Oberheim OB-1

Title link takes you to shots via this auction. Note the blue LEDs.

"-8 patch memories for saving user presets, VERY handy on a vintage monosynth!
-2 VCOs with Saw and Pulse waveforms.
Both VCOs have a voltage controllable width control (both can be swept by LFO or Vco2 by the Envelope) for both the pulse waveform (from square to narrow pulse waveform) AND rather uniquely the sawtooth waveform too (can be swept from sawtooth to a sine waveform!)
-2 Sub-Oscillators available, one for each oscillator! Can sound HUGE!
-Oscillator Sync and Cross Modulation. Oscillator sync is absolutely killer sounding, i dont think ive heard a synth that has better oscillator sync! Cross modulation is great too.
-Excellent discreet, Oberheim filter, either 2 pole or 4 pole slopes are available with keyboard tracking and resonance. Keep rolling up the resonance and the bottom end stays solid. Fantastic sounding filter, one of my favourites!
-1 LFO, three waveforms, Sine, Square or S+H.
-White noise.
-2 ADSR Envelopes.
-Portamento.
-Flexible modulation buss. LFO can modulate both oscillators frequency or waveform shape and the filter cutoff. Envelope can sweep Oscillator 2 or the filter.
-Excellent performance bender, you can bend one or both oscillators (has a broad or narrow range) or introduce modulation.
-CV, Gate and audio inputs."

Admin: Contact Info Update

Just an fyi, but I changed my contact info from matrixsynth at hotmail to matrixsynth at gmail. My hard drive crashed the other day and I had to rebuild it from scratch. I went with Vista (apologies to the Mac users out there but I need it for work) which no longer has OE, so I went with Outlook and the hotmail integration is horrendously slow even after downloading all my messages, 2.5 Gigs. : ) I keep everything. Anywho, I finally gave up and decided to try gmail integration with Outlook. It supports proper POP and is FAST, so... I'm on gmail now. If you have me in your address book, please take a minute to update it with the new address. Apologies for this, but my mind was going numb waiting for each individual email to synchronize with the server. It's literally like those dreams where you try to run but can't as you feel like you are running waste deep in water. Mind numbing, horrid stuff.

Instrumental Innovators - Dave Smith: Synthesizer Pioneer - DVD

"Dave Smith founded Sequential Circuits in the mid-70s, and in 1977 he designed the Prohet-5 - the world's first microprocessor-based musical instrument and first completely programmable and polyphonic synth, which set the standard for all synth designs that have followed. In the last few years Dave has returned to the hardware instruments with the Evolver and Poly Evolver synths, which combine real analog electronics with digital processing to create yet another new world of unique instruments. This DVD includes a 90 minute complete history of Dave Smith from Prophet to MIDI to the PolyEvolver and roundtable discussion with Dave Smith, Roger Linn and Tom Oberheim."

Available at Dave Smith Instruments. 

This one is in via brian comnes.

amza elvis

YouTube via elvisarmeanca. Via JZ.
"amza elvis play live casio cz 101"

Jordan Rudess playing the Memotron

YouTube via neilomac.
"Here's a vid of Dream Theater's keyboard player playing the Memotron, a digitally-modeled Mellotron. Looks and feels like the real thing, but smaller, and less prone to tape wierdness."

Something New from Dave Smith Instruments This Way Comes

Via David Bryce on this VSE thread. Sent my way via HarriL. And, no this is not the Boomchick developed with Roger Linn:

"This has been developed in almost complete secrecy. Only a few people know about it. This is the first time it's been mentioned publicly.

As I mentioned earlier- it ain't gonna be secret for much longer. The first run is being built right now, and will be ready for shipping next week.

dB
DSI"

The only hint as of this post is black with wood ends.

Updates in the thread (thx goes to ben of mus-ok for the tip):
"sizzlemeister wrote:
It's got to be a 5 or more voice simple Rev 4.0-like Prophet.

Basically correct.

Quote:
It'll be like a PEK using the CEMs DSI uses in the Evolver, but minus EVERYTHING digital excepting patch-storage and MIDI.

Again, basically correct.

