules. They where directly recorded onto an Tascam Pro CDR without any processing and next converted to mp3 in the PC. On some I have used an Roland 104 Sequencer. There is still no website ATM, but for any questions abouth price or ordering there is an e-mail (change [AT] to @)."

DSPaudio Nortron

Soft synth version of the Latronic Notron. Note the extra "r."
Mac only.

"A software sequencer inspired by classic hardware, Nortron goes further into new sequencing dimensions while retaining tight timing, quick navigation, and instrument like playability. Through IAC and CoreMIDI, Nortron controls Softsynths and standard MIDI devices. Nortron breathes new life into old instruments and otherwise dull synthesizers by playing them in ways not previously possible."

Title link takes you to more info and samples. Seen on Music Thing.

16 Step Sequencer from Music From Outer Space

Via the man himself, Ray Wilson, on AH: "Sequencer boards are back (new and improved)"

Features
Improved PC board (far less kludging).
Produces sequences of 4 to 16 steps in length
Modes include stop at count, reverse at count,
reset at count and random 16 mode
Each step has switchable gate/trigger
Accepts external clock and start pulse.
Simultaneous outputs with and without portamento.
Forward and Back step controls ease sequence set up.

Musika Automatika

The Casio VL-Tones at the end tripped me out. via frederic.

Dotcom Modular + Moog Minimoog V’ger

Title link takes you to a few more shots and module list on sequencer.de. There's a really nice shot of the Voyager there.