Saturday, December 08, 2007
Atari Punk Keyboard
YouTube via larsby.
"Remade a Atari Punk Console a friend of mine gave me and put it into an old toy keyboard that I accidentally broke during a circuit bending frenzy this summer."
PC3 Sneak Preview VA1
YouTube via Kurzweilmusicsystems. Sent my way via Gord.
"A little a taste of those VA1 oscillators... The first sound uses 32 detuned saw layers!"
For more background on the VA1 see this post. Originally the Kurzweil VA1 was going to be a flagship knob laden virtual analog monster. It is now a plug-in board for the new PC3.
Moog Analog Delay MF-104z
YouTube via ProGuitarShopDemos.
"The MF-104Z soundz fantastic and like all Moogerfoogers it has controls that allow you to vary the sound in a variety of ways that you can only do with a Moogerfooger.
Controls include:
Drive and Output Levels
allow you to set-up the Z to match the type of signal you want to delay from low level signals (vocals,guitar) to strong signals (studio console output, drum machine). The Z is designed to work with them all.
Delay time: from slightly less than 50 msec to slightly more than 1000 msec.
Mix: Pot Control from completely Dry to completely Wet or anything in between.
Feedback Control
mixes a portion of the delayed signal with the signal from your instrument. Feedback control can generate a single echo, sustaining echoes, or echoes that build up in chaotic ways.
Switchable Internal Loop / External Loop
selects the feedback path. In the Internal Loop position the feedback path goes directly from the output of the delay back to the input. In the External Loop position the feedback path goes through the Loop Out Jack and the Loop In Jack. This gives you an opportunity to insert signal processing in the feedback path, thereby enabling processing of the echoes as they are generated. Very cool with another Moogerfooger (unbelievable with the MuRF)."
Sequential Circuits Prophet VS + Prophet-600 by RetroSound
YouTube via retrosound72.
"short synth demo by RetroSound
bassline: Prophet-600, triggered by the MFB Step64 step sequencer
drums: Roland TR-707
analog-like strings: Prophet VS
hand-played
more info: www.retrosound.de"
Maestro USS-1 A
"Maestro USS – 1A Synthesizer System is one of the most recognizable synth/multi-effect until of all guitarists. It made by Oberheim Electronics, Santa Monica, and Ca 90401 from early 70’s manufactured for Maestro Division of Chicago, Musical Instrument Company. It has a large analog box (22"x11"x9") with six effects: Wave Form, Filter, Sample & Hold, Phase Shift, Envelope and Sub-Harmonic which has six cools switches color coded with eight sliders on the front panel."
Ionic Performer
via this auction
"Ionic Performer Synth. Only 50-100 made."
See the previous posts via the MORE label below for more info on the Ionic Performer. In short it was a clone of the EMS Synthi with a push button modulation matrix vs. the Synthi's pin matrix.
Friday, December 07, 2007
Blovachord - Novachord Emulation on the Waldorf Blofeld
via Boele of SCD on the Waldorf list:
"This sound is trying to emulate the Hammond Novachord, a pre war *synthesizer*. Yes, pre-war synthesizer, you're reading that right. Besides my Blofeld blabla, it's quite an interesting view/read.
http://www.discretesynthesizers.com/nova/intro.htm
The sound I am talking about (but all Novachord sounds have that moody athmosphere) is here:
http://www.discretesynthesizers.com/nova/mp3/nova3.mp3
The Blofeld is producing this one:
http://www.synthmusic.info/mp3s/blovachord.mp3
Specially in the low regions of the keyboard is getting so darn good!
And remember, this is a bare Blofeld. No FX, no compressing/limiting or whatever. Pure Waldorf!
It's modulated wavetable stuff, it's nice filters in series, it's Waldorf! I mean, play one of Stefan's teasers after this one and you understand the enormous amount of sounds possible with this white thingy!"
"This sound is trying to emulate the Hammond Novachord, a pre war *synthesizer*. Yes, pre-war synthesizer, you're reading that right. Besides my Blofeld blabla, it's quite an interesting view/read.
http://www.discretesynthesizers.com/nova/intro.htm
The sound I am talking about (but all Novachord sounds have that moody athmosphere) is here:
http://www.discretesynthesizers.com/nova/mp3/nova3.mp3
The Blofeld is producing this one:
http://www.synthmusic.info/mp3s/blovachord.mp3
Specially in the low regions of the keyboard is getting so darn good!
And remember, this is a bare Blofeld. No FX, no compressing/limiting or whatever. Pure Waldorf!
It's modulated wavetable stuff, it's nice filters in series, it's Waldorf! I mean, play one of Stefan's teasers after this one and you understand the enormous amount of sounds possible with this white thingy!"
