PAiA Fatman

images via this auction, including some of the inside. I love this shot because you can barely see the components.

via Tuan c/o Drone Studios

"The Paia FatMan is a truly underrated analog synth! Though it is quite simply a two oscillator VCO design routed through to a VCF and a VCA, it makes up for it with a wonderfully beefy sound. The Fatman contains two fat VCOs with detune and mix controls as well as a very nice glide that gives it an old school analog edge. Add to that a warm filter that self oscillates when resonance is pushed to its max and it sounds quite Moogish in nature. There are two separate envelopes for the VCF and VCA, and like the Minimoog there is a special AR/ASR mode that is switchable for the filter and a full ADSR for the amplifier. Add to that a switch labeled PUNCH which simulates the tight envelopes found on the Minimoog. Unlike most old school analog synths, the Fatman contains MIDI ports, so all you need is a Midi controller to start using it. In addition, the Fatman can be used as a CV Gate output to control other classic V/Hz synths like the Korg MS series synths as well as the Yamaha CS series. The Fatman works well as a Midi to CV/Gate interface, but does not have all the features of a Kenton CV/Gate box, though a Kenton box will cost you well over $200. The addition of a CV/Gate output on the Fatman is a big plus! The Fatman is an excellent synth for fat analog bass and lead sounds as well as zany sound effects. If you're a circuit bender, the Fatman is one of the most modded synths on the planet!"

You can find links to samples in the auction.

KORG M500 Micro Preset

images via this auction

via Tuan c/o Drone Studios

"The Korg M500 Micropreset is a funky, underrated little analog synth with a very warm resonant filter and cool retro wood enclosure. Many people do not know this, but the "Korg 35" VCF found on the M500 is also found on the Korg MS10, MS20 and Sigma synthesizers. It's a very unique sounding filter and is considered by many synth enthusiasts to be the best sounding 12db analog filter ever made. The M500 is basically 30 different preset sounds, and each sound is selectable via a matrix consisting of a knob and six push buttons. Each preset will allow a different mix of parameters to be edited, and some presets don't. And I think that is one of the reasons why it is labeled as a "preset" synth though there is a certain amount of control over some of the parameters onboard. Some presets allow direct control over attack, sustain, modulation rate, modulation depth, vibrato, LFO, portamento and the filter (which is interestingly labeled "Traveler"), and it varies to what degree some of these parameters can be edited depending on which preset is selected.

The M500 is structured on a matrix composed of six main families of sounds, and five variations for each (often just playing an octave up or down). The M500 also has this neat ability to layer two sounds from different families for a fatter, composite sound!

Several expressive controls make this an excellent "players" synth. Especially cool is the momentary Portamento switch that allows you to add portamento only when you need it -- great when adding slides to a brass preset. There is a Random Repeat switch that allows a random vibrato effect which is both subtle and chaotic. This synth nails down the Theremin sound perfectly and most all the presets sound warm, full and vintage. If you are a fan of early synth music from the 70's to the early 80's, this is a perfect synth to obtain those sounds, simply because the M500 was used on countless records from that early synth period. OMD used the M500 on their first four albums, and their lead singer/synthesist Andy McCluskey still cites the M500 as his favorite synth. Most apparent uses of the M500 are the lead synth part from "Enola Gay" and the intro white noise swooshes from "Electricity". Also Vangelis, Jean Michel Jarre and Brian Eno are also avid users of the Korg M500."

There are a ton of samples linked at the auction.