Quote:
This to address the market demand for a modern, affordable analog polysynth from DSI that has 5 or more voices. So, keeping the voice architecture "simple" like a P5 with no bells and whistles allows to maintain a "lower" price-point.

Yes...but it does have some bells and whistles. We kept the sequencer, added the arpeggiator, and tacked on one or two more fun little functions.

Prophet '08. Eight voices, all analog. Shipping next week.

dB
DSI"

"It does use the same CEM chips as the Evo stuff, but they sound different because Dave tweaked them differently, and the system isn't the same without the digital stuff in the signal path.

I think you'll be surprised. I sure was...

dB
DSI"

regarding pics:
"
I don't have any good ones, and I believe we're waiting on the production models to take a formal one. We've all been working on hand built prototypes. I think I'm the only one who has one that has the knobs with the silver caps.... Very Happy

As far as the price point goes..$2199 MSRP, $1999 MAP.

dB
DSI"

Update (thx to Xavier for the tip in the comments):
And we have a teaser video from non other than Stefan Trippler.

And some samples:
"http://www.trippler.net/files/p8/p8k.mp3

Drums from Spectrasonics Stylus.

And one more old Style tune, all synth sounds:

http://www.trippler.net/files/p8/p8i.mp3"

Update via Mr. Array: More samples:
"Copy the following link and paste it into your address bar:

http://www.trippler.net/files/p8/p8a.mp3

Then change the p8a.mp3 to p8b.mp3, then p8c.mp3 and so on.

Thanks to Mr. Array for the tip."

Update: There have been quite a few more posts since this one. If you are just seeing this, click on the DSI tag below for the rest. Be sure to scroll as it will bring up all posts tagged with DSI.

Buchla Electric Music Box

YouTube via wotgorila.
"This is an old Vintage Buchla Electric Music Box was rescued from a dumpster and reconditioned by my friend chuck. As you can see, it takes a while to set up, chances are the previous owners could only get it to make fart noises and chucked it."

Update video re-posted here.

Rhodes Chroma Demo

download here
via Norman Fay of Vietgrove on AH:
"The "big job" of this year recently got completed - Tony Allgood of Oakley Synthesisers serviced my Rhodes Chroma and did some fairly major work (incl the power supply replacement as detailed on www.till.com, with mods to work on UK power).

It is awesome to have the Chroma running on 8 voices, to have the parameter slider working, and to have the instrument running in almost eerie silence with no buzz & hum from the power supply. I'm sure the thing sounds a bit cleaner as well.

Many thanks, Tony.

I threw this together in like 1hr, using Cubase, SIR reverb and digitalfishphones "blockfish" compressor. There is probably too much reverb on it, sorry! All of the sounds are derived from the chroma, I think there's 10 layers altogether, though not all at once. One of the layers was sequenced using "zeit", the rest played in by hand. It's just a faff about, really."

Twango'd and posted here with permission. Thanks Norman!

C64c / Prophet64 / Dtronics midi / Elektron MD

YouTube via stamba313.
"C64c running Prophet64 synced with Dtronics midi and Elektron MD"
Sent my way via Oliver:
"One of the artists on my record label sent me this video. You may like it:
http://www.thingstocome.com/blog/
permalink:
http://thingstocome.com/blog/stamba-makes-a-commodore-64-into-a-tb-303/"

MB-6582 PCB Orders 2

Remember the MB-6582?

via nebula:
"Hey guess what? You linked a while back to Wilba's amazing MIDIbox SID. Well he has just taken delivery on 100 PCB's (sorry, all spoken for) which are about to be unleashed on the MIDIBox community. Something tells me we're going to start hearing a lot more modern SID music soon. Thought you might want to share this one. I have one on order and will be sharing my experiences building the thing at http://nebulasdomain.blogspot.com"

Masaya Matsuura (Parappa) Releases musika For iPod

"Sony BMG Music Entertainment has announced the release of musika, an original music visualizer game on the iTunes Store for play on Apple iPod. musika, created by NanaOn-Sha president Masaya Matsuura is a "fresh and innovative experience that creates beautiful visuals using the title of any song."

Users can simply enjoy musika's imagery, or play along by pressing the center button in time with the letters in the song's name to advance to more difficult levels displaying different visual effects.

