Melodyne - Direct Note Access

YouTube via dafunkmastah77. via Mr. Array.

"A pioneering technology that makes the impossible possible: edit individual notes within chords and polyphonic audio material! Yes, audio, not MIDI. The makers of Melodyne did it again ... www.celemony.com" You can find the full video series and more here.

MESSE08: We're On our Way

Some Musikmesse teasers via Sonic State:
"Just short vlog to let you know that we're on our way to the MESSE. The UK has gales but we're now holed up in our hotel just around the corner from the show, ready to hit the ground running.

Much, much more to come. Show starts 12th March.

video on the way up -I'm off to bed"

tappedd day

YouTube via scaffbeat. via Nusonica. "modular experiences"

TYPHOON SOUND LIBRARY part 2 (professional multi samples)

YouTube via typhoonsounds

TYPHOON SOUND LIBRARY (professional multi sample collection)

"Thanks for checking our new product.
This is our new improved huge sample library with 5.5 gb of files and more than 370 instruments (including drum kits too).
More infos at :
www.typhoonsounds.com
contact@typhoonsounds.com
Thank you"

Ultravox-New Romantics Top 10

YouTube via chrisf242. Follow-up to this post.
Synths scattered throughout.

de la Mancha Motion Pack

This is kind of a follow-up to the previous post on Circle Synth.

"the Motion Pack is a pair of modulation-focused synths that can give a lot of movement to your sound. jellyfish and metamorph both cover a range of dynamic sounds from glitchy noise, evolving pads, lofi dirt, wobbly bass and just plain weirdness

jellyfish has several modes of inter-oscillator modulation as well as 2 LFOs and an envelope generator that each modulate 6 parameters as well as each other. metamorph will change the oscillator waveforms in real-time, as well as a lot of other LFO and envelope modulations to make things even more interesting

Both synths have presets made by runagate, covering many sounds from evolving pads, weird noises and effects, dynamic leads, wobbly basses and more"

You can find more info on the de la Mancha website. Be sure to click the images here to get a sense of how things are laid out. via sonic state.

Vangelis

flickr by Neil Vance

full size

"long pre the CS-80 days! Can Anybody add notes to these old organ/synths?"

If you click on Neil's name above it will take you to the shot hosted on flickr where you can add notes. Currently there is one for the second synth on the top left. It's tagged as "Roland SH1000 - Roland's first instrument 1975-1981."

Of course feel free to spot the synths in the comments here as well.

Musikmesse: Synthesizer-Welt First Shots

via sequencer.de

"Stand/Booth B66 not yet ready. but WED we are.."

For those not familiar with the Frankfurt Musikmesse, think NAMM for Europe, but only hosted once a year. As always, I'll be posting stuff as it comes in, so keep checking back.

nightshot

flickr by pac209

full size

Acxel II

Remember the Technos Acxel Resynthesizer (pictured)? I just read this post on Music Thing. Apparently the creator of the Acxel, Pierre Guilmette, is working on a new version. Check out Music Thing for a letter from Pierre.

You can find his website, iDarca Audio here. You'll find a bit of info on resynthesis and some audio samples.

Update some more info on the Acxel:

"Don Garbutt writes: Freaky, obsure, expensive, unique, weighs a lot, robust construction (lots of VLSI chips inside). This machine is impossible to find, although I have one. Lucky me!!! Graphical interface is totally intuitive, and tell me if you know of any other machines that are resynthesis- based, as this is , if you care to use it in this fashion. Digital filter emulation (oscillator # filter) is unequaled.

CLICK FOR MORE »

Circle Synth

"Something interesting is happening in software synthesizer design: after years of trying to boast more of ingredient “xx” (whether it’s modulation, eight-zillion-point envelopes or other whiz-bang features), the new challenge is to make the user experience itself different. The challenge: don’t just do more sonically — make it easier to actually make music. I’ve personally been a big fan of the elegant tabs in Cakewalk’s Rapture, the minimalist aesthetic of Ableton’s Operator, and the drag-and-drop routing in Native Instruments’ Massive. Now, could one instrument really leap forward in terms of guiding its design?"

Read the full post on Create Digital Music.

Human League-New Romantics Top 10

YouTube via chrisf242
Don't miss the crazy stacked Roland System 100 towards the beginning. Some more synth shots throughout. Anyone know what the sequencer looking device on the top left of the screen during the brunette interview is? Silly personal note: Fascination Street always reminds me of reading X-Men comics back when the song first came out. Good times.