Roland SH-3A

images via this auction

via Tuan c/o Drone Studios

"The Roland SH-3A is a fully discrete (no ICs, just all resistors and capacitors) analog synthesizer made in 1974. It is actually one of Roland's first analog synths and is distinct from all other analog synths for its ability to do additive synthesis, allowing the layering of five of its oscillators/waveforms. Though the oscillators cannot be independently tuned, just the fact that five waveforms can be layered, and at different levels, makes for a distinct and fat sounding synth. Along with this are several other features which set the SH-3A apart from other synths. The ability to use two independent LFOs (including sample and hold) to modulate the VCO, filter and VCA allow it to sound more like a modular synth. In fact the circuitry of the SH-3A was later used in Roland's System 700 and System 100 modular synths and they all share a very similar sound. There is also a nice sounding PWM (chorus) control on the 8' waveform and both white and pink (rare) noise for those old school synth swooshes a la OMD in "Electricity". Also the SH-3A contains several expressive controls like the glide button and built in ADSR curves allowing quick programming of bass, brass or lead sounds at the turn of a switch. The 24db filter (called "growl") is rich sounding, can go into self-oscillation at high resonant levels. Overall it's an extremely nice, organic sounding filter. Also the envelopes are super snappy -- this a real, discrete analog synthesizer we are talking about here!!! The Human League used the SH-3A to great effect on their first two albums Reproduction and Travelogue, and Vangelis and Kitaro have used it live and in the studio. Overall the Roland SH-3A has a unique sound and is quite rare and collectible. So don't miss this chance to own a part of synth history!"

You can find links to samples in the auction.

Sequential Circuits Pro-One

images via this auction.

via Tuan c/o Drone Studios

There are some samples at the auction.

Happy Valentines!

flickr by Dr. Bleep

"Thingamagoop (hearts) Casio"

full size

http://bleeplabs.com/

alien is coming!!

flickr by Satoshi Aizawa
(click for more)

full size

Inside the Korg Electribe ES1

electronic experiment

YouTube via nchant.

Note the custom paint job on the Roland MC-505.

"freeform little bullsheeeeeit, just midid shit together and went for it, thought it was kinda neet so here ya are"

Catnip Banana

Cool comic via Knox Bronson. You might recognize the name Knox Bronson from this earlier post regarding his new release Pop Down the Years.

Crispy RozzBox Beats (LL Electronics)

YouTube via bigcitymusic
"This is our friend Duron tweaking some Rozzbox beats using its built-in sequencers. Find out more about the Rozzbox at bigcitymusic.com"

VAC: Harvestman Polivoks Filter, Moog Freqbox, MFB OSC-01.

YouTube via hexfix93. Be sure to check out the full review here.
"http://www.velvetacidchrist.com/synth/polivoks.mp3
If you want to hear a better version of the audio. www.velvetacidchrist.com ....This is my video demo and review of the harvestman polivoks filter, the moog freqbox oscillator, and the MFB OSC-01 Tripple DCO Oscilator. All in my doepfer eurorack case."

Update: for the audiofiles, you can find now find the DIVX version on the VAC post.

Technicians - Novation Xiosynth 3

YouTube via museumoftechno. More Museum of Techno here.
"In which Braidy and Cornwell enjoy the many rumbustious features of the Novation Xiosynth. And who wouldn't? ... it's the good shit."

Roland JD-800 + Juno-60 "sound collage" part two

YouTube via retrosound72.

Part 1 here

"two classic synths by Roland, JD-800 and Juno-60 The Juno-60 plays in hold-mode (slow LFO mod the VCF) and the JD-800 plays some typical JD-sounds."

Feedback Harmonizer by Arius Blaze = folktek

YouTube via benpumpkin
"Electro acoustic hybrid piece...unfortunately vid and audio don't synch proper. The piece is based on drone feedback insanity with delay and oscillation. see folktek.com and ariusblaze.com for more."

Universe Archiwalne nagranie 1984

YouTube via alphacode909. Roland SH-101
"Glupia Zaba ,nagranie z telewizji w 1984 roku"

Paraphonic Synthesizer; ARP Omni, Korg Delta, Crumar Trilogy

YouTube via sounddoctorin.

Good timing with the KORG Lambda that came up.

