analog synthesizers EMS stuff

YouTube via emssynthi100. EMS Synthi 100
This video is a short 9 seconds, so just think of it more as an image.

EMS VCS3 Sequencer

via this auction via panorama on the forum.

"this is a very rare original ems vcs3 sequencer called the ks sequencer. it is the same as the aks sequencer but it has black,white touch keys and it is in a wooden case because it was ment to be used with the vcs3. it was bought from a studio in germany. it is tested and it is fully working. the cosmetic condition is almost mint."

Punct uit.

flickr by lastplak_artworks

full size

MFOS Sequecer

flickr by sduck409. click for more shots of the inside.

The Green Waldorf Microwave

images via this auction. I forget how many of these were made, but they were an official limited release Microwave by Waldorf.

New Metasonix is a Guitar Amp

More info on Muff Wiggler.

Synthasonic

Synthsonic, is a new synthesizer company that will be offering high quality frac modules.

Note that the site literally just went live at midnight PST. The first module listed is the 4 Pole LP Filter based on the Music From Outer Space filter.

"The company website will also host free product manuals and videos which will provide tutorials about modular synthesis, so it will hopefully serve the entire modular synth community, not just Synthasonic customers."

Bliptronic3000

YouTube via peterdbennett.
"Interactive art installation at the Big Blip digital art festival '06, Brighton, UK. Users influence the movement of the virtual swarm through the use of two pucks moved across the tabletop."
Note this is not Reactable per the label below. I'm labeling similar tech with it for now. Same applies to monome for some posts. The idea is if you are interested in either and click on the label you will get similar posts so you can see and compare the different technologies available.

1983 commercial - Yamaha PortaSound Keyboard

YouTube via OofusTwillip.
"Commercial (Canadian, I think) for Yamaha PortaSound electronic keyboards. This commercial ran a lot on CBLT channel 5 (CBC Toronto)."

briefcase modular with ribbon controller

YouTube via ouijafeet.
"This is a demo my ribbon controller playing three Moogerfoogers: the Freq Box, low pass filter, and the ring modulator. Despite the fact that the ribbon controller is passive powered, in conjunction with the Freq Box, it is able to trigger the envelope of the LPF. For more info on th ribbon controller, check out:" this auction. You might recognize it from this post.

Korg X3 - Floppy Drive Solution

YouTube via rhomis
"A keyboard with a broken floppy drive can still be used! This tutorial shows how to send and receive all DATA to, and from, the Korg X3 without ever using the floppy drive. An nice expensive piece of equipment that came with the crappiest feature ever.... Bye-bye SLOPPY DRIVE!"

NAMM: Radikal Teknologies Hybrid Elements

Not much info up on the Radikal site except for this image. Click it for the full size. You can find an even bigger pdf here via jesse.

BOSS Dr. Pad DRP-1 and DRP-2

DRP-1 images via this auction

Details
"MAKE: BOSS Dr. Pad
MODEL: DRP-1

FEATURES:
Great sounding Vintage Drum Synthesizer with six preset sounds ( snare drum, snare drum 2, tambourine, hand clap, cymbal, and timpani) and adjustable settings for Time-Sweep-Range, Decay, Pitch Sens and Pitch.
The Rear panel has controls for level and sensitivity. 3 Standard quarter-inch jacks provided Output, Trigger and Mix.
The output jack is also the off on control which turns the unit on when the jack is inserted."

DRP-2 images via this auction

Details:
"FEATURES:
Great sounding Vintage Drum Synthesizer with six preset sounds ( bass drum, bass drum 2, E. Tom, Steel Drum, Gong-S, and Star Chime) and adjustable settings for Time-Sweep-Range, Decay, Pitch Sens and Pitch.
The Rear panel has controls for level and sensitivity. 3 Standard quarter-inch jacks provided Output, Trigger and Mix.
The output jack is also the off on control which turns the unit on when the jack is inserted."