Masaya Matsuura was the creator of PaRappa the Rapper for the original PlayStation, and the title has been developed in collaboration with Method Solutions for the iPod."

Title link takes you to more info. Via CDM.

Modified Commodore 64 For Cynthcart

YouTube via IINewIIVirusII.
"Hey this is my C64 modified with a segment LED display and potentiometer."
via C64Music!

Commodore 64 - Commodulator Demo Video

YouTube via woostercode.
"Commodulator 64 video - you can get the real thing on E-bay: link."
via C64Music!

BMH Audio & Elektronik Pro-One Processor Replacement

"We are working on a replacment processor for the 8021 in Sequential circuit's ProOne. It is a little pcb board with a modern sufacemounted processor. The board has pins that fits to the socket on the ProOne's pcb. So it's just to plug it in. The replacment board has even some more features built in:
* Midi input and output
* Two analog outputs, can be used to midi control for example filter cutoff etc.
* One analog input, have not decided what to use it for. Maybe to send midi data from pitchbend or modwhweel, or other analog signal"

Title link takes you there. via JB

AS Modular in Ikea Rast 12082007

flickr by bambam4236.

click here for the full size shot.

Laura Laptop

flickr by Mikey Brick.

"Rockin' OR e-mailin' (?) Todd V Wolfson's opening at Flipnotics, July 13, 2007"

click here for the full size shot.

Guess the synth. More shots and the answer after the hop.

Alesis Andromeda Synth

YouTube via GCom67.
"Just a quick vid to show off some pictures and sounds from the Alesis Andromeda synth."

CASIO CZ 1000

YouTube via synthargentina.
"This sound is a combination of two different waveforms"

Evolver + LITE II

YouTube via Denkitribe. Note this one is in stereo.

KORG Delta DL-50

Title link takes you to shots via this auction.

"For those of you unfamiliar with the Delta, it's pretty cool. It's a 70's string machine (like the Arp Solina) as well as a subtractivce analog synth. The synth and string sections have separate outputs as well as a combined output. You can use Voltage Control to control the filter, trigger gates, etc. The legendary Delta filter is what sold it for me, and it is indeed pretty aggressive."

Roland Jupiter-8

Title link takes you to shots via this auction.

MOOG Satellite 5330

Title link takes you to shots via this auction.

Analog mono synth.

BuchlaWorks

Title link takes you to a new Buchla 200e page by Richard Lainhart. You will find video, audio and more.

Acidlab modified TB-303

YouTube via darenager.
"One of my TB-303's, bought as a wreck and modded, just a quick demo showing some of the new sounds available, sorry about the audio quality but it gives an idea of what it can do."

TENORI-ON Videos

Looks like a TENORI-ON vid is up on the Yamaha site. Title link takes you there. It's on the bottom right.

via Robert:
"New Tenori-on info gleaned from the new videos, mp3s, and text:
* Tenori-on is made of metal
* It can sample
* A cat has already been photographed with one
* It comes in a nice box
* Every demo doesn't have to sound like Elektroplankton
* Yamaha says they are "test marketing" it in the UK before deciding to sell it elsewhere.

I think the cat photo and the brief box porn in one of the videos are deliberately trying to get you, Matrix, excited about it."

Be sure to check out the "Interview with Musicians" link for more.

HardSID MIDI Playing part 1

YouTube via gamorbab.
"This is me playing with my beloved HardSID with selfmade instruments. In this part 1 there are just a few example patches, in part 2 there is an arpeggio patch."
Mouse over the controls at the end of this video to see part 2 and 3.

Prophet 64

Prophet 64 2

YouTube via Awake1077.
"Commodore 64C and Prophet 64 cartridge available from www.Prophet64.com"

Prophet 64

Prophet 64 MIDI interface #01: CC to POT

YouTube via AxiMaxi. via Stamba in the comments of this post.
"How to assign CC to the 4 pots of FirestARTer's MIDI interface for the Prophet 64."

schooldays - Stanley Clarke / George Duke

YouTube via elimk.
Guess the keys. Keytar solo about halfway in.

