tyme sefari

flickr by nakedintruder
(click for more)

full size

SEQU Sequencer

via zthee on this electro-music.com thread where you can find more.

"It's a sequencer based on the Seku by Mauno Tuominen (link).

The whole thing started of as an idea to build a simple gate sequencer using only CMOS. I thought that by using just 2 4017 and some logic I could get it all to work. But after some trial and error - that just resulted in failure. I gave it up.. (The basic problem was that I never got it to reset at the right step. It was either to early or to late..) ..and decided to build the Seku instead.

I'm not sure I'm gonna get it all to work. But the LEDs light up fine (except for LED 6 and 16 which I have the wrong way around..). I'm gonna try the CV portion out tomorrow, and I hope I'm able to finish the gates aswell."

Roland System 100m Synth Pron

click here for more shots on sys100m.org.

via perterwendt

New Blofeld Firmware v1.02 and Soundset

via Wolfram Franke on the Waldorf list:

"we just released V1.02 of the Blofeld Firmware. It addresses the bugs you've reported. Here's the excerpt from the changelog:

V1.02 Hotfix 080225
-----------------------
This version is a hotfix addressing bugs reported by our users.

Improvements:
* Increased Output Volume by 12dB.
* Fixed spurious problems with Sound selection when Category Filters
are used.
* Fixed storage problems of received sound dumps which showed "Init"
or "Init!" sounds.
* Fixed further spurious occurences of "Init" or "Init!" sounds.
* Improved voice allocation with Unisono sounds.

Known issues:
* Changing sound volumes during playback over MIDI might result in
loud sounds for held notes. New notes are played with the correct
volume. This happens with sounds that use additional volume modulation
i.e. by Velocity.
* Booting the Blofeld might result in a freeze when USB is connected and a
sequencer application (i.e. Logic 7 or 8) is open. Logic, for example,
sends certain MIDI messages to a new MIDI Port as soon as it appears.


You can find the Firmware Update through our News pages:
English:
http://waldorfmusic.de/en/news
German:
http://waldorfmusic.de/de/news
or here:
http://waldorfmusic.de/de/archiv?relPath=/blofeld/system
Soundset:
http://waldorfmusic.de/en/archive?relPath=/blofeld/sounds

Tangerine Dream 1977 tour programme (Stratosfear)

via Brian Kehew of The MOOG Cookbook.

click the image for a larger shot.

Update via Qwave in the comments: "notice the wrong spelling of PPG as "PBG"."

Update: see the comments for more discussion including questions on when this image was actually from.

Studio Shot

This one in via theglyph.

What is wrong with this photo?

polar 60 mashines maschinen

YouTube via horstneudorf

I normally don't put up posts on videos that disable embedding, but I'm curious if anyone out there knows what this one is. You can find the video here. I'm giving this one a DIY label for now. There's also an iPod sitting on the keyboard controller. If anyone knows more about this one, feel free to comment or shoot me an email.

Update: one more embeddable video via HorstNeudorf in the comments:


polar 60 schmidtbauer nowakowski
YouTube via horstneudorf

moog bode + ribbon controler (theremin effect)

YouTube via polyvoks
"how to emulate a theremin with a moog modular using a ribbon controler"

synth fingers

flickr by alex hornsby

ASM-1

Tom sent a link to some shots of his ASM-1 to the SDIY list. It's actually up for sale. I asked him if I could back up the shots as you don't see much info on the ASM-1. He was kind enough to oblige and sent me another shot of the complete wiring and power supply. You can find the images here.
This ASM-1 includes stackable banana cables which allow you to patch multiple cables.

You can find the ASM-1 homepage here, but be sure to check out the label below for more as well.

FM Review of Waldorf Blofeld

via peterwendt:

"The UK magazine FutureMusic has a review and audio demos of the Waldorf Blofeld in the February issue. Here's the cover [click for a larger image]. There is a shorter version of the print review online at musicradar.com but the print version is a lot better."

Update via Qwave in the comments:
"Some strange thing happened to the Blofeld picture on the front page:
How to lid 4 LEDs like this?
It is not a normal mode. And not a hidden function.
So it is a little bit photoshopped ?"

Studio Synth Spotting

Studio shot from an anonymous reader. Spot the synths. I put a few labels up on the obvious.

Chamberlin Rhythmate Tape Loop Drum Machine

YouTube via peahix
"This is a quick demo of my Chamberlin Rhythmate. This was an early drum machine which played back tape loops. It's a predecessor of the Mellotron. A lever moves the tape head across 14 different tape loops, each of which has 3 tracks on it, for a total of 42 different drum loops. A sub-lever shifts the head across the tape to align it with one of the 3 loops. Sometimes it's hard to avoid crosstalk.