Stockhausen RIP
Karlheinz Stockhausen passed away this Wednesday, Dec 5, 2007. He was a pioneer of electronic music. You can find his official website here and you can read more about him and the influence of his work here.
Stockhausen Interview
YouTube via racon.
Some of the musicians Stockhausen influenced via wikipedia:
"Jazz musicians such as Miles Davis (Bergstein 1992), Cecil Taylor, Charles Mingus, Herbie Hancock, Yusef Lateef (Feather 1964; Tsahar 2006), and Anthony Braxton (Radano 1993, 110) cite Stockhausen as an influence... The Beatles included an image of Stockhausen on the cover of their 1967 Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band album. Rick Wright and Roger Waters of Pink Floyd also acknowledge Stockhausen as an influence (Macon 1997, 141; Bayles 1996, 222). San Francisco psychedelic groups Jefferson Airplane and the Grateful Dead are vaguely said to have done the same (Prendergast 2000, 54), though Stockhausen himself merely says the former band included students of Luciano Berio and both were "well orientated toward new music" (Texte 4, 505). Founding members of Cologne-based experimental band Can, Irmin Schmidt and Holger Czukay, actually studied with Stockhausen[citation needed], as did German electronic pioneers Kraftwerk (Flur 2003, 228). New York guitar experimentalists Sonic Youth also acknowledge Stockhausen's influence[citation needed], as do Icelandic vocalist Björk (Guðmundsdóttir 1996; Ross 2004, 53 & 55), British industrial group Coil[citation needed], and British techno artist Aphex Twin."
Stockhausen Interview
YouTube via racon.
Some of the musicians Stockhausen influenced via wikipedia:
"Jazz musicians such as Miles Davis (Bergstein 1992), Cecil Taylor, Charles Mingus, Herbie Hancock, Yusef Lateef (Feather 1964; Tsahar 2006), and Anthony Braxton (Radano 1993, 110) cite Stockhausen as an influence... The Beatles included an image of Stockhausen on the cover of their 1967 Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band album. Rick Wright and Roger Waters of Pink Floyd also acknowledge Stockhausen as an influence (Macon 1997, 141; Bayles 1996, 222). San Francisco psychedelic groups Jefferson Airplane and the Grateful Dead are vaguely said to have done the same (Prendergast 2000, 54), though Stockhausen himself merely says the former band included students of Luciano Berio and both were "well orientated toward new music" (Texte 4, 505). Founding members of Cologne-based experimental band Can, Irmin Schmidt and Holger Czukay, actually studied with Stockhausen[citation needed], as did German electronic pioneers Kraftwerk (Flur 2003, 228). New York guitar experimentalists Sonic Youth also acknowledge Stockhausen's influence[citation needed], as do Icelandic vocalist Björk (Guðmundsdóttir 1996; Ross 2004, 53 & 55), British industrial group Coil[citation needed], and British techno artist Aphex Twin."
Rapture 1.1 Overview
YouTube via CakewalkSoftware.
"Get an indepth look and listen at the new Rapture 1.1. Cakewalk's Brandon Ryan guides us through some of the new features and demonstrates the awesome sound making (and sound mangling) capabilities of this revolutionary virtual synth. Full range speakers are recommended or you will miss some of the fun."
HarriL - Revolver (Live)
video upload by HarriL
"MP3 Here: http://www.mikseri.net/music/play.php...
A chill track with some DSI Evolver testing (desktop version) and guitar playing.
Korg EMX - drums & synths
ESX - samples
Quasimidi 309 - 808-kick."
Messing with the Moog, vol. 1
YouTube via DoKashiteru.
"The Moog at Wells College again - a short video of me playing on one of the sounds."
Moog Taurus II with Midi
YouTube via JorgeCortez01.
"An improvised jam usnig a Midified Moog Taurus II and an Oxigen 8 keyboard"
Miscellaneous Analog Synths via Material Object
"an old junk collecter in Sydney has this private stash.. photos taken years ago but some things of note include a moog controller keyboard that once belonged to Klaus Shulze + the korg PS3300 + he had about 50+ modules for the roland 100m"
Click here for the full set.
Are You Not Devo? You Are Mutato

"Mark Mothersbaugh in Mutato Muzika’s basement. Behind him is Raymond Scott’s legendary Electronium. (Photos by Kevin Scanlon)"
click here for the accompanying article on LA Weekley.
click here and scroll for prior posts on the Electronium including a video.
Zune Originals Unboxing 80GB
Youtube via chachijones. Why? Watch the ending.