Update: And one more.
billy cobham george duke band red baron

YouTube via hossenff.
"billy cobham george duke alphonso johnson and john scofield 1976"
Minimoog solo comes in about 4:20 into it.

KORG Research and Development

flickr by ario_j.

Can anyone confirm if this is KORG, the synth company, and if so, where this is?

click here for the full size shot.

md minimal

YouTube by daswesen.

Waldorf Wave

Title link takes you to some shots of the Waldorf Wave on alt-mode.

korg poly-ensemble

flickr by Breakfast for Dinner.

click here for the full size shot. More after the hop.

MOTM-520 Cloud Generator Demos

via Paul Schreiber of MOTM on AH:

"Here are 4 "identical" demos of the MOTM-520 Cloud Generator hardware. The difference is the waveform used. In all cases the audio is unfiltered and mono. The MP3 encoding is 64K, so the overall dynamic range/brightness is somewhat compressed. But you will get the general idea.

Sounds are from turning the front panel controls (Pitch, Spread, Chaos).

saw_demo.mp3
tri_demo.mp3
sqr_demo.mp3
sine_demo.mp3

Let me know what you think!

Paul S"

Chua's Oscillator

"For decades, musicians have been experimenting and working with electronic synthesizers to generate sound. In some cases the reasoning is logistical - often it is prohibitively expensive, for example, to haul a heavy and expensive piano or organ to a venue. Many times, however, the goal is creative expression in the generation of new and previously unheard or unharnessed sounds. Chaotic oscillators, including the example discovered by Leon Chua, open the door to a new universe of sonic possibilities.

Chua's oscillator is a system described by a set of three differential equations that can be realized either in digital form or in analog form using opamps and passive circuit components, simple in appearance, but extraordinarily complex in its analysis and behavior."

Title link takes you to more info including a video

Waldorf Blofeld Vids

MusoTalk 81 - Angecheckt- Waldorf Blofeld Teil 1


MusoTalk 82 - Angecheckt - Waldorf Blofeld Teil 2

YouTubes via musotalk.
"Wolfram Franke, developer at whale village Music, presents the new Blofeld Synthesizer in the areas of audio Workshop. The thing sounds really very convincing and at a price of under 500 €. Sound Samples taken up to 24 Bit/48 kHz with the Metric halo mobile interface (ca.24 MT) on www.musotalk.de downloaden."

PPG EVU

Click here for additional pics via this auction

"The EVU is an 8 voice synth with 2 wavetable oscillators per voice. They also have the great SSM filters on the voice boards. You have 2 envelopes, an LFO and a third AD envelope available. There are additional jacks on the back for VCF Filter control, trigger input, and more. The EVU can be edited from your favorite sysex librarian/editor. Sonically, the EVU matches up with the Wave 2.3. It has the newer voice cards and 12 bit processing like the 2.3."

Sequential Circuits Pro-fx

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

MODEL 500 SYSTEM CONTROLLER (3U RACK SPACE)
MODEL 501 EXPANSION CAGE (3U RACK SPACE)
SCI 518 REVERB UNIT (1U RACK SPACE)
THE MODULES ARE:
SCI 512 DISTORTION
SCI 520 TRANSPOSE/SYNC
SCI 518 REVERB
SCI 524 DIGITAL DELAY
SCI 514 4X2 MIXER
SCI 522 FLANGER CHORUS

CLICK FOR MORE »

Casio SK-1

Click here for shots via this auction.

"Dual Mounted Modified Devices Offer a Fully Modular Independently Arrayed Open Patch System With Momentary Engage Buttons, Selectable Engagable Step Busses, & a Versatile Variable Speed / Length / Step / Patch Sequencer System with Unusual Timing Features like the Chaos Modifier, Freeze, & Freeze & Step Settings. Simply Put This Crazy Thing Will Generate All Manner of Unique Raymond Scott Karloff & Electronium Or Krell Musical Effects that Will Blow You Mind ! Patch Your other gear Right in with Ease and Use Any Part Of the Sequencer System to Glitch or Cross Glitch Any Number Of Bent Devices in Tru e modern Modular Synth Style. 1950's Retro Sci-Fi Modern."

Oberheim OB-Xa

Title link takes you to shots via this auction.