Update via bestonline323 in the comments:
"you can find an amazing sample at http://www.keyboardmuseum.com/d_machines/drpad1.html I love this thing it is practically my baby. Seriously. Great post!"

Roland PG-200

images via this auction

"Roland PG 200 synth programmer from 1983 or so. This is used to program the Roland JX-3P and MKS-30 synthesizers, and the GR-700 guitar synth."

AELITA

images via this auction

"Synth was made in 80's years in USSR. It is soviet version of the famous minimoog synth. Synthesizer has very original "transformer" design with removing main operation panel. Synth looks very industrial and military, like the soviet secret weapon.

Aelita has three oscillators with square, pulse and saw waveforms.There is LFO with triangle,square,saw and ramp waveforms.Every oscillator can be independently detuned in one octave range. We have possibilities in any chord playing here.You can switch oscillators from 32' to 2' registers.Every oscillator has it's own level slider in mixer section.Oscillator's pitch can be modulated by LFO and first oscillator can be modulated by third oscillator.Than we have moog type 24db lowpass filter with screaming resonanse.Filter has it's own ADS envelope, keyboard tracking and can be modulated by LFO.VCA has ADS envelope with release switch. There is unussual unison mode when you can get signal of all oscillators in 4 registers in one time. Aelita is fat sounding synth with quite unique sound due to original soviet analog circuitry and electronic components.

Dimensions: 870x330x170mm. Weight: 20kg. (packed synth)."

Demos:
aelita1.mp3
aelita2.mp3
aelita3.mp3
aelita4.mp3"

Gleeman Pentaphonic Demo Cassette

via this auction

"This is an original DEMO cassette for the amazing synthesizer: the Gleeman Pentaphonic. Which was a cool RARE 5-voice synth with some advanced features and cool digi waveforms thru analog processing. Amazing sound and even cooler when in the CLEAR case some came in. This will likely be the BEST Gleeman demo cassette you ever find. Go for it!"

NAMM: OS Version 2.7 For Virus TI

"The new OS version includes a new control centre application for Apple Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows XP and Vista. Using the stand alone application users can overwrite the ROM patches of their Viruses with their own sounds and perform complete memory backups for safety reasons and archiving.

OS 2.7 furthermore increases the amount of audio streams from the TI into the Virus Control plug-in by 50% and adds input side chaining capabilities. This way, users can send audio from the host sequencer into the Virus' sound engine all digitally, process it with the TI's filters and FX and finally loop it back into the sequencer."

and The Atomizer
"Access Music shows a technology preview of Atomizer on the winter NAMM show in Anaheim, California. Atomizer allows you slice and dice audio in realtime using a MIDI keyboard. Stutter effects were made famous by artists including Aphex Twin, Trentemoeller, Squarepusher, BT and many others. In order to create those effects they either had to chop audio regions by hand or use semi-automatic plug-ins (which don't necessarily give you a great deal of control since they are intended to create random results). Atomizer works in a totally different way — once sync'ed to tempo you can play those slices in realtime, so you can virtually chop up your singer's voice while he's performing or add unique effects to your DJ set. You can record the slicing process into your sequencer and edit it later along with the rest of your song. You can remix in realtime as well, with the modulation wheel becoming an intelligent cross-fader, while the pitch-wheel lets you change the pitch by approximately 4 octaves. And there are tons of effects including sample rate and bit rate reduction algorithms which, again, can be used in realtime and become a part of your performance."

via HC here and here.

Europa 2.0 for the Roland Jupiter-6

"What features are new to Version 2.0?

# Expanded Patch Memory
Version 2.0 increases the internal patch and preset storage by 6 times, to a total of 288 patches and 192 presets. Each bank of 48 patches and 32 presets is accessible via the front panel or a standard MIDI Bank Select message. The upper and lower splits can use patches from different banks if desired.

# Multiple Undo function for Patch Editing
Unwanted changes to patches can be undone at the push of a button. Up to 127 button presses, 84 slider moves, or some intermediate combination of the two can be undone or redone, until a patch is saved or a new patch is selected.