"A basic demonstration of paraphonic synthesizers.By http://sounddoctorin.com . Visit the site for a virtual studio tour with sound clips from many of the synths there including Akai AX80, AX60, AX73, ARP Pro-Soloist, Axxe, Omni, Alesis D4, DM5, Crumar DS1, Multiman, Performer, Trilogy, Composer, Bit One, Casio CZ-1, SK-1, HT-700, Farfisa VIP345, Fender Chroma Polaris, Kawai SX-210, K1m, K5m, XD-5, K5000R, Korg Sigma, Delta, Lambda, LP10, Mono/Poly, Polysix, Poly61, Poly800, DW8000, DSS-1, DSM-1, Wavestation EX, Karma, Kurzweil K1200pro, Moog Polymoog, Opus 3, Memorymoog, Oberheim OB-8, Octave Cat, Peavey DPM SI, Roland SH2000, SH3a, Jupiter 4, Juno 6, Juno 106, MKS30, MKS10, MKS7, MKS-70 w/PG-800, JV-1080 w/ kb's of 60/70 exp, Sequential circuits Prophet 600, Prophet T8, six-trak, multi-trak, Siel OR400, DK600, Expander, DK70 keytar, DK80, Yamaha CS60, CS15D, CS20M, PC1000, DX7, DX21, CS2x, S03, and the mighty Conn Electric band! :-)"

Akai AX60

images via this auction

Anyone know what's up with the numbers? There's no mention of them in the auction and they almost look rendered.

White MOOG Liberation

images via this auction

Quasimidi Quasar

images via this auction
"Quasar features:
- Over 1000 single-sounds in ROM
- 200 performance-layered sounds in ROM
- 100 editable performance sounds
- PCM, Subractive, FM and Additive synthesis to create it's sounds.
- 6db/12db/24db filter with self oscillation
- More than 50 effects
- Arpeggiator
- 19 drumsets
- 2 MIDI inputs
- Expandable, the Quasar can be fitted with two expansion boards
T.R.E. (Techno, Rave, Electronic)
Hardcore (Industrial Sounds)
- Both the T.R.E. and Hardcore expansion modules!
- T.R.E. and Hardcore manuals/soundlists
- Original Quasimidi heavy-duty 2 amp power supply (it is 12 volts and the sticker on the back of the unit says 9 volts - that's how it came!)"

ARP 2600 Synthesizer Power Supply

via this auction

6 Vintage Polyfusion Synthesizer Front Panels

via this auction

"6 vintage Polyfusion Synthesizer front panels.

1. 2 2048 Dual Sample/Hold panels
2. Ring Modulator
3. 2016 Voltage Controlled Reverb
4. 2052 Keyboard Upper Voice
5. 2051Keyboard"

Polyfusion Synth PC Boards

images via these auctions

"You can read more about Polyfusion here and here.

unloaded PC boards for the Polyfusion Synthesizer. All are still sealed from the factory.

14 pieces of NEW OLD STOCK 60-PEQ-8 Rev. A. Prograph Power Supply

9 pieces of NEW OLD STOCK 60-FF-1-1 Rev A. Frequency Follower Power Supply

15 pieces of NEW OLD STOCK 60-PEQ-2 Prograph display Rev. B

10 pieces of NEW OLD STOCK 60-FF-1-2 Frequency Follower Input Rev. A.

3 pieces of NEW OLD STOCK 2060 Power Supply Rev. D.

9 pieces of NEW OLD STOCK 60-2058-1 Polyphonic Keyboard Control Rev. A.

10 pieces of NEW OLD STOCK 60FF-1-3 Frequency Follower Fundamental Extractor Rev. A. 60-2058-3

Polyphonic Keyboard Analog Rev. A.

7 pieces of NEW OLD STOCK 60-FF-1-4 Frequency Follower Output Rev. B.

44 pieces of NEW OLD STOCK 60-PEQ-4 Prograph up/down switch Rev. B.

54 pieces of NEW OLD STOCK ASI-P"

KORG Lambda ES-50

images via this auction
"This Korg Lambda ES-50 was made in 1979. All of the keys can sound at once which means it is fully polyphonic.

Here is a link to the owner's manual: On Carbon111

Here is a neat links to more information: On Carbon111

ALTAIR-231

images via this auction

" ALTAIR-231 is a monophonic 3'osc synth, it has 4-oct keyboard (F-C) with velocity sensitivity assign to vibrato effect. Sound control is performed with round knobs and switchers. For live performance there is a wheel which provides pitch shift (called glissando). Synthesizer is based on 3 VCO (any can work as the modulator), 1 VCF (lowpass 24dB/oct) with ADSR, 1 VCA, 3 LFO, noise generator (white/pink), portamento. Consist of 5 main sections - MODULATION, OSC'S, MIXER, FILTER and AMP (called Contour)."

