MATRIXSYNTH

Tuesday, November 04, 2008

Oberheim OB-Xa Demo

YouTube via noyzmakr. remember, search on noyzmakr on the top left of the site for more.
"A real short example of the mighty OB-Xa with a bit of verb."

Beatbox Live for iPhone

YouTube via hit9ent
"Make awesome beats with the iPhone with Beatbox Live. The app comes with 6 wicked drum kits and 12 melodies to jam too."
You can get Beatbox here:

"The CME U-Key Mobiletone keyboard, which is already available in White and Blue, it has ultra-slim, full-action semi-weighted keys with a built-in, 64-polyphony high-quality sound module, and an internal high-fidelity speaker driven by a digital amplifier. The CME U-Key comes with more than 20 user-defined controllers, including a joystick, trigger pads, an encoder for data entry, and pedals. All controllers are fully-programmable and each function can be easily set up and saved for later loading by pressing certain keys. USB powered and compatible with both Windows XP/Vista and Mac OSX, it's a great solution for composing on laptops." You can find more info on CME.

VST TAL-Vocoder

"TAL-Vocoder is a vintage vocoder emulation with 11 bands that emulates the sound of vocoders from the early 80’s. It includes analog modeled components in combination with digital algorithms such as the SFFT (Short-Time Fast Fourier Transform).
This vocoder does not make a direct convolution of the carrier and modulation signal as other digital vocoders maybe do. It includes an envelope follower for every of the eleven bands. This vocoder is optimized for voice processing and includes some algorithms for consonants to make the voice more intelligible.
The carrier signal is a VCO (Voltage Controlled Oscillator) with a Pulse, Saw, Noise and SubOsc. But it’s also possible to use the left stereo input as carrier. This way every sound source can be used as carrier signal. This plug-in supports every sample rate."

You can listen to a sample and download it for free on the TAL site. You might remember TAL from these prior posts on their Juno-60 and SH-101 emulations.

MIDI Optigan & Reaktigan Emulation Software Demo

YouTube via peahix. via optigan.com. video description:
"This is a demo of a project that's actually been kicking around for a few years, but is currently on the back-burner. But I figured it at least deserves a demo video. This is an Optigan (actually the first one I ever owned) that's been converted to a MIDI controller (aka the Midigan) for the purpose of controlling Optigan emulation software developed in Reaktor (aka the Reaktigan). Braden Diotte did the Optigan midi mod for me (using guts from an M-audio midi controller keyboard) and Patrick Keller wrote the Reaktor Optigan emulation.

Essentially, for live shows, I needed something more reliable and flexible than a real Optigan, but didn't want to give up the unique interface, so that's why this exists. The software is still a work in progress. You can load any sounds you want into it, as demonstrated in the video. Sorry for the audio quality- I tried to sync up a direct recording of the audio with the audio from the video camera, but it didn't really work out, so I just stuck with the audio from the video camera. I could have just re-shot the whole video but I was lazy so there ya go.

At some point we plan to make this software available (probably converted to a stand-alone app) as well as basic instructions for making a midi controller out of an Optigan (hopefully a dead one!). Stay tuned..."

New Fairlight?

via Failed Muso who spotted this note from Peter Vogel on the Fairlight Yahoo Group:

"here have been discussions from time to time about replicating the CMI using a software emulation. These efforts will have limited success because the "Fairlight sound" relies on the peculiarities of the hardware used in the original design.

In the days when I was the designing CMI hardware, my greatest challenge was to minimise the distortions and artifacts that were inherent aspects of the hardware available at that time. In effect, we struggled to make the Fairlight sound less "Fairlight". So the intimate details of what makes a Fairlight sound like a Fairlight are indelibly etched in my brain.

When Fairlight brought out the Crystal Core Engine last year, my imagination ran wild. Here was a tiny board with enormous capabilities that could be configured to faithfully reproduce the CMI hardware in its FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array). Every bit of the 1980's CMI hardware, the essence of its sound, could be reconstructed faithfully in digital hardware form.

To fully appreciate the astounding potential of the CC-1, download the brochure here:

CC-1 Brochure

I also recently discovered that ALL the IP relating to the original Fairlight CMI including all of the hardware and filter designs, sample libraries etc are still retained by Fairlight.au in Sydney.

So I have been wondering if it would be worthwhile to develop a faithful reproduction of the CMI on the "Virtual Hardware" of the CC-1?

This would perform identically to the original CMI series II or III, but run on a PC fitted with the Crystal Core card. The MIDI input would come directly into the CC-1 so there would be no problem of latency introduced by the PC.