"Oberheim OBXA 8-voice vintage analog synthesizer with 120 programs upgrade and full midi kit"

Synthesizers.com State Variable Filter

via this auction.

"Synthesizers dotcom Q107 filter module in PRISTINE condition. I think this module has more sonic presence than the Moog ladder filter which is quite evident as you turn up the resonance - there's still a lot of bottom end. In addition to Low Pass, you get High Pass, Band Pass, and Notch. All outputs can be used simulatenously."

Godin LGXT Guitar Synth

Title link takes you to shots via this auction.

"Godin LGXT with a very nice Godin hardshell case. Cosmetically this guitar has a couple of minor dings, and some typical light pick marks, but I would rate it at least a 9/10. It has been professionally setup and plays like a dream! You will not find a better synth guitar, but this is also a monster when played as a normal electric guitar. This combination of fast synth tracking and a tremolo system makes for incredible sonic power and delivers it in a very user-friendly, eye-pleasing package. Exquisitely playable with surprising resonance and a vibrant natural tone, the LGXT pairs an ergocut mahogany neck with a sleek and smooth ebony fingerboard and a silverleaf maple body topped by figured maple. The LGXT has dual Seymour Duncan humbuckers a Jazz II in the neck position and a Duncan-modified Custom Custom in the bridge position; a Godin exclusive. The custom RMC X-Bridge fires the piezo transducer output and the excellent synth-tracking system. You can find even more specs on this guitar at Godin's website." Anyone know what the sliders do?

Korg X-911 and a Poll

The following is via Sir Ruff on VSE:

"well, I don't normally write about anything new I get, but this this just showed up today and kind of blew me away. I really didn't expect it to sound so damn raw and vintage, but I guess it is essentially components of a ms-20 in a pseudo-preset box. I frankly can't ever see this being used as a guitar synth-the bass is so massive, even with just one oscillator preset on, it would be silly not to use it for this. there is just enough resonance on the filter to achieve the perfect "phwoah" sound... very rude! Twisted Evil totally unlike any filter I have used before-again I assume this is part of the ms-20 legacy... Actually this would be a perfect addition to a ms-10/20 setup due to all the inputs for pitch/filter/lfo/portamento... I guess there were special pedals you could buy for this, but surely other connections would work as well? Failing this, I will at least be able to connect it to my cs15 for some 3 osc madness.

Unfortunately, I don't have a manual, and there's none on the net, so if anyone happens to know the inner workings of the "touch sense" parameter, and others, I'd like to hear!"

And the Poll... I frequently come across mini reviews like this on various forums and... I find them interesting. On the one hand it could just be a reflection of someone's joy in picking up a new synth, but on the other it is a perspective on the new synth. And... I have seen dissapointment as well. The poll, or rather my question to you is, should I put this stuff up when I come across it? It is fascinating in that you get to see one person's reaction to a given synth, but would you consider it worth posting here? On a forum, of course it makes sense. The comment in this mini review that stood out as interesting to me was the following: "I guess it is essentially components of a ms-20 in a pseudo-preset box." The X-911, guitar synth, consisting of MS20 components. Is this correct? Of course if you know it not to be, you are free to correct this statement in the comments here and/or on the thread as well. The thing with the VSE thread is that it will eventually disappear - inactive threads there will eventually expire. Let me know if you think I should post these one of mini reviews via the poll below. Note that I am completely on the fence on this one and normally I would not put this up unless someone sent it in for a post. So if you vote no, I will not take offense to it.

SAW Synth

For the ultimate sawtooth wave.

Actually it's a theremin. Title link takes you to more info on fotosis.

Porting the XT Waves to Zebra

via suthnear via this KVR post.

"Since it looks as if Urs has fixed the 16 slot oscillator loading bug I'm now going to convert all the microwave xt wavetables to z2 oscillators. However, I can't just convert the wavetables themselves - they often have more than 16 waves. I'll definitely convert all the individual waveshapes from the xt's wavebank and bang them into z2 tables 16 at a time. There are 100s of them so this will mean many, many new oscillators. This is how I converted the prophet vs waveshapes to z2. However, there is not necessarily a relationship between contiguous waves in the wavebank. Relationships are handled by the wavetables which group individual waveshapes (wavetables are just a set of pointers into the wavebank) . So sweeping z2's table may lead to discontinuities. Also, since there's no way to copy individual waves between oscillators, it'll be tricky to build up your own wavetables using the sounds.