Roland Paraphonic 505 Demo

YouTube via meastempo
"I bought this beauty only to get the strings similar to VP-330 (or exactly the same??) but it hade other nice features to, a stereo chorus with external input, a strong mono bass section and a simple synth part with resonance filter. The video shows only it's functions in a hurry, going to do another more serious demo of it later on."

KORG MS10

images via this auction

FORMANTA P-432

images via this auction

"It was made in Soviet Union (Russia) by well-known Polivoks/Formanta plant in Kachkanar city. This instrument is analog synthesizer with preset patches and midi. Synth has 37 patches in memory (electronic piano, strings, bass, organ etc.), vibrato and chorus effects. Also there is joystick for pitch/modulation control. It’s a great instrument for any music or collection.

This FORMANTA is in a perfect shape and well working condition. Instrument has original configuration: with standard midi in/out/thru, ¼ Jack audio out, 220V power."

Future Retro Mobius

images via this auction

Note the different font types for "Future Retro" on the front vs. back. How many synth manufactures used different styles for their name and/or logos?

"MIDI in/out/thru, Dinsync, CV out for both Volt/OCT and Hz/OCT, +/- Gate, trigger out, accent out, clock out, reset out..... The Mobius has the glide and accent functions to mimic the TB-303 sequencer"

CLICK FOR MORE »

2008 Ethermusic Festival

via MOOG Music, via brian c.

More info here

Yamaha SK50D

images via this auction, via heliospace on the forum. Note the auction is over with a BIN.

"Yamaha SK-50D Organ/Synth combo"

Does Anyone Remember Floppies?

YouTube via hamsterdunce, aka Dave of umop. What is that little keyboard?

Η 69η Συμφωνία του the_god (σε Λα μινόρε)

YouTube via petedol. Reminded me of this. Anyone know the keyboard?

MOOG TAURUS 1 bass-pedals by RetroSound

YouTube via retrosound72

"reso bass (like Tom Sawyer): Moog Taurus
drums: Roland TR-606
vintage shoes ;-)

used by Rush (Tom Sawyer), Genesis (Squonk, Dance on a Volcano, Los Endos, Mama, Turn it on Again, Abacab...) Asia (Go, Dont Cry), Marillion (Pseudo Silk Kimono, Kaylight), Steve Hackett (Clocks), Phil Collins (I Don`t Care Anymore), U2 (Where the Streets have no Name), The Police (Don't Stand So Close To Me, Walking on the Moon), Saga and more"

Sergio Koval Neuroactivo

YouTube via boty81. via fischek. Spot the synths
"Dento del"Cicle de música per la Biodiversitat" Celebrado en Barcelona el pasado 29/02/2008 La actuación de S.Koval.Interpreta su tema "Neuroactivo" Acompañado por Odracir Lavid con su guitarra midi."
Googlish:
"Dento "Cicle music by the Biodiversitat" took place in Barcelona last 29/02/2008 The performance of S.Koval.Interpreta its theme "Neuroactivo" Accompanied by Odracir Lavid with his guitar midi."

USB gampad rebuttoning to control Ableton Live

YouTube via larsby.
"I took a USB gamepad attached new buttons to it so I can control Ableton Live with it. Works well, instructions on how to make your own is included in the video."

Workspace and Environment: Eliot Lipp

"What is your current favorite piece of hardware?
My Korg MS-20. This synth is my signature sound. The first analog synth I ever bought."

click here for the full post on trash_audio.

Vangelis - Closing the Bounty

YouTube via WoIfshead. via fischek.
"My video featuring the movie "The Bounty"(1984) and the credits song by Vangelis."
Features: Yamaha CS80, KORG PS3300, ARP 2600.

WALDORF WAVE Synthesizer Demo. Delay effect without delay ?

YouTube via mikehuckaby. Unfortunately this is a really short one.
"This is a demonstration indicating the enormous potential of the Waldorf Wave. I was baffled when i was shown how a delay effect could take place on the WAVE, when it doesn't have internal effects at all. Listen to the audio in the clip. Each time a note or a chord is played, it repeats itself.

Just imagine a well thought out synth line, or chord progression using this effect. Oh boy, its time to make some serious music now.

mike www.myspace.com/mikehuckaby"

Polivoks Live in kitchen

YouTube via chicotilo. Audio comes in at :53.
"Midnight live on Soviet analog synthesizer Polivoks."

Electro-Harmonix Rhythm 12 & Muff Fuzz

YouTube via ZonkOut
"1970's EHX products reunited through an Atari Video Music."

Paia Oz & Phlanger

YouTube via ZonkOut
"Paia OZ through Paia Phlanger through Atari Video Music."
Remember to turn your volume back down if you turned it up for this one.

