Studio Electronics Code 8

images via this auction

Note the binary background.

"Studio Electronics Code 8 OD. It's the ultimate true analog synthesizer, like having eight discrete monophonic synths from the 70's/80's era (you know, the sound EVERYONE looks for?) built into a rack unit. With all that sound, the instrument is amazingly flexible, and those 8 huge voices can be stacked, merged, split up, or run multi-timbrally, any way you want. Built in Moog and Oberheim-style analog filters (you can choose between them for EACh VOICE!)... really nice design with easy to use front panel. Studio Electronics took their worshipped Omega 8 synth, and put a bunch of extras into it. The new "OD" models give you classic analog amp overdrive for each voice. The analog experts at Studio Electronics took their classic Omega Engine and couple of fresh ideas to come out with the NEW C O D E Synthesizer. Two new great features on the CODE Synth are the sinewave generators and the new filter control section. New Sinewave Generator features. Each voice now has a sinewave on oscillator 1 expanding the sound possibilities of the synth. One of the key new features on the C O D E is the Filter Control section, which allows you to sweep through all the filter types in real time with complete MIDI control. The switches in the Filter Control section give momentary control of assignable parameters. The Filter Control Section
· Sweep through all the filter types in real time.
· Increase or decrease the filter frequency.
· Increase the envelope amount.
· Increase the resonance amount.
· Filter ENV Delay.
· Invert the filter envelope.
· "CUT" Filter Decay.
· Works on the CODE synth engine or external input. The 8 voice version is configured as a 8 input or quad filterbank. 
Bank 3 "The Riot" bank included (a $139 value!) Bank 4 All New "Cadix" bank included (a $189 value!)"

live setup

flickr by mtritter

full size

Orpheus Music to Shut Down

Sad news in the blogosphere today. Orpheus Music has just put up a post announcing that "This blog has attracted the attention of an 'unwanted party' and, as a consequence (to save me from any potential trouble), will be closed and deleted in the next couple of days."
If you haven't checked out Orpheus Music, do so while you can. You will find tons of classic synthesizer based albums of times past. The post does not go into detail as to why. So sad that all of this information will be lost.

HardSID 4U

"The HardSID 4U is the most powerful SID synthesizer since the legendary C64!

* USB connection (compatible with both 2.0 & 1.1)
* Isochronous USB endpoint for low-latency audio
* VSTi interface with 8000Hz update rate on all SID registers (free)
* Wave-in VSTi pin for routing 8000Hz signals to any registers (example: playing other VSTi's sound on the volume register)
* Full automation of all VSTi parameters
* Superior sound quality (..it is a HardSID!)
* Support for up to four SID chips (6581/8580/6582 in any combination)
* Updateable firmware over USB
* Microsoft Vista compatible (drivers for Win2000/XP/Vista)

..and if you're a C64 fan

* Cycle-accurate playback of your favorite SID tunes
* Digitized sound + high-speed playback with low CPU utilization
* Seamless playback of .sid tunes while you work on your PC by providing a huge playback buffer for non-VSTi applications"

http://www.hardsid.com/

CLICK FOR MORE »

KP3 as a MIDI Controller

YouTube via Denkitribe. Sent my way via fischek.
"Ableton Live with KORG KAOSS PAD KP3.

Stage6 version: http://stage6.divx.com/content/show/1...

In "EXT CTRL" mode, KP3 acts as a MIDI controller. It has eight virtual sliders, fourteen keys, one slider and volume. These controllers are assignable to any MIDI notes or CCs using KP3-Editor (PC software).

KP3 is not just a multi effector; It is also a MIDI controller with nice LED illumination :) I think KP3 is one of most cost-effective gears in the current market."

The Chemical Brothers Win Grammys and Their Modular Setup

Image via The Chemical Brothers website. I found this under Good Things, where you will also see Matrixsynth listed. Yeah I like to think this site is a good thing. :)

Pictured: ARP 2600, Roland System 700 Modular, Doepfer, Plan b, Cwejman, Livewire Modular

And the real reason for this post? The Chemical Brothers won both Best Electronic/Dance Album and Best Dance Recording in this years 2008 Grammys. Congrats guys! Very, very cool. You can see who they were up against here.

The Album: We Are The Night
on Amazon





The Recording: Do It Again
on Amazon






Do It Again - The Chemical Brothers


Chemical Brothers - Salmon Dance - Just had to through this one in.