You can find samples at the auciton and at ruskeys.net

MOD section:
- portamento on/off, rate;
- mod mixer knob: balance between modulated by OSC3 and noise, depth amount;
- vibrato on/off, octave shift to 1/2
- pitch wheel (glissando)
OSCILLATORS section:
- osc 1,2,3 registers - 2", 4", 8", 16", 32", LF
- osc 1,2,3 waveshape select - triangle, saw, square, pulse, sine
- osc frequency - freq 1..3, freq 2, freq 3 -linked to keyboard pitch on/off
- modulation on/off switch
MIXER:
- osc 1,2,3 on/off, level
- ext input level, on/off
- noise generator level, on/off
- noise mode switch: white/pink
FILTER:
- mod on/off
- cutoff, resonance, brightness
- attack, decay, sustain
- keytrack on/off
AMPLIFIER:
- attack, decay, sustain
- key hold memory on/off
Next - global section: main volume, phones volume, phones out (5din), A-440Hz tone on/off, power.
Connection 1/4 jacks: input, output, pedal input (5din), ground.
Power supply: 220V/50Hz, fuze 0,125A

Crumar Spirit

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
images via this auction

"This is a beautiful example of the very rare and coveted Crumar Spirit monosynth designed in part by Bob Moog. This is one of around 250 made in Italy in 1983."

CLICK FOR MORE »

ARP Quadra

images via this auction

Synthesizer-Welt on Frankfurt Musikmesse

via sequencer.de

If I am reading this right, synthesizer-magazin will be showing vintage synths at this year's Musikmesse. Should definitely be interesting.

Knox Bronson's Pop Down The Years

The second Valentine's Day post this year.

This one is an image of a bee on a Serge Modular from the album cover of Knox Bronson's new album Pop Down the Years. You can find it on Amazon (mp3s available).
"it will be everywhere, including itunes, within the week. Pop Down The Years is VERY electronic and very much fun, with old- school song writing, pretty good singing (if i do say so myself - the girls seem to like me!) and full, rich electronic/ orchestral instrumentation, vintage and new. You can hear whole songs at sunpopblue. My NEW site, devoted solely to my music, is www.knoxbronson.com."

Update via Knox in the comments: "the cd is available on Amazon and all the other sites this week, but won't hit iTunes until next week. But that's okay, 'cuz Amazon doesn't use DRM."

An Insider's Guide to Casio CZ Synthesizers

image sent my way via brian c.

by Andrew Schlesinger

$484.46 on Amazon

:)

If anyone knows more about this book, feel free to comment.

Happy Valentine's Day via Cynthia - Synthacon Filter

via Cynthia

"Howdy Matrix!
We're shipping Synthacons again.... (now our new improved Mark III design). Image Attached for your marvelous website!!

Happy Valentine's Day!
Cynthia"

BTW, I am not planning on a specific Valentine's Day post this year (I don't think I had one last), so... Have a Happy Valentine's Day everyone! Imagine if your honey gave you one of these, a Steiner Parker Synthacon Filter. :)

The Chemical Brothers Modular - Update

See this post and scroll to the bottom for an update via Mike Brown of Livewire.

Jean-Jacques Perrey and Dana Countryman at the Radiophonic 08 Festival

via Dana Countryman:

"Just a quick note to mention the upcoming lecture and concert by Jean-Jacques Perrey and Dana Countryman at the Radiophonic 08 Festival in Gateshead, England. It all happens on March 1st, 2008. More info here and here"

Be sure to check out these previous posts on Dana Countryman and Jean Jacques Perrey.

During their previous shows (where I actually took this shot myself) Dana played his MOTM/Dotcom modular and Jean Jacques Perrey played his favorite istrument, the Ondioline which is similar in concept to the Ondes Martenot and Tannerin.

KORG Electribe ES-1 MKII

images via this auction. Be sure to check these out full size.