"CNET Senior Editor Donald Bell unboxes his customized Zune 80 (paid for with his own hard-earned money), ordered from ZuneOriginals.net. Josh Lowensohn films, Nicole Lee adds commentary.If you link to or embed this video, please provide a credit link back to my MP3 Insider blog:http://reviews.cnet.com/mp3-insider"
Vermona DRM1 MKII
images via this auction
"Vermona DRM 1 MK II Analog Drum Synthesizer. This is a beauty of a percussion synthesizer—all analog, with individual trigger buttons to preview sounds as you shape them, and individual outputs for each channel.
from the manufacturer:
The DRM1 MKII is an eight-channel, completely analog drum synthesizer. It gives you total control over every parameter through its 72 (!) controls.
There are eight channels, each featuring specific parameters for generating a certain kind of drum and/or percussive sound. They are divided into:
Serge VCS Bananalogue

A Trigger input. Trigger fires envelope, gate sustains level
B Input.
C Cycle switch. Connects "End Out" to "Trigger"
D AC Out. AC coupled output.
E Output LED
F Output.
G Both. VC control both Rise and Fall
H Exp CV. Approximately 1V/Oct scaled input.
I Rise knob. Manual control of rise time.
J End Out. Outputs a trigger pulse when the envelope completes a cycle.
K Fall knob. Manual control of fall time.
L VC Rise. Voltage control of Rise
M VC Rise Knob. Attenuates VC Rise amount. Pull the knob out for non-linear slopes.
N VC Fall. Voltage control of Fall
O VC Fall Knob. Attenuates VC Fall amount. Pull the knob out for non-linear slopes.
Thursday, December 06, 2007
SND SAM-16 sequential analogue memory midi sequencer
YouTube via jkselsyn.
"This very unique sequencer has step encoders to set the notes and a velocity pot on the second row of each note. The third row can send midi controllers per note step and also change timing in other modes. It can also serve as a 1x16 and 16x1 analog switch than can be clocked at the audio rate. It can be operated via midi or gate/cv and is able to have chords programmed into the steps.
This short demo is 16th note swing mode and row 3 to send controllers. For more info check out the SAM-16 homepage: http://www.s-n-d.com/sam16e.html"
Roland Space Echo RE-201
"The Roland RE-201, commonly known as the Space Echo, is an audio analog delay effects unit.
A tape echo device records incoming audio to a loop of magnetic tape, then replays the audio over a series of several playback heads before it is erased again by new incoming audio. The tape used in the RE-201 is the standard 1/4" tape of the open-reel variety, but made as one, continuous loop. In the Roland 'RE' range there are no reels of any kind, the tape is transported via a capstan drive. The tape loop is contained in a loose, constantly moving jumble in the tape chamber (also known as the tape tank) under a plastic panel which protects the tape and keeps it from getting tangled. The repacement tapes were known as Roland RT-1L replacement tape loops and sold by Roland.[1]
There are several control dials on the device that alter such aspects as tape speed, repeat pattern (an 11-position rotary switch), one instrument and two microphone inputs, a single analog backlit VU meter for all three inputs, wet/dry mix for both echo and reverb, and intensity (number of repeats; in a sense, it actually reduces how much the erase/record head erases the tape), that can be adjusted to a user's liking; and bass/treble controls to EQ the sound, as well as dry and effected "Echo" output jacks with a switch for output setting (-10, -20, -35db levels.)
The Roland RE-201 was used by musicians like David Gilmour (Pink Floyd) and Randy Rhoads (Ozzy Osbourne).
Despite its age, the Roland RE-201 is widely sought after, and still used by many bands to this day, notably in the experimental work of Radiohead, and the rockabilly stylings of Brian Setzer, the latter using one recently to get the slapback sound sought after for rockabilly and such styles of music"
DeadZone Music Studio in 12/2007

full size
Spot the synths
If you give up, click the DeadZone link above for the image with mouse overs for each instrument.
Moog Taurus Mk1 analog bass pedals synthesizer "RetroSound"
YouTube via retrosound72
"preset demo of the Moog Taurus Mk1
- Taurus (long decay)
- Bass (short decay)
- Tuba (only one oscillator)
- Variable (variable settings)
"I really believe that you've not heard 'deep' bass until you've heard the Taurus in full flight. I have no measurements to illustrate the frequencies that the Taurus reaches, but these kind of sub-sonics are beyond the scope of any digital synth that I've come across, and even put a lot of good analogue ones to shame." (Published in SOS June 1995)
more info and pics: www.retrosound.de"
Micro Synthesizer Demo
YouTube via ehpedals.
"Analog Synth for Guitar and Bass
From the classic vintage sounds of the great early Moog synthesizer to wild custom creations, the Micro Synthesizer creates fat analog synth sounds heard on recordings by everyone from George Clinton to the Police. The compact ten-slider layout lets the sonically adventurous guitarist dial a virtually limitless array of analog synthesizer sound."