Update via Mike Brown of Livewire:
"just thought I'd pass along some info regarding the chems... oddly enough, that photo they have on their site of their modular setup is considerably out-of-date... they actually have a much, MUCH bigger modular system now...

the system was designed by shawn cleary & myself and is a multi-format system with MOTM/modcan, frac & eurorack... it stands about 5 feet tall by nearly 4 feet wide if I remember correctly... the cabinet was constructed out of black walnut by flames brennan (who also fabricated the NIN case)...
the hardware & power distribution were built by mat mitchell & me. should also mention that a *bunch* of other people helped... andrew & antonio at analogue haven, steve r, nuryah ben-el & ken reeves to name a few.

I've been waiting for them to post photos of it... but haven't seen any so far. also, I heard from mat that they were using it on-stage during their last tour, but haven't seen pics of that either..."

Analogue Systems rs95 oscillator tracking demonstration

YouTube via bigcitymusic
"Here is a demo of the Analogue Systems rs95 analog oscillator played along with the rs370 digital oscillator (for reference). This test shows the amazing accuracy of the scaling on the rs95 oscillator."

Vivian plays keyboards?

flickr by * YUKO_M

full size

via CatSynth.com

Anyone know what synth that is? I thought it was a Yamaha S08, but the buttons and data wheel are different.

Update via Väinö in the comments: "Pretty sure it's a Yamaha S90, not the ES model but an older one: link"

How a VCO Works

Sequence 15 has a post up on how a VCO works. If you are interested, you can check it out here.

"So synth circuit designers, starting with Moog and Buchla in the early 1960s, long ago turned to "artificial" oscillator circuits that do not rely on natural resonance. Rather, they rely on an analog implementation of a mathematical function that can be made to increase and decrease proportionally to the control voltage. A second consideration is that a useful synth VCO is expected to output several different waveforms, so that the synth player has harmonic starting points for creating a given sound. Rather than create a separate VCO circuit for each desired waveform, it is far more cost-effective to design a VCO "core" that generates a waveform from which the other desired waveforms can be derived."

Korg Brochure late 70's/early 80's front

flickr by Heath Finnie

full size

the back

BTW, be sure to click on the scans label link below for more. To date there are 233 posts featuring the label scans. If you look at the list of labels at the bottom right of the site you can see the counts for each label. To get to older posts, just click on the Older Posts link at the bottom of each page.

Brian Comnes Metasonix TS-21 Hellfire Modulator Clone

More info on Deviant Synth

Modular Beats

YouTube via verstaerker
"mangling some Machinedrumbeats with my Modularsystem, the bassdrum in the beginning is not from the Md - it's created my the Cwejman VCO and Adsr

te beat from the md runs through the Doepfer BBD , the Cwejman Resonator and the Doepfer Wasp Filter"

Devantech SP03 Text-to-Speech Synthesizer

YouTube via MarcusACU
"Here you can see (and hear) my SP03. The Sp03 is a small Text-to-Speech synthesizer. Normally the Sp03 uses only a little 0,4Watt speaker. I connected a bigger speaker through a external universal amp.

The text is:
"How are you? I am fine! My name is SP03. I was build by Devantech. You can send me a englisch text and my integrated speech synthesizer willl produce a voice. Can you understand me? I am very sorry, but I can speak only english."

For more details: http://www.acroname.com/robotics/part.."

Flame Triode With Gain And Intriguing Flame Phenomenon.

YouTube via nylesteiner.

The application of what is described begins at 1:34.

"More info is available at http://www.sparkbangbuzz.com

If a cathode is chemically treated with a common household chemical and put into an alcohol flame, electrons can flow to a positive anode that is placed inside of the flame. This creates a diode rectifier.

What is very intriguing though, is that electrons can still flow to the anode even when it is well outside of the flame.

A grid placed within this space between the flame and anode can control the amount of current flow. This creates a triode with gain with similarities to a vacuum tube triode."

Csaba Zvekan plays Vangelis like on YAMAHA CS-80

YouTube via cnightwing
"Csaba Zvekan plays Vangelis like on YAMAHA CS-80. Some improvisations with the restored mighty YAMAHA CS-80"

Semtex XL

YouTube via pac209. "halfmodular analog synth" Follow-up to this post.
Anyware Instruments Semtex XL, Doepfer MAQ 16/3 Sequencer, Roland TR-909.

EMS Synthi AKS

images via this auction

"EMS Synthi AKS. This is an early low serial # from the first-second year of production. All original, no modifications, and extremely clean condition."