At this stage I'd like to "feel out" the market to assess the level of interest in this project and whether the significant investment in R&D will be worthwhile.

The Fairlight Series IV (CC-1, I/O box and software) might be sold for approximately $US5,000.00.

So my question is, what do you think of this idea? How would a Fairlight CMI at this sort of price be received by the market? Who would the buyers be and how would I tap into them?

What do you think?

Peter Vogel"

You'll find some more notes on Failed Muso.

The Dears and The Secret Machines on Amateur Chemist

via Amateur Chemist where you will find more shots and notes on the show.

Top shot:
Keyboardist for the opening band, The Bathroom Murders

Bottom shot:
Two keyboardists for The Dears

Plan B Model 31 Buffered Mult Released

"We are pleased to announce that the first delivery in a 25 piece "hot or not???' initial order of Model 31 Buffered Mults will be at Noisebug by day's end. The 22nd released product in the Plan B line, the M31 is the first utilizing our new (NON-Cliff) jacks and offers significant patching option and functional improvements over other Multiple in the Euro Rack format.

For more info including price and current draw, go here"

Buchla ring mod riff

Buchla ring mod riff from Joe Pascarell on Vimeo.
"a variation of the filter mod patch. all audio from the 200e but going through the 111 ring modulator. the 123 is choosing pitches of the 261 principle and mod. oscs."

A Little Melody

A Little Melody from Joe Pascarell on Vimeo.
"more buchla/genoqs ... a simple little melody ..."

syndrome wpw

"I've made a synth page that lists the gears used in my brand new album with some pictures. You'll see a doepfer modular system, a DSI prophet 08 and Mopho, a Korg MS-20 and some other stuffs. 3 of the tracks can be listened on myspace. Those 3 tracks were mainly made with doepfer A-100 modules and DSI prophet 08: myspace.com/syndromewpw.
Here is the link"

Do check out the myspace page as well for some trippin' hoppin' music. The first track, The Vivian Girls has the classic Fairlight Orchestral Hit in it.

The Quadatrix Vertical Sequencer demo #1 of many

YouTube via dolphinicus
"The Vertical sequencer has been added the the Semitone set"

Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer

YouTube via retrosound72

"vintage gear demo by RetroSound

The queen of all drum machines...
Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer from 1981

This demo vid shows the drum instruments and the various functions of TR-808.

You must have very good bass loudspeakers or a subwoofer to hear the deep frequences."

Japan - Cantonese Boy/Ghosts LIVE @ OGWT 1982

YouTube via CircusOfHeaven. Sequential Circuits Prophet-5, Oberheim OB-x, Roland System 700
"with sir Sakamoto on keyboards! beautiful performance, beautiful David. Japan is love, spread it all around!"

Analog Synthesizer Builders' Summit 2008 in Tokyo

via Gan on the SDIY list:
"We had 8th "Analog Synthesizer Builders' Summit" on 2 Nov in Akihabara, Tokyo, Japan. The meeting is annually held to show synth builders' makings and to exchange technical information. About 30 people attended this year. A lot of interesting things were there, such as very unique synth controller, SF-taste noise machine based on Gakken SX-150 synth, Moog modular clone, hand-made FM module programmed from scratch, PC builtin keyboard (or keyboard builtin PC), very small MIDI-CV, mechanical rhythm machine, etc.

You can see the meeting report over the net. Check following if interested:
http://analog-synth.jp/summit08/e_index.html
http://gaje.jp/2008/11/04/613/
http://mtomisan.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/

Enjoy,
---
Gan
http://gaje.jp"

Oberheim DS 2a Sequencer

via this auction

The description is in German. Here it is Google translated unedited:
"He was the successor of the DS2 and has doppeltsoviel memory as its predecessor.
Year built this sequencer is about 1979. You can save 3 songs and each sequence on a trans Drrehregler Poznan and the pace of change.
On the back are Gate A CV - and outputs for Oberheim synthesizers as the 4 voice modules or SEM, Arps, such as the Odyssey and Moog (Modular Systems) and Minimoog.

To Roland (for example, a SH 101 or MC 202) to be able to control, you need a converter for Roland CV GATE norm.

Was used this sequencer, for example, by Peter Gabriel."