Whilte Forat Angelmuse Roland V-Synth

images via this auction
"This brilliant, unique, all-white keyboard was very recently purchased from a selling agent for Marcus Brown, one of Madonna's keyboardists. The tax man already taketh away, unfortunately, so I must immediately pass this bit of musical history along to you! Check out all the images and see this amazing beast in all its splendor. It was used on tour (read this article about it!), so there are one or two very small dings, which aren't noticeable until you peer at it point-blank. It is 100% operational, and comes with power cord and a printout of the 200-page manual. If you'd like to take a gander at it ahead of time, the PDF file is located on the Roland website, right here (warning: 3MB PDF file link; access may require a free registry at Rolandus.com).

It is maxed out in RAM and comes with a 128 MB Kingston flash memory card to store your sounds separate from the internal memory. It is also signed by Marcus, underneath the unit, clearly visible in one of the images. Its FORAT customization is worth-class; FORAT has designed custom MPC & synth systems for a renowned group of A-list artists."

Yes this is the White Forat previously posted here and here.

"So Run The Tears As Wine" Acid Symphony

YouTube via Homevaurio.
"ori Hulkkonen And His Experimental Piece For 10 Roland 303's "So Run The Tears As Wine" @ Festival For New Music (UMF), 5th Of August 2007, Turku, Finland. The Acid Symphony Orchestra: Jori Hulkkonen, Jesper Dahlbäck, Kalle Karvanen, Aku Raski, J-P Parikka, Janne Puurunen, Kimmo Oksanen, Petri Salonen, Tuomas Toivonen, Johannes Auvinen, Tatu Peltomäki. The Film ©Sähkö Recordings, Keys Of Life Records & Las Palmas Films 2008."

via jori:
"i've been reading you everyday for such a long time so i thought it would be nice to give something back! please check out this 3-part (approx 22 minutes) documentary about the Acid Symphony including ten tb-303s and one tr-808. it all took place at a festival in finland last summer."
www.jorihulkkonen.com
www.myspace.com/jorihulkkonen
www.myspace.com/processory

PS on http://www.jorihulkkonen.com/studio.php there's some stuff some fellowgeeks may find of interest

Monome?

I spotted this image of the monome on jhve.com. I ashed jhve what it was exactly and... turns out it was a little trickery to block out this.

Hidden Village (live): 24 Points of Articulation

YouTube via littlescale. Sent my way via nthn' /amsterdam
""24 Points of Articulation" - live breadboarding as performed by Hidden Village (Sebastian Tomczak and Lauren Sutter).

What is digital, what is analog? Can musical form include structural information regarding moving from an unbalanced, ambiguous state (read chaos) to a more balanced, well-defined state (read order)? What is a computer, what is a computation?

Performance was held at the de la Catessen Gallery, 9 Anster street, Adelaide as part of the Tyndall Assembly concert #2.
--
This particular circuit is basically two instances of the circuit found on this link: http://milkcrate.com.au/_other/sea-moss/#seqamp

For more general info on using CMOS 40xx series logic for basic digital sound, synthesis and music visit my "fun with sea moss" page at http://milkcrate.com.au/_other/sea-moss/

Any questions etc, please feel free to drop me a line."

---------------------
http://little-scale.blogspot.com
http://cloudsparrow.blogspot.com/"

T-RES Delays

"This is a short demo of the Jomox T-Resonator. I'm using mostly Program 6 which is one of the delay modes. First you here the dry drum loop then the filter then into the delay sections. It gets really interesting around 1:05ish because I'm feeding one of the outputs back into the T-Resonator."

via Josh of bigcitymusic.

VST TAL-BassLine

"TAL-BassLine is a virtal analog bass synthesizer especially made for bass, acid sounds and effects. It’s based on a robust core and has the usual controls of analogue hardware synthesizers.

A unique -18dB low pass filter with a lot of asymmetric and random components introduce a warm and analogue sound. Very fast, non linear envelopes are also a part of this synth.