Samples of all the loops from this Rhythmate are available as bonus material on my Optigan/Orchestron/Talentmaker sample CD-Rom, which can be ordered here:

http://www.optigan.com/shoptigan.html

Here's a little infomercial i put together for the cd-rom:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeUeME..." (previously posted here).

Bye Bye Synth Babes, Hello Synthettes

Just a heads up, I've removed the Synth Babes label and changed it to Synthettes.
Sorry guys, no label for you!

All Sound Sample of YAMAHA SY35 for me 1

All Sound Sample of YAMAHA SY35 for me 2

YouTube via imo0129

"I obtained SY-35 in net auction the other day. This article was only 40 dollars. Movie cam sometimes picks up a noise. I'm sorry. The condition of the synthesizer is the best, but my physical condition is the worst.
先日4500円で落札したシンセです。こちらの映像は内蔵メモリの「シンセ系の音」で す。６４色の音色を確かめました。これらは自由に改造できます。 "

MOOG PRODIGY

images via this auction

"This is the extremely rare model with the CV GATES for midi hook up. Moog made very few of the CV Gate models and most Prodigy owners end up spending a lot of money to modify their Prodigy in order to get the CV gates. You won't have to with this baby, it's all done for you straight from the factory so there is no need to worry about some hack job being done on your vintage synth. And it also comes with the ORIGINAL manual which is also very rare in addition to a copy of it in a three ring binder for easier use and so you can put your original manual away so it doesn't get lost or damaged. It also comes with a custom flight case made specifically for the Moog Prodigy, not some weird fitting generic case. This case fits the Moog perfectly."

This reminds me of this post on Howard Jones' custom Prodigy with extra jacks.

KORG Poly-61

images via this auction

Vintage 50's Keyboard Konsole

via this auction

As analog as it gets...

Waldorf Blofeld

via this auction. I think this might be the first non-store Blofeld I've seen come up on Ebay.

Prophet 2002 Plus

images via this auction.

There are some of the inside in this set.

Sequential Circuits Prophet 2002 Plus Sampler with analog filters.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Escape out of the black hole

YouTube via vonhaulshoven via the forum. Follow-up to this postR.
"a more down to earth peice of electronic music (live improvised guitar)"
Update: on MySpace

E-70 j) demo CS80 heart

"Inside Yamaha E-70 CS-80 sound engine"

E-70 l) demo Eminence Runner

YouTube via FlametopFred (click for more)
"Letting the E-70 do what it does best with full light show"
Anyone know how close the E-70 synth engine is the the CS80?
Follow up to this post.

Synth Repair Services Octave Cat Filter test

YouTube via synthesiserrepairguy
"Tests on a Modified Octave Cat SRM. Mod include Ring Mod, Pink Noise, Ganged Modulation and 7 Filter Modes.
http://www.synthrepairservices.com/

sounds demo nord wave

YouTube via graal7
"someones of th 1024 sounds of nord wave lead ,synth pad bass voice etc..."

Roland VP-330 Vocoder Plus + Juno-60 + TR-606 by RetroSound

YouTube via retrosound72

"vintage synth demo by RetroSound
analog strings/ human voice choir: Roland VP-330 Vocoder Plus
bass: Roland Juno-60, arpeggiator is triggered by the TR-606
drums: Roland TR-606"

KORG ACTION:: Electribe MX vs. Kaoss Pad

YouTube via TenThousandFeetTall. via Nusonica.
"this is a quick electribe/Kaoss demo performance vid."

mixing

flickr by mamadjaniank

KORG MicroKorg

full size

one more

Xoxos Circuit

"Circuit is a probability based MIDI sequencer that joins short phrases together to create natural feeling rhythms. Circuit is priced at $33. The demo is limited to 80bpm."

I saw this one on Sonic State and thought it looked interesting.

click here for more info on the Xoxos website including a sample.

WSG Treacle Bomb

click here for more images.

via Adam on the SDIY list.

"based on the first edition of the Ray Wilson WeirdSoundGenerator on Music From Outer Space, probably just enough room there to fit the extra mods for the newer version, oh and some flashing lights, it needs some of those too :)

Soon to be accompanied by a nice little pre-amp/speaker combo using same casing :)

the sharp eyed among you may notice the controller knobs are actually the sleeve from some of those gold coloured rca plugs, these are sandwiched against standard 6m pot shafts with mic cable outer sleeve to create a fairly tight fit ( which can also be glued with sealant for some extra security )

Advantages are: much cheaper than most metal based knobs, and a nice small size to fit in tighter spaces."