Novation XL Limited Edition

via sequencer.de

"Special Design, same features. 999 made. Works fine and perfect with Ableton Live."

green on black

Encyclopedia of Electronic Music

via Aliens Project:
"Bernd-Michael Land (b. 1954) aka Aliens Project started making music in late 1960’s, first on one of the early transistor organs and then switching to synthesizers while playing in various Rock bands. Parallel to that, he also started his solo career that saw him building his studio piece by piece, adding some sophisticated modular synthesizers to his setup. Since then he has released several cassettes and CD’s, worked for sample libraries (among them “Bad Samples”, “Australian Collection”, “Bionics” and Toy of the Month” series) and collaborated with several artists, including Coco of Programmierte Welten. Behind the Blue Room is his latest effort containing 16 tracks. It starts with “Battlefield of Thronos”."

Ursula Bogner

"It seems almost incredible that Ursula Bogner’s musical talents should have remained undiscovered until now. Yet in view of her biography, this might have been just as inevitable.
It was on a flight to Vilnius that I met Sebastian Bogner, Ursula’s son, who told me he was on a business trip for a pharmaceutical company. The usual small talk soon led to the topic of his mother Ursula, who also ‘liked to play around with synthesizers’, albeit purely on an amateur level and in a dedicated music room fitted especially for this purpose in the parental home. Among her acquaintances, it was simply considered one of her many eccentric hobbies and not paid a great deal of interest. At a cursory glance, Ursula Bogner’s life seemed simple and bourgeois to the core: a pharmacist, wife and mother, firmly ensconced in a detached house. A setup that made her obsession with electronic music all the more bizarre, an obsession that drove her to build her own studio for extensive recording and experimentation."

Read the full story on Faitiche and be sure to check out the samples. Really great stuff. Fascinating story that makes you wonder how many others were out there. I wish we knew what synths she used. via floppy.

It's Election Day in the USA!!!

Yeah baby! GO VOTE!!! I'll leave you with this one as inspiration. Keytars and boobs.
Only in the good old USA. :) See MATRIXSYNTH is balanced! Yes to Proposition B8B!

Monday, November 03, 2008

DS-10 song - Pachelbel Canon in D

YouTube via jetdaisuke. "KORG DS-10 SONG 'Pachelbel Canon in DS-10'"

The 2008 Pacific Northwest Synth Meet via John L Rice

You can find the full set here.

Vote No On Proposition 8

Vote No On Proposition 8.

Just thought I'd balance out that ad people in CA might have been seeing on the top right of the site. Apologies to those in CA for the ad. Totally inappropriate on this site. Not sure how traditional marriage is at risk... The reason this world is so messed up is lack of tolerance and people trying to force their views on others. Period. Fight for your rights and fight against the "right" to take it away from others less fortunate than you. Google Ads are off until after the election. Thanks goes to Josh for sending this one in.

Computalker Speech Synthesiser!

YouTube via Sumguy21
"Speech synthesizer or some shit I don't know.
Check out this link full of hacker speak: http://web.inter.nl.net/hcc/davies/es..."

SWR Mini Mo Bass Pre Amp vs. Drum Machine

YouTube via Analogger
"I recorded an 80 measure drum pattern using the drums from a Roland SH-32. Mono out into the SWR Mini Mo. The SWR has killer analog distortion and a fat analog bass synth section that tracks your playing really well. That's a different story with the drums - so it ends up sounding like a dirty envelope follower. Obviously the Mini Mo was not intended to process drum loops - and that's the beauty of it!"

Modcan Modular Synth Diode Filter

YouTube via noyzmakr. This one brings back memories...
"I did not compose this track."

Oberheim OB-X demo

YouTube via noyzmakr. "A quick demo of the OB-X. Straight up OB-X, nofx."

CASIO VL-1 by S-CAT (MK III)

YouTube via PHONICPOTION. S-CAT/PHONICPOTION on Ebay
CIRCUIT BENT with 10 MODIFICATIONS.

KORG DS-10 - My First "Song" - On a DS10 Emulator

YouTube via HiLeonardo. Note this is on an emulator and not an actual Nintendo DS.
"The sound quality sucks because it's on an emulator. I'm aware this is not really good. Hopefully I'll get better with an actual copy on an actual DS :p"

The Persephone

via this auction
"The PERSEPHONE is a high quality fingerboard analogue synthesizer with CV and MIDI in and out. It has the vintage look of a 1920s early electronic fingerboard, but its advanced sensor technology and digital controls combine to create a pure analogue generation of sound.

Musicality is determined by the way it is played; its ribbon control surface is both pressure and position sensitive; finger position on the ribbon zone determines pitch, while finger pressure determines volume, (although this can also be controlled by a separate expression key).