Detroit graffiti

flickr by ExcuseMySarcasm

full size

KORG strikes again. Click on the graffiti link below for two others.

1970/71 R.A. MOOG Minimoog # 77

images via this auction

"This is one of the earliest Minimoogs ever made - the 77th Model D (serial #1077) from around late 1970 early 1971. It was when the company was still owned by Bob Moog himself, following the 1960s modular synthesizer wave, so the badge still reads "R A MOOG" as on the old modulars. The front panel is metal, unlike the plastic/vinyl of later Minimoogs. The mod and pitch wheels are clear plastic - which only lasted a short time. Even the panel markings are different - with actual times (see "DECAY" in photos) listed instead of simple 1-10 markers.

This one is also unusual in that it was made with all-white switches, unlike the white-blue-orange of later Minimoogs. Some early Mini's have all-blue or all-white (I have never seen all-orange though). This one comes with an original owner's manual and two pieces of service receipts, when it has an oscillator upgrade done (tuning stability, octave buffer added, and calibration). It has been tested and DOES work as it should. It sounds great - that fat, yet clear, early Minimoog sound. The condition is quite nice - not perfect but still pretty clean considering its age - see the photos."

via Lyle

Update via Dave Cornutt in the comments (see them for more from others):
"More info: I looked up SN 1077 on moogarchives.com. It says it was shipped to Central Music on April 29, 1971. Central Music was David VanKovering's music shop in Orlando, and they were one of Moog's biggest dealers in the early days. This was before VanKovering joined Moog. Unfortunately, I can't find anything on who Central Music sold it to.

Doing some Googling, I found a message in the Analogue Heaven archives dated February 7, 1998 from someone identified as "steve" (you can see the email if you search the AH archive on retrosynth.com, although there's certainly no guarantee that he is stil at that same email address now). Oddly, he says it was modified by a previous owner and "it is now 2 pieces". He says the keyboard was painted black and was separated and connected to the synth by a cable. Obviously it isn't that way now, so either he or some subsequent owner must have restored it."

Korg MS-20 Bubble Machine

YouTube via Newueel
"The MS-20 is very useful for creating weird sounds, like some different types of 'bubbles'. Without using any patches the modulation generator can be used for three different types of frequency modulation (also combined):
- highpass filter cutoff frequency modulation
- lowpass filter cutoff frequency modulation
- VCO frequency modulation
Of couse many varieties can be made by changing waveforms and frequencies for the oscilators and modulation generator, and eh... but that'll up to you...

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

KNOBS (First sound):
VCO1: [Sawtooth] [(not used)] [32']
VCO2: (not used)
PORTAMENTO: [0]
VCOMIX: [10] [ 0] [ 0] [ 0]
HPF: [10] [ 7] [ 5] [ 0]
LPF: [ 5] [ 5] [ 0] [ 0]
MG: [^(middle)] [5]
EG1: (not used)
EG2: [0] [2] [0] [10] [3]
ESP: (not used)"

Roland JX-8P + Moog Taurus bass pedals by RetroSound

YouTube via retrosound72

"pads: Roland JX-8P
bass: Moog Taurus 1 bass pedals
drums: Roland TR-606"

KORG DW-8000

images via this auction

"State of the art circa 1986. The arpeggiator is very fun, a big plus on this keyboard, especially with sounds using the built-in delay (Program 88 in my keyboard is very nice for this). The 8 note polyphony means you can get chordal complexity and arpeggiated lines sound very rich.

Useful site: Manuals, description, DIY: link"

MOOG Multimoog

images via this auction
"This Multimoog is a monophonic analog synthesizer manufactured by Moog Music from 1978 to 1981. Derived from the earlier Micromoog, the Multimoog was intended to be a less expensive alternative to Moog's flagship, Minimoog. It nevertheless had some advanced features which the Minimoog did not include: It was one of the earliest synthesizers to feature aftertouch capability (pressure-sensitive keys).