# Layer Mode
Layer mode allows the upper and lower patches to be played from the keyboard at the same time, while being edited individually or simultaneously. In Layer mode, the lower synth has 2 voices,and the upper 4 voices.

# Keyboard Transpose
Version 2.0 allows the upper & lower splits to be transposed independently. Held arpeggios can be transposed on the fly for many creative performance possibilities.

# Support for Midi Song Position Pointer
The arpeggiator will start at the beginning of the next measure when a song position pointer message is received."

More info here. If you are not familiar with Europa for the Jupiter-6, in a nutshell it is an upgrade that offers full extensive MIDI control for the Jupiter-6 and more. via J.

Synthesizer Von Gestern - Roland System 700 Recording

This one via Jeff and Mark Pulver on AH. The direct link to the recording is here, courtesy of Jeff and posted on the MIDIWall gear page by Mark Pulver. Be sure to check out the MIDIWall gear page for more synth goodness. You might recognize the name Synthesizer Von Gestern from these prior posts.

Update via peterwendt in the comments:
"Great. I have the vol. 1 and vol. 2 CDs that include this track. I love listening to them and I think they give a good account of the characters of the instruments that I know. Vol. 2 includes the System 700 and a wonderful performance by Oskar Sala on his Mixtur-Trautonium.

There is a vol. 3 disc that I really want (Buchla, Prophet VS, ...).

The German CD label has interesting pages on the CDs and the project here:
http://www.originaltonwest.de/vintage%20synths%20vol.1.html
http://www.originaltonwest.de/vintage%20synths%20vol.2.html
http://www.originaltonwest.de/vintage%20synths%20vol.3.html

Dang. If only I had bought that System 700 cheap in Japan."

links also via Jeff on AH.

Top 20 Weirdest Instruments Episode One

Be sure to check out the write-up on Sonic State.

Inside an Oberheim Matrix-12

click here for more images via Heath Finnie on VSE. 

Note the "Xpander and Matrix Pot Board." images mirrored here.

CS-30

flickr by gargar1974

full size

Yamaha CS30

a better pic of the synth

flickr by gilesthompson
(click for more)

full size

dinosaur
walrus
mantis
power ranger
Casio CZ-5000

ESI K.ON

via ESI. Click the image for a supersized shot.

"K.ON is our new expandable USB controller keyboard with 88 hammer action keys.
Equipped with a stable aluminium cabinet, K.ON is not only stylish, but perfectly optimized for professional usage live on stage or in any studio environment. Various faders and dials as controllers are provided, allowing remote control of software and hardware synthesizers. K.ON has a total of 4 expansion slots, compatible with existing synth modules from other vendors.
Features

* 3 digit LED display
* 9 endles dials
* 9 faders
* modulation wheel / pitch bend
* numeric keypad
* transport control buttons
* varios editing functions for programming
* power supplied via USB or optional external power supply
* expandable via 4 expansion slots on backside
* Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2003, Mac OS X 10.3 (and higher) compatible
* bundled with Steinberg Cubase LE 4.0 for PC and Mac"

Synthesizer-Magazin Heft 6 Vorschau

Issue 6 of Synthesizer Magazin features the following:

" * Analoge Polyphone Synthesizer von heute
* Yamaha Tenori-On - Geheimwaffe oder Spielzeug?
* NI Kontakt 3 - Sampling 3.0?
* Roland SH201 - Kann der was?
* Bob Moog Foundation und Hintergründe
* Goldfrapp
* Alec Empire
* Karlheinz Stockhausen
* Ringmodulator in Theorie
* Bending Korg DDD1/5
* Elektronische Musik im Film Serie"

Synthesizer-Magazin via sequencer.de.

Sparky's Magic Piano

Another one via Tara Busch of AnalogSuicide. I actually missed this in the last post, so here it is.

Sparky's Magic Piano is a surreal trip back in time. It was "Written and produced by Alan Livingston With Henry Blair, narrated by Verne Smith Music by Billy May." Most importantly it features the Sonovox.