With its 100% analogue oscillator, its lower frequencies go from a deep and resonant cello tone to a nearly human voice. Higher, it can sound similar to a violin (especially when using vibrato), and can reproduce the musical sound and glissando sci-fi effects of a theremin or Ondes Martenot, although much easier to play than a theremin because the linearity of note-spacing is regular, dependable and, of course, tactile giving greater stability of intonation. The Persephone can generate notes with a range of 10 octaves; a scaling potentiometer allows the Persephone's ribbon to be adjusted from 1, 2 and 5 to 10 octaves.

All the controls are digital. The four play modes - A, B, C and D - offer different hierarchy of control between the pitch, the velocity, a filter modulation and a LFO. Tune finetune/brightness : two waveforms wave : from sinus to triangle. Connections are located on the rear side of the front panel. With its CV out, it can control any other analogue synthesizers and modular systems. With its MIDI in/out, it can also be used as a MIDI controller."

Roland Juno-106

images at this auction

Roland GK-1 Synthesizer Driver

images at this auction
"For those of you vintage synthesizer enthusiasts that would like to be able to utilize one of your favorite guitars as a controller without having to drill holes or modify that special guitar here’s the solution for you. With this GK-1 driver package all you have to is mount the driver (with controls), and the hex pickup to your guitar with the double sided adhesive tape that’s already attached to the back of these two pieces. The purpose of the shim is there in case you need to make a height adjustment to the hex pickup and it also has the double sided adhesive tape. The double sided tape (like poster tape) shouldn't leave any permanent marks on your guitar or damage the finish. Simply wipe down the guitar with a warm damp cloth if and when you decided to remove the the unit and you're done .... it's that simple. However, if you should prefer a more permanent mounting by using screws this option is also available to you. All of the components offered in this package are in great shape (as depicted by the photos) and fully functional.

If you’ve been following the price of controllers, and 24-pin cables then you know these controllers can run into the thousands of dollars and the 24-pin cables will cost you between $275-$300. Moreover, you’ll probably end up having purchased a controller that’s pretty much a “one-trick-pony”. In other words it may not sound authentic when not being used as a synth controller. This is the most economical and flexible way to go if you're wanting to get into those vintage synth sounds without selling your grandmother's "Hoveround Scooter". I have a GR-300, and 24-pin cable listed in one of my other auctions (in case you want to verify the price of the 24-pin cable alone). Most controllers as stated above will cost over $1000.00, depending on the model and condition of the controller.

You can connect this unit to a GR-300, GR-100, GM-70, GR-700, MC-1, or even the venerable Korg Z3."

Lowrey LSM-1

images at this auction
"This module was made by the Lowrey Organ company. It has some very unusual sounds and also some unique twists on sounds more common. This module is very rare and does not show up on eBay too often.
SPECS AND FEATURE LIST:
*250 PROGRAMS (200 Single / 50 Combination) -
*5-PART MULTI-TIMBREL (Up to 4 Programs & 1 Drum Part) -

*30 BUILT-IN DRUM PATTERNS -
*16 VOICE POLYPHONY -
*TRANSPOSE -
*4 SPLIT OPTIONS: Up To 4 Zone / DUAL / LAYER / MIX -
*VELOCITY / PRESSURE / MODULATION / VOLUME / HOLD / PITCH BEND -
*MIDI IN / OUT / THRU -

HERE ARE A FEW OF THE 250 SOUNDS:
*THICK ORGAN -
*DISTORTION CHORD SOLO -

*SYNTHESIZER SOLO -
*BELL SOUND WITH STEREO EFFECT -
*CLAVINET WITH BASS LAYERED IN LOW RANGE -
*STEREO PAN FLUTE -
*ANALOG SOUND COLLECTION -
*STEREO WINE GLASS -
*SPACEY CLASSICAL -
*OLD HORROR MOVIE -
*OLD OUT OF TUNE PIANO -
*MANY, MANY,MANY, MORE

Clavia Nord Lead 2 Case / Enclosure

via this auction

ATARI SYNTHESIZER SYNTHCART ! 8-BIT SYNTH & DRUMS

via this auction
"Play using an assortment of familiar Atari sounds
- Use two different sound types at a time, one assigned to each controller
- Intelligent voice management constantly re-assigns the two oscillators for maximum perceived polyphony
- 8th, 16th, and 32nd note arpeggiator
- Can arpeggiate both oscillators simultaneously
- Beat Box with many pre-programmed beats and fills
- Play two beats simultaneously to create custom beats
- Two tremelo settings
- Four attack/release settings

and now the hardware.....
oAtari 2600 fitted with a quarter-inch jack for easy use with amplifiers, PA systems and mixers
o2 video controllers to play notes and drum patterns
oOriginal Atari power supply
oSynthcart (brand new)
oOwner's manual/documentation for synthcart

Some consoles may vary from the one shown in picture, because there are several different models of the Atari 2600, but all are guaranteed to be fully functional, with both hardware and software tested before shipping."