I'll try and create z2 versions of the wavetables themselves - i.e. pick the most characteristic waves in a wavetable and rebuild the wavetable itself as a z2 oscillator (using z2's interpolation where necessary). For the wavetables with 16 waves or fewer this will be trivial. However, for the tables with more than 16 waves, this will be manual and therefore will take some time. Any other suggestions for this?

Also, I don't have any web space - can anyone recommend a decent hassle free hosting service. As noted, I also have the prophet vs waves..."

You can find the waves at the post.
More info on Zebra here. This one sent my way via Greg 'Bug' Strutton.

Vermona vs. Analog Solutions Demo

Title link takes you to the mp3. Via Mark of cold hand murr.

"Red Square, DRM1mkii, and Perfourmer wired up together in a way I'm sure I'll never be able to reproduce... i.e., all sound sources are realtime analog. Recorded in one take with a bunch of frantic knob traffic.

Vermona DRM1mkii, Vermona Perfourmer, Analogue Solutions Red Square, Lexicon MPX-550 (verb and trem), Akai MPC1000 (sequencing), MAM SLE 82, Echo AudioFire 2"

Studio Electronics ATC-1 Demos

A few videos sent my way via Mr. Array. Note a couple of these are just still images for the audio demo. The ARP Little bother in the first vid is not what you are hearing; it's the ATC-1 that you hear.

Bach Little Prelude BWV 934


"Ok, the last one. I apologize for the mistakes, but that's what I could record while I'm at home recovering from a cold. I played a Studio Electronics ATC-1 from the CME UF6, with Lexicon PCM-60 reverb, Echo indigo I/O, Cubase, iSight with iMovieHD."

Playng with a monophonic Synth


YouTubes via marcelojohann. I actually found this one checking out the rest of his videos and thought I'd include it. Be sure to check out the rest.
"This is a music of my own, actually a simple theme that I like and keep improvising over, but it has no defined begin, ending or structure. Here I'm playing it on a monophonic synth, interleaving notes and using a lot of reverb to give them sustain..."

Studio Electronics SE-1


YouTube via chriszanf.
"This is my SE-1. Im just messing about with a simple bassline and 1 bar of drums. There was only 1 other video of an SE-1 and that was broken/munted but still played. [its in the 'related' below] Ill post more later as Ive just got my studio together finally!!"

The Oakley Sound Orbital

"The Orbital is a classic three VCO monosynth with powerful features. It uses the same tried and tested circuits as the Oakley Modular System. It has the same powerful huge sound but in a more compact and classic format.

My design brief was simple. To build a superb analogue monosynth for musicians using existing Oakley PCBs and to fit it all in a 4U rack. It had to be simple to operate, yet flexible enough to keep virtually everyone happy. So what has the Orbital got to offer:

Three VCOs. Each oscillator is the Oakley 'One of three' VCO with sine, triangle, pulse and sawtooth available simultaneously. An ingenious mixing system keeps the overall volume level the similar as the waveforms are switched in and out. Synchronisation is provided so that VCO 2 and/or VCO 3 can be synched to VCO1. VCO2 can have its pulse width modulated by one of the ADSRs. While VCO 3 can have its pitch swept by the envelope generator, for powerful lead sync sounds."

Title link takes you to more info and images on the Oakley site.

PPG Mods

Title link takes you to a number of PPG mods on seib.synth.net. While there, be sure to check out the rest of the site.

Pictured is a Wave 2.3 mod
"This modification has been done by DI Helmut Fischbach (who built a lot of stuff for Kraftwerk) for Manfred Hermann und Jon Kaiser from Berlin. For that, the whole Wave was "sliced" and put into a rack case."


Mods include:
Wave 2 Rack
Wave 2.3 with velocity-sensitive keyboard
Wave 2.3 Rack (pictured)

... und die Kamera ...

flickr by sushiluv. click here for more.

MOOG Rogue
Sherman Filterbank