It's such an odd bit of synth vocoder history I thought I should put up a new post vs. just updating the last (so you do not miss it). Comments disabled to keep them all on the previous post.

Do be sure to check out AnalogSuicide for more info on the Solovox including some links to other sites, and be sure to check out Sparky. Creepy stuff. :)

Yamaha YS-100 presets demo

video upload by vlad1gavrilchik

"The keyboard of my YS-100 is now of little help because of it's age and bad state. So I used my Korg SP-200 digital piano as a controller here to show some sounds. The Yamaha YS-100 is 4-op 8 voice polyphonic FM synth with some extra source waveforms and a simple effect processor."

Triwave Picogenerator TB303 TB-303 TR-606 BOSTICH NORTEC

YouTube via bostich1.
"Ramon Bostich (NORTEC)working with the Triwave Picogenerator , TB-303 and a Roland TR-606.

Triwave Picogenerator
Roland TB-303 the BORG MOD
Roland TR606 MODIFICATION ROUND UP

http://www.myspace.com/bostichnortec
http://www.myspace.com/nortecbostichf...
http://www.myspace.com/bostichpointloma
www.bostich.org"

Incredible Sonovox - Kay Kyser - 1940 film "You'll Find Out"

YouTube via MisterScott99. via AnalogSuicide (click for more info including a sample of the Sonovox featured in Sparky's Magic Piano."
"Amazing device that gives voice to musical instruments. The Sonovox consists of one or two louspeakers placed on the throat that play the source sound. The performer whispers the words while the speakers stand in for the voice box. Used for the talking train in Disney's Dumbo, uncountable radio promos, a tube-in-the-mouth version "Talk Box" was used by Frampton to make his guitar sing, and all-electronic "Vocoder" versions are still used in current pop music."

SynthJAMMM

YouTube via mancio1.
"korg ms20, kaosspad, evolver, em1, etc…"

Girls Aloud - Oberheim OB-1

Another image of one of the girls from the Brittish pop band Girls Aloud. This one via Guy. You can see the previous image here. As always, be sure to click the image for the full size shot. Check out the crazy pitch bender on the OB-1.

Navs' Modular Lab - Polivoks Punch Up

"Gutsy, metallic and fiendishly unstable - but do you need it?

Check out The Harvestman's Polivoks Filter clone in the Modular Lab."

MTI Auto-Orchestra

via this craigslist post

"This vintage synthesizer is designed as a one-man-band rhythm accompaniment for vocalist or soloist. It is complete with two operation pedals, rack stand, cables and memory expansion accessory. Please see photo. The Auto-Orchestra is fully-functional and sounds great. Its analog synth voicings are incredibly rich and full."

You can find more info on the MTI Auto-Orchestra here.

JMJ Interview on Strellis.com

click here for the interview.

"I was pleasantly surprised to see Jean-Michel Jarre featured in a magazine included with the British Sunday newspaper The Mail On Sunday dated 13th January 2008. I thought I'd share it with you too as it was a nice treat :)"

The Dirty Heartbeat of the Golden Age

Click here for an article on the E-mu SP-1200 on village voice.
"In the summer of 1987, E-mu Systems released the SP-1200, a drum machine and sampler designed for dance-music producers. An update of a previous model known as the SP-12, the souped-up edition allowed for the recording and manipulation of a 10.07-second sample with gritty 12-bit sound quality—now you could craft a complete instrumental on one portable machine."

stranger weather

MOOG Little Phatty

Click here for some trippy music by stranger weather. "The second song is all done with a Casio Cz-101 and a Line 6 Delay Pedal."

Admin: Note on YouTube Vids

Not sure if this is happening to anyone else, but I'm noticing that once I start a video, if I do not move my mouse it stops loading and once the video reaches the last part loaded it hangs until I move my mouse again - you can see the little grey load progress bar stop and start based on your mouse movement. Anyway, I just thought I'd throw this out there in case anyone else was seeing the same.