POLIVOKS PROTOTYPE DEMO

YouTube via bluelantern320. Available on Ebay.
"THIS IS A PROTOTYPE FOR THE 12db VCF. IT HAS A COOL UNIQUE REZ FEEDBACK, S&H like squares."

babyBotte Repackaged

remember baby Botte?

"This is the new babyBotte. I decided against the cardboard shoebox and dumped it. So I got a TRIPP container set from IKEA at first for putting the babybotte on the small square one and an 8MHz avrSynth I have lying around, inside the bigger one. My wife gave the idea of putting the babyBotte inside the round one.. So, I designed a panel that I would print on photographic paper and stick it on top of the lid and open holes to it to insert the pots"

More shots and info on synth-diy.blogspot.com

JD800-1 and JD800-2

flickr by Ran Kirlian
(click for more)

Loading... Beta Version Demo

YouTube via linsoft23.

See the write-up on Making of a drum synth.

"Beta Version of my drum synth project is finished!!"

ladytron synth

Buchla 292C Secrets

via Buchla Tech where you will find the full post with more info and images.

"I cracked open my first 292c repair last night. I found some interesting things during this repair. First, there are some parts in the actual 292c that are not on the schematic. I probably found the most confusing way to draw this, but I just added it on top of the schematic in red. the cap around IC7 is going from inverting input to output, even though my artwork may look misleading. I'm not sure what the point of that resistor/cap kludge in the middle is. My guess is to roll off the highs (around 24k) a little bit in gate mode only. This makes me wonder why nobody has complained about oscillations in all this cloning that has been going on. Check out the hacked solution to solve the lower gain on the second channel. I don't think that's factory."

Be sure to check out the rest of Buchla Tech for more.

Moog Prodigy Mods

via Kroffe of KROFFEBLOGGEN

Notes on the mods:
The jacks, from left to right:
osc2 wave tap before mix
osc1 wave tap before mix
VCF CV in via the righthand extra pot on the panel, breaks away osc2
wave>VCF CV in
LFO/ENV CV out depending on the mode on the extra switch on the panel
VCF external input

Inside a Moog The Prodigy

909 in 808s clothes

via CustomSynth

more shots here

CLICK FOR MORE »

Diversitronica - Elefante e Castelo ao vivo

YouTube via uilames. Live in Brazil.
"Diversitronica tocando Elefante e Castelo ao vivo no Festival Coquetel Molotov 2006."
via William:
"In these videos the bass player is also using a Novation Bass Station Rack, controlled by a tiny two-octave Edirol. I´m the one in the middle, using a M-Audio Ozonic on the top and an Alesis Micron. I also use a Powerbook G4 running Ableton Live. The other guy on the keyboards is using another Powerbook running Reason, a four-octave Edirol midi controller and a Roland JP-8000.

Ableton Live is sending midi sync to everybody and the two laptops are in sync by the ethernet port. At the time of this gig, my favorite pice of gear was my Alesis Micron. In the other hand, programming it was painful, beacuse there were no software editor for Mac. And Micron´s vocoder sucks.

We often change the gear we take to the stage, as you can see in the following video, where we didn´t use laptops and we had an Akai S-3000XL, a Roland JV-2080 and a Roland JP-8080."
myspace.com/diversitronica
myspace.com/williampaiva

Live Halloween 2008

via Doc Emmett Brown

"Here is a great shot of our current live setup. Picture taken on 10/31/08. Instruments used live include: "Elektron, Akai, Korg, Moog, Nord, Sherman Filtertbank, Line 6, more..." Please visit our myspace page, www.myspace.com/bademployees, for more pics, video and songs. We will also have a new EP coming out in December."

skygun

Serge modular track via cebec's not live improvs

also see m-cal q

gut mote

Serge modular track via cebec's not live improvs

barbar crag

Serge modular track via cebec's not live improvs

Analog Modular Synthesizer 2

YouTube via justwaving
"This video is just an experiment to see if the video can play in stereo as i have connected the output of my mixer to the external mic input of the camcorder. Its a bit noisy as its turned down real low. The tune is just a couple of sequences going, I am using two foot pedals connected to the pedal interface to work the filters. The video is just a bit of a tour around my modular."