Key features include:
♫ 44 note monophonic keyboard with aftertouch
♫ Ribbon-type pitch bend controller
♫ Glide (portamento)
♫ Two voltage-controlled oscillators with waveform continuously adjustable from sawtooth, through square, to narrow pulse
♫ Oscillator sync
♫ Noise source
♫ 24db/octave Moog transistor-ladder lowpass voltage controlled filter
♫ Dedicated low frequency oscillator with triangle, square, and random waveforms
♫ Extensive modulation routing options, including sample & hold, audio-frequency modulation of the VCF for quasi-ring modulation, waveform sweep/quasi-pulse width modulation, and more
♫ Two AR (attack/release) envelope generators with switchable percussive/sustaining profiles
♫ * * * External audio input for processing instruments, vocals, etc.
♫ External control voltage and trigger inputs/outputs for interfacing with other synthesizer equipment
(Serial #2173)

What's cool about this one is pressure (not velocity) sensitive keys. By pushing a little harder on the key, you can bend the note by routing its pressure sensitivity to either or both oscillators, a filter or some other effect. It's especially cool when doing the intro to Loverboy's, "Take Me to the Top," or anything from Emerson, Lake & Palmer.

On the far left, there's a pitch ribbon - basically, a metal screen stretched over a resistive material - like a tuning knob you adjust with your finger tip. By running your finger above or below center, you change the pitch of the note. Next to that, there's a wheel that changes the note in other ways, depending on which filter or effect you route it to. The kinds of sounds you can make with this thing are nearly endless. It's the beauty of analog.

Pitch ribbons eventually need to be rebuilt or replaced because over time, the screen flexes inward, touching the resistive layer underneith it, leading to notes you weren't expecting. Most of the time, this one works. Occasionally, it sticks. Luckily, Moog Music has them, as do other suppliers. If you decide to get one, contact Mike Bucki at ModuSonics Music, 6300 Old Beattie Rd. Lockport, NY 14094 Phone/Fax (716) 438-0756.

Likewise, switches, keys and potentiometers (volume & tuning knobs) get dusty or oxydised on the inside and lose their connections or sound fuzzy when you turn them. Whenever this happens, all you need to do is move them back and forth until the metal or resistive surfaces inside them are shiny again. Whenever a key stops making contact, simply turn the synthesizer over, pull out the two plastic covers, exposing the wires below the keys, and rub the surface of the larger wire with your fingertip or an alcohol-soaked swab or some fine-grit sandpaper. The keys have small vertical wires below them that when pressed, connect these small wires to a thicker horizontal wire. Once a year or so, pull the panels off and clean the larger wire. If one of the smaller wires looks out of place, it's easy to bend it back to look more like the ones on the other keys. Do this while the unit is turned off and unplugged."

I once picked up a Pro-One from Guitar Center for $125 because it had a sticky note. Turn out one of the J-Wires (as pictured here on the Multimoog) was bent and in constant contact with the bar. I bent it back and it was fine.

Future Retro XS Demos

via Brian: link
via Rui: link

Nomad - Nord Modular Editor

via Manuel:
"Hi everyone, the second release of Nomad - Nord Modular Editor is finally out. After 1.5 years of developing since the first release we are happy to announce that Nomad is almost feature complete. Apart from the basic things we implemented some new features to improve the experience with the editor: - embedded file browser - macros: create tiny template patches which can be inserted into other patches - module transformation: transform a module into another without loosing parameter values and connections - randomizer: randomize the parameters of a patch or a set of modules - arbitrary number of Nord Modular/Micro Modular synthesizers supported." Runs on Windows, MacOSX and Linux. More info including video at http://nmedit.sourceforge.net/ For support, questions, bug reports or anything else visit the forum.

The Swiss Army Bass

"Yup-that's right. It's a bass guitar with a midi keyboard mounted on it. Yes, the two are played simultaneously. The bass is played with the left hand alone by means of a guitar technique known as “hammer-ons” while the keyboard (which emulates a distorted slide guitar most of the time. among other things) is played with the right hand. This instrument has a weight equivalent to that of a small motorcycle, and as you might imagine, requires years of time and patience to 'master'."

click here for more including some video. Also check out The Droning Betsy. via cebec who found it on Ektopia.

Admin: Word Verification is Back on for Comments

Been getting a bit of spam in the comments lately, so word verification is back on.

Estradin Analog Russian Phaser

images via this craigslist post.
"This is a rare soviet military type phaser. I have owned the Moog 12-stage, Boss, Ibanez and DOD phasers and this phase has a unique sound of it's own.

The front controls are frequency, balance and brightness. The back panel features input, dry and wet outputs, and a shift switch. A red LED flashes to the rate of phasing. The pedal is 7 ½” wide by 6” long. Estradin made synthesizers in Russia in the 60's and 70's.

I’m including a brand new Step Up/Down Transformer 220V-110V setup to plug and play a unique phaser sound. The pots are not scratchy and it is not noisy."

via brian c

Synthesizer-Welt at Frankfurt Musikmesse

Just a reminder for those fortunate enough to be attending this year's Musikmesse, do not miss Synthesizer-Welt (World) hosted by Synthesizer-Magazin.