Iron Maiden Synth Bass

another shot via John.
"screen-shot from an Iron Maiden DVD, where Steve
Harris, the bassist of the band can be viewed with the Roland GR77B bass synth (it's essentially an JX8P synth) and the accompanied PG800 programmer. Well, that's how the story goes:
Iron Maiden used the Roland guitar/bass synths for their 1986 album 'Somewhere In Time'. Also, Adrian Smith, gitarist of the band used the Roland GR700 on stage with a modified Jackson guitar as the controller.
At the time, many people where suspicious of this move, as they were afraid that the band was "watering down" but in the album, the synths were used for background "washes", and many silky and soft pads were used, as an added colour to the twin-guitar sound of the band. For the subsequent tours, roadie of the band Michael Kenny, handled the keyboard duties (off-stage!) and also, being himself a keyboard freak, he was present at Martin Newcomb's "Synthesizer Technology" museum opening, at 1994! "

On a side note: Iron Maiden recently played at the Lost Angeles Forum. You can find an excellent review of the show on Amateur Chemist.

Eyes Wide Shut Synth Spotting

John sent in this screen capture of the film Eyes Wide Shut. You can clearly see a number of synths. Click on the image for larger shot, but be warned it is not work safe.

Update: one more shot.

Voltrax Type n Talk Synthesizer

images via this auction

via Nick Zampiello at New Alliance East

DSCN0058

flickr by nakedintruder

Tektronix 715 Spectrum Analyzer
Buchla 259e

full size

Optigan / Orchestron / Talentmaker Sample CD-Rom

YouTube via peahix
"I've just re-launched the definitive Optigan / Orchestron / Talentmaker sample CD-Rom in a new expanded edition, at half the original price. Please watch the video for more info, and also to hear the original Optigan promo tape.

For complete info, and to order a copy, please visit http://www.optigan.com/shoptigan.html

oh, and for those who actually OWN an Optigan, don't miss the variety of original discs and parts for sale at my ecrater store: http://shoptigan.ecrater.com/"

keybdwizrd - Moog Rogue Demo

YouTube via keybdwizrd
"Demo of the Moog Rogue analog synthesizer. I am the original owner of this little beast. Lexicon MX200 used to add delay and reverb (I am not an analog elitist. :) )"

Bad Shipping

via daddio of tapewarm:

"I received this in the mail today. And this is after I pulled the dent out some. Inside are my 2 new Doepfer modules, A149-1 and A149-2, the Source of Uncertainty Suite. Thankfully the shipper had wrapped the modules in bubble wrap and filled the box with styro peanuts so no damage was sustained. Had they been packed with wrinkled up newspaper as is too often the case, I doubt they would have survived the impact." "you might consider this as a public service announcement."

Dubreq Pianomate

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

via this auction

via Rebel Bass
"Dubreq Pianomate, Made in England, September, 1972. This is a classic and collectable piece of early synthesiser technology.

Unit consists of an amplifier, 2 x tone bars and a volume pedal. Remove the tone bars from the storage area in back of amp, place them on the keys of any full-size keyboard, plug the leads into the amp, and play the keyboard - and you can make vintage synth sounds using an acoustic piano as the keys!"

CLICK FOR MORE »

Frostwave Blue Ringer Ring Modulator

YouTube via bigcitymusic
"Here's a bit of the Frostwave Blue Ringer, Ring Modulator. We're running first, a part of a song from the Radikal Technologies Spectralis and then a pattern from the Elektron MachineDrum SPS-1. First you hear the dry signal then the wet. This pedal does have a CV input for control of the oscillator pitch so if you have CV gear you can integrate it easily with your setup. A ring mod takes 2 signals and gives you the sum and difference of the frequencies on the output side. For example: put in 440hz get out 220hz and 880hz. Notice that 880hz is exactly double the incoming frequency, which is an octave. In this demo we ran the same signal into both inputs and with the top right knob of the Blue Ringer you can control the amount of internal oscillator and input B. The difference would make no change in sound but the sum should give us an octave up. It's a bit hard to hear with drums but it works great on more melodic instruments. bigcitymusic.com"

Synthesizer Fun Wurlitzer Organs Orbit

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

"Vintage Synthesizer Fun For Wurlitzer Organs with Orbit Synthesizer. A collection of easy to play melodies which explore some of the vast resources of the Wurlitzer Orbit Synthesizer."