* Bandlinited oscillators (saw, pulse).
* Sub-oscillator: square -1 oct., square -2 oct., pulse -1 oct, pulse -2 oct.
* -18 dB/octave low-pass filter (resonant/self-oscillating).
* LFO (frequency: 0,1 .. 30 Hz, waveforms: sin, tri, saw, rec, noise).
* Very fast nonlinear envelope (A: 1.5ms..4s, D: 2ms..10s, S: 0..100%, R: 2ms..10s).
* Simple Arpeggiator (up, down, one octave mode).
* 2x Unisono Mode.
* Panic button.
* MIDI automation for all sliders and pots.
* Precise fader control while holding down the "Shift" button.
* Supports all sample-rates.
* 2x oversampling.
* 23 presets.
* Tutorial pdf.
* ~2.5% CPU (Intel Core 2 CPU 6700, 44.1KHz, 24Bit, buffer-size 1024 Samples)."

click here for more info including the download. via wire to the ear

United Colors of Bananalogue

via Muff Wiggler

Korg & Casio & Roland

flickr by lunaz (ruby blue)

full size

KORG MS20
Casio VL1
Roland Juno-60

Moog 'Industry Profile' 1983 (1of4)

flickr by Neil Vance (click for the rest)

Click on the All Sizes link when you get there to read them. Click here for Neil Vance's Synth Reviews set.

ARP Odyssey Lumina by CMS

images via this auction
"This auction is for a super-rare, one of a kind, ARP Odyssey Lumina by CMS. This Odyssey is from the personal collection of Phil Cirocco at CMS. It is the one and only prototype for an upcoming illuminated slider retrofit kit for the ARP Odyssey and Avatar. Due to an ongoing relocation here at CMS, this mod is not available at this time and won't be available until the end of 08. This unit has been restored to brand new condition by CMS and features all new, color coded, illuminated sliders.

This is the one and only chance to get your hands on a drastically superior version of a classic synthesizer. The illumination of the sliders is remarkable, but that is not the focus of this modification. The replacement sliders are of a much better quality than the originals and feature a teflon bushing for much better action and tactile feel. The precision of these sliders makes tuning the VCOs much easier and the VCOs actually stay in tune! The modulation attenuators have a much better range. The filter FC and resonance sliders are never scratchy and have a wonderful feel when you want to "play" them.

In my opinion, the big thing wrong with the ARP Odyssey, from the very beginning, was the sliders. They were garbage from day one. Sorry Alan. Changing the sliders to high quality teflon units makes a giant difference in the operation of an ARP Odyssey. Custom light sliders.

More info here" via Josh of bigcitymusic.com

painted es-1

flickr by Satoshi Aizawa

full size

White KORG ES-1

Grey Faced Oberheim OB-1

via link

Anyone know more about this one?

Update via Chuck in the comments: the image is via this auction. Someone on AH called out that it is a later OB-1A model which makes sense as Oberheim went with the gray on the OB-X and first OB-SX which both followed the OB-1.

EDP GNAT

YouTube via emssynthi100
"my gnat talking.soon clips to follow with wasp and spider sequencer."

moog modular + drum controller

YouTube via polyvoks
"moog modular playing a simple sequence + moog drum controller"

ARP Axxe

images via this auction

Roland GR-700

images via this auction

Mad Max

Novation Supernova II

images via this auction

Sequential Circuits Split-Eight

images via this auction
"The Split-Eight has a gritty and raw sound with a lot of character that suits many styles of music. Bass sounds are tremendous. Has Poly Modulation just like the Prophet 5 giving it some unique and unusual tonal variations. The filters are warm with some beautiful high-frequency spectral movement when resonnance pushed to the edge.
• Eight Analog Oscillators - Saw, Tri, Pulse
• Pitch, Pulse Width, and Poly Modulation
• Eight 24db Curtis Low Pass Filters with Resonnance
• ADSR Filter Envelope
• DADSR Amplifier Envelope
• LFO with Square, Triangle Waveforms
• Wicked Fat Unison Mode
• Built-in Analog Stereo Chorus
• Five Octave Keyboard (not velocity sensitive)
• Split/Doubled Keyboard Voice Assignment
• Program Linking
• Separate A/B/Mix Audio Outputs
• Built-in Grounded Power AC Power Cable
• Newly Replaced Storage Backup Battery"

The Multi-Trak, Six-Trak, MAX, and Split-Eight as share the same synth engine.