How we get girls (To leave the room)

YouTube via justjustjustmcg. via trash_audio.
"Surachai and Justin, masters at getting girls....to leave."
Thought this was pretty funny.
Update via jm in the comments: "Surachai is rocking an 808 (On the left, it's not an MS2000), I am rocking gmedia's oddity soft synth."

Hapkit - a virtual drum

YouTube via peterdbennett.
"A haptic force feedback device that simulates the feel of a drum. Was designed as part of my MEng in Cybernetics at the University of Reading."

BeatBearing demo

YouTube via peterdbennett.
via Nusonica.

"A tangible rhythm sequencer. Ball bearings are used to trigger drum sounds. Visual feedback is displayed from underneath to indicate the current time and the state of each ball bearing."

Beatbearing

"First working prototype of the BeatBearing sequencer system. When a ball is placed in an indent a sound loop is triggered. The body of the device is fashioned from clay and wire, and the software is written in Processing and MaxMSP."

christopher cross - ride like the wind

YouTube via bweyne. Sent my way via Dustin. Oberheim 4 Voice and OB-X.

- KLAUSS - Analog synthesizer jam session

- KLAUSS - Analog Synthesizers jam session Part2

YouTube via wutierson
"Excerpt from the jam session of Ernesto Romeo + Sergio Koval + Lucas Romeo, playing with analog synthesizers and no digital control, only hands and analog sequencers. This was done on 08-10-2005 in Cadi hall, Esplugues (Barcelona)"

Sequential Circuits Prophet-10, MOOG Minimoog, EMS Synthi, Roland System 100, ARP 2600. Spot the rest.

Bob Moog Fairlight part 3 and 4

Part 3 and 4 have been added to this post.

Playing the Moog Minimoog

YouTube via Kernelproject.

PAIA Modules

images via via this auction

Modules include:
PAiA Modular 2720-3B Band Pass Filter
PAIA 2720-4 FUNCTION GENERATOR
PAIA 2720-12 INVERTER/BUFFER
PAIA 4711 4/2 MIXER (pictured)
PAIA 2720-3L LOW PASS FILTER
PAIA 2720-5 CONTROL OSCILLATOR

KORG Z1

images via this auction

"This is a stunning example of a wonderful physical modeling synthesizer that originally came out in 1997. Unlike some others you might find for sale, this particular unit contains the additional 6 voice polyphony expansion board (an expensive option). The Korg Z1 has a great, fat sound. It's very expressive, with a lot of control capabilities (including a very nice arpeggiator). Construction is VERY solid (i.e. this is not a light, flimsy piece of equipment like some products on the market)."

KORG MS20 With Wooden Sides

images via this auction

KORG EA-1 MkII

via this auction

click the image for the full size shot.

Roland MKS-70

images via this auction

"The Roland MKS-70 is an identical rack-mount version of the JX-10 synthesizer. Released in 1985 it combines two individual JX-8P synth engines for an outstanding warm and analog sound which is used in many modern studios all over the world. It comes with on-board effects like Chorus and Delay and offers a wider range of programming using the optional PG-800 Programmer."

How Many Chroma?

via Chris Ryan on the Rhodes Chroma list: "An update on this old topic. I have put together an index of all the instruments in the registry, more than 225 in total.

Across model numbers, there are now seven overlaps between Chromas in the registry, and fourteen between Chromas and Expanders (and this out of a known population of only about twenty-five Expanders). This would seem to prove that the models all had their own number series. Given that the 2101 series reaches to 305; 2102 to 10; 2103 as high as 936; 2104 to 12; along with about 10 model 1631 and 135 1633 Expanders, it would seem that, assuming that there were no gaps, approximately 1400 instruments were produced in all. (There are also a few instruments with out of range or absent serial numbers, but the number doesn't seem to be significant.) This is not close to the 3000 that Philip Dodds claimed in the Mark Vail Keyboard interview.

pictured: Steve Nolan's Chroma