Roland TR-808 with Kenton MIDI

via this auction

MFOS SoundLab

via this auction

"* 2 vcos (voltage controlled oscillators)
* vca (voltage controlled amplifier)
* lfo
* white noise generator
* mixer
* adsr envelope (attack / decay envelope)
* filter
* two cv ins, one gate input for external controllers (9v recommended)"


YouTube via tylersplan.

E-Mu Emax SE

images via this auction

Vermona Synthesizer

images via this auction
"It is a 2-VCO monophonic analog synthesizer. It has most basic analog edit parameters. A 24 dB/oct analog VCF filter with 4 knobs (Brilliance, CutOff, Resonance, Contour), a single LFO to modulate the VCO or VCF sections and a typical ADSR VCA envelope. There are preset VCF and VCA settings as well as a Manual mode, but there is no real Patch setting storage available. Also absent are MIDI and CV or Gate."

More info and samples on http://vermona.de/

RITM-2

images via this auction

"A rare subtractive analog synth, manufactured in 1982 by the Kirov radio plant in the former Soviet Union is here now! Fully functional! There is an original soviet factory structure - i.e. method of synthesis, knob resistors, parts, connections, voltage etc. It runs on 220V AC (US customers will need an adaptor). NO MIDI, CV-GATE OR SYNC ARE INSTALLED.

HERE DESCRIPTIONS FROM BOOK "VINTAGE SYNTH'S A-Z" BY PETER FORREST [Check the Synth Books section on the right for this book and more]:

Ritm-2: 32-note (F-C) 1-VCO monophonic synth.
- Neat little synth with a mix of knobs and sliders. Sprung pitch-bend
wheel; modulation slider. Portamento / glissando; LFO - saw, triangle or
random; VCO: three waveforms; noise; VCF with resonance, switchable key
follow. Two ADSRs.
- This seems to have a feel of early Korg about it - nice. Made in the
Kirov factory."

Link to samples at auction.

Allen Strange Memorial

via Robin in the comments of this post.

"From the Family of Allen Strange.

Just wanted to thank you all for your kind words. Allen will always be remembered as a loving father, husband and musician. There will be a memorial reception at the Bainbridge Island Music Guild on March 1st at 4 pm. Directions and information can be found at http://www.islandmusic.org/. We are also planning a life celebration for Allen in the Bay Area of California in the next few months, I will be sure to post that info when it gets planned."

Thanks, a Notice and a Request

The Thanks
Firat off, every day I receive tips on interesting things to post. I want to thank everyone that takes the time out to send me stuff. Thank you!

The Notice
That said, I also receive requests to either put stuff up that is not directly synth-related as well as stuff I've already posted. There was a time where I received such a request about once a week. Now I'm getting them daily. For each one I have to go search the site to make sure I did indeed already put it up. I've been very diligent about replying to every single email that comes in, however, moving forward I will not be replying due to the amount of time this is taking up. I figure if I was willing to search for every single email that comes in, it's not too much to ask for the person sending something in to check first. So... If you do not get a reply and wonder what happened, try searching the site via the top left search box for key words that might bring up the item, or ask yourself if the item you sent me is about the synth.

The Request
Moving forward, before you choose to send me something for a post, one, search for it on the top left search box and two, ask yourself if what you are sending actually showcases a given synth. The bar for what goes up is two fold - one it hasn't gone up before, and two, it showcases a given synth. I do not put up generic electronic music posts unless you can clearly see or hear the synths used.

BTW, I created Synthwire for others to post, including promoting their own music. If you have something you'd like to put up there, shoot me an email when the time comes and I will add you to that site.

Yamaha CS-50 Synthesizer

click here for the full flickr set by coopersloan.

Inside a Yamaha CS50

T.L. F Modular Synthesizer

click here for the full flickr set by coopersloan.

Update via cyphersum in the comments: "Here's a another shot when it was at the 5th annual Pacific Northwest Synth meeting"

E-70 b) the ALASKA test

YouTube via FlametopFred
"One of the standard tests to see how close a keyboard is to the CS-80. Eddie Jobson's "Alaska" from the first U.K. album set the bar which the E-70 meets and hurdles over. Same basic sonic engine."

Music From Outer Space Sonic Multiplier

flickr by sduck409

"This is my Music From Outer Space Sonic Multiplier - basically a ring modulator with some additional features. The front, a panel I designed. The 4 jacks on the lower rght are a separate multiple - you can never have enough of these."

full size