Moog Minimoog + Logan String Melody 2 by RetroSound
YouTube via retrosound72
"short demo track by RetroSound
bassline: Moog Minimoog
strings: Logan String Melody 2
drums: Roland TR-707
hand-played, no external effects
more info: www.retrosound.de"
Mame + sound card + oscilloscope = star wars arcade game
full size (be sure to check this out)
I wonder what it sounds like.
Update: video of it below. via Zamise in the comments.
oscilloscope star wars
video upload by Oscilloroids
via Scott in the comments.
The Bob Moog Foundation's Flickr Set

Pictured here is Chris Swanson. You can read a little more about him on Bob Moog's personal site.
"The first Moog concert featured two jazz composers, Herb Deutsch and Chris Swanson, and their quartets. The instrumentation was entirely electronic, employing polyphonic, bass, and percussion synthesizers, and an electronic piano. The output of each instrument was fed to a separate, large Bozak CM-109 speaker system. The output of these units was in turn picked up by a microphone and fed to the Museum's sound reinforcement system, consisting of several compact acoustic - suspension systems hung along the Fifty-Fourth Street wall of the Sculpture Garden. No prerecorded tapes were employed. Every sound produced was created on the spot, and though this was composed music that had been carefully rehearsed, there were ample breaks in both composers' work for prolonged improvisation."
The Bob Moog Foundation
Korg EX-800

full size
"The polyphonic "synthe" module again, showing some of the panel graphics describing various parameters available for tweaking.
It's very 80's sounding, but I love it. The module (keyboard-less) version of the Poly-800 keyboard, with an added sequencer (lower right)."
Tripping out at Electric Death Trip Studios. home of VAC.
YouTube via hexfix93.
"The home of Velvet Acid Christ, www.velvetacidchrist.com. check it out. Sony XBR trinitron 34 inch analog 1080i HD TV, Driven by Sony Playstation 3. PSP hombrew running final fantasy 8 stable! Awesome! Gear list: dr 880, futureretro revolution, doepfer modular with plan b, livewire, and harvestman modules. Mackie onyx 1620, kurzeil ksp8, roland jp8080, tubestation compressor, 2x empiric labs distressors, roland sh-2, novation remote 61 keyboard controller, line 6 spider valve 112 tube guitar amp. Martic acoustic guitar, Fender geddy lee jazz bass, Gibson Flying V, Macbook pro 2.16 ghz, core 2 duo. bowers and wilkins 602 s3 studio monitors. Halfer TA110 amps. Chameleon labs 7602 neve micpre and eq clone, emagic amt-8 midi 8 in 8 out. mackie 1202 vlz pro.."
Velvet Acid Christ Roland SH-2 Demo, Futile riff.
YouTube via hexfix93 of VAC. Also see this interview on Matrixsynth.
"I thought i would demo the sh-2 doing futile. And messing about with the sound while it was going on. Notice this, no fx were used, and listen to how great it sounds, no VA can even dream of doing that. Fat, Cutting, Metallic at times, warm, organic. Like a lazer.. I love this synth."
Anchorsong with String Quartet - In His Left Pocket
YouTube via yohage. Also see this post.
"Anchorsong is the solo project by Masaaki Yoshida from Tokyo, Japan.
He plays AKAI MPC2000XL and KORG Triton. He creates music with loop and overdub right in front of the audience.
Some people say, "To see that he constructs music little by little on the stage, reminds me of a painter drawing on a white canvas."
On 16th June 2007, he made another collaboration with string quartet.
After making his career for 3 years in Tokyo, he has moved to London to play music with a bigger excitement. "
Alesis Micron Modulation Matrix
YouTube via Gtechture.
"Hi, I created this patch to demonstrate and explore the modulation matrix. It is commonly over looked in the Micron. The FM amount is being modulated by LFO1 and the rate of LFO 1 is being modulated by Envelope 3."
PREVIOUS PAGE
NEXT PAGE
HOME
© Matrixsynth - All posts are presented here for informative, historical and educative purposes as applicable within fair use.
MATRIXSYNTH is supported by affiliate links that use cookies to track clickthroughs and sales. See the privacy policy for details.
MATRIXSYNTH - EVERYTHING SYNTH













© Matrixsynth - All posts are presented here for informative, historical and educative purposes as applicable within fair use.
MATRIXSYNTH is supported by affiliate links that use cookies to track clickthroughs and sales. See the privacy policy for details.
MATRIXSYNTH - EVERYTHING SYNTH