Halle 5.1, Stand B66
March 12-15, 2008

Industrial Grade Digital Synthesizer for Linux

"Minicomputer is a standalone Linux softwaresynthesizer for creating experimental electronic sounds as its often used in but not limited to Industrial music, IDM, EBM, Glitch, sound design and minimal electronic. It is monophonic but can produce up to 8 different sounds at the same time. It uses Jack as realtime audio infrastructure and can be controlled via Midi. Minicomputer is free open source software distributed under GPL 3 written by Malte Steiner 2007/2008." Click here for more info including samples and manual. The software will be shown at the SYNTHESIZER-WORLD booth (hosted by Synthesizer-Magazin) at the Musikmesse.

Logan String Melody 2 + EHX Small Stone + Moog by RetroSound

YouTube via retrosound72

"analog strings: Logan String Melody 2, the presets and different settings through original EHX Small Stone phase shifter from the 70`s years
bassline: Moog Prodigy, triggered by the SCI Pro-One internal sequencer
drums: Roland TR-606"

3 Osc Synthedit Synth

YouTube via Fahz0r

Introduction to SynthEdit

YouTube via atomictraveller. via Nusonica.

LOGAN VOCAL SYNTH

via eBay

"complete with original cover all circuits board inside,ssm chips for the mono section two ssm2050 one 2040 and one 2020."

via Michael

Update: you can find a demo of one here.

Next Gen SCOPE

"Innovation "Made in Germany": Sonic Core is going to introduce its newest addition to the SCOPE product line at the MusikMesse show in Frankfurt (Hall 5.1, Stand D10). The SCOPE XITE-1 device combines DSP-based accelerated audio processors with a high-end audio interface. The external 19inch/1U rackmount unit is connected to a PC or Notebook via PCI-Express interface.

Using state-of-the-art SHARC signal processors allows for an increase of processing power by a factor of 10 compared to the older 14DSP SCOPE-Board.

A continuously developed low-latency technology allows the professional user to work with an agreeable, quasi-analog behaving audio platform. The flexible software environment includes a full range of plug-in audio devices: A selection of digital mixers, more than 50 audio effects, samplers and synthesizers in uncompromising sound quality. Additional compatible plug-ins developed by well-known third-party manufacturers continue to be available.

Planned to be released at the same time, the latest SCOPE software (Version 5) is intended to be available for Windows Vista, Windows XP and also Mac OS X.

# 10 x more DSP power than before
# External PCIe / ExpressCard for PC / MAC / Notebooks
# Compatible to the SCOPE Fusion Platform

Scheduled release
May 2008

Retail price
About 2698,- EUR excl. VAT (Introductory Price)"
That would be about 4,137.12 USD. LINK

Note: John Bowen teamed with SONIC CORE to produce the Solaris.

ELO

Electric Light Orchestra - Don't Bring Me Down

YouTube via kiilakas777. MOOG Polymoog.

Electric Light Orchestra - Shine a Little Love

YouTube via peterfile343. Yamaha CS80

Electric Light Orchestra - On The Run

YouTube via VCMX. Yamaha CS80.

ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA

YouTube via ELOPINK1964. Yamaha CS80.

electric light orchestra live 1974 or 1973?

YouTube via lednareff. MOOG Minimoog.
"electric light orchestra live 1973 or 1974 if you know let me know!"

"The bounty" closing titles (cover

YouTube via mik300z
"one of Vangelis's finest moments. Apologies for the dreadful sound quality , i really need a camera with a direct audio feed. No point in playing it live, too much going on, very complex arrangement (well it was for me!) Juno 6, 106 and microkorg doing the bass, ESQ doing CS80 type lead , juno G doing strings and grand piano, Korg X5 doing those "80's" drums. When I get a proper camera I will overdub it with proper audio quality because i'm quite proud of how it turned out. Not entirely accurate I know, but still it was a great challenge for me"

Ribbon Controller Demo

YouTube via 12T0NE
"This video clip demonstrates some of the capabilities of my ribbon controllers.

During the first portion of the clip, I'm using the ribbon to modulate the VCF in my Yamaha CS-40M. Besides the filter sweeps, the ribbon is great for performing tap-tempo effects.

In the second part of the video, I have the ribbon connected to the synthesizer's CV input, and am using it in place of the keyboard to change pitch. Im using the keyboard only to trigger the initial note."

Elektronika EM-25

images via this auction

"exact specification here"

The aesthetic design reminds me of Roland meets Siel.