Oberheim OB-Mx

images via this auction

Casio CZ-101

via this auction

Kanye West - Stronger (LIVE Grammys 2008 HD Performance)

YouTube via myarmsarehuge.
This one has been making the rounds. Daft Punk on Jazz Mutant Lemurs.

Reed and his Roland System 700 Modular

Hmm.... Looks familiar.

Photos from Schneiders Buero. Berlin, Germany.

click here for more on wire to the ear.

MFB Wall pictured.

full size

Good Mourning - counting reasons

Good Mourning on MySpace. ARP 2500 and Buchla 200 in the background.
via sequencer.de

Update via d in the comments: "I would like to respond with this video:
The Song of the Count - Lemon Demon Version


So the big question is - would this one technically be safe for work? :)

Bana Nah Nah Nah - The Banana Rap Song

YouTube via PhotoAnimationGuy
via nadafarms on VSE: "I made this with a Jomox xbase-999 and a Moog LP in Ableton. I want to start making videos like these for bands... I use Flash. Yes I'm insane."

Laser Harp Fully Functional

YouTube via shobley. Update: see this post for how he did it an more.
"Finally got the bugs worked out with the sensor. The harp is connected to the impOSCar VSTi software synthesizer, the TAOS sensor array sits on the floor in it's own stand. The array above the harp i is just made up of fs mirrors for added p'zazz. (www.stephenhobley.com)"

Doepfer A-100 Sample set for the Akai S900

Click here for the kit on the Akai S900 blog.

The Redux II

via Cikira

Matrixsynth by fischek

click on the image and look at the patch name.

flickr by fischek (click for more shots of the JD-800)

Roland JD-800

Previous Matrixsynth by posts

LUSTOBJEKT Little Romance

LUSTOBJEKT Little Romance

Add to My Profile | More Videos
http://www.myspace.com/lustobjekt
A rare glimpse at the PPG PRK Processorkeyboard. I'll see if I can find out what it's controlling. If you know feel free to comment.

Update: I should have checked my own forum before putting up this post. No info on what the PRK is driving, but some nice pics of the PPG PRK Processor Keyboard here. Also mirrored here.
Update: Accroding to intercorni on the forum, it is controlling the Wave 2.2.

Smurf Jazz Keyboard XJ500

images via this auction

Dave spotted this one after seeing this post.

"This little PVC Smurfy is just about 2" tall. He is in NEW condition. The pretend keyboard is 1" high by 2 1/4" wide. SCHLEICH, Licensed PEYO product."

Aubergine-Dream

"Recorded 26 Jan 2008 live
Produced on the SNO portable analog modular synthesizer system, comprised (mostly) of Wiard modules and DIY gadgets"

via drmabuse's spurious transmissions

via drmabuce on the Wiard list:
"There are 6 separate voices and i made notes on the patching of all the audio paths.

A few general notes i'd like to share about this piece:

-everything you hear is the synth rig. There is no drum machine in this mix

-the lowest-pitched (non-ostinato) bass voice is produced by the Noise Ring

-i augmented the SNO for that performance with my Omni Filter and a spring reverb (hacked out of a hammond organ and coupled to a VCA) i also brought a DIY dual VC-lag processor. (more on that in a minute)

-No postproduction FX were added nor were any edits made in post. It is a straight-off-the-board mix.

-The legato sections at the beginning, the break, and at the end are created with the following patch: Sample-Hold -mult> VC-lag (exponential)->Paia VCO1->Omni Filter
-mult> VC-lag (linear)-Paia VCO2-----/
The effect is that while traveling from pitch to pitch the VCO's follow different curves that take them in and out of tune along the way. i love this effect. It's use was suggested to me by prof. Richter. The lag processors are DIY, based on Electronotes designs and Grant was kind enough to offer me a lot of advice on implementing the ideas that the venerable Bernie Hutchins published. Thus the legato glides, while containing no direct Wiard content, could be considered Wiard by adoption.

i feel this piece is a little more representative of the actual sound of the SNO in live performance than the piece i posted previously.

-doc"

Partikel Series #2 at the Goethe Institute

"Partikel, a new venue for experimental electronic music and visuals performed in a theatrical setting will have its second installment in Los Angeles on Saturday March 1st from 8 – 11pm. Taking place at the Goethe Institute, 5750 Wilshire Blvd. Suite #100 in the Institute’s recently remodeled theater space. Admission is $15 and parking is free. Performing at this Partikel Series will be Lake of Sleep, Laura Escudé featuring Kathie Talbot, and after a short intermission, an evening with internationally known electronic musician Robert Rich. Visuals will be provided by Optical Light Pipe and Momo the Monster. A reception will follow the performances." You can find more info on the Partikel website. Pictured is Robert Rich and his MOTM modular.

eowave Persephone

flickr by thingstocomerecords

"From the weblog: www.wiretotheear.com/"

full size

semtex

flickr by pac209

full size

Anyware Instruments SEMTEX and Doepfer MAQ 16/3 Sequencer

Mitchell Sigman's Synthesizers.com Modular System!

"http://www.celebusite.com
http://www.analogsuicide.com
http://www.synthesizers.com
Filmed by Maf Lewis in December 2007, Mitchell Sigman takes us for a divine tour of his beloved synthesizers.com modular system from his North Hollywood studio."

The Therevox - et-3 finished

flickr by mikebeauchamp

full size

http://therevox.com/

"NEW model Electro-Theremin, called the ET-3 for now. This will improve on a few aspects of the ET-1 and add a lot of interesting features. The improvements over the ET-1 are that the mock-keyboard will be perfectly spaced, that is each key will be exactly the same size. All previous Electro-Theremins, relied on an internal mechanism that approximated this and came very close but not exact.

The new ET-3 is going to have a feature I've wanted to implement for a long time, Control Voltage output! I'm not lucky enough to own a synthetizer to use this with, but those that are will be able to control another synthesizer with the standard 1v/octave control voltage. There will also be inputs for linear and log frequency modulation and external control voltage input if you wish to control the electro-theremin with something else or modulate the frequency with an LFO or something. The ET-3 will also have 10v p-p square wave output to use to sync other oscillators and the ET-3 will have a sync input as well."

Robert Moog

and other flickr by Neil Vance (click for more). There's more going up daily, so be sure to check it out.

full size

Roland System 100 103 Speakers

images via this auction

These are for the Roland System 100

Color Coding Patch Leads

via Navs:

"thought I'd share this with the modularists...

Lost in a jungle of grey and black patch leads and can't figure out what's modulating what?

Then grab yourself some Post-it notes, sello-tape & scissors for a transparent patching experience!"

brett.seattle

flickr by brett.seattle

full size

spot the synths

StudioShot01

flickr by sm0hm (click for mouse-overs)

full size

Giorgio Moroder - Chase (Midnight Express) German TV

YouTube via matschinsky2. Sent my way via Kris.
"Giorgio Moroder on German TV 1979"
Minimoog comes in at 2:12. The angle makes the panel appear much longer. I didn't realize Morodor spoke German. He is Italian.

Latinsizer live 02:08:2008

YouTube via pepemogt. Anyone been to TJ? I have. Man this would have been a sight to see.
"A live analog synthesizer jam by Latinsizer in Tjuana @ Lobby .
Equipment used at this concert is as follows:
Oberheim 4 voice
EML 200
Korg SQ-10 analog sequencer
Tenori-on
Live6
JLcopper CS-32
Feb 8 2008. (footage by lxuk)
enjoy!
http://www.myspace.com/latinsizer"

Acid House

YouTube via Cubik303
"A quick bit of acid house for the cronies. Filmed with my new Sony Handycam."
Roland TB-303, Creamware ASB Prodyssey, Jazz Mutant Lemur, KORG KP-3

DAFT PUNK "Human After All" with NORD MODULAR G2

YouTube gattobus/ "Nord Modular G2 demo ;-)"

Roland JX-3P

images via this auction

Oberheim MiniGrand

via this auction

x0xb0x 356

images via this auction

"Adafruit x0xb0x TB-303 Replica Acid Analog Synth This synth sounds exactly like a 303!!! No-Joke!!! I put it next to my friend's 303 and I could get them so close you could not tell the difference!!! This was built professionally by an experienced synthesizer tech. The soldering looks perfect!!! He also did quite a few mods on it for a closer 303 sound. Mods: -On/off switch added to rear panel, Rear panel painted with durable black wrinkle paint, Interior connecting wiring done with wires rather than the flimsy ribbon cables supplied, Bass boost mod, and Resonance boost mod."

I love the dog tags these come with. I wonder what the current count is.

JoMoX Xbase 999

images via this auction

"Gritty 8 bit samples with the ability to add your own samples. 4 extra midi sequencer tracks. A built in analog filter for filtering everything"

Roland PG-200 In Original Box

images via this auction

"Roland PG-200 Programmer, for use with Roland synthesizers such as the JX-3P (among others). includes the PG-200 Programmer, cardboard box, black Roland programmer storage case, owner's manual, and DIN (connector) cord (w/storage bag)."